The Bogus Biker by Judy Nickles Read Free Book Online Page B

Mother.”
    “No, sorry. What are you doing for supper tonight?”
    “Abigail’s cooking some seafood recipe she picked up in New Orleans.”
    “What was she doing in New Orleans?”
    “Library convention.”
    “I don’t know why they have conventions in a place like that. Who wants to sit in dreary meetings when there’s so much to do?”
    “Abigail said the sessions were interesting.”
    Why am I not surprised little Miss Prim and Proper went to the meetings instead of sight-seeing. “Have you seen your father recently?”
    “No.”
    “You should call him sometimes.”
    “I called him twice last week, but he wasn’t home. She was.”
    “Shana.”
    “Right. I left messages, but I guess she didn’t give them to him.”
    “Twit. Listen, Bradley, come over anytime for supper. Bring Rosabel with you.”
    “Mother, my relationship with Officer Deane is purely professional. It has to be.”
    “Oh, sure. I understand. Sorry.” She didn’t amend the invitation to include Abigail Talbot. That girl possesses about as much personality as a sloth on tranquilizers.
    “But I’ll see you sometime. Be careful.”
    “I’m careful. You need to take your own advice.” She’d never forgotten the first time she’d happened to hug him when he was wearing his bulletproof vest, and how she’d died a little inside.
    “Bye now, Mother.” He hung up.
    Penelope dropped the receiver back into the hook and stood thinking about the baby she’d rocked and nursed, so soft and safe in his sleeper and blanket. Now he wore a keflon vest and packed a gun so big it scared her just to look at it, much less think of what it could do to a human body. She’d raised him to follow his dreams—but sometimes what he was doing gave her nightmares.

 
    CHAPTER ELEVEN
     
    “Daddy, did you ever wish I’d been a boy?” Penelope asked while they ate less than authentic sweet and sour chicken, fried rice, and egg rolls from the deli. She’d tasted real Chinese food at the best restaurants in four states, and this wasn’t it.
    “Can’t say that I did. Why?”
    “I just wondered. Sometimes I think I wish Bradley had been a girl.”
    “He’s a good boy.”
    “I know that, but we’re not close like I might’ve been with a girl.”
    “Wynne and I were real happy with you, Nellie. Took us long enough to get you here. We’d about given up. Then when you were three, she had that late miscarriage, and by the time that was over, we knew you’d be all we’d ever have.”
    “I guess it’s a good thing Bradley was all I had, although I’d have liked one or two more.”
    “But not with Travis.”
    “Right. Not with Travis.”
    Jake shook his head and selected another egg roll from the pasteboard carton. “I knew he was a wild kid, but I never figured him for a womanizer after the two of you married. Reckon his folks are spinning in their graves out there at Pembroke Point.”
    I’d heard a few things before we married, but I thought he’d change. I was blessed wrong about that, now, wasn’t I? “At least I got Bradley out of the deal.”
    “You ever think about marrying again? I mean, Bradley’s grown, and you’re still young enough to…” His voice trailed off.
    “You know I can’t do that, Daddy.”
    “Because of the Church.”
    “I couldn’t give that up. It’s too important.”
    “You could at least go out some. I know you’ve been asked.”
    “Nope. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”
    “Not all men are like Travis Pembroke, darlin’.”
    She shrugged.
    “Don’t you miss having a man  in your bed?”
    “Daddy!” The blood rushed from her neck to her face and down again.
    “Well, Nellie, we’re two adults. It’s not like either one of us hasn’t…”
    “You’re my father, for blessed Pete’s sake! It’s indecent to talk about things like that.”
    Jake dipped the last bite of eggroll into the soy sauce. “I missed your mother like that. Still do.”
    But I’ll bet things