Page 8 of The Biker's Hidden Obsession

“Fishing? Really?” Mae looks as confused as I feel. “You figured out the fountain issue and got the chair thing sorted?”

“Finished,” he continues with a straight face as though I don’t have a zillion things on a list in the pocket of my dress. “We’d invite you to join us at the lake, but I think I’ve gotta givethis one some peace and quiet for a while. She’s pretty burned out. You understand, don’t you?”

Mae lifts a smile onto her face and leans into me slowly. “Yeah, of course I do. I need my quiet time, too. Things have been hairy with Rick lately. I’m sure it’s just wedding day jitters but the whole thing is driving me crazy. He hasn’t been home all week, and,” she exhales slowly, “it doesn’t matter. You two go have your relax day. You’ve earned it. I don’t know how you finished everything so fast!”

I glance toward Tennessee, widening my gaze. “I don’t know how we did either. You focus on getting relaxed and ready for the wedding. I’ll catch up with you tonight?”

“We can bring her to the clubhouse for a bit. A little pre-wedding party,” Tennessee offers.

“Yeah, Rick would kill me if I were at a motorcycle clubhouse with a bunch of handsome men the night before my wedding,” she smiles, “fairly so.”

“Then we’ll have a girls’ night,” I continue. “Drinks at the bar in town. They have a band playing at Mullet’s.”

She leans in and kisses my cheek. “I’ll text you. Have fun today. You’ve earned it.”

With that, she leaves, and I’m left standing in the street, wondering what the hell is going on.

I glance up at Tennessee, a wide grin on his face as though he’s pleased with his performance. “Sorry. I’m sure I overstepped, but I could tell you weren’t interested in the intrusion.”

“Yeah, no. I appreciate it. Sorry about the boyfriend thing. I, ugh, I might have told everyone about someone like you that may or may not be my boyfriend.”

“It’s okay,” he bites back a smile, “I figured. I can be the boyfriend for a weekend. It’s not a big deal. In fact,” he smiles,holding the door to the bakery open for me, “it would be an honor. I do have one request, though.”

I stand before the bakery glass, but for once, I’m not looking at the giant bear claws calling my name. I’m looking up at the giant beside me. “What’s that?”

“We go fishing today, for real.”

“Fishing?” I laugh. “Maybe you missed the part about how desperate I am. You do realize the list of things to do isn’t actually done, right? The wedding is in one day. I’m totally screwed if I don’t get a fountain fixed, find sixteen more matching chairs, get the caterer up to date with the new headcount, and—”

“That’s exactly why you need some relaxation. You’re about to cry over folding chairs.”

“And fishing is going to make sixteen people disappear?”

“Nope, but it’ll remind you to breathe. You need that right now. The rest can wait.”

He glances toward the girl behind the counter and orders two coffees, four bear claws, and a picnic special to go. Clearly, he’s not listening to me. “Do you have your phone?”

I nod. “Why?”

“And the list?”

I nod again. “Why?”

“Can I see them?”

I’m not sure what he’s trying to pull, but I hand him my phone and the list anyhow. “What are you doing?”

“You stay here.” He hands me his credit card. “Pay for our food and the breakfast. Give me ten minutes, and I’ll take care of everything.”

“Ten minutes? Really?” I laugh, a little annoyed that he thinks he can take care of my entire list of problems in ten minutes.

“Ten minutes,” he repeats. “You sit down and relax while you wait for our food.” He’s talking as he walks, and soon he’s outside on the sidewalk pacing back and forth as he takes one call after another.

His brows narrow as he talks, and though I can’t hear what he’s saying, I can tell by the way his shoulders flatten and his back straightens that he’s taking charge of whatever’s going on.

I can’t decide if I’m horny or pissed off.

I’ve been struggling with these people for weeks. If he comes in having magically found sixteen more chairs, I might just hug him and lose it all at once.

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