“Move aside so I can get in. It’s freezing tonight.”
I glance over my shoulder at my locked door. “I...I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Reagan.” His voice softens. “Please. Let me in. I wanna talk to you.”
I bite my lip, my pulse racing. Every instinct screams at me to say no, to close the window and pretend this isn’t happening. But it’s Shane. I can’t say no to him.
When I step back, he climbs through the window. His boots land softly on my floor. In this room, he looks like a giant. A very beautiful one. For a second, I forget about the cold and my mother and this night.
“What are you doing here?” I whisper, wrapping my arms around myself. “Club kicked you out?”
He laughs as he closes the window. “Why? You want me out and back in school to be a good boy for ya?”
No. I want him to stay in the MC, to take me to live there with him, to be the bad boy people fear so he can protect me forever. But I don’t say a word about it. I just shake my head.
“No one can kick me out, kiddo. Mark my words. I’m gonna run that place one day.”
That would be nice. If he were, he wouldn’t say no to my living there like that man who calls the shots. If only… “Why are you here then?”
“You mean ya don’t know?”
Should I? I search my brain for an answer. “You must need a place to stay for some reason. Why the window, though? You could’ve just used the front door. Mom and Dad love you. They’d be very happy to see you. They’d be even happier if you stayed for the night.”
“There’s another boy staying in the spare room.”
“So? Mason is your friend. You can share the bed.”
“Mason,” he spits the name. “You getting friendly withMason, Reagan?”
“Not really.” I look down. “I don’t really have many friends.” Any. “I mean, he’s our neighbor, but he’syourfriend, not mine.I’m sure you’ll have no trouble with the sleeping arrangement. You two will figure something out.”
“I’d rather be sharing this bed.” He winks. “With my baby girl.”
A giggle slips out of my lips. I slap a hand over my mouth before my mother hears me.
His finger touches my chin and lifts my gaze to his. “What’re ya laughin’ at? Don’t believe me?”
I don’t know how he does it. Two minutes ago, my teeth were chattering. Now, one touch of his, and I’m a furnace. “Have you seen where I sleep, Shane? No one in their right mind would want to share this bed.” Definitely not with this girl.
“Oh yeah?” He kicks off his boots and lies down on the mattress.
I stifle another laugh. He doesn’t share my sarcastic humor, though. His eyebrows hook as he inspects the bed and my blanket. “Fuck. This is…” He swears some more, his eyes angry at the walls. “Hey.” He jumps to his feet and rubs his hands over my arms. “You must be freezing in here.” He takes his cut off and makes me wear it. Then he reaches out and cups my cheek.
My heart beats so loud he might hear it. He steps closer, and I have to tilt my head back to meet his gaze. He’s not looking me in the eye, though. He’s staring at my lips.
“Shane,” I gasp for a breath, “why are you here?”
“I’m here for you.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. You. I don’t want ya alone in the house with another boy.”
“What?” Confusion swamps me for a minute until I realize what he means. He thinks like my mother. I’m just a little slut who will throw herself at his friend.
I push his hand off my face and shrug his stupid cut off. “I’m not a whore, you know?”
He wraps the jacket back around my shoulders. “Think I don’t know that? You’re the most innocent girl I ever saw.”