Page 44 of Manny

I nuzzle her nose, and with regret, I turn the lock and pull the door open. She holds onto my hand until the last second as she slips out the door.

My chest tightens. What in the fuck did I just agree to?

I’m tinkering with my motorcycle in Tag’s workshop. When it’s quiet, I give my sled a service and touch up some paintwork. Hawk is organizing a run next weekend, and I can’t wait to ride with the rest of the pack. It’s the one place where I feel completely free.

“Hey, Dad, is this it?” Eli holds up a wrench and I give him a chin lift.

“That’s it, bud. Nice work.”

Eli also likes to help. He loves being around the workshop, even when Tag is around. Eli’s taken to him like a duck to water, much to Tag’s annoyance.

“When can I get my own bike?” he asks. I look up, unable to hold my tongue.

“When you’re old enough to drive.” I ruffle his hair and he tries to get away. I pull him in for a hug and kiss his head. One day soon, he’ll be too old for this, and I don’t wish for that day to come, but I know it will. Right now, I’m his hero, and I’llrelish in that idea until he’s at least a teenager. I’ve always shown my affection for him. Learning from the hard school of knocks wasn’t something I wanted Eli to know anything about. I tell him I love him, and we talk about everything. I like to think it’s me and him against the world, but I get a lot of help from Indigo. She’s taking him for a sleepover with Cami and a couple other friends this weekend. She’s a few years older than him, but they love hanging out and Cami is a thoughtful child, like my boy.

“Dad!”

“What? You know one day you’ll be replacin’ me with your own motorcycle and friends who won’t wanna hang out with your old man.”

“That won’t happen.”

I smile. “I’ll remind you in a coupla years you said that.”

“Are you done yet?”

I tighten the bolt around my wheel. “Why are you in such a rush, anyway?”

“Aunt Indi said we could make some stuff this afternoon.”

“So you wanna ditch your old man early, huh?”

He grins. “Dad. I can make you donuts, your favorite ones with the custard in the middle.”

I like how Indigo teaches him new things. It’s good for him, and he enjoys it. “I think I’d like that.”

“And she said Manny’s coming over to try out a new recipe.”

“Manny?” I cock a brow. It’s not often that Manny ventures out of his little food cave and into the world. He won’t set foot inside the Grill, at least not to cook, anyway. The man has some balls on him for denying Cash anything, but they seem to be fine with Manny calling the shots. I guess they really like his cooking.

After my little fantasy the other night, and the shame of how hard I came when I pictured Manny beneath me, I’ve been avoiding him.

“Yeah, he’s cool. Last time he let me get my hands in the bowl to knead the dough.”

“He did, huh?”

Eli nods enthusiastically. “Yep. It was fun.”

I smile. Manny is not only good with all women, and men of the club, but he’s also a hit now with kids, too. He’s a regular Mr. Goddamn Perfect.

I haven’t seen Lace for a few days, but we’ve been sexting. And I’m gearing up to get out to the club this weekend and have some more fun with her. That’s if I can wait that long. I’d rather we fuck a few times in my bed, really give her a feel for the yolk so she doesn’t forget who’s cock she belongs to, but then I remember how shitty she got over that whole claiming thing. Like she doesn’t know how it works in an MC. Still. I didn’t see her protesting when I was ramming my cock down her throat. She wanted it. She goddamn initiated it, and that shit is hot.

When we arrive at my sister’s bakery, Eli goes running ahead of me. I’m glad he’s happy hanging out at the bakery. We do everything together, obviously, but it’s good for him to have a bit of time with his cousin, and Harlem’s kids, and my sister.

Harlem gives me a chin lift as I enter the shop. It’s expanded since Indi took over, and now she has a full team so she can work more on the back office stuff and designing fun things like wedding and event cakes, rather than doing everything. That’s my sister, she’s always been a hard worker.

“Hey, bud.” I say in reply.

“You good, brother?” Harlem slaps me on the back. We’ve always gotten along. I didn’t get in the way when he and Indigo were fighting their attraction for one another. I understand his persistence and his jealousy. Indi is a fantastic woman, she practically raised me.

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