Page 87 of The Biker and the Baker

He jerks his shoulders. "Had to make it believable, and also make sure you didn't forget I existed. That outta sight, outta mind thing is a bitch.”

"But how did you know where I'd be all those times…" I trail off as realization hits.Someone sold me out. "Who is it? Who’s the traitor?”

He’s grinning. "Who do you think?"

A defeated sigh escapes me. “Lissa. She would do anything for that Palm Tree of a man."

Onyx bursts out laughing and grabs my hand, pulling me back down on him.

Snuggling into him, I carp, "I can'tbelieveI got played.”

"Like a guitar solo, baby."

"So... if the proposal was fake, that means Cookie and Toni and Ley and—"

"They're all in on it." He's still grinning like the Cheshire cat, pleased with himself.

Wow. Unbelievable. They all played me to a T. Even my best friend—who I’m going to strangle the life out of when I see her. What a sucker I am. Everyone’s welfare visit today suddenly makes sense now.

And I'm not even a little mad, because it got me back to where I belong. Right here in his arms, bursting at the seams with bliss.

Shifting, I prop my chin on his chest and ask, "Now tell me, who in the ever-loving hell is Mary?"

He waggles his brows. "Wouldn’t you like to know."

Eyes narrowing to a glare, I twist his nipple and he yowls. "Okay, okay! Mary’s the new live-in babysitter."

"Whose? Ley’s?"

"Yeah. Ley's pregnant. She’s sick half the time, going through all kinds of weird moods, so she hired Mary to help with the twins."

"Oh,wow. Pregnant? I didn't know that," I say, feeling instant guilt for waking her up in the wee hours during a thunderstorm.

“Live-in” means Mary’s here all the time, though. And, listen, I've seen that girl; she's no goddamn Nanny McPhee. She’s young and hot and stinking gorgeous.

"Ah, I see those wheels spinning," Onyx says, sobering. "The answer isno. I didn't sleep with her. Or anyone else, for that matter."

I chew on my bottom lip. "But you thought about it?"

He blinks at me. "The only thing I thought about since you left me, is how to get you the fuck back. You're my color, Pia, my light."

He shifts and flips me so I'm supine and he's curved over me like a comma. "I love the fuck out of you, Sweet P. And no matter how many times you try to run, I'll always chase you. To the ends of the earth if I have to. ‘Cause you're it for me, baby.You're so fucking it for me."

"Thank you for showing me," I whisper, eyes brimmed and spilling with tears. "For showing me how to love."

Chapter 22

Pia

One year later

A lot canhappen in a year.

You could land your dream job.

You could fall madly in love with someone you once believed you hated with your whole being.

You could travel to Germany with said someone and fall in love with two of the sweetest little angels you’ve ever met. So much so that you almost cry when it’s time to leave them.