Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
“Ain’t that the truth” and “No kidding” echo around the whole room. I’m not the only one without a kid here at the party, but we’re obviously in the minority. Bikers and their old ladies are fertile on top of everything else, apparently.
While the other old ladies get to talking about baby care, Sandra gives me a nudge. “So what do you think?”
“About what? This? It’s nice. Everyone’s so friendly, and everyone seems to care about everyone else.”
“Yeah. I ran away from it, at least for a few years. I got in a lot of trouble as a teenager, so it was a little crazy that it was Natalie, the goodie two-shoes, who ended up a biker babe first. I went to college, messed up that too, came home, messed up some other stuff… Are you seeing a pattern? I was going to put the wild life behind me and settle down a little more normally until Zero, Piston and Beast came into my life. That sort of turned everything on its head.” With a shrug, she nods her head in the old ladies’ direction. “They’re a great bunch, and you can do a lot worse than having three Screaming Eagles on your side. Each one is like a force of nature, and when they get going, you better get out of their way. Luckily, they’re your forces of nature, and that’s amazing.”
“They definitely seem like something special. This is so out of my wheelhouse, I really don’t know what I’m doing.” I pick up my tea and take a sip.
“That’s okay, because they’ll help you figure it out and we’re here, too. Shelby was right. When they fall, they’re yours for as long as you need them. And if you don’t watch out, that turns out to be forever.” She smiles fondly. “And the sex, right? The sex.”
Tea catches in my throat and I end up spitting it back into the cup, followed by a racking cough.
“You okay, honey?” Alessa starts to stand, but I wave her off.
“Fine. Just went… down the… wrong way.”
Sandra laughs next to me. “Let’s do something without all the babies next time. I know it seems like a whole nursery right now, but apparently half of them forgot how to use protection last year.” She rolls her eyes. “Not all of us have kids, believe it or not. I do have a dog though! Her name is Princess Junkyard and she’s perfect.”
“Next time, sure.” I nod.
Everyone seems so convinced I’m sticking around that I nearly believe it myself, but it’s not something Riptide and the others have talked to me about. Sure, we’re all having fun, but Rebel told me he wasn’t sure about having an old lady mixed in with the club. Is that something that could change just because of me?
And things are complicated.
I’m actively avoiding thinking about the fact that Dad is still a suspect in the shooting, and even if he didn’t do it, he’s a member of a rival club.
We’re having fun, but the boys will want to move on when the excitement is over. Until then, I’m going to enjoy my time here as much as I can while we figure out the mess we’re in.
24
MELODY
Riptide is the one who meets me when the meeting is over. He’s leaning against the side of the garage talking to a few other men. He smiles when he sees me and breaks away from the group. I wish I could have him smiling at me like that all the time, since it travels right down to my belly to settle there as a warm, fuzzy feeling.
“Have a good time?” he asks.
“Yeah, it was nice. They’re really good people. Is Rebel busy?”
“He and Mad Dog had to go help King with…” He trails off. “Fuck, you’d think I would’ve caught it. Swear they said it. Anyway, I’m on bodyguard duty for the moment.”
I laugh. “Or are you just trying to steal me away for yourself?”
“You already know that we don’t mind sharing,” he whispers, nipping at my ear.
“Okay. So what’s the plan then? How are you planning to babysit me?”
With a grin, he steps closer and puts a big hand on the small of my back to guide me. “I can’t tell if that’s a request for something kinky, or just an innocent joke.”
“Aren’t I supposed to be the babysitter in those kinds of things? You would have to be my teacher. Oh! Or maybe the rich single father who has to hire me to take care of your adorable twins.”
Riptide blinks at me. “That was very specific. I can’t tell if I’m intrigued or concerned.”
“Then it was definitely an innocent joke.” I nudge him in the side.
“Nah, I’m definitely holding onto that for later. Right now, though, I was wondering if you wanted to go for a ride? We have to stick close to the compound, but I thought it might make you feel a little less like a hostage if you could see outside the walls.”