you, Kat.”
Tears leaked from her eyes, rolling down her cheeks to moisten his shoulder. Swiping at them, she fought to keep her emotions under control. Her father did love them.
“No one is ever safe, Luke. I don’t want to be the cause of anyone getting hurt.”
“We won’t let anything happen to you and your family, sweetheart.”
She looked up at him, fear shining in her intense gaze. “You don’t know that.”
“I know our abilities, Kat, and I trust my brothers. We are excellent at what we do.”
Tensing, she sat up to stare at him. “What do you really do, Luke? I grew up in an MC, and I know the Brethren aren’t typical. Not even close. Who are you, Lucas Henson?”
Well, hell. He’d been expecting the questions about the MC, just not this soon. Definitely not tonight.
“Well?”
“How much do you trust me, Kat?”
She thought a moment. He’d never lied, always been straight forward and truthful. And she’d fallen in love with him, which had to mean something.
“A great deal.”
Letting out a breath, he brought one of her hands to his mouth, kissing each finger. “You need to continue trusting me, sweetheart. There are things I can’t share with you.”
“Things about the club? About you?”
“Both.” Gunner held his breath, hoping she understood and would stick by him. Stick by them. He waited, getting no response.
Katrina thought of the club wives. She’d met most of them, all successful in their own right. Women she liked, respected. She wondered if they’d had the same conversation with their husbands.
Katrina shook her head. It was much too soon to consider a future with Gunner. No matter how she felt about him, he’d expressed nothing for her. She knew he cared about her, wanted her, but more?
Several minutes passed before she spoke. “Do you think there’ll ever come a time when you can share some of it with me?”
Staring into her almond-shaped, caramel eyes, his features softened. “I hope so, Kat.”
And he did. Gunner had thought his feelings for his former girlfriend, the woman he’d asked to marry him, were strong.
Lieutenant Commander Sage Montero had been everything he thought he wanted. A strong woman who excelled in her field. Smart, respected, on the fast-track, and independent. He’d loved her, or so he believed. Then it all fell apart.
She requested a transfer back east, walking away from him with an ease that had rocked him. Sage wasn’t interested in marriage or a family. Not with him or any man. Gunner could still remember her words when she flew to Liberty Lake for what he thought would be a romantic weekend. Instead, she’d ended it with a cursory kiss before walking away.
Months had passed with little contact with Sage, underscoring how far apart they’d become. Not even friends. Her choice, not his.
Then he’d met Katrina, the attraction immediate and so intense it stunned him. Over the months, his feelings had deepened until they were now lovers, and he had no intention of letting her go.
Rolling on top of her, he covered her mouth with his. They made slow, sweet love, bringing each other to release before falling asleep, their bodies tangled in each other.
Gunner woke to loud pounding on his front door, surprised the alarm hadn’t been triggered. Looking down, a smile spread across his face. Katrina slept across him, an arm and leg over him, her soft breaths feathering the hairs on his chest. God, he had it bad.
Kissing her, he carefully slid out from under her. Grabbing jeans, he shoved his legs into them before padding down the hall to the door. Touching a screen, he stilled at the image of the woman standing outside.
“Fuck.” Running fingers through his hair, he glanced behind him, a sick sense of foreboding wrapping around him. Letting out a breath, he drew the door open.
Sage stood on his porch, the seductive smile he’d fallen in love with meeting his gaze. “Good morning, Gunner.” She moved to walk inside when he lifted a hand, stopping her.
“What do you want, Sage?” He stepped outside, leaving the door open a crack.
Eyes widening, she took a good look at him, understanding hitting her in the gut. “You have company?”
“Not that it’s your business, but the woman I’m seeing is still asleep. I don’t intend to wake her. Now, answer my question. What do you want?”
For the first time since meeting her, Sage blanched. “I thought…well.” She clasped her hands in front of her. “I, um…wanted to let you know my transfer to the west coast