Born to Ride_A Clubhouse Collection

chapter 19 ~ Ryder

I had to get Mia to the hospital. She wasn’t well, in fact she was getting worse by the day. She’d contracted a fever and was so depressed that she slept all day, hardly getting out of bed to have a shower. F*ck, taking care of her and two kids wore me down. I couldn’t do this shit much longer before going stir crazy. So eventually I decided to take Mia to the hospital—there was no other way.

She’d convinced me to call Jade to come help out and to look after the kids while we were gone. I’d never told Mia what’d happened between Jade and I. Five weeks had passed since that day I’d lost my mind and said crazy shit to Jade. I had a feeling it wouldn’t go down well with Mia.

In a moment of insanity, I gave in and agreed to ring Jade. At first she was surprised as f*ck to hear my voice. When she’d commented that first day about loving kids and helping us out in a crisis, I don’t think she thought in a million years she’d actually be taken up on her offer. And after what happened between us, I was surprised she didn’t hang up on me.

Since it was a seriously bad idea to drag the kids out to the hospital, I’d agreed. So here I was, standing with baby Isabella on my hip, waiting for Jade to show up. Part of me didn’t think she would. Just like most other people, she’d find a reason to back out. Plus, she’d never forgive me for the things I’d said to her. I was counting on it.

I expected her to call with some f*cking lame excuse any minute. Mia sat by the door, ready and eager to leave for the hospital the second Jade arrived. Somehow Mia trusted Jade to be true to her word. Some bullshit about women’s intuition that was never wrong. Yeah, so give me the correct lottery numbers and I’ll believe that shit.

The doorbell rang. I was taken by surprise when I realised I’d been listening for her heels on the pavement. If it was indeed her, she’d snuck up on us. Jesus, I was losing my grip—it could be any motherf*cker at the door.

I’m here to protect Mia and the kids.

Adrenaline spiked my bloodstream and I placed a hand on my gun.

Just feeling the cold metal against my skin slowed my breathing a notch. I was back in control. Yeah.

I peered through the peephole. It was her—the snarky bitch with the larger-than-life attitude. I suppressed a smile as I opened the door.

Standing there with a teddy bear in one hand and a toy truck in the other, I narrowed my eyes, taking her in. There was something about her that was different. And way more appealing. Her hair, which was usually tied into a business like bun, hung softly around her face, framing her big eyes and wide smile. She wore washed out jeans that hugged her womanly hips and a tight T-shirt that revealed the soft skin of her belly when she lifted her arms to cuddle the baby. The T-shirt had a big red heart on it with NYC below it and accentuated her magnificent rack.

“Before you judge—” She laughed, a soft melodious sound. “I just got back from New York last week. Went there to see my cousin, Rebecca. She flew in from Europe for a meeting with her boss. But she’s actually from Australia, so we went crazy, shopping up a storm. Hence the T-shirt.”

She must have noticed how I was scrutinising her. And she was babbling. If there was one thing I did know about women, it was that they babbled when they were nervous.

Actually, I couldn’t tear my f*cking eyes away from her. She looked real for the first time, without all that usual shit on her face women liked to hide behind. I’d nearly forgotten just how beautiful she was.

Since that last day I’d seen her, uninvited visions of her face kept flashing in my mind, a million times over—day and night. I just couldn’t shake it.

Mia laughed. “Hey, honey. The kids can be a handful. I really appreciate your help and your time.”

“No problem, I did offer.” She gave Mia a smile, so genuine and radiant, that I felt it all the way to the pit of my stomach. Why was the bitch being so goddamn f*cking sweet? I liked her better when she was feisty. That I could handle.

I didn’t know what to do with sweet.

Isabella stuck out her arms and cooed. Jade gave her the teddy bear. It wasn’t a new one. “This is what I found in my room. Mr. Bear said he wanted to come and see you tonight. Is that OK?” The baby girl squealed with delight and grabbed hold of the teddy.

Jade bent down to be eye level with James who was holding on for dear life to Mia’s leg. She patted his head gently. “And look what I borrowed from my big brother. He didn’t even know it was in the basement. Want to come play with it?” James let go of his mother’s leg and hugged Jade.

My mouth went dry. Her heart shaped ass was delectable. Shit. My gaze locked on the dip of her back, the way it curved sensuously and the smooth skin that was revealed as her T-shirt rode up . . . My hands trembled, I had an uncontrollable urge to touch her.

Jesus, I wanted to bend her over the table and —

“Hey, big boy.” Mia was pulling at my arm. “Let’s go while the kids are happy.”

“Sure,” I grunted, shaking my head. Even though she wasn’t aware of it, Princess was f*cking with my mind. I’d better get out. Fast.

Mia hooked her arm into mine, smiling knowingly at me. She knew what I was thinking. F*ck women’s intuition.

I glanced back, against my better judgement. Both kids were happy and oblivious to our departure. Even clingy Jamie, afraid of strangers, was into this chick. Well, f*ck me running.

She smiled at me from under her lashes, her eyes soft and dewy. For some reason it made me hard. Seeing how good she was with kids brought out my ancient primal urge to drag her to my cave and f*ck her senseless, filling her with my sperm. My cock twitched and my balls ached.

F*ck, I needed relief. Soon.