Page 35 of Rebel

“She’s not my woman.”

Maverick laughed again, louder and harder. “Sure. Right.”

“Thanks,” I grumbled and left with Diesel.

To talk to Sheriff Cross.

Chapter Fifteen

Nikki

“What are we doing today, Mommy?” Livvy bounced into the kitchen wearing a smile nearly as bright as her yellow and green pajamas. She was such a happy little girl, and I didn’t want any of this mess with the Blood Fangs MC to interfere with that.

I sighed and took another sip of my coffee. “I don’t know, Livvy. We still have to pick up a few things for your birthday.”

“My birthday! Really?” She jumped up and down, so excited she could hardly contain herself. “What are we getting, Mommy? A chocolate-chocolate cake! Banana ice cream! Lots and lots and lots of presents! Pretty please?” Those eyes, the exact shade of her father’s, pleaded with me.

“Lots and lotsandlots?”

Livvy nodded. “I’ve been such a good girl,” she insisted with her most angelic expression.

“You have been a very good girl. But before we talk about cake and ice cream, we should talk about the party theme. Dinosaurs? Princesses? Zoo animals?” This was her first real birthday party, complete with friends she invited herself. It was a big deal, and I planned to make a huge deal out of it.

“Cupcakes! I love them, Mommy. They’re little cakes and you can put stuff in ‘em, you can decorate ‘em too. I’m gonna dress like a cupcake!”

Well that was simple enough.“Okay, cupcakes as a theme and as your birthday cake. Got it, now go get dressed.”

The doorbell rang, startling a dramatic gasp out of me. Both hands went to my heart. and I took several deep breaths. “It’s probably just the young guy who introduced himself as Pike.” He was young, early twenties, and had insisted—very seriously—that he would stay outside to keep me and my daughter safe.

The bell rang again, and I quickly smoothed my hands down my jeans and tank top. “Coming.” I assumed he was in need of the bathroom or a glass of water. I opened the door, and my brows dipped in concern. “Hi. Can I help you?”

A pretty woman with a short blonde haircut stood in front of me with a cute little girl beside her. The woman’s eyes lit with amusement, and she laughed. “Rebel didn’t tell you I was coming?”

Rebel. Logan. “No, he didn’t. Is something wrong?” My heart slammed against my chest.

Before the woman could answer, Livvy rushed to my side. “You know my friend, Rebel?” She looked at the woman and then the little girl, just a couple years older than her. “He told me he didn’t have a girlfriend. Or a wife. Or a husband,” she added with a pout as she folded her arms and glared at them.

“Livvy, these are our guests.” I worked hard to stifle my laughter, but the woman did not.

“I’m Grace and this is my daughter Sophie. Rebel is our friend too—my husband is his friend.”

“He’s in the club with him,” she asked.

Surprise showed on Grace’s face, but she nodded. “That’s right.”

Relieved, Livvy sighed heavily. “Sorry. I’m Livvy and this is my Mommy.”

“Nikki,” I filled in my actual name and waved them inside. “Is something wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong. They have MC business to deal with and Maverick said Rebel thought you might want some company.”

Why was he so damn sweet?

Every gesture made me feel more like a shitty human being for keeping Livvy a secret from him. “Coffee?”

“That sounds good, thank you.”

“Mommy, can we go outside?”

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