Page 42 of Deuce

“No problem.”He looked from Ace to Deuce, giving them a crisp salute.“I’ll go see how Jake’s making out with that carburetor he’s rebuilding.”

“You do that.”Ace sat down slowly and watched the old guy back out, closing the door behind him.

“He’s a little overprotective sometimes.”I gave Ace an apologetic look.

He shook his head.“Can’t imagine I’ll be much better when I have a daughter.”

I tried not to laugh.“Poor thing.Nothing like having an armed and dangerous dad.”

He smiled.“I’m sure you know all about that.”

I nodded.“Yeah.Just to change the subject, any chance Mom could pick up some dog food for Willow while she’s out?She’ll eat just about anything as long as it doesn’t have rabbit in it.For some reason she won’t touch rabbit.”

“No problem.”He picked up his phone and paused to look at me.“Does she need any special dishes or anything?”

I shook my head, looking down at the little scamp.“Considering she’s just as happy drinking out of a puddle as drinking out of fine crystal, I think we can find something here.We were using an ice cream bucket for a water dish over at my place.”

“That’s settled then.”Ace fired off another text to Mom.“It was nice to meet you.Wish it had happened under better circumstances, but things are what they are.”

I felt like we’d been politely dismissed, so I headed for the door.Willow jumped off Deuce’s lap and followed me, with Deuce right behind.

Ace chuckled.“I can see where you fit in the pecking order, Deuce.”

I looked back and saw Deuce raise one brow.“You do know I control the finances, right?”His phone pinged and he pulled it out and glanced down.“Gotta take this.”He kicked the office door closed and leaned on the wall.“Details?”

I wasn’t sure what to do.It seemed rude to eavesdrop, so I wandered to the kitchen with Willow in tow.A woman I’d never met stood at the stove, stirring something in a big pot.She looked up when she heard me come in.

“You must be Sophia!”She smiled and kept stirring.“And that would be Willow.”

“I suppose I must.”I sighed.“I take it everyone has heard about me?”

“No secrets in the clubhouse.Everyone wants to meet the girl Deuce is drooling over.”

I felt my cheeks go red.“Drooling over?”

“That’s the gossip, and let me tell you, your dad is not happy about that part.I’m Rylie, by the way.”

“Hi, Rylie.I don’t think Deuce has mentioned you.”I snapped my fingers.“Wait.Do you own the coffee shop we were at the night this whole mess started?”

She nodded.“I’m impressed you remembered.You looked pretty shell-shocked when you came in there.I’m Cyclone’s other half and we usually stay at his condo, not the clubhouse, but Cyclone is worried that whoever is behind the trafficking ring might decide to grab someone else.Either as a hostage, or just because.He’s a little overprotective.”

I rolled my eyes.“I’m getting the impression all these biker guys are.”

“They mean well.It just comes across as a little smothering at times.”She lifted the spoon to her lips and took a taste.Wrinkling her nose, she added more salt.“It sounds like you’ll be staying with us for a bit.”

“Yeah.I guess so.”

“Oh, don’t sound so upset.I’m here for the duration as well.”She adjusted the heat and put a lid on the pot.“And I like to cook, so you won’t go hungry.”She turned and grinned at me.“And then there’s the other thing.”

I tilted my head, not understanding.“What other thing?”

“You get to sleep with Deuce every night!”

“With my dad in the same house?That should be fun.”

“Ah, forget your dad.He’ll get over it.”She patted her stomach suggestively.“Especially if you give him some grandbabies.”

“We’re not having babies!We’ve been on like one date!”

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