That would never stop him from having her. If he wanted her, he'd have her. She'd soon learn that age wasn't a hurdle for him. Hell, he was only forty-two years old.
Timber made him feel like he was as old as Creamer and should have grandkids at his knee.
He stretched his arm out across the table and crooked his fingers, wanting her hand. She frowned but pulled her hand out from underneath the table. He picked up her fingers and held her softly. She was skittish, and he wanted to know what made her that way around him when she acted strong and confident around the customers in the diner.
"Stay at the house and keep working at the diner." He stroked her thumb with his thumb. "Promise me that if you want to leave, you'll let me know, and I can make sure you get where you want to go...safely."
She looked away and nodded. He squeezed her hand before letting her go.
"I know five guys who'll be happy that you're staying." He slid out of the booth.
She followed him away from the table. "What about you?"
He stopped and looked at her, seeing the concern etched in her brows. Using the pad of his thumb, he rubbed the worry wrinkle away.
"I'm happy, too." He waited for her reaction, but she hid it from him. "Finish your shift, doll."
He walked away from her, but she called his name, stopping him from leaving. "Why do you call me doll?"
"You remind me of one." He hooked his thumbs in the front pockets of his jeans and stepped back. "Flawless beauty just staring back at me, not saying a word."
"That's rude." She flinched. "I talk."
"Barely."
"Some."
He cocked his brow. "Not enough."
"What do you want me to say?"
He grinned. "Whatever you want."
She shook her head, exasperated with him. He lifted his arm in farewell, turned around, and walked out of the diner.
There was something about Timber that drew him to her. She was young and vulnerable, not his usual choice in a woman. Maybe her independence at an age where he was scrambling to keep his brothers in school and under one roof intrigued him.
Would it have been that way for him if he had only supported himself?
He walked across the parking lot toward the clubhouse. Not once had he ever admitted to anyone how hard it'd been after his mom died and the responsibility of raising his brothers fell on his shoulders. He wouldn't change a thing.
Family was family.
But when would the responsibility fall on someone else's shoulders. He was at midlife, still keeping his brothers out of prison and helping support them. He wanted to settle down.
He was tired of running from one end of Spokane to the other, heading off trouble before it could reach his brothers. He wanted to sit back and enjoy life for once without worrying about who wasn't coming home or who got picked up by the cops.
Children squealing reached his ears. He gazed behind the clubhouse, spotting Onyx and Willow's little ones and Vega's daughter playing tag. Those kids would never realize how sweet they had life.
Vega waved her arm over her head in his direction. He lifted his hand and continued, straight toward his Harley. After learning more about why Timber was at Killere, he should inform her dad about her plans.
Instead, he started the Harley and rode away from the clubhouse. Timber had to work for the next few hours. He needed to ride off some of the frustration inside him.
Chapter Thirteen
A shirt landed on Timber's head, blinding her. She grabbed the article of clothing at the same time a whiff of body odor filled her nostrils.
"Oh, God." She threw the shirt in Sander's direction. "That's rank."
"I'll give you twenty bucks if you wash my clothes." Sander dumped a laundry basket on the floor. "Hell, I'll give you fifty bucks if you fold everything."
"Sixty." She pulled her clothes out of the dryer and dropped the items on the counter behind her in the utility room. "I'll even shake out the wrinkles for that amount."
"Deal." Sander's raised his hands in victory and walked backward toward the door.
"No fucking deal." Romeo carried in a laundry bucket of detergent and set it between the washer and dryer. "She's not going to wash your clothes. This is her first day off all week. Let her enjoy the day, yeah?"
"I want to do it. I could use the money." She grinned at Sander, waving goodbye at him before Romeo could change his brother's mind. "I'll do yours, too, if you want to pay me."
Romeo harumphed. "You can't let those guys take advantage of you."
"They're not."
"Bullshit. Brody had you loading the dishwashing last night after getting off work." He leaned against the counter while she folded clothes. "Don't act nice to them. They'll..."
Her whole body seized, and she tried to swallow. Unable to stop her reaction, she turned away and wiped her cheek on her shoulder. It was ridiculous how sentimental she could get over these men in such a short time.
But then again, she was living under the same roof as them.
Her chest pounded. Even Romeo bossing her around had her stomach fluttering and her heart skipping a beat.
Around the Muel men, she found herself joining in on their fun. She took Axel's teasing and listened to Brody's sincere talks about his future. Caleb was a deep thinker, like her, but rarely let any of his brothers know what was on his mind. Sander worried about Romeo more than he let on. He seemed to be under the impression that Killere would ask too much of him—something she wasn't aware of or would hear about at the diner. Even Romeo treated her as part of the family.
"Doll?"
Even his stupid nickname for her made her feel like bawling. She sniffed and kept her back toward him. "Yeah?"
Romeo wrapped his arm around her waist and turned her around. She let him pull her against his chest. Her arms hung to her sides. Her face pressed against the leather of his vest. She couldn't make herself lift her arms and hold onto him.
The unshed tears choked her. She was ridiculous. It was probably time to start her period, and her hormones made her emotional.
She had no reason to cry.
Romeo had no right to hold her.
But it felt good in his arms.
Like she wanted to close her eyes and stay there forever.
She was tired of living alone. She was tired of worrying about where she was going to live. She was sick of dealing with her parents' shit and letting her dad's attitude and her mom's neglect affect her life.
It was so nice to live in the house with Romeo. She even liked sharing his big bed with him.
Romeo stroked Timber's hair, cupping her head in the palm of his hand. "Whatever is troubling you, you're no longer alone."
She pulled back, self-conscious of enjoying his body. His gaze dropped from her eyes to her chest, then focused on her mouth. She witnessed the moment his smile waned as his full attention focused on how her body pressed against him.
The heat from the dryer or maybe from Romeo spread throughout her. She sidestepped, putting distance between them, but Romeo hooked her neck and brought her back to his chest.
"If you need anything..." His thumb caressed her skin. "I want you to know you've got me."