Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 30448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 152(@200wpm)___ 122(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 152(@200wpm)___ 122(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
When he lifted his head again, I looked down at my hand. I couldn’t stop staring at the ring. It felt a little surreal to have something so perfect on my finger.
Beck sat behind me, his arms wrapped around my waist as I leaned back against his chest on the bed. His chin rested on my shoulder, and we were both quiet, soaking the moment in. He kissed the side of my neck, his scruff dragging just enough to make me shiver. “I have one more thing for you.”
I tilted my head. “You do?”
“It’s not shiny.” His voice dropped, thoughtful. “But I figured you might want it anyway.”
I turned to look at him, one brow lifting. “Okay…”
“The community center’s not closing,” he said. “Fox and I talked, and we’ve got the additional funding covered to keep the place going. We’re gonna overhaul it—fix the shit that’s broken, bring in real support. But we need someone we can trust to run it.”
My heart skipped. “You want me to run the center?”
“I can’t imagine anyone else taking Paul’s place.” He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “You love those kids. That place made you. It deserves someone who gets that.”
I blinked quickly, trying not to cry again. “I already checked to see if I could switch to all online classes this fall. I was having a hard time picturing myself being away from Old Bridge for almost two whole years while I finished my degree. I might have to drive up there for exams every once in a while, but my adviser assured me it was possible to finish the rest of my classes from here.”
His eyes lit with happiness. “You were planning for us?”
“Of course I was.” I turned in his arms, pressing my hand against his chest. “So were you.”
He kissed me again, slower this time. Sweeter. And when he pulled back, his smile was soft but sure. “You walked into my life swinging, baby. And I knew right then you were gonna knock me on my ass.”
I grinned. “Good. Because I don’t plan on going easy on you anytime soon.”
“Wouldn’t want you to.”
I curled deeper into his arms, the ring on my finger catching the light as I finally let myself relax.
I’d walked into the clubhouse looking for answers. Instead, I found everything I didn’t know I needed.
EPILOGUE
PHOENIX
“You doing okay, baby?” I asked softly, rubbing a hand over Lindsay’s belly.
She nodded and leaned back in the booth, stretching her legs out to prop them on the bench seat across from us.
Since she had the day off from the center, she’d come with me to the bar owned by the club, Midnight Rebel. I was balancing the books with Savage since he managed the place.
“Can I get you anything?” I asked my wife.
“Um, a foot rub?” she suggested hopefully.
I chuckled and kissed her temple. “The second we get home.”
Savage had pulled up a chair to the end of the booth and was watching our interaction with a smirk.
“What?” I growled.
He shrugged. “Just never thought I’d see you go so soft.”
I rolled my eyes. “Only for her. And our kids. Everyone else? Still get a bullet.”
Savage snorted.
“You’ll see,” I predicted before turning back to the numbers.
When a cool breeze came in, I glanced up and a wide smile broke over my face.
My eighteen-year-old sister, Melanie, walked inside, followed by another girl who looked to be a similar age.
“Bro!” she screeched, running over to throw herself into my arms the second I was on my feet.
“Hey, kid,” I greeted her, kissing the top of her head as I gave her a squeeze.
Then I pulled back and frowned down at her. “What the fuck, Lainie?” I grunted. “You didn’t tell me you were coming.”
“I wanted to surprise you,” she chirped happily as she pushed me out of the way to climb into the booth to hug my woman.
The other girl was hanging back, looking around nervously. She looked innocent and downright wholesome, so I figured all the tatted, rugged bikers were probably freaking her out.
Not wanting my sister’s friend to feel unwelcome, I smiled and held out my hand. “Hey. I’m Lainie’s brother, Phoenix.”
Before our hands touched, Savage was standing between us, his chair crashing to the floor from standing up so fast.
“That’s Savage,” I muttered.
“Talon,” he corrected, telling her his first name.
My brow shot up.
“Um, Tamara,” she replied softly.
“We need your help,” Lainie said as she climbed back out of the booth.
I was about to respond, but Savage cut me off.
“Let’s go to my office,” he suggested. From his tone, it didn’t sound like a request.
He grabbed Tamara’s hand and marched toward the door that led to the back of the bar.
Lanie glanced up at me curiously, but I just shrugged, so she sighed and scampered after her friend.
“This is going to be interesting,” Lindsay said, her voice filled with mirth.