Chapter Twenty
––––––––
Blade
My Harley’s engineroars to life, the deep growl vibrating through the handlebars as the bike hums beneath us.Hannah’s arms wrap around my waist.
Glancing over my shoulder, I put one hand over hers and ask, “Are you okay?”
Hannah nods.“Yes.”
“Are you sure?We could take a truck or—”
“I’m sure.You know what you’re doing.You’d never hurt me, and Iwantto try.”
Nodding, I say, “If you feel scared, squeeze me tight and I’ll pull over.”
“You’d do that for me?”
“Hannah, I’d do anything for you.”
Hannah stands on the back pegs and plants a kiss on my cheek.“Thank you.Now, let’s get this show on the road.”
We roll out, the roar of my bike mixing with the hum of the town waking up around us.Crystal Creek is small, but it’s got a pulse.People here know each other, and they know us.As we hit the road, I can feel Hannah’s body against mine, her warmth seeping through my jacket, even though I’m more focused on the road than anything else.
“Hold on tight,” I tell her, my voice low but steady as we round the curve, heading straight for the grocery store.
She presses herself closer, her hands tightening just enough to let me know she’s listening but not pulling away.
The grocery store is small, nothing flashy.It’s a place you could easily miss if you weren’t paying attention, but it’s got everything you need, even if you have to navigate three different aisles to find it.I park the bike in the lot, the rumble dying down as I cut the engine.
I hop off, then reach out to help her down.Her smile is the first thing I see when she lands lightly on the ground.There’s something about her, something that makes even this simple ride feel like an adventure.
“Let’s grab the essentials, yeah?”I say, nodding toward the store.
Hannah laughs, the sound light and easy.“Have you met me?I like to shop.”
We head inside, the bell above the door jingling as we walk through.
Hannah walks down the aisles, grabbing what she needs, and I find myself stealing glances at her, watching the way she moves.Everything about her seems natural in a way I never expected.I’m used to the loud, tough guys and the club’s chaos, but with her, everything feels quieter.
Once Hannah gets what she needs and I notice at least three large blocks of chocolate in the cart, we head out.The bike is still parked in the same spot, waiting for us.But I don’t rush.
“Did you want to go to Betty’s Café?”I ask, already knowing the answer, but I like hearing it from her.
Part of me wants to check in on Tessa to make sure she’s doing okay.Knowing our secrets can be a burden to anyone, but for her, finding out the way she did must weigh heavily on her.The overwhelming need to tell someone must be huge, so seeing me will hopefully encourage Tessa to keep her silence.
She grins.“You know it.”
We put her groceries in my saddlebags, then hand in hand we head for Betty’s, the place where the coffee is strong, the pies are better, and everyone knows your name.
As we approach, I can see Tessa standing behind the counter.Her smile falters when she spots us through the window.I offer her a small smile as we walk inside.Tessa fidgets, shifting from foot to foot.Her eyes widen a little when we sit at the counter.
“Morning, Tessa.How are you?”I ask, keeping my tone casual, though I can feel the tension in the air.
Tessa’s eyes flick from Hannah to me and back again, the unease clear in her expression.“Fine,” she says, a little too quickly.
“Hey, Tessa!”Hannah chirps, completely oblivious to the discomfort in the air.“What pie is good today?”
