"Everything okay?" asked Brody.
She lifted her head and shrugged. Nothing would be okay until Romeo got home.
Chapter Thirty Five
Romeo rode onto Killere property with Big Buck, Shrader, Traveler, and Dice four days after leaving Spokane. It'd taken longer than he'd hoped to find Timber's dad in Seattle.
Onyx, Creamer, and Dumbass stood at the front of the line of motorcycles. Romeo parked, road-weary and sore.
Once he checked in, he wanted to find Timber. He'd lost track of the days and had no idea if she worked at the diner now or was home.
He shut off the engine, slid off the Harley, and stretched his back. The others rolled back their bikes.
Onyx approached him. Romeo lifted his chin. He'd already called the president of Killere Motorcycle Club and informed him of the news.
"Thanks for bringing him back, brother," murmured Onyx.
"It wasn't easy." He glanced at Dice, who sat on his motorcycle, making no move to get off. "We rode straight through. I was afraid he'd refuse to get back on his bike if we stopped."
Onyx motioned for Dumbass to deal with Dice. "We'll keep an eye on him."
Taking a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket, he lit a smoke. "Is Timber working?"
Onyx dipped his chin, his gaze going to the diner. Romeo turned. His gut tightened. Behind the building, Timber stood with her hand shielding the glare from her eyes, peering in his direction. She'd seen him ride in.
"Go ahead. We'll catch up later. Nothing we can do now but watch Dice." Onyx slapped Romeo on the back.
He lumbered off in the direction of the diner, needing to stretch his legs after sitting on the seat for the last eight hours. He suspected it was the shitty bed at the motel that he'd slept on while gone that caused most of his stiffness.
As soon as he cleared the bikes and Timber took off running toward him, he let his grin loose. Halfway across the parking lot, he braced and caught her. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he picked her off the ground.
Her lips found his mouth. Damn, he'd missed her.
His cock pulsed to life. He groaned, sliding her body down the front of him, needing to feel every inch of her.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, refusing to let go of him. He kept his feet, moving left, then right, disappointed there wasn't a bed or wall or table or bathroom nearby to prop her up and let him sink deep inside her.
She pulled her mouth off him, gasping for breath. "You're home."
"Yeah, doll. I'm home." He strode toward the clubhouse with her hanging off the front of him.
She lifted her legs, wrapping them around his waist. Cupping her ass, he hefted her higher.
"Are you supposed to be working?" he asked, taking her in.
Her rosy cheeks and smile graced him. He arrived at his motorcycle and sat down, putting her feet on the ground between his legs.
"I got off an hour ago. I was waiting for Axel to pick me up. He's running late," she said.
He grunted. She rubbed his chest, settling him down. When he was gone, his brothers were responsible for Timber. She shouldn't have to wait for them.
"It's okay. He called and was going to have Caleb stop by, but I told him I could eat lunch here, and then I'd be ready." She jolted, grabbing for her purse hanging on her side. "I should call him."
He took the cell from her and sent a text to Axel. "I'll take you home."
"I can't believe you're here." She smiled at him again. "So much has happened."
He cocked his head. While he was gone, she was supposed to work and be at the house, protected by his brothers. Nothing should be happening.
"Right before you left, Willow offered me a room at the motel with some of the others who live and work here," she said.
"You told her no, right?"
"Oh, my God, I wish you had been here. It wasn't that easy of a decision to make." Her smile grew. "I mean, it was. I never want to not live with you. But I had no idea what you wanted me to do, and the thought that you might want me to live on my own while we see each other made me sick."
He smoothed the hair off her face and pulled her in, kissing her forehead. "Love you, doll. You're not going anywhere. I'm staying put. We're a family now."
"I love you." She laid against the front of him. "I also made tacos, and they were great. You can ask the guys when you get home. I totally impressed them. I can't wait until you try them."
"Sounds good."
"Oh, and I painted our bedroom." She lifted her head. "I found paint in the garage. There wasn't enough in one can, but I found two half-full cans and dumped them together. The walls are seafoam green...ish now. I think you'll like them."
"Is that all?" He chuckled, loving how she was talking to him.
"I think so." She exhaled. "How was your trip?"
"I brought your dad back."
She shook her head. "Besides that. It was a good ride?"
"It was a good ride." He cupped the back of her head and brought her back down to his chest.
Her warmth comforted his weary body. He slipped his hands up the back of her tank and caressed her bare skin. As soon as he could force himself to stop touching her, he would take her home and crawl into bed. Then, crawl into her.
Over her head, he watched Onyx put his hand on Dice's back and lead him into the clubhouse. Romeo gritted his teeth. There was still the matter of Timber's dad to discuss with her.
But not right now.
Chapter Thirty Six
Brody stood at the sliding door, looking out into the backyard. Romeo walked across the room and peered out, seeing what had caught his brother's attention. It came as no surprise that Timber occupied Brody. She seemed to entertain them all, just being a woman and moving around the house.
Brody glanced at him. "What's she doing?"
"She spotted that old barbecue nobody uses anymore and wanted to clean that spot out on the side of the shed." He crossed his arms and watched her on her hands and knees, pulling weeds out of the ground.
"Why don't you buy her a new grill?"
"Told her I would." He shrugged. "She thinks that one is fixable."
"Women." Brody chuckled. "I can't figure them out."
"I don't think it's as much figuring them out that's important as long as you know where everything goes when you crawl in bed at night." He flung his arm, slapping Brody's shoulder. "Go do something and stop watching my woman."
"I do need to take off." Brody yawned. "Long fucking night."
"Are you going to be gone long?"
"Probably until the morning." Brody picked up his car keys on the table. "Tell Caleb to save me some dinner."
"Will do." He half-turned. "Brody?"
"Yeah?"
"Stay safe, man. You're getting too old to take the risk for someone else."
Brody nodded and turned away, leaving through the front door. Romeo went back to watching Timber. They had the house to themselves. He could think of a hundred other things to do besides watch her work in the backyard.