Chapter 10
Ten
Madison
I roll over and hit something hard, making my eyes fly open to see a sleeping Joker.
Looking around the room, I can tell we are in his bedroom, yet I have no recollection of how I even got here.
I must have been in a deep sleep not to have felt him carry me to bed last night.
I turn over gently so as not to wake him.
He looks so peaceful, the most peaceful I’ve ever seen him.
Last night when he told me about his sister, it just broke my heart to think about what he and his family went through.
But everything that is Joker is starting to make sense now with how he acts towards the women in his life.
I look down and realize he is shirtless, which makes my mouth water seeing his abs and tattoos running up and down his body, and what a body it is.
He truly is the sexiest man I’ve ever met.
And yet he’s here with me, telling me I’m his in all ways.
It all seems crazy and fast, but I don’t have it in me to care.
The things I feel for this man should honestly scare me, but I know if I walk away now I would be making the biggest mistake of my life.
I want him, there is no denying that. Every time he walked into my bakery, he would literally take my breath away with how hot he looked.
I’m not a virgin, but I’ve only had sex once in high school, and it was awful, but I know when the time comes with Joker it’s going to be amazing.
I chuckle under my breath, thinking about how he just packed my house up and moved me in.
It’s not like I owned the place; I only rented until I found my forever home, and as I look over at Joker, I think with him and Bailey I finally have.
I look at the clock, and it reads just before eight.
I think I will make everyone a big breakfast before we have to head out to the mall.
As slowly as I can, I get out of bed so as not to wake Joker.
I grab a change of clothes and walk into the bathroom to do my morning routine and throw my hair up into a bun, and as quietly as I can, walk out of the room, closing the door softly.
Before I head downstairs, I make a stop at Bailey’s room to see her still fast asleep, which makes me smile.
Thor and Loki lift their heads, seeing me, and come right over, and we head down the stairs into the kitchen.
I open the back door for them and go about making a pot of coffee.
I open the fridge to see what Joker has to work with and decide on fresh cinnamon rolls, bacon and eggs.
I want to make sure Bailey gets everything that she needs in life.
After making my coffee, I get started on breakfast, and by the time the last plate is on the table, a sleepy-looking Bailey comes down the stairs along with Joker.
Joker walks over and places a kiss on my head before making his coffee. “Why didn’t you wake me? I would have helped you?” He looks hot in his jeans that hug his thighs and a black shirt that stretches across his muscles with his cut on top.
“I wanted to do this. Let’s sit down; breakfast is ready. Bailey, honey, how did you sleep?”
Bailey takes her seat as I get her a plate and fill it up for her. “Best night’s sleep ever. My bed is so comfortable. Though you were right about Thor and Loki taking up the bed.” She lets out a laugh, making me smile.
“We will have to see about getting them their own beds today. Alright, dig in before it gets cold, and after we finish, we can get ready to hit the mall.” Joker and I watch her dance in her seat in excitement, making us laugh.
I lean back in my chair, sipping my coffee as I can feel Joker lean into me.
“You're going to pay for falling asleep last night and making me suffer through Twilight all by myself.
You think you're team Edward now? Wait until later when you're screaming team Joker.” Joker whispers in my ear, making my entire body shiver.
Holy hell, I think I just had a mini-orgasm, that was hot.
I wiggle in my seat as I look at him, and he has a self-satisfied look on his face as he goes back to eating, like he didn’t just say that.
I grab my fork and start eating, needing to do something so I don't just drag him upstairs now.
I can hear him chuckling, and I give him the stink eye, making him laugh harder.
Once Bailey has finished her breakfast, she races up the stairs to get dressed.
Before I can get up with the dishes, Joker places his hand on my shoulder.
“Sit, I’ve got the dishes.” He places a kiss on my lips and walks away with all the plates in one go. I’m so used to doing everything on my own, I’m going to have to get used to others doing for me. Draining the last of my coffee, I head into the kitchen to see Joker loading the dishwasher.
He turns around when he’s done and leans against the island. “I called my parents this morning before I came down.”
I walk over to him, and he pulls me into his arms. Holding me to his chest. “What did they say?”
“Mom cried when I told her about Bailey. But they will be here next week. I have a feeling once they meet Bailey and you, they are going to want to move closer.”
I pull back with a smile on my face. “I can’t wait to meet them.” He lowers his head and slants his lips to mine in a kiss that’s not rushed but one full of promise. Just when the kiss starts to heat up, we can hear Bailey rushing down the stairs.
Joker pulls back and winks at me. “We will finish this later.”
My face flushes, and we pull apart as Bailey runs into the kitchen looking cute in her new jeans and shirt. “I’m all ready now.” She's bouncing on the balls of her feet, making me laugh.
