Page 5 of Protected By the Bikers Next Door (Never Just One #4)

Bear

A ll of Jenny’s bloodwork was clear, and the doctors decided she was good to go home.

I wanted to make sure everything was okay, so I suggested that Harper stay at ours for a few hours.

Jenny’s asleep on the sofa, her mom is sitting beside me stroking her daughter’s head.

Harper fits so perfectly against me, soft, warm, and real.

When she finally collects herself and pulls away from me, I feel her absence.

She wipes her eyes with the sleeve of her dressing gown and pulls it tighter around herself like a shield before gazing up at me.

“Thank you,” she says again. “I don’t know what I would have done without you.

All of you,” she adds, looking to Hawk and Wolf too.

We brush off her thanks bashfully. “It’s late,” she says, and I finally notice the time.

“I should take Jenny home now,” she says.

She doesn’t meet my eyes. She’s embarrassed that we saw her in such a vulnerable state.

I don’t want her to leave. “Stay. Both of you. It’s late, she needs rest, and you’re exhausted. We have a guest room.”

She shakes her head. “No. It’s okay; it’s not much further to take her home. She’ll feel safer waking in her own bed.”

She’s right, so I don’t push the matter. “Okay, but come straight back if anything changes or you have any worries, anything at all, alright?”

Harper nods gratefully. I gently lift Jenny. Harper looks uncomfortable, immediately springing to help. “I can take her. I know she’s heavy, she’s tall for her age.”

“She’s perfect. Just like her Mommy,” I say firmly.

A bitter laugh inadvertently escapes Harper’s lips, which tells me everything.

Someone convinced this incredible woman that she’s too much, too heavy, too curvy, too confident, taking up too much space.

I want to find whoever made Harper feel like she’s anything less than perfect and beat him to a pulp.

I know it has to be a man. Some prick who couldn’t handle her, so he tried to make her less to suit his smallness instead of growing to be the man she needed.

Harper says goodbye to the others before escorting me over to her place and showing me the way to Jenny’s room. I notice as we walk through her house that there’s a lot of work that needs doing, and I decide that I’m gonna help her.

I carefully tuck Jenny into bed, marveling at children’s ability to bounce back.

Only the slight flush in her cheeks and the tangle of her hair indicate that she was unwell.

Harper perches on the bed next to her and strokes her forehead tenderly, looking at her with such love that I turn away, feeling like an intruder.

“I’ll show myself out,” I say, knowing that Harper won’t want to leave her daughter’s side.

She nods but doesn’t look at me. “Thank you.”

I feel as if there’s so much more I want to say, yet I can’t find the words. So I simply try to capture how she looks right now. God, she’s so fucking beautiful, and seeing how she protects her kid. She really is a lioness. I turn and walk away, my feet heavy as I have to force myself to leave her.

“Everything okay?” Wolf asks as I return.

“All good. Jenny’s gonna be fine.”

He grunts and nods before leaving. I don’t doubt that Wolf has some complex emotions to untangle.

Hawk pats me on the back. “Good job, brother. You saved her life.”

I want to argue back that I did nothing of the sort, that I’m no hero.

My days of working as a medic are long past, and I wasn’t a hero then.

I’m too tired to argue that in all likelihood, the fever would have broken without my intervention.

Instead, I simply thank Hawk for his help and lumber up the stairs to crash out.

It’s late when I finally wake, and the sun is shining brightly through a crack in my curtains.

I wince, rolling over to cover my head with my pillow.

The unmistakable smell of freshly baked pie wafts up the stairs, and I hear the sound of a child laughing.

For a moment, I wonder if I’m dreaming before I realize that Harper and Jenny are here.

Suddenly wide awake, I bolt out of bed and get dressed as quickly as I can, taking a moment to wash my face and splash on some deodorant and aftershave before rushing downstairs.

The unexpected sight that greets me in the kitchen is Harper, Jenny, Wolf, and Hawk all sitting around the kitchen table, eating homemade blueberry pie with cream.

You wouldn’t know Jenny had been so sick yesterday as she giggles at something Hawk said, her lips stained blue from the pie.

Even Harper seems changed. Her face is lit up with happiness as she watches her daughter proudly.

The scene is so unusual, so out of place in our kitchen, that I stop in my tracks, momentarily thrown off balance.

