His Loyal Rebel - Debra Kayn Page 0,29

on the kid's face, eliciting giggles. The boy grabbed Whip's beard, shaking his head.

A woman, carrying a little girl, stopped at the table, handing Whip the younger child. Twyla lost her appetite.

Whip grabbed both of the kids, keeping them seated on his lap as if he carried around young children every day.

"Watch them for five minutes? Please?" The woman kissed Whip's forehead when he nodded.

She stared at the back of the woman as she threw herself at another man, laughing when he scooped her up and carried her out of sight. Snapping her gaze to Whip, she found him watching her intently.

Guilty of staring, she picked up her fork and moved the prongs through the remaining bites of salad she no longer wanted to eat. Never in her life had she messed around with a married man or even one that was only dating another woman.

That was gross.

Bikers were notorious for screwing around, whether they were married or not. All the time she spent with Whip, she never thought of him having a wife or girlfriend or ex.

She curled her lip and looked away from him. Her opinion of him hit rock bottom. He was no different than Big, wanting the latest thing that tickled his wiener.

"Momma?"

"Your momma will be right back," said Whip.

"She's going to cry," shouted the little boy over the music.

"Don't tease your sister."

"Momma?"

"Already told you, sweetpea. She wants to talk to your daddy. Give her that, huh?" said Whip.

Twyla glanced at Whip again. The mother had two kids by two different men? Whip was okay with that?

"Hey, say hi to Twyla." He scooted the boy around. "This is Rocky. This sweetpea is Elizabeth, but we all call her Bethy."

She forced a smile as the kids looked at her curiously. "Hi."

"That was my sister who ran off." Whip's mouth softened in amusement. "You've met Rick. He's married to Tracy."

The relief that hit her came out in a huge exhale. He was the children's uncle.

At least she could wipe having oral sex with a taken man off her long record of unforgivable acts she'd committed.

"Momma?" The little girl held her hands out to Twyla.

She raised her brows. Hadn't Whip explained that her momma was in the other room?

"She wants you to hold her," said Whip.

"No, she asked for her mom." She set the fork down.

"Every woman is momma to Bethy." Whip tightened his hold on the girl as she tried to escape his lap. "She wants you."

"I don't know anything about kids." She looked around for another woman to rush to her rescue, and the only one she could find was Angie. No way was she going to put the child into Angie's hands.

Swallowing hard, she said, "What if I drop her?"

"She bounces." Whip leaned forward and, with a skill that impressed her, securely passed the child in her direction.

She put out her hands, and the little girl grabbed onto her, using Whip's knee to propel herself forward. Twyla held on to the squirming bundle and found herself staring into big, innocent brown eyes.

Bethy patted her cheeks. "Momma."

Okay, then.

She turned the child away from her and held her on her lap. Having never been around kids, she had no idea what to say or do. Apparently, holding her was all that was required because Bethy used the new position to pull her brother's hair.

"Bethy...don't." Rocky slapped out, knocking his sister's hand away.

"Be nice." Whip moved Rocky to his other thigh, out of arms reach of his sibling, and looked at Twyla. "She tries to surprise Rick when he can't make it home for dinner."

"Who?"

"Tracy." Whip grinned. "She calls it a date night. That's why I don't mind watching the kids for her, so she can grab a few minutes here and there."

She'd never seen him relaxed the way he was right now, holding his nephew.

"You're close to your family." It was an observation. A mystery to her.

She'd never figured out how family members could remain close throughout their life. Since as far back as she could remember, she and Angie had fought over everything. Until she stopped caring and simply let Angie have everything she wanted.

Whip's gaze flickered, and he ducked his chin. "I'd do anything for my sister."

Looking at the children. Seeing Whip's hand possessively hold the back of Rocky's head, his gaze locked on his niece on Twyla's lap. Her eyes burned with unshed tears. At that moment, more than anything she'd ever needed, she wanted to know what it would feel like if Whip included