Page 2
“Why do you have flowers, babygirl?” Rhodie asks, looking down at the flowers in Laney’s hand. The fancy bouquet that keeps getting more and more crushed.
“Doggy gived them to me. I be cute. I give them to Miss Willa.”
Oh, that got Rhodie’s mind of his woman quick smart. Now I’m on his shit list as he frowns at me. “Dad?”
“Yes, son?”
“Are you using my kid to get women?”
“Not women. Woman.”
Rhodie purses his lips, bouncing Laney-May on his hip. He glances at me a couple of times and it’s making me downright squirrely.
“Spit it out, son.”
“Nothing.” He side eyes me. “I thought you two hit it off?”
I sigh, moving to take a seat on the porch. I park my ass, and rest one booted foot on the porch railing. “I did too, son. But shit. We were having fun, then all hell broke loose. She’s shooting men, I got her on the back of my bike then we’re hiding out on a prepper farm hours away from home.” I tip my head back, rolling out my shoulders.
“You didn’t make the most of your forced proximity,” Rider says, pointing his half eaten popsicle in my direction.
“Where the hell did you just come from? And why the hell aren’t you minding your own business?” I grumble.
Rider holds up a thick finger, “You don’t need to know where I’ve come from, and two, I never mind my own business.” He gives me a shit eating grin and I narrow my eyes in return.
I’ve known Rider since Rhodie befriended him in Pre-K. He’s always been a nosey, sneaky little shit. I also know that the nosey, sneaky little shit has been making mysterious visits to the retirement home in town.
“You sure you don’t wanna share where you’ve been?”
He narrows his eyes at me, slowly taking a bite of his raspberry popsicle. We hold the staredown, Rhodie narrating to Laney why Uncle Ri and Doggy are making poop faces at each other.
“I don’t like you sometimes,” Rider says, shoving the rest of his popsicle in his mouth and wandering off. Probably to annoy some other brother.
“He’s keeping secrets,” I murmur, Rhodie dipping his chin.
“Yup. But we all know Rider. Whoever she is will show up sooner or later.”
“Let’s hope she’s a good one, and not like the other girls he’s brought round.”
Rhodie shudders, his heavy hand landing on my shoulder, “I would love to say it won’t be that bad, but, well, it’s Rider.” Rhodie says, patting me. “If it makes you feel any better, I like Willa for you, Dad. You deserve to find someone.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” He unfurls Laney’s grip on the flowers, handing me the crushed, saggy bouquet. “But do your own dirty work, old man.”
I laugh, smacking a kiss on Laney’s little chubby fingers. “Thanks for helping, baby girl.”
“I be cute?”
“Always, sweetheart.”
She beams at me, and at least I know that I’ve made one little lady happy. Now to make one sassy, kick ass lady happy.
Willa
“What the hell is he doing?” I mumble to myself as I peer through the side of my curtain.
Am I in my own home, peeking out the window at the deliciously handsome biker I let into my bed on more than one occasion? Yes. Yes I am. Is it nuts? Yes, yes it is. I’ll blame it on hormones or something later. For now, I’ll continue to pretend I’m not home all while watching Mad Dog smooth his salt and pepper hair and beard. And try to discreetly sniff his pits. And I know he won’t smell bad. Oh no, that man smells expensive. Like masculine cologne with a hint of spice and leather. And now my down belows have woken up and I need them to go back to sleep and not get involved. My vagina has the survival instincts of a drunk raccoon. My heart isn't much better. But the two of them together? Well, that is the reason I live in Rose Grove, hiding out from a man who stole my best years.
