Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 198

CHAPTER 116-2

We went inside, and the bakery smelled incredible.

Fresh bread, cinnamon rolls, coffee, and warm pastries filled the air and looked at Jace.

“This was a good idea.” I said and he smiled.

“I knew you’d like it.” He said.

We ordered coffee, sandwiches, and slices of cake, and then everyone found seats outside.

I sat beside Jace while Diesel rested underneath the table as Mason took a bite of his pastry.

“This might be the best thing I’ve eaten all week.” Mason said and Emma looked at him.

“You said that about dinner last night.” Emma said.

“That was before this.” He said and she laughed as Derek sat across from us.

“How many pastries have you had?” Derek asked as Mason looked offended.

“That’s private.” Mason said and everyone laughed.

The children started trading pieces of cake, and one little girl ended up with chocolate on her cheek so I handed her a napkin.

“Here.” I said.

“Thank you.” She said as she smiled at me.

Then she ran back toward the others and I watched them for a moment as Jace was watching me.

“What?” He asked but I shook my head.

“Nothing.” I said.

“That isn’t nothing.” He said and I smiled.

“I was just thinking.” I said.

“About?” He asked as I looked around the table.

“How different this feels. I used to come here and feel like I was visiting someone else’s family.” I said and his expression softened.

“Do

you still feel that way?” He asked as I looked at him.

“No. I don’t.” I said.

He reached beneath the table and took my hand.

“I’m glad.” He said as I squeezed his fingers.

“I finally feel like I belong.” I said and he smiled.

13

CHAPTER 12-

“You’ve belunged for a long time.” He said.

“Maybe.” I said as I looked around again.

“Now I actually believe it. Tadded and he kissed my temple.

“You should.” He said.

Claim

We stayed at the bakery for almost two hours, and by the time everyone was ready to leave, the children had been given enough sugar to power a small city and Mason looked exhausted.

“I regret everything.” Mason said and Emma laughed.

“You bought them the candy.” Emma said.

“I know.” He said.

“Then suffer.” Emma said and I laughed with everyone else.

We packed up and started preparing for the ride home.

The motorcycles were checked again, helmets were secured, and everyone climbed back onto their bikes.

I mounted mine and looked toward Jace.

“Ready?” I asked.

“Always.” He said and we pulled back onto the road.

1

The afternoon sun had warmed the pavement, and the ride home was even more relaxed than the trip

there.

I rode beside Jace, and for a while, neither of us spoke. We didn’t need to.

The road stretched ahead of us, and the sound of engines filled the air.

Eventually, we approached a quiet stretch of road surrounded by trees and Mason slowed near the front of the group.

Something had caught his attention so I looked ahead.

There was an abandoned vehicle sitting near the edge of a dirt road.

It looked like an old dark SUV, and it had been left partly hidden behind a group of trees so Jace slowed and I followed.

“What happened?” I asked and he shook his head.

“I don’t know.” He said as the group pulled over.

Diesel had been riding in the truck with one of the club members, but the moment the truck stopped, he jumped down and he ran toward the roadside.

“Diesel!” I yelled but he ignored me.

He reached the edge of the dirt road and stopped. His body stiffened and then he started barking.

24

CHAPTER 16

The sound echoed through the trees and Jace climbed off his motorcycle.

“What’s wrong with him?” Jace asked as I walked closer.

Diesel kept barking at the abandoned SUV. He wouldn’t move and his ears were forward, and his entire body was tense. So Derek walked toward us.

“He’s picked up something.” Derek said as Jace looked at the vehicle.

“Nobody touch it.” Jace said as I stared at the SUV.

Clarm

There was something about it that felt familiar. The dark paint. The shape. The position beside the road.

Then I remembered the vehicle that had been watching Lawson Customs and my stomach tightened.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify