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There was someone walking around my house, and I knew it wasn’t Rocky.
The footsteps were too heavy and purposeful.
Rocky was fast and all over the place.
Not Rocky at all.
“Hello?” I called and instantly felt foolish. Who calls out hello when they hear strange footsteps in their house? I should have hidden under the bed instead of freely calling out for the intruder to come find me.
I had a good idea of who was walking around my house, but I needed to know for sure.
I had told Cue Ball to basically throw me out of the van when we got home, but I don’t think he listened to me.
“Doll?” he called from down the hallway.
“You’re in my house,” I stated.
I heard him move down the hallway toward my room. “Yeah.”
“Why are you in my house?” I asked.
He appeared in the doorway and rested his arm above his head on the doorframe. If I wasn’t in so much pain, I could have fully appreciated how handsome the man was. Hell, even with a raging headache, I couldn’t ignore how fine he was. “How are you feeling?” he asked.
Totally ignored my question. He was good at that. “My head hurts and for some reason, my right foot is throbbing. Why are you in my house?”
“Doc gave me meds for your head, and I’ll need to take a look at your foot. I’m sure you’re going to start feeling sore all over.”
Oh, goody, something to look forward to. “My house,” I called. “Why are you in my house?” The hell with my foot and head. Why was this man still in my house? He had helped me last night, and I really appreciated it, but I needed to get back to reality. The reality where Cue Ball was not in my house. “And where is Rocky?” I asked.
“At school. He slept until about ten thirty, and then wanted to go to school because he was worried you would be mad if he skipped the whole day,” Cue Ball explained.
“You took him to school?” And I wouldn’t have been mad at him for not going to school. One day wouldn’t have made a difference.
Cue Ball nodded. “Yeah. He said he was thankful his friends didn’t see him get out of the van. Made me promise the next time I take him to school that we take my bike.”
Next time? Why on earth would there be a next time? “There won’t be a need for next time, and how did you sign him in?”
Cue Ball shrugged. “I walked him into the office. Rocky told them what happened last night, and they sent him off to class. I’m sure you’ll get a phone call or something, but they seemed good with me dropping him off.”
My child went into school with a man who was a stranger to the school.
I was going to be the talk of the next PTA meeting. Not like I went to the PTA meetings, but you know. “Thank you for taking him to school, but you can go now. I can handle things.” More like fix things from here. I’m sure there was an email or two waiting for me, needing to know what was going on.
“Uh, you can handle the school thing, but I’m not going anywhere, doll.”
I closed my eyes. “What do you mean, you are not going anywhere?” I asked.
“You’re connected to the club, and until we figure out who blew up the gym, I’m here.”
My eyes snapped open. “No.”
“No?” Cue Ball laughed.
“Yes, no. I don’t accept anything you just said. I am not connected to the club, and you do not need to stay in my house like a watchdog. I am fine. Please go.” I opened my eyes and shooed my hand at Cue Ball. “Bye.” I wasn’t going to be a burden to Cue Ball and the club.
He shook his head and smirked. “You’re cute when you’re trying to be bossy.”
“I’m not cute, but I am bossy. There is no trying to it. I don’t need you here.” I was fine on my own.
Cue Ball raised his hand. “The only way I am leaving is when we know who tried to kill you. So for that to happen, you need to tell me who it is that blew up the gym. Was it someone connected to you? Maybe your ex?”
I wrinkled my nose. “What? Why would I know that? And no. I haven’t seen or spoken to my ex for ten years. If he blew up the gym, he has been holding a grudge for a long time. It was obviously someone who has a problem with the club,” I pointed out.
“Then why did they do it to you?” he asked.
“I wasn’t even supposed to be there. It was Faye’s day to work. I was filling in for her because her car broke down.”
“Then it’s someone who has a problem with Faye.”
“Or the club,” I insisted. “Faye and I do not deal in shady things that would warrant someone wanting to blow us up.”
“And neither does the club.”
