"Yes."

"Have you lost your mind?"

"Fortunately, Willa, money isn't something I need to worry about. When our engagement is over, I'll sell it or keep it for the club to use."

Willa stared out the window at the pa.s.sing scenery. How did he not have to worry about money on a pastor's salary? Then again, she didn't feel it was any of her business since their engagement was a pretense for the children's benefit, not an opportunity to stick her nose into his private affairs.

"Were you able to finish the cakes you were working on last night?"

"Yes." Willa yawned. "I was able to finish decorating them this morning before the girls woke. I don't get much accomplished when they're in the kitchen. They like playing with the frosting."

"I do, too," Lucky muttered.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing. I was saying your cakes are very good. You've worked hard on your business. Have you found a place to open a store yet?"

"No. You're right; the building next to the diner is going to need too much work, but the other property I was looking at is too expensive. I'll keep looking. The right one will come along," she said. "I may not need more s.p.a.ce, anyway. If the children's relative is found, I won't need the additional room"

Lucky gave her a brief glance before looking back to the road. "Willa, we may need to be realistic. He may not be found in time."

Willa's stomach sank as her greatest fear was realized.

"I've already thought of that. I really don't want the girls to go to the Wests. I know they attend your church, but..." Willa shrugged, unable to say just what her objections were and not wanting to come off as silly.

"I agree. I don't think the Wests would be the best placement for them, nor do I want Leanne to be forced into a group home," Lucky said grimly.

"I don't, either. I've asked a few couples in town whom I think would make excellent foster homes, but the idea of taking in five children is too much for them to handle."

"It wasn't for you."

"Believe me, it's been hard. I've almost thrown in the towel several times."

"Why haven't you?"

"Because I know how hard it is to live in a home you're unhappy in, and I can't do that to a child when I can make a difference. I'll do what I have to in order to make them happy."

"Enough to marry me?"

Shocked, Willa stared speechlessly.

"Because it may come down to it despite Knox's efforts, and the investigators searching for their next of kin may not find them in time."

"Maybe we can say we decided to have a longer engagement..."

"Child Services only agreed to let you keep the children because our marriage is soon. If we try to delay it, they could possibly place the children until we are."

"What am I going to do?" She began trying to think of other ways to circ.u.mvent the children being taken; however, she was coming up blank.

"We could get married then get an annulment after we find them a suitable home."

Lucky's suggestion was the last one she had expected.

"Why would you do that?"

"You're not the only one who wants to help. Several people in the community would have helped the last few months if you had let them, but you don't have a choice now. Either you accept my help or lose the kids."

Willa stared down at her hands. "I'm used to relying on myself, but I was wrong. If I had taken help, I might not be in this position now. It doesn't come easy to me, accepting help."

Lucky's hand left the steering wheel. "How about you lean on me for a while? If I can handle a church full of parishioners, I think I can deal what comes your way."

His confidence irritated Willa, so she decided to see how well the c.o.c.ky biker would cope with the pressure she was under. Asking G.o.d if all men were jerks or just the ones she came in contact with was another question to add to her ever-expanding list.

"Jerk."

"What did you say?"

"I said, fine."

"How about that one?" Willa pointed at a ring with a small diamond that was in the clearance section of the jewelry case.

Lucky stared at the ring. "It's not very big."

"I don't want a big stone. It will make it harder to sell."

She and Lucky each held one of the young girls, while Leanne and Charlie were staring in fascination into the gla.s.s cases.

"I like that one." Chrissy took her thumb out of her mouth long enough to point at a large, garish ruby ring.

"That's not an engagement ring, but I like the red, too." Willa hugged the little girl closer.

She felt Lucky's gaze on her as she walked up and down the aisles, looking into the various cases. The middle-aged saleswoman focused her attention on Lucky. If Willa was really engaged to Lucky, she would be jealous as heck at the attention he was getting from her. Instead, Willa skirted the section they were at, going to the end. It was obviously full of the more expensive items in the store. Willa was about to turn away when her eyes were caught by a ring that had her unintentionally gasping.

It was rose gold with a pink diamond in the center, surrounded by smaller diamonds. It wasn't like the other engagement rings. It was more frivolous and feminine looking and completely unlike anything she owned, but she fell in love with it immediately.

"You like that one?" Lucky asked.

Willa jumped. "I was just shocked at the price."

The saleswoman reached in the case, pulling the ring out. "It's one of the most expensive rings we have in the store." Her condescending att.i.tude struck Willa like a slap in the face. When they had arrived at the store, the woman hadn't tried to hide her reaction when Lucky had introduced her as his fiancee.

Then she quoted a price that had Willa taking a hasty step back.

"I like the other ring much better. It won't get in my way when I'm cooking. I don't wear much jewelry."

