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CHAPTER TEN

MADALYN

Today is a beautiful day.

I am shopping with my grandfather, and I am treasuring every second of it. When you have lost a lot of your family, you cling to the ones who mean everything to you, and my grandfather is one of those people.

He never turned his back on me or Aria, and has always been supportive in what I’ve wanted to do with my life. He was there when I got my heart broken for the first time, and even offered to use his shotgun on the boy.

When Aria decided that she was into art, he bought her every color of paint and different types of brushes that he could. She is so freaking talented, she even does some online design jobs.

“I am thinking I need to rest my old man legs, sweetie,” Grandpa says.

“You are not old, you are vintage.” We chuckle and I help him to sit on a bench that faces across the street at a small community garden.

“Would you like a cold drink while you rest or are you okay?”

He taps my knee, smiling. “I am good for now, pumpkin. Just need to sit for a while then maybe when we get home, Aria will be back and we can have some grub.”

I nod to him. “I can grill. I saw the steaks are still needing to be cooked.”

“I like the way you think.”

We sit in comfortable silence, watching people go about their daily lives.

A mother walks with her two children, who are jumping and skipping in a pattern.

There is an older man, older than Grandpa, who is sweeping in front of his little watch repair store.

A young couple hold hands while eating ice cream.

Life can be filled with so many emotions that you can control, but others are completely out of your control. Like my parents dying. Me becoming Aria’s full-time guardian.

They do say to enjoy the little things, and I make sure that we do just that. Like walking with Grandpa Pete, or just sitting on my porch drinking an iced tea while watching the children in the neighborhood play games.

“How has work been? Everything going as planned with the summer program?”

I nod. “Everything is running smoothly so far. Darian is looking for more donations to fill the ending weeks, and I think she will achieve it. You know how persuasive she can be.”

“Oh, Dar does have a way with people.” We both laugh.

He sees my bestie as another granddaughter and I love that. Not once has he ever turned her away.

“That she does. Did I tell you that she got some farmer to donate one hundred bales of hay, so she could set up a mini maze for the toddlers?”

“I knew that girl would go far in life,” he jokes.

“When she puts her mind to something you know that she will not rest until she gets it. That girl has a stubborn streak as long as the Kentucky River.”

“That she does.”

My phone beeps from my purse, so I reach inside, pull out the device and check to see who is texting me.

Aria: I will be home in thirty. I’m starving. Just saying.

Smiling, I type out a response.

Me: We will meet you there. You are in luck, Grandpa still has some steaks to grill. I suppose we could share with you. LOL

“Is that Aria?” I nod to him.

“Yes, she will be home soon. What do you say we pick up some ice cream for dessert?”

His smile fills his face, crinkles at the corners of his eyes showing his age.

“I could go for some raspberry ice cream.” I help him to his feet, linking my arm through his as we walk to the ice cream parlor.

We talk as we walk; he tells me stories about landmarks that we see and I relish in everything he tells me. Every minute with him means so much as we do not know how much time we have left with him.

“Oh, look at those.” He stops a store that sells old record players.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, the feeling of being watched suddenly filling my nervous system. Without making too much of a thing in front of my grandpa I look over my shoulder, trying to see something or someone out of place, but I see no one.

A glimpse of a tall dark man slips down the side of a building, but nothing really stands out to me.

Feeling off but trusting my gut feeling, we collect our ice cream and get back to our car. Then I drive us home. All the way there I check my mirrors to see if we are being followed but see nothing.

Note to self: Stop watching crime dramas so late at night.

“When are you going to find a nice man and settle down, pumpkin?” Grandpa’s voice fills the car.

Looking over at him, I see he is smiling warmly at me. It makes my heart feel full and loved by this man who helped me and my sister when times were bad.

I know that he only wants what is best for me, and my sister. He has mentioned a time or two that he has friends with grandsons the same age as me I could date, who could be potential husbands.

“When I find the right man, Grandpa, and no not one you help set me up with. Do not look at me like that; the sweet innocent old man look does not work on me, mister.” I giggle.

He knows that I am guarded with men because of my past, but I know he means well.

“I would love some great grandkids before if die, sweetheart,” he jokes but his words slice through my heart.

Hearing him speak of him dying, leaving me and Aria, hurts. I know that his time is coming, hell we all have to die, but I am not ready to let him go.

“You are not going anywhere, old man. Both Aria and I need you and let’s be honest, you are too stubborn to die.” He chuckles at that.

“True, all the honeys at bingo would miss me.” He winks.

“Ew, Grampa, no.” I fake gag, making him laugh harder. “Do not talk about you and that kind of thing.” I shudder.

“Hate to break it you kiddo, your mom and dad had to have sex to make you.”

I shudder again, not wanting to think of my parents in that situation. I am not naive when it comes to sex, believe me I like it when I am actually getting it.

When you read as many smutty books as I do, you need a man to help ease the tension built up by words in a book. Then you just pray that one day a man you pick up will succeed in meeting your unrealistic book boyfriend standards.

Not that I do go out and pick up random men, I do not have the time, but a woman can dream, right?

We arrive at my grandfather’s house, and I spot the gleaming motorcycle sitting in the driveway across the street. That must be the elusive biker Grandpa keeps talking about.

Coming to a stop, I kill the engine and climb out, walking around to meet Grandpa to help him. He may say that he does not need help, but deep down he knows he really does. Stubborn old man.

