“You. . .you want me to plant you a garden?”
“Yeah. Like I said, never been able to keep much alive. But figure that’s your job now.”
She smiled at him. “I’m okay with that.”
He undid her belt and pulled her across the bench seat. “Means you’re gonna have to stick around. For a long, long time. After all you can’t let the poor plants die.”
“No, got to think of the plants,” she said solemnly.
He snorted then kissed her lightly. “Move in with me, Sunny.” He watched her carefully, almost as though he was worried about her reply.
He needn’t have. “Yes.”
He kissed her. His mouth hard. Possessive. When he pulled back. “Thank God for that.”
“You were really worried I’d say no?”
“Course not,” he replied arrogantly. “How could you say no to the man who buys you toys and flowers?”
“You’re forgetting the spectacular orgasms,” she noted.
He grinned. “Believe me, I could never forget those.” He cupped her face between her hands. “Love you, Sunshine River Bright.”
“I love you too. So much.”
“Good. Now let’s go get some fucking plants and go home.”
“Hello, Sunny-girl, what you playing there?”
Sunny started then stared up at Ink, her eyes wide. What was he doing here? She looked down at the picnic blanket Duke had spread out on the floor. She had her toys, including Sparkle Pony, gathered around the blanket and was pouring out tea into the small delicate cups of the tea set Duke had bought her that morning.
Duke had popped out of the playroom after his phone rang, telling her to stay there. She hadn’t really thought much about it, continuing to play happily.
“Oh, um, Ink.” She knew her face had to be scarlet. What should she say? Do? Ink knew she was a Little. He’d helped get this room ready, but having him see her like this was different than him just knowing that about her.
“Can I have a cup of tea?”
She blinked at him. He just smiled. Then the heavily-tattooed man with the shock of blond hair and the party-guy, surfer vibe sat crossed legged across from her. She still didn’t know what to say. Did Duke know he was here?
“Duke is. . .he’s. . .”
“He’s talking to Spike. He doesn’t know I’m here. I had to go to the toilet and the door was open so I peeked in to check out your room. You like it?”
“I love it,” she whispered.
He studied her. “I can leave if you like, Sunny-girl. I don’t want to make you feel self-conscious. It’s just been a long time since I was at a tea party.”
“Have you had a Little?”
“Yep. While ago. I miss it. Taking care of someone that way, having their total trust, it just fucking does it for me.”
There was a hint of sadness in his voice that tugged at her. He went to rise and she reached out and took hold of his hand. “You can stay.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure.”
He sat and picked up a tea cup holding it slightly awkwardly with his thumb and forefinger. She poured him a cup of tea. “Here you go.”
“Why thank you, princess,” he said seriously.
She had to drop her head to hide her smile at the big tattooed biker sipping tea from the tiny, delicate cup.
“Would you like a cupcake?” she offered a plate of plastic cupcakes.
“Hmm, who baked them? The unicorn?” He nodded at the big stuffed toy.
She giggled. “‘Course not, Sparkle Pony can’t bake.”
“Sparkle Pony, huh? Hope he is a she.”
She grinned wide. “Nope.”
“Poor bastard is gonna get it on the playground.” Ink shook his head as she giggled. He stayed for a few minutes, making her laugh with his silliness.
Then he got to his feet.
“You going, Ink?”
“Yeah, Sunny-girl, best go before your Daddy catches me in here and kicks my ass.” He winked at her. He squeezed her shoulder gently. “Thanks for making him happy, baby girl. Last time I saw him this happy was before his parents and sister died.”
Her breath caught and she glanced up at him. “You were his friend? The one he was staying with? It was your family that took him in?”
“Yeah, Sunny-girl. That was me. I’ve always considered Duke my brother. My parents think of him as another son. But it’s not the same for Duke as having his own family. I love him. Would do anything for him. But I’ve never been able to give him his family back. What you’ve given him, it’s what he needed to make him see it’s worth living even after a shitty tragedy like that.”
Without another word, he walked out.
Duke leaned back against the passage, waiting for Ink to walk out. “Good tea party?”
“Been out here a while have you?” Ink asked as red filled his cheeks.
“Yep.”
“Spike tell you that Grady came through and the meeting with Frankie is set for Thursday night?” Ink asked, clearly trying to steer the conversation away from what he’d just been doing.
“Yep.”
“You pissed at me?”
Duke reached out and grabbed him around the back of his neck and pulled him close, thumping him on the back. “I have a number of men I consider brothers. But only one I consider blood.”
He let the other man go. Ink grinned at him.
“But don’t go embarrassing Sunny again, you bastard, or I’ll put you on your back.”
“Aww, love you too.” Ink took off with a laugh.
Cocky bastard. Duke just shook his head and went back to join Sunny for a tea party.
“Hey, baby girl,” he said to her as he sat down across from her, in the same spot Ink had been in. “How’s the tea party going?”
“Sparkle Pony has some atrocious table manners,” she said with a cute shake of her head. “Moody is very disappointed in him.” She picked up her monkey and turned him upside down so he was frowning.
Duke shook his head. “Hard to find a unicorn with good table manners nowadays.”
