Brick Brick (Knights Corruption MC - Next Generation, #4) - S. Nelson Page 0,122

tomorrow because Tag had to take his mom for a checkup. So far, her prognosis was positive, which was a huge weight off the prospect’s back. I’d gotten to know him a bit more since giving him my blessing to date my cousin. We interacted more at the club, and he was always here at my place because Morgan was still staying with me, the new gallery keeping her in town longer than anticipated. Up until a week ago I wasn’t much fun to be around. I hadn’t been drunk all day every day, but it got bad there for a while.

My cell vibrated with another text. Ace needed me with him on Thursday at Indulge because he was interviewing for two open positions for security and wanted my input, seeing as how I used to do that job before I became a member of the Knights.

I typed out a quick reply to both messages and was on my way up the stairs to shower when I heard a car pull up outside. At first, I thought it was Morgan, as I’d lent her my truck earlier so she could run some errands, but then I remembered she dropped it back off, Tag picking her up a couple hours ago for dinner at his mom’s house.

Backtracking my way to the door, I peered outside and saw it was a white Jeep Cherokee. Months ago, I would’ve been on edge every minute, wondering who was showing up out of the blue, thinking it was an orchestrated hit from one of the Reapers. But things were different now, thankfully. No one had to constantly look over their shoulder while they went about their day-to-day lives.

The back door opened, and a woman stepped out, walking toward the back of the vehicle too quickly for me to see who it was. But when she started toward the house, there was no mistaking who it was.

Zoe.

Was my mind playing tricks on me?

Was she really here?

Coming to see me?

I rushed out onto the porch so fast I tripped over my feet, catching myself before I made more of a fool of myself. When she saw me, she stopped, looking up at me from the bottom step, her mass of red hair pulled up into a messy knot on top of her head, her bangs pushed to the side.

Zoe was known for her fashion sense, but as she stood before me in nothing more than a pair of white jeans and a plain V-neck green T-shirt, complete with a pair of white sneakers, I thought she’d never looked more beautiful.

“Hi.” Her soft voice melted my heart and all I wanted to do was demand she say it again.

“Hi,” I responded, tucking my hands into the pockets of my jeans, not knowing what else to say. All my hesitation came rushing back, and even though she’d come to see me, I didn’t want to do or say anything that would have her running away.

“I’m sorry to just drop in on you. Do you have a couple minutes?” She shifted her purse back onto her shoulder, her other hand resting on the handle of her suitcase.

“Of course.” When she walked up the first step, dragging her bag behind her, I snapped out of my daze and descended the steps to grab it for her.

“Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me for helping you, Zo.”

She smiled at me, and I all but crumpled to my knees, missing that look on her face. It seemed like forever since she looked at me like that, and I soaked it all up for as long as I could without looking like a wacko, grinning back at her in silence.

“Did you want to go inside or stay out here?” she asked, stepping onto the porch beside me.

Get it together, man.

“Sorry, I’m just in shock.” My eyes devoured the sight of her one more time before I swung my arm out to the side. “Let’s go inside. Do you want something to drink?” I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

“Some water would be nice.” She looked around my house as if she was seeing it for the first time, and I was thankful Morgan constantly tidied up, ever the neat freak.

I rushed to the kitchen and poured her a glass from the cooler, returning soon after, fearful she’d changed her mind and walked right back out the front door. But she was still here, standing next to the couch. The same couch we’d had sex