Last Riders: Lucky's Choice Part 3

Willa had to force herself to listen as Drake discussed the properties that were available to rent in Treepoint. Her gaze kept straying to the mirror on the back wall that gave her a perfect view of Lucky and Rider leaving with the pretty waitress. She had blonde hair knotted smoothly on her head in a way that Willa was never able to achieve with her own messy hair, despite several spritzes of hair spray. She had even tried becoming a blonde herself during the time Lucky had been dating Beth.

Lately, Willa had given up trying to turn herself into a woman who would attract the opposite s.e.x-Lucky in particular. It had taken a lot of soul-searching, but she had finally come to the conclusion that The Ugly Duckling was a work of fiction, and there was no way her size twenty body was going to miraculously become a size six.

"I think your best investment would be to purchase the small lot of land next to this building. King's customers could get a taste of your desserts here and then stop at your shop to take more home. Several large restaurants are having their bakeries set up next door. It not only builds a customer base, but repeat business. There is also a spot opening in two months that's close to the diner. It wouldn't be as upscale as what you could accomplish if you built next to King's, but I think it would be lucrative all the same."

Willa dragged her eyes away from the window. The waitress had climbed on the back of Lucky's bike, holding tight to his lean waist as they roared out of the parking lot.

"I can't afford to buy the property and build new. How much is the rent for the one beside the diner?"

"Nine hundred a month," Drake answered. "If you're interested in buying the property, I would be willing to invest, Willa, and handle the financing."

Willa shook her head. "I would be too afraid you would lose your money. If I go under, at least it will only be my money lost."

Drake's lips twisted at her words. "You're not going to lose money. If anything, I think you're going to have a hard time managing to keep up with the demand you're going to have."

"There's already one bakery in town. Plus, the grocery store has a good selection. It's going to be hard making a go at a new business, but I can't keep up with the customers I have now in my kitchen. If I open a bakery, at least I can come home and not be surrounded by cakes and candy all the time. I might even manage to lose a few pounds."

Drake tilted his head to the side, his eyes going to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s that were pressed against the side of the table. "G.o.d, I hope not."

Willa gurgled with laughter. "If I didn't know the women you dated, Drake, I would be worried, but I happen to know who you're after."

Drake's affability disappeared, but his changed att.i.tude didn't deter her.

"Everyone in town knows you want Bliss."

"Everyone but Bliss." Drake's short reply didn't arouse sympathy for him since Drake often dated more than one woman at a time, so it wasn't like he was sitting home, pining for the attractive woman.

They had grown up living next to each other until he had moved out of his parents' home after graduating high school. Drake had married his high school sweetheart but they divorced when Jace was a baby. Willa didn't know the details of his failed marriage, but she had seen a change in Drake soon after his marriage. The laughing boy she had grown up with had gradually disappeared until Willa only saw traces of him the few times she spotted his motorcycle, riding through town.

"I think she does, but from what little Rachel has told me about The Last Riders, the women aren't allowed to see men who don't belong to the club."

"It doesn't stop the men from seeing women who don't belong to the club."

"Since when have women ever been given equal rights?" Willa questioned sarcastically.

"Ouch! I think I'm going to change this subject while I still have a d.i.c.k." Drake laughed.

"Don't worry, Drake; your d.i.c.k isn't the one I'd like to neuter."

Chapter 3.

Hearing the commotion from outside, Willa opened her front door hurriedly to find her house in complete disarray. The two older girls were arguing over the laptop needed to do their homework; Charlie was sitting in front of the television, playing a video game; and the two little ones were sitting on the carpet, the contents of her catering bag out onto the floor.

"Leanne and Sissy, I asked you to keep an eye on the children until I could get home." Willa brushed her fine hair away from her face.

The mutinous look from Sissy reminded Willa so much of her mother Georgia. Willa thrust the unkind thought away, not wanting her feelings toward Georgia to affect her feelings toward Sissy. The seventeen-year-old wasn't responsible for her mother terrorizing Willa through high school.

"I did. They're just playing," Sissy snapped.

Willa went to the younger children and began picking up the decorating tips.

Taking one of the tiny, metal tips in her hand, she showed it to Sissy and Leann. "This is small enough for one of them to choke on. I had this bag on the top shelf of the pantry. How did they reach it?"

Charlie took his attention away from the video game long enough to explain. "I climbed up on the stool to get it. I remembered you had markers. I thought the girls could play with them. I gave them paper to color on."

Willa sighed. The edible markers were strewn across the floor with the papers that had been neatly stacked on the kitchen counter when she had left.

Willa stared in dismay at the ruined orders that had been arranged by the date they were expected to be prepared, many now unreadable. It was going to take hours to call her clients and retake the orders, which was going to not only take time she didn't have to spare, but make her look unprofessional right when she was thinking about expanding her business.

Willa turned away, not wanting the children to see her blinking back tears that were not only from frustration but exhaustion.

"Willa?" Leanne's worried voice had her turning back to the children, pasting a composed expression on her face.

"Charlie, help the girls get cleaned up in the bedroom while I straighten up the living room. Leanne, can you pick up the decorating bag and place the items on the counter? They'll have to be washed."

Leanne began picking up the markers. "I'm sorry, Willa. I should have paid more attention to what they were doing."

Sissy made no attempt to help her sister. Her stubbornness, surely a result of the traumatic adjustment she was going through. It had to be hard on the girl losing her mother, then her uncle, and then being forced to live with the woman who had killed him.

"Are you finished with your homework, Sissy?"

"As much as I can do on my own. I'm not good in chemistry." She snapped the computer closed, carelessly tossing it onto the couch.

"After I finish dinner, I could help you..."

