Page 16 of The MC’s Surprise (Bikers and Babies #4)

Sierra

W atching Vegas panic over the idea of meeting my parents was entertaining.

Luckily, he was spared from the first meeting at this party.

My parents had date night at least twice a month to keep the romance alive, and he wouldn’t miss that for the world.

He did agree to swing by another time during the conversation, but I kept that bit to myself for now so Vegas could relax.

Me and the old ladies of the crew managed to beat the rest of them, which made me feel better about parking.

I was always worried I’d hit someone’s bike on accident.

My dad’s truck was too big for me. I slid out of the seat, watching in awe as the bikes flowed into the parking lot en masse without anyone clipping anyone else, or swerving to avoid each other.

It was like they’d done it a million times, and I was a little jealous of Melissa as she rode in on Wraith’s bike, her arms wrapped around his waist. I’d never been on a bike before. It looked fun.

Once they were all parked and it was safe to cross, I headed for Vegas, gesturing at his bike when I got close.

“I’m surprised you drive anything else. I wouldn’t.”

He hummed, pulling the helmet off his head and tucking it under his arm.

He stood, grinning at me. “Only reason I have a cage is for bad weather. If I could, I’d never set foot in one.

There’s nothing better than being on a bike.

” He studied me for a second, his eyes narrowing. “Well, almost nothing.”

I didn't have time to think about what he said before he leaned in, his lips brushing over mine. I sucked in a sharp breath, locking eyes with him when he pulled away. Never in a million years did I think he’d kiss me.

And I was so stunned by it, I didn’t kiss him back.

He stroked his thumb over my jaw once before tipping his head. “What’s this?”

I drew in a shuddering breath, licking my lips, my mouth suddenly dry as the Sahara desert.

It took a long minute for me to figure out what he was referring to.

“I, uh… I was running up some wooden stairs as a kid and tripped over my untied shoelaces. I got three stitches and a lecture about being careful on stairs.”

“Troublemaker, weren’t you?” he grinned, running his thumb over the mark.

My face flushed, but I couldn’t help the sass that came out in response. “You have no idea.”

He chuckled, then tipped his head toward the clubhouse. “Come on. It's important to celebrate the good days when things are rough.”

He acted like it was totally normal to kiss me and took my hand, pulling me inside without explanation.

I followed numbly, my mind a mess. It didn’t make any sense.

I’d seen the way he looked at Charlotte at the casino.

I thought he was interested in her. It looked like he had hearts coming out of his eyes any time he looked in her direction, even though he tried to hide it.

He never showed any interest in me. I mean, he was flirting a little back at the shelter, but I figured it was just part of his biker personality.

The charming bad boy schtick would get a lot of women to drop their panties.

It felt good to have his attention like that, but I didn't think it meant anything.

Now, though, I was wondering what I missed.

Since when was he interested? And what was I going to do with that information?

I was pregnant with his baby. If we started hooking up, that might muddy the waters.

I also didn’t have many relationships in the past. Men didn’t stick around when they found out how much of a failure I was.

I didn't want Vegas to do the same thing.

Hell, I didn't want him to know about my past at all. He didn’t know just how badly I failed every time I tried something new.

Good relationships weren’t built on lies, even by omission.

But who was to say he was even interested in a relationship.

Maybe he was just looking for a hookup since Charlotte wasn’t giving him the time of day?

He didn't have to be abstinent just because the woman he was in love with was seeing someone else.

Did I want to scratch that itch for him?

I remembered our time together. Sleeping with Vegas had been the single hottest experience I’d ever had.

I still thought about it on occasion when the tension got to be too much and I needed some stress relief with my handy vibrator.

I wasn’t sure I could handle being a replacement for what he really wanted, though.

That would hurt my pride, and with the pregnancy in the way, it’d definitely make things complicated.

But… I also really liked him. I’d loved the time we spent together before I left.

I wasn’t sure how long I was going to be working with him.

Would it be so bad to live a little and see what happened?

Since I was fully aware of the situation, there wouldn’t be a risk of catching feelings.

