“Why did you break up with me that way?” Gunner asked. He deserved answers and she knew it. Paige didn’t dart away or changed the topic, a tactic she normally employed when she wanted to avoid discussing an important matter. That was the girl he knew in the past. The woman in the present met his gaze.
“I was a coward. Hurting you was never my intention. I was so madly in love with you. But I didn’t have the courage to face you,” she admitted.
Gunner unthinkingly reached over and clasped her fingers. She tensed, and that reaction told Gunner everything he needed to know. That Richard Montgomery had done more damage to Paige than he thought. He released her, then said, “I’m not asking you out to get back at you. We were both teenagers back then, and we’ve both made our share of mistakes.”
“You really believe that?” Paige asked him.
Gunner’s phone buzzed again. Another message from Brick. “I do,” he told her. “Paige, if we’re on the same page, then I want you to know I want a start fresh. You’ve been the only woman for me. Even now, I’m still crazy about you.”
Paige sucked in a breath, as if she never expected that. Gunner wondered if revealing that now would prove too much for her. Too overwhelming.
“I’m not ready to date yet,” Paige told him finally. Before disappointment settled inside him, Paige continued, not meeting his gaze. “I just divorced Richard a month ago. I need more time. Of course, I don’t expect you to wait for me.”
Pain briefly flickered in her eyes, and Gunner wondered what awful memories she was reliving. It didn’t matter if the man she had married came from an old family dripping with wealth and connections. An abusive asshole would never change his stripes. Anger stirred inside him. If Paige belonged to him, he’d never harm a single hair on her beautiful head. He’d cherish and own her forever.
He pushed his anger aside. The urge to put his arm around her and comfort her arose, but that might only make things awkward. For now, Gunner decided he could be her friend.
“I’ll wait,” Gunner said. “I have all the time in the world.”
Paige seemed surprised by his answer.
“When’s your first day at your new job?” Gunner asked her.
“Tomorrow,” she said, looking excited again. She loved books, he recalled. Working at a bookstore would be enjoyable for her.
“Then I’ll drop by with lunch tomorrow,” Gunner said.
“Okay,” she whispered.“It was good seeing you again, Gunner.”
“Same here.”
****
“What’s eating you? You were quiet during the entire meeting,” Brick said.
Gunner and Brick just exited the Chaos Riders MC clubhouse. Since King had taken Prudence, the daughter of Chaos Riders MC’s President, as his old lady, their two clubs had become allies.
“I figured you had it handled,” Gunner answered.
Brick stopped in front of their Harleys and placed a warning hand on his shoulder. Gunner admittedly had been distracted during the entire meeting. He kept thinking of his lunch with Paige and if he could’ve done things differently. His thoughts eventually moved to Richard Montgomery. He made a mental note to ask Whizz, the MC’s tech specialist, for a personal favor. A man like Richard Montgomery wouldn’t take defeat lying down easily. Sure, he might’ve signed the divorce papers, but was there more Paige wasn’t telling him?
“Gunner, I took you with me because I value your input,” Brick finally said. “Unlike some of the meatheads in the MC, you’re calm and level-headed.”
Guilt suddenly hit him. “I understand, and I’m sorry. I had something else on my mind.”
Brick clasped his shoulder. “Let’s get an early dinner, some beer, and we can talk about it.”
“Fine.” Gunner went along with it because he could use some food, beer, and a friend to confide in.
They rode to the roadside bar on the outskirts of town. Gunner and Brick nodded to a couple of bikers from the Chaos Riders MC lingering outside the roadhouse. They nodded back.
Inside, the bar was crowded. Not surprising, given it was a Friday night. They found two empty spots by the bar. They ordered burgers, fries, and beers. They ate their dinner first.
“So, you finally going to tell me what’s bothering you?” Brick asked. The other biker was on his second beer. Both of them had a high tolerance for alcohol, but Gunner would limit himself to two beers just in case. Sure, they were technically safe. The Chaos Riders were their allies, but it never hurt to be careful.
“I saw PaigeWilcox today,” he said.
“Paige. Why does that name sound familiar?” Brick asked, scratching his head. “Wait, ain’t that the girl who broke your heart when you were a teenager?”