“Ah, you’re awake,” Harper says with a smile. “I was worried these two were going to eat it all and I’d have to fight them to leave a piece for you.”

“Harper made pie,” Hawk says, shoveling a cream-laden bite into his mouth.

“I can see that…”

“Bear!” Jenny cries, hopping from her chair and running over to me. She wraps her little arms around my legs, standing on my toes and looking up at me. “Thank you for making me all better. Mommy made pie! It’s terrific!” she says.

“A thank you, and a peace offering,” Harper says shyly. “We started on the wrong foot as neighbors, and I’m hoping we can start afresh.”

“A fresh start sounds perfect,” I say, smiling back and patting Jenny on the head.

Harper smiles gratefully at me, and Jenny grabs my hand, dragging me over to the table. “I saved you a seat next to me,” she declares.

“Thank you,” I reply, enjoying the mildly jealous expressions on Hawk and Wolf’s faces.

Who would have thought we’d be competing for the favoritism of a five-year-old? Or perhaps it’s not Jenny we’re trying to impress but her smoking hot mom. I spot the soft look in Harper’s eyes as she hands me a slice of pie, and my heart pounds in my chest.

“I hope it’s not too rich,” she says, putting herself and her baking skills down before I’ve even had a chance to taste it.

“It’s perfect,” I say as I bite into one of the best pies I’ve ever had.

“Best pie ever. You could sell these,” Wolf says, and we all enthusiastically agree.

I love the way Harper’s cheeks flush from the compliment, even as she denies it and starts to list everything wrong with the pie.

I wish she could see how amazing she is.

I barely know her, and already I know I’d do anything to make this woman happy.

To see her safe and content like she is in this moment.

***

With that in mind, later that day, I head over to Harper’s house.

“Bear, what are you doing here? Is everything okay? Did you come to check in on Jenny?” Harper asks. She looks beautiful in a simple pair of pants and a plain t-shirt that strains over those incredible breasts. She has no makeup on, but she doesn’t need it.

“Yes, I thought I’d swing by to check in and see how Jenny is doing, if that’s okay with you?”

“Of course, come on in. She’s having a lazy day on the sofa watching TV, she was still looking a little peaky,” Harper explains, seeming almost guilty for allowing her sick child to spend the day watching cartoons.

“That sounds like exactly what she should be doing today, she needs her rest.”

Harper’s relieved smile makes my heart do a little flip inside my chest.

“I got her a little get well soon present, I hope that’s okay with you?” I ask, showing her the gift bag in my hand.

She blinks, surprised. “Of course, but you didn’t have to do that.” I shrug in response, and she saves me from having to think of a witty reply by calling out to Jenny as we enter the room. “Sweetheart, look who came to see you.”

Jenny looks tiny, tucked up on the couch under a mound of blankets. She pulls her gaze away from the cartoons that she’s watching, and I feel stupidly happy to see the way her face lights up when she sees me. “Bear!”

She wrestles with her blankets, trying to get up to run over to me. “No, you stay there, I’ll come over to you,” I say, heading over to sit on the armchair beside her.

Harper hovers, watching us. Jenny’s eyes land on the bag in my hand, and she looks up at me hopefully. “Is that for me?”

“Jenny,” Harper begins to scold just as I reply.

“It sure is.”

She eagerly holds out her hands, and I pass it over to her.

“What do we say?” Harper reminds her.

“Thank you, Mr. Bear,” she says in that excited, breathless voice children get. I can tell she’s uncertain if she can open it now or not.

“Go ahead, you can open it,” I say with a smile.

With an excited squeal, she opens the bag and pulls out the stuffed toy inside. “It’s a bear, just like you!” she says, crushing the bear to her chest.

“And it’s even wearing a leather jacket like I do,” I point out, grateful that Build-A-Bear has practically every toy and accessory you can imagine in store.

“I love him! Thank you,” she exclaims, jumping up and moving closer to hug me.

“You’re welcome, Jenny. Bear can look after you whenever you feel sick.”

Harper smiles at me warmly. “Thank you, that’s very kind of you,” she says.

“Now I need a wolf and a hawk too!” Jenny declares.

“Jenny don’t be ungrateful,” Harper says looking embarrassed.

