5

Little Toy Bikers and a Woman on the Run

Chapter 105 Protection

They enjoyed a home cooked dinner of pot roast, Southern style green beans with bacon and onions and twice baked potatoes thanks to the freezer full of food in the house's garage. Decker had even plated the food cooking show style so the food looked beautiful on the plate.

"This food is delicious and looks as good as it tastes," Jax said.

"Scarlett and I have marathon cooking sessions and pack the freezer with home cooked meals."

"It's a good thing," Scarlett said. "I can't stand long enough now to even chop an onion."

"You have to go to therapy," Decker said.

"I know," Scarlett said with some irritation in her voice. "I said I would go."

"Scarlett's mother was the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," Decker said. "Scarlett looks just like her."

"You always exaggerate. My mother was beautiful, but I don't look just like her."

"I think Scarlett's probably the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," Jax said.

He was speaking truthfully. She was beautiful with her cool blonde hair, wide green eyes with thick black lashes and full sculpted lips. He would never forget the sight of her in short shorts with her long perfectly shaped legs bending over the hood of her cherry red Corvette. What he lov . . . liked best about her though was the mischievous look in her eyes.

He didn't love Scarlett. That was a mental slip. Nothing more. He had only known her a few days. That was no where near long enough to form an emotional attachment to someone. That kind of crap only happened in bad romance movies and all romance movies were bad.

"Men and the lines they use," Scarlett said rolling her eyes. "Probably, huh?"

Jax flashed her that Jax Teller grin that melted the hearts of women.

"Well, darlin', I'd say you were the most beautiful woman, but I don't want you to get conceited."

"Thanks, I appreciate that," Scarlett said.

"I never thought about marriage and I definitely didn't want kids," Decker said finally continuing his story. "Scarlett's mother Clara was a few weeks pregnant when I met her. We married a month later."

"You aren't Scarlett's biological father?"

"No," Scarlett said. "He's my chosen father. He's my dad because he wants to be my dad."

"I'm on the birth certificate as her father."

Jax got it then. He understood why Scarlett thought he should be on baby Bela's birth certificate. She wanted to give the baby a father like she'd been given one. He felt this oddly moving. The vulnerable, softer side to Scarlett was irresistible. It also explained why there wasn't any physical resemblance between father and daughter.

"He is my father. He's the only person who has always been there for me."

"When they put her into my arms, she was fussing. She stopped as soon as I told her I was her daddy. She had a mass of dark curly hair and those incredible green eyes."

"Thanks a lot, dad," Scarlett said. "I almost had Jax convinced I was a natural blonde."

"I had dark hair when I was born too," Jax said with a grin. "I believe you are really a natural blonde."

Scarlett smiled at him.

"Isn't he wonderful?" Scarlett said to her dad.

Scarlett's dad shot her an amused look and continued his story.

"I felt so much love for that little baby with the green eyes and blonde hair. I wanted to take care of her, love her and protect her. I can't imagine what my life would have been like without her. My life is infinitely better and happier because we're a family. Her mother and I got divorced when she was only six, but I got custody."

For the first time, Jax really felt the loss of baby Bela. He would never have those times with that baby. It wasn't her fault he wasn't her father. He hoped he would have stepped up to be a real father to Bela like Decker had done for Scarlett. It said a lot about the man's character.

"My mother wasn't into motherhood at the time," Scarlett said drily. "She wanted to go out and have fun without worrying about a kid or a husband."

"It was a few difficult years for Clara. She straightened out when she remarried," Decker said, his jaw tensed up. "We shared Scarlett then, but I still had primary custody."

"Do you know anything about your bio-dad?"

"A bit. I've seen his picture, but I don't really like to talk about him and it's too painful for me to talk about my mother."

"I get that. When my father died in a bike crash, it took me a long time to be able to talk about it. It's a loss that never goes away."

"I never stopped loving Clara," Decker said.

"I need to find you a wife," Scarlett said.

"Watch out for Scarlett, Jax. She's got a cruel streak. That's the only explanation I can find for her wanting to get me married."

Jax laughed. He could feel the deep love and connection between Decker and Scarlett. It made him miss his father more than usual.

"I didn't have the best experience with marriage either," Jax said.

"My experience was great. It was the last three months when it all went to hell," Decker said.

"Let me get dessert," Scarlett said quickly. She grabbed the dinner plates and took them to the kitchen.

"Scarlett doesn't like talking about her mother especially about the divorce. Her mother just quit loving me. I've never understood how that could happen so fast. One day everything was great and then the next, she wanted out of the marriage and out of motherhood."

Scarlett brought in cheesecake topped with a blueberry sauce, all from the freezer.

"So exactly what are your intentions with my daughter?" Decker asked.

"Dad," Scarlett warned.

"I'm trying to teach her more acceptable social behavior," Jax said smoothly as though he had practice with the answer.

"Good luck with that," Decker said laughing.

"Very funny, you two. Jax got all upset because when he fell asleep while we were watching a movie, I put a few braids in his hair."

"That doesn't seem so bad."

"She put braids in my beard."

"Scarlett, how could you?" her father said with mock sternness.

Scarlett grinned.

"It wasn't easy. The hair is kind of short and it was really hard, but I managed to get a couple in."

Decker laughed.

"It wasn't my fault," Scarlett protested. "I was overcome with the need to braid his hair and he looked so cute when I finished."

"She was just overcome with the need to braid your hair. It wasn't her fault."

Jax shook his head and laughed.

"You always stick up for her?"

"Damned right. She's my daughter and I'll always stick up for her."

Decker left shortly after dessert. The three gathered in the hall to say good-bye.

"Jax, I left you a present on your bed in case you need to protect my daughter again."

"Thanks."

Jax left Scarlett and Decker to say a private good-bye. He was still within earshot when he heard Scarlett whisper fiercely to her father that she would kill him if he left condoms on his bed. He shook his head and laughed.

He discovered there was nothing on his bed. No condoms. Nothing. The bedspread was untouched.

Decker had left the house by the time he returned to the hall.

"You father didn't leave anything on the bed," Jax said.

"Check my room."

"You told him that . . ."

"Of course not."

Jax returned from checking the bed in Scarlett's room with an ear to ear grin.

"Your father is awesome!"

Jax was holding a top of the line ultra light Kevlar vest with Coolmax.