Page 21 of Biker Daddy

Chapter Five

Addi

When she pulled into Uncle Ray’s parking spot in front of the camp office, Addi took a moment to rest her head on the wheel. She closed her eyes, but couldn’t really relax with the rumbling of Drew’s motorcycle, especially when she thought about the way it vibrated through her. It made her belly coil tight. When he cut the motor, she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

Addi didn’t know how long she sat motionless, head against the steering wheel, but it was at least a half an hour before she heard the tap on her window. When she looked up, Drew’s face was plastered with concern again.

She didn’t want his concern. In fact, she was suddenly angry that he was there again. Why had her uncle let him live here? Why had he been selling the place? And why was Drew being so protective and flirty?

Frustration burned in her so hot she threw her head back and shoved the door open, hitting Drew who was standing against it. He had been nothing but nice and she felt like a supreme bitch, but she was suddenly the teen girl who couldn’t control anything around her again. The feeling overwhelmed her and she wanted to go curl up and sleep away the world.

“Hey, what’s going on? You okay?”

“Nothing. I’m fine,” she barked, and squeezed out of the car since he wouldn’t budge. “I’m going back to the cabin.” She left him standing by her car with the door still partially open.

“Addi?” She looked back. “Your uncle asked me to take care of you. He was worried you’d crumple when he died.”

“Thanks, but I’m fine,” she answered, but he was staring expectantly. She could take care of herself.

“Addi?”

“What?” she shouted, throwing her hands up in exasperation. “Just let me go. I’m fine.”

“You seem like a boulder heading toward the gravel pit to me.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Yeah, well, you don’t know me anymore.”

“Maybe, but I have good instincts and you don’t seem to have changed all that much.” His lips quirked up. “I do miss the braids though.” He chuckled when she grimaced at him. “And, baby girl, I moved your bag to your cabin.”

She growled and covered her face with her hands. “Stop calling me that!” When her hands dropped and she started toward her uncle’s cabin, he stepped in front of her like a brick wall.

“Move, Drew. I’m going to Uncle Ray’s cabin.”

“It’s not safe.” He paused to look at her, his eyes switching back and forth between hers. “It was falling apart around him and I’m not letting it fall on you. He spent a few days in the hospital a couple of months ago and I broke in and put the fireplace in because it’s drafty as fuck in there. I did the windows, put on the new veranda, and gave it a coat of paint, but it needs so much more. He wouldn’t let me in while he was here.” He shook his head and pressed his lips. “The bloody floor is rotten. I had no idea it was that bad or I’d have fought him harder.” He swallowed and shoved his hand through his hair, looking more sorry than angry then.

“What the hell right do you have to do anything around here?” Her eyes narrowed on his clenching jaw and she stabbed his chest with her finger. He looked at it, took her hand and held it tightly, but not uncomfortably, in his.

“You’re not setting foot in there until it’s safe. And that’s the second time you’ve poked me, little girl. You’re definitely in need of some time over Daddy’s knee.” Her gut dipped.

She knew the floor was rotten from watching him inspect it earlier, but she had no idea how much he’d been taking care of her uncle.

“You’ve been taking care of him all these years.” Guilt swelled inside her. She should have been here. If only she’d known. “He seemed so… well… capable all the time. I had no idea how bad things were. My dad can’t function without me, but Uncle Ray—”

He cocked his head and his expression softened. He bit the inside of his cheek. “I loved him, Addi. He meant the world to me. And he didn’t want you to know how bad it was.” There was a vulnerability in his look he couldn’t hide and it went straight to her heart.

He released her hand and lowered his face. “I only wish he’d have let me do more for him, but he was damn stubborn.” Drew kicked a rock hard and it skittered toward the lake and then his eyes met hers and firmed. “Apparently, it runs in the family.”

Addi smirked. “Perhaps it’s in the water here.”

He reached out and touched her cheek. “I already fixed your cabin. It was the first one I did when I came back here to fix what I’d done.” He paused, watching her face.

She shut her eyes, remembering the way the camp had been in shambles after his club had their fun.

“I added some amenities.”

Her eyes fluttered open and his thumb smoothed down and across her lips, making her heartbeat quicken. “To make it nicer for the guests?”

“No, no one stays in your cabin.” He dropped his hands and they fisted slightly. She searched his expression and he looked away. When she wasn’t being a raving lunatic, she could easily see his grief.

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