Page 51 of Biker's Babygirl

I laugh out loud and can’t help but smile, despite my exhaustion. “You’ve got yourself a deal!”

“Well, what are you waiting for then?” Ellie links her arm in mine and we begin the trek. Thankfully we’ve only been to a couple stores and aren’t loaded down with bags and the distance to the coffee shop passes quickly with her cheerful banter.

“It is cute,” I observe as we walk inside.

“Told ya. Now I’m thinking I’ll have an espresso,” she muses, tapping her chin. “Does Duke let you have espresso?”

My eyes widen in surprise, and I’m so surprised I can’t answer for a second. Ellie, however, doesn’t seem to notice. “Letme?” I echo.

She turns toward me, her brow crinkled. “Yeah, does he… wait. I’m sorry, I just assumed…” She trails off and it’s obvious that now we’rebothembarrassed.

“What do you know?” I whisper.

“What?” Ellie tries to laugh it off, but when she takes a second look at my face, I think she can see I’m not going to be put off that easily because her expression sobers. “Coffee first, then we’ll talk. Okay?”

Mutely, I nod and follow Ellie to get in line. When it’s her turn, I’m dimly aware of her ordering a chai latte with a shot of espresso.

“And whatever you want, Ginny.”

“Just plain black coffee,” I mutter.

“Oh, come on!” Ellie smiles, clearly trying to restore the easy comradery we had just minutes ago. “Cream and sugar, or whipped cream?”

But her suggestion is too reminiscent of her earlier question, and I shake my head. Ellie shoves her card forward to pay for our coffee, and we wait in terse silence for our drinks. I stare down atthe large brown tiles of the floor until Ellie walks to the counter and returns with both of our drinks in hand.

“Come on. Let’s grab a table.”

Wordlessly, I follow her, my mind whirling.Duke wouldn’t say something to her… would he?Even as the question crosses my mind, I dismiss it. He’s practically been with me every minute, when would he have a chance? But if not that… then how would she know? It all leaves me feeling more than a little uneasy as I take a seat across from her.

“First, let me start by saying I’m sorry.”

My eyebrows shoot up. This isn’t what I’d expected.

She smiles apologetically. “I guess I put my foot in my mouth, but I didn’t mean anything by it, Ginny, I swear!”

I shift in my seat, holding my coffee between my hands and letting the heat radiating through the Styrofoam warm me. “I… I guess I just don’t understand,” I say at last. Even as I drop my eyes to the table, I can feel her watching me, waiting. “Did… did he say something to you? About us, I mean?”

“No, he would never do that.” She seizes my hand and squeezes it. “I’m so sorry, Ginny, I was just running my mouth and being stupid.” She gives a little ironic laugh. “Duke and Shep are always telling me it’s going to get me in trouble one of these days, and I guess they were right, but not in the way they imagined.”

I look up, tentatively hoping. We’d been having such a good time, and I find myself wanting to trust her, but trust is in short supply where I’m concerned. “What… what do you mean?”

Ellie’s eyes are sparkling at me, and she shrugs a shoulder, brushing against her chestnut curls. “Oh, I guess they assume one day I’ll find a man strong enough to take me in hand.” She rolls her eyes and giggles.

I feel myself relax the slightest bit and lower my voice. “Sp… spank you, you mean?”

She nods. “They think it’ll straighten me out.” She takes a long sip of her drink, unbothered by this very personal conversation despite the dozen or so people milling about the coffee shop.

It’s hard not to admire her. Ellie is strong, fearless, and always speaks her mind. A tiny part of me wishes I could be like that. “Have… have you ever been…”

If she’s bothered by my sudden stuttering or inability to complete my sentences, she doesn’t show it. “Spanked?” she asks casually in a voice loud enough that I want to hissshhh!

Cheeks burning, I nod.

“No. And I’m sorry I assumed about you and Duke. I never should have done that. The last thing I want is to upset you, Ginny. I want us to be friends.”

The sincerity in her voice makes me look up again, despite my embarrassment. “You… you do?”

“Well, of course I do, silly!” She beams at me. “Why do you think I arranged this little outing for us?”

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