The Biker Needs A Nanny (Thirteen Bikers for Christmas)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Grace—

After changing clothes, I grab my phone and dial the pawn shop.

“Hi, my name is Grace Reed, and I have a ring I pawned that I’ve been making payments on to prevent it from being sold.”

“Hold on one sec.” I hear the man typing away on a computer. “Yup, I’ve got you pulled up right here. Are you ready to make your next payment?”

“Well, I was going to see if there was any way to push it one week?”

“Sorry, ma’am, but no. The payment is due in two days; otherwise, the ring goes up for sale.”

“Okay. I’ll pay it.”

I pull the card Lucky put my paycheck on from my pocket and read off the numbers. I was really hoping they’d cut me some slack. The ring belonged to my grandmother. It’s the only thing I have left of her, but I had to pawn it. It was my only way out.

I pull my hair into a ponytail and go in search of Lucky. I find him in the garage, covered in grease, working on his bike. He looks up as I approach.

“You didn’t melt after all.”

I roll my eyes. “Yeah, no thanks to you.”

His smirk tells me he’d do it again.

I glance around and see another motorcycle against the back wall. “Oh, you have two.”

He follows my gaze. “Yeah. That was the first bike I ever had. It’s special to me. I don’t think I’ll ever sell it.”

I nod and rock on my feet.

His gaze sweeps over me. “You need something?”

“Actually, yes. There was something I wanted to ask you.”

“Okay. Shoot.”

“Your neighbor Mildred asked if I could do some decorations for her Christmas party. I thought I’d use my free time while the girls are at school to work on it.”

“You’re going to decorate her house?”

“Just the front, I think. She offered me four hundred dollars.” I wait for his answer. This money would really help me set up a nest egg for when I need to run again.

“I don’t pay you enough?”

Annoyance flashes through me, and I’m sure shows on my face. “Forget it. I’ll find another time to decorate her house.”

“Grace, wait.” He stands and tugs at my hand to stop me. “It’s fine. I’ve got no problem with it.”

“Then why do you act like that?”

He shrugs. “You really like decorating, huh?”

“Well, I’ve never gotten to decorate before.”

“What do you mean? Your family didn’t celebrate?”

“I don’t really have a family. My mom died when I was little.”

“I’m so sorry.”

I wave off his sympathy. “My grandma was my only living relative, and she was so old, she couldn’t take care of me. The state wouldn’t allow it.”

“Where did you end up?” He tilts his head like he’s trying to solve a puzzle.

“Foster care. Nobody adopted me, so the other kids became my family. My grandmother would visit, but she died before I was ever old enough to age out of the system.”

“Wow. I had no idea.”

“It’s not something I broadcast. Anyway, I know you hate decorations, but it’s brought me real joy this year. I used to cut up paper into snowflakes with all the kids at the foster house, but I never got to really decorate with lights and everything.”

He shuffles his feet, guilt etched on his face. “Look, I’m sorry I’ve been such an ass. This time of year is hard on me. It brings back some bad memories.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” I press, trying to give him an opening.

“No,” he snaps gruffly. “Go on and help Mildred.” He turns to his bike.

“Are you trying to keep up walls between us?”

“Walls can be a good thing, Grace. Especially when they prevent you from making a mistake.”

“A mistake?”

“Walls can stop a man from going after something he has no business going after.”

I stare after him as he walks to the house and slams the door.

I finish at Mildred’s with about an hour to spare.

“It looks beautiful,” Mildred croons.

“I’m so glad you like it.”

“Like it? This will have Barbara shutting her mouth. She always brags about how her house wins most beautiful, and she barely does a thing. Well, she’s not winning this year.”

“Is there a competition?”

“Oh, just between us old ladies.” She smiles, returning to her sweet demeanor.

“Well, I have to get ready to go pick up the girls.”

“Of course, dear.” She hands me an envelope with my payment and thanks me again.

When I walk back in, Lucky is pouring a glass of sweet tea.

“Did you finish?” He peers out the kitchen window toward Mildred’s house.

“Yes.”

“Looks good. At least what I can see.”

“Thank you. Don’t forget, the girls wanted to go get a Christmas tree today after school.”

He runs a hand down his face. “You want to take them?”

“I think they’d like you to go with them.”