Maybe. Possibly. I mean, I had a major crush on him once upon a time, but that didn’t mean feelings were involved.

It was lust and intrigue. If I said it often enough, I might believe it.

And maybe if things happened with Vegas, I could finally get over my crush and focus on what was important.

I was going around in circles between what I wanted and what was smart, and I didn't notice where we were going until Vegas nudged me onto a stool.

“What’ll you have?”

Shaking off the conflicted feelings, I thought about it before asking, “Do you have any sprite? I’ve got a craving and my mom refuses to buy me any.”

He moved with ease, spinning a glass with a flourish before pouring my drink from a can in the mini fridge below the bar. When I raised an eyebrow at him, he smiled and my heart skipped a beat. It was cruel just how good looking he was. It made this decision so much harder.

“I was a bartender throughout college. Had to save up to pay for business school.”

“That’s an interesting image. You must’ve made a lot of tips with skills like that.”

He handed me the drink, leaning his elbows on the bar top as he closed more distance between us. “Most of my income was tips. Didn’t hurt to flirt a little, either.”

“I’ll bet.” It was supposed to be a tease, but it came out all breathy and soft.

He was so close we were sharing the same air.

My eyes dropped to his mouth without my permission, and I bit my lip in an attempt to get myself together.

It was like the minute he showed me any attention, my hormones went haywire and I couldn’t control myself.

“Sierra…” My name on his lips was smooth and seductive and my brows furrowed, watching his lips form the sounds.

My arguments against doing anything with Vegas were being drowned out by my heartbeat in my ears and the faint feeling of his lips against mine.

What happened out front was barely a kiss, and I was almost desperate for more.

“Yo, Vegas! Make me a drink, will you?” someone called out.

The tension snapped like a rubber band, and I finally remembered where we were. Heat flooded my cheeks, and I sat back, grabbing my drink and taking a large swallow. I was too eager, and it went down wrong, sending me into a coughing fit that only embarrassed me more.

“Sierra? Are you–”

Shoving out of the stool, I grimaced as my eyes watered. “Bathroom?” I croaked.

“There’s one next to Prez’s office. I can–”

I waved him off, hightailing it to the bathroom at mach speed. Thankfully, it was empty, and I locked the door behind me, leaning heavily against the door.

This was a bad idea. We were going to be stuck with each other for the foreseeable future raising this baby. I couldn’t make things harder for him than I already had by showing up pregnant with his kid. No matter how I felt about him.

Sighing, I crossed the room and leaned against the sink, glaring at myself in the mirror.

I had to do better. Before I left, he was sexy and flirtatious, and heavy handed with compliments.

He made me feel good about myself at a time when I’d been struggling.

Now, I saw a whole other side of him. He was sweet and thoughtful, playful and kind to the kids, and so loyal.

He accepted that the baby was his and stepped up without hesitation.

I couldn’t risk ruining that. This baby had to come first. My hormones or whatever would need a stern talking to. It wasn’t going to happen.

It took me a few minutes to pull myself together long enough to rejoin the party.

I was out of sorts, and Vegas’s sudden interest caught me off guard.

I’d been working so hard to keep him in that little box of ‘never gonna happen’ that I didn’t know what to do when he suddenly broke out of it.

Even after I rejoined the crew, I still didn’t know what to think.

I almost wished I had a girlfriend to talk to about this.

I didn’t have many friends, none in the area especially.

What little friends I had were in LA and I didn’t think I’d be comfortable talking to them about having a crush on a biker.

The friends in LA were all corporate ceiling breakers.

They’d probably see a biker as beneath them.

For the time being, I felt like it was best if I left.

Maybe putting some space between me and Vegas would help.

We’d hung out pretty much every day since I showed up, either to talk about the events for the crew or just getting to know each other a little better before the baby was born.

Spending that much time with him was confusing me. I needed to get my head on straight.

He was still behind the bar when I came out of the bathroom, showing off while making drinks for a couple of the old ladies. My chest tightened, and while he was distracted, I made my escape.