Page 22 of Biker's Enemy

“Cash it is,” Tanner says. Relief floods through me, although maybe I should feel guilty instead. I didn’t know how I would survive without access to any money, but Tanner’s deal might not be so bad after all…

I tighten my lips and keep reading the contract. This all seems too good to be true.

This contract will extend until the day Tanner Hollingsworth discovers the true identity of Avery Hollingsworth, at which point, the contract will be terminated and Quin will either be free to go or may choose to extend the contract another year.

I wonder how long it’s going to take him to find out Avery’s identity. I don’t know what the baby looks like so for all I know, this could be a matter of weeks. Would that be such a problem? In three weeks, I would have enough money to get an apartment in Santa Fe so I can be close to Juliette and have some support while I get on my feet.

There doesn’t seem like a way to lose here… I suppress the nagging thought in the back of my head that there must be a catch here. That Tanner is too calm. Too sure of himself. I’m almost done with the contract, so I just keep going.

Termination of this contract is possible if Quin or Tanner break any aspect of the contract. Otherwise, this contract cannot be terminated for any reason.

The clause gives me a slight pause, but I can’t think of anything that could possibly happen out here to give me cause to terminate the contract. Based on the previous terms, I doubt I’ll be out here long.

This agreement will be governed in accordance with the laws of the state of Arizona.

He has space for both our signatures – employer and nanny.

My heart pounds. The same pounding throb that reverberated in my chest when Eugene lay dead on the floor at the base of the stairs. That rush of fear reminds me of that moment and the truth of my situation with Tanner hits me like a smack to the head.

This man has no idea I took a human life.

He can’t possibly know that for all his pretense that he knows my secret. He can’t. No sane man would ask a killer to become his nanny. It doesn’t feel like my place to suggest he conduct a background check and that wouldn’t exactly support my goals of staying out of trouble with the law.

“Seems pretty simple,” Tanner says in a smooth, country accent. He sounds very Southwestern, a distinct voice that blends a Texan drawl with the nasally, flat intonations of Midwestern speech. A General American with a dash of sexy cowboy. It’s hard for me to think logically when he speaks to me.

“Makes you think there’s a catch.”

His eyes flicker with an emotion I can’t place when I search his face for deception but just as soon as I observe the flicker, it fades away, leaving Tanner’s placid expression behind. That man has a very handsome face. I’ll admit that.

“I’ll sign it,” I say to him. “But… if you fire me and send me back to Juliette’s, I understand.”

“Not gonna happen, sugar plum.”

Sugar plum? Ew. I assume that’s just some old-fashioned Southern thing and I pretend to review the contract again, even if I know exactly what I’m going to do.

What choice do I have? It’s either this, or I find my way back to Juliette and Hunter’s place to live off their generosity. At least now I have a chance to stand on my own two feet.

“Can I call Juliette once I sign this to let her know I’m okay? That I went with you willingly?”

He raises his eyebrows in surprise, and then he nods.

“Of course. Wouldn’t want your new employment status causing any trouble.”

I take the pen Tanner hands me and sign my name with a flourish. His shoulders depress slowly once I’m done.

“Perfect,” he says with audible contentment and a slow exhale. “Let’s take you to meet Avery, sugar plum.”

Sugar plum.

Not exactly what you call your nanny…

Then again, maybe it’s a Southern thing.

Eleven

CASH

For eight weeks, my mind claws at an escape from the troubles plaguing my sleep. Who is this child? Where did she come from? Who brought her here and why is any of this happening? Southpaw calls with answers about Oske, but those answers only seem to provoke more questions.

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