With her striking almond-shaped green eyes and black hair, May was a complete knockout and clearly shy, if her blush at Emmie’s teasing said anything about it.
“So,” Em continued, turning eyes to me. “How goes the settling in? Did Amelia help you get things sorted for Riley’s school?”
Once I’d decided to move, Emmie and her network had been quick to put the wheels in motion. Amelia, yet another daughter from the MC, was a kindergarten teacher, and as luck would have it, I was able to get Riley in to her class as well as their aftercare program. As a single, working mother, having those details sorted was like having a boulder lifted off my chest. I was beyond grateful to know Riley was in such good hands.
“She did, thank you so much. Riley will love it,” I replied, hoping that was true. With those she was close to, Riley was outgoing and outrageously funny. But in new situations, she was shy and slow to come out of her shell. She was particularly cautious with men, even a bit leery.
“She’ll be fine,” Emmie mouthed with a wink in my direction just as the roar of motorcycle pipes rattled the windows. I turned, watching as a group of five bikers passed on the street, the Knights MC insignia bold and bright on their vests. A few of their faces were familiar but the man toward the back of the pack was new to me—as was the intake of breath he incited. With his blond hair tied back into a knot, his blue eyes fierce as his larger-than-life muscles strained, he looked like a Viking warrior.
I couldn’t remember the last time my body had responded to a man so unequivocally. I watched him avidly until he disappeared down the street and around the corner. The coffee shop felt nearly silent in the wake of the motorcycle’s heady rumble.
“That’s Cash Walker.” Emmie’s voice broke through my haze as she clearly picked up on where my gaze had been directed. “Good guy, trustworthy, not boyfriend material,” she warned.
I blushed at the insinuation. “Oh, I wasn’t…. I mean, I didn’t….”
She smiled knowingly. “I don’t blame you, he’s gorgeous. Knows it too, if you know what I mean.”
“Yeah,” I muttered, my gaze on Riley. She was my priority; it wasn’t like I had the time for men anyway. But I had to admit, Cash Walker could take up a fantasy or twenty. No harm in that.
“Are we doing dinner soon?” Emmie wanted to know.
The friends of Emmie’s I’d met so far had been friendly and kind to Riley. Truth be told, I was a bit intimidated. They were obviously a tight bunch, and I didn’t exactly have a roaring social life, being a single mom.
“If you want,” I agreed. “We’re just still settling in a bit.”
She nodded. “We’ll come over when you’re ready, just name the date.”
I nodded.
“It’ll be fun, promise.”
“Fun. I think I know how to do that,” I mused dryly.
She laughed before turning eyes to Riley, who was clearly growing restless after finishing her breakfast. “RiRi, are we doing manicures soon?”
“Yay!” she replied exuberantly.
I laughed. “I think that’s a yes.”
She stood, putting a hand on my shoulder and squeezing gently. “I’ll text you.”
I nodded, beyond grateful for this woman who’d decided to take me and my girl under her wing.
I’d always been fiercely independent, but now? I’d take all the help I could get.
Chapter 3
LAYLA
“Do you want chocolate with vanilla frosting or vanilla with chocolate frosting?” I asked Riley as she stared at me expectantly from the shopping cart. I could still get her to sit in one on occasion.
After needing to pick her up late from aftercare on only her third day of school, I was having a serious case of mom guilt, and Riley was cashing in. Hence our visit to the grocery store so close to bedtime.
I’d been working under a deadline for the past week and was beyond ready to wrap up my latest project.
She deliberated for a moment. “Chocolate with banilla.”
“Good choice.” I nodded, throwing the ingredients we needed into the cart.