Page 45 of The Biker Needs A Nanny

He stares until I smile, and the joke hits him, then he chuckles silently.

“Thanks.”

“For what?”

“Making me laugh. I needed that.”

“Thanks for overcoming your fear to ride with me.”

Our eyes lock, and his drop to my mouth. We both lean toward each other, both wanting this, but then we’re jerked as the ride starts up again.

I clear my throat and glance over the edge as we descend, and that’s when I spot him.

Eric, my ex.

He’s smirking at me like a cat that’s caught the mouse. My stomach sinks, and I feel the color drain from my face.

“Are you okay?” Lucky asks.

My eyes shift to Lucky. “Yeah, yeah. I’m fine.” But I’m not. I haven’t been fine since I saw Eric in that department store. I barely survived him the first time. I fled the first chance I got after having pawned my grandmother’s ring for cash. I thought I was being smart, but now he’s found me.

I should tell Lucky. I know I should, but I’m afraid he’ll send me packing, and I just don’t have enough to get that far. After all, who wants trouble brought right to their doorstep, especially with him having two little girls? I don’t want to leave. Not the girls—or him, if I’m being honest with myself—but once I have a big enough nest egg to run, I’ll have to make my move.

The ride goes around again, and I glance to where Eric was standing, but he’s gone. I search the faces of the people as we come to a stop, but he’s nowhere in sight.

The bar is unlocked, and we exit the ride.

“Lucky?” I tug on his hand, stopping him.

“Yes?”

“Can we get the tree and head home? I’m tired.”

He studies my face, and I’m afraid he reads me like a book. I think he knows there’s something I’m hiding, but he doesn’t press me on it. “Yeah, sure. I’ll call my parents to meet us over there.”

His parents say goodbye to the girls, and the four of us find the tree lot and wander up and down the rows and rows of beautiful pines. They have them in every size and shape. Of course, the girls have to look at every tree before they can decide which is the perfect one.

I want them to pick one already, so we can get out of here and I can feel some semblance of security, but I can’t tell them that. So, I plaster a smile on my face and trudge up and down the aisles, the girls racing ahead.

“Daddy, come see this one,” Ella calls from somewhere to the right.

At the same time, Poppy calls, “I found the best one.” Her voice carries from the left.

Lucky and I look at each other.

“Divide and conquer?” I suggest.

He nods and turns to the right, weaving between trees. I do the same but move to the left.

A chill runs up my spine. I feel as if someone is watching me, and I realize just how alone I am at that moment.

“Poppy?” I call. “Where are you?”

Before I can hear a reply, a hand clamps over my mouth and yanks me into the thicket of some trees. The branches scrape at my arms, the sting biting. I fight back, causing the branches to tear even more at my delicate skin.

“You know there’s no use fighting,” a sickening voice whispers in my ear. “Did you think I wouldn’t find you?”

“Grace?”

---