Biker roots

Chapter 16 - Daughter

"Can I offer you lunch?" Ranger asks. I nod and follow him back to the kitchen. When I enter my mouth drops to the floor. It's the biggest and most beautiful kitchen I have ever seen. I let my fingers slide over all the different devices. They have a real Professional Falcon, I am almost drooling. If only Mom could see this. I look around and see that Ranger has a warm smile on his face. 

"I guess you like to cook." He says as he watch me. "Yeah, my mom learned me how too." I answer. He looks a bit disappointed. "Do you like to cook?" I ask. "I handpicked this kitchen myself. I like spending time in here. But I am a horrible cook." "Do you maybe want to make lunch together?" 

His eyes light up and he walks over to me. He points at the fridge; "Take whatever you need, will be cooking for three persons." "How about a Caesar salad?" He nods. I hand him the lettuce and show him how I want it chopped. I season some chicken and boil some eggs. I point at the stove. "Can I use this beauty?" "Of course, this is your home baby girl." He answers. 

We cook in silence together, but it's a nice silence. It almost feels like coming home. As I slide three plates on the counter Boulder walks in. He hugs Ranger and he looks at me. The intensity in his eyes makes me nervous. 

"I am sorry; if I had known you where my baby niece I would have never hit on you or offered you whiskey." Boulder apologizes. 

"YOU DID WHAT?" 

Ranger says clearly mad. He hits Boulder on the back of his head. "You're supposed to be the elder one, the wise one Boulder." "Have you seen her, she is smoking hot." Boulder tries to defend himself. "Yeah, but she is still my daughter." Ranger answers. My daughter, it feels nice to hear him say that.

"Can I hug you Little Lex?" Boulder asks. He wraps me in his arms and then it hits me. They both smell like nature, like that beautiful forest. The scent I always liked the most. And hot heavy tears stream down my face. As another pair of arms hug me I feel finally safe, loved and right where I belong. 

"What's wrong Lex?" Boulder asks as he studies my face. "Why are you calling me Lex?" I ask. "Because we both used to call you Lex. We wanted both the name Lex, but your mother, the witch insisted on Aleksa. " Boulder responds. And then I realize that Lex was also the name on that vest. "So that jacket is mine?" I ask carefully knowing how hard that jacket triggered Ranger. I can see Ranger smile. "Yeah the whole club insisted on giving it to you the day you were born. From the first day you were alive you were a Silent Rider." Boulder says proudly. 

Someone walks in and I recognize the guy from last night. "Something smells delicious in here." He says. "Wolf out." Ranger commands. Wolf hurries out the kitchen as fast as he can. "I am actually not that hungry." Boulder says suddenly, I can see how he is clearly not at ease. "Relax, I didn't cook, it's Alex." Ranger laughs. 

Both men take place and devour my salad within minutes. "Thank God she hasn't your cooking skills." Boulder says after he almost licked his plate clean. Both men laugh. "Maybe she can cook some of the food tonight? That way we don't have to starve." Boulder asks Ranger. Ranger looks at me. "Is that okay for you baby girl?" Ranger asks me. "I would love to, but I may need some help." "Rover would be happy to help." Boulder answers before Ranger can so much as say a thing. Ranger stare daggers at Boulder and I notice the sudden tension. 

I try to diffuse the situation I don't want another fight. "On second thought I can probably do it by myself unless we are speaking about more than 20 people." I say. "No the barbeque is limited to us guys, the family. Later one more guests will show up. But they don't need food, only booze." Ranger says. "I'll do it on one condition, I do everything, from making the side dishes to grilling the meat. Nothing worse than a bad cooked piece of meat." They nod and smile at me. 

"Rover said you are staying at that cheap motel. If it's okay with you, I like you to stay here." Ranger says. "I don't know." "Lex, that way both me and your father can keep an eye on you. Our parties tent to get heavy." Boulder says. "Okay, but you have to respect my boundaries. And I am not a cooking and cleaning maid." Both men laugh again. 

"You are adorable." I throw an icy stare at Boulder; "don't ever call me that again." The whole kitchen turns silent in a heartbeat. I hand Boulder my motel key and smile innocently at him, he disappears without saying a word. When I look over at Ranger I can see he has a huge grin on his face.

