“What do you think?” Jayden stood at her side.
She gripped a railing and blew out a breath. “It’s amazing.”
“It’s home for you now.”
“That’s hard to believe.”
“Believe it, babe.”
Babe?
Tammy studied the tall, gruff biker at her side as he sparked up and blew out a stream of smoke. The sun glinted off his shades, and his two-day-old stubble was dark and heavy on his jawline.
“That son of a bitch will get what’s coming to him. He’s gonna burn, and then he’s gonna keep burning in hell.”
Jayden’s words came back to her. He’d threatened to burn and kill her son-of-a-bitch husband.
It should alarm her. Murder wasn’t to be condoned. But the truth was his words were comforting. Jayden was more than just a friend to help, or even just a guy in her corner. He was a law unto himself. He wasn’t scared of anything, or so it seemed, and even without the gun he kept pressed against the small of his back, she was sure he’d handle Gary with ease.
Gary’s head would explode if he’d seen her standing close to Jayden, telling him the secrets she’d been forced to keep under the threat of a beating.
But standing here now, she felt her strength returning. Finally, she had the clarity of mind to see things as they were. Her past was in the past, and now she had to think of the future, for her and Zak’s sake.
Perhaps she was smarter and braver than she gave herself credit for. Jayden had told her that, so maybe she should have a go at believing him.
“You glad you came for a ride?” he asked.
“Yes. I am.”
The door opened, and Mo carried a tray to a table in the shade. It was tucked beside a giant cactus with spines the size of knitting needles.
“Thanks, Mo.” Jayden toed out his cigarette. “Just wait ’til you try this.” He sat at the table and reached for a spoon.
Tammy sat next to him, so she could still admire the view. Her stomach rumbled, and she realized she hadn’t eaten breakfast, despite making eggs for Zak and Jayden. “This looks amazing.”
“Sure is.” He hacked at his food then shoveled a huge wedge of pie into his mouth. “Mmm…”
Tammy tried it. The pastry melted on her tongue, and the sweet apple was spiced to perfection with cinnamon and nutmeg. “Yep, it’s good.” She ate more, and more, the view forgotten.
He laughed. “Yeah, you do like it.”
She wiped the back of her hand over her mouth. “Brooklyn was good to you boys. This is incredible.”
“Yeah, she was, still is. You want another slice?”
“No.” She reached for the glass of water Mo had also set down. “But thank you for ruining all other apple pies for the rest of my life.”
He laughed. “We’ll just have to come here whenever you want pie.” He set down his fork. His plate was clean. “Won’t we?”
She looked away. He’d made it sound like he would be there … in her future. But that couldn’t happen. Could it?
“What’d I say?” he asked, his voice softer than before.
“Nothing. Forget it.”
“Look at me.” He touched her shoulder, lightly, softly. “Tammy.”
She turned to him. Emotions suddenly warred inside of her. Perhaps it was the sugar. His big hand was gentle on hershoulder, the warmth of it going through her t-shirt. “Why are you here, Jayden?”