He sighs. “All right. I got time to take a shower?”

“They get out in about forty-five minutes.”

I watch him head into his bedroom and shut the bathroom door.

I unload the dishes while I wait.

At the sound of the bathroom door opening, I can’t help but glance down the hallway. I freeze what I’m doing and every muscle stills as he walks out in nothing but a towel wrapped low on his waist. Little beads of water drip down his rock-hard abs, and my mouth goes dry. I suck my lower lip between my teeth and imagine dragging my tongue along his taut skin to lap up those droplets.

My eyes rise over his body, and I realize he’s watching me. I flush a bright red and spin to the dishes, embarrassment flooding over me.

When he strides out of the room dressed, he’s on the phone.

“Yes, Mom. Okay. Yeah, we’re headed to get a tree after pickup, so we can meet you there. Love you, too. Bye.” He slides his phone into his pocket.

“My parents want to take the girls to the carnival they’re having in town. Are you okay if we go there, too?”

“Sure.” I don’t make eye contact, still embarrassed about my gawking.

Lucky takes my chin gently in his hand and tilts my face to his. “Grace, there’s no need for you to be embarrassed. You’re a beautiful woman, and I’ll never mind a beautiful woman looking at me the way you did.” He rubs his thumb across my bottom lip, and I can’t help but drag it into my mouth.

His swift intake of breath tells me he’s as aroused as I am.

“Fuck, you’re sexy.”

I’m not sure what’s gotten into either of us, but before I know it, he’s lowered his lips to mine, and I’m wrapping my arms around his neck. Opening my mouth to him, he sweeps his tongue inside. We are both panting before I push him away.

“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have—” I breathe.

“It was a joint effort,” he says.

“Still, it was a line I shouldn’t have crossed.”

“Grace—” he starts, but I cut him off.

“Let’s get the girls. I don’t want to be late.” I grab my purse and head out to the truck, trying to clear my head. What the hell was I thinking?

The truck shifts as Lucky climbs into his seat. He glances over at me, but we ride in silence. I think we’re both afraid of the consequences of taking our attraction any further.

It’s not long before we have two giggling girls chitchatting away about what kind of tree they’ll pick out.

“It has to be the tallest,” Poppy concludes.

“And the greenest with the loveliest branches,” Ella adds.

Lucky smiles in the rearview mirror. “Only the best for my girls.”

As we approach the carnival, l we can see the lights of the Ferris wheel towering above the other rides.

“I wish we could go to the carnival,” Poppy hints.

“Well, it just so happens Papa and Gigi are meeting us here to do just that.”

“Really, Daddy?” Ella asks.

“Look, there they are.” He points to an older couple standing on the sidewalk.

“Gigi!” Poppy practically jumps out of her seat.

We climb from the truck, and Lucky does the introductions before the girls are swept off to go to the carnival with their grandparents.

“I’m sure they’re about to be loaded with too much candy and bought too many souvenirs.” Lucky shakes his head. Then he turns his attention to me. “Want to go walk around?”

“Sure.” My face lights up at the idea. “I’ve never been to a carnival.”

“Then I better make sure you do it right. To the games first. Want to bring home a goldfish?”

“A goldfish? No, thank you.” I laugh.

“Then a giant stuffed animal it is.” Grabbing my hand, he leads me toward the midway where several of them are situated. “Knocking over milk bottles is a classic. Give it a try.”

He hands a carnival worker dressed like an elf a five-dollar bill.

The man hands me three baseballs. “Knock all the bottles over and you win.”

I observe three old-style milk bottles stacked in a tower. I throw the first ball and it completely misses the stand.

“You’ve got a strong arm, but your aim is shit,” Lucky says.

I throw a glare his way and try again. This time the ball skims one milk bottle, causing it to rock. But it manages to stay upright.

“Let me help.” Lucky steps behind me and takes my hand in his. “You’re releasing the ball too soon. Look where you want to throw and release when your arm is pointed directly at it.” He pulls my arm back and together we throw the ball.

This time, I knock two of the three bottles over.

“I did it!” I jump up and down.

The carnival worker comes over. “You can pick from this wall.”

It’s not the giant stuffed animal, but I’m still proud I won a prize. I choose a tiny yellow bear, thinking I’ll give it to the girls to share.

