Page 50 of Christmas Wish
“Rock, Clotille wants you to help out with James,” Kylie said.
“Tell her I’ll be there,” Rock said, and Savannah noticed his dark eyes never left the stranger’s face.
“Ryder … think of Timmy. Please stop this from going any further,” Savannah pleaded.
His jaw seemed to soften a bit, and tenderness pushed away the anger in his brown eyes. “Brothers, leave it be.” He then pivoted toward the man, Timmy’s small hands buried in Ryder’s hair. “Move away and there won’t be trouble. Staring at a man’s woman is gonna get your ass kicked.”
The blond-haired man’s eyes shifted from Ryder to Savannah then to Rock and Jerry before he gave a slight shrug and walked away. Savannah exhaled slowly through her nose as her nerves calmed down.
“I know where that sonofabitch is staying,” Jerry said.
Savannah shook her head. “This is a misunderstanding. I just wanted to know if that guy lived here because he … looked like someone I thought I knew.”Why am I protecting that creep. Hewaswatching me—not checking me out like Ryder thinks. No … it was something else.
“This is Savannah,” Ryder said, breaking in on her thoughts. “This here is Jerry, and that’s Rock.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m sorry I caused this confusion.”
“No worries. When a brother needs something, we’re there,” Rock said, clapping his hand on Ryder’s back. “Later, bro.” The two bikers walked away and disappeared into the crowd.
“Is the whole club full of intimidating men like them? Wait, it is—Hawk and Banger fit that bill too,” Savannah said.
Ryder laughed. “They’re pretty typical. Rock’s the club’s sergeant-at-arms. Jerry’s old lady is Banger’s daughter.”
“That pretty blonde?”
“Yeah—Kylie.”
“What’s the sergeant-at-arms?”
“The heavy of the club. He’s in charge of clubhouse security along with enforcement of club rules and regulations. He’s the only one who can reprimand the president, should he fuck up, but Banger never does.” Ryder grinned.
“Look, they’re going to light the tree!” Timmy cried out.
“Awesome,” she said as she playfully pulled at her son’s boot. The boy giggled then riveted his gaze on the twenty-five foot tree. She snuggled against Ryder and watched as the mayor dramatically flipped the switch, lighting the tree decked out in tinsel, ornaments, and thousands of twinkling lights to welcome the Christmas season.
Timmy clapped his hands and laughed, darting his eyes from her face back to the spectacular tree.
“It’s beautiful,” she murmured.
“You’re beautiful,” Ryder said, planting a kiss on her lips.
Savannah stroked the side of his face with her gloved fingers, her body tingling all over.
“How did you like it,” Cara asked as she came over, Isa and Braxton in tow.
“I loved it. I’m so glad we came, and Timmy is having the time of his life,” Savannah replied.
Ryder lifted Timmy up and off his shoulders, and as his little body pressed against Savannah’s leg, he and Braxton high-fived each other.
Cara’s eyes switched between Savannah and Ryder, then she tightened the multi-colored scarf around her neck. “I’m having a little Christmas sleepover party for Braxton, Harley, and James—he’s Clotille and Rock’s son. I’d love it, and so would Braxton, if Timmy could come.” Again she glanced at Ryder then back at Savannah. “Clotille’s coming by to help out with the boys for a while, then it’ll just be me and Hawk. Believe me, we’ll keep a very good eye on them.”
“Yeah, their house is tighter than Fort Knox.” Ryder laughed.
“Can I, Mommy?” Timmy’s upturned face, full of hope and excitement, touched Savannah’s heart.
“So you were listening to us.” She put her hand on his shoulder and drew him closer to him. “I think it sounds like a lot of fun, so … sure.”
“Yippee!” Braxton and Timmy yelled in unison. Cara and Savannah laughed.
