Chapter Twenty-Six
IHAD NO IDEA why Micro was suddenly in the shop, but Caroline seemed to relax around him almost immediately, and it made no fucking sense.
He was loud, bulky, and the kind of guy who was more likely to intimidate women, especially if you knew what he’d done before he became our President.
Why was she taking to him so easily, and why was it annoying me?
“Pres, you wanna tell me what brings you here? Caroline, do you wanna get on with your stuff, while I talk to this dick?”
“Charming that is. I’m your President, man, you’re supposed to bow down and bring me snacks.”
“You wish.”
Caroline giggled, and headed over to her desk to work, but I really fucking didn’t want her away from me. I was getting in over my head, as evidenced by me feeling a bit jealous that she seemed comfortable around Micro.
“What’s going on?” I asked him in a low voice as we moved into the entrance to the workshop.
“Well, I wanted to see about getting these backup rides delivered here, and we didn’t finish that discussion last night. They’re ordered, but I need to confirm delivery address, and times and stuff.”
I watched Rocket approaching the door, carrying drinks and a bag of something, and headed over to pull the door open for him.
“You couldn’t have messaged though?” I called back to Micro, as Rocket stepped inside and cursed.
“Didn’t know you were here, man. I don’t have anything for you.”
Micro pouted. “You didn’t psychically feel the presence of your President, and-”
“Jesus, you’re in that mood today,” I groaned, taking the bag from Rocket and resting it on the counter, as he dished out drinks for us.
“I could get you one,” Caroline offered, and fuck no, she’s not running around after him, or anyone. Certainly not into a coffee shop that intimidated her at the best of times. Just no.
Micro spoke before I could, so really his survival would rest on what he said next.
“That’s kind of ya, thanks, love. I’m not stopping though. Just wanted to confirm something with Harley.”
“Like I say, you could have texted me that.”
Micro shrugged. “Soph wanted to go looking at baby clothes, and I figured I’d swing by, sort this out, and go back and pretend like I know the first thing about fucking baby stuff.”
“You sent her alone?”
“She took her van, man. She can’t get on my ride so heavily pregnant.”
“And you travelled separately? Seriously, man? She’s pregnant!”
Micro groaned. “I know, but she wanted to drive the van, and apparently… uh… yeah, apparently my cologne is making her queasy. Only I’m not even fucking wearing cologne.”
Rocket started roaring with laughter, which made Caroline jump, but her lips twitched, and she started smiling, and then giggling along with him, and honestly we were both also chuckling by the time he could speak.
“The smell of you makes her sick! That’s hilarious, Pres!” The humour left Micro in a split second, and he clenched his fists, but it was the crestfallen look on his face that had my attention.
“Yeah, it’s fucking great. I’m gonna go, but I’ll let you know when the rides are getting delivered, man. Nice to meet you, Caroline.” He left rather more subdued than he’d arrived, and I spun to glare at Rocket.
“Ever heard of sensitivity, prick?”
At least he had the good sense, or decency at least, to look uncomfortable about his actions. He scratched at his neck.
“Didn’t think he’d take off like that.”
“He’s freaking out about fatherhood, and you’re putting worries in his head. Not that he’s probably not thinking the exact same thing. Use your fucking head!”
He looked a bit like a spanked puppy after I finished barking at him, so I turned away and headed back past Caroline, stopping beside her for a moment.
“You okay?”
She was chewing her lip as she watched me crouch beside her.
“Maybe.”
“What’s going on?” She looked like she was blushing, only I hadn’t even said anything yet to do that. Then she squirmed a little in her chair.
“Caroline,” I leaned close to whisper in her ear, “are you horny right now?”
She gasped, pushing me back, but then she leaned closer to me.
“It was… it was really hot how you stood up for him. I… I really like how protective you are.”
Fuck me. Now I was fucking horny too. I wanted her right now, only that wasn’t possible, was it?
“Jesus, baby, you’re gonna kill me with this.”
She giggled. She fucking giggled, as she turned us both on, while we were stuck in a room with Rocket of all people.
“You’ll pay for this later, do you understand, little lady?”
Another giggle, and more squirming. How the fuck was I supposed to get through the rest of the day now?
“I’m going to fucking devour you later, do you hear me? I’m going to make you scream my name as you come all over my tongue.”
A soft gasp, and wide blinking eyes, were her response. She hadn’t wanted me to before, because she wanted to kiss, meaning I didn’t give her the full… experience. This time I was going downtown, because I also wanted to kiss, but my way.
“Can you two maybe get a room? I’m getting grossed out over here.”
I fixed a pissed off glare on the fucking eavesdropper, and he cursed.
“Fuck’s sake, VP. You’re in a public place, and I’m not the only one who can see and hear you. Hi, Leah.”