As I close the door, I hear that voice that sets my pussy on fire, and my nipples to hard mode.

“Hey, Peter. I was hoping to catch you today, man.” I watch as Target walks toward us, dressed in all his sexiness.

Stonewash jeans, biker boots, and a black sleeveless shirt, that fits snug to his chest, flashing me his tattoos. His skin is glistening from being out in the sun, his hair brushed back, slicked with sweat.

Damn that man is extra fucking hot today.

He is hot every time I have seen him, but today…

Extra hot.

“Oh, hey, Target. I’d like you to meet my granddaughter, Madalyn. Kiddo, this is Target, my neighbor.”

“Hey, babe.” It is like the cat has bitten off my tongue when Target greets me.

My grandfather looks between us waiting for me to speak, but I am frozen to the spot, which only makes Target grin wider.

“Do you to know each other?”

“We do, Pete. We have spent some time together, haven’t we, baby?” I gasp at his words.

“What? Um, wait,” I splutter. “What is going on? We spent time together?” I stammer, my heart racing in my chest, my breathing coming hard and harder to control.

Will he tell my grandfather that I got so drunk that I ended up in his bed, only dressed in my underwear?

“Breathe, beautiful.” He steps forward, kissing my cheek. “In and out, slowly, yeah.” I shake off my slight panic and glare at him.

“Did you know who I was when you flirted with me?” I snap.

He smiles that sexy smile of his, shaking his head.

“I did not, baby. I would have told you if I had any idea that you could be Peter’s granddaughter,” he explains. “Peter has watched my kids for me when I was called to the club for an emergency. In return, I help him when I can.”

“You watch his children?” I look to my grandfather who is smiling fondly at Target, then he brings his gaze back to me and I see ideas swirling in his head.

Oh, no.

“I do. Emmi and Rex are amazing kids. They are ten, and are so good with their manners and can help me with little jobs around the house. They enjoy it.”

“Plus, they enjoy the candy and money they get from you.”

“What can I say, I am a sucker for having little voices running around this old house again.” Sadness hits his voice, and I feel guilty for not already giving him his own great grandkids.

“You are welcome to borrow them anytime, you know that. They love spending time with you. They will be here this weekend.”

I listen to the two men talking. The fondness between them shows that the respect and care is there between them and I have to say that seeing the way Target treats my grandfather makes me like him more.

God, I feel like some teenage girl thinking that I like him, like I am crushing on the school’s QB.

I am twenty-six, for crying out loud, and I know that should not read into the attention that Target gives me, he is a biker after all.

Reading biker books gives you small insight into their club life, but the one thing that sticks out in all the books is their sexual appetite.

The club men like to fuck, that’s obvious.

“I can watch them while you take my granddaughter out on a date.” My grandfather’s words shock me out of my inner thoughts, and I look at him with wide eyes.

“What? No.”

“Why not?” He grins at me, his eyes crinkling with happiness.

“Yeah, why not?” Target’s smug tone has me looking toward him.

He leans against my car, arms folded across his large chest, ankles crossed, and he looks like he belongs on the cover of a magazine.

My body hums in appreciation of the sight. My nipples peak beneath my clothing, and once again thank the fashion gods for padded bras.

Damn it.

“I do not have the time,” I state, pulling my shoulders back and stepping past him to get to the trunk of my car, so I can calm my horny ass down.

I need to get laid, my vibrator is clearly not doing its job.

Closing my eyes, I breathe in deeply, trying to get my body under control.

I barely know him, seen him less than a handful of times, yet he makes me react like this. Can you imagine what he can do once he gets his hands on me?

I feel his heat against my side, and I catch his scent—a mix of sandalwood and something uniquely him. My body reacts instantly to his proximity, my skin tingling where his warmth radiates.

Opening my eyes, I seen his black cuffed boots next to my brown sandaled feet.

“Why are you running from me? You know I will catch you, hell you want me to catch you, baby. I see how you look at me. How you react when I am close to you.” I bring my gaze up to his ready to say something, but he covers my mouth with his own, shocking me.

He takes advantage of my shock, slipping his tongue into my mouth.

He tastes of beer, and BBQ.

As if they have a mind of their own my hands move up his forearms, biceps, then his shoulders, ending up around to his neck, my mouth fused to his as he devours me.

The kiss is soft at first, his tongue lapping along with mine.

The growls and grunts of desire that come from him are making my panties wet, and uncomfortable.

A tsunami of ecstasy rolls through me from this one kiss. I have never been kissed like this before, and damn, I want more. I do not know what it is about this man but he does something to me that makes me want more.

He ends the kiss, keeping his hands on my hips, the heat from them searing me through the material of my clothing.

The heat in his eyes tells me that he enjoyed that kiss as much as I did. Well, that and the big freaking bulge in his pants. Holy Moley.

A sound leaves his throat, my gaze snapping back to his.

I blink, then remember my grandfather.

“He went inside before I came to you. He saw nothing, but Peter is not a stupid man, Mads. Now, as much as I want to fucking devour every single goddamn inch of you, I need to get going.” I push down the disappointment, confused that I feel that way.

“Be warned, baby. I am coming for a date.” He kisses the corner of my mouth then he is gone.

Leaving me standing stupefied in the driveway as he crosses the street, his sexy swagger causes fire to run through my veins.

What the hell is this man doing to me?