The Switch by Debra Kayn (desktop ebook reader TXT) 📗

waited until she stood and faced him. "I'm Demon, President of Avery Fall's Motorcycle Club. Ruger mentioned you needed some help."

"It's not something you can help with." She glanced at Trip, frowned in recognition, and focused her green eyes on him. "Last night, you claimed not to know the address I gave you." She pursed her lips. "You're here now, so you lied?"

"You asked about a vacant house." He motioned toward the house. "This one is occupied."

"Illegally." She scoffed. "This was my grandpa's house. I inherited it. I have the deed."

Prez lifted his hand, stopping the conversation. They'd already discussed what had to happen with the woman before they headed out to meet her.

"If you can wait until Monday, I'm sure we can figure out if any claims you have are—"

She slapped her hands against her hips and turned away, hiding her frustration. "I have the deed."

She bent over and dug through her belongings in the car. Trip leaned to the side, taking in the nice tight ass aimed in his direction. Prez backhanded him in the chest and held up two fingers. He nodded, understanding what to do.

"It's right here." She stepped in front of them, held the paper out to the side as if it would keep it out of his reach, and shook the official deed. "See?"

"I do." Prez never looked at the paper, only widened his stance.

Not a man who was known for his social skills, Prez showed signs closing the conversation down.

"We don't doubt you're the owner." Prez glanced at the moving paper. "Bonnie Durham."

"Bonnie Durham-Murphy," she said through gritted teeth.

Trip hadn't heard of her having a husband with her at the RV Park. "Have you had the deed updated with your husband's name?"

She blinked at him, clueless about what he was asking her. They needed two days to hide the cave entrance in the chance she had a legal right to the homestead.

Not updating her name wouldn't keep her from claiming the house in the end. She probably had a social security card or birth certificate, maybe even a marriage certificate to document why her last name changed to Murphy.

"Who pays taxes?" he asked.

"After Grandpa Gene died, my mom took care of it." She swallowed. "I've paid them the last three years."

He wasn't about to put doubt in her mind. She'd obviously come to Avery Falls to stay awhile.

"One of our members has stayed in the house for a year." He paused, letting that sink in. "We believed the house was abandoned."

Knowing taxes were paid instead of being an abandoned house, Avery Falls MC would have to contact the courthouse to find out how the ownership was overlooked.

She folded the deed in half and crossed her arms, looking at him expectantly.

"We'll help Ruger move out, but we'll need a couple days to get a truck over here and load everything up." When she opened her mouth, he continued. "To show we've made an honest mistake, Avery Falls Motorcycle Club will give you twelve months of back rent, what's owed to you." He looked at Prez. "Five hundred a month is the average rent around here, going back twelve months. We'll also pay for your lodgings at the RV park until Monday, giving us time to clean the place out."

"Five hun..." She looked away.

Her brows lowered as she worked out how much profit that would be for her. Prez made it clear to him earlier, the price had to entice her. She'd have enough to settle in, clean up the house, and do any repairs that were needed. It would also stop her from going over the pass to Federal, the county seat, and getting the folks at the courthouse involved in the mistake.

She looked back at him. "Do you promise we can move in on Monday?"

He nodded. "I'll even help you move in if you need it."

She worked her lips in thought and finally nodded. "Okay."

"I'll ride out with you and talk to Hank at the RV Park about you staying until Monday." He stepped toward his motorcycle, wanting to get her out of the area without delay.

She stayed planted, crossing her arms. "What about the money?"

Six thousand bucks were the sweet spot for her. Without knowing her history, he assumed she was raising those boys on her own. He had no idea how much it cost to raise two teenagers, but he imagined they ate a lot of food and blew through their share of clothes.

"After I settle business with Hank, I'll pay what you're due. You have my word as a member of Avery Falls MC." He turned and walked the rest of the way to his Harley.

He wasn't going to hand the payment over to her now. The money would only give her an excuse to stick around the house.

Starting the bike, he toed the kickstand and waited. It took her five minutes to wrangle the boys into the car and away from Ruger. Hell, the prospect wasn't much older than the kids, and they probably hadn't had anyone around their age to hang out with since they arrived in Avery Falls.

The kids in town were still in school for another week or two.

He scratched his chin through the layer of whiskers. Bonnie Durham-Murphy or whatever last name she went by had to have a good reason why she'd drag her sons away from their lives, friends, and school, to a place that took her several days to find.

But, hell, he wasn't a parent. He knew Jack about raising children.

Bonnie backed her vehicle to the edge of the lawn and then pulled in front of him, turning to get back on the dirt driveway. He lifted his chin at Prez, letting him know he'd take care of her, and followed Bonnie out to the county road.

Unfamiliar with the winding, mountain roads, she drove slower than the speed limit. He stayed back a hundred feet, not pressuring her to go faster than she was comfortable doing.

Fifteen minutes later, he followed her into