Page 4 of Christmas Eve at Bluff Creek

“I get you, Rascal. He’ll call if we need anything. Thank you,” the woman replied. Winnie wondered if they could maybe set up meals for them, too. She remembered how tired her mom was and she hadn’t had young kids depending on her.

Rascal nodded and motioned for Winnie to follow. Winnie wished them Merry Christmas and then followed Rascal down the road to their motorcycle.

She slid her helmet on and settled onto the trike. Rascal got on and slid his gloves on. She leaned up close to him, patting his shoulder.

“You’re just a cinnamon roll inside, aren’t you? Big, tough biker with the soft center.”

“What the fuck is a cinnamon roll?”

“He’s the character in a romance novel who has that warm, gooey soft center who cares for everyone. He’s the one that deserves his own true love.”

Rascal flipped his head and body around to see her, shaking his finger in her face. “No, you get that idea out of your head, girl. I do not need you and your sisters matchmaking for me. Nu-uh, no way, no how. Nada. You get me?”

She chuckled and then laughed as Rascal started up the trike. If things worked out the way she planned, Rascal would be her father-in-law someday. She’d table finding him a woman for now, but someday, when she had time, she’d find him and her dad the perfect woman to spend the rest of their lives with and she had four sisters who would be more than happy to help her.

Chapter Three

Bear straightened the beard for the umpteenth time. He was loving helping kids and families, but he was voting that someone purchase new beards for next year. These were freaking scratchy. His didn’t sit right on his face anyway because his real beard made it stick out. When he asked Regina if he had to wear the beard since he already had one, she just gave him the mom glare that he, War and Roam had seen many times growing up. He’d nodded and slid the beard on while Sarah laughed at him.

He enjoyed being around Sarah, but he would have loved having Winnie ride with him. He and Sarah had completed four deliveries and were on the way to pick up their next sacks at the truck.

Besides having them listen to Christmas music through their Bluetooth helmets, Sarah was signing along as loud as she could.Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)was her current song. Sarah had a pretty voice; it was her volume he was a little tired of. He’d turned his volume down as low as he could and still hear her.

It probably wasn’t even the volume. He had entirely too much time to think tonight. Seeing people who were going through hard times hurt his heart. He didn’t have any good memories with his incubator. The place he’d made memories was after he’d come to the MC and lived with his dad. His first puppy, his first bicycle, his first love shown from a maternal figure, and his first time feeling safe had all happened after he’d come to Bluff Creek.

He wanted to build on all those firsts with Winnie, but he also knew she needed time, which he would give her. To have his dream of Winnie as his wife, he’d walk through whatever it tookfor her. Maybe he could sneak over after they were done tonight. He’d have to pretend all day tomorrow, but tonight, he didn’t want to pretend.

Sarah’s hand patting his arm and pointing at a truck had him flicking on his blinker, not that anyone was on the road. He still wasn’t taking a chance.

He followed the directions and pulled up to the truck sitting off to the side of the road. Sarah got off the bike, and once she turned off the Bluetooth, the music started blaring into the night. Whiskey’s brothers, Hennessy and Schaefer, stopped playing cards on the tailgate of the truck to grab two Santa bags for them. Hennessy hopped down while Schaefer reached into the bed of the truck.

“Hey, how’s it going?” Schaefer asked as he started to hand the bag to Hennessy.

Sarah danced over to Hennessy, singing the song on the radio. Hennessy took her hand and twirled her, singing along with her to One Republic’sDear Santaignoring his brother. As Sarah spun back toward Hennessy, she leaned closer, grasping the edge of his Santa Slay MC cut as she shook her butt down to the ground and back up again.

Bear shook his head. “It’s going great if we can get to our next stop. I had no idea we were having a concert and dance party tonight, too.”

Sarah rolled her eyes, shaking her head at Bear. “Grumpy Bear should be quiet. I know lots of secrets that I don’t have to keep.”

Bear decided he needed to smooth this over because he didn’t want Winnie mad at him if the guys found out about them. “Sarah, I have thoroughly enjoyed your lovely voice serenading me tonight. I only hope it continues to our next stops.”

Bear reached up for the bags and took them to fasten on his bike.

“Hey Bear, Whiskey wanted us to let you guys know we’re in for helping plan the Poker Run. Whiskey said our spring calendar’s open at the bar, so whenever you guys think the weather will be good enough is good with us.”

“Thanks, I’ll let War know. We appreciate you guys being involved.”

“C’mon Grumpy Bear. We’ve got people to give Christmas to. You guys have a Merry Christmas. Oh, I almost forgot. Let me grab it.”

Sarah ran back to his motorcycle and opened the saddlebags. She carried a bag back to the guys.

“I made mini loaves for all of you so there are twelve. I also texted Whiskey so he’d know to ask for his. So, no eating more than your own and I’m so sorry we can’t continue our dance party, but I’ll be singing to Bear all the rest of the night. I wouldn’t want him to get bored. You guys have a safe drive to Wichita tonight.”

“Thanks Sarah. Merry Christmas!”

Bear waited until she settled on behind him and their helmets were on. “You wouldn’t have really told them, would you?”

“Nope, but bet it made you clench a little and worry.”

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