The cheaper pieces always broke or tarnished, and the more expensive pieces she would have treated herself to occasionally were invariably budgeted out when her bills came.

"We'll take the other one, then."

The saleswoman placed the ring back in the case, walking back to the clearance section to pull out the smaller ring, and Lucky pulled out his wallet.

"Which one are you getting?" Leanne asked, coming to her side.

She looked at the counter, seeing the ring that was sitting waiting to be bagged.

"It's very pretty."

Leanne's reaction didn't bother Willa. She was determined to give Lucky the money back for the ring, and it cost exactly the amount in her savings account. The down payment on her store would simply have to wait until she could sell the ring after their fake engagement ended.

Willa hadn't expected to be able to wear it out of the store, but the ring fit surprisingly well and didn't need to be sized. It felt strange on her finger after she slid it on.

The children were becoming restless. Willa was grateful Lucky was driving since she was able to deal with Caroline's temper tantrum by digging out her blanket from her large purse. Content, the little girl quieted.

Lucky gave her a lighthearted grin. "You okay?"

"The screaming doesn't bother you? Most men would be freaking out."

"Doesn't bother me. Rider throws worse tantrums when he has to work overtime," Lucky joked.

"I can't imagine Rider throwing a tantrum. He seems very laid-back."

Lucky snorted. "Wait until you see him p.i.s.sed off."

"I'll pa.s.s, even though I still think you're exaggerating."

Lucky helped her inside with the children when they arrived back at her house.

"I need to get back to the church to get ready for tonight's service. I'm sorry, but because we're engaged, everyone will expect you to be there."

"I don't mind," Willa a.s.sured him.

Lucky gave her a brief nod as he pa.s.sed by her to leave.

She hesitantly reached out to stop him. "Thank you for all of your help."

Lucky's expression hardened. "Don't thank me, Willa. I don't want to see you get hurt..."

Her hand dropped to her side. "Don't worry, Lucky. I won't forget you're pretending to be engaged to me. I won't make the mistake of believing you care about me for a second." With that, Willa opened the front door.

"Good, I'm glad we understand each other."

Lucky wanted to slam his fist against the door that was shut at his back. As an alternative, he walked to the new SUV, wishing he had kept his mouth shut. He hadn't meant his words the way Willa had taken them. He had started to tell her what he had meant then realized it was better to leave it alone. After all, they had no future together.

He sure as f.u.c.k didn't want to be her friend, and she would run from a s.e.xual relationship with him. He could imagine the shock and disgust on her face if she found out he liked to use his knives on women. The timid woman would be horrified if he ever pulled out his leather case containing the lethal blades of various sizes and shapes that he used during s.e.x.

Lucky drove to the church, going inside to his office and taking off his suit jacket. He was about to toss it onto the leather chair behind his desk when he realized the office wasn't empty.

Slowly, he turned to the window, seeing a large shadow standing in the dimness of the room. Turning on the light on his desk, he wasn't surprised at the man staring at him.

"I was wondering when you would show up," Lucky stated.

Bridge's mouth gave a menacing twist. "I wanted to congratulate you on your engagement."

Lucky kept his expression neutral. "Stay away from her."

"Why the f.u.c.k would I do that?"

"Because I'm telling you to. Go near her and I'll kill you."

"Don't make me laugh. If you were going to kill me, you would have already done it or had Shade do it for you. The worst thing you're going to do to me is make my dogs fat." Bridge casually walked across the room and sat down on the chair in front of his desk.

"I made him promise to stay out of our s.h.i.t."

"I bet that put his b.a.l.l.s in a twist."

"He wasn't happy," Lucky agreed. It had placed a wedge between them, but because his and Bridge's vendetta didn't involve the club, Shade wouldn't break his promise.

"That motherf.u.c.ker doesn't know what being happy feels like."

"Yes, he does," Lucky replied.

"I heard he was married with a kid. So, he's happy?"

"Yeah, he loves Lily."

"f.u.c.k me. Miracles do happen." Bridge snorted in disbelief.

"Yes, they do," Lucky affirmed.

Bridge's expression filled with agony before he concealed his reaction. "Not when it matters and not for the ones who deserve it."

Lucky winced at his jibe. "What do you want me to say that I haven't said a thousand times before? I'm sorry about Kale. If I could go back to that day and make a different choice, I would, but I can't."

"I wish I could go back, too, and ask someone else to watch out for him, someone who would have saved his life, not left him behind."

Lucky's body tautened. "I tried."

"Not good enough. The Last Riders didn't stop until they found Gavin's body, but I'll never have my brother's body to bury."

"I regret it every day of my life; what more do you want?"

"I want more than that. I want you to feel the pain of losing someone you love, to not be able to say goodbye to them, not have their body to grieve over. I want your life to become a living h.e.l.l like mine."

"My life has been a living h.e.l.l since the day Kale was killed."