“I’ve been fine for years,” she said. “I don’t see why you’re suddenly worrying about it now.”
“Because you’ve stayed off their radar for years,” he said. “You didn’t have anything they wanted. But then you had to go and buy Harry’s bar.”
“They were going to steal it out from under Serge, the latest owner. Not even leave him enough to move to be with the rest of his family.” She sighed. “I couldn’t let that happen.”
“I know,” Cage said. “But that still puts you in the spotlight. They want that bar. It’s prime real estate and would be perfect to deal out of. They aren’t going to let up. And now they’re noticing more than the bar. They’re noticing you, too.”
“And they wouldn’t if I had your patch?”
“No,” he said. “No other brothers could make a move on you. That’s all it means.”
Her mouth twisted in disgust. “Ugh, it’s all so caveman. There’s a reason I avoid the whole MC thing. I just… I don’t need a man to protect me.”
“Oh, yes,” he said, standing from his chair and coming over to her. “Yes, you definitely do need a man to protect you, and I’m just the one to do it.”#p#分页标题#e#
She pulled away from him, but his hands were on either side of her on the table, caging her in. She sighed and turned to face him. “Cage, what point are you trying to make? I’ve been fine on my own for years.”
“And now you aren’t on your own anymore. Come on. Be my old lady.”
“No,” she snapped. “I have to be an example to the kids at Willow’s. I love them. And someone has to.”
His mouth turned up ruefully at one corner. “That’s right. You’re good at loving the kids everyone else has forgotten.” He stood, removing his hands from either side of her, and looked down at her. “So was that all I was, Carrie? Pity?”
“No,” she said, standing to come chest to chest with him. “Never. There’s a difference in how I care for them and how I cared for—care for you.”
He flinched at the past tense, but she’d fixed it. What was the truth? Had he truly ruined everything for them by coming back too late and coming back looking like he was part of the gang she hated?
A muscle by his brow ticked.
No, it wasn’t too late, because he wouldn’t let it be.
“When we go see the kids, just don’t wear the patch. Just wear it at the bar,” he said.
“I don’t know,” she said.
“And I can come see the kids and just take the patch off.” He shook his head. “If it’s anything like it used to be, half those kids have family at the compound anyway.”
She nodded tightly. “It’s just like it used to be. Men taking what they want with no notice of the consequences.”
Cage’s chest tightened. He’d been one of those consequences no one cared about. No one until Carrie.
“I want to see what’s important to you,” he said, standing straight. “I want to protect what you want to protect.”
She walked closer, running her finger over the patch on his jacket. “You can’t. Not like this.”
He caught her hand in his, an iron, gentle grip, and tugged her against him. “Honey, the only way I can protect you is like this.” Then he jerked her up and caught her lips with his mouth, parting them and easily slipping inside to entwine his tongue with hers in a warm, wet embrace.
He felt her knees nearly weaken, and he slid an arm around her waist, anchoring her.
He was the only one that could do this to her. And every time she forgot, he’d be the one to remind her.
When she was breathless, gasping in his arms, he set her back on her feet. She stared up at him blankly, and he reached forward, coming close.
She held her breath, her lips slightly parted, and then he grabbed the last piece of toast behind her and took a huge bite as he walked away.
He raised a hand in greeting. “I’ll see you tonight, then,” he said, opening her front door. “You’re going to be mine, Carrie. It’s just a matter of time.”
Then before she could retort, he was gone.
The soldier in him knew sometimes retreat was necessary in order to advance.
3
Carrie spent the rest of the morning getting ready and trying not to think about her handsome soldier.
Even with the leather and the fact that she’d seen him with the Aces and he’d asked her to be his old lady, she couldn’t help seeing through all of that to the man on the other side.
He had a way of carrying himself, a confident assurance of his ability that must have come from whatever he’d done in the military. He hadn’t talked about it much in his letters. He’d just said it was confidential and he couldn’t tell her where he was going or what he was doing, so she assumed Special Forces.#p#分页标题#e#