Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50753 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50753 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
“No! Bla!”
“I think she wants to stay with me,” Blade said. “We’re pretty good friends.”
“Watch out, Ellen. Kinsley’s been spending too much time with Sapphire. Her aunt’s alternative lifestyle choices are starting to wear off on her,” Amelia suggested cattily, making Sapphire struggle not to roll her eyes at the jab. “You should have let me babysit instead of going to that ramshackle play-jewelry store.”
“Sapphire was an absolute doll to take care of Kinsley, and my daughter loves her aunt,” Ellen said stiffly as Blade rose with the toddler in his arms.
Blade patted a sniffling Kinsley on the back and stared directly at one cousin and then the other. “Just to let you know, there’s a reason I’m called Blade. I’m very protective of Sapphire and won’t allow anyone to speak poorly of her.”
“Oh, we were joking. She’s used to us kidding around,” Aaron said with a chuckle.
“I’m not.” Blade’s gaze locked with Aaron’s until the other man looked away.
“So, you brought your own hitman, Sapphire. What a hoot,” Amelia said, appearing completely unsettled despite her bravado.
“She brought the only person who could get Kinsley to sleep. I’m more than grateful to have you here, Blade,” Ellen said, waving a hand at the angelic face snoozing on the biker’s leather cut. “Besides, all these jokes are old. Surely, we’ve grown out of picking on each other by now.”
“I agree,” Bonnie said, beaming at Blade as if he were the mayor of Shadowridge who’d come to join their barbecue.
“Let me get you a beer, Blade,” Sapphire’s father volunteered.
“Thank you, Grant, but I’ll take a soft drink. I don’t drink when Sapphire is riding on my bike,” Blade answered.
“You’re a good man, Blade. I like you already,” Grant complimented him. “Ellen makes the best lemonade. Can I get you a glass?”
“I’d like that. Thank you.”
“Blade, come say hello to my husband, Stan. He’s minding the grill, but he’s always wanted to ride a motorcycle. Beware. He will have lots of questions,” Ellen said, looping her arm with Blade’s.
“You okay, Blue Eyes?” Blade asked.
“I’m good. Go talk to Stan,” Sapphire encouraged. Her brother-in-law would be tickled to meet anyone who could save him from his daughter’s tears. Kinsley had her daddy wrapped around her little finger.
Daddy. Oh, how that word could mean such different things.
“Sapphire, come talk to me. I haven’t heard what you’re doing in your shop these days. And you’ll have to tell me how you and Blade met,” her mother said, linking her arm with Sapphire’s.
“That’s got to be a good story. Sapphire was standing on a corner…,” Aaron started and closed his mouth with an audible snap when Sapphire’s mother whirled around to shake a finger at him.
“Aaron Jones. You may either talk nicely to Sapphire or leave. I may be old, but I understand what you are insinuating, and I’m appalled at your manners. Or lack of them. That’s the last time I want to hear you say something mean-spirited to Sapphire. Or to Blade. Ellen only invites you and your sister because I insist.”
Sapphire’s mouth fell open as she replayed her mother’s words in her mind. Her mother was an absolute angel, but she always tried to make everyone happy. Sapphire couldn’t believe her mom had said any of that.
“Yes, Aunt Bonnie. I’m sorry. I was teasing,” Aaron apologized stiffly.
“That teasing stops today. You’re not good at it. Unless you’re deliberately trying to be mean,” Bonnie told him as Sapphire looked on in shock.
“Of course he isn’t. Aaron, enough with the bad comedian routine.” Amelia turned on him.
“You too, Amelia. Be nice or leave,” Bonnie told her. “Come on, Sapphire. Let’s sit in the shade. I want to catch up.”
Sapphire glanced back over her shoulder as the cousins looked at each other. What had just happened here? It was as if Blade’s stance had shown her family how wounding her cousins tried to be. The corners of her mouth tilted upward. The Shadowridge Guardians MC cared for their own. Who knew she’d just needed a biker group in her corner?
“Thanks, Mom,” Sapphire said, sitting in a chair. It took effort not to wince at the effect of the hard Adirondack chair on her punished bottom.
“I don’t understand them. And I’m sorry. I should have said something long ago. Tell me about Blade. He’s different from the other men you’ve dated.”
“He’s definitely unique. Blade came to the shop to talk to me about designing a stone embellishment for weapons he crafts for motorcycles. He’d seen a bolo that I’d made for a cowboy.”
“Now, what’s a bolo?” her mom asked.
Sapphire smiled and explained. They were immersed in a conversation when Ellen came to join them with three glasses of lemonade.
“Oh, I lost track of time. Do you need some help?” her mother asked.
“Nope. With Blade as the baby whisperer, I got everything ready in a jiffy. It’s amazing what you can get finished without a toddler clinging to your leg.”