The Biker Needs A Nanny (Thirteen Bikers for Christmas)

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Lucky—

I crack an eye open to the early morning sun. Glancing over, I see Grace fast asleep. She’s lovely. She’s on her stomach with the sheet twisted around her naked body, her full leg exposed, the curve of her hip and ass revealed. I long to run my palm over those curves and all that silky skin, but I don’t want to wake her.

Instead, I slip out quietly, pulling on a pair of sweats, and head to the kitchen to make coffee.

I’m pouring the second mug when she pads in the room behind me and wraps her arms around my waist, pressing against my back. I feel her lips kiss my shoulder blade.

“Good morning,” she murmurs.

I set the carafe down and twist in her arms, my eyes skating over her. Her face is flushed rosy, her eyes sparkling, and a smile on her lips. Threading my fingers through her curls, I brush her mouth with a kiss, then pull back. “I like this sexy bed head you’ve got going on.”

She giggles and steps back, twirling. “And my outfit?”

She’s wearing one of my Evil Dead t-shirts.

I grin. “I like it, and I’m really hoping there’s nothing on underneath.”

“That’s for me to know and you to find out.”

“Challenge accepted.” Before she knows what I’m about, I grab her waist and plop her up on the kitchen island.

She yelps, grabbing my shoulders.

I push between her legs, and she wraps them around me. My hand skates up her thigh and under the hem of the shirt, and then my eyes heat, finding her bare and wet for me.

“That’s my girl.” I step closer and kiss her. Both hands ascend her hips and waist to cup her bare breasts. “You should never wear clothes.”

She arcs a delicate brow. “Just walk around naked all day?”

“Why not? I’m the only one here.”

“True. But then you’d never get anything done.”

“Except you. I’d do you a bunch of times.”

She tugs the neckline to the side and gives me a look.

My eyes drop to the mark I put on her, and I grin. “I’m not apologizing.”

She rolls her eyes.

“Take a ride with me on the bike?”

“Um…”

“You’ll be safe. I promise. I’ll go slow.”

“Where will we go?”

I shrug. “Anywhere we want.”

“All right.”

“But first, this.” I scoop her over my shoulder fireman style, and she squeals. I carry her to the bathroom and turn on the shower.

I spend a half hour soaping her delectable body, then fucking her against the tile wall, and then washing her all over again.

“You sure you want to take that ride?” I ask with a wicked grin as I towel dry her body.

She laughs and slugs my arm. “You promised me a ride, now you better deliver, mister.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I chuckle and swat her bare ass. “Then you best go put some clothes on that sweet body before I change my mind.”

We stop for breakfast, then take a long ride. On the way to the house, we pick up something to throw on the grill. The sun is shining, and the day has warmed.

I’ve got the grill going when I hear the rumble of a couple of Harleys coming up the road.

I meet them in the driveway.

Brick and Pipe climb from their bikes, pulling off their helmets.

“How’s it going, VP?” Pipe asks.

“Get lost. Both of you,” I tell them. “My parents have the kids for the weekend.”

“Oh, it’s like that, is it?” Brick says with a waggle of his brow. “Come on. Offer us a beer, at least.”

“Fine.” I lead them around the house to the back.

Grace is sitting on the dock, but I stop them by the grill and dig a couple of longnecks out of the cooler I filled earlier.

“Dude, I can’t believe you held out this long.” Pipe glances at Grace. “I’d have been all over that in a heartbeat.”

I shove his shoulder. “Watch your mouth.”

My brothers exchange a look.

“Touchy, aren’t we?” Brick observes.

“It feels right, brother,” I admit. “Like it hasn’t for a long fucking time.”

Pipe clasps my bicep. “I’m happy for you, man. You’ve been under a dark cloud for long enough. You deserve to be happy. Don’t feel guilty about that. Your life has to go on.”

“The girls seem to love her,” Brick says. “Least that’s what Angie said.”

“They do. A lot.”

“That’s good, ain’t it?” Brick replies.

“Yeah, as long as she sticks around.”

“Why wouldn’t she stick around?” Brick asks.

I shrug.

Pipe grins and pats my face. “That’s your job, VP. You gotta make it worth her while.” He does a vulgar motion with his hips.