Sissy snorted. "How could you help me? You're a stupid, fat cow!"

Willa flinched, but she didn't let her expression betray her hurt.

"A friend of mine is very good in chemistry. I could call her and ask if she would be willing to help," Willa offered.

"Who?" Sissy asked suspiciously.

"Rachel Adams."

"That's Jace's cousin."

Willa saw the first spark of interest in the girl since she had moved in her home. Leave it to a male to accomplish what I can't, Willa thought.

"Yes. Would you like me to call her?"

Sissy tried to unsuccessfully appear disinterested. "Whatever."

"I'll call as soon as I finish picking up."

Sissy began to put away Charlie's game controllers then helped Leanne without Willa having to urge her. When the living room was done, and she had settled the little ones in the backyard to play with the cat she had adopted, she placed the call to Rachel.

"h.e.l.lo."

"Hi, Rachel, this is Willa. I hate to ask, but I have a favor if you're not too busy."

"Not at all. What do you need?"

"I was wondering if you would be able to help Sissy with her chemistry homework tonight. I know it's an imposition at this late notice."

"I'm sitting here, bored to death while Cash is working late at the factory. I can be there in thirty minutes."

"Thanks, Rachel."

"No problem. I'll see you in a few minutes."

Willa hung up and glanced at a waiting Sissy. "She'll be here in thirty minutes."

Sissy nodded then went back inside the house without a thank you, wearing the same expression of dislike that she constantly wore.

Willa played with the children outside for twenty minutes then hustled them inside so she could finish dinner.

She was wiping Caroline's face off when the doorbell rang. She went to answer the door, but Sissy was already opening it.

"Hi, Rachel. I really appreciate you helping Sissy."

Rachel came inside with a bright smile on her face, relieving Willa of the thought that she had possibly put her out.

"I was only watching some television, Willa. I don't mind at all."

Willa left Rachel and Sissy alone as she went to the kitchen, afraid she would draw a sharp comment from Sissy. She let the children play at the table with the Play-Doh she kept on hand for the girls to keep them busy when she was baking so as not to disturb the tutoring session.

She fixed dinner plates for the children, sitting at the table with them while they ate. The younger girls played with their food more than they ate, but Willa didn't force them to finish their food. Charlie finished his plate, even asked for seconds. The children were each so different it kept Willa on her toes to keep them satisfied.

When Charlie finished, she took them upstairs and readied them for bed. The girls were yawning, while Charlie was fighting bedtime. Willa let them all lie on her bed and put on their favorite show as she lay and watched it with them. Chrissy fell asleep, cuddled next to her, while Caroline and Charlie watched the program.

Once it was over, she put the girls in bed before checking on Charlie. She pulled his covers up from the bottom of the bed, covering the boy who was staring up at her.

"Willa, I'm sorry I gave the girls the bag. I wanted to play my game, and they were bugging me."

Willa smiled down rea.s.suringly at the sleepy-eyed boy. "It was Sissy and Leann's responsibility to watch you and the girls. You're a little young to be a babysitter. But I do want you to be more careful with what you give them, Charlie."

"I will. I promise."

"I'll take that promise and give you one in return. I won't leave the girls with you anymore without a responsible adult." Willa made the vow to herself and Charlie, always learning from her mistakes.

"Are you mad at Leanne and Sissy?"

Willa shook her head. "I don't get mad. I just want to take care of you and your cousins."

Charlie's eyes drooped as she turned out his light, closing the door softly as she left.

Willa knocked on Leanne's door, opening it when she heard the girl's reply. The fifteen-year-old was sitting at the desk Willa had purchased for her.

"It's almost bedtime."

"I'm almost finished. I was about to take my shower."

When Willa turned to leave, she saw that Leanne was about to say something, but didn't. The girl knew she had made a mistake, yet like her older sister, she wasn't ready to take responsibility for the house being in chaos when Willa returned.

"Good night, Leanne." Willa left, wis.h.i.+ng the girl would learn to trust her. It was going to take time, and Willa realized the adjustment was clearly as difficult for her as for Sissy. Just because she was the least troubled, it didn't mean her emotions weren't in turmoil.

Willa went down the steps as Sissy and Rachel were closing the laptop.

"Thanks, Rachel." The friendly tone in the usually abrasive girl had Willa raising her brow.

"Sissy, I left a plate for you in the kitchen," Willa told her, hoping her better mood would save her from another of Sissy's stinging retorts.

"I'm not hungry." Sissy brushed past her as she went to the steps.

Willa moved to the side of the couch, seeing Rachel's concerned gaze. It was the same expression everyone always gave her. They believed she was weak and helpless. She wasn't, though. She simply didn't like confrontations, preferring to go out of her way to avoid them, but that didn't make her a wimp. It made her cautious.

"Is there anything else I can do to help out?" Rachel offered.

"No, I have everything under control." Willa kept her voice firm.

"All right then. Don't hesitate to call if you do. I imagine it can be overwhelming with five children and a business to run. I don't mind pitching in if you need me."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Willa walked Rachel to the door where Rachel paused with a confused frown directed at her.

"Can I ask why you didn't help Sissy?"

"She didn't think I could." Willa refused to show that her feelings had been hurt by a teenager. After all, everyone knew teenagers were difficult to deal with.

Willa tried to be understanding. If Sissy needed to spill her venom in her direction, then she could tolerate it until her relative could be found.

"You didn't tell her that you won the science award four years in a row?"

"Sissy wanted you. I think she wanted an in with your cousin Jace."

Rachel shuddered. "She asked me several questions about him, which I avoided. Those two together would not be good."

Willa stiffened. "You think Sissy would be a bad influence on Jace?"