Page 43 of Property of Stone
“Remember me, kid?” Stone asked Wren when he stepped up beside her.
With her son’s little hand shading his eyes from the sun, he peered up at the much taller man. “Noooo.”
That could be a good thing. He was still dealing with some PTSD from that day over a year ago, despite the therapy. Unfortunately, seeing his father, the only male figure in his life, beat the crap out of his mother would stick with him for a long time.
She’d also be working for a long time on fixing her mistake of meeting Vic to exchange Wren without anyone else accompanying her.
All due to that goddamn court order.
If she had canceled, Vic would’ve made her life a living hell. He looked for any excuse to take her back to court for custody. That meant she had no choice but to take the risk.
One that obviously hadn’t paid off.
She didn’t want Stone reminding Wren of that day all over again. She bugged her eyes out at the biker in an unspoken warning. “Of course he doesn’t. You only met for a minute thatbusyday.”
His dark eyes flicked to her before dropping to Wren. When he lifted his gaze back to her, he gave her a single nod in understanding.
Thankfully, the man could pick up on clues. She gave him a pointed smile. “Stone, can you take Wren inside, please? I’ll be in in a minute.”
He stared at her for a long minute before once again giving her a nod of understanding. “Ready for dinner, Baby Bird?”
Taryn closed her eyes and pushed a breath through her nose. Did he call Wren that on purpose after she asked him not to?
Men.
But she forgave him quickly when he offered his hand to her son and he guided Wren to the house.
“Did you call me a baby bird?” her son asked.
Taryn could only see the outline of his profile as the man glanced down at her six-year-old. “Ain’t that your name?”
The sound of Wren’s belly laugh warmed her heart. “Nooooo! My name is Wren.”
“That’s what I said.”
“No, it isn’t!”
“Must need your ears cleaned out, Baby Bird.”
Taryn’s smile disintegrated the second she turned back and saw her mother’s expression locked down tight.
Great.Here comes a lecture in three…two…
“Taryn, have you thought this through?”
“Thought what through?”
Her mother flapped her hand around. “Whatever this is. I know you’re struggling to take care of the house, but this…” She shook her head.
“He offered me a place to live with my son for free, Mom. In exchange, I only need to help with his daughter.”
The things you have to do when you’re desperate...
“He might not be charging you rent, but I’m sure it will cost you in other ways.” She focused on the back door through which Wren and Stone disappeared. “How do you even know him?”
Shit.Her mother only knew a man stepped in to stop Vic that day, but because of the violence involved, she figured it was best not to tell her it had been Stone. Especially since Vic ended up in the hospital afterward for quite a while.
Knowing Stone had the potential to be that violent—even if only when pushed—would make her mother freak out and insist that Taryn not share the same roof.
