Page 62 of Taken By the Biker Daddies

I gave him a puzzled look. “What do you mean?”

Jake exhaled. “I’ve met Lauren before. Back when she was around five or six. We lived in the same apartment building, and I taught her how to draw. She loved art.”

I nodded. “I see.”

Now, I understand why Jake had brought her to his home.

I smiled as I patted his shoulder. “Then it’s a good thing you met again. Isn’t that destiny?”

Jake shrugged. “She doesn’t seem to remember me, but I know she used to look up to me like some hero.”

“And she still does,” I told him. “Didn’t she call you when she was in trouble? She knew you’d come and save her.”

“Yeah. And then I pushed her away.”

I sighed. So that’s what happened.

Honestly, I wished Jake would see what a good man he was. Loyal. Caring. Always ready to lend a hand or an ear. A great artist. A great cook. Any woman would be lucky to have him,and I knew Lauren would be glad to. She was the one who had invited him last night.

I knew he cared about Lauren a great deal, too. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be stressing out so much about not being good enough for her.

“I’m not going to tell you what to do,” I told Jake. “I’m just going to tell you what one of the kindest and wisest people I know once told me that the past shouldn’t blind you to the good that’s right in front of you. You can’t let it hold you back from the happiness that is sure to come.”

Jake said nothing. He had probably forgotten those words, even though he was the one who said them to me. They had helped me through a tough time. I could only hope they could help him find his way now.

Just then, my phone rang. I saw the name of an old Marine buddy of mine, the one I’d been expecting to hear back from, on the screen. I answered the call.

“Tell me you’ve got something.”

“Hello to you, too, McMillan,” Sal replied. “And yes, I’ve got the information you asked for. I’ll be sending everything to your email in a bit, including the bill.”

“Thanks, man. I’ll pay you as soon as I can.”

Sal chuckled. “Just kidding. I’m not charging an old friend. You can just buy me a beer the next time we meet.”

I grinned. “You can count on that.”

“And one more thing?”

“Yeah?”

“Be careful about this guy,” Sal said. “He’s got a rich dad and a foul temper. Bad combination.”

“Got it.”

“I’m honestly surprised you asked me to look into this dirtbag. I don’t know what you’re getting into, but just be careful. Okay?”

“I won’t do anything you wouldn’t,” I promised him.

He gave another chuckle. “Okay, man. Bye.”

“Bye.”

I hung up. A second later, Jake was asking me a question. “What was that about?”

“I asked an old buddy of mine who now works as a PI to look into Clyde Roarke,” I told him the truth, finding no reason to hide it.

“I thought Max was doing that.”

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