Page 31 of Shine: Sins of the Father (Evil Dead MC: Second Generation #8)

Fiona—

After breakfast with the girls, I head to my mom and dad’s place to pick up Dylan. When I come through the door, they’re in the kitchen, Dylan on my father’s lap, watching him eat bacon.

“Little dude, someday when you’re older, you will realize this is the greatest food on earth.”

I roll my eyes. “I see the bacon fairy visited.”

“Yup. How was breakfast with the girls? You have a good time?” he asks.

“I did. We went to Carlton’s. It was so good.

” Except for the part where Harley pulled me to the side and grilled me.

Then she told me that, thankfully, no one else noticed when I went AWOL with Shine last night.

Harley and Reckless kept making excuses for how they just missed me going to the bar or the bathroom or outside with Cody. I can’t believe no one caught on.

I hold my arms out, and Dylan’s face lights up with a smile. My father passes him to me. “Heard you had too much to drink last night.”

“Yeah, I started to feel a little queasy. Guess not drinking for all that time lessened my resistance.”

“You seem fine now.”

“I am. I drank a lot of water and felt better last night.”

“Good.”

“Don’t you have a party today at the bakery? We can keep him,” my mother says from the sink where she’s washing strawberries.

I walk over with Dylan on my arm and steal one, popping it in my mouth. “Janey offered to watch him at the apartment while I run the party.”

“You sure? He’s perfectly fine here, and we love having him, don’t we, Wolf?”

“Of course. He’s my little buddy.”

“I’ll take him with me. I’ve got a little time to spend with him before the birthday party. This one doesn’t start until two.”

“All right.” My mother wipes her hands on a dishtowel and leans against the sink. “How are you doing, sweetheart? You eating enough? You look thin.”

“Gee thanks, Mom.”

“You look good.” She cups my face. “I just worry about you. You take care of the baby and your shop. I just want you to remember to take care of yourself, too.”

I kiss her cheek. “I know.” I pick up Dylan’s little chubby arm and wave it. “Say bye to Grandma.”

She leans and kisses his head. “I love you, cutie pie.”

He giggles and blows bubbles.

I take him to give my father a slobbery Dylan kiss, then grab his diaper bag on the way out.

My father walks me to my car. He rests a hand on the doorframe while I load Dylan into his car seat. When I straighten, he holds out a folded bill to me. I see the number fifty.

“Here.”

“Dad, I’m okay.”

“Take it. I know how much diapers and formula cost. If you need more…”

“Thanks.” I kiss his cheek, and he stands in the driveway until we pull away.

***

I drive across town, and after feeding Dylan, Janey shows up.

She’s barely in the door before I’m being grilled.

“So, how’d the party go last night? You have a good time?”

“He was there.”

“Who?”

“Shine.”

“Oh, my God.” She grabs my hand and drags me to the couch.

I bounce Dylan on my knee.

“Tell me everything. Did he see you? Did you talk?”

“I was so freaked out when he walked in. The entire Nevada chapter showed up for Reckless’s birthday. Guess why?”

“To support their brother, right? I mean, he was a member there.”

“Yeah, but Harley’s the one who got the ball rolling. She went to Cole and asked if he could make it happen.”

“For Reckless? Or for you?”

“She finally confessed it was not just for Reckless.”

“So what did you do when you saw him?”

“I wanted to run, but Harley grabbed my arm and wouldn’t let me. I see Shine scanning the clubhouse, and then he finds me and our eyes lock, and we just stared at each other. I was rooted to the floor, and it all came rushing back—every minute I’d spent with him.”

“Then what happened?”

“Harley went and brought him over, and she tells me to give him a tour of the clubhouse and to start with the MMA cage.”

“No way.”

“Yep, and she and Reckless ran interference for us, making sure no one followed.”

“Did you tell him about Dylan?”

“I wanted to. I even started to at one point.” I pat Dylan until he burps. “But I did apologize. At first he didn’t seem like he was going to accept it, and he said, but how can I ever trust you? ”

“Oh.” Janey makes a face. “That’s not good.”

“I spun to leave, but he grabbed my arm, whirled me around, and kissed me.”

Her eyes get big. “Did you kiss him back?”

I nod.

She pushes my knee. “I knew it. I knew you weren’t over him.”

“That’s not all. Harley gave me the key to Reckless’s room, and we used it.”

“Oh, my God. How was it?”

I just make a dreamy smile.

