Brothers Ink Tattoo (Complete Box Set #1-4)

by Nicole James

  Her figure had returned quickly. All the breastfeeding she’d done over the last few months had really slimmed her down. Now she had just weaned the baby off of breastfeeding.

  Rayne watched Rory sleep. He looked so peaceful, but she knew they had to start getting ready soon. She leaned down and began to kiss along his neck—soft, barely-there kisses.

  Rory woke up and rolled her under him. He brushed the hair back from her forehead and stared down into her eyes. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?”

  She smiled. “All the time, honey.”

  “I want to make sure you know. I don’t ever want there to be anything left unsaid between us.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You’re my world, my life, my everything, Rayne. And I don’t ever want to know what it feels like to come home and you not be here.”

  She squeezed his shoulder. “I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”

  He dipped and kissed the tip of her nose. “You better mean that.”

  “I do. I love you, and there’s no where else I want to be.”

  “I love you, too.” His eyes went over her head to the bedside clock, and he groaned. “We better go.”

  “Yes, your family will be here soon.”

  “I really don’t want to leave this bed, especially with the baby sleeping.”

  Right on cue, there was a tiny wail from the baby monitor on the nightstand.

  Rayne let out a soft laugh. “Hmm. She must have heard you.”

  “She and I have a special bond…kind of like mental telepathy. I talk about her, and she wakes up.”

  “Pretty special.”

  “Yup. We bonded close while I held her in that hospital room and prayed to God that her mommy would be okay.”

  Rayne nodded, her eyes glistening. “God must have listened.”

  “He did.” He kissed her again. “No tears. Today’s a happy day.”

  “Yes.”

  Rory got up as Danielle’s tiny wails grew more insistent. “Better go check on my little girl.”

  Rayne watched him slip on a pair of sweat pants that hung low on his hips and pad out of the room. Joy and happiness swamped through her, and she smiled.

  She got up, grabbed her dress and shoes, and slipped into the bathroom to dress.

  When she emerged a quick fifteen minutes later, Rory was sitting on the bed, with his daughter on his lap and talking to her. She stared up at him, taking in every word. “And then the princess let down her long lavender hair and the prince climbed up to the tower.”

  Rayne giggled. “What are you telling our child?”

  “Shush, woman. We’re having a talk, just the two of us, right, Danielle?”

  The baby laughed at the face he made, and Rayne’s heart melted a little more.

  It happened whenever she saw Rory with his daughter. The bond the two of them had was really something amazing. Oh, sure, Danielle still wanted Mama, but whenever she was really angry crying, it was Daddy who could always calm her tears.

  He bent and whispered something in her ear, and she laughed.

  Finally, Rory turned to look at Rayne, and his eyes traveled slowly down her body and back up. Then he whistled long and low.

  She smiled and did a little spin. “What do you think?”

  He stood and walked to her, Danielle tucked in his arm. “I think you’re one hot mama. Come here and give me some sugar.” He pulled her to him with his available arm and kissed her.

  Danielle laughed and reached for Mama.

  Rayne took her. “You better get dressed. People will arrive soon. What time do we need to leave?”

  “I’ve got to be there for sound check within the hour.”

  The front door opened, and Jameson yelled down the hall. “We’re here. Anybody home?”

  “I’ll go. You get dressed.” Rayne greeted Rory’s brothers and their wives.

  Jameson gave her a kiss on the cheek and stole the baby out of her arms. “Well, hello beautiful. How are you?”

  Danielle was still at the age where she would go to strangers, so she giggled and pulled his beard. He laughed then turned to Rayne. “We found your babysitter in the lobby, and she rode up with us.”

  Jenna came forward. “Let me see that cutie pie.” She tickled Danielle’s tummy, getting a big smile and giggle out of her.

  Everyone hugged Rayne, and Danielle was passed around. Eventually, the men drifted into the living room and the bar area.

  “So, where’s little brother?” Liam asked, popping open a bottle of beer.

