One Chance, Fancy (Bear Bottom Guardians MC 5)

“You can’t bring a child to a prison,” I whispered to Bayou. “How…why…what the hell?”

His eyes latched onto me, and for a split second, he wasn’t a father. He wasn’t my boss. He was just the man that I’d kissed last night, and he’d kissed back.

That moment was over in a flash as if he’d compartmentalized it and shoved it back to a deep, dark corner of his brain.

Something that I should probably do.

“What else was I supposed to do with her?” he asked. “I have a meeting that I can’t miss today, or it could mean less funding for the guards. And less funding means less protection. And less protection means workplace accidents, and then I might have to kill an inmate. Trust me when I say that it couldn’t be missed. Once I’m done, I have a meeting with a nanny, but I’m already freaking out over that.”

“Doesn’t one of your MC buddies’ wives own a daycare?” I asked curiously.

Bayou opened his mouth and then closed it. “Yes.”

“Then you should start there first. I’m fairly sure that she’d be more than willing to make room for any baby that belonged to you,” I pointed out.

He took a seat in the chair that was across from me and looked like a lost little boy that was just trying to find his way.

Last night, after more discussions on Ilsa and Isa had been discussed, my father had loaned Bayou his truck—all the while laughing his ass off at the disgruntled look on Bayou’s face.

“It’s not just that,” he admitted.

“What’s not just that?” I questioned.

He didn’t answer. At least not how I expected him.

“Are you doing anything later?” he asked out of the blue.

I frowned. “It depends. What do you need?”

He seemed to think about what he wanted to say for a long moment before he just blurted it out. “I don’t know what to buy for a three-year-old. I was given a few essentials by Shiloh, but I’m so lost that I don’t even know where to start. I’d ask one of the guys, but any time a woman gets around her she starts going into these trances that kind of scares the shit out of me. As long as I hold her, though, she seems to be fine. But I know the guys’ wives aren’t going to be able to stay away once they hear about Isa. So…will you help me after work? Get the things that she needs?”

I nodded. I’d actually seen her go into one of those ‘trances’ last night when Shiloh had gone to pick her up and hand her to Bayou. Isa had gone so still, so catatonic, that it’d honestly been freaky as hell.

Which begged the question…why hadn’t she done that with me?

Whatever the reason, I’d be glad to help.

“The boys are coming over later, too. We’re going to discuss Ilsa…and Isa,” he said softly.

The little girl sat on Bayou’s lap, looking around the room with rapt fascination. I could tell that she wanted to explore but likely had been tempered not to let her inquisitive nature show.

I wanted to kill her mother.

Repeatedly.

If I could figure out a way to keep the bitch alive while giving continuous torture, I’d do it in a heartbeat.

“I don’t think Isa would go to a daycare. I think she’d have to be introduced to Landry very slowly, and she’d have to decide for herself if she liked Landry or not before I could leave her there with her.” He paused. “I’m asking Wade to bring her with him tonight.”

“You should ask all of them to bring their wives,” I offered. “And Pru’s off for maternity leave for another five weeks. Ten if she takes her extended illness which she’s discussing doing. If we can convince Isa that my sister’s not that bad, I know for a fact that Pru would be willing to watch Isa. At least until we got her liking Landry enough to go there.”

Bayou blew out a relieved breath. “That sounds good. Very good, actually. Fuck.”

“You probably shouldn’t say ‘fuck’ in front of a three-year-old. They repeat everything,” I told him.

“Not this one,” he muttered. “She’s a very quiet and solemn child.”

“How did she do after you got her home?” I asked.

He’d looked scared to death when he went to leave in my dad’s truck.

“I guess good. I put her to bed on my couch. She liked my cat.” He laughed. “I think they slept together the entire night, and I’m not sure if Pooh was too scared to leave Isa’s clutches, or if he actually liked her holding onto him. Regardless, when I woke up this morning, Isa still had him wrapped up in her arms.”

“And she hasn’t said a word at all since you’ve gotten her?” I asked.

He shook his head. “Just the word “pink” yesterday when she touched your hair.”