Page 94 of Riot

He snickers. “You good?” He leans forward and plants a quick kiss on my lips. “I missed you.”

My heart squeezes just a little bit. I smile. “I should stay away for half a day more often. Then again, I would trade Mondays for just about anything else.”

He stands aside to let me in, revealing Cookie behind the door. I drop my purse, hitch my skirt a little so it doesn’t split and slide onto my knees. “Baby! How is my big boy, my beautiful big, fluffy, boy? Were you a good boy?” I tousle his fur on either side of his head and he groans, his tail wagging happily as he laps it up. “Were you Daddy’s good boy?”

I hear Riot grunt behind me. “Keep up the Daddy shit, and we won’t make it past the entryway.”

I giggle. “I missed my boys.” I stand and turn back to Riot. His eyes are all over my ass and I know he just got a good eye full. I was told many years ago that a woman my size shouldn’t ever wear skirts, and while it isn’t even short, I can see by the look in Riot’s eyes that that is completely false. My heart skips another beat. “You good?” I throw back at him.

“Better now.”

“Did he eat today?”

“Yes,Mommy.He had his biscuits and drank plenty of water. He’s been tryin’ to hobble around, but I kept it to just a couple of pee visits out on the lawn.”

I smile down at him, stroking his face as he nudges my knee. “Such a good boy.” I glance back at Riot. “It’s like we’ve known him forever.”

“Right? Today, I was just doin’ some shit on my laptop and I glance down and he’s just starin’ at me. This goofy look on his face.”

My heart melts. “He’s adorable. He knows he’s safe, that’s what it must be.”

“Well, he is, and when people feel safe and loved, they’re responsive.”

I raise a brow. “Speaking from experience?”

A smile purses his lips. “Maybe.”

I glance around. “You have a lovely home, Riot.” The floors are hardwood, the inside is more modern than the outside with high ceilings, white walls, antique looking furniture and a cozy fireplace in the main living room. It’s open plan and really spacious. “It’s beautiful.”

“Glad you like it. Not quite what you expected?”

“If I’m being honest, no.”

“Why not?”

I smile softly. “It’s very un-bikerish, unless you have a dungeon buried under here somewhere or a few spare stripper poles.”

He chuckles. “Is un-bikerish a word?

“It is now.”

“No dungeon. No stripper poles. I bought out here because it’s peaceful and quiet. I don’t cause a disruption, well, only the straight pipes but everyone’s used to that by now. If I wanna party, I do it at the club. When I have a family, I want a nice neighborhood for them to grow up in.”

When I have a family?

I can feel heat rising in my belly at the idea of being pregnant with Riot’s child. Holy crap.

I mean, I’ve always thought I’d have kids, because that’s what you do. But these last few years, I’ve grown even more skeptical that it could happen. I take my hat off to women that raise children alone, sometimes through no choice of their own, but I couldn’t do it.

Falling in love and starting a family has always been at the forefront of my mind, it’s the main reason I left my hometownwhen my parents had other plans for me. Love isn’t exactly high on their agenda.

“That’s very grown up of you,” I whisper. “Kids?”

He shrugs. “Someday.” His eyes penetrate mine. “If I meet the right woman.”

“Ifyou meet her?”

“Most women might find this subject comin’ on a little strong, since we’ve not even been on a date, yet.”

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