Page 19 of Nanny for the Bikers

I shake my head. “There’s four of us, knuckle head here, Piper, myself and Teller.”

“Living with three men?” She comments, blowing out a breath. “I don’t know. My sister would kill me.”

“Then it’s a good thing your sister isn’t here,” I state. “Where’s Ayla going to sleep, Clay?”

Clay shrugs, his expression nonchalant. “The guest room. It’s the only spare room we have.”

I blink, trying to process this information. “But I thought... wasn’t that going to be Piper’s nursery?”

A flicker of realization crosses Clay’s face, followed by a hint of sheepishness. “Right, about that... I was thinking we could convert the office instead. It’s not like we use it much anyway.”

Ayla’s eyes widen, her gaze darting between us. “Wait, you don’t have a nursery set up for Piper?”

I feel my cheeks heat up, a twinge of embarrassment settling in my gut. “She’s been sleeping in the playpen in the living room,” I admit, my voice quiet.

Ayla’s reaction is immediate. She shakes her head, her expression a mix of disbelief and determination. In a swift motion, she reaches for Clay’s hand, catching him off guard.

“I need my first month’s pay upfront,” she says, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Clay’s eyebrows shoot up, a hint of suspicion in his voice. “Why? You planning on running off with it?”

Ayla rolls her eyes, a small smile tugging at her lips. “No, I’m going to use it to decorate Piper’s nursery. She deserves a proper space of her own.”

Her words catch me by surprise, a wave of gratitude and admiration washing over me. “Ayla, you don’t have to do that,” I interject, my voice soft.

But Ayla is adamant, her green eyes blazing with a fierce protectiveness. “Yes, I do. No offense, but I doubt the two of you are going to be able to figure out how to decorate a girl’s room.”

I roll my eyes. “We’re not useless.”

“Should I remind you how I became your nanny again? Baby…left by herself.”

Clay whistles and looks at the ceiling.

As I look at her, I see a flicker of something in her eyes—a hint of the pain and vulnerability she keeps so carefully hidden. In that moment, I realize that Ayla understands Piper’s situation on a level that goes beyond mere empathy. She knows what it’s like to feel unwanted, to be left behind.

And with that realization comes a newfound respect for the woman standing before me, her shoulders squared and her head held high. Ayla Parks is a force to be reckoned with, and I have a feeling that our lives will never be the same with her in it.

Clay’s brow furrows as he admits, “I don’t have that kind of cash on hand, but I can go to the bank.”

Ayla’s eyes light up, and she reaches for her keys. “I can drive us there.”

But Clay hesitates, his gaze flickering to Piper. “Is your truck safe for the baby? No offense, but it looks like it’s seen better days.”

Ayla’s jaw tightens, a spark of defensiveness in her eyes. “Hey, don’t judge a book by its cover. My truck may be old, but it’s reliable. It’s gotten me through some tough times.”

Clay raises his hands in a placating gesture, but I can see the hint of a smile on his lips. “Easy there, tiger. I’m a mechanic,remember? It’s my job to know the difference between a good vehicle and a bad one.”

Ayla narrows her eyes, a playful challenge in her voice. “Oh, so you think you know better than me about my own truck?”

As I watch their banter escalate, I can’t help but feel a sense of amusement. It’s clear that Ayla and Clay are cut from the same cloth—both strong-willed and fiercely independent.

The two of them are going to butt heads…but not nearly as much as she and Teller will.

But I also sense that if I don’t intervene, this playful back-and-forth could go on forever. Clearing my throat, I interject, “Why don’t we take my truck? It’s got plenty of room for all of us, and it’s definitely baby safe.”

Ayla and Clay exchange a glance, a silent communication passing between them. Finally, Ayla nods. “Fine, we’ll take your truck. But only if Shadow can come too.”

I feel a warmth spreading through my chest at the mention of her loyal companion. “Of course, Shadow can come. He’s always welcome.”

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