by Sadie King
His Curvy Attraction
Biker Brothers of Winter Town - Book One
Sadie King
His Curvy Attraction
Nick
Being a single dad isn’t easy. Between school runs, checking homework, and running my own business, there’s not a lot of time for myself. My well-meaning brothers are always trying to set me up with someone, but I’m not interested, and I just don’t have the time.
Then I meet the hot new substitute teacher at my daughter’s school, and she awakens a desire in me I haven’t felt in years.
Suddenly I want to find time for her, and I want to find out what she wears under her tight bike leathers.
Cassie
I’ve spent my life on the road, never staying in one place for long. I’ve worked in all the schools in the county except this one.
I knew it was a mistake coming back; the memories are too painful. And now I’m falling for the hot single dad of one of my pupils. I need to get out of this town before I get in too deep.
Book One in the Biker Brothers of Winter Town series. Short, sweet tales of men who ride and the curvy women who claim their hearts.
Each book in the series is a standalone; no cliffhangers.
Copyright © 2019 by Sadie King.
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Cover designed by Designrans.
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events, companies, locales or persons living or dead, are entirely coincidental.
www.authorsadieking.com
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Epilogue
Get your insta-love fix!
Chapter One
Nick
“Give Rainbow a kiss goodnight.”
I smack my lips loudly and give the pink stuffed elephant a kiss on the nose.
“No, Daddy. That’s not Rainbow.” She holds up a unicorn with colorful ribbons trailing out of its horn. “This is Rainbow.”
“Oh, of course.” I pucker my lips and am about to kiss Rainbow when I pretend the horn pokes me in the eye. “Ow! She got me.”
Olivia giggles as I jump around the room holding my eye.
“Don’t be silly, Daddy. Unicorns don’t hurt people. They’re peaceful animals.”
“Unicorns aren’t technically animals.”
She frowns at me, drawing her dark eyebrows together. “Yes, they are.”
I hold up my hands. “Okay sweetie, you’re right. Unicorns are peaceful animals.”
The frown disappears.
“Now, it’s time for lights out.” I tuck Olivia into the blankets and plant a kiss on the top of her head, and I give Rainbow a kiss too. “Goodnight, sweetheart. Sweet dreams.”
“Goodnight Daddy.”
I switch off the light as I leave the room. The door clicks behind me, and I let out a deep breath.
I had a difficult client to deal with at work, and then it was a rush to pick up Olivia and go straight home to make the dinner, check her homework, and get her in the bath and into bed.
I grab a beer from the fridge and check my phone as I sink into the couch. There’s a missed call from my brother, Joe. I should call him back, but I’m exhausted. I just want five minutes to myself before I start the washing up.
I turn on the TV and find a basketball game. It’s just after halftime, and it’s a close score. I’m just getting into it when my phone rings.
It’s Joe, and I think about not answering but a wave of guilt washes over me. I’m always too busy these days to speak to him.
“Hey, bro,” I say into the phone.
“Nick, what are you up to?”
“I’m watching the game.”
“Interested in coming out for a drink?”
I snort. “Dude, I’ve got a kid sleeping in the other room.”
“Already thought of it. Sammy’s on his way there to babysit.
“What? Why?” A suspicious feeling creeps up the back of my neck. “What are you and Sammy up to?”
“There’s this girl I want you to meet.”
“Whoa, no, not interested.”
“She just started at the office. She’s really nice, friendly. I think you’ll like her.”
I sink my forehead into my hands. “Joe, stop trying to set me up. I’m not interested.”
“Give her a chance. She’s really nice. I told her all about you, and she says she loves kids.”
“Oh great, a pity date.” The last and only time I let my brother set me up with someone was disastrous. My date kept looking at me with round, sad eyes and rubbing my arm consolingly.
“I’m not doing it, bro. You’d better call Sammy and tell him I don’t need a babysitter. I’m not going out tonight.”
“Oh, come on, just for one drink. We haven’t gone out for a drink in months.”
I sigh. Joe’s right. I get so busy with Olivia that I don’t see my brothers as much as I should.
I look around at the state of the house. There’s laundry hanging on the clothes rail that needs folding and toys scattered on the floor. There’s a knocked over craft box with a trail of glitter on the carpet that needs vacuuming up.
“I can’t tonight, bro. I’ve got too much to do. But I promise we’ll go out soon, okay? Sammy can babysit another night, and we’ll go out for a beer. But just us--no trying to set me up, okay?”
Joe sighs through the phone. “Okay. But it’s time you put yourself out there again. I’m just trying to help you meet someone.”
I grit my teeth and give the same reply I give to any of my well-meaning family when they say similar things. “I appreciate your concern, but I’m just not ready to meet anyone yet.”
“Okay, okay. Fine.” There’s silence down the line. “Damn, now I’ve got to go meet her on my own.”
