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“I know. I fucked up.” I grab her hand, and she doesn’t pull back. “I hate that they’re doing this, and I hate that I don’t have answers. I didn’t want to scare you when I don’t have a plan yet.”

“I don’t need you to make a plan for me. I need honesty.”

“Understood. I’m sorry.”

Harloe presses her lips together, not pushing me away or pacing anymore, so I take that as a win. Her shoulders sink, and worry brews in her blue eyes.

She’s the one to take a step toward me this time. “Tell me what’s going on. I want to hear everything.”

Maybe I shouldn’t. After all, some of it is classified as club business. But the vulnerability in her eyes makes it impossible to lie to this girl, so I tell her everything I know about the fire and the farmers market. Including the fact that we tracked down the person who trapped her in her apartment.

She freezes with that admission but doesn’t ask for details when I promise the man who tried to kill her has been dealt with. She’s right; she can handle a lot more than her brothers or I have given her credit for, and it makes me feel like a complete asshole.

By the time I’m done, she’s biting her lip and hugging her stomach. “I really don’t know why anyone would be after me.”

Cupping her face, I brush my thumbs over her cheek. “Let me worry about that, then.”

“Shane—”

I shake my head. “I know, you’re a badass, cowgirl. You don’t need anyone fixing your problems or telling you what to do. You’re strong, and you have nothing to prove to me. I understand that. But I will not let anyone hurt you. And even if you hate me for it, I will protect you. For your sake, but also because I’m selfish. I can’t stand the thought of anything happening to you, Harloe. I wouldn’t survive it.”

She pulls her lower lip between her teeth. “You kind of like me, huh?”

“I like you a lot.” I lean in, stealing a kiss before I say something else that takes this so far past casual that there’s no going back.

I’ve never put words to this feeling stirring in my chest. All I know is that I think about Harloe every second of the day. She makes me laugh. She makes me feel alive. She makes me feel worthy. Her laugh is my favorite sound, and her happiness is the light at the end of this cold, dark tunnel I’ve been living in. There isn’t a thing about Harloe that bothers me.

Even when she’s being stubborn or I’m pissing her off, there’s a connection I can’t deny.

Stepping close, I angle her chin up and deepen the kiss.

How am I supposed to climb on my bike and meet with my president when he’s going to want to know when I’m coming back to Vegas? This girl is water in the desert, and I’m not going to survive leaving her.

I cup Harloe’s ass and sweep her into my arms, carrying her to my bike and setting her on the seat as she wraps herself around me. We’re shaded by a tree, but the heat is still a little muggy with the light breeze. Harloe’s bare legs hug my hips as I tease the hem of her short shorts. The heat of her pussy through the fabric turns me rock hard.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, pressing our foreheads together. “I should have told you, but nothing can happen to you, Harloe. I couldn’t fucking stand it.”

My voice cracks. The thought of anyone laying a hand on her has me going out of my mind. She thinks I’ve been overprotective so far. She has no idea the extent of what I’ll do to keep her safe.

She must sense it because she doesn’t argue or tell me she doesn’t need me looking out for her this time. Her eyes open, and she accepts the frustration rolling out of me.

“Nothing bad is going to happen,” she says, comforting me when I should be comforting her. “You’ll keep me safe. You won’t let anything bad come my way. You’ll protect me like you protect your club, right?”

“With my life,” I promise.

“Then show me,” she says.

“Show you what?”

“Show me, Venom.”

Fucking hell.

I grab her ass and pull her to me. Who knew three words could take me out at the knees. Her eyes are hooded, dripping with lust as she rocks her hips against me. And I realize Harloe doesn’t need comfort in the form of promises right now. She needs physical reassurance. Action.

I swore I’d keep her safe, and she wants to see the man who intends to do that. The man I am for my club when shit goes bad. When I walk into the line of fire because I’ll do anything to get the people I care about out alive.

I grab her chin, forcing her to look at me when her eyes start to flutter closed. “Don’t close your eyes.”