Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 49530 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 248(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49530 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 248(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
“Yes, Daddy.”
Elizabeth rushed to the door with her purse and keys. “I need Borscht and Puff. I’ll stop on my way home to get them.”
“Give me your key. I’ll pick up your stuffies,” he said without missing a beat.
As she handed it to him, he exchanged the key for a smoothie. “Drink this on the way. You need energy, Little girl. Is it okay for me to make a copy?” he asked, holding up the key.
“Yes. And thank you, Daddy,” she answered, lifting the cup toward him with a grateful look. Elizabeth stepped forward to kiss him lightly so she didn’t mess up her lipstick before forcing herself to dash out the door. The last thing she saw before stepping out the door was a small electric drill and several eye hooks lying on the entryway table.
How was she ever going to concentrate today?
Talon missed her immediately as he watched her get into her slick sports car and drive away. Suddenly, he wanted to see her in lawyer mode. Maybe she’d let him come watch a trial someday.
The drilling only took a few minutes. He placed the holes so they were disguised in the carving. The tether points could be removed if needed to disguise their intent. He took time to straighten up the house and even threw some things into the crockpot so dinner would be ready when she got home. Talon repeated that word to himself. Home. Somehow having Elizabeth under his roof transformed it from a house to something more.
Finally, stepping into his work boots and dragging a Shadowridge Guardians Motorcycle repair shop T-shirt over his head, Talon got ready for his day. As he took one last look around, Talon happened to see a marker on his dresser. Grabbing it, he wrote stuffies on the inside of his wrist where it might survive all the times grit and dirt were wiped off his hands. He was not going to forget Puff and Borscht. A second thought drifted through his mind and he wrote helmet and bear.
In a few minutes, he was out the door and on his bike. It was a beautiful morning filled with idiots rushing through traffic to get to their jobs on Monday morning. As usual, Talon was alert to everything happening all around him. He was used to negotiating the heavy traffic. Thanks to his Shadowridge Guardians MC vest, most people backed off and gave him some room.
The roar of a motor sounded behind him, and Talon looked over to see Atlas pulled up next to him. Pleased to see a fellow Guardian, Talon extended his hand down to his leg in a motorcyclists’ greeting. Atlas returned the gesture and the two continued down the road, watching out for each other.
The number wizard had stabilized the books and gotten the MC back on track after the previous treasurer had played fast and loose with the club’s money. He’d asked Talon to audit the accounts on a monthly basis so the members could rely on two Guardians to take care of the club’s money. Talon had learned a lot from Atlas and enjoyed getting to know him.
When they exited off toward the Shadowridge compound, the traffic disappeared. Not many executives were headed to the industrial part of town. Pulling up to the garage, they backed their bikes into parking spots with the ease of people who had maneuvered bikes for years.
“Hey, Atlas! How was your weekend?” Talon called.
“Good,” the more gentle-faced man replied.
Talon knew better than to think the guy who looked most like a boy scout in the Shadowridge Guardians was a weak link. He’d seen Atlas help defend the MC in a number of skirmishes. He’d take the man’s massive biceps on his side every time.
“Carlee was upset she missed meeting your Little girl. Elizabeth, right?”
“Yes, Elizabeth is mine. I hope Carlee is okay?” Talon asked.
“Doc recommended I give her a treatment for her tummy. It worked well and she felt much better,” Atlas shared.
“I need to get with Doc. He’s amazing at keeping the Littles feeling their best.”
“I have a feeling there are some Littles that wish he didn’t know so much,” Atlas said with a laugh.
Talon grinned. “I’m sure there isn’t a truer statement than that. Do you need me today?”
“Tomorrow, I’d love to have you audit the books. Check the schedule and see if you could be available at two,” Atlas requested.
“I’ll block out some time.”
The two men walked inside and parted ways. Atlas went into the clubhouse to attack the paperwork and Talon headed into the shop.
First things first, Talon asked, “Do we have any small adult helmets in stock?”
“Yep, check the right side of the shelf. I stocked up on sizes so everyone can fit their Little girls. No matter what size they are,” Kade called back.