The Biker Needs A Nanny (Thirteen Bikers for Christmas)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Grace—

It’s the first day of the girls’ winter break, and I’m sitting on the dock while Lucky’s parents pick them up for their long weekend visit. I didn’t want to intrude or insinuate myself, so I came out here.

It’s chilly, and I’ve got a small blanket wrapped around me, but the view of the sun sinking low over the water is fabulous. Pink and orange streaks paint the sky, and it's prettier than any watercolor painting I’ve ever seen. In my opinion, no artist could ever beat out Mother Nature.

Footsteps sound on the dock, and I turn. Lucky walks toward me with two glasses and hands me one.

“Here you go.”

“Thanks. What is it?” I dip my head and sniff.

“It’s a Malibu Sunset.”

“What’s in it?”

“Pineapple juice, coconut rum, and Grenadine.”

I take a sip. “Oh, that’s good.”

He takes a seat, and we watch the sunset.

“Can I ask you something, Grace?”

I turn toward him. “Sure.”

“Why are you here?”

“Excuse me?” I frown.

“I mean here in this town? I feel like there’s something you’re not telling me.”

“Why is that?”

He shrugs. “Just a feeling.”

I start to hum without even realizing it.

“Now, see? That.” He points at me. “You always hum that tune when you seem nervous. It’s a Small World .”

“Do I?”

“Yeah. What’s with that?”

“When I was a little girl, my mother took me to Florida, to the most magical place on earth. We rode that ride, and it was magical. To me it was, anyway. We floated in the boat, and my mother put her arm around me. I was so happy.” My smile trembles.

“Sounds nice.”

“It was before she got sick, or maybe she already knew she was sick. I suppose that’s why we made that trip. She wanted to give me that.”

“I’m sorry, Grace.”

I blow out a breath. “Your turn. Tell me about your wife.”

He sips his drink and stares at the sinking sun. “I rarely talk about her. I guess I never talk about her.”

“Maybe it will help.”

He rolls the tall glass between his palms, staring at the horizon. “Melanie was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. It progressed rapidly. We did everything we could, saw all the experts. She did every treatment they prescribed, but in the end, it was only a matter of time.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“She fought, and she hung on. She wanted to make it until Christmas. She wanted one more Christmas with her babies. They were three and four then. So little. She hung on, and she made it. I carried her to the living room and put her on the sofa, and she watched the girls’ eyes light up when they saw all the gifts Santa left them. She was happy that day, watching them open all the gifts.” He blows out a breath. “She was so tired. I carried her to bed and went to get her some lunch. When I came back with the tray, she was gone.” The muscles in his jaw work.

“Oh, Lucky. That’s why you hate the decorations.”

“I haven’t talked about this with anyone. Not until now. Not until you.”

I wrap an arm around him. “The grief you carry is huge. I know that. I know how it feels, like some days you just don’t want to get out of bed and face the world. But your girls? I was them. I know what they feel, and I want you to know the importance of having fun with your girls. Even when life sucks, they need you, and you have to try.”

“I get that.”

“Even when you don’t think you can do it, you have to get up and find something, some way to appreciate every day. We never know how many we have, do we?”

“You sick or something?” He tries to make a joke.

“No.” I smile and shake my head. “At least the girls have you. After my grandmother died, I truly had no one.” Tears roll down my cheeks, and I try to huff a laugh. “This is why I don’t talk about myself.”

He pulls me against him. “You made it through, though. Against all the odds. And you’re a really great person, despite life being stacked against you. I admire that. Really, I do. It must have been so hard. But, you’re here now, and I’m so glad.”

“This has been the best few weeks I’ve ever had,” I whisper.

He pulls me in for a kiss.

It’s sweet and feels like there’s a real connection between us, like this isn’t just sexual attraction.

The sun sinks below the horizon and the skies turn purple. The wind kicks up, and I feel the chill.

Lucky pulls back. “Let’s go inside. I’ll build a fire.”

I sit on the sofa and watch him stack wood and kindling. Soon it flares to life, the logs crackling and popping. I stare into the orange flames as they lick upward.

The lights from the Christmas tree twinkle in the corner, and I take in a deep breath of pine.

“There’s nothing like a fresh tree. I’ve never had one before,” I say softly.

He’s squatted by the hearth but twists to look at it. “They’re a mess with all the needles, though.”

“I don’t care. I love it. It’s worth the trouble of cleaning up.”

“I suppose you’re right. It is pretty.”

He stands, his knees cracking, and takes a fur throw off the loveseat, spreading it on the floor in front of the fire. Then his eyes capture mine. “C’mere.”

I’m hypnotized by his gaze and stand, coming to him.

He sits and pats the spot next to him. When I join him, he pulls my foot to his lap and unlaces my shoe, pulling it free and tossing it aside. Then moves to the other.

“Better?”

I nod.

He kicks his off and leans on his elbows, his ankles crossed.

I watch the fire for a bit. “This is nice.”

Lucky takes my hand and tugs until I’m sprawled across his chest. We stare into each other’s eyes, and he brushes the hair from my face. His fingers slide to my nape, and he pulls my mouth to his.

My arms encircle his neck, and I moan into his kiss. He’s skilled at this—better than any man I’ve been with.

His hands stray to my ass and pull me flush against him and I feel his growing erection between us.

One of his hands closes over my breast, and even through my shirt, I feel his thumb brush back and forth over my nipple making it harden into a tight nub. The sensation sends desire shooting through me, dragging a moan up my throat that vibrates into his mouth.

A moment later, he rolls us both, and then I’m flat on my back with his weight pinning me down. It’s the most delicious feeling.

He tears his mouth from mine to trail across my jaw, down my throat, to my collarbone. His fingers curl in the neckline of my shirt and drag it and my bra cup down until my breast pops free.

He doesn’t hesitate before closing his hot mouth over the tight bud of my nipple. When he sucks hard, my back arches, and I thrust my breast up for more.

His big hand cups and lifts it to his mouth while he continues to toy with my sensitive nipple.

Finally, he pulls back. “Beautiful. Red and hard. I want to keep these pretty nipples in a permanent state of arousal, just like my dick is every time I get near you.”

My eyes flare. “You’ve wanted me?”

“Hell, yeah. I lie awake at night, thinking about you. Thinking about what it would be like with you. I wasn’t sure you felt the same, but the other day when I came out of the shower…” He grins, knowing he doesn’t have to finish that sentence. “Don’t blush. We’re adults.”

“You’re my boss.”

“I get that, and I don’t take this lightly. I know the ramifications if it doesn’t work out, but isn’t it worth a shot? Grace, you’re the first woman in years I’ve felt this way about. I may not show it on the outside, but deep inside, something flares to life every time I come home. You made this house a home again. I guess I didn’t realize how much was missing until it wasn’t anymore.” He searches my eyes. “Am I making sense?”

“I understand what you mean.”

He brushes a lock of hair from my forehead. “I worried about the club, but you seemed to fit right in, and everyone loved you. You know I’d never let anyone or anything hurt you, don’t you?”

I nod, suddenly too choked up for words.

“I want to make love to you, Grace, but I need to hear you say you want that, too.”

He’s leaving it in my hands, as he should, I suppose. And right now, he’s not the scary biker who first interviewed me or the grouchy man who hated everything I did. Right now, he’s someone who cares what I think and feel, and that’s everything to me. And yes, I want him. Desperately.

“I want that, Lucky.”

He readjusts my shirt, pushes off me, and takes my hand, pulling me to my feet, then leads me to his bedroom.