Taming My Whiskey

by Melissa Foster

  She choked out, “Yes, Jace. I’ll marry you!”

  “On both sides of the band of this ring are diamonds in the shape of infinity signs,” he said as he put the ring on her finger. “I designed it so you would always know that what we have is forever. You own my heart, Dix. Don’t tread lightly.”

  She laughed and launched herself into his arms, crushing her lips to his. As cheers and applause rang out around them, Jace kissed her like he’d been waiting his whole life to do it. And when their lips parted, he said, “God I love you,” and pressed his glorious lips to hers again, like he’d never let her go.

  JACE WAS ON cloud nine as he and Dixie were swept into her parents’ open arms and then passed around the room, congratulated, and patted on the back. He kept one eye on his beautiful bride-to-be with her tear-streaked face and mile-wide smile. The proposal hadn’t gone quite as he’d pictured it, but Dixie had said yes, and that was all that mattered. By the time he came face-to-face with Bullet, Jace’s head was still in the clouds—and his future brother-in-law looked like he still wanted to kill him. It had been forever since Jace had taken a punch, much less two, but even the pain in his jaw couldn’t dampen his elation.

  He went for humor, hoping to make peace with levity. “That was a cheap shot.”

  Bullet’s lips tipped up in a smirk, and he said, “Welcome to the family.” He offered his hand, and when Jace shook it, Bullet pulled him into a manly embrace. “We cool?”

  “Yeah, we’re cool,” Jace said, stepping back and looking for Dixie again. Red had put the word out that Jace was proposing right after he’d left their house, and news had traveled fast. The rest of Dixie’s family had already arrived and congratulated them, and more friends were still filing through the door. He spotted Dixie standing by the bar with Crystal, Bear, and Bones. Dixie was holding Lila, her little fist wrapped around a lock of Dixie’s hair. Dixie looked in his direction, and their eyes connected with the sizzling heat he’d come to expect. But his heart beat to a new rhythm, stronger and louder than ever before.

  “Are you really moving here?” Bullet asked, drawing his attention back to their conversation.

  “Moving here, working here. Maddox and I reevaluated my responsibilities and I delegated some of my oversight to our directors. I’ll still have to travel, but not nearly as often. I’m going to try to work it out so Dixie and I can travel together whenever possible.” He stole another glance at Dixie and said, “There’s nothing I won’t do for your sister.”

  “Except call,” Bullet said with a teasing lilt to his voice.

  “I know I fucked up. But in all fairness, I had a lot of shit to rearrange. I don’t know if she told you or not, but I surprised her at the Cape. I made the decision before going to the Cape, but I couldn’t tell Dixie until I knew all my ducks were in a row. I was negotiating deals on the properties and changing not only my entire life, but redirecting the company and all our plans for the second headquarters. I still can’t believe I pulled it off so fast. I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off, taking night flights from Boston to LA, then LA to New York to pick up her ring, and then I drove here from New York. I know I screwed up by not calling or texting, but I’m learning, Bullet. I’m changing, and with Dixie’s help, I’ll get there.”

  “Good, but I’m still holding it over your head.” Bullet clapped him on his back and said, “I’m just giving you shit. Sorry for the punch, but I saw her tears and…”

  “I get it. If she were my sister, I’d have taken you down.”

  “You would have tried,” Bullet said. “Listen, if Dixie’s happy, I’m happy.”

  “I’ve been chasing goals my whole life, man.” Jace glanced at Dixie and said, “From now on, her happiness is at the top of my list.”

  Red yelled, “A round of drinks, on the house!”

  Cheers rang out, and as Bullet went to find Finlay, Jace made his way to Dixie, who was now talking with Red, Bear, and Crystal and rubbing noses with Lila. He could hardly believe he no longer had to fight his attraction to the woman who had stolen his heart when she was just a girl, spreading her wings and learning to fly.

  Jace put a hand on Dixie’s back and leaned in for a kiss. “How’s my beautiful fiancée?”

  “So happy. Fiancée—I like the sound of that,” she said softly.

  “Me too.” He tickled Lila’s chin and said, “And how’s this little princess?”

  Lila reached two grabby hands toward Jace, flashing a toothy grin. Her wispy blond hair was pulled back in a pretty pink headband that matched her jumper. Dixie transferred Lila into his arms.

  “Someone’s got a fan,” Sarah said as she and Bones joined them. Bones had his arm around Sarah, and neither of them were holding their baby.

  “Where’s my littlest granddaughter?” Red asked.

  “Finlay has her.” Bones answered. “Jace, I heard about the fight. Was Bullet giving you a hard time just now?”

  “Nah, we’re cool.”

  “When the Whiskeys give you a hard time, it means you’re part of the family,” Crystal assured him. “It’s when they stop that you have to worry.”

  They all laughed.

  Red said, “She’s right. As you found out, Bullet would give his life to save Dixie if he thought she was in trouble. But seeing our girl smile? All you’ll get from him for that is a lifetime of harassment, and that’s a good thing.” She patted Lila’s back and said, “And we all love a man who’s not afraid of babies.”

  “Jace is a baby hog,” Dixie exclaimed. “You should have seen him with his nephew, Thane.”

