Page 48 of Nanny for the Bikers

Ayla shifts Piper in her arms, and the baby gurgles happily, reaching out a chubby hand towards me. Without thinking, I step closer, letting her tiny fingers wrap around mine.

Kip clears his throat. “We won’t be out too late,” he says, shooting me a knowing look. “Are you going to be okay here with Piper?”

Ayla nods, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “We’ll be fine. You guys have fun.”

Kip’s eyes light up with mischief as he turns to Ayla. “You sure you don’t want to join us, Ayla? We could use a wing woman to keep us in line.”

Wing woman? He must be messing with her.

Teller chimes in, a grin spreading across his face. “Yeah, and you could bring Piper along. She’d be a great conversation starter.”

Ayla rolls her eyes, but I can see the amusement dancing in their green depths. “Oh, sure, because every girl at the bar wants to hear about dirty diapers and 2 AM feedings. Besides,” Ayla continues, her voice softening as she gazes down at Piper, “I think a quiet night at home is exactly what we need. Isn’t that right, sweet girl?”

Piper coos in response, and Ayla’s face lights up with a smile that takes my breath away. In that moment, I want nothing more than to stay here with them, to bask in the warmth of their presence.

But Kip is already heading for the door, keys jingling in his hand. “Suit yourself, Ayla. More wings for us.”

Teller follows close behind, throwing a wink over his shoulder. “Don’t wait up.”

I linger for a moment, torn between the pull of my brothers and the desire to stay. Ayla meets my gaze, and something unspokenpasses between us, a flutter of possibility that makes my heart race.

“Have fun,” she says softly, her eyes holding mine. “But not too much fun, okay?”

I nod, a smile tugging at my lips. “We’ll do our best. You sure you’ll be alright here?”

Ayla’s answering smile is gentle, tinged with a hint of wistfulness. “Go, enjoy your night.”

With a final nod, I turn to follow my brothers.

The bar thrums with energy, a pulsing heartbeat of laughter and clinking glasses. Kip, Teller, and I weave through the crowd, the familiar scent of hops and wings enveloping us as we claim a high-top table near the back.

“First rounds on me, boys,” Kip announces with a grin, signaling the waitress. “We’ve earned this.”

I nod, settling onto the stool and letting my gaze wander across the room. It’s a sea of faces, each one telling a different story, but my mind keeps drifting back to the one I left behind.

Ayla.

Her name echoes in my thoughts, a whisper of something I can’t quite define. I see her in the curve of a stranger’s smile, in the gleam of a glass catching the light. She’s everywhere and nowhere, a phantom I can’t shake.

“Earth to Clay,” Teller’s voice cuts through the haze, his hand waving in front of my face. “You with us, man?”

I blink, forcing a chuckle. “Yeah, sorry. Just...thinking.”

“About Ayla?” Kip asks, his tone knowing.

I don’t answer, but my silence speaks volumes.

The waitress appears, setting down three frosty mugs and a platter of wings, the spicy aroma making my mouth water. Kip rubs his hands together, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

“Alright, let’s dig in,” he says, reaching for a wing. “I’m starving.”

We fall into an easy rhythm, the conversation flowing as freely as the beer.

Kip leans forward, his eyes flickering with an uncharacteristic seriousness. “It’s been a wild ride, hasn’t it? Since Piper came into our lives?”

Teller nods, his gaze distant, as if he’s seeing something far beyond the confines of this bar. “Everything’s changed. I never thought I’d be raising a kid at this point in my life.”

“We’re doing better than I thought we would,” Kip admits.

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