Page 23 of Single Mom's Bikers

“Uncle Zane!” Violet tugs my hand. “Come see my room! I have a whole garage for my toy cars!”

Her room’s exactly what I’d expect—organized chaos. Toy cars mixed with princess crowns. A workbench beside a dollhouse.

“This is my favorite.” She hands me a beat-up Hot Wheels car. “It goes super fast.”

“Yeah?” I examine it seriously. “Good suspension. Nice paint job.”

“Can you fix cars like you fix bikes?”

“Most of them.” I set the toy down carefully. “Your mom’s truck is pretty simple.”

“Is that why you’re really here?” Daisy appears in the doorway. Sometimes, she’s too perceptive for a six-year-old.

Heat creeps up my neck again. “Just being neighborly.”

Daisy’s expression says she doesn’t buy it, but she just shrugs. “Mama made sandwiches.”

I call Draven, who tells me that he’s already picked up his son from school.

Dinner’s casual—peanut butter and jelly because Evie hasn’t had time to shop. The girls dominate the conversation, telling me about their kingdom’s complex political structure.

“The unicorns have voting rights,” Violet explains around a mouthful.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full, baby.” Evie wipes jelly from her chin. The simple gesture makes something in my chest ache.

Later, after dishes and more car talk, Evie herds the girls toward bedtime. I should leave. Instead, I find myself helping with bedtime stories.

“One more?” Violet pleads.

“Tomorrow.” Evie kisses her forehead. “Sleep tight, my queen.”

In the hallway, she pauses. “Thank you for today.”

“They make it easy.” I follow her downstairs. “Smart kids.”

“Too smart sometimes.” She leads me to the front door, but neither of us reaches for the handle.

The house settles around us. Through the window, I can see my bedroom light on next door. Feels like another world.

“I should check that transmission.” My voice comes out rough.

“Zane.” Just my name, but the way she says it…

This time, when I step closer, she doesn’t back away. Her pulse jumps under my fingers as I trace her jaw.

She kisses me.

My hands find her hips, pulling her closer as the kiss deepens. She makes a small sound that drives me crazy.

“Mama?” Daisy’s voice drifts from upstairs. “Can I have water?”

We break apart, both breathing hard. Evie’s lips are swollen, her eyes dark.

“Coming, baby!” she calls back, not looking away from me.

“I should go.” But I don’t move.

“Probably.” Her fingers trail down my chest. “This is…”

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