Page 20 of Property of Big Daddy

I don’t know what we are or where this is headed.It’s crazy and probably a whole lot of stupid on my end.But since I met Big Daddy, Thad hasn’t crossed my mind.

As though he can read my thoughts, my dirty biker tenses beneath me.I glance at him and follow his line of sight to my closet.“Is that fuckwad’s shit hanging in your closet?”

“I haven’t had a chance to get rid of it and don’t really enjoy the idea of seeing him again, but I’ll drop it off when I pick up my final check.”

“Put it in a garbage bag.I’ll have one of my guys handle it.”

“It’s not a big deal and you and your guys have already gone above and beyond.”As promised, after he left my place last week, a few of his men knocked on my door and came prepared with a new couch and a roll of carpet.One thing about a man like Big Daddy is he doesn’t fuck around when he says he’s going to do something.

“It is to me.I don’t want him anywhere near you.”

“Now who sounds jealous?”I tease.

“Not worried about you going back to him after being with me.”

“Cocky.”

“I know my worth and hope you know yours.”

“Maybe I need you to remind me one more time before you go out of town.”

“I can do that.”He slides a palm between my thighs and my breath hitches in my throat as he begins to taunt me with light brushes of his rough fingertips.

It’s a slow day at the salon, so Cecilia and I are doing some redecorating for her waiting area.I talked her into replacing her faux flowers with the real deal from Anarchy Blooms, the flower shop across the street, and now, with a weekly standing order, she has two new clients.The girls who work there were thrilled about our order.Especially Jessika.She’s already made an appointment to get a trim and some fresh highlights later this week.

“See.You should have come to work for me ages ago.”

“Yeah.Yeah.You told me so.”I only hope she’s wrong about the things she’s heard about Big Daddy and him cutting women loose the second things get serious.I thought I was in love with Thad, but the more time I spend with the new man in my life, I’m realizing I was settling for what I thought I deserved.

It wasn’t love.I latched onto the next best thing after my other failed relationship attempts.I don’t want to make another mistake and need to protect my heart.

“What are you thinking so deeply about?”My best friend interrupts the conversation I’m having in my head with myself.

“Nothing much.”

“Does it have anything to do with a certain older man who rides a Harley?”

“Maybe.”

“So, are you guys a thing now?”

“I don’t know.We’re getting to know one another, and I like spending time with him.”

“I say this with love.Don’t go falling hard and fast like you always do.I don’t want to see you get hurt, and I’d rather not end up in the ocean with fish eating my guts when I go down for murdering a notorious biker.”

I bust out laughing.“Don’t worry.”I hang the last frame on the wall.It’s a simple black-and-white photo of a vase of lilies.It’s totally Cecilia and the vibe she’s going for.Classic and chic.

The doorbell rings and my good mood deflates as I look back to see Thad standing at the entrance.

“Get out,” Cecilia yells.

“I just want to talk to Gwynee.”I look at the man I thought I was in love with, taking in his disheveled appearance and bruised face.He looks nothing like the handsome man I was in a relationship with.Thad has always taken pride in his appearance, but he’s not shaved in days and smells like he could use a shower or three.

“It’s okay.If I’m not back in twenty minutes, you can send out a search party.”

Cecilia glares at Thad but doesn’t protest when I follow him outside.“Let’s talk at the park by the library,” I tell him for two reasons.It’s a public place and there are always people around.Plus, the local police station is close enough that if Thad creeps me out, I can run to the station.

At the park, there’s an older couple walking their dogs and some moms are at the playground with their toddlers.I take a seat on an empty bench and Thad sits at the opposite end.At least he’s wise enough not to sit directly next to me.

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