Free Duke (Aces MC Series Book 2) by Aimee-Louise Foster Page A

sister. I just needed a normal conversation.
    “Hi stranger, how you doing?” Sophia asked in her usual
jovial tone.
“I’m good. More to the point how are you and my nephews doing?” It had been so
long since I’d seen them all.
“The boys are doing well. Charlie made the soccer team and Luke’s singing in
the school talent contest next week.” She paused and I could hear her take a
sip of her drink. “I don’t know where he gets his confidence from?” We both
started to laugh. We were regulars on the karaoke machine when we were
teenagers and had an abundance of confidence.
“Enough about the kids, how you doing?” I asked concerned. Sophia always got on
with things without a fuss and I was concerned for her welfare.
“The doctor told me to rest but it’s easier said than done with two young
children.”
“Why, what’s up?” The doctor wouldn’t tell her to rest for no good reason.
“I’ve been having a bit of tightening in my stomach.” She stated as if it was a
normal thing to have.
“Do you need me to come home?” If my sibling was in trouble I would be expected
to go and look after her regardless of my new business.
“Nah, I’m fine Taylor. Anyway, how could you possibly leave your hot biker
friend?”
“I’m assuming you’ve spoken to Pam.”
“Sure have. She said he propositioned you.” She started to snigger.
That was just like Pam, giving half a story so that she thought the worse of
me.
“Don’t get too excited. It was a business proposition.” I stated making sure
she clearly understood.
“I was only having a little fun.”
“Yeah at my expense.”
“Taylor, you’re allowed to let your hair down and have some fun. All work and
no play makes Taylor a grumpy cow!”
“I know I just have so much going on at the moment that it’s difficult.”
I could hear crying in the background.
“Sorry, I’m gonna have to go Taylor. Charlie’s crying. He’s probably had a nightmare.”
“Not a problem, we’ll catch up soon. And Sophia…”
“Yeah?”
“If you need anything, please give me a call. It doesn’t matter what time of
day or night it is. You hear me?”
“I hear you. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
    It was great to speak to Sophia. I
needed to make more time so that I could catch up with her and my nephews more
often. I didn’t want the fact that I’d moved to England to compromise our
relationship.
We’d been through a lot together over the years which made me very protective
over her.
Growing up she blamed herself for mom being unwell. It wasn’t until her late
teen’s that she truly appreciated that it wasn’t her fault but she’d carried
that guilt around for so many years blaming herself for mom experiencing
postpartum depression after her birth.
With the support from the Postpartum Resource Centre in New York and
counselling, Sophia managed to change her outlook on a lot of things and
stopped blaming herself.
I walked into the kitchen and dug around in my handbag until I found a pen. I
wrote on my calendar that I’d spoken to her this evening and hoped that this
visual reference would make it easier to remember. It wasn’t that I didn’t want
to, it’s just with everything that was going on in my life at the moment, it
was difficult to find the time. I placed the pen back into my bag and also made
a mental note of sharing as little information with my aunt as possible!

Chapter 6
    Duke
    “Oh my fucking head hurts and my mouth’s as dry as a camel’s
arsehole.” I rolled over, covering my eyes as someone drew back the curtains
and opened the window to let in some air.
“And it smells like something died in here.” Amy said in a cheery voice as she
moved around the room picking up items of clothing from the floor.
How could she be so happy first thing in the fucking morning? I leant
over grabbing my alarm clock that was positioned on my bedside cabinet to see
that it was well after 11.00am. I knew I was in the dog house if Ames was here.
We always