He took the offering. “No family?”

She shrugged. “Just me, but the boss doesn’t need to know that.”

“Thank you, Callie.”

After a cleansing breath, she grabbed a notepad. “Let me get your order before I keep you here all day.”

Honestly, he didn’t mind. For the first time in a long time, he felt human. Back at the club, he was feared, idolized, sometimes hated. And he was dangerous. Addicted to violence.

He slipped her Ally’s list.

“A chicken coop? I’d love to have chickens, but I think my apartment complex would frown upon that.” She winked.

“I guess so,” he said. “Hey, if we’re successful, I’ll be sure to bring you some fresh eggs.”

“We? Are you married?”

“No, no woman. I was talking about my brothers.”

“A big family sounds fun.” She spoke while punching codes into her computer.

He didn’t answer. No sense creating a web of lies when he could keep his mouth shut instead.

Another staff member came in from the back, glancing over at him. Brick raised his chin, an unspoken challenge. He was always ready for a fight. But the guy only set a stack of purchase orders down beside Callie.

“Thanks, Jeff.”

“You okay in here?” he asked. Brick wanted to tell him to fuck off.

“Actually, this is a pretty big order. Can you get a new skid of 2x4s down with the forklift?”

“Yeah. Sure.” He left the way he came, looking over his shoulder at Brick one more time before closing the door. Did he recognize him as a biker? Would he tell Callie?

And when did he start giving a shit about what other people thought?

“I think I have everything on your list.” She handed him back the paper from Ally. “If you pull your truck around back, the boys will load you up as soon as they pull down that wood.”

“Thanks for your help.”

“My pleasure,” she said.

He shoved the list into the pocket of his jeans and left the building center. The entire time he waited around back, he kept thinking about the things he should have done and should have said to Callie. It was all he could think about. He barely focused on his surroundings until there was a knock on the side of his truck.

Brick jerked in his seat. He hadn’t even noticed the guy inches from his face.

“You’re all loaded,” said one of the yard hands.

“Thanks.”

He started up the truck and began to ride out of the building lot. Brick had gotten what he came for, and now he could head home. This was what he wanted—short and sweet. Only he couldn’t pull out onto the road. Instead, he did a hard right turn, bringing him back to the front office.

For a good five minutes, he sat there in the truck, trying to convince himself to forget about this town girl and move on with his life. She was nobody. He had no time for socializing outside of the club, and never had any desire to do so. Relationships with outsiders were frowned upon. Besides, once a girl like Callie knew exactly what he was, she’d run the other way and never look back.