The Switch by Debra Kayn (shoe dog free ebook .TXT) 📕

when Trip comes home." She shook her head. "I just don't understand who those men were and why he'd send me here like it was dangerous to stay at the clubhouse."

Speeder's cheek twitched before he met her gaze. If she expected him to answer, she was disappointed. Maybe he didn't know, but she was sure that at no time had Trip talked to Speeder and told him about getting her to the house.

Unless Trip's confusing conversation he had in front of her was to Speeder.

"Are you guys working undercover?" She grasped onto her thoughts as they hit her, remembering Trina mentioning her dad's freaky hearing. "Are you wearing a wire or earpiece?"

"No. I'm a biker. A member of Avery Falls Motorcycle Club."

He'd answered too fast. He hadn't even blinked at her odd question.

Clenching her teeth, she exhaled harshly in frustration. She was starting to lose it.

The front door opened, and Trip filled the area. As quickly as she rocked to the tips of her toes, relieved to see him, she fell flat on her feet at the wildness emanating from him. Covering her mouth, she gawked, having never seen him appear so disheveled.

She thought nothing would irritate or anger him, but she tasted frustration coming from him.

He pulled his gaze from her and looked at Speeder. "Outside."

Speeder got up and walked to the door. Left standing in the house, Bonnie couldn't move. She was hurt. And, she was right. Speeder knew more than he'd let on.

The kids entered the room. She lowered her hand, not wanting to upset them more.

"Trip back?" Zach plopped down on the couch. "I thought I heard a motorcycle."

She swallowed, prying her tongue off the roof of her mouth. "Yes. He's talking with Speeder outside."

"Sweet." Kenny wiped his sweaty forehead. "I want to see if he'll let us swim."

Zach slapped Kenny's arm. "We don't have our trunks."

"So, he probably has extra ones we can borrow."

"They'd fall down on you." Trina elbowed Kenny. "You're too skinny."

"Whatever."

Even the kids teasing each other couldn't distract her from what was happening outside. She sat down in the chair across from the couch. Trip had a lot of explaining to do if he thought they could make their relationship work.

She couldn't put the boys in a home where there were any risks. If he were involved in something dangerous or illegal, she'd need to tell him goodbye.

It would break her heart.

But, the boys came first.

Zach yawned loudly. Her chest squeezed. They should be home, getting ready for bed. School started on Monday, and the last thing they needed was stress before the big day. Starting a new school caused enough damage to their young bodies.

The door opened. Speeder stuck his head in the room. "Trina, let's go."

Trina stood from the couch. "Bye."

The boys told her goodbye. Once she left, Trip came in and shut the door.

With her boys in the living room, the mama bear in her came out. She crossed her arms. "What was that all about?"

Trip sat in the other chair, leaned forward, and braced his elbows on his knees. "I can't tell you."

"You can't...?" Her voice raised, and she shook her head, getting control of herself. "Who were those men?"

Trip's mouth tightened. She waited exactly thirty seconds—she counted, between praying that he would answer. His reluctance to talk with her pushed her over the edge.

She wasn't going to do this in front of the kids and worry them needlessly. "Boys, let's go."

"Bonnie..."

She shook her head, stopping Trip. It was too late.

Standing by the door, she bit her tongue as Kenny held up his fist as he passed Trip and received knuckles in return. Her heart ached for what could've been.

There were many things she could overlook. It wouldn't matter if Trip were a poor biker who lived in a rundown cabin, and the only thing he had to give them was his time. She would've bent over backward to keep that kind of man in her life who loved her and loved her boys.

But putting her boys in danger and refusing to talk about it. Well, she wouldn't allow that. No matter how much she loved Trip.

Chapter Thirty Three

Parked beside the river, Bonnie stared out at the water, rolling over the jutting rocks. The boys would be out of school any minute and were told to walk across the bridge afterward to meet her, and she'd drive them home.

There was no bus service in Avery Falls. Most of the kids lived in town and were within walking distance. Because she lived out on the knoll, she'd set it up for her sons to walk to The Shack and do their homework until she was off work and could take them home.

Except, she'd gone to St. Maries today while the kids were in school.

She looked over at the bridge as traffic picked up. A group of kids walked in a single file near the guard rail.

Spotting her boys, she smiled. In all aspects of their life, things were back to a new normal. Her eyes burned. While her love life was falling apart.

Starting the car, she pulled out to the road. As soon as Kenny got close enough, she honked and waved out her window.

Zach and Kenny broke away from the other kids. She inhaled deeply, putting on a brave face as the shock over the day's events wreaked havoc on her body.

The doors opened, and her sons piled in, reaching for their seatbelts. "Good day at school?"

"I guess." Zach reached for the radio.

She stopped him from blasting the car with music. "How were the teachers? Do you move around from class to class or stay in one spot because of how small the school is?"

"We moved two times. We stay in homeroom until after lunch when we go to the gym and then to another class for math and science," said Kenny from the backseat.

"They don't have a regular gym class here where you have a different sport every quarter. We basically get to go outside