Free The Handler (Noir et Bleu Motorcycle Club #2) by D. R. Graham

laughed. “She’s high maintenance. They have to pay that much for babysitting or nobody would do it.”
    “Why does she need a babysitter?”
    “She’s stressed out and on the verge of a breakdown. Her manager wants me there to keep her from freaking out so she’ll be able to do all the things he has planned for her. She wants me there because she’s lonely.”
    “Was it her idea to ask you?”
    “Uh, yeah, she asked me, but he’s the one who offered me the job.”
    “Why?”
    “Because she listens to me for some reason.”
    “So, she likes you?”
    “She’s sixteen, Liv.”
    “Yeah, exactly.” She was quiet, and I could feel the tension through the phone. “This whole long distance thing is hard enough without you taking a job babysitting a beautiful girl.”
    Being hired to babysit a teenage pop star seemed like less of a strain on the relationship than her hanging out with a guy in her class, but I didn’t want to fight, so I said, “The money will help me support Huck and my mom—if she survives.”
    She was quiet for a long time. When she finally spoke, all she said was, “I don’t want to do this anymore, Jamie.”
    She hung up, and I stood there with my eyes closed, listening to the dial tone.
    When I looked up, ten people were swarmed around the table asking Lincoln for autographs and snapping photos. I jogged over. “Okay, everyone. Thanks. Give her some space.” I escorted them away, then sat down. “Geez, they’re like vultures.”
    “I tried to warn you, and you didn’t believe me.”
    “Sorry.”
    “How did your girlfriend take the news?”
    I massaged my neck. “Uh, about as well as I expected.”
    Lincoln fidgeted with the napkin again. “So, you guys have a pretty serious relationship?” She looked optimistic that I would say no, but even with my relationship on the rocks, I wasn’t going to encourage hope. Nothing was going to happen with her.
    “You know this is just a job for me, right?”
    “Sure,” she muttered. “What else would it be?”
    “I just want to be clear right now. I’m only doing this for the money. If you have any other ideas, you need to get rid of them. If you can’t, I shouldn’t take the job.”
    She tilted her head to look at me with contempt. “Don’t flatter yourself, Cain. I just don’t like to be alone.”
    “Okay. Good. So, we’re clear.”
    “Yeah. Crystal.”
    “And we’re cool?”
    “Totally cool,” she snapped. She looked over her shoulder and shouted, “Can we get some service over here?”
    The manager came over immediately. “Sorry, Miss Todd. We were giving you and your companion time to talk. I would be happy to take your orders.”
    She raised her eyebrows as if she wanted me to go first. “I’ll have the salmon,” I said.
    He nodded and then looked back at Lincoln.
    She flipped through the pages of the menu. “What do you recommend?” she finally asked him.
    “The beet and goat cheese salad is light. The curried chicken is popular if you want something a little more hardy.”
    She thought for a while before she said, “I’ll have the salmon.”
    He nodded and walked away. Lincoln’s cheeks turned red, and her eyes became teary. I didn’t say anything. We sat in awkward silence for about fifteen minutes before a woman in a long rainbow-colored skirt walked up to the table. She looked like a hippie throwback with the layers of wood bead necklaces and her hair woven in one long braid that rested over her shoulder.
    “Lincoln, darling, you’re early. I didn’t mean to keep you waiting.” She leaned over and kissed Lincoln on the cheek. “Is everything okay?”
    Lincoln forced a smile. “I’m just really tired. How are you, Gayle?”
    “Fabulous.” She sat down and looked at me with interest. “You must be the mysterious C.”
    “This is Cain,” Lincoln introduced us. “He’s just a handler. Nothing more,” she said with a bite to her tone. “In fact, he doesn’t need to be here for this