The Biker's Fate Chapter 111

Cassidy

"You did?" He smiled down at him.

"Don't open your hand, Mav," I rushed to say, and laid the towels over the spill. "Show him outside."

Maverick nodded and ran back outside, Carter following.

"Ohmigod," Mia said. "What the hell is Carter Quinn doing here?"

"I have a feeling he's here for your sister," Mom mused.

"Since when?"

I sighed and threw the paper towels in the trash. "It's a long story," I admitted.

Before more could be said on the subject, Carter returned, a bouquet of flowers in his hand and a smug, but adorable smile on his face.

"These are for you, Wendy," he said, and handed the spring flowers to her (Mom's favorite, I might add).

"Oh, Carter, that's so sweet," she crooned, and hugged him. "Thank you! I'll just get a vase."

"Hey, Mia," he continued.

"Carter."

He smiled. "You look great."

She didn't respond. She just crossed her arms and glared. "What are you doing here, Carter?" Mia had always been my protector and even though we weren't kids anymore, she still fell into the role on occasion.

"Mia," Mom admonished. "Be nice."

"Hi Carter. Good to see you. You've changed," Mia said, her voice somewhat monotone. "What are you doing here?"

"Was in the area... thought I'd come say hi."

"Hi," she said. "'Bye."

"He just got here," I countered.

"So? The guy takes off like a hundred years ago and shows up just when you happen to be here for a few days?" She faced him and frowned. "I hope it's not to hurt Cassidy again."

"Mia!" I snapped.

"What? I don't trust him."

My mouth dropped open. "He didn't do anything wrong."

"He hurt you!" she argued.

"Because of what I did!"

"Cassidy," Carter warned.

"Ohmigod, don't talk to her like that," Mia snapped.

"Mia, it's fine."

"It's fine for him to growl at you?"

"You don't understand—"

Mia gasped. "You're seeing him! Ohmigod, you're totally seeing him again and you didn't tell me!"

"I—"

"Whatever!" she snapped, and stormed out of the room.

I gave Carter a look of desperation and he just chuckled, sliding his hand to my neck and pulling me close. I tried to pull away. "My mom—"

"Left the room ten minutes go," he interrupted.

I craned my neck to see that the kitchen was in fact empty, before wrapping my arms around him and giving him a squeeze. "What are you doing here?"

"No way in hell I'm going an entire weekend, let alone five days, without seeing you two," he whispered.

My heart warmed when he included Maverick in that statement. "Crazy man."

He chuckled, lifting my chin and kissing me.

"Mom!" Maverick called. "There's a dog outside, can I play with it?"

"She's mine, buddy," Carter said. "Let me introduce you and then you can play with her."

"You have a dog?" I asked, unsure if I wanted to let my kid play with a strange animal.

"Yeah," Carter said, and tugged me toward the front door. "She's a black lab. Super friendly, but excitable. She won't hurt you, so don't worry."

"Where's she been while you've been with us?"

"Jaxon or Aidan take her if I need them to, but otherwise, she's pretty much with me wherever I go."

I nodded and followed Carter to the front door where Maverick waited. Carter pushed open the screen door and the dog whined and shook her tail, but overall seemed pretty chill.

"Hey, girl," Carter crooned. "I got some people for you to meet. Sit. Stay." She did exactly what he told her to do and then Carter guided Maverick forward. "Whenever you see a dog, you should always make sure an adult is with you, okay? Never walk up to it by yourself."

Maverick nodded. "'K."

"Stand really still and hold your hand out like this to let her smell you so she knows who you are."

Maverick did as he directed, and the dog sniffed him, her tail wagging a mile a minute.

"Good job," Carter said.

"Can I give her a treat?" Maverick asked.

"I've got some treats in my bag which I left inside. Let's go grab them," Carter said, and smiled at me. "You okay?"

"Yep. It's all good."

While Carter took Maverick back inside, I introduced myself to the dog, looking at her collar and then needing a minute to compose myself.

"Mav, if you throw the ball, she'll get it for you," Carter said, as they returned to the porch. "Just keep it close, okay?"

Maverick nodded and led the dog onto the driveway.

"Cass?" Carter asked.

"Hmm?"

He turned me to face him and frowned. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"You didn't think to warn me?"

"About?"

"The fact you named your dog Cassidy?"

Carter chuckled. "I thought about it, but then I wasn't quite sure how to approach the subject."

"Why?"

"I would think that would be obvious."

"Tell me anyway," I pressed.

He slid his hand to my waist and pulled me closer. "One of the girls at the shop volunteers at the humane society and someone dropped off a litter of puppies. Don't know where they came from, but she called me because I mentioned I was lookin' to get a dog. When I had a night off, I went down, and this tiny little thing had figured out how to finagle her way out of the box they were in and she decided my boot was her play thing. I was still wearing them. She was the only girl, and I hadn't really thought to get a girl, but she followed me everywhere and would whine if I was separated from her. I picked her up and she fell asleep against my chest. The rest is history. I couldn't take her home that night because she wasn't quite ready, but I visited every day and took her home as soon as I could." He stroked my cheek. "What else could I name the little girl who was tiny and clever and fearless? There'd only been one other female who'd wrapped herself around my heart, and I missed her."

"Ohmigod," I breathed and dropped my head onto his chest. He held me for a few precious seconds before Cassidy stuck her nose between us. I giggled and knelt down to pet her. "Well, that sure beats me being a bitch, huh, girl?"

Carter roared with laughter before leaning down to kiss me. "God, I love you."

"Stop being all sappy and crap." I blinked back tears.

"Yes, dear," he quipped.

Maverick jogged up the steps. "Mom, can I swim?"

"If Grandad's with you?"

"I'll find him."