Page 17 of The MC’s Surprise (Bikers and Babies #4)

Sierra

I was edging through the crowded room when someone called my name.

I grimaced, plastering a polite smile on my face as I spun around to face Skylar.

I didn't want to be rude to her, she had been so awesome since we met. I just wished I could’ve snuck out before she saw me.

The longer I hung around, the more likely Vegas would find me and confuse me even more.

“Hey, Skylar. Where are the kids?”

“With my dad. They spent the day with him so we could do the volunteer thing and we knew there would be a party afterward, so we figured we’d let them spend the night with their pop-pop before we picked them up.”

I’d briefly met her and Butch’s kids and I understood better why the crew called them a brood. Four kids, all under the age of ten. It sounded overwhelming, but Butch and Skylar were a team and made it look effortless.

We chatted for a while about the park clean up I was planning, and what would go on the fliers we were going to put up.

We wanted to make it a community effort, so we were going to invite people to join us while the crew did the lion’s share of the work.

With Kennedy Storm reporting, I hoped it’d go well.

I finally got a chance to escape when Butch brought Skylar some food and led her to the kitchen to eat.

Anyone could go grab something if they wanted, but I lied and said I wasn’t hungry, so I could duck out while she was busy.

I liked talking with Skylar, but I was hyper aware of where Vegas was in the room, and I couldn’t focus well on our conversation.

I made it about five feet out the door toward my dad’s truck when I was interrupted for a second time.

“Sierra! Come ‘ere a second!” Circus called. He was sitting on his bike while he chatted with a few guys I was only vaguely familiar with. He waved me over, beaming at me when I approached. “These guys don’t believe me. Tell them that hot news reporter was there today.”

The whole crew couldn’t make it to each event, only a portion of them were there today, so not all of them saw Kennedy in person. I saw Circus drooling over her more than once, and I couldn’t help teasing him a little.

“What reporter?”

His mouth fell open as the other guys snorted and shoved his shoulder. “I knew you were lying. Ain’t no way that gorgeous chick would waste any time on us.”

Circus’s eyes were huge, his arms waving wildly over his head. “She was there! She interviewed you! You can’t seriously not know who she was!”

I pressed my lips tightly together, fighting back my laugh, but it was really hard when he was freaking out like that. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He made an incredulous sound that was something between a growl and a squeak. It broke my concentration, and I burst out laughing.

Circus narrowed his eyes, pointing at me accusingly. “You’re screwing with me.”

Snickering, I nodded. “Yep. I know who Kennedy Storm is. My parents watch her reports every morning.” Swinging my attention to the other guys, I lifted a shoulder.

“He’s not actually lying. Apparently, someone called in and told her what we were doing and she showed up to do a report.

She’s even planning to show up for the next one.

She wants to do a whole series on the community outreach we’re doing.

If you want to see her, you should show up at the next event. ”

“Already planned on it, but now I’m lookin’ forward to it,” one commented eagerly.

I was pretty sure his name was Buzz, but trying to keep all the names straight when I only saw them coming in and out of the kitchen one time was difficult.

I was more familiar with the ones who showed up to the event that morning.

They continued their commentary on who’d win Kennedy’s attention first, but I was only half listening. I kept looking over my shoulder toward my dad’s truck, trying to figure out how to make my exit.

“You headed home already?” Mark asked quietly. He was standing beside me and he frowned when I looked over my shoulder again.

I shrugged helplessly. “Maybe. I’ve got more planning to do. The charity event Skylar and I are planning needs work.”

“Do you need a ride?”

Shaking my head, I waved toward my dad’s truck. “I’ve got it covered.”

I was about to walk away when the door to the clubhouse opened and the man I was hoping to avoid stepped outside. So much for my escape.

“Hey, V,” Circus called, lifting his chin in greeting. “You see the hot reporter today?”

“Yeah. Prez told me to warn everyone about her. No one is going near Kennedy Storm. We need these reports to go well and he doesn't want any of you pissing her off. Stay away from the reporter.”

Smart. I doubted Kennedy would get too upset about some harmless flirting, but we didn’t want anyone making things awkward. If anyone made her uncomfortable, she might not want to do the reports anymore.

“I was gonna be polite,” Circus whined. Vegas just shook his head at Circus’s antics, used to the way his crew worked by now. He obviously knew what would happen well enough to warn them to stay away from her.

While they were talking, I looked over my shoulder again for some kind of escape.

Maybe I could fake a phone call from my parents, make up some kind of excuse that I need to go be with them or something.

It was a little weird using them as an excuse to escape at my age, but I refused to be ashamed about it.

The longer I stuck around, the more likely I’d end up doing something stupid, like kissing Vegas again.

“Did you want an escort home?” Matt asked, drawing my focus. He was frowning down at my belly. “Don’t think it's a smart idea havin’ a pregnant woman drivin’ home alone.”

“You’re leaving?”

I winced internally at Vegas’s question. My quiet escape plan was a complete bust. Turning slowly to face him, I forced out a smile.

“I was thinking about it. Doesn’t matter how old I am, my dad will still wait up for me if he knows I’m coming home. I don’t want to be rude and keep him up late.”

