“Oh. Okay.” She sat back in her seat and faced the sheriff. Her back remained straight, and her face hardened.
“Uh, oh. That’s never a good sound.”
“We’ll talk about this later. I need to get them before they come back. I have enough problems at the moment.”
“That you do. That you do,” Ray chuckled.
“Here’s the copy you need.” Gage slapped the flash drive onto the desk.
Ray popped in the flash drive and opened the file. Gage had copied thirty minutes in total. While the video played, Ray filled out the paperwork.
“Yep. This is what we need. Thanks, Gage. Please read this and sign here. We’ll be after those bastards today.”
“Here ya go.” He slid the signed document back to his cousin and then stood up. “Come on, baby. Let’s get dinner while we’re here.”
“Are you sure you want to be seen with me?”
The tone of her voice caught Gage by surprise, but the look of pain in her eyes nearly broke him. “Don’t start that shit.”
Gage shook his cousin’s hand and took the copy of the paperwork with him. He slid his hand around Hope’s waist and led her outside. Gage could feel her tensing up and trying to pull away. They walked to the SUV, and before he opened the door, he pinned her to it. “You’re mine.” With a growl, he crashed his mouth down on hers, kissing her desperately.
When he pulled away, he winked. “I don’t want my mom to meet you because I don’t want her to steal your time from me, and I know she will.”
“When were you planning on telling her about me?”
“She knows all about you, honey. I told her about you the day after they arrested your father, but she’s been busy working, and so have I. I’m sure she’ll be at the ranch very soon.” He loved his mother, but he already had a hard time getting Hope alone with him. The ranch work demanded more effort on his part than he remembered, including the paperwork.
“That’s understandable.” He read her expression very clearly. The stiffened form and flat mouth told him she didn’t believe him.
“So how about the diner down the street?” Gage pointed to local diner just half a block down and across the street.
“I’ll be happy with any place you pick as long as we’re out.”
“Of course. I’m sorry I’ve kept you in so long. The diner will be great.” They walk down the street to the Jollyville Diner. He held the door open. The door dinged as they entered, grabbing everyone’s attention.
“Gage!”
Hope watched as a woman threw her arms around him and he wrapped her up in his arms, lifting her. Jealousy surged through Hope as she stared at the beautiful woman.
“Oh, my goodness! You must be Gage’s Hope.” She threw her arms around Hope, shocking her. The woman pulled back, gripping Hope’s biceps and smiling at her.
“Hope, this lovely yet crazy woman is my mother, Grace.”
Hope’s eyes widened. She did a double take between the two. His mother looked about his age. “Your mother?”
“Yes. See why I didn’t introduce you two sooner?” Gage laughed and pulled Hope to his side.
His mother swatted Gage’s forearm. “Where are your manners?”
“Are you dining here?” Hope asked Mrs. Gibson.
“No, actually, I own the diner with my sister, Kelly.”
Hope nodded, putting it all together. “Oh, well, that’s amazing.”
“Please take a seat over here. I’ll bring you a menu.” She kissed her son’s cheek and walked away.
“Thank you.”
“Come, baby.” Gage took her hand and led her to a seat.
“This is a nice place.” Her voice had a curious lilt in it.
He grabbed her hand and pressed. “Go on, get it out. You’re curious.”
“Okay, I had no idea she was your mom. She looks so young.”
“Well, she’s about almost fifty. She had me at eighteen.”
“Wow, she’s glowing. I thought…”
“I know what your pretty little head thought, but I haven’t been on a date in a long time.”
“I’m silly.” Hope played with a strand of her hair, ducking her head down.
“No, you’re not. I’d murder any man who’s arms you jumped in to.”
“Ha. Well, that’s never going to happen. Unless we break up and I date someone else.”
Gritting his teeth, Gage said, “We’re not going to break up. End of story.”
“I was just making a point.”
Gage’s temper hadn’t calmed down. His jealousy only kicked in as he thought about her leaving him for someone else. It hadn’t occurred to him that she’d ever want anyone else. “I’m gonna make a point of fucking you on this table for everyone to see that you’re mine.”
“Don’t make promises you don’t intend to keep.”
“Don’t test me.”
She rolled her eyes. “Please. You’d kill someone before you’d let anyone see me naked like that.”
“Damn right. I sure as hell don’t want them hearing you in the throes of passion.”
“Hey, none of that talk in the restaurant. I can’t have you murdering my customers.” Grace handed Hope a menu with a charming smile. “So when is the wedding?”
“Mom.”
“What? You told me how you felt. I thought that’s why you brought her here.”
This time Hope’s eyes widened larger than ever before and her mouth parted.
“Oh, you haven’t asked her yet.”
He looked at his mom like she’d lost her mind. He needed to get Hope alone. The middle of the diner wasn’t the place to ask her to marry him, although she’d killed the surprise. “Mom, can you give us a moment?”
“Sure. Can I get you something to drink?”
“A beer, and water for her.” Grace’s eyebrows darted toward her hairline, a smile forming on her lips as she looked at her son and then to Hope.