“My turn.” Lucky waggles his brows and hands the man some more cash.

His first throw knocks all three bottles down.

“How’d you do that?”

He winks and knocks another set down.

“Now you’re just showing off.”

With his last ball, he knocks one final set down.

“How are you that good?” I gape.

“The carnival comes every year, and I like to win.” He grabs a giant brown bear from the man and then hands it to me.

“For me?”

“I told you I was going to ensure you did the carnival right. Now it’s time to get some funnel cake and a foot-long corndog.”

“You had me at funnel cake.” I hug my bear as we head toward the smell of fried food.

We get one covered in powdered sugar and move through the games, stopping occasionally to play one.

“Any rides you’d like to do?” he asks.

Looking around, I spot the only one that interests me. “The Ferris wheel?”

“Uh, yeah sure.” He tosses the paper plate still covered in white powder into the trash and walks me to the entrance.

“After you.” He helps me into one of the rocking seats and the carnival worker lowers the bar over our laps.

We make one loop, and I watch all the lights spread out below us. “I wonder if you can see the bay from up here.”

“Probably could if it was still light out, but with it this dark, I doubt it.”

The Ferris wheel jerks to a stop just as we crest the top a second time.

“What was that?” Lucky hisses. He grips the iron rail like he’s holding on for dear life, and his face has turned white as a sheet.

“Are you okay?”

“Yep,” he clips.

“No, you’re not.” The realization hits me. “Are you afraid of heights?”

“Nope.”

I swing my body back and forth, rocking the chair we sit in.

“Stop that.” He grips the iron bar even tighter.

“You totally are,” I tease, but then my smile fades. “Why did you come up here?”

“You wanted to ride the damn thing.”

He’s done nothing but be sweet to me this evening. I turn to him and plant a kiss on his scruffy cheek. “Thank you.”

Lucky turns and stares at me. “The cookies were good.”

I frown. “What?”

“The gingersnaps you made for me. They were good.”

I lift a brow. “I think that’s the first nice thing you’ve said to me.”

“Sorry about that. Christmas isn’t my jam.”

“You’ve mentioned that already. Why is that?” I ask again, even though I already know the answer. I just want him to feel safe with me.

He shakes his head and looks away.

“You can really see a lot from up here.” I change the subject, trying to distract him.

“Yeah.” Lucky refuses to even glance out. “I’ll take your word for it.”

I decide I’ve got to break his concentration on how high we are. His fists around the bar are white.

“I ordered a chicken and an egg online today,” I say with a straight face.

“You did what? ” he asks in disbelief.

“I’ll let you know which comes first.”

He stares until I smile, and the joke hits him, then he chuckles silently.

“Thanks.”

“For what?”

“Making me laugh. I needed that.”

“Thanks for overcoming your fear to ride with me.”

Our eyes lock, and his drop to my mouth. We both lean toward each other, both wanting this, but then we’re jerked as the ride starts up again.

I clear my throat and glance over the edge as we descend, and that’s when I spot him.

Eric, my ex.

He’s smirking at me like a cat that’s caught the mouse. My stomach sinks, and I feel the color drain from my face.

“Are you okay?” Lucky asks.

My eyes shift to Lucky. “Yeah, yeah. I’m fine.” But I’m not. I haven’t been fine since I saw Eric in that department store. I barely survived him the first time. I fled the first chance I got after having pawned my grandmother’s ring for cash. I thought I was being smart, but now he’s found me.

I should tell Lucky. I know I should, but I’m afraid he’ll send me packing, and I just don’t have enough to get that far. After all, who wants trouble brought right to their doorstep, especially with him having two little girls? I don’t want to leave. Not the girls—or him, if I’m being honest with myself—but once I have a big enough nest egg to run, I’ll have to make my move.

The ride goes around again, and I glance to where Eric was standing, but he’s gone. I search the faces of the people as we come to a stop, but he’s nowhere in sight.

The bar is unlocked, and we exit the ride.

“Lucky?” I tug on his hand, stopping him.

“Yes?”

“Can we get the tree and head home? I’m tired.”

He studies my face, and I’m afraid he reads me like a book. I think he knows there’s something I’m hiding, but he doesn’t press me on it. “Yeah, sure. I’ll call my parents to meet us over there.”

