Page 35 of Ace

She picked at the food on her plate, avoiding meeting my eyes.“I decided a long time ago that I would not put a kid through the kind of childhood we had.When and if I decide to have kids, it’s going to be when I know they will have a chance to be happy.”

I understood her decision.I’d seen too many kids get into gangs, drugs or alcohol just because they didn’t get the love they needed at home.Hell, half of Riptide could tell you horror stories about their childhoods, and they were the lucky ones.“So, you have thought about it.”

She shrugged.“Yeah.I know all about the biological clock running out, but that doesn’t change my mind.If time runs out, and I can’t have kids of my own I could always adopt.We both know there’s a ton of kids in the foster system that could use a stable home life.”

“True.”But I still liked the idea of a little mini-Emma.

“You haven’t explained how you made the jump from upstanding Navy SEAL to biker.”

“Not as hard as you might think.”I squinted as I considered how much I could safely reveal.“I got to talking to another ex-SEAL and he told me about Riptide.Got me an invite to see what they were about, and I liked what I saw.I felt comfortable with them.They’re a family, in a good way.We look out for each other.”

Emma forked the last of the fish into her mouth, swallowing.“Sounds like you found a home.”

“I guess I did.”I thought of all the things I’d learned from Riptide, the way they’d helped me transition back to life in the States.

“I always thought of all motorcycle clubs as criminal.You know.Murdering, pillaging, drug running.That’s not what your club is like though, is it.”She made it more of a statement than a question.

“No.Those clubs are known as the one-percenters.The other ninety nine percent of us are mostly law abiding.We don’t have anything to do with drugs, and I think pillaging went out of style a few centuries ago with the end of the Viking raids.”

“You didn’t mention murder?”she pointed out.

“Do I look like a murderer to you?”

She grimaced.“Nope.And I have a very current item to compare you to.I really must ask, how do you support yourselves if there’s no drug money and no murder for hire?”

“We run a bar in town, and we have investments.One of the guys is a whiz with the stock market thing.We all work the bar, and it’s packed most weekends.The customers like to rub shoulders with us bikers.Kind of gives them a kinky thrill.Weeknights are slower, but still bring in cash.”

“Huh.”She looked thoughtful.

“Is that a good ‘huh’?”

“It’s just not what I expected.You’re not what I expected.”

“I’ll take that as a good thing.”

We were interrupted by Stanley returning with dessert.He set the dish between the two of us, and the scent of rich dark chocolate wafted up to tease us.He set a spoon down in front of each of us, indicating the dessert would be a shared event.

“Chocolate lava cake!”Emma squealed in delight.

“Chocolate fondant,” Stanley corrected her, with a faint smile curving his lips.

“What’s the difference?”

Stanley chuckled.“The price.”He turned to me.“Would you and the lady like coffee or tea?”

I looked at Emma, who shook her head.“No, thanks.I’m already full, but I’m going to give dessert my best shot.”

“As you wish.”Another bow, and he departed.

“Is this like that spaghetti scene in the movie with the dogs?”Emma picked up her spoon and scooped a mouthful of chocolate from the dish.“Like we each start on our side and meet in the middle?”

I picked up the other spoon.“Only if I get to lick the chocolate off your mouth at the end.”

Chapter Nine

Emma

I’d never seen this side of Ace before.As a kid, he always seemed grim and unapproachable.Hot as hell, but with that don’t-touch-me vibe.We’d finished the chocolate lava cake -- yes, I was still going to call it that -- and lingered for a while before heading back to the truck.

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