“Knock it off, dick.”

He points a finger at me. “Dick. Exactly. That’s what I’m talkin’ about.”

Brick puts his arm around my neck and walks me away. “Ain’t no reason this can’t work out for you, VP. You got a lot to offer. A nice house. A sweet ride. And that ugly mug of yours.” He slaps my face and grins.

“Look, I appreciate your enthusiasm, but she’s just here for a job, okay?”

“Whatever you say.” Brick’s eyes shift over my shoulder.

By the time I turn, I see Grace retreating to the house.

“Hey, VP. You’re almost out of beer,” Pipe says.

“Then maybe you should take that as your invitation to hit the road,” I reply.

“But you’ve got that sweet dock,” Brick whines.

“I’ve got to talk to Grace. Beat it, both of you.”

After the guys leave, I head inside and overhear Grace on the kitchen wall phone. I pause on the other side and listen.

When she hangs up, I step around. “Who were you talking to? What do you need to pay off?”

“It’s my problem. I’ll figure it out.”

“Grace, just tell me. Maybe I can help.”

“No, Lucky. It’s my problem. I’ll figure it out. I’m sorry, but It’s none of your business.”

I feel like she just slapped me. “That’s kind of cold after the weekend we just shared.”

“This is just a job, though, right?” she snaps and stalks off, the slider slamming as she goes back outside.

My eyes slowly close. Goddamn it. I only said those things so they’d shut up. My eyes open and land on the phone. With a spur of the moment thought, I lift the receiver and hit redial.

“Pinky’s pawn shop. This is Jerry. May I help you?”

“My wife just called about the payment she owes?”

“Oh, right. The ring?”

“Yeah. What’s the payment?”

“The interest owed is one-thousand to roll it for another thirty days. But I’ve got to have it by the due date.”

My God . “And what’s the payoff to get it out of hock?”

“Six thousand.”

I whistle. “That’s some ring, huh?”

“Yeah, it is. I hate that it’s her grandmother’s and all, but we got rules. I really can’t cut her any slack on the due date.”

“Where are you located again?”

“Pascagoula, Mississippi.”

“Thanks.” I hang up and turn to find Grace standing there with her arms crossed.

“What are you doing?” she snaps.

“Nothing.”

“I heard you.”

My jaw works. “You want to tell me about it?”

“No. I don’t. It’s not your concern. You once told me to stay out of your business. Now I want you to stay out of mine.” She storms off, and I watch her stalk to the end of the dock. She paces for a while, then drops to the edge and dangles her feet over.

I give her a few minutes to cool down, the follow her, dropping down to the dock next to her.

“So, you pawned your grandmother’s ring. The secret’s out,” I say.

She jerks to her feet, but I grab her hand. “Just talk to me, Grace. Please.”

She fights my hold but drops next to me after a losing battle. “I needed money, but I didn’t want to sell it.”

“What’d you use the money for?”

“To live. To come here. To get a little ratty month-to-month studio.”

“I remember you told me you got fired from some diner for giving an old guy a free meal. What was the name of the place again?”

“Nick’s Diner.”

“Nick’s Diner, huh?” My eyes and jaw harden. “He the owner? He the one who fired you?”

“Yes.” She eyes me and must read my thoughts. “Please don’t go burn the place down.”

“Did I say that?”

“No, but you’ve got that look.”

“What’s he drive?”

“You don’t need to slash his tires, either.”

I pull her onto my lap. “I’ll decide what I need to do.” I brush the hair off her forehead. “Maybe you need to understand what I’d do for you. Maybe I need to show you. No one treats you like that. No one.”

“Lucky, please… I don’t want any more trouble coming to your door.”

“Why do you think trouble would come to my door?”

“Because the police will come and arrest you.”

I grin at the worry lines on her forehead and kiss them away. “Only if I’m really bad at my job, and I’m not bad at my job, Grace.”

“And what is your job?”

“Putting assholes like him in their place.”

“I don’t want you to commit a crime for me.” She leans her head on my shoulder. “But I have to admit, it feels nice to have someone who cares.”

I kiss her forehead. “Don’t ever doubt it, angel.”