The Biker Needs A Nanny (Thirteen Bikers for Christmas)

CHAPTER TWENTY

Grace—

The four of us are at the dining room table, eating pancakes.

When the girls returned from their weekend, Lucky and I went back to the way things were. I’m again sleeping in my room, and we try to avoid touching each other, but there are plenty of longing glances, and twice—at his request—I’ve snuck to his room after the girls fell asleep.

I gaze across the table, and he winks at me, making me smile.

Poppy swings her legs back and forth, watching us.

I return to my pancakes, trying to hide the blush his look causes.

It’s just four days to Christmas, and I have no present for Lucky. I don’t know how I’m going to sneak out to shop without him.

His phone goes off with the tune I’ve learned he’s programmed for the club.

He takes it, stepping away to the kitchen. I hear him murmuring in a low voice, and a moment later he returns.

“I’ve got to run out.” He moves to Ella, kissing her on the head, then Poppy. “Be good for Grace.”

He jerks his chin toward the kitchen, giving me a subtle message.

I pick up my glass. “I think I’ll get some more juice.”

Following him out, he grabs my waist and pulls me to him, his mouth covering mine in a passionate kiss. We both hear giggles, and break apart to see Ella and Poppy peeking around the corner.

Lucky grins and steps back.

“Daddy kissed Grace,” they both tease at once.

“Okay, girls. Back to your breakfast.”

They run off, giggling, and he drops one last soft kiss on my lips, then heads to the door, pauses, and looks back at me and winks.

I blow him a kiss, and he’s gone.

When I return to the dining room, the girls are still giggling.

“Okay, you two. I need to go into town and find your father a Christmas gift. Will you help me?”

“I’ll help you,” Ella says.

“Me, too,” Poppy adds.

We take the truck and head to Main Street. I park in one of the diagonal spots, and we walk down the street. “There’s a shop I want to check out. I think it may have the perfect thing.”

“What kind of shop?” Ella says, tugging on my hand.

“It’s a jewelry shop.”

“Do they sell jewels?” Poppy tugs on my other hand.

“Your father wears a lot of silver. I thought maybe a bracelet.” When I get my paycheck and pay the interest on my grandmother’s ring, I should have about two hundred left. So, I’m breaking into my emergency fund to cover the cost. I spot the shop. “Here it is.”

A bell over the door jingles when we enter.

“May I help you?” An elderly gentleman approaches.

“I was hoping to find a men’s bracelet.”

“Of course. We have a selection over here.” He leads us to the end of a glass display case. “We have silver, gold, perhaps you’d like something you could engrave.”

I scan my choices. Nothing seems right, and I can’t picture Lucky wearing any of these. My shoulders slump.

“We have a few in this case as well,” the gentleman offers, and I step to the next display.

I spy it immediately and tap the glass. “This one.”

He unlocks the case and brings it out to show me.

It’s three black leather braids with a silver fastening. But the best part are the three silver bands that encircle them.

“Those can be personalized. And you can get as many bands as you need up to five.”

“I only need three.”

Ella tilts her head. “What will you put on them?”

I smile. “You’ll see.” I turn to the salesman. “How much will it be?”

“Eighty-five for the bracelet, and ten dollars per engraved band, plus tax.”

“How soon can you do the engraving?”

“I can do it now if you want to wait.”

“That would be wonderful. I’ll take it.”

He slides me a pen and piece of paper. “Just need the three words you want engraved on the silver bands.”

I jot them down and pass the slip of paper back to him.

The man leans forward. “There’s a bakery next door. They’ll give the children a free cookie.”

Poppy jumps up and down. “Cookies. Can we get one?”

“All right. Let’s go.” I take their hands, and we walk over. The moment we enter, it smells like Christmas: gingerbread and peppermint.

The girls each get a cookie, and I purchase a pecan pie for after dinner.

Fifteen minutes later, we return to the jewelry store, and I walk out with a tiny shopping bag containing a small black box tied with a gold bow.

Heading back to Lucky’s pickup, I spot a green truck and freeze. Then my eyes find Eric leaning against a wall under an awning. He’s looking up the street, and I jerk the girls into a nearby doorway, my heart pounding, and my mouth dry.

I’ve got to get to the truck and get out of here.

Dropping to a squat, I look in both of their eyes. “Angels, I need you to do exactly what I say, okay? We’re going to run to the truck and get inside as fast as we can.”

“Is it a race?” Poppy asks, still munching on her cookie.

“Yes, it’s a race.”

I stand, and look across the street, but Eric’s gone.

I’m frantic now, grabbing them both by the arm. “Come on. We have to go right now. Hurry.” I rush them to the truck. “Get in. Get in. Hurry!”

The girls scramble inside, and I slam the back door, then jump in the front and hit the door lock. My eyes dart around. I’m terrified he’s going to pop up next to my window. I throw the gear shift in reverse.

“We’re not buckled yet,” Ella says.

“Help your sister. Hurry.”

Ella helps Poppy, then gets in her booster. “What’s wrong, Grace? You’re scaring me.”

I jam the truck in drive and hit the gas, roaring down the street, my eyes on my rearview and side mirrors. Where is he? Where the hell is he?

There’s no way I’m heading home until I know he’s not following us. So, I drive in circles, up one street and down another, until I’m sure.

I don’t let my guard down. “Girls?”

“Yes, Grace?” Ella replies.

“I need you to listen to me. When we get on our block, I want you to undo your buckles and be ready to jump out of the truck the minute I pull in the drive and park. Okay?”

“But that’s not safe.”

“I know, sweetie, but we need to get in the house and lock the doors as soon as possible, okay? I wouldn’t normally do this, but it’s an emergency.”

“You should call Daddy,” Ella says.

“I don’t need to call your daddy, Ella. I just need us to get in the house.”

Five minutes later, I’m slamming the front door shut and locking it, then resetting the alarm.

I watch out the front window for a good twenty minutes, but I never see a green truck or any other vehicle.