Page 48 of Joker's Ghost
“Gotta love these guys with a mid-life crisis.” Most ofthem hardly ride the bikes, but they all come to Joker for custom work.
“I’ll see you at home.” Joker wipes his hand on the rag hanging from his waistband, then closes the distance between us. “I won’t be late.” He kisses me full out, but since this is a normal occurrence, none of the other mechanics bat an eye. My man loves me and has no trouble showing it.
Gus catches up with me in the lot. “You okay?”
I smile at his concern. “Just a little stiff. Looking forward to going home and relaxing for a bit.”
Gus nods. The old man is like a father to both Joker and me, but he doesn’t waste words, so I wait.
“Joker seem okay to you?”
I wasn’t expecting him to ask that. “Yes, a little tense about the baby coming.”
“Yeah, well, after the last time, who can blame him? Just you take care of yourself.” His callused hand squeezes mine. “Can’t have anything go wrong with my favorite girl.”
I peck him on the cheek, and his leathered skin flushes. “No worries, everything is going to be perfect this time.” The image of the photos skitters through my brain, but Gus’s concern about Joker only convinces me hiding them was best.
CHAPTER 16
DAISY
I had no idea when Joker insisted on renovating the bathroom and putting in a spa tub how glorious it would feel on my pregnant body. At the time, his concern was having a tub the two of us could fit into.
My man might be a hard-ass outlaw biker, but when it comes to sex, he likes it often and just about anywhere, including the spa tub. Of course, now with my advanced size, being in here by myself is heaven, and I plan on soaking alone for as long as possible.
I rest my head against the bath pillow and close my eyes for not even a minute when I hear the front door open. Derek already dropped Deana off, and I had her occupied with an activity book showcasing all the Disney princesses. This should’ve assured me of at least twenty minutes of uninterrupted soaking time.
Derek went back out to his karate class, so that leaves Joker. I scold myself for mentioning I was taking a bath. He’s said more than once how the sight of my wet pregnant body turns him on, and now I’ll have to share this fabulous space.Not that I’m really complaining. Joker’s wet, slick body accentuating every sinew of his muscles isn’t bad either.
“I’m in the bathroom,” I call out, but no one answers.
I wait a few seconds then, “Deana, is Daddy home?”
Again, no answer. I can just wait for him to appear in the bathroom, or—a cold chill covers my warm body. I struggle out of the tub and grab the robe off the back of the door.
“Deana?” I call out again, my heart banging against my chest keeping time with the slapping of my wet feet against the tile floor.
I enter the living room and heave out a sigh of relief. “Deana, why didn't you answer me?”
She turns her dark, innocent eyes on me. “‘Cause I’m matching the princess to her castle and?—”
“Did you hear the front door open?”
“No.”
Of course, she also didn’t hear me yelling for her. I pad into the hallway leading to the front door and freeze. The door is ajar, when I know Derek would’ve closed it on his way out. I grip the knob to close it and see another manila envelope wedged between the door and the frame.
I grab it up and hesitate. It’s smaller than the other one, and after a few seconds of deep breaths, I open it.
My eyes widen at the words scrawled across a white piece of paper:
Don’t tell Joker about the pictures.
I slam the door, lock it and dash to my bedroom. I sit on the bed and read the cryptic warning again, and I’m torn between adding to Joker’s anxiety or keeping it to myself.
JOKER
“Hey, baby girl.” I bend down and give Deana a kiss on her head.
