Page 15

Nikki

“W hat are we doing today, Mommy?” Livvy bounced into the kitchen wearing a smile nearly as bright as her yellow and green pajamas. She was such a happy little girl, and I didn’t want any of this mess with the Blood Fangs MC to interfere with that.

I sighed and took another sip of my coffee. “I don’t know, Livvy. We still have to pick up a few things for your birthday.”

“My birthday! Really?” She jumped up and down, so excited she could hardly contain herself. “What are we getting, Mommy? A chocolate-chocolate cake! Banana ice cream! Lots and lots and lots of presents! Pretty please?” Those eyes, the exact shade of her father’s, pleaded with me.

“Lots and lots and lots?”

Livvy nodded. “I’ve been such a good girl,” she insisted with her most angelic expression.

“You have been a very good girl. But before we talk about cake and ice cream, we should talk about the party theme. Dinosaurs? Princesses? Zoo animals?” This was her first real birthday party, complete with friends she invited herself. It was a big deal, and I planned to make a huge deal out of it.

“Cupcakes! I love them, Mommy. They’re little cakes and you can put stuff in ‘em, you can decorate ‘em too. I’m gonna dress like a cupcake!”

Well that was simple enough. “Okay, cupcakes as a theme and as your birthday cake. Got it, now go get dressed.”

The doorbell rang, startling a dramatic gasp out of me. Both hands went to my heart. and I took several deep breaths. “It’s probably just the young guy who introduced himself as Pike.” He was young, early twenties, and had insisted—very seriously—that he would stay outside to keep me and my daughter safe.

The bell rang again, and I quickly smoothed my hands down my jeans and tank top. “Coming.” I assumed he was in need of the bathroom or a glass of water. I opened the door, and my brows dipped in concern. “Hi. Can I help you?”

A pretty woman with a short blonde haircut stood in front of me with a cute little girl beside her. The woman’s eyes lit with amusement, and she laughed. “Rebel didn’t tell you I was coming?”

Rebel. Logan. “No, he didn’t. Is something wrong?” My heart slammed against my chest.

Before the woman could answer, Livvy rushed to my side. “You know my friend, Rebel?” She looked at the woman and then the little girl, just a couple years older than her. “He told me he didn’t have a girlfriend. Or a wife. Or a husband,” she added with a pout as she folded her arms and glared at them.

“Livvy, these are our guests.” I worked hard to stifle my laughter, but the woman did not.

“I’m Grace and this is my daughter Sophie. Rebel is our friend too—my husband is his friend.”

“He’s in the club with him,” she asked.

Surprise showed on Grace’s face, but she nodded. “That’s right.”

Relieved, Livvy sighed heavily. “Sorry. I’m Livvy and this is my Mommy.”

“Nikki,” I filled in my actual name and waved them inside. “Is something wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong. They have MC business to deal with and Maverick said Rebel thought you might want some company.”

Why was he so damn sweet?

Every gesture made me feel more like a shitty human being for keeping Livvy a secret from him. “Coffee?”

“That sounds good, thank you.”

“Mommy, can we go outside?”

I nodded and pointed to the backyard. “You know the deal.”

“Don’t leave the yard,” she repeated and took Sophie’s hand, guiding her through the house and out the back door.

“Thank you,” I told Grace while I made a fresh pot of coffee. “But you don’t know me and you shouldn’t give up your Saturday for me.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ve been where you are, in need of around the clock security. Despite having people around constantly, it can feel lonely.”

I sighed and poured two mugs. “It’s not the loneliness, as a single mother I get used to that. This is a constant fear that makes it impossible to do anything, think or eat, or focus on my show.” I hadn’t been myself for weeks now and it was starting to take its toll. “I just don’t get it.”

“I know but trust me when I tell you the guys will figure it out. They don’t take too kindly to anyone who threatens women or children.”

I shook my head. “This isn’t Logan’s fight, and I don’t want harm to come to him or his club. Or any of you.”

Her eyes held a knowing expression. “Seems to me like you’re a part of that now too.”

“What?” I shook my head. “No, it’s not like that.” Was it?

Grace laughed. “Trust me when I tell you that it is exactly like that.” She rolled her eyes affectionately. “Rebel gave everyone shit each time a new woman got tangled up with one of his brothers. He was worried it would put the MC at risk and bitched about it, according to Maverick anyway. But he came through for each and every one of us. Now we all get to laugh, give him shit, and come through for him.”

Instead of answering, I redirected. “It’s odd to hear him called Rebel. When I met him, he introduced himself as Logan.”

Her brows dipped and she leaned in with a friendly expression. “How did you meet him?”

“Oh. Um, I assumed he would’ve mentioned it.” I told her about meeting years ago for the first time. “And then we ran into each other again at the same festival, when he got between me and the bikers who are determined to make my life a living hell.”

“So you’ve known him for years?”

It was my turn to laugh. “No, there was a misunderstanding, and we hadn’t seen each other in about six years until a few weeks ago.”

“How does Livvy’s father feel about a handsome biker hanging around all of a sudden?”

Her question put me on edge. Was she just being polite or did she suspect something? She’d seen Livvy, so maybe she’d put the pieces together faster than Logan had? “He’s not in the picture. It’s always just been me and Livvy.”

Sympathy flashed in her eyes. “So, what are you planning to do today?”

“Livvy’s birthday is coming up and I figured we’d buy some party decorations and favors.”

“Or we can take care of that online, save some money, and then have a girls’ day instead. The choice is yours.” Her smile was mischievous, and I had a feeling I could really like this woman.

But I couldn’t. She was in Logan’s world and as soon as he found out about Livvy, he’d hate me, and I would never get to see her again. So I nodded politely and vowed that I would enjoy today and appreciate the gesture, but I wouldn’t get attached.

The same way I wouldn’t get attached to Logan.