Page 20 of Burly Biker of Misty Mountain

I frowned with confusion and tilted my head back to look at Lila. She came to stand behind me, bracing her hands on my chair as she gazed down at me.

“What date?” I asked.

“For your wedding, of course.”

I scoffed.

“From where I’m standing,” Lila continued. “That little peach in there is too sweet for the likes of you. Katie is the type of woman to make a man think about becoming a husband. Maybe even a father…”

I shifted in my chair and cleared my throat.

“Come on, Lila. You know I don’t settle down.”

“That’s true,” she relented. “Suburbia would be a slow and agonizing death for a nomad.”

Then Lila scratched her purple fingernails across my scalp playfully.

“On the other hand, you’ve developed far more silver in your hair than the last time I saw you. A cute wife and a place to call home might sound appealing by now.”

I swatted her hand aside. She chuckled and danced out of reach.

“Your daddy wouldn’t mind if I bent you over my knee and paddled you for calling me old,” I said.

Lila snorted.

“Not if you want to keep the family jewels intact. Besides, my daddy would laugh in your face if you tried that. Lay a finger on me and you know damn well he’d beat you black and blue.”

I grunted and crossed my arms.

“Perks of being the spoiled Prez’s princess.”

She smirked and nudged my boot with her foot.

“Speaking of spoiled, you should check on your princess. She’s terribly quiet in there. That can mean one of two things—either she’s absolutely in love with everything, or she hates it all. Impending meltdown coming soon.”

I glanced at the dressing room with concern.

“Katie,” I called.

Silence.

Not good.

Lila clucked her tongue.

“Time to step up, big guy. I already did my part of the job. I help with the styles, fabrics, and the fit. If Katie was shopping alone, I’d offer some advice, but she has you. And the way she feels in it…well, that’s something the two of you have to figure out for yourselves.”

She turned on her heel with a wave of her fingers, and walked away. I pushed out of my chair, and approached the dressing room, rapping my knuckles lightly on the door.

“How’s it going, dove?” I asked softly.

“I’m…still looking,” Katie replied. Her voice was high and wobbly, close to breaking.

Lila was right.Impending meltdown coming soon.

I gave the door handle a light tug—locked.

“Let me see, sweetheart.”

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