Page 50 of Biker's Babygirl

“Do you know what that is?”

I swallow hard and whisper, “No.”

Shep chuckles. “That’s okay, I didn’t reckon you did. It’s 4-12-79.”

His eyes are on me, waiting for an answer, so I nod.

Shep turns and begins to walk away, chuckling and muttering, “Love, my ass,” just loud enough for me to hear.

Duke

When my eyes open first thing in the morning, I know something isn’t right. I sit up, squinting in surprise at the sunlight filtering through the blinds. I’ve always been an early riser, never up after five in the morning. But I don’t have to look at my watch to see I’ve overslept. Nor do I have to think long to know the reason.Ginny.

Just thinking her name helps me relax. Or it would, if the second thought that crosses my mind wasn’t that she’s not here. A quick glance at the bed shows her side isn’t even rumpled, and I can see that the bathroom door is open and empty.

“Damn it,” I swear, throwing back the covers. “Ginny?” My feet hit the floor. “Ginny!” I riffle on the floor to find the shirt I was wearing yesterday and pull it on as I throw open the bedroom door and barrel into the hallway in my boxers. “Ginny?!”

I see Elvis poke his head out of his own room, a quizzical expression on his face.

“Ginny’s not here,” I bark at him.

Confusion turns to alarm, and he starts to exit into the hallway with me when Shep rounds the corner, coming from the direction of the kitchen.

“Chill out, bro. She and Ellie went shopping.”

Relief slams into my chest so hard it feels like a physical shove. But my mind is still reeling. “Are you sure? It doesn’t look like she slept in the room last night.”

My brother’s expression is oddly bland. “I’m sure. I saw them leave with my own two eyes, something about needing clothes.”

I’ve barely had time to exhale before he’s speaking again.

“And anyway, we have work to do. Got a call from the Kellerman farm. Mr. Pyke fell off his tractor and his wife says he’s refusin’ to go to the hospital. She’d make ‘im, of course, but she’s not strong enough to get him into the pickup by herself.”

My heart is still pounding, and though I trust my brother, I’d feel better if I could lay eyes on Ginny and see for myself that she is all right. But knowing that isn’t possible right now, I merely nod.

“Go put some pants on,” Shep suggests with a laugh.

I’m still so shaken, I don’t even think to reply.

Ginny

“I think we need some coffee,” Ellie announces, looking me over with her eyes that seem not to miss a thing.

“Sorry,” I apologize, offering a weak smile. “I didn’t sleep well last night.”

“Yeah, I noticed. We’re supposed to be having fun and bonding, and you look like if I didn’t keep dragging you along, you’d take a nap right here on the pavement.” But she bumps my shoulder so I know she’s teasing.

“I am having fun,” I insist, and this at least is true. It would be impossible not to—Ellie had been vivacious and chatty and only mildly curious about my past, though she hadn’t asked any questions so far.

“Good. But still, I could go for some caffeine. Come on, they have a great little spot we can walk to.”

“Walk?” I ask with a giggle.

“What? Walking’s good for you!”

“Spoken like a true doctor,” I quip.

“Well.” Ellie smiles, revealing a dimple in her left cheek. “If we walk there instead of drive, we can split a cinnamon roll.”

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