“That could be a good thing. How about you, little brother? When you gonna meet someone?”
“Nah, she’s skinny as a rake, laughs like a horse. A bit annoying actually.”
“And this is the girl you were gonna set me up with?” I shake my head.
“You just need to get back in the game, bro.”
“Thanks, Joe. But I’ll get back in “the game” when I’m good and ready.”
“Okay, okay. I gotta go call Sammy. Maybe I can set him up with her.” I can’t help smiling. Sammy’s our youngest brother, and I can’t imagine he’d take too kindly to being set up either. “Okay, little bro. You do that.”
“I’m gonna hold you to that beer though.”
“Sure. We’ll get a beer soon. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
I hang up the call and take a long swig of beer. I note with annoyance that the basketball game is finished.
With reluctance, I get up off the couch and go tidy up the kitchen.
Chapter Two
Cassie
The familiar warm thrum of the bike between my thighs helps ease the nervousness as I pull into the school parking lot. I’ve been a substitute teacher now for about five years, and I don’t usually get nervous turning up at a new school. But this isn’t just any school.
Heads turn as I maneuver around the parking lot and into the dedicated motorcycle parking spots. Not all schools have them, but I knew this one would.
A stern-looking woman comes out of the office building and watches me from the front steps, her arms folded across
her prim cardigan.
I park and pull my helmet off. A gust of wind flicks my hair across my face, and I run my hand through my shaggy blonde locks, hoping they fall back into some kind of presentable looking arrangement.
I grab my bag out of the saddle pack and march over to the principal on the stairs.
“Cassie,” she says, breaking into a wide smile. She opens her arms and pulls me into a warm hug. “It’s so good to see you.”
“Good to see you too, Mrs. Harper.”
“Oh, please. Call me Tricia.”
She holds me at arm’s length and looks me up and down. I get the feeling her keen eyes don’t miss a thing.
“You look so much like your mother,” she says, shaking her head. “Especially in your biking leathers.”
I feel tears sting my eyes, and I look down quickly. This is why I haven’t been to this school.
Of all the schools in the county, it’s about the only one I haven’t worked at. But Mrs. Harper, Tricia, was desperate. She’s got four teachers down with the flu and another on maternity leave, and it’s coming up on final exams time for the older students. “The kids really need you,” she’d pleaded through the phone. So I agreed to come back to the school where my mother used to teach.
As I blink the tears out of my eyes, I’m already thinking it was a mistake.
“Come inside and get a coffee,” says Tricia. “Then I’ll show you which class you’ll be looking after.”
I follow her into the building and try to push down the memories I have of coming here as a little girl.
After a coffee and a catch-up, Tricia shows me to my class. I’m setting up for the day when I hear the roar of a bike in the parking lot. Instinct makes me go to the door. I’m always curious to see what others are riding.
There’s a man on the back and a girl sitting pillion, her yellow dress billowing around her knees. She’s holding on casually as he parks, obviously used to being on a bike. My heart contracts a little. It’s so similar to my own childhood.
The girl slips off the bike and pulls her helmet off. Her dark hair whips free and she pulls it back into a ponytail, smoothing over the top.
Her dad gets off the bike and takes off his helmet. I catch my breath. His hair is dark like his daughter’s, and it tumbles messily over his head. His sharp jawline softens into a wide grin as he talks to his daughter, straightening her backpack.
He leaves both the helmets on the bike and walks his daughter into school. My heart’s fluttering in my chest. I’m frozen, unable to take my eyes off him. It takes me a moment to realize they’re heading straight for me.
I look around quickly, but it’s too late to retreat. Instead I take a deep breath to steady my racing heart and step forward.
“Hi, I’m Miss Holt. The substitute teacher.”
He sticks out his hand, and I shake it. As soon as I touch him, it feels like an electric shock running through me. I drop his hand quickly. He stares at me quizzically, and I wonder if he felt it too.
“I’m Nick, and this is Olivia,” he says quickly.
Olivia creases her eyebrows and looks at me carefully.
“Where’s Mrs. Clark?” asks the girl.
“She’s out sick, so I’ll be teaching you for a few days.”
She relaxes. “Good. I don’t like Mrs. Clark.”
Nick laughs nervously. “Olivia, that’s not a nice thing to say.”
“It’s true, Daddy. She wouldn’t let Lyra bring her guinea pig to school.”
“I’m sure she has her reasons,” says Nick. “Go hang your bag up.”
Olivia runs into the classroom, but Nick hesitates. I wait for him to say something, but he starts to turn away.
“Nice bike,” I say quickly, not wanting him to go yet. “That’s mine you parked next to.”
He raises his eyebrows, and his eyes travel down my conservative green cardigan and floaty floral skirt.
“I hope you didn’t ride in that?”
I smile. “No, I got changed in the staff room. Wouldn’t want to scare the children.”
“It might be what they need. Sounds like they’re lacking a bit of respect, or maybe that’s just my daughter.”
