Page 7 of Faking it with the Bad Boy Bikers

I gasped and froze for a second, knowing Waylan didn’t lie and she’d probably definitely bit Woodrow, the one who’d caught her earlier. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry so I just glanced over my shoulder at the man and winced. “She doesn’t have rabies, I swear.”

CHAPTER 6

Henry

Ms. Vivian looked over at us and smiled. “I taught Nellie in the fourth grade. Waylan is like an exact copy of her momma. She’s cute, huh?”

I tore my eyes away from Nellie’s retreating ass and cleared my throat. “She’s Vera Hellstone’s little sister?”

“Yep. She’s been gone for a decade.” The older woman wagged her brows as she slowly backed away. “Seems like she’s single.”

I shook my head at her and then started up the stairs. Single, or not, I wouldn’t turn down another glimpse at the way Nellie’s ass filled out her jeans. I got to the second floor landing in time to watch the bedroom door closest to mine shut firmly.

“Well, Devil’s Den just got a little bit more interesting.” Seth had a faraway look in his eyes, like he was still seeing her ass, too.

Woodrow rubbed his hands down his face. “I need a cold shower and a beer.”

“Did you see that wrench she had when we pulled up?” I stared back at her door and frowned. “Could be trouble.”

“Of course, she’s going to be trouble. That hair? I’ve never met a redhead who couldn’t find trouble in an empty room, all alone.” Seth sighed. “I second the cold shower and beer. Fucking exhausted after playing nice all day. A fucking baby shower. What’s happening to us?”

I smirked. “No cussin’ in the house, mister.”

He shoved me towards my room and I went with a quiet chuckle. As soon as I was alone in my room I shrugged out of my jacket and kicked off my boots. I was heading across to the bathroom when I heard the soft voices coming through the wall, as if the wall was made of cloth.

“Waylan. You can’t just talk to strangers. We talked about stranger danger, right?”

“They’re not strangers, Mom. They’re bikers, like Grandpa Blade and Grandma Virginia. Do you think they knew them?” Waylan’s voice was softer when it was just her and her mom talking.

“I don’t think so, baby. Virginia and Blade were in Arkansas and they never traveled anywhere else.” Nellie’s voice grew wary. “You know that not all bikers are our friends, Waylan. Those guys seem okay but just because someone rides a motorcycle doesn’t mean they’re our friend.”

“Like Hammer.”

Nellie was quiet for a moment. “Like Hammer. I love you, baby. I love how kind you are. I just need you to be a little more careful, okay?”

“I’ll be careful, Mom.”

The rest of their conversation faded when I went into my bathroom and turned on the shower. My curiosity was peaked and I had more questions than were purely professional as a deputy. The way she’d hefted that wrench when we pulled up made me think she was afraid of someone. Maybe the Hammer they’d talked about. Whoever the fuck Hammer was, he’d be smart to stay away from Devil’s Den. As the new law in town, I wasn’t about to take any shit.

I took a quick shower and brushed my teeth. Seth was right about being exhausted after playing nice all day. I’d been working undercover in different motorcycle gangs for almost seven years and I’d gotten used to playing an asshole. Maybe I justwasan asshole. Being in Devil’s Den and trying to adjust to civilian life wasn’t exactly a smooth transition. I found that my face just rested in a snarl that scared people away.

After Devil’s Den’s last sheriff had proven to be a fucking criminal and all-around bad guy, the town needed law enforcement they could trust. Between Seth, Woodrow, and myself, they had a sheriff’s department that would always begood to the citizens but we sure as fuck didn’t look like Barney Fife.

With a towel wrapped around my waist I walked back into the bedroom and the soft voices from next door drew my attention again.

“Why did that man yell at you today, Momma?” Waylan sounded concerned and I flashed back to her kicking the shit out of Mills Hellstone earlier that day. She was a fighter and a fierce protector of her mother, it seemed.

Nellie sighed. “That man is your uncle, Way. He’s my big brother. I don’t know why he was so upset but sometimes brothers and sisters fight.”

“Your brother?” Waylan was silent for a few seconds. “I’m not sorry I kicked him, Momma.”

I smiled when I heard Nellie’s muffled snort. It was clear she had her hands full with Waylan. The little girl was a force. I’d been shocked as shit when she’d come at me and Seth downstairs, not an ounce of fear in her entire little body.

“What am I going to do with you, baby?”

“Momma! I just remembered something!” Waylan’s shout filled my room. “You didn’t get me ice cream!”

Nellie groaned. “Crap. You’re right. I’ll have to get you two ice creams tomorrow. Does that work for you?”

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