Page 6 of Protected By the Bikers Next Door (Never Just One #4)

Harper

W ith the new truce between us, there are no more late-night parties and no more early morning counterattacks.

Not only that, but the guys have turned into model neighbors.

They’ve insisted on helping me fix up our new home.

In just two short days, the place has undergone a complete transformation.

Jenny’s obsessed with our handsome new neighbors, to the point where I’ve had to take her out both days so the guys can get anything done.

Because of this, I’ve barely had a chance to speak to the guys other than the usual small talk or discussing the house.

Jenny immediately warming to the men is something that amuses and worries me in equal parts.

Not that I don’t see the appeal. If I’m honest, I’m pretty infatuated myself, but I don’t want her to get too attached.

She’s been let down enough by the men in her life. We both have.

It’s hard not to fantasize when three drop-dead gorgeous men live right next door.

I’m not ashamed to admit that my vibrator has been getting a lot of use lately.

The number one fantasy is currently when I soaked Bear with the hose, only this time, all three of the men get blasted before taking me inside and fucking me senseless as punishment.

I don’t even know where that came from as I’ve never fantasized about a threesome before—let alone multiple men.

But it’s just a fantasy, it’s not as if even one of them would be interested in an overweight single mom when they have tons of beautiful biker groupies throwing themselves at them.

I have to remind myself of that when I discover a bouquet of roses on my porch this morning, after I return from dropping Jenny at her new school.

It was her first day, and I was expecting tantrums, but instead she rushed off to play with the other kids without so much as a backward glance.

With the roses is a note that says, ‘Miss me, beautiful?’ I immediately glance up and down the road to see if there’s any sign of who dropped these off.

The road is empty, and there’s no sign of movement next door. Whoever left them is long gone.

With a smile on my face, I head inside and place the flowers in a vase that I discover in one of the boxes I’ve yet to unpack.

For a moment I wonder if it’s one of my hot, new neighbors.

However, none of them strikes me as the shy, romantic type that would leave an anonymous love note on my doorstep.

If any of them were interested, they’d tell me.

And why would they ask if I missed them, seeing as I see them every day?

I need to get real. There’s no way men like that would be interested in a woman like me.

It’s probably a mistake; some delivery company dropped them at the wrong house.

The note certainly suggests that. Why would guys whom I just met ask if I missed them?

I decide to ask them about it this weekend, they’re having a cookout and have invited Jenny and me.

***

I spent far too long picking out an outfit for the cookout.

I was aiming for sexy yet casual, as if I’d just thrown it on.

Of course, nothing was quite right, anything remotely sexy I own hasn’t fit me in a long time.

Eventually, I discover an old summer dress that I haven’t worn since before Jenny was born—a sky-blue dress that hugs my breasts and skims out into a loose skirt, hiding my stomach, and has enough stretch in it to fit.

I’m standing in the mirror, wondering if there’s a little too much cleavage on display when Jenny comes running into the room.

“Come on, Mommy, can we go, please?” she begs, her voice wheedling. “Everyone’s already there, even Sammy!”

Sammy is her new friend from school that she hasn’t stopped talking about all week. I was surprised to discover the cookout was a family-friendly event and that the guys knew other parents. They strike me as typical bachelors, yet another way they’ve managed to change my opinion.

“Alright then, sweetie,” I reply, slicking on some lip gloss and grabbing my purse before throwing on some wedges and following Jenny.

I almost forgot the cupcakes I baked, so I have to rush back inside for them. Leaving Jenny dancing on the spot, restless in her excitement.

I’m grateful for her little hand in mine, pulling me along, otherwise, I may have chickened out and gone straight home.

My heart is hammering in my chest, and I feel like I’m back at school, the new girl invited to the party as a joke.

We enter through the side gate, which leads directly into the large backyard already filled with people.

Immediately, I wish the ground would swallow me up as I’m massively overdressed.

Most people are dressed in denim and tank tops, mostly in black.

There’s a definite alternative rocker vibe that makes me feel uncool by comparison.

Jenny immediately wriggles from my grasp and runs off to see her friend, leaving me alone, clutching the tray of cupcakes like a life raft.

I try to act nonchalant, frozen to the spot, unsure of what to do.

Closest to the house is a large, tiered deck area where the infamous hot tub sits.

