Page 7 of The Biker and the Single Mom

Pope's gaze was assessing but not unkind. "You Doc's girl?"

The question caught me off-guard. "I—we're not⁠—"

"Not yet,” Doc said, and the words sent heat flooding through me. "But she's under club protection regardless."

"Then she's family." Pope nodded once, decisive. "You need anything—work, housing, someone to talk to—you ask. Clear?"

"Clear." My voice came out steadier than I felt. "Thank you."

He moved away to talk with Hammer, leaving Doc and me with three feet of charged air between us.

"Sorry," he said, not meeting my eyes. "I shouldn't have implied⁠—"

"It's okay." And weirdly, it was. Standing here in this clubhouse full of dangerous men who'd just claimed me as family, I felt safer than I had in years. "Thank you. For all of this."

"Nothing to thank me for." He finally met my gaze, intensity making my breath hitch. "You're not alone anymore, Rory. Neither of you. That's what matters."

Luna's laughter rang out from across the room, mixing with the other kids' giggles. She played—actually played, without fear or tension.

"She seems happy," Maddie said, appearing at my elbow with a plate of food. "That's good to see."

"She hasn't been happy in a long time."

"Neither have you, I'm guessing." She handed me the plate. "Eat. You look like you haven't had a decent meal in days."

She wasn't wrong. I'd been living on gas station food and whatever wouldn't spoil in the car. The burger was warm and perfectly cooked.

"Doc doesn't look at anyone the way he's looking at you," Maddie said casually, like she was commenting on the weather.

I nearly choked on my burger. "What?"

"I'm just saying." She grinned. "I know that look. My husband wore it for months before he finally admitted he was falling for me." She bumped my shoulder. "Doc's a good man. Damaged, like they all are. But good. And he clearly thinks you're something special."

"We just met."

"Sometimes that's all it takes." She gestured around the clubhouse. "Most of the couples here fell fast and hard. It's kind of the MC way—when you know, you know."

I didn't know what to say to that, so I just ate my burger and tried not to think about the way Doc kept glancing at me when he thought I wasn't paying attention.

Evening found us at Doc's clinic—the backroom operation behind the clubhouse where he kept the supplies that saved lives when people couldn't risk a hospital. Luna had crashed hard after all the playing with Mr. Hops clutched to her chest.

"She's out," Doc said, checking on her before returning to the supply closet where I was helping with inventory. "Probably won't wake up for a few hours."

"Playing with other kids wore her out." I ran my finger down the list he'd given me, checking off items. "Thank you for taking us to the clubhouse. She needed that."

"So did you."

I glanced up to find him near, reaching for a box on the shelf above my head. Heat radiated from his body, the space between us suddenly tight.

"Maybe," I admitted. "It's been a while since I felt like I could breathe around other people."

"You can breathe here." He moved closer, reaching for supplies. "You're safe, Rory. I meant what I said—you and Luna aren't alone anymore."

Our hands collided as we both reached for the same box. The contact was electric—his fingers warm and calloused against mine, his body a hand's width away.

We both froze.

"Rory—" My name came out rough.