As we are cleaning the kitchen Ranger turns more serious. "Lex, I need you to be careful tonight. Not all our men are good guys." "What about Rover?" I ask. "Rover included." I look down at my plate in my hand. I know that Rover is trouble and yet I like him. 

"I won't forbid you to hang with him, but just be careful. He has a reputation to go through women the way normal people change their underwear." Ranger says. I laugh at the comparison. "But you told him to leave me alone." I look up at him. "Yeah I did. Rover slept in your bed last night didn't he?" Ranger answers. 

He got me and I immediately start to blush. "Baby girl, please be careful. I don't want to see you hurt." He pauses for a second. "After the letter I realized something, he never did that for any girl. And the way he looked at you, it reminded me off the way I used to look at your mother." Ranger says with a nostalgic smile. "But nevertheless I want you to be careful."

I made preparations all day long. I cooked different salads and marinade the meat. I even created a heavy cocktail and some snacks to start with. Boulder has shown me the guestroom, right next to his bedroom. He brought my suitcase and my stuff and placed everything on top of the bed. The bed in my old room isn't big enough so I am staying here. I hop in the shower, as the party is about to start in an hour. I can't be late on my own party. 

I quickly call my mom after the shower. She picks up on first ring. "Hi Mom" I say as she picks up. "Hi Sweetheart; I thought you said you were coming home today." She immediately answers. "Mom I am sorry I didn't call sooner, but I actually changed my mind." I hear her say something in the back ground about me not coming home. I hear someone curse. Dread fills my stomach. "Mom who are you talking to?" I ask. She doesn't answer my question. "Mom is that Felix?" I ask. "Sweetheart, don't be upset. He called to talk to me, and I told him you were coming home." Mom says. I am mad, why is he involving my parents in our fight. I said I needed space and time, this is definitely not it. "Mom please stay out of it." I answer. "I am sorry sweetheart." She responds. "It's okay. I just need some time that's all." "So did you find him?" she asks. "yeah, I did, this morning. That's why I am staying a bit longer." "Okay sweetheart, take all the time you need." Mom says. "Thank you mom, say hi to dad for me, would you? And please don't tell Felix about him, I will tell him myself." "Okay sweetheart, Love you." Mom responds; "Love you too Mom." Immediately after the call my phone vibrates and I get a text. I look at my screen, it's from Felix. 'Fox, who are you looking for? The persons that matter are right in front of you.' How dare he? I put my phone away and decide to focus on something else.

I look at my dresses and pick one. It's a short Bordeaux dress with open shoulders. I lace up my black combat boots and look in the mirror. Hope Rover will like this one. What am I thinking? He has probably already moved on to the next girl. 

I sigh and walk back to the kitchen, I am actually a bit nervous. Ranger and Boulder are standing in the kitchen discussing something. When I walk in the immediately fall silent. "What are you wearing?" Ranger says stern. "Yeah, you are definitely not wearing that." Boulder adds. I cross my arms and eye them up and down. "Boundaries?" I ask annoyed. They both smile at each other. "Man, I have been dreaming about the day I could tell her that." Ranger says. "Me too, brother. Me too." Boulder responds. I walk over and hug them. They squeeze me tight against their chest. "Come on I want to introduce you to the guys." Ranger says proudly. "Oh wait can you guys help me carrying the snacks and booze?" I ask. "You made snacks?" Boulder looks surprised at me. "Of course I did." Boulder places a kiss on top of my head. "You truly are a gift from God." He whispers. I roll my eyes at them and we head outside.

AsI walk out, all eyes turn on us. Or on me, I am not sure about it. Rover's eyes are roaming over my body. It looks like he is undressing me with his eyes. I blush a little and I notice he smiles, knowing the effect he has on me. He licks his lips and winks at me, I so hope that Ranger doesn't spot him. Everybody turns quiet and looks over at Ranger. "Guys, I like to present you my daughter Alex." Ranger says proudly. I blush even harder, I am the daughter of the president of the Silent Ryders.