No one had moved, so we were still lined up on the sidewalk. I opened my mouth to answer, but John stepped in front of me, holding out a business card. “I’m John Boyer, and I run this hotel. This is the Rebel Saints motorcycle club and they are contracted as security for our casino.”
I could hardly believe how quickly the officer dismissed us on John’s word, simply writing down his name in a small notepad before telling us we were free to go.
Snake was still answering questions and the other cops were now walking around, collecting statements from the other Devil Riders as well. They’d probably be allowed to leave without incident since they hadn’t technically done anything wrong here, but they’d have to work for it.
It turned out there were advantages to doing honest security work.
Everyone felt a staggering relief that things had been resolved for today without escalating further, but I knew this wasn’t the end of my problems with Devil Riders or the cartel. I wasn’t sure which was worse, but I anticipated trouble on the horizon. If Rebel Saints was going to continue on this path of cleaning up Holbeck and keeping it that way, then we’d have to stay vigilant. There were real threats on all sides.
Most of my club members left after that and I made sure to thank each one of them. I stayed behind, determined to talk to Harper now. I didn’t care that she was at work or the place was still full of people watching and cops crawling all over the place.
I walked straight toward her, and Harper must have had the same to-hell-with-it mindset that I did, because as soon as I opened the door and walked into the building, she threw herself at me, going up on her tiptoes as she hugged my neck. A small noise escaped her mouth, and it appeared to be a combination of relief and desperation.
I held her just as tightly, my arms wrapping around her waist as I buried my face in her hair. I had missed the scent of her so damn much.
Finally, she pulled away, surprising me by slugging my arm with her little fist. “How dare you scare me like that! I thought that guy was going to hurt you. He looked so mad.”
“He was probably going to try,” I admitted. “I’ve got to say, I’ve never been so relieved to see the cops in my life.”
“Little different on this side of the law, huh?” She gave me a small, hesitant smile.
I remembered that we had something to talk about. “Come here,” I said, taking a hold of her hand and pulling her through the assembled crowd of people by the doors. I didn’t need a group of strangers to overhear what I was about to say. I pulled her over the middle of the lobby, where there was no one near us. “Listen,” I said, keeping my grip on her hand and taking her other one as well. “I made a mistake rejecting you. It was so stupid, because I realize now that I feel the same way you do. I’m crazy about you, Harper. I love you.”
She sucked in a sharp breath and tears swam in her eyes. “A-are you sure?”
“Absolutely,” I said confidently. “I didn’t realize it until you were gone, but I care more about you than any other woman I’ve ever had feelings for, even more than Amy. I think it freaked me out a little. It really messed me up when she cheated on me. I just … I think you were right when you said I was afraid. I was scared of how much it would hurt me if I lost someone I love even more. It’s a little embarrassing, but it’s hard for me to be vulnerable like that.”
“But … nothing’s changed. Aren’t you still afraid of that?”
“I think I’ll always be a little worried about it, but I’d rather live with that than end things now, because it’s too late. I’m already yours.”
Her smile was as bright as sunshine. “Really?”
I was a big believer in actions meaning more than words, so I pulled Harper’s body close and planted a kiss on her soft lips, trying to pour every emotion I had been trying to suppress into the kiss, to let her know, I was all in. I might not have wanted to love again but falling for Harper didn’t feel like a choice. It was impossible to avoid. This sexy, smart woman set my blood on fire and managed to cool my temper at the same time. She was meant to be mine.
When I pulled away, Harper looked up at me with happiness seeming to radiate from her.
“Would you wear an Old Lady cut?” I asked the question I never thought I’d ask again.
Harper smiled. “I hear that’s a big commitment. Are you sure?”
“Do I have to kiss you senseless again?”
She chuckled. “I wouldn’t say no to that, maybe later tonight? When you give me the cut-off jacket?”
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes,” she said. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
And I kissed her again, right there in the lobby, amazed that this woman got me to open my heart again.
Now, it belonged to her.