“I’ll go get that.” She left the table with a grin. Hope couldn’t figure out why she stared other than Gage ordering for her. Whatever. Hope had been more interested in the whole wedding thing.
“Sorry about that. It’s not how I wanted to ask you.”
“You wanted to ask me?”
“Of course. I made that clear that once we crossed that line, there was no turning back. I was fucking serious as can be. I love you, Hope.”
“I just…well. I didn’t think you even took me seriously. You didn’t tell me about your mother or cousin.”
“I have to say I’m selfish. I didn’t want to share you yet. I loved having it just us for the short time I had. It’s a dick thing to do, but I’ve never felt this way before, and the constant fear of losing you doesn’t allow me to think straight. Fuck, neither does my always hard and ready cock.”
“So are you going to ask me?”
“This isn’t the best place for it, but I love you.”
He stood up and walked around to her side, dropping down on one knee, tilted her chair and asked, “Will you—my sweet Hope—do me the honor of being my wife? I promise to do my best to allow you to be the woman you want to be, but I need you more than I need to breathe. Will you?”
“Of course, Gage. It hasn’t been long, but I knew from the moment you led me into your house that I was falling in love with you.”
He slid the ring over her ring finger with a room full of people looking on. A flash of a camera caught their eyes, and they turned to see Gage’s mother taking pictures with tears in her eyes.
Gage lifted her out of her chair, wrapped her up in his arms, and kissed her passionately. The crowd around them cheered them on, but neither cared about that. They held tighter and kissed longer until she threw her leg around his waist and moaned. Gage didn’t want to share her with anyone.
“Thank you, everyone, but excuse us.” He turned to his mom and said, “Walk us to the truck. Hope and I have a lot to celebrate.”
Gage led the ladies out of the restaurant.
Just before they reached the vehicle, Grace apologized, “I’m so sorry about all of this.”
“No, it’s okay, but I’m going to take Hope out to dinner in Austin. We’ll get together on the weekend for a nice family dinner and some wedding planning. I want to get married within the next month.”
“Oh, heavens. Yay! I’m so excited. I’m so happy to have you in our family!”
“Thank you, Mrs. Gibson.”
“Oh, no. Please call me Grace.”
“Okay. Thank you, Grace.” They all exchanged hugs, and they jumped into the SUV while Grace hurried back into the restaurant where Gage was sure she’d be lauded by her customers for getting the engagement to happen.
“I’m so sorry about that woman. I love her, and she’s wonderful, but she’s been bugging me for weeks to meet you.”
“I get it. She’s sweet. Is she always like that with your…”
“Don’t finish that sentence. No. Because I’ve never brought a woman home. My father’s failures made me the man that I am.”
“Wow.”
“Talk about wow—your belly is growling. Let me feed you. I’m already a bastard for keeping you locked up. I can’t handle knowing that I’m starving your pretty ass.”
They went to Austin together and spent the evening celebrating before driving home near midnight.
“I’m so tired,” she yawned, linking her fingers and stretching her arms down between her legs.
“I know. Shit. I have a busy day tomorrow. I’m going to be gone from sun up. Are you going to be okay at the house? The hands and Bill will be around.”
“I’ll be worried about you. You know I haven’t forgotten for one minute that you’re meeting with Navarro.”
“I promise I’ll be safe.” They pulled onto the main road to the ranch and hit the security area that now lit up when someone passed it.
“Fine, but until it’s time to get up, can you hold me?”
“That is an easy request, my lovely fiancée.”
She snuggled her head onto his shoulder until he parked in front of the main house. He nudged her to her seat just long enough for him to get out and come around to get his precious cargo.
“Come on, my sleeping beauty.” He carried her into the house and to their room, gently undressing them both. She woke a couple of times to assist. Once they were both tucked into bed, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back into his chest, spooning comfortably.
“Goodnight to you as well, my little baby,” he whispered, rubbing her flat tummy where he was certain their baby was growing.
Chapter 17
“What a pleasant surprise. To what do I owe this visit, Mr. Gibson, Ranger Chambers.” Navarro stood in his foyer. “I know you’re not here to arrest me. Could this be about your woman, Mr. Gibson?”
“It’s good that you know she’s mine. I won’t stand for anyone coming between us.”
“That’s fine by me. I already told Cummings that I wasn’t interested. She really wasn’t for me anyway. She was supposed to be a bride for my son.” Navarro rolled his eyes.
“She told me that you wanted her as a mistress.”
“That’s what I told Cummings. I wanted an innocent girl for my son. Not some whore, but he found someone anyway.”
“Then why didn’t you just say that?”
“Because I thought the bastard would have asked for more money. A man willing to sell his daughter to a life of submission would be willing to do anything. I thought I was fucked up, but he’s a whole other level of fucked up.”
“How am I to believe you?”
“You can believe it because the second that she disappeared not one of my men went looking for her, but if you don’t believe me, check this message.” He handed over his phone with a text from Ignacio.
