Page 44 of Nanny for the Bikers

His steady gaze meets mine. I know that look, that resolute set to his jaw. Once Clay sets his mind to something, he pursues it with single-minded focus.

“Alright, brother.” I clap him on the shoulder. “Let’s fire up the grill and round up the crew.”

A smile tugs at Clay’s mouth. “That’s the spirit. United we ride...”

“...divided we fall,” I finish our motto as I head out to the living room.

I find Ayla in the living room, sitting cross-legged on the floor with Piper in her lap. She’s reading to her in a soft, melodic voice that wraps around me like a warm blanket. For a moment, I just lean against the doorframe, watching them, a smile playing on my lips. I can still feel her lips against mine, the noises that came out of her when I touched her just right. Damn. Clear head, there’s a baby in the room.

Ayla looks up, her green eyes meeting mine. “Hey, Kip. What’s up?”

I push off the doorframe and saunter over. “Clay, Teller, and I are going to a barbecue if you’d like to come.”

Her face lights up. “That sounds great! I’d love to.” She tickles Piper’s belly, eliciting a giggle from the little girl. “We could use some fresh air and sunshine, couldn’t we, munchkin?”

Clay walks in, a dish towel slung over his shoulder. “Glad to hear it. It’ll be nice for you to meet some more people.”

Ayla’s smile falters slightly. “Who else will be there?”

I exchange a glance with Clay. We haven’t told her about the Black Wolves yet, unsure how she’d react. “Just some friends of ours,” I say casually. “Good people.”

She nods, but I can see the hesitation in her eyes. “Can I bring Shadow? He loves a good cookout.”

Clay shakes his head apologetically. “Sorry, Ayla. Not everyone there is a fan of dogs.”

Her face falls, and she hugs Piper a little closer. I can practically see the debate raging in her mind - stay home with Shadow or come out with us…who would know that a dog means so much?

I crouch down beside her, my hand resting gently on her knee. “Hey, it’ll be fun. You trust us, right?”

She searches my face for a long moment before nodding. There’s so much relief in that one little movement. She’s starting to trust us. Trust in me. “Okay, I’ll come. Just let me get ready.”

As she stands up, I can’t help but admire the way the sunlight streaming through the window catches the gold flecks in her eyes, making them shimmer like precious gems. She’s absolutely breathtaking.

Clay clears his throat, and I realize I’ve been staring. Heat crawls up the back of my neck as I straighten up. “Great. We’ll head out in about an hour.”

Ayla flashes me a smile that makes my heart skip a beat before disappearing down the hallway. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

Damn, this woman is going to be the death of me. But what a way to go.

Clay scoops up Piper, deciding to put her in a cute dress for the barbecue.

After a while, I find my feet carrying me to Ayla’s room. I knock softly on the door, pushing my hands into my pocket. I feel like a teenager waiting for the pretty, popular girl to notice me.

“Come in,” Ayla calls, her voice muffled by the door.

I step inside, closing the door behind me. When I turn around, the sight of her steals the breath from my lungs. She’s wearing a sweater dress that hugs her curves in all the right places, the soft fabric clinging to her like a second skin. Her dark hair falls in loose waves around her shoulders, and her lips are painted a deep, sultry red.

“Wow,” I breathe, my eyes drinking her in. “You look... incredible.”

A blush stains her cheeks, and she ducks her head. “Thanks, Kip. I wasn’t sure if this was too much, but-“

I cross the room in two strides, pulling her into my arms. “It’s perfect. You’re perfect.”

She melts into my embrace for a moment before stiffening and pulling away. “I should finish getting ready.”

I frown, not liking the distance she’s putting between us. “Ayla, talk to me. What’s going on?”

She busies herself with her hair, avoiding my gaze. “Nothing.”

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