I simply smile. “I think that’s a good idea because they’re best friends and they do everything together. Maybe, if you’re good for your mommy, you might get them,” I say, thinking of the matching toys I’ve already bought that are waiting at home for Hawk and Wolf to give to her themselves.

“Oh yes, I’ll be good as gold!” Jenny says, nodding her head enthusiastically.

“Would you like a cup of coffee, Bear? Or we’ve got juice, tea, maybe even some beers somewhere…” Harper asks.

“A coffee would be great, thanks, let me help you,” I reply, getting up and following her to the kitchen.

“Thanks for doing that, you really didn’t have to. You’ve done enough already,” Harper says as she starts searching for mugs.

“It was my pleasure, really. She’s a great kid.”

“She really is,” Harper says with a loving smile.

I watch as she moves around the kitchen with effortless grace.

I notice how run-down the place is, and I start to wonder how I can offer to help her spruce the place up a bit without offending her when she whispers a curse, “Shit,” and shoves her finger into her mouth.

“Splinter,” she adds by way of explanation.

“These damn cupboards… I swear this house is a damn death trap.”

“Let me look,” I say, going over to her. She holds out her finger, and I see the splinter, ugly and black in her pale skin, an angry red ring around it. “Do you have any tweezers?”

“Somewhere, but god knows where they are. I haven’t finished unpacking yet.” She pinches at it, trying to remove it with her nails.

“Careful, you might push it in further,” I warn her. “I can get it out for you.” I pause for a moment, cheeks growing hot as I try to find the words to explain how, without it seeming like a terrible come-on. “I would… umm… I mean, I can suck it out. With my mouth.”

“Oh,” she says, her cheeks flushing a little too. “Okay then,” she agrees, holding her hand out.

I take it in mine, so delicate and feminine.

I reach her finger to my lips and press them against it, sucking at the wound.

Harper lets out a little breath, and my eyes flick up to meet hers.

My cock twitches as I see her pupils have widened, her mouth parted slightly with desire.

She looks away, embarrassed. The splinter finally gives, I capture it in my teeth and let her go. She pulls back as if scalded.

“Did you get it?” she asks, peering at her finger.

“Sure did,” I reply, showing it to her. “It was a big sucker.”

“Oh gosh, I should sand down everything in this damn place. What if it had been Jenny?”

“I’d be happy to do it for you, I mean, the guys and I would. We might look rough, but we’re pretty handy. We could have this place spruced up in just a couple of days, if you’d like?”

“Oh, no, I couldn’t ask you to do that, you’ve already done too much for us, and we’ve just met.”

“Please, it would be our pleasure,” I insist. “It can be our peace offering. I can’t help feeling that if it wasn’t for our stupid pranks, Jenny wouldn’t have gotten so sick in the first place.”

She nods. “Alright then, thank you.”

“We can start tomorrow morning, if that suits you?”

“Sure, Jenny is usually up by six, so whenever suits you.”

“Okay, great.”

Harper notices that the coffee has brewed, and she bustles around making us our cups. She also places some homemade cookies on a plate for us. From the other room, Jenny calls out, “What’s taking so long?” she whines.

“I guess we’d better go see the little madam,” Harper says with an indulgent smile.

Harper and I don’t get much chance to talk with Jenny chattering away, but I don’t mind. I enjoy the little girl’s energy and just being in Harper’s presence, getting to know her a bit better. All too soon, I hear the sound of Wolf and Hawk’s bikes rumbling down the road toward our house.

“And I’m afraid that’s my cue to leave,” I say reluctantly as I stand up. “The guys and I have business to discuss.”

“Of course,” Jenny says, getting up too. “Thanks for stopping in to check on Jenny, and for the gift. Jenny, what do you say?”

“Thank you, Bear,” she beams. “I love him,” she adds, squeezing the teddy tight to prove it.

“You’re welcome,” I say, ruffling her hair, which makes her giggle.

Harper walks me to the front door, opening it for me. I turn to look at her as I leave. “Thanks for the coffee and the delicious cookies. We’ll come round tomorrow morning, around seven, to do the repairs.”

“Thank you, have a good evening,” she replies with a smile that is the most beautiful one I’ve ever seen.

“You too,” I reply, forcing myself to turn and leave. I could have stayed there all night.

One thing’s becoming very obvious to me. I think I’m falling for our sexy new neighbor.