Page 13 of Biker's Babygirl

But I can’t answer that question. It’s too complicated, and besides, I’m still making my mind up about him.

“What’s your name?” the woman asks.

“Jessica,” I answer at once, as though I’d had an alias tucked hidden in the corners of my mind for just such an occasion. “And you can’t take me to the hospital because I’m in a lot of debt and they won’t see me because my account is in collections,” I say in a rush, hoping they will mistake my rambling for embarrassment.

“That doesn’t make a difference,” Duke scoffs. “I mean, I’m not trying to dismiss your troubles, but they still have to?—”

“I don’t think she wants to go, Duke,” Ellie interrupts, her voice still soft as velvet.

But she must have some magical power that I can’t see, because he looks between the two of us and nods. “All right. You can stay here for now. But there are conditions.”

My chest tightens.Of course there are. Why wouldn’t there be?I brace myself for the worst.

“That woundhasto be looked after. That means you do not goanywherewithout telling one of us. And you will have your vitals checked every hour on the hour. Understood?”

I glance at Ellie, who is regarding him with a tolerant look.Maybe he’s more teddy bear than he seems?“Um… okay,” I agree. His conditions are not the type I was expecting.

“That is the least convincing agreement I’ve ever heard,” he announces, tree-like arms going to his hips. “Try again.”

My tongue swipes my dry lips. “I mean, yes, sir.”

He nods. “Good. That’s better. If you want to stay here, that means I’m in charge of looking after your well-being, and you do what I say. Is that understood?”

“What? Why?” The words pop out, shocked and sullen, before I can stop them. I immediately shrink back, curling into a ball out of habit. I know what happens when you question the man in authority.

But much to my surprise, he kneels down beside me, his hand skimming down my arm until he clasps my hand. It is his touch—soft and warm—that makes me look him in the eye. My chest constricts as I do, but it isn’t fear this time. It’s an emotion I can’t quite put a name to.

“Because if you don’t go to the hospital, I have to know you are being looked after and taken care of. The only way I can guarantee that is by doing it myself. Do you understand?”

His voice is calm, and kind as a caress. He might as well be telling a bedtime story. Something warm and unfamiliar blooms in my chest, spreading like wings until my face is flushing with heat. “Um… yes, sir,” I find myself murmuring.

His eyes twinkle at me. “Good. See, that wasn’t so hard, now was it?”

Mutely, I give a shake of my head.

“Jessica?”

At the sound of my alias on his lips, my heart gives a guilty skip that I hope isn’t showing on my face. “Um…yes sir?”

“If you don’t do as I tell you, there will be consequences.” He gives my hand a squeeze, then rises to his feet.

It’s said silkily, with no change in his expression, but I feel my belly tighten into knots. I’m much too familiar with consequences. The only question left to answer is why I always fall for the men who want to hurt me.

Duke

Now that I’ve bandaged her wound, I sit back and assess my patient with fresh eyes. She clearly is ashe, as Ellie had no trouble recognizing. Now that I think about it, I realize that Shep and Elvis must have seen it, too.DidI need glasses?

“What?” she mumbles, eyeing me warily.

I clear my throat and feel a flush of heat soar up my neck. “Nothing. Just wondering if you need something for the pain is all.”

Surprisingly, she stiffens. “No. I don’t like to take stuff.”

I regard her with interest. She must be in pain. Why is she being so stubborn and refusing my help? “What about some ibuprofen? That would be okay, right?”

She eyes me guardedly in silence, her lips folding in until they’re pinched closed, before finally nodding.

“Good. I’ll get it.” I swiftly make my way into the kitchen, so used to this house and these familiar movements that I don’t even have to think. Which is fortunate because my mind is busy dissecting Jessica at the moment. There’s just something about her…

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