Ava
He’s a good man. He fixed me a feast, and he’s still sitting here watching me as if I’m going to fall apart at any minute. I’m shoveling in the food he made as he watches me. I should be embarrassed by the way I’m scarfing it down, but I’m not. “Mmmmm, this is good.”
He smirks at me over his mug. “Thanks.”
He looks big and tough, but he’s obviously a marshmallow. When Cassie said I should come here, she said they would take care of me. I assumed a biker club could handle it, and honestly, by looking at the guys last night, I still believe it. But also, there’s a sense of guilt that overcomes me, like maybe I shouldn’t have brought this to their door.
“What’s wrong? If you don’t like it, I can fix you something else.”
I’m brought from my thoughts to Tank looking at me worriedly. I shake my head, trying to block the guilt. “No, this is perfect. Thank you.”
But he’s not going to give up. He obviously saw it on my face. “What’s the look for?”
I shake my head. “Nothing.” I look outside, and the sun has almost fully set. “Have you been waiting all day for me to wake up? Did I make you miss work?”
“No, needed to get some things done around here anyway. The mall is closed. Do you want to go tomorrow to get some clothes and things you need?”
Instantly I shake my head. Nope, I’m not adding to the guilt. I have no money for things like that. “I have clothes, and that drawer you got in there has anything else I may need. I found an unopened toothbrush last night, so I’m good.”
“What about clothes?”
I jump up and grab his plate. Heck, I can’t pay him rent or anything, not yet, but I can at least help out around here. “I can wear what I have on.”
He doesn’t say anything, but I hear him get out of his chair and come toward me. I’m washing the dishes when I feel his warmth next to me. He’s holding a towel in his hands, and I hand him a plate that has been cleaned.
“I’ll go and pick out stuff tomorrow for you.”
I clench my eyes shut and then open them without looking at him. “I don’t have the money to—"
He interrupts me. “I’ll pay for it.”
I shake my head. “No, you’ve done enough already. Look, I’m sorry I pinned this on you. I didn’t have anywhere else to go, and when Cassie said you’d help me, I wasn’t going to come. I didn’t come here until I had no other choice.”
I’m staring into the sink, and Tank reaches for me, pulling my chin up so I’m looking at him. “I’m glad you came here.”
I blink up at him. “I am too, but I’ve already put you out enough. I’ll get a job somehow and earn my way.”
He shakes his head, smiling. “Cassie didn’t tell me you were stubborn. Let’s make a deal. You let me get you some clothes.” He holds his hand up to stop me when I open my mouth to argue with him. “You’ll have to have some to get a job anyway—and then you can pay me back.”
I watch him closely because something tells me he’s not going to let me pay him back. “You promise you’ll let me pay you back?”
He nods. “I promise.”
I continue washing the last of the dishes, handing them to him to dry. “Okay, but we’ll just go to the supercenter, and I’ll get something there. I don’t need anything fancy.”
He nods. “Well, they’re open twenty-four hours, and I doubt you’ll be ready for bed soon. You want to go now?”
I look at him curiously. “What about you? Are you not tired? I can go whenever you want to.”
He nods his head. “I’m ready when you are.”
We finish wiping down the counter, and I tell him I’ll be right back. I go and put my socks and tennis shoes on and change out of his oversized shirt. I fold it up and put it under my pillow, not ready to give it back yet. And then I grab my crossbody purse. Heck, there’s nothing in it I can use, but I still take it with me.
Tank is waiting for me by the front door, and he smiles when he sees me. I try to ignore the way my heart starts to race at just the way he looks at me.
He opens the door for me, and I start walking toward the motorcycle, but he stops me by grabbing on to my hand. “I figure a truck would be easier if we’re bringing stuff back.”
He leads me to a garage at the side of the house. He hits something in his hand, and the bay door opens up. He opens the passenger side door, and I try not to let his gentlemanlike behavior get the best of me. When he helps me in and closes the door once I’m settled, I watch him walk around to the driver’s side. Never in a thousand years did I expect to meet someone like Tank when I left Nashville. I definitely didn’t expect to feel safe with someone that I’d met twenty-four hours ago, but right now, I feel safer than I ever have.