Page 54 of My Single Dad Biker

"Yeah."

"Good. See you at nine."

He hangs up and I stand in the hallway for a minute just breathing. Then I go back into the bedroom. Katherine is awake now, sitting up with the sheet pulled around her. The morning light is just starting to come through the window.

"What's wrong?" she asks.

"Emergency church. Marrow's planning something. I need to go."

"When?"

"Meeting's at nine. I need to leave by eight-thirty."

She checks the clock. Six-thirty-five. "Okay. What do you need me to do?"

"Stay with Louis. He'll wake up around seven-thirty. Make him breakfast. Keep him here. I'll call you when I know more."

"Okay."

I walk to the bed and sit on the edge. Take her hand. "Katherine."

"Yes?"

"I love you. And I need you to know that you're protected. The club is watching this house. They're watching the school. If Marrow tries anything, they go through twenty armed men first."

"Okay."

"You're not scared?"

"I'm a little scared. But mostly I just trust you."

I lean forward and kiss her. Slow and deliberate. When I pull back she's looking at me with those warm brown eyes and I feel it in my chest.

"I love you," I say again.

"I love you too. Go. Do what you need to do. We'll be here."

I shower and dress in jeans and my cut and boots. Go downstairs and make coffee. Katherine comes down at seven in my t-shirt and yoga pants with her hair pulled back. We drink coffee together and don't talk much because there's not much to say. This is the reality now. The club calls and I go and she stays with Louis.

At seven-thirty Louis wakes up and comes downstairs. Sees me dressed and ready to leave.

"Where are you going?" he asks.

"Work. I'll be back this afternoon."

"Is Katherine staying?"

"Yeah. She's making you breakfast."

He looks at Katherine and smiles. "Pancakes?"

"If you want," she says.

"I want."

I walk Katherine into the kitchen away from where Louis can hear. Cup her face in my hands.

"Lock the doors after I leave. Don't open them for anyone except me or another brother. You have my number and Clint's number and Tate's number in your phone. Anything feels wrong, you call."