Holiday Havoc (Reckless Bastards MC 7)

“I did?”

“Yep. I think you’re gonna be a stunt woman when you grow up, if the whole engineer thing doesn’t work out.”

“Engineer?” Maisie was almost three years old, there was no way in hell she even knew what an engineer was. “It’s a little soon to be planning her future, don’t you think?” Hell, I hadn’t even started searching for a preschool or daycare center for her and she was my responsibility.

“I’m not planning anything, just enjoying some time with a fun little girl. Is that a problem?”

“Not as long as you remember that she isn’t your little girl.” I didn’t need to bark at the woman, but I felt angry and frustrated and she was as good a target as any.

“Wow. Did you really just go there? You think I want to steal your kid?” Peaches huffed out a disbelieving laugh and shook her head before she dropped down to face Maisie. “I have to go take care of some boring grown up stuff, Maze. Enjoy the track, okay?”

“Do you hafta go, Peaches?”

She glared at me and nodded, giving Maisie a sad smile before she stood. “Apparently, I do, kid, but I want you to know that I had fun with you today. You’re a cool little girl, stay that way.”

“Okay, Peaches,” she giggled, looking up at the woma

n with admiration shining in blue eyes so much like my own. “See you later.”

“Later, Maze.” She waved over her shoulder before turning to me with a glare. “Fuck you, Gunny.” With a smirk she walked away, hips swaying to a beat that only I could hear. Dammit.

“Peaches, wait up!” She didn’t stop and I looked back at Maisie, engrossed in trying to keep the car on the track. “Peaches, I’m sorry, okay?”

“Don’t be. I know where I stand and I appreciate that.” She stopped and turned to me so I could see that there was no anger there. Just resignation.

“Why are you being so nice to her?”

Peaches rolled her eyes. “She’s a kid, why wouldn’t I be? She wouldn’t have any friends if the whole world judged her by her guardian.”

That much was true and though I should have been grateful, I wasn’t. “You don’t even know her.”

Peaches sighed heavily and took a step back. “You don’t want me to spend time with your kid? Fine. I’ll be gone soon enough anyway. Thanks for the warm fucking welcome, man.”

I watched her walk away and yeah, I was an asshole with my eyes glued to her shapely ass until she disappeared from sight. “Shit!”

“Gunny said a bad word!”

A deep laugh sounded from behind me and I turned, ready to spring into action but it was just Jag.

“You scared the fuck out of me, Jag.”

“Gunny said a bad word,” Maisie said again, this time even louder.

I needed to watch my fucking words. “Maybe you were just too busy ogling Peaches to hear me. You were a real effin’ dick, by the way.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

Jag smiled and bent to pick up the car that once again fell off the track. He set it back in its place and grinned. “How about this…if Vivi gets wind of you bein’ a dick, she might make it look like you never existed. Just so you know.”

I barked out a laugh. Vivi was a crazy bitch but she had a lot of heart. For Jag and for the MC. “What are you doing out here?”

“Cross called church.”

And just like that, my good mood faded. “What about?”

Jag gave me a look. “What do you think? Stetson is closed for the week but you saw Bitsy so you know what the fuck is going on. Apparently a few of the girls at the Bungalows had the same problems, which means our problems aren’t as over as we thought.”

“Goddammit! This ain’t ever gonna end.” Ever since I came back it was one shit show after another and I was pretty sure it wouldn’t end until we were all dead.