Page 10 of Protected By the Bikers Next Door
“So you did. Let me take them for you. Come on inside. We’re putting all the food in the kitchen.”
He takes the tray for me, and I follow him into the kitchen, where the table is laden with meats, potato salad, and buns. I realize then how stupid it was to bring cupcakes to a cookout hosted by three men. I should have brought beer.
“Cupcakes were probably a bad choice. This isn’t a kid’s birthday party,” I say, trying to make a joke of it, but there’s a lump in my throat.
“Are you kidding? Everyone loves cupcakes, even macho bikers,” he replies with a wink, picking one up and biting into it to prove a point. “Wow, these are amazing, Harper. If the kids aren’t quick about it, the adults will eat them all before they get a look in!”
I feel so grateful and happy that I could burst into tears. Thankfully, the sight of this giant man with pink frosting on his nose is enough to distract me with laughter. “You got a little something on your nose.”
He tries and fails to wipe it off. “Gone?”
“Nope.” I shake my head, moving closer to wipe it off for him with a paper towel.
As I pull my hand back, he takes hold of my wrist, pulling me closer. I see the hungry look in his eyes, and the intimacy of the gesture dawns on me. My breath hitches, and my body is acutely aware of his proximity.
The sound of someone walking into the room breaks the spell, and we spring apart. “Sorry, Prez, Susan is here kicking up a fuss.”
Wolf stiffens, giving me one last lingering look. “Wait here,” he commands before turning and following the man outside.
I hover for a moment before curiosity wins out, and I head to the doorway to watch the commotion. I notice Wolf talking to a woman by the gate. His back’s turned, so I can’t see his face, but I can see that the woman is crying. A pang of jealousy hits me as I look at them together, and I wonder if she’s his girlfriend. She’s beautiful enough to be. Exactly the kind of woman I’d imagine Wolf with, the picture-perfect couple. She has blue eyes with long lashes, perfect rosebud lips, and high cheekbones, along with long, blonde hair and a slim, yet perfectly proportioned body, featuring big, perky breasts. How can I compete with a woman like that?
Jenny’s voice pulls me from my melancholy thoughts, and I turn to see her walking over with her new friend Sammy, an adorable boy with glasses and a mop of curly hair, and a woman who I’m presuming is his mom.
“Mommy, this is Sammy and his grandma!” Jenny says.
“Nice to meet you, name’s Pam,” the woman says with a genuine smile that crinkles at the corners of her eyes. She’s dressed in a tank top that showcases her numerous tattoos. Her hair is dyed black, but at the roots, she’s going gray. She has a rather severe appearance, but a kind face, nonetheless. “Sammy, say hello,” she prompts, and the little boy does as he’s told.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, and Sammy, I’ve heard so much about you from Jenny. Why don’t you two have some cupcakes?” I look to Pam for approval, and she nods back.
The children eagerly grab a cupcake and sit chattering away while they eat it. Pam looks, perhaps, ten or so years older than me, certainly not old enough to be a grandmother. I tell her as much, and she laughs.
“You’re right, I got knocked up with my daughter when I was fresh outta high school. She did me one better and had Sammy at seventeen.” Pam glances over at Sammy before adding, “She died when he was a baby, it was an overdose. His dad, Jim, was hooked, too, so I took custody of Sammy. After my daughter died, Jim got clean, thanks to the help of this lot. Probably woulda died too if it wasn’t for the Shadow Pack. Now Jim has Sammy on weekends, but he was nice enough to invite me along today.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.” Pam waves my words away, giving me the confidence to ask. “Sorry, but what is the Shadow Pack?”
Pam glances sideways at me before letting out a bark of laughter. “You really don’t know, do you? How do you know the guys again?”
“I’m their new neighbor. I’ve only known them for a week.”
“Well, that would explain it. They’ve managed to scare off everyone else who’s tried to live in that house. Pretty thing like you, they don’t want to run you off by telling you you’re living next door to the home of the president of the Shadow Pack Motorcycle Club.”
“A motorcycle club? Like a gang?” I ask, worriedly glancing at Jenny.
As much as I like the guys, and they seem like good men, I can’t have illegal activities going on next door. If my ex gets a whiff of anything remotely harmful to Jenny, I could lose custody. Not that he wants to have her with him, the only reason he’s fought me on it is to spite me.
As if reading my mind, Pam replies. “No, nothing like a gang. They aren’t one percenters.” Seeing the confusion on my face, she explains. “They don’t do anything illegal. It’s all above board, just a group of people who love motorcycles. They do a lot for the community, helping young people stay off drugs and keep their noses out of trouble, like Jim.”
“Well, that’s a relief,” I reply, laughing shakily. “I feel foolish for not figuring it out earlier. The nicknames, motorcycles, leathers, and tattoos were all giveaways.”
“Don’t be.”
Pam makes me feel at ease. She has a calming sort of presence, the kind of person who’s seen it all and can offer advice on just about anything. I smile back at her gratefully. The sound of the front door slamming shut diverts our attention, and we look up to see Bear striding into the house, carrying four crates of beer, seemingly unbothered by the heavy load as he carries it with ease. He places it on the side in the kitchen, andbefore anyone can say a word of greeting, Jenny leaps out of her chair and rushes over to him.
“Bear!” she cries with joy, launching herself into his arms. He swings her around and turns her upside down, making her squeal with glee. Sammy then insists that he has a turn, and the pair fight over Bear for a moment, hoarding his attention while Pam and I watch.
“Alright, you two, that’s enough. Uncle Bear is getting tired and needs to say hello to everyone. Why don’t you go play on the swing?” he pants, hamming up his exhaustion when in reality he hasn’t even broken a sweat. To my surprise, the children immediately obey, rushing off into the garden, hand in hand.
“Harper, you came,” Bear says, coming over to hug me.
