Page 21 of Biker's Babygirl

“Me?” I ask in surprise. “I’m the last person you ought to be worried about.”

“I know you think that,” Shep returns, his voice even. “Which is exactly why you’re the first person I worry about.”

I scoff again, but before I can come back with a retort, Shep is speaking in a quiet, measured way that commands attention.

“I’m worried about the way you look at her. I’m worried about you getting hurt in a way that has nothing to do with physical violence.”

I step back in surprise. Nothing Shep could have said would have shocked me more. “You’re being ridiculous.”

Shep shakes his head—a single, firm motion. “I’m not. And I know you act like you’ve got everything you’ve ever wanted, and I know you’re picky. But I also know that I haven’t seen youlook at a girl like that since Cynthia died. You look at Jessica like you’d do anything to keep her from frowning.”

“I’ve only known her for a day,” I scoff, trying to discount his words.

“Exactly,” my brother replies. “I just want you to be careful.”

“Look, if it means that much to you, we’ll bandage her up and take her to the hospital tomorrow, even if we have to do it with her kicking and screaming.”

Shep raises a skeptical brow, but before either of us can say another word, there’s a sound outside.

An unmistakable shriek.

“What the hell?” Shep mutters, but I’m already moving toward the door and undoing the deadbolt.

When I open the door, I see Jessica limping away from the house as fast as she can.Fuck. I hate it when Shep is right.“Jessica!” I bellow out her name, but she doesn’t stop. In fact, she just picks up speed. Thankfully, either running isn’t her strong suit, or she’s too injured to try, because she’s powerwalking at best.

“Be back in a flash,” I say, and without waiting for an answer, I slam the door behind me.

At the sound, she’s clearly trying to move faster and put space between us.

Ridiculous. She must know it’s hopeless.“Jessica, wait!” I try again, before taking off after her.

Ginny

This has got to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever done,I think, as, chest heaving, I attempt to jog-skip down the driveway. An eternal klutz, my escape attempt hadn’t been as smooth as I’d hoped. Instead of a careful disembark out of the window, I’d slipped and fallen on my way down, twisting my ankle and hitting hard on a bed of decorative gravel—right on my hurt arm, no less. Then I got scratched by the rose bush when I finallymanaged to stand.Well… okay, not the stupidest, but it’s up there for sure.

“Hey! Get your butt back here, young lady! We had a deal!”

But instead of inspiring me to stop, his reminder just makes me hurry all the faster. The surface of my butt is tingling beneath my jeans, and fear gives me an extra bout of energy. Which would have maybe meant something if I wasn’t trying to out-run—out-walk? Is that a thing?—a guy in much better shape than I am. And he also isn’t injured.

As soon as his hand closes around my upper arm, the knots in my belly begin to quiver with a tension that feels like an odd combo of excitement and fear.

“Jessica!” he barks, his eyes flashing in the dark. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Getting some fresh air?” I offer weakly.

Unfortunately, Duke doesn’t possess a sense of humor. Or if he does, he doesn’t find me funny, because the stern, furrow-ridged-brow glare he’s giving me effectively turns me to jelly. “Turn around and march your cute fanny back into the house, little girl.”

I’ve barely processedcutebefore my mouth is open and ready with a protest, but he cuts off anything I’m about to say with an even more terrifying glare.

“Now!” he barks, and that’s all it takes to get me to do an about-face. “I saidmarch!”

And I do. I’m such a quivering mess of anxiety and lust at this point that I’ll do whatever it takes to get him to stop scolding me—even though subconsciously I feel that part’s just begun—which is why I actually march back to the front door. I don’t stop even when I see Shep standing there, watching me with cool, assessing eyes.

“Put a chair in the living room,” I hear Duke instruct his brother. “You’re going to get your wish.”

Huh?I have no idea what he’s talking about. And then, suddenly, I remember his threat. I can practically hear him in my ear, whispering,I would have no choice but to dole out the consequences you deserve…

“Jessica.”

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