Page 10 of Baby for the Bikers

“Five thousand in damages.” He advances slowly, all controlled power. “Custom builds. Months of work.”

“I’ll pay for—” My voice dies as Ryder moves past me to my bedroom. The other two don’t stop him.

“Nice place.” Maddox slouches against my counter, too close. His height makes me feel small. “Settling in okay?”

It’s not really a question. His eyes say he knows exactly how long I’ve been here.

A drawer opens in my bedroom. Fabric rustles. When Ryder emerges, my brain takes a second to process what I’m seeing.

He’s holding my underwear. Black lace that cost too much but made me feel human again after months of running. As I watch, he slides my panties into his back pocket like it’s perfectly normal.

Heat floods my face. Not just embarrassment—something else. Something that has no business stirring in my blood while these men invade my space.

“What are you—” But my protest dies as Brick steps closer. He doesn’t see what his brother just did. He moves like someone used to people backing down.

I should be terrified. Should be planning escape routes. Instead, I’m noticing how good he smells, despite working at a garage.

“Five thousand dollars.” His voice drops lower. “That’s a lot of money for someone who just moved to town.”

Maddox’s laugh holds no humor. “Lot of money for someone who keeps checking the window like she’s expecting trouble.”

They’ve been watching me. Studying me. My hands clench at my sides.

“The cupcakes are done.” I don’t know why I say it. Maybe because baking’s always been my safe space. Maybe because I need them to stop looking at me like this. Like they can see every secret I’m carrying.

“Cupcakes?” Maddox’s eyebrow rises. “That’s your play here?”

But he’s already reaching for one, movements casual like he’s not still blocking my exit. Like his brothers aren’t boxing me in from both sides.

The first bite changes everything.

I see it hit him—the perfect crumb, the real vanilla, the way everything balances. His eyes widen slightly.

“Holy shit.” He takes another bite. “Brick, you need to try this.”

“We’re not here for baked goods.” But Brick’s looking at me differently now.

“Yes, we are.” Maddox grabs another cupcake. “These are professional level. Like, seriously professional.”

Ryder appears at my other side, silent but somehow louder than his brothers. He doesn’t reach for a cupcake. Just watches me with that intensity that makes my skin burn.

I feel the shift in the air. The moment they stop seeing me as just someone who wrecked their bikes.

“You’re a baker.” Brick’s voice holds new interest. “A good one.”

“Used to work in Seattle.” The lie comes easy. Easier than noticing how they’ve moved closer, caging me in with their bodies.

“Seattle.” Maddox’s grin says he knows that’s not true. “Long way from here.”

“Needed a change.” My back hits the counter. No more space to retreat.

Ryder reaches past me for a cupcake. His arm brushes mine, sending electricity down my spine, and his eyes never leave my face as he takes a bite.

The sound he makes should be illegal.

“Interesting timing.” Brick watches me react to his brother. “Moving to a new town. Damaging expensive property. Baking peace offerings.”

“Not peace offerings. Just something to do while I waited.”

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