“Well, where is he now?”

“I snuck out this morning.”

“What?” Her shoulders sink. “Why?”

“I panicked. I didn’t know what he’d do, and I’m not ready for my father to find out yet. Besides, there’s a guy after him. I can’t put Dylan in danger. I’m not sure how Shine will react when I tell him he’s a father.”

“Fiona, you have to tell him. You can’t keep this from him anymore. It’s just another lie.”

“I know, but I’m terrified. What if he can’t get beyond the fact that, once again, I lied to him?”

She searches my eyes but only shakes her head with no answer for me.

I glance at the clock. “The party. I’ve got to go.”

Janey reaches for Dylan and walks me to the door.

“Don’t worry. We’ll work this out somehow, Fiona.”

I nod and go down the stairs to the shop.

***

Several hours later, I’m ushering the last party guest out the front door and preparing to lock it when Shine rides up and backs his bike to the curb.

My heart leaps to my throat. Dylan is right upstairs, and sometimes Janey comes down with him after she knows these parties are over. Maybe she heard the bike and peered out the window. God, Janey, please don’t come down here.

Shine dismounts, takes off his helmet and approaches me where I stand in the open doorway.

“What are you doing here?”

He lifts his chin to my business. “Reckless told me you owned the place. I came to see it.” He scans the building and my pink and cream striped awning. “It’s girly.”

“Well, women make up most of my demographic.”

“Gonna invite me in for a sample?” For a moment, the double entendre sinks in, and the smile crinkles around his eyes. “I hear your cupcakes are the best.”

“They are.”

“So, prove it.”

I lift a brow. “Follow me.”

I move behind the counter and slide open the glass case, grabbing him a white chocolate raspberry cupcake.

“So, you like kids?” he asks out of the blue, and I fumble with the napkin dispenser, knocking it over.

“Kids?” I grab it before it falls to the floor.

“You okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Yeah, kids.” He lifts his chin to the party room.

“Oh. Sure. They’re great.” I manage to pull a napkin and pass the cupcake to him with it. “Here you go.”

“Thanks.” He takes a bite, and I fumble with straightening things on the counter. “Mmm. Delicious.” His eyes meet mine. “So, you want kids someday?”

I knock over the cup holding pens, and they scatter at his feet. “Sorry.”

I come around and squat, gathering them up.

Shine puts his cupcake down to help me. We’re inches from each other. His hand covers mine on the cup to hold it still while he drops the pens inside.

“There you go.”

“Thanks.”

“You seem nervous, sweetness. This about last night?”

I surge to my feet and move around the counter to put distance between us. “No. Not at all.”

Shine puts both palms on the counter and leans toward me. “Then why’d you slip out this morning? I didn’t like waking up in an empty bed.”

“I didn’t want my father to catch us.”

“Would that be so bad?”

“Yes.”

“Why don’t you let me worry about that?”

My shoulders drop, and I meet his eyes. “What’s the point? You’ll be leaving town soon, anyway.”

“What if I don’t?”

“Don’t what?”

“Leave town.”

“What do you mean?”

“I thought I’d stay for a while. See where this thing between us goes.”

“You mean it?”

“Yeah. Already talked to Daytona. He gave his okay.”

“Oh. How long?”

He shrugs. “We left it open-ended.”

All I can think about is how I’ll have to hide Dylan from him.

“How about a ride?” He nods to the street and his bike.

“A ride?”

“You keep repeating everything I say. Relax, Fiona. It’s just you and me.”

“Um. I, uh, have some things to do.”

“Can’t they wait?”

“Um. Let me… let me run upstairs and change. Why don’t you wait by your bike?”

“How about I come up and see your place?”

“No!” I snap. “I mean… the place is a mess. I’d like it clean the first time you see it.”

He grins. “Okay, but if you take too long, I’m comin’ up.”

“I’ll be quick.” I herd him to the door and flip the lock once he’s out. Then I dash upstairs, skidding to a stop and breathing hard.

Janey stands staring at me. “What’s he doing here?”

“He wants me to go for a ride with him. He wanted to come up, but I stalled him.”

“You should go. I can stay with Dylan.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. This is your chance to break the news about the baby.”

Oh God. How am I going to do that? I pace the floor, trying to think.

“Fiona?”

I spin and look at Janey. “What?”

“He’s not going to wait forever down there.”

“Right.” I fly into action and dig through my clothes for something to wear.