Page 27 of Biker Daddy

Would her father pull the plug?

“Uh, what about the rocks?”

“They only look close. They’re not,” Markus said. “We’ve all done this jump, Addi. But hey, if you’re backing out…” She turned to see Carter lick his lips again and she shivered.

“I’m not!” Addi swallowed hard again. Carter threw a small log over the cliff and Addi watched it smash into bits. Deciding suddenly that one quick flash of her chest wouldn’t kill her like the rocks below, she spun back and that’s when she heard a scream. It was from her mouth as Markus shoved a snake at her face. She lurched back, and the loose gravel on the edge shifted.

She slipped. Her arms pin-wheeled and she fought to regain her footing as Drew ran toward her. His face was a storm of anger and fear. He cursed and lunged for her, but it was too late. He couldn’t reach her. Addi felt gravity pull her down.

She was falling faster and faster, and the scream that tore from her mouth at the sight of the snake was nothing compared to the one that came out of her on the way down.

* * *

Addi was going to die. She didn’t want to die.

She hit the water and it stole her breath. Not the water pouring into her mouth but the sheer shock of the cold, hard landing.

Addi struggled, not knowing what was up and what was down, but when her head broke the surface she saw them all howling with laughter at the top of the cliff. Except Drew. She couldn’t see him. Where was he?

Water splashed in her eyes as she slapped her hands on the surface. The deep water was so cold, her limbs felt sluggish and heavy. It was much harder than she expected to keep them moving and she felt so exhausted.

She stopped pawing at the water and kicking her legs, letting her head slip beneath the surface. Water swallowed her and filled her ears. It was so calm and quiet beneath the surface. It felt peaceful. Much better than the laughter, ridicule, and embarrassment from above. She just needed a minute and then she’d paddle her way to shore and face them.

Arms grabbed her around her waist, and her limbs, as loose as sea kelp, floated in front of her as she was dragged. She started squirming as soon as she felt ground beneath her feet, but a few seconds later, she was dumped on the rocky sand. Her limbs felt heavy and awkward out of the cold lake, so she lay there sprawled on the ground.

Coughing, her eyes flickered open only to see Drew’s fearful electric blue eyes blink at her. She gazed at them, the dark blue ring around the outside making them more intense, suddenly feeling just as much peace as she had in the water. She smiled unexpectedly.

“Are you okay?” Drew’s hands cupped Addi’s face, and she couldn’t speak. His warm touch made her gut flip and flutter and his face, intensely close, transfixed her. He had strong features. Unlike the other guys, Drew’s jaw was square and stubbled with more than just peach fuzz. He clenched his manly jaw and yanked her floppy form against his chest, moving his hands from her face to her back.

“You almost drowned.” His words were no longer soft and filled with concern, like his expression only moments ago. They were angry instead. He pushed her back and held her upper arms tightly in his large hands.

“You can barely swim!” he said, and she wanted to argue but his angry eyes stopped her. “Why the hell would you even go to the edge?” His eyes seemed to shoot blue sparks.

He shook his head. “Markus will pay for this.” He scooped Addi up and carried her through the woods. She had no idea where he was taking her and she didn’t even care that he was carrying her like a child or that she was too heavy to be carried. She was too weak and cold to do anything but lay her head on his thick shoulder and wrap her arms around him.

She figured he’d take her back to Uncle Ray, but he didn’t. He took her to her little cabin. He kicked the door open and his eyes widened at all the lace and pink. Or maybe it was the lack of similarity to the rest of the camp’s rusticness. Addi’s cabin looked more like a dollhouse than a cabin—pretty and frilly just like her dad liked everything for her, just like he’d told Uncle Ray she loved. She was so happy that Uncle Ray was taking the time to fix it up with her that she didn’t have the heart to tell him she hated frilly pink.

“What the hell?”

She swallowed at his words and started pushing against his chest for him to set her down. He only held her tighter against him and spun slowly to take it all in.

“It’s like a princess puked in here.”

“It’s, it’s—”

“Not you,” he said simply, and set her on the padded upholstered chair. He licked his lips, glancing at her. “You okay?”

Addi could only nod, embarrassed.

“Can you get changed by yourself?”

Her eyes widened and she nodded quicker this time. Her dress clung to her wetly. The butter-yellow material was almost see-through and she suddenly knew why he looked as if he’d swallowed a lemon. He could see everything.

“I’m fine,” she answered in a squeaky voice, covering her chest with folded arms. He straightened, suddenly becoming taller.

“Change. I’ll wait outside.” He looked at her sternly. “Then we’ll talk.”

“Um, okay,” she mumbled. He’d never even talked to her before this day and now suddenly he was in her cabin and wanted to talk more.

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