Page 14 of The Biker and the Single Mom

"Completely serious. I can't pay much at first, but it's steady. Normal hours, so you can pick up Luna from preschool. And honestly, I just really like you. I think we'd work well together."

Normal work. Steady income. A friend who wanted me around, not because she pitied me but because she genuinely liked having me there.

"Yes," I said, probably too fast. "God, yes. Thank you, Maddie. You have no idea what this means."

"I think I do." Her smile was knowing, warm. "We all need a fresh start sometimes. Welcome to Sweet Salvation, Rory."

She hugged me again, and I blinked back tears. Two weeks ago I'd been terrified and running. Now I had a home. A man who protected us. A daughter who was finally happy. And a friend offering me the kind of normal I'd been craving for years.

"When do I start?" I asked.

"How about tomorrow? Six AM. I'll teach you everything you need to know."

"I'll be here."

The clinic closed at five, but Doc kept me there helping with inventory while Luna colored on the floor with a box of crayons he'd given her. The space was basic—a back room behind the clubhouse with shelves of supplies, a treatment table, and the bare essentials. Nothing official. Nothing that would attract questions.

Domestic and easy, like we'd been doing this for years instead of weeks.

"Can you grab the gauze from the top shelf?" he called from the supply closet.

I stretched up on my toes, fingers just brushing the box. "I'm too short."

"I noticed." He appeared behind me, his body pressing against mine as he reached over my head to grab the gauze. The contact made my breath catch. He lingered there a moment longer than necessary, his mouth close to my ear. "Better?"

"Much." My voice came out breathier than intended.

My breath caught. His palm slid to my waist, thumb stroking the strip of skin where my shirt had ridden up. I registered his heart hammering against my back.

"Rory—"

The clinic door burst open.

Matt stood in the doorway with two men in police uniforms flanking him.

Everything in me went cold.

"There you are." Matt's smile was all wrong—too wide, too sharp. "We've been looking everywhere for you, baby."

Doc moved in front of me so fast I barely saw it. One second I was frozen, the next I was behind him, his body a wall between me and my ex-husband.

"Luna," I managed, my voice shaking. "Luna, go hide. Behind the desk."

"But Mama⁠—"

"NOW."

She must have heard something in my tone because she grabbed Mr. Hops and scrambled behind the desk in the corner. Smart girl.

"You need to leave." Doc's voice was flat. Deadly. "Now."

"I don't think so." Matt took a step forward, and the two cops moved with him. "That's my wife. My daughter. And you're harboring them illegally."

"Ex-wife," I said, finding my voice. "We're divorced, Matt. You signed the papers."

"A mistake. One we're going to fix." His gaze slid over me, assessing. "You've lost weight. Not taking care of yourself. See? You need me."

"Those aren't local badges," a new voice observed.