“Yep, got it. You do know I’m a decorated ex-marine, firefighter and badass biker. I got this, sweetheart.”

“I know, I know.” She bends down and kisses Low. I was surprised by her reaction when I told her Red pulled out and Jesse was in. She didn’t seem too worried. I think she likes Jesse more than me some days.

“Okay, let’s go.” She moves to Z, kissing him briefly before coming back to me.

“Call us if you need anything.” I nod to Jesse.

“I got it. Go.”

“Yeah, Dad, go,” Z repeats.

We walk out to my bike in silence. The only sound in the air is Kadence’s fuck-me heels clicking on the pavement.

“You okay?” I ask when I place the helmet on her head.

“Yeah.” She nods but I can see a small amount of unease in her.

“You look fuckin’ beautiful.” I kiss her hard and her hands come around my waist, pulling me closer.

“You look sexy.” She bites at my lip, sending pain from my mouth straight to my dick.

Fuck, I forgot about the fucking pill. “You ready?” I cut the kiss short, pulling back to help her on my bike.

“Where we going?”

“Got us a table at Moda.”

“You got a table at Moda?” Shock laces her voice as a smile graces her face. I can’t blame her for being shocked. A man like me, eating at fucking Moda. I wouldn’t normally, but my woman deserves a special night out, so I’ll eat at the stupid over-priced place.

“Yeah, baby.” I place a kiss on her lips and tap her helmet. She doesn’t reply. The huge grin is enough to tell me I did good.

“Do you think the kids will be okay?’ She looks back at the house. I don’t have to see her face to know she’s freaking a little.

“Yeah, baby. You know I give Jesse shit, but I trust him with my life.”

“Yeah, me too.” She turns back and gives me one of her smiles.

“Let’s go.” I straddle the bike in front of her, reaching my arm back to move her closer.

“Is it weird that I’m nervous?” she whispers close to my ear. I turn my body to face her. Her worries are my worries. Her nerves are mine.

“Baby, you haven’t been on the back of my bike in over a year. I’d say it’s normal.” I try to reassure her, but my words do the opposite.

“Has it been that long?”

“Yeah,” I nod, hating the truth of that one word.

“Damn.” She looks down at her hands. I twist further around, forcing her chin up with my finger.

“There’s been a lot of things we haven’t done this year, baby, and that’s okay. We don’t have to rush. We’ve got forever.” I lean in and kiss her.

“I just wish our journey was different.” She doesn’t look me in the eyes, and it guts me that she thinks that.

“It might have been a tough year, Kadence, but it’s been the best one of my life. You gave me Low, gave Z a mom, and made us a family again. We might have lost ourselves along the way, but we’re findin’ those people again, and I don’t think anythin’ could take that away.”

Her eyes shine with unshed tears so I kiss her again, stopping with the mushy shit.

“Let’s go.” I smile, turn back and start the bike. The engine roars to life as Kadence’s fingers dig into my cut and I’m thrown back to the first night I had her on the back of my bike. The Kadence from that night, only slightly resembles the woman now sitting behind me, but I don’t let it get to me. Instead, I focus on giving my wife one hell of a date. Later, I will worry about bringing the sassy, fiery woman back to me.

***

“What do you mean you don’t have me down?” My voice rises and Kadence’s grip in my hand gets tighter.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have your reservation here, sir.” The young blonde standing in front of me tells me for the second time.

“Well, I called and booked it. So I suggest you find a table for my wife and me. Now,” I grind out as she nods carefully.

“Give me a moment, sir.” She turns and leaves us standing there.

We walked in two minutes ago, after a quick detour to the clubhouse to pick up the pill Brooks left me. I didn’t tell Kadence what I was doing. She waited outside while I raced in to get it. I didn’t ask Brooks when to take it, so instead of calling him, I quickly googled it on my phone. Some people said to take it a few hours before you planned on needing it, so I quickly slipped it down without any water and met Kadence at the front.

“It’s okay, Nix. We don’t have to eat here.” She pulls on my arm, but I don’t give a shit what the waitress is saying. I booked it.

“Yes, we do. I fuckin’ booked it.” I keep my eye on the girl as she moves through the restaurant back to us.

“I’m sorry, sir, but we can’t help you.”

My fist comes down on the front desk causing her to step back.

“Damn it,” I curse, watching a man walk forward.

“I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

“This is bullshit,” I begin, but Kadence steps in between me and the fucking punk.

“Let’s go, baby.”

“Kadence.”

“No, let’s go to the bar. It will be like our first date.”

“You kicked me in the balls our first date, baby,” I remind her, still eyeing off the fucker who thinks he’s tough.