Edge Of Fear (Arrow's Edge MC Book 4) by Freya Barker (top rated books of all time .TXT) 📕

before we’re alone again. This time with furniture and moving boxes all over the place. What takes a lot longer is arranging the furniture to Sophia’s liking. Not that she has a lot, but she’s apparently very particular about the placement. She says the room needs to have a good ‘flow,’ whatever that means.

I swear I’ve lugged this massive couch all over the large open space until she finally decrees the first spot we had it in was best. The pattern is repeated for every piece of furniture I put my hands on, and by the time she’s settled on the right spot for the dining table, my muscles are burning. I need a break.

“Beer?”

I had the foresight to grab a few six-packs, while Sophia picked up some groceries, and I could really use one now.

“I think I’ll have a water, please.”

I grab both from the fridge and hand Sophia her bottle. Then I take her free hand and lead her to the sliding doors.

“I was just gonna finish—”

“Let’s take a break, we’ve been at it all day. Your bed is made, your food is in the fridge, there’s nothing that can’t wait for another day. Besides, we need to take in that beautiful view out there before the sun is completely gone.”

“All right.”

We sit down in the Adirondack chairs that came with the house.

The first thing I notice is the fresh mountain air and the absolute quiet. No fumes from Brick’s shop, no noise from the busy clubhouse. Nothing but a fucking great mountain view and a sense of peace.

Reaching for Sophia’s hand, I link my fingers with hers.

“It’s so pretty,” she whispers.

“It is.” I point at the spot off the deck. “I think that’s where the firepit should go. You could light a fire after the sun is down and the night chill sets in.”

“Yeah, I’d like that.”

She sounds a little melancholy and I glance over. Lifting her hand, I press a kiss to her knuckles.

“What’s on your mind?”

She shakes her head, keeping her eyes focused on the view.

“Kelsey loved the mountains. She would’ve loved this house; she talked about raising Finn somewhere away from the city. I wish she…”

Her voice trails off and I watch her swallow.

“Hey.” I give her fingers a squeeze. “I’m sure she’d be happy to know Finn is loved and will have a chance to experience the kind of life she wanted for him, both with Brick and Lisa, and here with you.”

“Yeah. I miss her, you know? So many times today I wished I could call her, talk to her, get her advice. A few times I even reached for my phone.”

Pretty sure we’re talking about more than the new house now, and I get the need for a friend right now.

“What about your sister?” I suggest carefully.

“She’s busy with her family. I’ll talk to her tomorrow morning.”

She yawns deeply, covering her mouth with her free hand.

“Tired?”

“A little,” she admits with a weak little smile.

“Maybe I should—”

Her fingers curl around mine, holding tight.

“Please stay.”

I lean over the armrest and curve my hand around the back of her neck, pulling her within kissing distance.

“I meant to say; maybe I should run out and pick us up a pizza. I fully plan to stay the night.”

Then I kiss her softly.

What I don’t tell her is I’d already thrown a change of clothes in the truck when I picked it up at the clubhouse. I’d feel much better leaving her here alone if she had a dog. Actually, that’s a lie, I’d feel much better sleeping in her bed every night, but I recognize that may not always be possible—or welcome for that matter—so a dog will have to do.

I have all of tomorrow morning to convince her.

CHAPTER 13

Sophia

“I FUCKIN’ LOVE your new bed.”

I roll over to find Tse awake, head resting in his hand, and his sleepy eyes on me.

“Yeah?”

The smile is automatic, despite spending the past ten minutes since I woke up worrying. Somehow one look at the sleep creases in his face, and the beard and hair going in every direction, blows the worries right out of my head.

He’s been awesome. Yesterday I probably wasn’t the most fun person to be around, but you wouldn’t have been able to tell from the way he treated me.

I don’t like the feeling of not having a handle on my life and frankly, yesterday morning I felt like the rug got pulled out from under me. My knee-jerk response to that was to behave like a dictator, keeping a tight hold on everything around me. The poor guy spent the whole afternoon moving furniture from one spot to the next until I deemed it perfect. To my surprise he didn’t complain once, although I’m sure it cost him.

“Scores better than the rickety old double I have in my room at the club.”

He rolls on his back and scoots up so he’s leaning his head and shoulders against the simple wooden headboard.

“That’s why I got rid of my old bed in Denver. My parents bought it for me when I went to college, and I hung on to it all those years. Never even replaced the mattress. I figured moving to a new place was as good a time as any to invest in a new bed.”

“Was a good buy. I slept like a log. How about you?”

He reaches for me and I willingly snuggle up to him, my head on his chest.

“I actually did too. More than I thought I would anyway.”

His fingers play with the short hair behind my ear and I snuggle in deeper, enjoying the rise and fall of his chest. He feels like an anchor, solid and strong enough to keep me afloat should I need it.

“When will we know?”

The question is matter-of-fact and requires no clarification.

“Maybe two weeks.” I never thought I’d be discussing my periods with a tattooed, rough-looking biker, but then I never thought I’d end up in a relationship with one either, and here I am. “That’s