Page 48 of Street

“Yes. My family doesn’t understand why I left my bone-crushingly demanding business career to come drive a forklift and join a motorcycle club.”

“Did he make things better?” The train wreck of Rosa’s existence had impacted all her decisions. She’d always wondered if she’d played the game better—if she hadn’t rebelled against losing importance to her mother and accepted being a barely tolerated stepchild and stepsister—what her life would be like now.

“I felt better after talking to him. I don’t know if Razor would say he actively helped me. He doesn’t do that. He coached me through my doubts of whether I’d made a mistake in undertaking such a major change.”

“What did you decide?” she asked.

Razor tugged one of her hands away from the blanket. He linked his fingers with hers. “I never thought my choices were wrong. And now that I’ve found you, I know this was the path I was supposed to take. You are my reward for being true to myself.” Razor lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss on her skin.

Her eyes filled with tears. How had she met this incredible man? She digested his statement. Maybe all her struggles hadn’t been a punishment. If she considered the many nights she’d gone to bed hungry and hoped she’d wake up safe as part of her journey to Street, to her Daddy, suddenly they paled in importance. She smiled at him and blinked away the moisture blurring her vision. Suddenly, the discomfort of having such an intimate checkup wasn’t important. She could do this easily for herself and her Daddy, especially because he would be with her.

“I think seeing Razor today is a good idea.”

“I’ll support whatever decision you make,” he said.

Rosa leaned down to press her mouth to Street’s. She tried to show him how much he meant to her in the exchange. He responded eagerly as if he craved her kisses. Her heart skipped a beat and sped up. When she forced herself to sit back again, they both breathed heavily.

“Damn, Little girl. I never imagined I could love you more than I do at any specific moment. You always show me how wrong I am. Every second we’re together helps me treasure you more.”

She gathered her courage. “I love you, Daddy.”

The heat flared in his eyes. “Repeat that.”

“I love you, Daddy.” This time sharing her feelings was easier.

He pulled her to the mattress and rolled Rosa onto her back. She pushed her arms against his shoulders. “Daddy, we can’t. Not before my exam.”

“Your rule, Rosa. Not Razor’s.”

“How about after my doctor’s visit, you bring me home and we spend the rest of the day in bed?” she said, wiggling her eyebrows in what she hoped was a seductive move.

His groan filled the room before he dropped his forehead gently onto hers. “Deal. That reward will definitely beat even the good lollipop treats at Razor’s office.”

Peals of giggles at his silliness welled from deep inside of Rosa. She couldn’t wait. Perhaps she could distance her mind from the physical with lascivious plans for their playtime afterward.

Chapter 18

Rosa perched on Street’s lap in the waiting room. She didn’t care if she seemed weird to the worried-looking woman who sat in a chair facing the hallway leading to the exam rooms. This seemed to be a safe space.

After several long minutes, Razor walked a man out to meet the waiting woman. The moment she saw him, she jumped to her feet and rushed forward. “Jim? Are you okay?”

“I’m sorry they called and bothered you, Beth. I’m fine. Razor patched me up perfectly.”

“How did you put a nail through your hand?” she asked.

“Pure stupidity and bad luck,” the man said before turning to Razor. “Thanks, Doc. For checking me out. I may not be too happy with you for that tetanus shot later.”

“Stop joking around, Jim. This is serious. What do I need to know?” she asked Razor.

“He’s off work for five days. Paid leave, of course. The nail luckily went through the meaty section of his hand and missed everything important. Watch for fever or any change of sensation in his fingers in the next twenty-four hours and call me immediately if anything happens. We’ll see if he would benefit from some therapy after he heals. No heavy lifting. Ice on and off the injury will help.”

Razor handed the woman a small sack of supplies and reviewed his medication.

“Two Devil Daddies will meet you at his car. One will drive the car home for you and jump on the other’s bike for a ride back here.”

“Oh, I can drive,” Jim protested.

“I’ll be glad to have Pirate change all your preset radio stations to AM, old-fashioned country stations if you cause trouble,” Razor said with a knowing stare.