Page 57 of The Biker Needs A Nanny

The three of them dash around the house.

I follow, and when I get to the other side, they’re pounding down the dock and a flotilla of boats slowly approaches in a line.

The lights strung on the boats reflect in the calm waters of the bay. One of the boats is playing Christmas music.

Lucky returns to the house and grabs a couple of blankets. “Here, girls. This will keep you warm.”

They’re cuddled together on one of the chaise lounges, still holding their new dolls, and he tucks the blanket around them.

I sit on the other lounger.

“Want to share a blanket?” he asks.

“Sure.” I scoot over and he covers us both with the other blanket.

As each boat goes past, the girls wave, and the captains honk their horns. People aboard wave back, and shout, “Merry Christmas!”

The parade is about two dozen boats long, and takes a while until we reach the last boat, which is playingJingle Bells.

The people aboard are singing loudly, and if I had to guess, I’d bet they’d all imbibed on some rum to warm them on this chilly night.

I stand and clap, as does Lucky.

“That was fun,” I say, then turn and spot Mildred and her husband several docks down. They wave, and I shout, “Merry Christmas!”

“Merry Christmas!” they yell back.

Then we make our way inside.

“It’s time for bed, girls. Go change into your PJs and brush your teeth. I’ll be up in a minute to tuck you in,” Lucky says, and they scamper off.

“Goodnight, girls,” I call.

“Night, Grace,” I hear in return from both of them.

Lucky picks up the bottle with the red bow. “Have a drink with me after I tuck the girls in?”

“Sure.”

He heads up the stairs, and I walk to the fireplace, rubbing my upper arms. I spot one of those logs in a bag that you just light the corner and it flames to life. I may not be able to build a fire, but I can do that much, and I don’t think Lucky will mind.

By the time he comes down the stairs, I’ve got music on and a blazing fire going.

He stops at the bottom of the steps.

“A fire. Nice.”

He moves to open the bottle and produces two cocktail glasses from a cabinet. He fills them with an inch of amber liquor and holds one out to me. “Cheers.”

I clink my glass to his. “Cheers.”

He sits on the couch next to me, and I smile.

“That was nice tonight.”

“Yeah, the girls had fun, huh?”

“Yes,” I reply.

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