  Not only wasn’t he afraid of kids, but he hoped to have a family with Dixie when she was ready. But that was a discussion for another day.

  Crystal rubbed her burgeoning belly and said, “If you two are thinking of having babies right away, you should know that we have dibs on Nana Red’s babysitting services at least once a week after Cubby’s born.”

  “Unless this is going to be a shotgun wedding, I don’t think Jace and Dixie are the ones you need to worry about.” Red lowered her voice and said, “You didn’t hear this from me, but you might want to start negotiating with Finlay and Bullet.”

  “What?” Crystal’s eyes widened.

  Red put her finger over her lips and then walked away.

  “Oh, I won’t tell a soul,” Crystal said before cutting a path through the crowd toward Finlay.

  “I guess I wasn’t the only one keeping secrets,” Dixie said. “I hope I’m going to be an auntie again!” She went up on her toes, watching Crystal and Finlay hug.

  “Looks like Bullet might have put a bun in her oven. Good for him,” Bear said. “Speaking of Bullet, I hear he knocked you back a step or two, Jace.”

  “Yeah, he caught me off guard. That was fun.” Jace rubbed his jaw. “I turned, and he clocked me. And then I turned the other way, and your sister busted my jaw. Bad timing, I guess.”

  Bear nudged him and said, “They say bikers and lovers have two things in common. Good balance and superb timing. Sorry, bro, but that doesn’t fare well for you on the road or in the bedroom, since you don’t seem to possess either.”

  “Bear!” Dixie smacked his arm and yelled, “Jace is a god in the bedroom!”

  The din of the crowd silenced, and all eyes turned toward them. Jace straightened his shoulders. Yeah, he’d own that proclamation.

  “Oh, shit,” Dixie said under her breath, stepping behind him.

  Biggs tapped his glass with a knife, thankfully calling attention away from them and up to the stage, where he and Red stood arm in arm.

  “Papapapa!” Lila babbled, reaching toward the stage.

  “She wants my dad,” Dixie said.

  “Papapapapa!” Lila rocked and wiggled, trying to squirm free.

  “Son,” Biggs said through the microphone, “why don’t you bring that little darlin’ and my daughter up here and join us.”

  With Jace’s arm around Dixie and sweet Lila in his arms, they m
ade their way up to the stage. He handed Lila over to Biggs, and she wrapped her little arms around Biggs’s neck, hugging him tight.

  Jace pulled Dixie closer and said, “I look forward to the day our children will do that.”

  She looked at him like he’d promised her the world. He intended to honor that promise.

  “This is a big night for all of us,” Biggs said in a slow drawl. “When our little girl was born, I swear she came out looking for a country to rule.”

  “That’s our Dixie!” someone hollered from within the crowd.

  “You’ve got that right.” Biggs looked lovingly at Dixie and said, “I could not be prouder of you, darlin’. You will always be my little girl and the light of my life.”

  Dixie teared up.

  “I knew it would take a strong man to win your heart, and to be honest, I wasn’t sure there was a man on earth I’d feel good about giving my blessing to.” He shifted his gaze to Jace and said, “Then Jace Stone showed up at my door, nervous as a rat in a snake’s den and about as in love as any man I’d ever seen. I mean look at him, all swoony-eyed over my precious girl.”

  Another rumble of laughter rolled through the crowd.

  “Damn right,” Jace said, and he kissed Dixie’s temple.

  He’d been a wreck when he’d shown up to ask Biggs for Dixie’s hand in marriage, and Biggs had made him sweat it out. He’d listened to Jace’s every word without giving away a hint of what he was thinking. Jace had not only professed his love for Dixie, but he’d explained how he’d restructured his work responsibilities and finalized their decision to open the manufacturing plant and headquarters in Peaceful Harbor instead of Boston, though they were still opening a second retail store in Boston. He’d also told Biggs about the property he’d purchased for their home in Peaceful Harbor. Biggs had only asked him one question. He’d wanted to know what had taken Jace so long to finally pursue Dixie. The answer had come easily. I had a lot of growing up to do and achievements to conquer before I could even think about being the man Dixie deserved. I am that man now, Biggs, and with your blessing, I’ll make you proud to have me as your son-in-law by proving it to her each and every day. Biggs had welcomed him to the family with a warm heart and open arms.

  “Y’all know there’s nothing that I respect more than honesty,” Biggs said to the crowd. “Jace looked me dead in the eyes and told me that he wasn’t perfect. In fact, he said he was pretty damn sure he’d mess up more than a time or two, and then he vowed to always be faithful, to protect my darlin’ daughter until his dying days, and to try to give us a grandson who would protect her after he was gone. That, my friends, is a good man.”

  “Grandbabies!” Red cheered, causing more ruckus from the crowd.

  Biggs laughed. “She’s going to hold you to that, Jace.”

  “I am, too!” Dixie said, hugging him.

  “I am proud to welcome Jace into our family and, my Dark Knights brothers, you should be, too.” Biggs raised his glass and said, “To Jace and Dixie!”

  “To Jace and Dixie!” the crowd toasted.

  Jace and Dixie kissed, causing more cheers.