Papa, I don’t want you to buy me a wife. Stop that bullshit. If Anya never speaks to me again, I’ll be done with you.
Gage handed back the phone, and Navarro continued. “He went to our lawyer. He learned that I had a prenup for Ms. Cummings to sign. His woman stormed out after she learned of it.”
“Shit. So you’re not going to fuck with us?”
“Not at all. I couldn’t care less. I like his woman. She’s a really good girl.”
“Good. I’m going to hold you to that.”
“No problem. Congratulations.”
They excused themselves just as the younger Navarro walked in with a young woman on his arm.
“You better not have been here to start shit. My dad and I didn’t commit any crimes.” Ignacio Navarro scowled at the men coming toward him. He pulled the girl close to his side.
“Trying to buy someone is a crime,” Dax informed him.
“Nothing ever happened with that young lady and me. As you can see, I don’t need a bride.” He hated that his Anya had ever been subjected to the idea that there was another woman. He’d never do anything to hurt her.
Gage stepped in Ignacio’s face and warned him, “Good, because Hope belongs to me, and I’ll do whatever I need to do to protect her.”
“Fine. That goes for my woman too. Anyone does anything to my bride, and it’ll be their head. I don’t give a fuck who it is.”
“As long as we understand each other, then we can get along.” Ignacio stuck out his hand, and Gage shook it in agreement.
“Drive safe, and if I were you, Gibson, I’d make sure that you watch out for your father-in-law.”
“I will.”
Gage and Dax walked to their vehicle and scanned it for bombs or bugs because there was a limit to their deal making. Once it was all clear, they hopped in and drove off. “Do you believe them?” Dax asked.
“I do. I saw the look in his woman’s eyes. She’s been bruised by the thought of my Hope and Ignacio together.”
“Yeah, I noticed that too.”
“Good. Now, to make sure we don’t have problems with Cummings is another thing altogether.”
Epilogue
Six months later…
“You’re so beautiful, Mrs. Gibson.” Gage stared at his wife from the doorway of the bathroom. She rested on the bed in just one of his tees and a pair of panties. At seven months pregnant, her stomach rounded out nicely. Gage loved knowing that his baby was safe in Hope’s body.
“Thank you, Mr. Gibson, but I’m looking more like your cows out in the barn,” Hope teased, rubbing her large belly.
He stalked toward the bed, leaning down when he reached the edge and kissed her lips. “Not even close, my sweet girl. I love seeing how round your belly is getting.” He ran his hand over it and received a welcome kick from his son.
Gage bent down, lifting her shirt to kiss her belly. “Daddy loves you and your momma.”
“Get some rest. I have to check in with Bill and then get started on the day. It’s going to be a short one. The weather is getting rough.”
“Okay. I’ll have all of the checks done before they come in for lunch.”
“Thank you, baby.”
“It’s my job.”
Hope had started working in the office to ease up some of Gage’s workload so that they could have time together as often as possible.
“Still, thank you for being mine.” He kissed her goodbye and headed out the door.
As promised, Hope had all of their checks ready at lunch. She prepared a warm, hearty chili as the weather turned icy. “Thank you, Mrs. Gibson. It hit the spot.”
“Yes, thank you, but we’re gonna get out of here.”
“You’re welcome, boys. Thank you for all you do. Enjoy your break.” Bill and Gage planned to manage the animals for a week while the weather was not great, so they could give their ranch hands a chance to take it easy.
Hope cleaned up the dishes while Gage did one more run of the pens. He came back and locked up so they could snuggle next to the fire. It was going to be a cold night, and cuddling seemed like the perfect pastime for them.
After making some snacks, they selected
a movie and nestled down with some blankets on the sofa in front of the blazing fire.
“The wind is a little rough.” Hope’s body straightened up, and her head stiffened as she listened to the howling winds. They were in for a long night. He dragged her back down to his side on the sofa.
“That it is, but we’re nice and safe here. Let’s relax. I’ve got you, Hope.”
“You're always protecting me.”
“I love guarding my Hope.”
“I love you too.”
THE END
About the Author
Amazon bestselling author, C.M. Steele lives inside her imagination and invites readers to join her. Although she does have to step out into reality and take care of her three children and her husband every day in the suburbs of Chicago. Her beautiful children and loving husband fill her day with joy and moments of frustrations, providing material for her to use in her stories.
C.M. has over a hundred novellas since beginning her indie journey in 2014 and will continue to press on as long as she has readers that enjoy her work.
You can follow her at www.cmsteele.com
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Also by C.M. Steele
The Lamian Wars
Bound
Reveal
Release
Steele Riders MC
Boomer
Mick
Jackson
Other C.M. Steele Titles
Stalk Me Please
Sinful Intent
Conquering Alexandria
Finding Paradise
Loving My Neighbor
The Wedding Guest
Mrs. Valentine: A Cupid's Arrow Novella
My Christmas Gift
Guarding Hope (Police and Fire: Operation Alpha) Page 9