His parents say goodbye to the girls, and the four of us find the tree lot and wander up and down the rows and rows of beautiful pines. They have them in every size and shape. Of course, the girls have to look at every tree before they can decide which is the perfect one.

I want them to pick one already, so we can get out of here and I can feel some semblance of security, but I can’t tell them that. So, I plaster a smile on my face and trudge up and down the aisles, the girls racing ahead.

“Daddy, come see this one,” Ella calls from somewhere to the right.

At the same time, Poppy calls, “I found the best one.” Her voice carries from the left.

Lucky and I look at each other.

“Divide and conquer?” I suggest.

He nods and turns to the right, weaving between trees. I do the same but move to the left.

A chill runs up my spine. I feel as if someone is watching me, and I realize just how alone I am at that moment.

“Poppy?” I call. “Where are you?”

Before I can hear a reply, a hand clamps over my mouth and yanks me into the thicket of some trees. The branches scrape at my arms, the sting biting. I fight back, causing the branches to tear even more at my delicate skin.

“You know there’s no use fighting,” a sickening voice whispers in my ear. “Did you think I wouldn’t find you?”

“Grace?”

I hear voices shouting in the distance, like they’re trying to see where I went off to, but I can’t yell back. Not with Eric’s hand gripped over my mouth. I try to open it wide enough to bite him, but his hold is too tight.

“Isn’t that sweet? Those little girls and that man are looking for you.”

“Grace? Where are you?” The voices grow closer.

“I’ll be watching.” He pushes me forward, and I stumble to the ground. By the time I look up, he’s gone.

My heart pounds a mile a minute, and I know I must be a disheveled mess.

I will myself to stand and try my best to straighten my hair and calm myself.

“There you are.” Lucky comes around the row of trees, holding both girls’ hands. “Did you not hear us calling your name?”

“Sorry, I slipped and—”

When Lucky gets closer, he takes in my scratched arms and the panic that must still be evident on my face.

“Are you okay?” His radar seems to go off, and he scans the surrounding trees.

I tuck a stray piece of hair behind my ear. “Yes, I just fell.”

“Then why are your hands shaking?”

“I guess I’m cold. You guys find a tree?”

“Yes.” Poppy runs forward and takes my hand. “We found the best one, didn’t we, Ella?”

“We sure did,” she agrees, taking my other hand. They lead me down the rows, Lucky right behind us, until we reach a big, fat tree that seems to stand out amongst all the slender ones nearby.

“Oh, it’s perfect. Great job.”

They beam proudly, and I return their bright smiles with one of my own. But I notice Lucky’s eyes tracing over the scratches on my arms. I wish I’d worn a long sleeve shirt or brought a jacket so I could hide them from sight. I shiver again, thinking about where I was just moments ago.

Lucky shrugs out of his plaid jacket and holds it up for me. “Here.”

I slip my arms in without complaint. “Thank you.”

After the tree is bundled and safely in the bed of Lucky’s pickup, we drive toward home.

I can’t help but watch the side-view mirror for any headlights that take the same turns we do. Thankfully, I don’t see any. I can only pray Eric doesn’t already know where I’m living. I’ve got to make a move and soon, but the thought that I have to leave this beautiful little family floods me with sadness.

When we get home, I try desperately to shake off the fear and enjoy decorating the tree with the girls. They are so excited; it’s hard not to be swept away in the joy of the moment.

Glancing over at Lucky, I see he takes no pleasure in this activity, and he desperately tries to avoid any of the more sentimental ornaments, sticking mostly with the colored balls and glittering snowflakes.

I don’t press him, and he doesn’t bring up my scratches.

Soon, he finds an excuse to abandon the tree to the three of us. “Who wants hot chocolate?”

He spends the rest of the night in the kitchen, but I’m grateful for the space. The last thing I want is for him to find out the truth. I know I should probably tell him about my crazy ex. It isn’t fair that I could bring danger straight to his door. If something happened to his girls or to his home, the guilt would crush me.

I drag in a breath. Lucky installed that security system, and I’m not even sure Eric knows where I’m staying. I have to believe that even if he did, he wouldn’t be stupid enough to try something. Not when he’s seen Lucky with me.