  “He’s getting ready. We have to leave soon.”

  “Well, we’re ready. He’s the one holding up the show.”

  “I’m here.” Rory walked into the room, straightening the cuff of his dress shirt under the sleeve of his velvet blazer. His shirt was unbuttoned halfway down his chest, and he had several necklaces on. He wore black jeans and biker boots.

  “Wow. Don’t you look like a rock star!” Ava proclaimed.

  “What happened to the days when you used to get on stage in an old Brothers Ink t-shirt?”

  “Those days are gone, bro. I can afford nicer duds now. Besides I can’t wear grunge with a lady this beautiful on my arm, can I?” He put an arm around Rayne’s waist and drew her against his side.

  “No, sir, you cannot,” Max agreed. “You look gorgeous, Rayne.”

  “Thank you, Max.”

  Sasha and Carmen arrived just as the phone in the condo rang.

  Jameson answered it by habit. When he hung up he turned to Rory. “Well, aren’t you highfaluting.” Then he put on his best English butler accent. “Mr. O’Rourke’s limousine has arrived.”

  “Look who’s talkin’ highfaluting. Who was it that purchased a place in Westwood Towers? Oh, right… That’d be you!”

  Jameson laughed. “Yeah, then I unloaded it to my kid brother for a huge profit.”

  “Shut up and come on. We should all fit.” Rory moved to his daughter and kissed the top of her head. “Now you be extra special good for Aunt Jenna tonight, okay? Remember what we talked about earlier?”

  The baby giggled and slapped her hand on his cheek.

  Rayne gave the baby a hug and kiss, and they all rode down to the lobby.

  A big black stretch limo waited at the curb. The doorman held open the rear door, and Rory helped her in.

  Rayne had never been in a limousine before, and she slid across the leather seat, taking it all in. There were dim lights and a bar on the side with glasses and champagne.

  As they drove, Rory popped open the champagne and poured everyone a glass, passing them around. Then he lifted his glass. “I’m so happy you could all be here for the concert tonight. It really means a lot to me to have a family like this one. I appreciate that you made the drive in for this.”

  “To Rory,” Jameson said, lifting his glass.

  “And to Rayne.” Rory looked down at her at his side. “For giving me such a beautiful daughter.”

  They arrived at the arena and were driven underground to the loading dock entrance, away from groupies and fans. His tour bus was parked to the side. Rory was met by security that ushered him and his party to the dressing room area, handing each of them all-access badges to wear around their necks.

  Tommy and the band were already there.

  Rory kissed Rayne and turned to one of the security team. “Get her anything she wants, understand?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “I’ll be back before they open the doors out front,” he told Rayne, then gave her one more kiss and left with his band.

  When they were gone, the guys all sat on the couches and someone flipped on a television on the wall. There were beer and wine and soft drinks and water, as well as a bunch of snacks and little sandwiches.

  ***

  At just before 9:00pm, Rory had Rayne by the hand, and he led her and the group down the hall to the stage. It was incredibly loud, and she was glad for the little earplugs they’d all be given.

  They walk
ed up a set of stairs and stopped just off stage, behind some curtains. The stage had been flipped from the opening act to Rory’s setup.

  The lights dimmed, and the crowd roared expectantly.

  Rory pulled her to him. “You look beautiful tonight. Stay right here, promise? I want to look over and see you.”

  She smiled and nodded. “I will. Have a good show.”

  He kissed her and walked on stage with the band and the crowd roared again.

  It was very powerful to see them cheering for her man, the father of her child, and she realized all over again that he was a star, and she would always have to share him with these people who also loved him.

  The show was long and powerful and eventually was nearing the end. Rory played the last notes of a song, and then went right into the song he’d written for her. A Song for Rayne. At the first few notes, the auditorium erupted as he played his biggest hit.

  Seeing him preform it in person was powerful, and she saw the way it moved the audience, too. Lighters and cell phones came on and began to sway. It was magical.

