Page 44 of Penn

“Because I’m so turned on by the woman spreading her legs for me,” he says.

I’m about to argue when his phone rings loudly, cutting through the quiet air. “Uh-oh.”

“It’s Jethro,” he says, picking it up. “Yeah?”

I know Jethro doesn’t call to chat. He’s the president of the Daredevils, and if he’s calling, something is needed.

“We’re on our way. Do they need anything?”

Sitting up, I’m suddenly worried. “What’s going on?”

He hangs up and jumps out of bed. “Misty went into labor. She has a preexisting condition that had her on bed rest, and Jethro says things aren’t going well. Zep’s about to lose his mind.”

I don’t jump out of bed as much as wobble my way off, but I dress as quickly as I can. I don’t know Misty well, but I know of her. She seems like a nice woman, and I know Zep’s madly in love with her. Not to mention her daughter, Bernie, who has enchanted the entire town.

I force myself to think good thoughts as we hurry to Penn’s pickup, and I hate how happy I am when he holds my hand while he races to the pickup. Things might be going terribly wrong for Zep and Misty, and it doesn’t seem right to feel happiness right now.

“We didn’t put Princess in her kennel,” I say. “That’s my fault. I’m sorry.”

He squeezes my hand. “It’s no one’s fault, and if she gets into anything, we’ll clean it up when we get home. This is more important.”

Fifteen minutes later, we pull into the hospital parking lot, and I see the row of bikes. A neat row of Harley-Davidsons all lined up and sparkling near the emergency entrance. Which does not bode well.

A sinking feeling hits me. This is where I’ll be in a few months. It’ll be me in Misty’s spot, and I just pray everything goes well for Misty and Zep. They’re bringing a new life into this world, and there should be nothing but joy.

We hurry through the sliding glass doors as quickly as my feet will allow, and I’m almost ready to tell Penn to go on ahead. That I’ll catch up. I hate holding him back.

“Don’t even think about it,” he mutters to me, and I can’t help but smile.

Of course he read my mind.

We reach the waiting room, and it’s filled beyond max capacity. It’s standing room only, and it feels far too small with all the leather kuttes, heavy boots, and murmured voices of worried men.

“Dixie, come take my seat,” Phoebe says, standing up from a spot in the back. “You shouldn’t be on your feet.”

Pacino pulls his wife onto his lap, and Penn leads me to where Phoebe just vacated. He helps me sit even though I’m more than capable of letting gravity assist me onto a chair, and Phoebe gives me a bright smile.

“How are you feeling?” she asks.

“I’m okay,” I say, taken aback at how cheerful she seems despite the circumstances. “Worried about Misty and Zep.”

“Things will be okay. I know they will.”

“Cheerful Phoebe,” Penn says, but there’s a warmth to his tone as he smiles at the blonde.

She just shrugs as Pacino kisses her neck. It’s cute how a big man who looks like he’s the biker version of Oscar the Grouch melts into someone who seems like the personification of sunshine.

“Any news?” Penn asks.

Jethro shakes his head, his red hair and beard setting off his strikingly blue eyes. “Not much. They took her back twenty minutes ago. Zeppelin went with her, but there’s something wrong. They won’t let him in with her, and he’s about to rip the doors off the hinges.”

My heart sinks. He’s her birthing partner. He should be allowed back, which means there’s a complication. Complications can be deadly.

Phoebe reaches out and takes my hand, and I close my eyes. Lord, please keep Misty and the baby safe. Don’t take either of them. It’s not their time.

Penn crouches in front of me, his hands on my knees making my eyes pop open. “You okay? Do you need me to get a doctor?”

Shaking my head, I give a shaky smile. “I was just saying a small prayer.”