Page 17 of Biker's Baby

I cleared my throat before heading into the kitchen, mostly because I didn’t want to startle Iris.

“I made pizza,” she said.

“I’m glad,” I told her. “I’m starving.”

“Help yourself. It should still be warm.”

“Don’t mind if I do,” I said as I grabbed a plate.

I served myself two slices before sitting on one of my barstools at the counter.

“I think it’s time that you and I put down some ground rules,” I said. “I don’t want to make the same mistakes over again.”

There was a bit of an awkward silence that ensued. She was the one who had left when I had asked her to stay, and though she did say that she loved me before, I had always questioned it considering the fact she abandoned me.

Still, I had to be up front with her now.

“Okay,” she said.

“First things first. I told you already that Tad is different than he used to be. With that being said, I don’t want you to go anywhere near the MC. Not the clubhouse. Not any of the other members. Nothing,” I told her.

“Right,” she said with a nod. “I didn’t want to get involved with any of that. I’m really just looking for a place to stay while I figure out the next step, and that’s hopefully going to be soon.”

“Yes,” I told her with a nod. “So, I want you to ask me if you need anything. I know I said you could stay here, but if there is anything else I can do that’s going to help you, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’m not going to kick you out, but I think you understand that the sooner you are out of here, the easier it is for everyone.”

“Of course,” Iris said. “Don’t worry. I’ve changed in the past few years, too.”

“Oh?” I asked. “How so?”

“I’m able to take care of myself, for one thing,” she said with a smirk. “I just thought that having a roof over my head was a good idea while I figured out how to do that.”

“You know there’s nothing sexier than an independent woman,” I told her.

She blushed but threw me a disapproving look.

“What?” I asked.

“That’s going against your rules, isn’t it?” she asked.

“What rules? I only told you to stay away from the MC,” I said.

“Aren’t you part of the MC?” she asked.

I grinned. “Not quite what I was talking about, but okay, I see your point. It’s going to be hard not to hit on you though. Old habits die hard.”

“Yes, they do.” She grinned. “But I can behave.”

“Can you?” I asked.

“No promises,” she replied, taking her son with her as she walked past me and headed for the spare bedroom.

She was so alluring. There was a part of me that wanted to chase after her, but I fought to stay put. I had to control myself, or there was no way I could have her in my house and not fall for her all over again. She was like a fairy, enchanting me with just her smile.

I shook my head, stuffing another bite of pizza in my mouth.

This could get me in so much trouble, but somehow, I was okay with that.

Taking care of her was the way I would rather spend my time, not running drugs. And I was good at keeping things under the radar. Just because it was hiding from my own MC didn’t mean that it would be any harder than hiding things from anything else.

I could do this.

And we would all be the better for it.

At least, that’s what I’d tell myself.

I already knew this was going to be much harder than I originally thought.

And somehow, I was okay with that.

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