My blood practically fucking chilled in my veins, as I realised my daughter was in the fucking shop right now, and I was too busy fighting a hard-on, while I dirty talked my girlfriend.
“Fuck,” I whispered, standing up slowly, so I could adjust my jeans as I leaned down and pressed a kiss against Caroline’s head, “to be continued, little lady.”
Caroline
HARLEY’S DAUGHTER HAD WALKED in on us! I mean, it’s not like we were literally doing, you know, the thing, but it was still really intimate, and mortifying.
Rocket was chuckling to himself, that sound growing louder as Harley flipped a discreet middle finger at him as he turned to greet his daughter, so I shot him a glare too.
He widened his eyes, and faked biting his fingernails in terror.
Idiot. I couldn’t help giggling though, because he was a huge guy pretending to be scared of little old me.
“Leah, what brings you here, kiddo?”
His daughter promptly burst into tears, and I gasped, while Rocket dumped his gear, and stepped out of his part of the shop.
While she didn’t look exactly like her father, I could see similarities, but while she was so upset, what I mostly saw was an expression I hoped to never put on Harley’s face.
I had no idea what had happened to her, but all three of us were already on the alert.
Harley held Leah against his chest as she sobbed.
“Talk to me, kiddo. Whatever’s wrong, we can fix it, yeah?”
“If someone hurt her, I’ll help you kill ’em, VP,” Rocket offered, and instead of a snarky response, I saw Harley shoot him a grateful glance.
Watching him hold her, comforting his daughter, I felt another wave of what I was starting to recognise as love, as I watched him protecting the other woman in his life.
How lucky she was to have a dad like him.
I popped into the small bathroom, and grabbed a handful of toilet paper, and returned, pressing it into Harley’s hand. He squeezed my fingers gently and thanked me silently.
“Okay, kiddo. That’s it. You have to talk to me now, because I’m imagining all kinds of shit here. Did someone hurt you?”
She shook her head, then paused and nodded, letting out another loud sob.
“They took it, dad!”
I grabbed one of the paper cups from the stack by the coffee machine, and half filled it with water, bringing it to Leah, as Harley moved her back, so he could see her.
He handed her the tissues and she mopped morosely at her eyes, then took the water I offered her.
“Thank you,” she whispered hoarsely.
“Okay, who took what, Leah? What’s happened?”
She swallowed hard, brushing away new tears as they spilled out.
“My scooter. I… it was just gone, and… and it’s my pride and joy!”
Harley groaned, guiding her to sip the water, while Rocket approached again.
“Where from? Maybe Grease can check CCTV and shit?”
Harley nodded absently, pushing Leah’s hair away from her eyes.
“Where? Tell us where, and we’ll find it.” She haltingly explained, and Harley turned to Rocket.
“Call Grease, and give him what we have. He knows about Leah, so you don’t need to be cagey about her.”
Rocket nodded, digging his phone out of his jeans pocket as he headed back to his workstation, and I felt helpless, because what could I do?
I grabbed my chair and dragged it over for Leah, and she dropped into it gratefully.
“Thank you. Sorry, I don’t… I don’t think we’ve met.”
I wrung my hands together in front of me, because I didn’t know how to introduce myself. Was I her dad’s friend? His lover? What?
Harley reached out and eased one of my hands away, holding it in both of his.
“This is Caroline, my girlfriend,” he said gently, tugging me closer to him. Leah’s eyes probably widened or something, but my own eyes were on Harley. He just called me his girlfriend. I’m his girlfriend!
“I…”
“I know, but you are, so just relax, babe. It’s all good. This here’s my daughter, Leah, but I know you figured that out. Thank you for looking after her.”
I shrugged, feeling awkward with the focus on me, reluctantly looking to Leah as Harley tucked me against his side.
“This isn’t the ideal way to meet, I’m sorry,” I said quietly, as we heard Rocket’s voice grow suddenly louder behind us.
“Because your VP fucking asked me to, that’s why, dipshit!”
Harley sighed heavily, his head dropping low. “It was a mistake to ask him to call, but he wants to help.”
“He and Grease really don’t get on, do they?”
“What kind of a name is Grease?” Leah asked, and I giggled, because they did all have weird names. I was starting to realise there was probably a perfectly logical reason behind each one. Grease’s had to be because of all the gel he put in his hair. Right?
“For his daughter,” Rocket snapped, and then his shoulders relaxed a little, “yeah, look we need CCTV, man. Can you help?”
I turned my focus back to Leah as Rocket’s voice lowered again.
“They need marriage counselling or something,” I said quietly to Harley, gratified, and relieved, to hear him chuckle.
“I literally said that to the Pres the other night. It’s like we share a brain.”
“You seem really sweet together. Dad, I didn’t know you were seeing anyone.”