Page 5 of March 5

"Everything okay?"

She turned and found Daisy at the side of the pool. Mustering a smile, she patted her chest.

"Too much on my mind. I swallowed water." She coughed once more to clear her throat.

"Want me to pace you?" Daisy snapped her suit strap. "I have an hour until the pool opens for Rec Swim, and I have to work."

"Sure." Skye swam into the other lane.

Concentrating on matching Daisy's strokes, Skye swam beside her. The water always calmed her, and she lost herself in the repetitive motions. The silence under the surface cleared her head.

By the time she stopped, hugged Daisy for the help, and showered in the locker room, she was stronger than when she'd arrived. She left the pool with her gaze on the sidewalk, the curb, the tire of her car, and the door handle. She would not look down the block, hoping to see Dio standing outside the Havlin Motorcycle Club clubhouse.

She opened the car door and threw her bag inside.

"Skye."

Her knees buckled at the sound of Dio's deep voice. She slid clumsily into the driver's seat, prepared to drive away, but hesitated to push the ignition button.

"Hey." Dio tapped on the driver's side window. "Hang on a sec."

She started the car and rolled down the window. "I'm running late."

"You don't work today."

"I have to meet Mariah." She refused to look at him.

Dio reached inside and shut off the car. "Mariah's serving coffee down the street. You can wait a few minutes."

She sagged against the seat. He wasn't going to let her go without some kind of explanation about last night, and she'd rather not talk about his sex life.

He opened the car door and squatted beside her. "I wanted to talk to you."

"There's no reason to say anything." She stared at the middle of the steering wheel.

"Yeah, there is." He grabbed her hand and played with her fingers. "I never wanted you to see me that way."

Her throat closed. She blinked hard, stopping the onslaught of tears needing to escape.

"I'm sorry, princess," he whispered.

She looked at him for the first time since seeing his hand on the back of the woman's head and his gaze on what the bitch was doing to him. At thatmoment, when it clicked in her head what was happening in front of her, curiosity dug its sharp claws into her. She'd never seen that look in Dio's eyes before when he looked at her. He was intense and angry, yet unaware and high on pleasure.

He seemed like a stranger, yet she was turned on at seeing that side of him. She wanted him to look at her that way, but he only saw her as a kid despite her being past the legal age to have an adult relationship.

"I never wanted you to see me that way." He tilted his head.

His brown hair fell across his forehead, covering the lines of concern. She wanted to sweep the hair back but couldn't touch him. Not right now.

"But, why one of the bitches?" Her voice came out wounded, and she cleared her throat. "It was your birthday. It should've been a special moment, and she's a nobody."

Dio exhaled. She couldn't explain to him how much he'd hurt her. As if seeking out pleasure from someone else diminished her platonic relationship with him.

"Come on, Skye." He kissed the back of her fingers. "You know how bikers are—"

"Not my dad."

"You're right. But, he's got Brooke." He bowed his head, hiding his brown eyes. "You're better than the shit you see going on around you. Someday, some guy will love you like nobody has loved you before. And he'll put you first. Don't ever settle for anything but love, princess."