Tyler(78)

We turn back and jog toward the shop. We enter, and I brace myself against the wall, trying to catch my breath. Audrey leans against the desk.

Asher immediately starts searching. He lifts tables, chairs, bends under the desk to look. I join him, checking again the booths, one by one, below the counters, behind the chairs. I look inside trash containers, behind doors. I see Rafe come out of the bathroom, but I go in and check anyway.

I just can’t believe this is happening. My pulse thunders inside my head. My mouth is dry with fear.

“Erin.” Zane walks around the booths, his face a stony mask. “He’s not here.”

My heart sinks. “I’m calling the police.”

I pull out my cell. My hands shake so badly I almost drop it. I turn back toward the shop front, and it’s all blurry. I realize tears are burning my eyes.

Then the door chimes. I dash the tears away and blink at the tall figure who has entered the shop. Wide shoulders, short dark hair, inky eyes.

And on one arm he’s holding Jax.

The cell phone drops from my hand and crashes to the floor. Tessa comes to take my hand, and Audrey takes the other, the guys flanking them.

“What’s this, a welcoming committee?” Tyler’s voice is rough, and his eyes glisten. He hefts the little boy easily, as if he weighs nothing.

“We were worried, fucker.” Zane nods at him. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah.” Tyler looks straight at me. “I gave it some thought and decided I’m done running. That I should stay and talk this over with Erin. Besides, I promised Ash I’m staying.”

Asher snorts and grins.

“Tyler…” I press a hand to my stomach. I think I might get an ulcer like my mother with all that’s been going on. “Where did you find him?”

“This little guy?” Tyler sounds bemused. “Right around the corner where I was parking my bike. Says his name’s Jax. Strange, huh?”

I nod, biting my lip because I want to laugh hysterically or sob. Maybe both. This isn’t the way I’d imagined them meeting.

Jax snuggles closer, one little arm hugging Tyler’s broad chest. Tyler stares down at him, a strange expression painted on his face, caught between tenderness and confusion.

“Thank you for bringing him back,” I whisper.

“Mommy.” Jax lifts his head and smiles at me.

“Is he yours, then?” Tyler’s eyes harden.

“Yes.”

But Tyler makes no move to give him to me, and Jax seems way too comfortable where he is.

“Tyler, man…” Rafe starts toward him, but Tyler lifts a hand, stopping him.

“Is he…?” Tyler swallows hard and glances back down at Jax’s tousled head resting on his shoulder. “Dammit, Erin, he looks a lot like me.”

“He’s your son.” I take a step closer, then another. “I should have told you. I’m sorry. I’m—”

Tyler unfolds a long arm and snags me around the waist, drawing me to his side. His scent of musk and pine mingles with the leather of his jacket, and it calms my racing heart. I put my arm around him and the other around Jax’s little form, who’s so content where he is he doesn’t even ask me to pick him up.

“So this is Jax.” Tyler sounds thoughtful, and I don’t know what he’s thinking.

“He likes you,” I mutter.

“He’s a cool kid.” Tyler grins. “Besides, he won’t let go.”

“I won’t, either.”

Tyler chuckles, a low, rumbling sound in his chest, and hugs me tighter. “I sure hope not.”

Does he mean it?

Then Jax lifts his head again and gives Tyler a solemn look. “Are you my daddy?”

I wait, my heart thumping.

“Yeah,” Tyler says, his voice gruff. “Yeah, I am.”

“You’ve come back.”

Tyler nods, and his lashes look wet. “Yeah. It took me a long time, I know, but now I’m here.” He gazes at his son’s face and smiles. “And I promise I’ll stay.”





Chapter Twenty-Three


Tyler





Wrapping my head around the fact I have a son is fucking hard. But I’ve seen him, held him, talked to him, and he’s an awesome little boy. Fearless. Outspoken. He looks like me. And he smells of sugar and candy, like his mom.

I can’t imagine what she must have gone through to have him. So young. Without me around to help. She must have been scared.

She’s stronger than me.

The weekend flies by. We spend most of our time at Erin’s and Zane’s apartment, with Jax and anyone else who cares to hang out with us. That means basically all the guys dropping by at different times. They bring food and drinks, and we put music. Everyone wants to play with Jax, and I feel so damn proud.