  Rory turned and looked at her, twisting his whole body to the side and singing to her the last few lines of the song. When it ended, the crowd roared approval.

  As the cheers died down, Rory spoke into the microphone, and the auditorium grew silent.

  “Tonight’s date is special to me. You see…a year ago tonight I sang a karaoke song in a bar with a girl.”

  Rayne went still inside and pulled the earplugs out, wanting to hear every word clearly. The crowd cheered, and Rory turned to them, smiling. “Maybe some of you have seen the video.”

  Laughter erupted in the audience.

  Rory continued, turning to stare at her. “She’s here tonight, and I’m hoping she’ll sing it with me. Especially since I wrote a song for her. How about it, Rayne?”

  When the crowd heard her name and realized who she was, they went crazy.

  She felt a palm on her shoulder. “Go on, girl,” Jameson said in her ear.

  She felt lightheaded as she moved slowly on her heels out from behind the curtain. She had no idea this was going to happen, but when she glanced back at the group of her friends and family, she realized it must have been planned because they all seemed like they knew. Not one of them looked surprised.

  Rory met her halfway and held his hand out. She took it, and he walked her to the microphone. He leaned in to talk into it, his eyes locked on her. “Isn’t she beautiful?”

  There was another round of applause and cheers. She could hear Rory’s brothers off stage whistling and yelling. She stood there, mesmerized and a little terrified and forgot why she was out there until she heard his band play the first notes of Shallow.

  “Just look at me,” Rory whispered into the microphone, and there were whistles in the audience. He began singing the beginning, and the crowd roared, then immediately quieted so they could hear him.

  He stared at her the entire time he sang. Soon it was time for her part.

  She nervously began, her voice soft until the part where she had to belt it out. She knew her voice was not that great, but the audience roared, and then the most amazing thing happened; they began to sing along.

  She turned and smiled, seeing so many of the women in the crowd singing.

  Rory didn’t take his eyes from her, and when the song ended, the applause was deafening.

  “Stay right there,” he said to her.

  He pulled his guitar off and moved to set it in a stand. Then he walked slowly to her, crooking a finger so she’d turn toward him. He took both her hands in his and then he dropped to one knee, looking up at her, smiling, and the crowd went wild.

  Rayne’s eyes got big. “What are you doing?” she whispered so low, she was mouthing the words.

  “My pretty girl with the lavender hair, you stole my heart when you stood on stage with me and sang that song. I love you more than anything in this world. And I know this is a crazy life I’m offering you, but I can’t think of anyone else I want to share it with. Will you marry me, Rayne?”

  He let go of her hands, pulled a diamond ring out of his pocket, and held it up to her. She covered her face with her hands, peering at him over the top with big eyes that began to sting with unshed tears. Then she nodded frantically, and the room erupted.

  He slipped it on, then stood and hugged her, lifting her off her feet and spinning her around in circles as a whirl of lights sped by her.

  And that’s the photo someone snapped from the front of the crowd—the one that made it to the papers. Her with her sparkling silver cocktail dress and her heels kicked back, her lavender hair flying out behind her and her face buried in his neck.

  What that photo didn’t show was the happiness on her face.

  ***

  Jameson stood in the living room of the condo and toasted the couple with a glass of champagne held high.

  “To my baby brother and his lovely soon-to-be-bride. I wish you all the best in the world. And to Rayne—this family you’re marrying into is a little bit of crazy, a little bit of loud, but a whole lot of love. Welcome to the family.”

  She smiled and lifted her glass to him in salute. She was tucked up against Rory’s side, his arm tight around her waist. They drank a sip, and Rory dipped his head and kissed her.

  It was late and soon the girls all left, and his family drifted off to bed.

  She moved to their room to undress, but had barely slipped her heels off before they heard the baby’s cries in the monitor.

  Rayne groaned, and Rory moved behind her, setting his hands on her shoulders; he kissed her cheek. “I’ll get her, babe.”

