Page 57 of Biker's Babygirl

Great. One last blush in this house, just what I wanted.“You… you’ve never liked me.” The words come out soft and quavery, but I lift my chin to add confidence I do not feel.

“I don’t dislike you, Ginny.”

There’s nothing he could have said to shock me more. But before I can react or respond, he’s talking again.

“I just never wanted to see my brother get hurt. And I knew you would hurt him?—”

“I would never?—”

He holds up a hand to silence my protests. “I knew you would hurt him one way or another. And this? Leaving like this in the middle of the night? This will kill him, Ginny.”

I cringe from the truth in his words, the pain I know I will cause. “But if I don’t… someone’s going to get really hurt. Maybe even…” I swallow the word that rises to my throat. I can’t say it. I just can’t.

Shep nods, his face solemn. “You might be right about that.”

I shift from one foot to the other, impatient to be on my way. The longer I linger here in this warm house full of people I’m growing to care about—and one sleeping man I know with all my heart that Ilove—the harder it is to steel myself for what I have to do. “Are you going to stop me?”

“I’m not going to give you permission to go, if that’s what you mean.” He seems affronted by the suggestion.

I look at him long and hard, probably for the first time since I met him. And I see what I couldn’t before—he was telling the truth. He doesn’t hate me. But his top priority will always be keeping his friends and his brother safe, and no matter what, I’m a threat to that.

“I really love him, Shep.”

“I know,” he replies, his tone nothing but matter-of-fact.

“Love means doing hard things sometimes.”

His jaw clenches. “I know.”

For just a moment, with the stillness of the night waiting outside, I think we finally understand one another.Sure would have been nice if it had happened earlier. But at least now I think I get him. Better late than never, I suppose.

With renewed determination, I close the cabinet and walk toward the door. Suddenly, it looks like so much more than wood, white paint and a gleaming golden knob. It looks like a way out. Not just of this house, but a way to save Duke and his fellow doctors.

When my hand is on the knob, I pause. Staring at the glass in front of me, I say, “I never meant to endanger any of you. You have to believe me.”

“I do.”

When his answer reaches my ears, I softly open the door and slip silently into the darkness.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Duke

I’ve just finished shaving and am checking my medical supplies when I hear a knock on the door.

“Come in!”

Ellie’s head pokes in. “Mornin’. You about ready to hit the road?”

I nod, all business. One of the local farmers had an unfortunate accident with a tractor last week and he’s expecting me to come by and check on his leg. “I’m about ready. Did Ginny get something to eat?”

Her brow crinkles. “I thought she was with you.”

Zipping my bag, I give her my full attention. “No. Have you seen her this morning?”

“No. But that doesn’t mean anything. I’m sure one of the guys have.” Her tone is calm, very doctorly, but the ever-so-slight widening of her eyes betrays her.

I’ve snatched up my bag and am calling for them within seconds. Ellie flattens against the wall to get out of the way of my hurried, determined strides. “Shep? Elvis!”

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