* * *

Faith sat at Jason’s desk, waiting for him to return. She’d looked through her phone, checked her apps, which were minimal because she’d deleted all her personal social media accounts when she left Iowa, and now she had nothing else to do but look around at the man’s office space. The room was similar to the larger area where the other two men had been waiting for them. Sleek chrome borders accentuated glass desks along with black and chrome chairs. Modern area rugs lay over natural wood floors that had a deliberately stripped, gritty look.

Although she never intended to pry, her gaze fell to the pictures along the far edge of the desk. There was an obvious family shot of Jason in the middle of a group of men and women, many of whom had similar features and who had to be his siblings. There was a wedding photograph of an older couple she presumed were his parents and a picture of a much younger Jason, Tanner, and Landon and another man identical to Landon in front of a statue. His twin she’d seen on the website, to whose memory the club had been dedicated.

She felt for all three of the men. With her mother’s passing, she understood loss, and theirs had happened way too young. It didn’t escape her notice that Jason never discussed that part of his past with her. Never mentioned Levi or the fact that they’d named the club after him. She wished he’d unburden himself. He’d already done so much for her, and she just knew if he talked about the pain he kept so close to his heart and carefully walled off, it might help.

As she frowned, her gaze traveled to the last picture. A photograph of an attractive woman with blonde hair with a little boy in her arms. Faith had no idea who the female was, and an unexpected knot of jealousy formed in her stomach. It was silly. She trusted that Jason wasn’t married. He obviously lived alone, and he’d made his views on relationships crystal clear. There was no doubt he possessed an inherent protective streak from which she was currently benefitting despite him keeping most people at a distance. And yet there was this woman and child he’d never mentioned.

She rubbed her hands against her denim-clad thighs, growing antsy sitting here with nothing to do while Jason met with his partners, but she owed him at least this and much more. So she leaned back in the chair and relaxed herself, accepting she might be here awhile.

She began to doze off when the sound of the door opening startled her awake. She jumped in her seat, her heart doing a rapid pounding of fear inside her chest.

“It’s okay, it’s just me,” Jason said, stepping into the room and closing the door behind him.

Her mouth tasted dry, like cotton. Although she was used to it, waking often in the middle of the night in such a state, she was surprised she’d fallen asleep and dreamed here.