Coyote (Hawks MC Next Generation #1) - Lila Rose Page 0,33

Glancing down, I saw his strong, large hand wrapped around my wrist. Huh, it looks good there. But nope, I wasn’t going to think that way.

“Channa.” His voice was deep, yet surprisingly gentle.

“Uh-huh?” I replied.

“Eyes, angel,” he ordered, and of course my body reacted. I looked up. “Wanna tell me how you knew my name?”

Shit.

“No?” I asked.

He chuckled. “Sorry, but I gotta know.”

Bite me on the arse.

Sighing, I bit my bottom lip and tilted my head to the side while my mind ran over all different scenarios. All of them were terrible.

Straightening, I nodded. All right, I could do this. I could. “I knew you from high school before I left. You saved me one day in the gym when I was humiliated. Thanks, nice knowing you. I have to go. Bye.” I raced through my words and then swiftly made my way up to the front of my house.

I ran like a chicken. I’d be fine if I never had to face him again.

“Channa,” Cody called.

Unlocking my front door, I turned and waved. “Thanks again. Later—I mean goodbye.” There, that was final. I stepped through the door, shut and locked it before leaning against the wood.

Groaning, I dropped my head into my hands and cringed.

I was an idiot, a fool, and stupid.

Even my stomach was revolting and twisting over my actions. I just ran. Ran.

God, was he still out there? I couldn’t even bring myself to look. Suddenly, I jumped when the dog door was attacked by my two babies fighting to get through first. I slid myself down to the floor, resting my back against the front door and waited. It only took seconds, but Coco was first, Harley close behind her as they rushed towards me.

“Hello, my babies,” I cooed as they layered me in kisses. Others might get nauseous from the thought of dogs licking and jumping on them, but I loved it when they got so excited to see me. They were my family after all, and I was just as thrilled to see them. They even had me relaxing after what I’d just done.

“Mommy made the biggest fool out of herself,” I told them.

Coco sat on her rear end studying me while Harley ran off to, no doubt, get a toy for me to throw.

Reaching out, I ran a hand over her head and down her back. “Looks like you’ll be stuck with me forever. I just don’t have the skills to get a boyfriend.” Except, there was what Denise said about me having a chance with Bryson, but he wasn’t who got my butterflies fluttering. Instead, they were interested in one man. I shook my head. “Not that I want to date Cody.”

I didn’t. And I would keep telling myself that.

Chapter Nine

Coyote

I was damn amused by how Channa acted. She seemed shy and uncomfortable, but I was sure there was interest for me in her eyes. Hell, I had to admit I liked her. I’d realized it even more since I looked forward to seeing her. I woke up thinking about her, went to work wondering what she was doing. But for the life of me, I couldn’t think what she meant about school, and that shitted me. I’d saved her? In the gym? Nothing came to mind. At least not right then, but I’d figure it out while I gave her time, since it was obvious she’d been embarrassed by what had happened back then.

Making my way towards the bakery where my ride sat, I pulled out my phone and rang the one person who could help jog my memory.

“Yo, bro, what’s happening?”

“Doc.” I smiled into the phone when she sighed. “Need your help on somethin’.”

“Someone hurt?”

“No, nothin’ like that. Do you remember a girl around your age in high school that left because of something happenin’? Somethin’ I apparently helped her with, but obviously I never saw her again because I can’t remember the situation at the moment?”

“Let me think for a second,” she said. “While I’m doing that, let me tell you what happened here.”

Fuck.

“Dad sat me down and gave me a lecture about moving out and not taking the opportunity to get my feet under me and save money to put to my future. Cody, it went on for an hour. One. Hour.”

“How’d it end up?” I asked.

“I promised I would give it a thought and mentioned I’m not his little girl anymore. I’ve grown up.”

Shit.

“How’d he take that?”

She groaned. “He had a tantrum, telling me I would always