“It sure is, Daddy,” she agreed. “Tea?”
“Yes, please.” He picked up a cup and held it up. She poked her tongue out as she carefully poured some tea for him.
“Everything okay, Daddy?” she asked, studying him.
“Of course it is, baby girl.” And if it wasn’t, he still probably wouldn’t worry her. At least not while she was in Little mode. She deserved some carefree time to play.
They drank tea then played with the Barbies until it was time for him to cook dinner. He picked up a coloring book and some crayons, carrying them out to the kitchen while Sunny skipped behind him, holding Moody’s hand and swinging him back and forth.
“Here you go, baby girl. You sit up here and color while I make some dinner.” He lifted her onto a stool at the kitchen counter.
“Okie-dokie,” she said in a cheerful voice, swinging her legs back and forth and looking so carefree his chest actually ached. He loved that he could give her this.
She tapped at her chin, giving him a mischievous look. “I’d rather play with some playdough, though. Think you could make me some?”
“That would be a no,” he growled. “And I seem to recall buying you playdough in every possible color.”
“But it’s so much more special when you make it for me, Daddy,” she wheedled.
He snatched up a wooden spoon and waved it at her. “Do I need to bring this over here and spank the sass out of you, little rebel?”
Her eyes widened and she gave him an innocent look. “Daddy, I was just talking to you about playdough, no need to get so grouchy.”
She attempted to keep a smile from her face but failed.
“Do your coloring, brat.”
She picked up a crayon as he started on dinner. He glanced over at her picture as he finished plating up their food. He had to smile as he saw the giant mess she’d made. She had drawn out of the lines; e
verything was the wrong color and it made him absurdly happy.
She grinned up at him. “What do you think, Daddy?”
“I think it’s a masterpiece! Let’s put it on the fridge where everyone can see it.” He carefully ripped it from the book and secured it to the front of the fridge. She wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her face to his chest.
“You really like it, Daddy?”
“Baby girl, you did a great job. Come on, dinner time.”
He led her back to the counter and lifted onto the stool. He should probably get a proper table and chairs.
She clapped her hands as she stared down at her plate. He’d bought it for her yesterday. It was an elephant with several sections so different foods didn’t have to touch each other.
“Yay, veggies!” she said, spearing a piece of broccoli and chewing on it enthusiastically.
He shook his head. She was so weird.
But cute. Definitely cute.
He ate his chicken stir fry, watching her indulgently as she sat Moody up and pretended to feed him bits of food.
“Moody has had enough. Time for Sunny to eat some more.” He pointed at her food with his fork. He still didn’t think she ate enough. Her asshole ex had a lot to answer for.
“Okie-dokie, Daddy. Moody needs to have his face washed, though. He’s a very messy eater.”
He nodded solemnly. “Very true.” And so could Sunny.
After they’d both finished eating, he stood and grabbed some wipes, cleaning her hands and face. “There we go, all clean.”
“You take such good care of me, Daddy.”
He kissed her gently. “And I always will.”
21
“What are we doing here?” Sunny asked as Duke pulled up in front of the trailer that served as Ronny’s office. All of the vehicles were gone from the yard, everyone was away on jobs for the day. That meant Ronny was likely alone and half-way through his morning porn show.
She shuddered at the thought.
“We’re here to get your last paycheck.”
She bit her lip. “I thought you didn’t want me doing this?”
He turned to look at her. It was Tuesday and they were headed to work. They’d left earlier than usual because he’d told her he had an errand to run first. Little had she known that errand was talking to Ronny. Urgh, while she’d talked a good talk about confronting him, she wasn’t sure she was prepared for this.
“I don’t. I’ll gladly do this for you. But I don’t want to take this moment from you if you want to do it. This is your chance to tell him what a slime ball he was. But you keep the door open. He does any fucking thing you don’t like then you yell out. I’m also only giving you five minutes before I come in after you. Understood?”
She looked from him to the trailer. She remembered the feel of Ronny grabbing her in the bar that night, of him firing her even though she’d been his best worker.
She nodded. “I’ll do this. But if he’s watching porn in there, I may need you to bleach my eyes.”
“If he’s watching porn, I’ll fucking kill him.” He climbed out of the truck then helped her down, leading her towards the trailer. He opened the door without knocking.
She couldn’t hear any sounds of moaning or slapping so she guessed she was safe. Duke poked his head in. “He’s not in there.”
They heard the flush of a toilet and she grimaced.
“I can still go in with you,” Duke offered.
She patted his chest. “I got this.” She kissed his jaw and stepped inside, leaving the door open so he could still protect her while giving her this moment. She glanced around, grimacing at the smell of sweat and other bodily odors she really didn’t want to think about.
Without thinking about it too hard, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and set it on record. She half tucked it into her back pocket just as Ronny stepped out, still zipping up his pants. He froze as he saw her.
“What are you doing here? Come to beg for your old job back? Not happening.” A calculating look crossed his face. “Not unless you’re willing to do a little something for me, that is.”
“Oh yeah, what’s that?” she asked.
“Suck the sausage and I might reconsider giving you your job back,” he said slyly.