That actually wasn’t a lie. He hadn’t had to do something like that since I was a lot younger, but I doubted it would’ve changed since I moved home.

I hadn’t actually had the opportunity to test that theory, since I was too exhausted by the end of the night to stay out very late. Pregnancy was rough.

Vegas nodded slowly, his eyebrows pinched like something was bothering him. I waved it away. “I’m just gonna head home. You guys enjoy your party and I’ll see you on Monday.”

“I’ll give you a ride home,” Vegas Interjected. “Just give me a minute.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but he went inside without another word, leaving me gaping at his back. So much for escaping him before he noticed.

Vegas

While I wasn’t happy about Sierra leaving early, I understood her reasoning.

And I really didn't want to add more to that man’s shit list than he probably already had against me.

Instead of arguing with her about staying longer like I wanted, I headed inside and asked Rooster to steal Butch’s truck and give me a ride back in a few minutes.

No chance in hell was I riding on another man’s bike again.

When I came back out, Sierra was right where I left her, her face screwed up in almost a grimace.

It made my gut tighten, worried I read things wrong about her.

She seemed into the flirting, but she’d been off since the kiss, which I had no damn excuse for.

I played it off like it was nothing, but I was kicking myself afterwards.

I hadn’t even asked first if she was willing to go there.

Sure, we’d hooked up before but that was a long time ago.

My impulsiveness might’ve ruined my shot before I really got one, and I was quietly scolding myself the entire ride to Sierra’s parent’s place.

But when we pulled up in the driveway and Sierra reached for the door, a feeling almost like panic welled up in my middle.

I thought about Charlotte, and having to work beside her every day without her even acknowledging my interest. I didn't want to do that with Sierra. I wasn’t going to be pathetic and pine over another woman. Not when this one was so damn perfect.

“Can I take you to dinner sometime?”

She froze. It looked like my question took her off guard.

I probably could’ve done something better than blurting it out at her, but I needed to get it out there.

I was getting frustrated with myself, with how damn pathetic I was when it came to women.

I owned my own business, was part of a badass MC, but I couldn’t manage to keep a woman?

If the guys knew, they’d never leave it alone.

“I, uh… Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

Her brows were drawn in tight, like she was worried. I apparently needed to be less subtle about my flirting if she hadn’t seen it coming. But I was also her boss and we were having a kid together. The more I thought about it, the more I realized I might be a damn idiot when it came to women.

“Look, there’s no pressure if you’re not interested. It won’t affect your job if you say no. And it won’t change anything about me helping out with the baby. We used to have fun together and it felt like we were hitting it off earlier, and I had to ask. I’ll just, uh–”

“Yes.”

It came out of nowhere, and I paused, raising an eyebrow at her. “Yes?”

“Yes, I’ll go to dinner. Sorry. I guess I just thought–” She cut herself off, a deep frown pulling at her lips for a second before she waved whatever thought was running through her head away. “Never mind that. But yeah. Dinner sounds good.”

For a moment, we both just kind of stared at one another. After the awkward way the evening had been going, I hadn’t expected a yes. And it almost looked like she hadn’t expected to answer that way either. So I had to ask.

“You don’t feel pressured because we’re having a kid together, right?”

“You don’t feel pressured because I’m pregnant with your baby and you kissed me… right?” she countered.

We both were fighting smiles at that point, and I finally let myself take a breath.

“No. No pressure. If it doesn’t work, we can always go back to being friends.

But it might not be a bad idea to see if we can make it work.

How about after the park clean up? You deserve a nice meal after helping us set that up so quickly. ”

“The park clean up was the easiest thing to set up, actually. I made one phone call to the parks and recreations department and told them what we wanted to do, and they practically begged me to do it. I think they’re almost as bad off money-wise as the animal shelter.

I honestly don’t know where all the government money is going if they can’t manage to clean up a park themselves. ”

That was a good question. I didn’t know how our local government allotted their funds, but community projects weren’t on that list. And the parks department was apparently low priority.

The only well maintained place in the area was the college campus.

College kids and their visiting families counted for half the revenue in town, so the government probably put most of the money in making that area as alluring as they could.

“Well, you’re still going above and beyond for my crew, and I appreciate it. So, dinner?”

She nibbled on her bottom lip, bobbing her head a few times. “Dinner sounds good. You don’t think the guys will want to throw another party?”

“Not on a weekday. We’ve all got day jobs. But don’t be surprised if they wheedle you into coming back on the weekend. If they can find a reason to have a party, they’re going to use it.”

“I don’t doubt that,” she laughed.

I liked that she got along with my crew.

She wasn’t irritated or annoyed with them throwing parties or making jokes.

And they liked her back. Butch told me recently how she and Skylar were like two peas in a pod and she didn’t judge him by his looks the first time they met.

And that man struggled with making connections.

Most people were too intimidated by his size to be polite.

I didn’t want her to go inside, and I knew I was stalling, trying to keep her with me just a little while longer, but eventually we saw someone peeking out through the front window and Sierra sighed.

“My mom is spying on us. I better head in. Thanks for the ride. Today was a lot of fun.”

“No problem. I’ll see you on Monday.”

And for the first time in years, I was looking forward to Monday for a reason other than getting a glimpse of Charlotte.