“Did you not think I’d call?” I pressed gently.
“I wasn’t sure,” she admitted with a sigh.
“Sweets, I’m gonna call you every day until I can see you again,” I assured her. “Now, you didn’t respond to me earlier. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she murmured sleepily. “I’m sorry. I was surprised you had reached out. I guess I’m not used to it.”
I knew she had grown used to people avoiding her because of her family. “Get used to it,” I replied, knowing I was coming on strong and not giving a single fuck about it. “I know you probably need your sleep, but will you tell me about the rest of your day first?”
“It was fine.” I could hear the shy smile in her voice. “Nothing too exciting. I made some dinner and watched some TV.”
“What did you watch?” I asked, settling deeper into my covers, wishing she was next to me.
“Uh….” She trailed off and I would swear I could hear her blush. “I forget.”
I grinned. “You forget? Baby.” My tone was tenderly admonishing.
“Fine. It wasSons of Anarchy,” she grumbled.
I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped. “Baby, I’ll give you the real thing,” I assured her when I’d pulled it together, my wide grin the only remnant of my laughter.
She let out an embarrassed groan. “I suck at lying.”
“I don’t want you to be a good liar,” I assured her. “I just want you to be you. Now, what time do you normally go to sleep?”
“Around eight,” she replied.
“I’ll call you earlier tomorrow,” I promised. “But if you need me, you text. You call. I’m here. All right?”
A beat passed before she answered. “All right. And Maddox?” Her voice was so fucking sweet.
“Yeah, baby?”
“I don’t doubt you’re even better than the real thing.”
Fuck. I was so gone over this woman it wasn’t even funny. Now I just needed to get her to feel the same way.
Chapter 4
FRANCESCA
How’s my girl?
The text came in from Maddox a month later as I was curled up on the couch in my apartment above the bakery. Aside from our first meeting, we hadn’t seen each other in person but we’d talked daily either via text or on the phone.
I blushed at his referring to me as his girl. Despite my attraction to him and the connection I felt to him, I was still skeptical things could work between us. I may not have supported my uncle’s way of life, but Maddox’s club didn’t necessarily trust that. Nor would my uncle ever accept a relationship between us without a fight.
It felt like an uphill battle that although worth it if we succeeded, might not be winnable at all.
I wasn’t sure I could risk the heartbreak if we failed. I’d lost everyone close to me. Letting him in and losing him was impossible to contemplate, despite only having known him such a short time. As it was he already felt like an integral part of my life. His texts and calls gave me something to look forward to, something beyond the small world I’d been trapped inside.
Good. Just curled up with a movie.
How was your day?
Meh.
I set my phone down when he didn’t reply right away and turned eyes back to the movie I’d just started. It had been a slow day at the bakery, but I’d still been on my feet for most of it and I was excited to curl up and eat some calorie-ridden takeout that I had yet to order and crash early.