Lucky Baby (Crescent Cove 11)

“You know, motorcycle club.”

A laugh rolled out even with my stomach in knots. “No, my dad isn’t affiliated with a club. He’s a grease monkey more than a bike guy. He’ll probably like your truck actually. My dad’s all about American made.”

“As he should be.” He cleared his throat. “He’s not going to kill me or anything though? You know, for putting a baby in his little girl or some shit.”

“Probably not,” I said as I slid out.

“Hey, wait. What do you mean, probably not?”

I closed the door on him and ran up the walk. “Hey, Daddy.”

“Hey, Ging. I didn’t know you were coming in.” He scratched the back of his neck and put his glasses in his shirt pocket. “I didn’t decorate or anything.”

I went up on my toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He was a few inches taller than me and still as fit as my brothers. He’d gone on a workout kick after he hurt his back a few years ago. “You look good.”

He shrugged. “Started running with…a friend.”

My eyebrow rose. “A female friend?”

“Maybe. What are you doing here, kid?”

I turned to see Lucky hovering by his truck. I held out my hand to him and he straightened his shoulders, then strode over to me. He took my hand, lacing our fingers. “Well, we kinda did a drive-by with the memorial.”

“We were surprised.” My dad gave Lucky a once-over. “Jeff Burns,” he said and held out a hand.

Thor rubbed his palm down his thigh, then clasped my dad’s hand. “Lucky Roberts, sir.”

My dad’s eyebrow rose. “Sir? Wow. More manners this time than the last time you came running through with my daughter.”

Lucky slid his arm around me. “I was a little more worried about Ruby at the time, sir.”

“Ruby?”

“No one likes to use my given name, what can I tell you?”

“Hmm.”

I resisted the urge to smile. Thor looked like he was ready to pee his damn pants. Then again, I got my intimidating face from my dad. “I was hoping I could talk to Co.”

My dad’s smile slid away. “I don’t know, Tish. He’s been really hard to talk to.”

I sighed. “Let me at least try. Then we’ll take you over to Bob’s diner for dinner. How’s that?”

“I could go for an open-faced sandwich.”

I pulled down Lucky to kiss his cheek. “Behave.”

His eyebrows snapped together. “You’re leaving me alone?” He swallowed. “With your dad,” he said under his breath.

I slapped him on the arm. “You’ll be fine.” I turned to my dad. “Hey, can you check Lucky’s truck?”

“There’s nothing wrong with my truck.”

I knew that if my dad had something to do, Lucky would be better off. “We had a little bump into a snowbank the other day. It’s been making a noise.”

“I’ll check it out.” My dad took out his glasses and set them on the end of his nose. “You keep her pretty nice.”

Lucky tucked his hair behind his ear. “Yeah. First truck I bought when I settled in the Cove.”