Page 59 of My Hotshot

“We’re not going to sneak out the back door, are we?” Lottie added.

Lainey rolled her eyes. “No. Promise. Give us ten.”

I met Lainey’s eyes in the mirror. She meant it.

As they walked inside, Yarder got off his bike and came to my window.

“Everything okay?”

I nodded. “As good as it can be.”

He smirked and patted my arm.

“Welcome to having an ol’ lady, brother,” he said. “Life will never be the same.”

He wasn’t wrong.

Chapter Twenty

Lainey

I closed the door behind me and leaned against it. My shoulders sank, and I scrubbed my hands down my face with a sigh deep from my chest.

This was not at all how I thought my night was going to go after the day I had.

“Hungry?”

I jumped and clutched my hand to my chest.

“Gosh, I’m sorry,” a woman said quickly.

I turned toward the voice and found a pretty brunette standing a few feet away. She looked soft but confident, like she knew she could command a kitchenandtalk a biker out of a bad decision in the same breath.

She had to be one of the ol’ ladies Duane had told me about.

“Uh—oh. You’re fine,” I said, letting my breath out. “I guess I’m just a bit jumpy tonight.” I held out my hand. “I’m Lainey.”

She took it with a smile. “Adalee. It’s nice to meet you.”

Adalee. The baker.

Duane had mentioned her. Said she was always feeding people and was working on opening a bakery. I smiled. “The baker,” I said. “Duane mentioned you.”

She tilted her head, and her eyes lit up. “I never would’ve pictured Dice as a Duane. I freakin’ love it.”

Ope. I was not supposed to call him that around here.

I winced. “Uh, I mean Dice. You did not hear me call him Duane.”

Adalee laughed. “Don’t worry. None of the guys are big fans of their real names. I’ve only heard them used during arguments.” She gave me a look of easy warmth. “Can I get yousomething to eat? Dice said all the chaos hit around six, and figured you and Lottie might be running on empty.”

“Oh, I’m okay. But Lottie probably would want something.” I gestured vaguely behind me. “I was about to make her a sandwich if you could point me to the kitchen.”

Adalee waved her hand. “I’ll show you, but you’re not making anything. I’ve already got two plates set aside for you guys.”

I blinked. That surprised me more than it should have. “Thank you for thinking of us,” I said quietly.

I followed her through the clubhouse. For the first time since we got here, I actually looked around.

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