I shan’t be going in after what I saw. Ugh.

On the next level, there’s the biggest grill I’ve ever seen.

Hawk is operating it, he’s shirtless, and I try not to stare at his glistening chest, forcing myself to look away.

In the main yard, there’s a swimming pool as well as swings where a few other children are playing, and I know Jenny is going to have a great day.

“Harper, you made it. We were beginning to worry you weren’t going to come,” a familiar voice says, and I turn around to see Wolf coming out of the house.

“I made cupcakes,” I reply, feeling about as stupid as if I’d said ‘I carried a watermelon’ like Baby in Dirty Dancing .

“So you did. Let me take them for you. Come on inside. We’re putting all the food in the kitchen.”

He takes the tray for me, and I follow him into the kitchen, where the table is laden with meats, potato salad, and buns. I realize then how stupid it was to bring cupcakes to a cookout hosted by three men. I should have brought beer.

“Cupcakes were probably a bad choice. This isn’t a kid’s birthday party,” I say, trying to make a joke of it, but there’s a lump in my throat.

“Are you kidding? Everyone loves cupcakes, even macho bikers,” he replies with a wink, picking one up and biting into it to prove a point. “Wow, these are amazing, Harper. If the kids aren’t quick about it, the adults will eat them all before they get a look in!”

I feel so grateful and happy that I could burst into tears. Thankfully, the sight of this giant man with pink frosting on his nose is enough to distract me with laughter. “You got a little something on your nose.”

He tries and fails to wipe it off. “Gone?”

“Nope.” I shake my head, moving closer to wipe it off for him with a paper towel.

As I pull my hand back, he takes hold of my wrist, pulling me closer. I see the hungry look in his eyes, and the intimacy of the gesture dawns on me. My breath hitches, and my body is acutely aware of his proximity.

The sound of someone walking into the room breaks the spell, and we spring apart. “Sorry, Prez, Susan is here kicking up a fuss.”

Wolf stiffens, giving me one last lingering look. “Wait here,” he commands before turning and following the man outside.

I hover for a moment before curiosity wins out, and I head to the doorway to watch the commotion.

I notice Wolf talking to a woman by the gate.

His back’s turned, so I can’t see his face, but I can see that the woman is crying.

A pang of jealousy hits me as I look at them together, and I wonder if she’s his girlfriend.

She’s beautiful enough to be. Exactly the kind of woman I’d imagine Wolf with, the picture-perfect couple.

She has blue eyes with long lashes, perfect rosebud lips, and high cheekbones, along with long, blonde hair and a slim, yet perfectly proportioned body, featuring big, perky breasts.

How can I compete with a woman like that?

Jenny’s voice pulls me from my melancholy thoughts, and I turn to see her walking over with her new friend Sammy, an adorable boy with glasses and a mop of curly hair, and a woman who I’m presuming is his mom.

“Mommy, this is Sammy and his grandma!” Jenny says.

“Nice to meet you, name’s Pam,” the woman says with a genuine smile that crinkles at the corners of her eyes.

She’s dressed in a tank top that showcases her numerous tattoos.

Her hair is dyed black, but at the roots, she’s going gray.

She has a rather severe appearance, but a kind face, nonetheless.

“Sammy, say hello,” she prompts, and the little boy does as he’s told.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, and Sammy, I’ve heard so much about you from Jenny. Why don’t you two have some cupcakes?” I look to Pam for approval, and she nods back.

The children eagerly grab a cupcake and sit chattering away while they eat it. Pam looks, perhaps, ten or so years older than me, certainly not old enough to be a grandmother. I tell her as much, and she laughs.

“You’re right, I got knocked up with my daughter when I was fresh outta high school.

She did me one better and had Sammy at seventeen.

” Pam glances over at Sammy before adding, “She died when he was a baby, it was an overdose. His dad, Jim, was hooked, too, so I took custody of Sammy. After my daughter died, Jim got clean, thanks to the help of this lot. Probably woulda died too if it wasn’t for the Shadow Pack.

Now Jim has Sammy on weekends, but he was nice enough to invite me along today. ”

“I’m sorry for your loss.” Pam waves my words away, giving me the confidence to ask. “Sorry, but what is the Shadow Pack?”