Page 2 of A Christmas Surprise for the Biker

“What do you want with Legend?” His thick brow goes up.

I shift the car seat to my other hand. “I need to talk to him. It’s important.”

He looks me over before taking in my son. His eyes linger on Ryder for a long beat, and I know the second he sees what everyone else does when they look at my son. He’s the mini-me of his father.

The prospect’s wide eyes dart up to mine and he shoves a beefy hand into his pocket and pulls out his phone. “Wait here,” he orders, doing something on the screen before putting it to his ear.

I roll my eyes, because seriously—where does he think I’m going to go? We’re miles away from anything, and I don’t have anywhere else to go.

Sighing, I turn back to the fence, praying Legend will agree to see me. As the thought goes through my mind, the clubhouse door opens, and out he steps. I watch as he scans the parking area before his eyes finally meet mine, and my breath hitches.

Legend.

It’s been a year since I last saw him. His shoulders are wider, and his hair is a little longer than I’m used to seeing it, but my heart skips a beat like it’s always done when he’s near.

Even from here, I see his eyes widen when he realizes it’s me. In a flash, he jogs across the lot and through the gates, pulling up short when he catches sight of the car seat sitting at my feet.

“Braelynn?” he rumbles low, the sound feeling like a lash to my heart, “What are you doing here?”

I pull in a shaky breath as I steel myself for what I came here to do. “I need your help.”

His eyes go back to Ry. “Help with what?”

I glance down at my son, then lift my head so I can look him in the eye. “With him,” I answer.

His lips turn down in a harsh frown. It’s been a year, but I know I remember that look. He’s not happy. “With your kid?”

Here goes nothing.

Pulling in a steadying breath and slowly letting it out, I square my shoulders. “He'sourkid.”

Legend’s brows shoot up to his hairline as he takes a big step back. The move feels like a boot to the gut, but I’m not backing down. I need him to step up and help me out.

“The fuck?” he growls, his eyes bouncing back and forth from me to Ry.

“I get that you’re pissed and didn’t want to see me again, but I’m out of options. I need your help.”

In a move I’m not expecting, he closes the distance between us, drops to his knees, and reaches out his hand, gently brushing his fingers across Ryder’s cheek. The sight of his tattooed hand against Ry’s flawless porcelain skin brings tears to my eyes.

Slowly, he lifts his head, his eyes searching mine. “He’s really mine?”

“Yes.” A barrage of thoughts is telegraphed across his face: shock, wonder, awe, finally settling on anger. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” The growled accusation has my hackles going up. The nerve of this asshole. He’s the one who ghosted me.

“I tried to find you! You’re the one who shut your damn phone off, Legend. I’ve called—a thousand times if not more!”

“You could have come here sooner!” he shouts back.

“How? I don’t even know your real name, for heaven’s sake. The only reason I knew to come here is because Chief’s wife was trying to piss off her old man and let it slip that you were here.” I should be embarrassed, but I’m not. What we had was good, or at least I thought it was.

His face softens, understanding dawning in his eyes as he stands. “Fuck, Brae. I’m sorry.”

I shake my head, sniffing as I bat at the tears streaming down my cheeks. “Don’t. I get it. You never made any promises, and it was what it was.” I wipe my palms down my jeans. “I know that it’s not entirely your fault.” And it’s not. I know this deep down. “That’s not what we were to each other,” I say the truth out loud and it stings. I wasn’t his girlfriend. We weren’t a couple. We had an arrangement. When he happened to be in Jacksonville with his club, he’d stop by my place, and we hooked up. It was casual and it was good. No, it was great. At least I thought it was until he disappeared off the face of the earth, and I was left to face finding out I was pregnant all alone.

He reaches out, his hand cupping my cheek. “Been thinking about you for fucking months, baby.”

My eyes close at the contact, and I lean into his touch.

God, I’ve missed him.

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