  He moved off to do that, and she went into the walk-in closet to hang up her dress and take off her jewelry. She took a moment to stare down at the sparkling diamond on her hand. She’d been so surprised tonight, but it had all been so perfect. She smiled and slipped a silk robe on and padded down the hall, looking for Rory. She found him leaned back in the deep cushions of the sofa group, his head back and Danielle on his chest. She had her legs tucked up under her and her little butt in the air, her cheek pressed to her daddy’s shirt and her little bow mouth moving silently to an imaginary bottle. His big palms held her butt and back. They were both fast asleep.

  Rayne took the sight in for a moment.

  Her life was good—so good. That precious baby and that man had been sent to her from heaven above. She whispered softly, “Thank you, Daniel. I know you sent me these two, and I know you’ll always be watching over us.”

  As if on cue, her baby smiled.

  Epilogue

  Rayne—

  The entire O’Rourke family as well as my father and my girl squad were all gathered at the family farm for Danielle’s first birthday party.

  It had been an exhausting day filled with fun as all the little cousins played. We’d put up balloons and banners and even a ball pit for the little ones to play in.

  I’d gotten fabulous pictures of Danielle with her little smash cake that Velvet had made for her. Butterflies and fairies had been the theme of the day, and all the little girls had dressed up with little wings on their backs and fairy dresses, all designed of hand-painted silk by Malee.

  Now the children were fast asleep on blankets around the bonfire under the starry night sky, and all of us tired parents rested and stared at the flames.

  Danielle was curled in Rory’s arms, and as I looked around I saw Lila Rose in Ava’s lap and baby Grace between Max and Malee. Ben lay with Buddy, his pit bull, resting at his side. Liam was sprawled on a blanket with Velvet in his arms.

  Jameson walked around the circle with a bottle of fine Irish whiskey, pouring some in each of our Red Solo cups. He made sure everyone had some for a toast except for Velvet; he skipped over her, saying, “You can’t have any.” Even my dad and Mrs. Larsen took some.

  Jameson raised his cup high as the fire crackled and the wood popped, shooting sparks into the air. “I’ve learned, with a little help from my bea
utiful wife, that the secret to having it all is in knowing that you already do. This family is a circle of strength for all of you to draw from. We’ve had amazing successes, but we all know that it’s not about the size of the house…it’s the people in it.

  “In this family…we make mistakes, we say we’re sorry, we give second chances, and we forgive.” He paused to laugh. “We also do really loud arguments.”

  We all laughed.

  Jameson continued. “But when it’s all said and done, we love each other, stand by each other, and look out for each other.”

  “Cheers to that.” Max lifted his cup.

  “Hear, hear,” Liam agreed.

  “Absolutely,” I heard my husband say in my ear.

  Jameson stared at his wife. “My brothers, love your woman, love her completely, tell her, but most importantly, show her, because this life is fragile.” He turned in a circle, taking in his siblings. “All of us have learned that the hard way, because we had to. It can be taken from us so quickly, and so we’ve learned to never take it for granted. Everything is temporary in this life but our love for each other. Remember that.”

  I watched Rory as his brother made that toast. I knew for him it wasn’t just his parents’ death that had taught him that lesson; he’d been quite shaken when he’d thought he might lose me as well. When Danielle and I had gotten home from the hospital, he hadn’t left our side for weeks, and after he proposed, he’d given me the wedding of my dreams. He liked to spoil me, and I let him, because I knew he needed to do that. I know he’d promised my father to take care of me and provide for me, but in the hospital when he’d been on his knees praying to God, like my girls had told me he’d done, I think he’d made a promise to God, as well.

  And now as I watched him hold our daughter with such love in his eyes, I knew that whatever promise he’d made to God that day, he’d keep it.

  I leaned over and kissed him.

  Jameson lifted his glass, and we all followed suit. He stared up at the sky. “Mom and Dad, we made it through. We all have wives and children. Well, one on the way.” He winked at Velvet, who blew him a kiss.