Page 29 of Stealing the Biker

The corners of his mouth twitch, but he doesn’t tell me to move when he climbs in and starts his truck. He steers with one hand and places his other on my knee. I bite the inside of my jaw to fight the big grin trying to form.

“Let’s get some food before I drop you off.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“Cookout?”

“I do love their shakes.”

“Text your mom and tell her so she doesn’t worry. They’re still doing roadwork on that street.”

“Speaking of…” I glance down at my buzzing phone. “Hey Mom.”

“How did school go?”

“Slow and boring. We’re gonna go to Cookout. Do you want something?”

“No. Ask Jimmy if he can hangout for an hour or two until I get home, or your sister gets off work. Unless you want to come help out at the daycare?”

“No thanks. I’ll ask.” I mute my phone. “Mom wants to know if you can stick around the house until someone gets there. Please say yes even if you can’t. I don’t want to go to her work.”

“All right, but you’ll owe me.”

“I’m sure I can think of something.”

I unmute the call. “Yeah. He says it’s no problem.”

“Great. See you soon. Love you. And Kiesha, keep the doors locked and don’t open the door for anyone.”

“I won’t. Love you.”

“Come on. You’re hogging all the boosts.” Jimmy bumps me with his shoulder, and I fall sideways onto the floor.

“You ass. You made me miss the ball. We’re supposed to be on the same team.”

“Hold up, there’s someone by the door.” I pause Rocket League and Jimmy shoves up off the floor to check it out.

Anxiety bubbles in my throat as I wait for him to peek out the window.

“Only the delivery guy with more shit for Fireball. You’ve only had her a day, and she has more toys than a toddler,” he teases.

“That’s all my mom’s doing. She puts on like the cat is for me, but this morning she was all about some kitty snuggles. Just watch and see when she gets here. She will go straight for her before taking her shoes off.”

“I mean, FB is pretty dang cute.” He pets her behind the ears, and she raises her butt up in the air, loving the attention.

“See. No one can resist her cuteness. Not even bad ass bikers.”

Jimmy smiles big. “You think I’m bad ass?”

“You gotta be, right? Or else you wouldn’t be my personal bodyguard.” I flick the tip of his nose, but all I really want to do is kiss him senseless.

“Is that all I am? Your protector?” He leans over and cups the side of my face, pulling me in close. Heavy breaths pass between us.

“What do you want to be?”

“Kiesha. I’m home,” my mom calls out from the kitchen and Jimmy jumps to his feet as if the floor is lava. “Where’s my little cutie patootie?”

“She means the cat. Not me,” I point out. “We’re in here. I was just kicking Jimmy’s butt at a racing game.” I stick my tongue out at him.

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