Arriving at the park, I wasn’t surprised to find other parents with their children enjoying the sunshine, brief as it might be. A beautiful young woman who was quite pregnant sat on a bench and had her gaze fixed protectively on a little girl heading for the ladder to the playhouse. "Cambry, careful baby."
"I am, Mama," she sassed.
"Hi," I said.
The woman sighed and smiled at . "Hi."
"Is this seat taken?" I asked.
"Nope. It’s all yours. I’m Kim."
"Maisie," I said, sitting on the damp seat and securing Curly to the bench.
"Are those all of yours?" Kim asked.
I chuckled. "No. I’m watching my bestie’s kids. Mine’s the blonde one. Poppy."
"She’s gorgeous."
"I’d have to agree with you." I smiled as I watched Poppy and Grace help Cambry up the ladder. "How old’s your little one?"
"Cambry’s three going on sixteen."
I chuckled. "They do that, don’t they?"
"Yes, they do. She also has her daddy wrapped around her little finger."
"Well, that’s also their job." From the second Poppy was born, she’d bonded to Niall. They were inseparable.
"This is so true." Kim ran her hands over her belly. "Do you and your husband have other kids?"
I shook my head. "He died before we could."
"Oh, I’m sorry."
"It’s fine, love. It was a long ti ago."
"I haven’t seen you here before. I take it you don’t live in the area?"
"No. I’m watching the kids at my friends’ place. Easier for them." I smiled. "Poppy and I actually live in the Pearl... not that you needed to know that."
"It’s all good." Kim smiled. "I love the Pearl. I have a condo there, although, I rent it out now. It’s not really conducive to equine pets."
I laughed. "No, I don’t suppose it would be. I had horses as a girl. Gosh, I miss them. I’d love for Poppy to learn to ride." I sighed. "One day."
Kim rummaged in her purse and pulled out a card, handing it to . "We have a training facility with so amazing instructors. Give us a call and we’ll find Poppy a lovely horse to ride."
I focused back on my daughter.
"Daddy!"
Kim and I turned toward Cambry’s squeal, and I saw a tall man (very tall) walking toward the play structure, catching his little girl as she threw herself into his arms. He had dark, longish hair and wore jeans, motorcycle boots and a leather vest over a long-sleeved thermal.
"See?" Kim said. "She has daddy radar. She’ll know he’s around even when she can’t see him."
"Hard not to see him," I pointed out.
"I know. He is rather large." She licked her lips as he approached, then added, "And delicious."
"Hey, sugar." He leaned down and kissed Kim.
"Hey, honey. Did you co to rescue so I didn’t have to waddle ho?"
He chuckled. "Pleadin’ the fifth on that one."
"Smart man," I said.
"Knight, this is Maisie," Kim said.
"Nice to et you," he said.
Cambry snuggled closer to her daddy.
I smiled. "You as well."
"Hatch is back at the house," he said. "We grabbed pizza."
My ears perked up at the na. "Hatch is quite an unusual na."
"Hatch is quite an unusual man," Kim said.
"I t a Mr. Hatch the other day. Probably not the sa one, but it’s interesting."
"Is he tall, in his early forties, long hair usually man-bunned?" Kim asked.
"Yes, that sounds just like him," I said, my heart suddenly racing.
"His na’s just Hatch." Kim glanced up at Knight. "What’s his real na, honey?"
"Connor," Knight said, kissing his daughter’s neck. Cambry squealed and leaned in for more.
"Right," she said. "No one uses their real nas. Well, the wives do when we’re pissed at them, but otherwise..."
"You’re funny, sugar," Knight said.
"I know." She turned to again. "Where did you et Hatch?"
"If it’s the sa man, he got my car started for ." I shared the story of breaking down and Hatch’s subsequent assistance.
"What a bit—I an, what a an thing to do," Kim said, glancing at her daughter who was suddenly listening to every word her mother said. "Never leave another woman stranded."
I nodded. "My friend said the sa thing."
"Hatch helps out with deliveries to a few shops around town," Knight said. "So it sounds like the sa guy."
"Small world," I mused, suddenly wanting to see him again.
Strange.
"We should go," Kim said, pushing up from the bench. "But please give a call. My cell phone’s on that card. We’d love to help Poppy out with lessons and perhaps you can get back into riding yourself."
I patted my chest. "Gosh, I’d love that."
"It was so nice to et you, Maisie." Kim smiled again. "Have a great rest of the weekend."
I waved. "You too, love."
I watched the happy family walk away and I thought how strange it was to have co so close to Hatch again. Serendipity was a strange thing.
Hatch
I grinned at little Cambry as she rushed up to . "Unca Hatt."
"Hey, baby girl, how are ya?" I asked, and picked her up.
"Pizza!" she squealed, slapping my face gently.
"Yep, we got pizza."
"Cambry, honey, let’s go wash up," Kim said, leaning down to kiss on the cheek as she took Cambry from . "Hey."
"Hey, babe," I said.
"Thanks for waiting on the pizza."
I chuckled. "No problem."
Kim took Cambry to the sink and they washed hands as Knight grabbed beers from the fridge, handing an open one.
"Did you get hold of Ryder?" Knight asked.
Ryder Carsen was a buddy of our club’s, almost a brother, to be honest. He was an ex-biker, and owned a local bar, the Brass Frog. He also owned several buildings around Portland, along with his business partners.
"Yeah. He’s got a contact for a supplier."
"Excellent," Knight said.
"If I said the na Maisie, would you know who I was talking about?" Kim asked.
I nearly choked on a swig of beer. "What?"
"I found out we might have a mutual acquaintance."
"Blonde. British, fu—ah" —I stalled, mindful of Cambry—"I an, real pretty."
Kim giggled, lifting Cambry from the sink and handing her off to Knight. "Yes, that’s the one. You helped her with her car?"
"Yeah. How do you know her?" I asked.
"t her in the park today."
"Yeah?"
"Sugar, leave Hatch alone," Knight ordered.
I chuckled. "She’s good, brother."
Typically, I wanted nothing to do with the club old ladies trying to set up, but at the present ti, I wanted to know more about Maisie.
Kim filled in on the circumstances that left Maisie stranded and I felt my blood run cold. Pissed that she might have been in real trouble if I hadn’t been there to help, despite the fact Triple-A had been called, I suddenly wanted to hit the bitch who didn’t help her. "No kidding?" I said.
"Sugar," Knight warned again.
"Anyway, her daughter might co take riding lessons."
I raised an eyebrow. "So, she’s married."
Kim shook her head. "Widowed."
"Shit, seriously?" Fuck. I didn’t expect that, but it explained the sadness.
"Yep." Kim took a bite of pizza.
"Fascinating."
"Isn’t it though?" she sang.
I chuckled when Knight dropped his head back and swore at the ceiling, then groaned out, "Babe."
"Okay, okay. I’m done," she promised. "Unless, of course, you want to get more information."
"Kimmie, stop," Knight snapped.
"I’m good, babe, but thanks," I said.
I could tell Kim was disappointed, and although I thought Maisie was gorgeous, I reminded myself (again) that she wasn’t easy pussy and that’s all I was looking for. I finished my pizza, begged off staying for another beer, and headed ho, my mind swirling with Maisie thoughts.
Fuck. Now I knew I really needed to avoid the bitch at all costs.
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