Page 3 of March 5

The drinks he'd had earlier sat heavily in his stomach. Maverick was right. He should've known.

"If anyone else but Skye walked in on you with one of the bitches, I wouldn't give a shit," Maverick said with a growl. "But that'smydaughter. To top it off, it'sherbirthday, and you should feeldamn lucky that she wanted to drop in and see you."

"I hear you." Dio patted his vest pocket, looking for a cigarette. "You know me, brother. I wouldn't do anything to hurt that girl."

Skye had probably seen worse around the clubhouse and with her friends. But walking in while he was getting a blow job was the equivalent of her walking into her parents' room and catching them in the act.

If it were anyone else walking in on him, he wouldn't worry about what was witnessed. Sex was a fact of life. The more, the better. Do what feels good. Every human was programmed to fuck from an early age.

But this was his Skye. She deserved better from him.

Maverick shoved him in the chest. "Make it right."

He nodded, knowing what he had to do. What he wanted to do.

Walking over to his motorcycle, he put the gift bag in his duffle, sat on the motorcycle, and started the engine. Any buzz he'd earned tonight celebrating his birthday left with the cold realization that he'd fucked up.

He put on his helmet and rode away from the clubhouse. It was almost midnight. Skye wasn't going shopping. She'd go home.

Having grown up in Havlin, Skye Harrison was street-smart. She knew better than to run around Seaglass Cove alone at night, especially during tourist season.

She was hurt and probably confused, andknowing her, pissed off. When she got that way, she'd normally run to him, but since he was the one that upset her, she'd run back to the apartment she shared with Mariah, her best friend.

She'd only lived away from her parents for six months but appeared to thrive with her newfound independence. Everyone around her recognized the hard work she'd put into getting her associate's degree in business and the training to become a massage therapist.

A mile from the clubhouse, he turned on Bluff Drive and rode around the block. The two-story apartment complex was the newest addition to the city, and it had a lighted parking strip in front of the building.

Maverick wouldn't let her move out unless she had security measures to stay safe.

He pulled into the parking lot, found Skye's car, and parked his Harley behind the vehicle. Taking off his helmet, he strode up the concrete pathway and took the stairs to the second floor.

Outside Apartment 6, he knocked. He had nothing planned except apologizing that she walked in on him like that. Skye was old enough to understand what happens between a man and a woman.

He raised his hand to knock again when the door opened, and Mariah stood in front of him.

"Can you let Skye know I'm here?" The request came out rough as he tried to keep his voice down.

Mariah leaned against the doorframe. "She's asleep."

He inhaled deeply and looked along the walkway on the second floor. There was no way she was asleep. She had a fifteen-minute start on him.

"Tell her..." He stepped away from the door. "Nevermind. I'll call her."

Mariah raised her brows, obviously expecting more from him. She wasn't going to get it. Skye might tell her friend everything that happened tonight, but he wouldn't add to the drama.

He pointed. "Lock the door."

Mariah stepped away, shutting herself inside the apartment. In the quiet of the night, the deadbolt clicked.

Dio jogged to his Harley. There was nothing he could do about the situation tonight. He'd have to wait until tomorrow.

Slipping his bucket helmet on, he swung his leg over the motorcycle's seat and started the bike. Once the sun rose, he'd make it right with Skye.

Chapter Two

Mariah dropped her makeup bag into her backpack. Skye cupped her hands around the mug of coffee and glanced at her phone on the counter.

"Time's ticking," she reminded her friend.