There was something about her dad that set her mom off. She suspected her mom ran to other men. There were times her mom received phone calls, and from the tone, she knew a man was on the other end.
"I don't know where your mom is." Romeo's gaze softened. "You can go downstairs and ask Dice."
She hummed and stayed in the chair. When it came to her dad, she never got answers from him. She gave up long ago. It was easier to find out information on her own. Or, wait.
Her mom would eventually show up. Probably not in Spokane, but Seattle.
"I hope you suckered my dad for more money." She draped her legs over the arm of the chair. "First, last, deposit. Pain and suffering. Hardship case. Brother to brother. Whatever you want to call the deal, he owes you for making me move back in here."
"I want you here."
"Sure you do." She raised her head and looked at him, realizing he was serious. "Why?"
"I like you."
Warmth splashed her cheeks. She'd love nothing more than to believe him, but now her living situation had turned into a favor for her dad—a Killere favor.
A door slammed downstairs. Timber sat up, straining to hear the familiar sound of the muffler rattling on the motorcycle outside.
As if on cue, the house rumbled. She sagged in relief. Hopefully, that was the last she'd see of her dad. Her dad would probably let Romeo know when it was safe to move again.
Romeo stared at her.
"What?" She stood.
His nostrils flared. She frowned. He should be as happy as her, knowing her dad had left.
Romeo's gaze intensified. Maybe he felt loyalty to Killere members. She never believed that whole "live by the patch" crap bikers swore by.
There was more to loving another person and wanting to be loyal.
Romeo raised his hand and cupped her cheek. She pressed her face into his touch, only then realizing she had tears sliding down her face, and that's why he was staring.
He used his thumb to catch the flow of hurt leaking from her eyes. How many years had she watched her dad ride away without saying a word to her?
"It'll be okay," whispered Romeo. "You have a home here."
"He never even asked if I was okay or told me goodbye," she whispered. "What kind of dad does that?"
"You have me." He brought her to his chest and wrapped her in his arms. "I'll make sure you're okay."
She threaded her arms underneath his and brought her hands up, hooking his shoulders, holding on to him. The scent of fresh air and leather clung to him.
Heat and twinges swirled between her legs. His heartbeat thrummed against her cheek. Alive and responsive, she wanted to stay in his arms and find out if his heart ever raced the way hers had when he touched her.
But that wasn't any of her business.
He wasn't hers. He would never belong to her.
Romeo was old enough to be her father. And she had nothing to make him attracted to her except family drama.
Straightening, she sniffed and stared at the broad width of his chest. "Thanks for, um, letting me stay again."
He gathered her hands and placed them on his chest. She closed her eyes an extra beat, wanting to stay with him. He made her feel safe and wanted, everything she knew she wasn't.
"You understand your dad wants to keep you safe," he said.
She pulled her hands out of his clutch and stepped away. "He wants me out of his way. There's a difference. He doesn't care if I'm safe or not."
"Timber..."
She glanced at him. "Do you think this is about me? Because it's not. Jeff "Dice" Mitchell rides in like a white knight to try and impress my mom, but he's evil and uncaring. He had a preconceived notion that there were bad people after us and forced us to live a nomad's life, to stay one step ahead of the bad men. I have never seen someone try to hurt my mom or me. Ask my mom if you can find her. She can tell you how we've jumped every time my dad has pointed his finger, and all it's gotten us was a fucked up life."
"Then, why are you here?" He stepped in front of her, backing her against the wall. "If this is all bullshit, why haven't you taken off long before now?"
She tore her gaze off him and shoved at his chest. He pinned her in place, keeping her prisoner with his body.
"You do what Dice tells you to do because somewhere deep inside of you, you believe him," he said. "Admit it."
She shook her head.
"You know why he protects you."
Her eyes burned. She refused to let Romeo antagonize her.
"He loves you, doll."
The endearment broke her. She whipped her gaze to his, anger rolling through her.
"Love?" She gawked. "He doesn't love me. He's punishing me because he blames me for everything."
Romeo closed his eyes to hide his reaction. She held her breath, waiting for him to pull away from her. To walk out of the room in disgust. To leave her in anger. To forget about her. To hate her.
He shook his head, opened his eyes, and palmed her face, molding his hand to her cheek. "He loves you."
She swung out, knocking his hands from her, and stormed out of the room. In the hallway, Axel blocked her escape.
Axel put his hand on the wall and frowned at her. "I thought you moved out."
"I had, but..." She glanced behind her, expecting Romeo to follow any second.
Axel chuckled, leaning against the wall. "You and Romeo, huh?"
"What?" She snapped forward.
Axel's gaze roamed down her body and back up. Finally, he shrugged. "He had the better odds, seeing as how he had more time with you."
Was he seriously thinking she and Romeo hooked up? She wasn't here as a piece of meat for Romeo and his brothers to lick and chew on until they fought over the bone.
"If you ever get tired of him." Axel backed her against the side of the hallway and reached above her, planting his hand on the door and leaning his body closer. "You know where to find me."
His shockingly blue eyes twinkled in amusement. The door behind her swung open, and she almost fell into the bedroom.
"Axel, get away from her," growled Romeo.
Startled by the loudness of the order, she stumbled backward. Axel grabbed her wrist, keeping her from landing on her ass.
"Whoa, what's going on here?" Sander appeared beside Romeo and peered inside the room. "Really? You snagged—"
"Shut up." Romeo pushed Sander out of the way, grabbed Timber's hand, and pulled her out of the room. "Same rules. Don't touch her."
Axel winked at her. She fought a grin, knowing how much the twins liked rubbing Romeo the wrong way until he lost his cool.
She couldn't say much over their innocent treatment of her because of the way her insides vibrated from Romeo's possessive need to protect her.
Having lived on her own since she was young, she needed no protection. She was quite capable of taking care of herself. Though, imagining him defending her honor had her all mushy inside.
She went downstairs into the kitchen and found Caleb cooking dinner. Her earlier upset almost forgotten. She washed and helped him peel eggs added to the boiled potatoes for something they called a potato salad hot dish.
While she worked, Romeo grumbled the yard work needed done, the garbage payment needed mailed, and the motorcycle parts in the garage needed taken over to the clubhouse—because he couldn't take them on his bike with Timber on the back.