“Yeah? Isn’t that what caused you to fire me in the first place? Because I didn’t want you touching me?”
“All you had to do was give me a blowie,” he whined as though she’d wronged him. “Then you could have kept your miserable job. You were fucking lucky to have it in the first place. My old man must have been going nuts to hire a fucking woman to do a man’s job.”
“So, I lost my job because I wouldn’t suck your cock and because I’m a woman. You’re a real class act, Ronny. Just for the record, there’s no way I’d ever touch your disgusting dick.”
She shuddered. Just the thought made her nauseous.
“What the fuck you doing here then?” Ronny demanded. “I got things to do.”
“Sorry if I’m cutting into your porn time,” she said dryly. “I’ve come to get my last paycheck. The one you were meant to deposit into my account.”
“I don’t owe you any more money.”
“You do and you know it.”
He sneered at her. “Well, you aren’t seeing a dime of it. Now get the fuck out.”
“You’re not giving me what’s owed to me?”
“You heard me right, bitch. Go. Before I make you.”
“That’s a shame. I guess my lawyer will be in touch.”
“You’re hiring a lawyer over a week’s pay?” He barked out a laugh. “Fucking lawyer will cost more in billable hours, you twat.”
“Oh, no, they’ll be in touch because I’m suing for wrongful termination. I’ll also be pressing sexual harassment charges.”
“Like you can prove that,” he scoffed.
She pulled out her phone. “Got it all on here.”
He stood, looking shocked. “Hey! That’s fucking illegal. You can’t tape me and use it.”
Fuck. He was right.
“Maybe not. But do you want to risk jail and a lawsuit over a week’s pay?”
“Babe, let’s wrap this up,” Duke called out.
“Who’s that?” Ronny demanded.
“Oh, that’s my boyfriend. He may have been listening as well.” She clicked her fingers. “I think a witness statement is legal evidence, right?”
Ronny turned purple with rage. “Fine. I’ll write you a fucking check, you bitch.”
“You wanna watch how you talk to my girl,” Duke rumbled as he walked into the trailer.
She knew the moment Ronny caught sight of him, he went completely pale and sat back in his chair. “Oh fuck. Oh shit. Uh, sorry. I’ll just. . .I’ll just write you a check.” His hand shook as he wrote it out then he basically flung it at her. It landed on the floor.
Leaning down, she picked it up. “This is several hundred dollars more than you owe me.”
“Just take it. For fuck’s sake, take it and go. And don’t come back.”
She tucked it away and turned. Duke took her hand and led her towards the door. He stepped to the side so she could exit first.
“Ronny?” Duke called back.
“Yeah?”
“Better not hear of you harassing any other women, understand? I don’t take kindly to that sort of behavior.”
“Nope. I won’t. You have my word.”
Duke slammed the door shut then made a face at her. “Gross. I think he pissed himself.”
She grinned and held up the check. “I did it!”
It wasn’t the money that was filling her with joy, it was the fact she’d finally stood up to that jerk.
“You sure did, baby.” He pulled her in and kissed her lightly. “Now let’s go. I swear I need a shower just from breathing the same air as that disgusting pig.”
22
“Sunny! Come help me with this fucking trash!” Rory called out as she passed the open d
oor leading to the break room. She bit back a sigh. It was fifteen minutes until closing and she had stuff to do.
But then, she supposed she should help since it was meant to be her job. Duke made Rory do it because he didn’t want her going out into the alley. He also made Rory do it because he didn’t like him.
“What do you need help with?” she asked. The trash bag wasn’t exactly heavy.
“Need you to hold the door open so it doesn’t lock on me when I go out.”
She didn’t see why he couldn’t use a chair to prop it open, but she just walked over. The door opened out into the alley and automatically locked when it shut. She pushed it open then stepped outside to hold it. Suddenly, she was grabbed from behind and pulled backwards. She let go of the door, kicking back at her assailant, clawing at the hand covering her mouth and nose, blocking off most of her air.
She was pulled further into the alley and the door shut, blocking off all the light from inside. Where was the security lighting Duke had installed? She struggled, trying to fight off her attacker as he dragged her out of the alleyway.
Where was Rory? Why wasn’t he helping her? Oh God. She couldn’t breathe! Duke! Duke!
The world around her started to fade as she felt herself being yanked inside a vehicle. A door slid shut and then everything went black.
“Yeah?” Duke said into his phone.
“Get over to the club,” Reyes replied.
“What’s going on? Did Frankie bail on the meeting?” He looked at the clock. The meeting between Spike and Frankie had been set for ten. It was nearly that now.
“Fucking bastard’s been murdered. Looks like he was tortured for a while first. The Fox left his calling card.”
Fuck. Shit.
“Jason thinks he’s got a lead on the place where the senator might be taking the girls, though. One of the senator’s bodyguards was left a cabin by his uncle. It’s a few hours out of the city. We need to check it out.
“I’ll get Sunny and be straight over.” He ended the call then stood and moved out of his office. Why was the place so quiet?
“Sunny?” he called out. She should be getting her stuff and heading to his office by now. “Rory? Madden?”
Motorcycle Daddy (MC Daddies Book 1) Page 22