I grab my phone off the counter and head for the door with Joker following behind me.
I turn and see Joker with his cut on and sunglasses, looking hot as hell.
He gives me a knowing smirk as if he knows my thoughts.
He opens the front door, letting Bailey and me out as we head towards his truck. Joker locks up and heads towards us.
He opens the passenger door, helping Bailey in as I get in. I practically have to do a running start. Joker watches with an amused expression on his face as he gets in. I narrow my eyes at him. “Not a word, Joker.”
He starts the truck, backing out. “I wouldn't dream of it, angel. Are you ready, Bailey Bee? I'd say we hit the mall, then go for some lunch at the diner. How does that sound?”
“Yay. I'm so excited.” Bailey yells from the back, making us laugh.
I side-eye Joker and lower my voice. “You just want to go to that diner to see if Hawk is there with Avianna.” I swear these guys are worse than a bunch of teenagers with their gossiping.
“You don’t know that I could just want to go and check the books since we own the diner.” Joker pulls out of the clubhouse and heads towards the highway.
I can’t help but snort. “Yeah, and I’m Santa. Admit it, you just want to see who he’s obsessed with.”
“I have no idea what you're talking about.” He turns up the radio, making me laugh.
I look out the window, watching the town pass by as we head to the mall.
I listen to a very excited Bailey in the back talking to Joker about going to the mall and what she wants to buy.
I sit back and listen to her laugh. A far cry from when she came into our lives just days ago.
I know she still has a long way to go to heal, but just seeing the light in her eyes makes me happy, knowing we are doing the right thing with Bailey.
Giving her the life she deserves. She is going to grow up with a lot of people in her corner, go to school and be a kid, and have fun.
Before I know it, we pull up at the mall.
Joker parks and helps Bailey down as I get out of the truck, though he narrows his eyes at me for not waiting for his help.
I walk over, and Bailey grabs my hand as she looks around the mall. “So, Bailey, do you know what colors you want to decorate your room in?” Joker holds the door open for us. The mall, thankfully, is not too crowded at this time as we head towards the department store.
She looks unsure as she looks at the both of us, shuffling her feet. “Is it okay if I do hot pink and black?”
Joker gets down to her eye level. “You can do whatever you want to. That’s your room now, and you can decorate it however you want. It’s your home, okay, Bailey Bee?”
She still looks unsure, and I hate that.
I think it’s going to take her a while for her to get used to us and the fact that we are never getting rid of her.
Which just honestly breaks my heart. But we will shower her with love so she knows we are in this for the long haul.
She now has an entire town that’s willing to go to bat for her. “Okay.”
Joker stands back up, smiling at her. “Good, now that it is settled, let's start shopping.”
We head inside the department store as Joker and I grab a cart each because I have a feeling we are going to be getting a lot of things. We find the aisle with all the bedding, and Bailey looks at each one until she spots one she wants.
She picks up the bedding, and I can hardly see her face, which makes us laugh. “I think I want this one.”
Joker takes it from her and places it in the cart as I pick up some extra sheets and other essentials she might need.
“That’s perfect, honey. Let’s head to the housewares section to see if there is anything you want there to decorate your room with.
Then we can go and get a new wardrobe.” As we walk towards another aisle, a thought has been gnawing at me.
“Bailey, did you go to school?” I know it’s summer break right now, but I never thought to ask her whether or not her mom even sent her.
She walks over to the pictures and starts looking. “Yeah, Momma sent me to school since she didn’t want them coming around asking questions.”
Well, at least she did something. Though I have a feeling it had a lot more to do with the school system not finding all the drugs in the trailer than anything else. “Did you like your school?”
“No, the kids there were mean to me. They made fun of me for not having the best clothes and because I didn’t have money for lunch.
So I sat by myself.” Bailey looks down at the floor, breaking my heart.
I look over at Joker, and he’s pissed off right now at the treatment Bailey got.
I know he’s trying to control his temper so as not to scare her.
I lower myself until I’m at eye level with her and gently wipe the tears from her face.
I pull her to me, hugging her as her small frame clings to me.
“Oh, sweetie, I’m so sorry you went through that.
You never have to go to that school again.
There is an amazing private school in town that we can send you to, where you will thrive and make so many friends. They are going to love you.”
She pulls back and looks at me as I push her hair behind her ear. “I never have to go back?”
“I promise you that you will never have to go back there again.”
“Thank you, Madison.” Her voice cracks as she throws her arms around me once more, crying into my shoulder. I look over at Joker to see him watching the both of us with a tender look on his face, and I know everything is going to be okay as long as we have each other.