Page 15 of Protected By the Bikers Next Door
I can’t stop the peal of laughter that escapes my mouth when I see Hawk. He’s allowed Jenny to style his long hair, and she has chosen to put it into two pigtails that stick out at odd angles from the top of his head. Hawk looks ridiculous. It’s the first time I’ve seen him look anything other than brooding and a little bit menacing. Seeing him like this, vulnerable and willing to look silly to please my daughter, shows me a completely different, unexpected side of him. I mouth a silent thanks to him, and he nods in acknowledgement.
“Doesn’t he look pretty?” Bear says, barely suppressing his own hysterics.
“Oh yes, I especially like the pink scrunchies,” I reply, giggling uncontrollably.
Jenny, oblivious to our teasing, beams at Hawk. “See, I told you she’d like it.” Hawk is apparently Jenny’s new favorite as she demands he sit next to her. “Mommy, you can sit with Bear,” she declares.
Wolf frowns slightly, and I hide my smile that this big, brooding boss of a motorcycle club seems to feel put out that a five-year-old is leaving him out.
Part of me had hoped I could sit next to Jenny to avoid being that close to any of the guys, but there’s no way I can refuse without it being odd. So, I end up sitting between Bear and Wolf. We dish up the food and dig in, the conversation taking a lull as we focus on our dinner.
My foot accidentally brushes against Wolf’s, and I pull it back abruptly as if scalded. I don’t want him to think I’m playing footsie with him. He looks at me, a slight smirk dancing across his lips, and he reaches out a hand under the table, his finger skimming along my thigh, his gentle touch making every nerve alight before he withdraws his hand and continues to eat as if nothing happened. Although the dampness between my thighs serves as proof that I didn’t imagine it.
Flustered, I can barely eat or concentrate on the conversation. I’m grateful when it’s time to serve dessert, as it gives me an excuse to get up from the table.
“Sorry, it wasn’t healthier…” I say as I clean their empty plates. Wolf wordlessly gets up to help, grabbing clean dessert plates from the cupboard and laying the table.
“Don’t be, the unhealthier the better, I say,” Bear replies, leaning back and rubbing his stomach theatrically. “That was incredible.”
I wave away their thanks and compliments, but inside I’m thrilled to see how much they enjoyed my cooking. My ex was always so critical, especially of unhealthy meals like this.
“Well, I hope you have room for dessert…” I say as I place the pie on the table. Everyone oohs and ahhs appreciatively, and Wolf insists on dishing it out.
“You’ve done enough. Sit.”
“You’ll have to let me know how you get your crust to crisp, Harper. Mine always seems to go soggy,” Hawk says as he digs in.
“You bake?” I say, looking up from my plate to meet his eye.
“You sound surprised.”
“Well, you just don’t exactly strike me as the homebody type…”
He shrugs. “I like baking, it’s simple when you follow the instructions, and peaceful. When I bake, I can lose myself in the task.”
“I feel the exact same way,” I reply genuinely.
When the time comes to clear the table and wash up, the guys shoo me away, insisting that, as I cooked, they will tidy up.
“Okay, thanks,” I say, grateful that it’s one less thing to do. “If it’s alright, I’ll just go get Jenny bathed and into her pjs.”
“Of course, treat it as your own home,” Wolf says, not for the first time since we got here.
“Once you’re done doing that, you and Jenny can pick a movie for us all to watch,” Bear says, much to Jenny’s delight as she whisks me away, for once eager to get ready for bed.
Jenny picks a Disney movie. I try to convince her that perhaps it would be best if she chose something that everyone will enjoy, but the guys insist they want to watch it too. I feel stupidly grateful for how good they are with Jenny. If only her father were like this. Though he claims Jenny should be with him, that she’d be safer and better off, he doesn’t have any actual interest in spending time with her or being a real parent.
Jenny has migrated from her seat between Hawk and Bear on the other couch to sprawl on the floor in front of the TV as usual. She’s a bundle of energy, often jumping up to mimic something in the film or to rush over to the guys to tell themsomething before returning to her spot on the floor. She’s going to sleep like a log tonight, I think.
I can’t concentrate on the movie at all. I’m far too distracted by Wolf’s leg pressed against mine as he sits next to me on the smaller of the two couches. My senses feel completely overloaded by his proximity, the smell of his aftershave, and the feel of his body against mine, setting me on fire. When I try to inch away, he moves closer, like a magnet drawn to me. I don’t know if he knows what he’s doing or if it’s accidental. He seems totally engrossed in the movie, but when I sneak a peek at his face, I notice the trace of a smirk. Does he know the effect he’s having on me?
When the movie is over, I spring from my seat. “Time for bed, Jenny.” She protests, but I can tell she’s tired. “No, it’s past your bedtime already. Say goodnight,” I insist firmly. The last thing I want is for her to show up at school tired. If her teachers started asking questions, I’m sure I’d have the school ringing, asking why we had a sleepover with three men. The thought of the gossip that would follow is enough to make me put my foot down.
“Can you read me a bedtime story, Uncle Bear?” she pleads, trying her luck with Bear.
“Uncle Bear is tired. Mommy will read you one,” I say, sensing a meltdown.
“No. I want Bear!” she says, stamping her foot.
