Page 71 of One Night with the Biker

“I plan to come back after work,” I hedged, not admitting I hoped Roman called and took back what he said, especially the part about disowning me. “I will probably be late for work today when I’m usually the first one there.”

“Roman doesn’t want you here.”

“Where am I supposed to go, Reese?” I demanded in frustration. “Roman isn’t here right now and won’t be for another twelve days.”

He shoved his hand through his hair. “I’m working something out for you.”

“If it involves going back to the cabin, I don’t accept. It’s too far away.”

“It’s a fucking hour away, Ainsley,” he snapped. “How about you get your shit, take it with you, and I’ll meet you at the daycare this evening? I’ll pay you whatever you’ll make over the next twelve days. No, I’ll triple it.”

“That’s almost sixteen hundred dollars.”

He was silent for a moment. “Would five grand do then?”

“What are you talking about? I earn five hundred twenty dollars a week. Less than that when I’m in school because I have part time hours.”

“That’s bullshit.”

“It’s reality.”

“Roman allowed that?”

“Roman couldn’t strongarm a fucking daycare, Reese,” I huffed. “It’s a legitimate job, adjacent to the early childhood education degree I’m pursuing. It also gives me a sense of independence.”

“Yeah, I forgot. You’re a 21stcentury chick. All about autonomy.”

I scowled. “I’m going to ignore that and not call you a chauvinistic fuckhead.” I started around him and then halted. “We’re having a baby and I’ve spent an entire day playing house. I’d have no problem taking money from you. When it runs out, what then? If we don’t work out, what happens to us?” I laid a hand on my belly so the jackass didn’t mistake my meaning. “I gave up my apartment to take care of Roman, and he’s just thrown me a-away.”

All the pain and heartache I’d kept at bay the past hours swarmed me again.

“21stcentury chicks want security but we’ve learned from past generations that men are the most unreliable motherfuckers around, so we earn our own bags, fend for ourselves, and have our own safety measures in place.”

“I blame Roman Mac for that mindset.”

“Ha!” I stomped around him and threw over my shoulder, “That motherfucker is just like you, so shut up.”

Reese was hot on my heels. When I unlocked the door and tried to slam it in his fucking face, he pushed his way inside.

“Get out!” I screeched, shoving him back onto the porch. “You can’t come in here, you fucking overbearing prick. Romanmight hate me, but this is his house. I can’t disrespect it by allowing you in. Surely, you understand that.”

“Fuck Roman,” Reese spat, drawing his gun. “I don’t want to be in that motherfucker’s house either, but you’re not setting foot in there alone. Not without me checking it.”

“I didn’t get an alert to any suspicious activity when I turned my phone back on.”

“Do you really think any one of us wouldn’t know how to bypass that shit?”

I drew a deep breath.

“Do you have to be such a fucking shrew?”

“If you say you plan to tame me, I will fucking kick you.”

He smirked. “Don’t have to say it, since you just did.”

“You like Shakespeare?” I asked dubiously.

“Can’t stand his work. I find it boring or hard to understand.”

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