Page 26 of The Biker's Captive
Ishift the weight of the baby from my left hip to the right side. He squirms in my arms and reaches for the bowl of salad that I’m juggling in my other hand.
“Uh-uh, not for you,” I say gently and he pouts at me, making me laugh.
“You’ll get yours in a minute, don’t you worry little guy.”
Using my butt to push the door open, I take the salad from the kitchen into the main room of the clubhouse.
Gina frowns at me as she takes the bowl from my hands.
"Go sit down, Willow. We’ll take it from here."
"Are you sure? There’re still the potatoes to finish off.”
She gives a pointed look at my round belly and the one-year-old tugging on my hair.
“You should be resting.”
I don’t need to be told twice. Not that there’s any rest with a baby who crawls faster than I can walk.
I've been busy in the kitchen all day helping the other women prepare the food. It was easy when Dale was sleeping, but now he's awake and tugging at my T shirt looking for something to eat.
Gina gives me a warm smile. " Go feed your baby and put your feet up."
The tables have been pushed together so they’re ready for the club dinner. The smell of barbecue wafts in from outside, and the whole place has a festive feel to it.
I love these club dinners, the whole family getting together, because that’s what the club has become to me. A family.
I drag over my diaper bag and take a seat. It’s too tricky balancing Dale on my lap with him wiggling so much, so I set him on the ground while I pull out plastic tubs of baby food.
He’s off across the floor before I can stop him, making a beeline for Lily. He stops in front of her, tugging on her skirt until she notices him.
“Hello, Dale.” She scoops him into her arms, and he beams with pleasure. I can’t blame him. With Lily’s long flowing hair and bright green eyes, she’s a real beauty.
Jesse watches them from his table in the corner, a wistful look in his eyes, and I can’t help but think Dale’s not the only one who has a crush on the President’s daughter.
Lily brings Dale back to me, making him giggle as she bounces him on her hip. She nods at the tubs of baby food.
"You want me to heat that up for you?"
I give her a grateful smile. "Thank you.”
She hands Dale back to me, who gives a regretful sigh.
“Just 30 seconds in the microwave," I call after her.
"I know," she says over her shoulder.
If the saying is true that it takes a village to raise a child, then the clubhouse is my village. There’s always someone here to mind the kids if needed. The Pres installed a swing-set out back when he had his first kid, and now there are always kids around.
Dale's not just being raised by me and Pans. All the women here and the men too are looking out for him.
I feel Pans’s presence before I see him. The air in the clubhouse goes thick and I turn around to find his gaze on me, leaning on the back door and watching me with his son.
He walks in with some of the men. I don't ask questions about where they've been or what they've done. I've learned not to ask about club business.
Pans comes straight to me. And I see by the set lines of his face that it's something I don't want to know about.
I set Dale on the floor as Pans kneels in front of us.