His smile turns into a frown, and he looks away quickly. His hair flops over his face, and it’s all I can do not to smooth it out for him. He definitely needs a haircut, or at least some gel to make it sit right. I wonder why his wife lets him leave the house looking like that.
“All kids are like that to the teachers,” I say.
“Not in my day...” he starts, then stops. “Damn, I just said that, didn’t I?”
I nod.
“I am officially an old man.” He laughs again, and the worry lines on his face disappear. Damn, Olivia’s mom is one lucky woman.
“It happens to all of us,” I say.
The bell rings, and kids rush past us into the classroom.
“I gotta go,” I say.
“It was nice to meet you Miss Holt,” he says.
I go into the classroom, but my ear listens ‘til I hear the roar of his bike leaving the parking lot.
Chapter Three
Nick
I leave the school feeling agitated. Thoughts of the pretty substitute teacher run through my mind as I ride to work. Her wide smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, the glimpse of a curvy figure under her sensible teacher clothes.
I’m out of practice talking to pretty women. She must have thought I was an idiot.
Just as well, I think to myself. Looking after Olivia is a full-time job, and we’re perfectly happy with just the two of us. I don’t care how many pretty teachers with wicked motorbikes roll into town.
I shelve the thoughts of her as I pull up to the construction site. Darren’s already there with the van and I throw myself into the plans for the day, instructing him on the work that needs doing. We’re laying floors for a new development on the edge of town.
Owning my own business seemed like the only way I could get the flexibility I needed with Olivia. I put in the grunt work with the rest of the team during the day and catch up on admin in the evenings once she’s in bed.
It’s busy, but it gives me the flexibility I need as a single parent.
I leave at three to get Olivia. She’s waiting for me at the school gate, and I feel a pang of disappointment when I don’t see Miss Holt. It only lasts a moment, because Olivia’s bursting to tell me all about her day. I haven’t seen her this excited about school in ages. She can’t wait to get home and do her homework, which gives me a few hours of peace to get dinner ready and email a few clients.
We’re just finishing up dinner when there’s a knock at the door.
“I’ll get it.” Olivia’s up out of her seat before I can stop her.
“It’s Uncle Joe and Uncle Sammy,” she calls excitedly.
“Hello chicken,” says Sammy, making Olivia laugh.
“What are you doing here?” I ask warily as they take their coats off.
“You promised me you’d go for a beer,” says Joe. “So Sammy’s here to babysit, and we’re going out.”
“What? Not tonight, I have a ton of work to do.”
“No excuses.”
Olivia’s jumping up and down. “Go out, Daddy. Go out.”
Sammy picks her up and flies her into the living room like a rocket. She squeals with laughter as he swings her around the room.
I raise my eyebrows at Joe.
“You need a night off,” he says. “Just a few beers, that’s all.”
“Just you and me?” I ask.
“Just you and me.”
I watch Olivia climbing on Sammy as he tickles her.
“You okay if I go out tonight, sweetie?”
“Yes,” she says through her laughter.
“Okay, okay,” I say. “I want you in bed by 7:30. Be good for your uncle.”
Joe grins at me as I pull on my jacket. I point my finger at him. “And don’t you dare try to set me up with any women.”
The local bar is busy for a weeknight. There are a few familiar faces, and I stop to chat as we move through the crowd. Joe finds a table while I go order the beers. When I get to the table, there’s a woman talking to Joe.
I set the beers down and eye him warily.
“This is Sian who I work with, says Joe. I nod politely to Sian. “I just bumped into her,” continues Joe. “She’s here with her friend.”
I raise my eyebrows. “You just happened to be here tonight?”
Sian looks at Joe, and he nods vigorously. “Yeah, I just ran into them.”
“Ah ha. Joe, can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Sure.”
I stride over to the bar where Sian can’t hear us, and Joe follows. “What the fuck, bro? I told you I didn’t want to be set up.”
“I didn’t know they were going to be here.”
“Don’t bullshit me. I know what you’re doing.”
Joe sighs. “Fine. I arranged for them to be here tonight. But dude, it’s not the horsey girl. This one’s perfect for you. I met her today, and you’re really going to like her.”
“I don’t care. I don’t want to like anyone; I’ve told you I’m not ready.”
“When are you gonna be ready, Nick?” he says gently. “It’s been six years. I’m not saying it’s easy, but you’re thirty-two years old. You’re in the prime of your life.”
I clench my fists.
“You’re throwing away the best years of your life, Nick. I know it hurt, I know you miss her, but don’t let it stop you from living.”
I clench my fists. If he wasn’t my brother, I’d punch him. But I know there’s some truth in what he says.
“I’ll have a drink tonight,” I say. “I’ll be polite to the ladies. But whoever it is you’re trying to set me up with, I’m going to tell her straight up I’m not interested.”