“Well, then, I guess you can go, and we’ll just chalk it up to a freak accident, yeah?”
Cue Ball shook his head. “Nope. I’m here until we figure out what is going on. Like it or hate it, that is what it is.”
“No,” I moaned.
“You hungry?” he asked.
“Are you just going to ignore me?”
He nodded. “If it has anything to do with me leaving, yes. Everything else, I’ll listen.”
I grabbed my pillow and covered my face. I let out a frustrated scream and flailed my legs.
“Better?” Cue Ball called.
I took the pillow off my face and threw it in his direction. It, of course, didn’t hit him because my body was still sore all over. “This isn’t fair. What is Rocky going to think? Some strange man is suddenly living with us?”
Cue Ball shrugged. “He seemed to take it a lot better than you are, and he’s going to think I’m keeping you safe because that is what I told him I was doing.”
“You told him you were staying?” I asked. Where in the heck did this man get his gall?
“Uh, yeah. He’s a smart kid, Olive. Not like I could spin some lie, and he would fall for it. I told him the same thing I just told you. He’s good with it.”
“Of course, he would be good with it. He thinks you are some amazing guy.” Cue Ball had this air about him that made you feel comfortable with him. Sure, he was sort of intimidating, but it was a comforting intimidation. Made zero sense, but that was what I felt when he was around.
He tipped his head to the side. “I’m trying not to be offended by that.”
“Ugh, you know what I mean. He’s a kid who only sees what is in front of him. He doesn’t see the big picture.” I saw it all, and I didn’t want any of it. I didn’t need Cue Ball watching my every move.
“You mean the big picture of me making sure you two are safe? No, I’m sure he gets that, Olive. The kid is pretty worried about the fact you were blown up not even a day ago.”
I flattened my lips. “That is not going to happen again.”
Cue Ball pushed off the door frame. “Yeah, you’re right. It’s not going to happen again because I’m going to make sure it doesn’t. Rocky is worried about you, and I’m going to help take that worry away from him.”
“You don’t even know us,” I pointed out. “No one in their right mind just uproots their whole life to help protect someone they just met.” This was crazy. Sure, I didn’t like that Rocky was worried about me, but I wasn’t sure Cue Ball moving in and being our guard dog was the right answer. What would happen after all of this was over, and then something else happens? Would Rocky think that someone would always swoop in and save the day?
“I wouldn’t say no one, doll. I know of nine other guys who would do the same exact thing I am doing.” He pointed at me. “Maybe call Faye and see if she is putting up as much of a fuss as you are.”
I rolled my eyes and sat up. “I can guarantee that Faye is not okay with one of you coming into her house.”
Cue Ball tipped his head to the side. “Call your girl, doll. You might be surprised.”
Faye was okay with one of the guys just taking over her life? I didn’t believe it. “I’m going to call her,” I warned.
Cue Ball winked at me. “Sounds good to me.” He headed down the hallway, whistling under his breath.
“I don’t want you here,” I called. “I have my life exactly how I want it.”
“You want lunch?” he called.
“I want you to leave.”
“I’m in the mood for a burger.”
I growled and folded my arms over my chest. “I’ll take mine with everything on it, but that doesn’t mean that I accept you being here.”
“Fries?”
I closed my eyes and laid back. “Onion rings. And also honey mustard.”
“You got it, doll.”
How had this happened?
Why was this happening?
I was obviously not the target of the gym blowing up, but I was somehow now swept up in it.
I didn’t want to be swept up in all of this.
It was more than enough for Cue Ball to come to the hospital last night, and then to even bring me home and take Rocky to school was great. But that was it.
That should be it!
But somehow, it was one o’clock in the afternoon, and I was still in bed while a hot biker was in my kitchen ordering me a burger and onion rings. With honey mustard.
I didn’t have a job, a car, or my phone, but I at least had lunch on the way.
And a hot biker in my kitchen.
Oh, lord.
*
