Page 28 of Biker Daddy

Addi could probably count on one hand how many times she’d heard him speak outside of his time with the campers. She took a breath and shivered. She liked the deep, raspy sound of his voice.

Addi stood on legs as firm as a newborn foal and peeled off her dress. She threw a camp t-shirt over her head and grabbed the only pair of shorts she had. She used them for cleaning. They were cut-off jeans and the button dug into her belly. She pulled on the cut-offs and looked at herself in the mirror above the dressing table.

Drew’s knock startled her even though she knew it was coming. Addi called for him to enter.

“Hi,” he said, looking stunned by her appearance. “Now you look like you.”

“My dad likes me to wear dresses.”

“But what do you like?”

She didn’t know what to say to that so she just shrugged.

“Sit.” He nodded at the chair he’d originally sat her in. She did as she was told and watched him come closer.

“Why?” he asked softly, propping his hands on his hips, knocking the chain that looped from his back pocket to the belt loop on the front of his knee-length shorts. “Why did you stop trying?” His eyes narrowed on hers.

She knew he was referring to when she’d stopped swimming and she only shrugged again.

“Answer me!” Anger threaded into his raspy voice and she wrapped her arms around herself, shaking her head.

“Dammit!” He looked away and she watched his square jaw tick. “Is it because of your mom?”

Addi’s eyes flew wide. How did he know about her mom? Her breath quickened and the tears that stung behind her eyes suddenly spilled over.

“Don’t talk about my mom,” she said, feeling an all-encompassing hurt and a surge of anger. “This has nothing to do with her.”

“I’m sorry, but if you’re going to fling yourself off a cliff and let yourself drown, you need to talk about it.”

Addi shot forward onto the edge of her chair, clenching her teeth. “I didn’t fling myself off the cliff. That dick Markus scared me and I slipped.”

His brows rose. “And still you didn’t swim.”

“I slipped,” she said, firmer. “And there was a bet and dammit.” She looked away. “And I was just taking a break from swimming. It was cold and my arms and legs felt like lead.”

His brow furrowed. “A break? From swimming? That’s giving up!” He sat on the bed, rolled his shoulders and spoke calmly. “And what bet?”

She looked away, clenching her jaw. “One I couldn’t lose.”

“What bet, Addi?” Although the words came out slow and steady, there was an underlying demand in them that forced her to confide in him. The words tumbled from her trembling lips. “If I didn’t jump, I’d have to show them my chest.”

He growled, angrier than she’d ever seen a person in her life. Her eyes widened and he slammed his hand into the wall.

“I’ll kill them!” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, his face paled. He looked ill.

“Are you okay?” she asked, reaching out but Drew only turned to leave.

“You didn’t have to agree to that bet, Addi. You’re stronger than that.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Bullshit! Stay away from the cliff. If I catch you there again… “

She grabbed his arm and he stopped, his head down, back to her, breathing ragged.

“I won’t go there again.”

He spun, grabbed her waist, and pulled her against him. She was still reeling from the shock of his touch, his body still wet and cold from saving her, when his mouth crushed hers.

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