  “I can’t believe you went to see my parents, or that you were nervous,” Dixie said softly. “I can’t even picture you being nervous.”

  “If your father hadn’t given me his blessing, I would have had to wait to propose until I proved to him that I was worthy of you, because I’d never put you in the position of having to choose between me and your family. That’s why I was nervous.”

  “Oh, Jace.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

  “I think I’d better get my toast in before these two lovebirds get too carried away,” Red said as Dixie and Jace ended their lip-lock. “You all know my daughter well enough to realize that she was never like other little girls who played with dolls and dreamed of big white weddings. Dixie asked her father for a motorcycle for her fourth birthday, and when she got a Big Wheel instead, she stormed out to the garage and said she was going to build her own.”

  “That’s my girl,” Jace said.

  “Growing up with three older brothers wasn’t easy. Dixie had to be tough and smart.” Red looked adoringly at Dixie and said, “My beautiful little girl, who was special because she was different, never wanted to be seen as different. And there was nothing she wouldn’t do to prove that she was just as tough and capable as the boys.”

  “Like the time she taped on a penis!” Bullet hollered, causing uproarious laughter.

  “Ohmygod!” Dixie buried her face in Jace’s chest.

  “I want to hear this one,” Jace said, and Dixie scowled.

  Red looked at Dixie and said, “May I?”

  Dixie put her palm up and said, “Why not? They know almost everything else about me.”

  “See that?” Red said. “My daughter isn’t afraid of anything, and she never has been. When Dixie realized her brothers could pee standing up, she drew herself a penis, taped it on, and headed outside to prove she could do anything they could do.”

  Everyone laughed.

  “That’s my beautiful, badass queen!” Jace said, hugging Dixie and eliciting more cheers.

  “It got a little messy, but she proved her point. That was the day I knew my baby girl would get everything she wanted in life, and it was also the day I realized that she’d never want the things that came easily.” Red sighed and said, “Love is not always easy.”

  “No kidding,” Dixie, Jace, and several people in the crowd said in unison, causing more chuckles.

  “I’m glad we’re all in agreement. Some of you got an eyeful tonight, with flying fists and raised voices, and you probably wondered what the heck was going on. What you witnessed was love worth fighting for, more than a decade in the making. Let’s lift our glasses and hear it for our baby girl and our soon-to-be son-in-law. May they have loads of love and happiness and many grandbabies for me and Biggs!”

  As cheers and applause rose from the crowd, Jace swept Dixie into his arms, dipped her like a dancer, and kissed her so long, Red cleared her throat and said, “I guess the honeymoon starts now.”

  He and Dixie laughed as their lips finally parted, and she said, “I’m so glad you bid on me at the auction.”

  “Baby, when I saw you on that stage, beautiful and badass, I didn’t stand a chance. It was either bid on you or carry you over my shoulder like a caveman and take you back to my lair, because I wasn’t going to let any other man get his hands on you.”

  Her eyes darkened. “I like the sound of you going all caveman on me.”

  “Want to go back to your place and I’ll put on my loincloth?” He nipped at her lower lip.

  “Can I call you Thor?”

  “As long as you’re mine, you can call me anything you want.”

  Epilogue

  DIXIE TURNED OFF the hair dryer, listening to Jace’s deep voice coming from the other room as she put on her makeup. It was Sunday afternoon. She’d worked in the morning and had brought breakfast home with her, but Jace had had other ideas. They’d ended up back in bed, where he’d enjoyed his breakfast of choice—her.

  She started to put a dab of concealer on the love bite he’d left on her neck and then decided against it. She stood back, taking a last look at herself in the mirror. Yup, she still had the goofy smile she’d been wearing since Jace had proposed three months ago. When they’d left the bar that night, she’d told him he didn’t need to change his entire life for her. Plenty of couples had to travel and take care of business, and she was so proud of him and all he’d achieved. She wanted to support his efforts, not hinder them. But he’d said, I want to come home to you, Dix, not a hotel room. I want to be there for walks on the beach with our babies, for our steamy showers and endless lovemaking. I want to be the cool dad who shows up at our kids’ school plays and sports games. And don’t forget, Mia’s life plan for us includes lots of trips to New York City so our kids’ three aunties can spoil them rotten. How could she argue with any of tha
t?

  Jace had moved in right away, and a few weeks later they’d broken ground on their new property. They were excited to see the progress on their new house after they got back from their bike ride later. She followed his voice out of the bathroom, smiling at the sight of their neatly made bed. Jace’s penchant for neatness was just one of the things that had surprised her after he’d moved in. He also helped with chores around the house and ran errands without her even asking. There were definite benefits to Jace having been a bachelor for so long. He’d also proven once again that he was a man of his word by keeping his promise and volunteering at the women’s shelter. When they’d had dinner with Jace’s family to deliver their happy news, Dixie had thanked his parents for raising such a remarkable man. It had been easy to see how he’d become so wonderful. His parents, Jacob and Janice, were good natured, even keeled, and openly adored all of their children.

  As great as their life together was, they’d run into a few kinks here and there since they’d begun living together. Jace had gotten better about communicating, and although Dixie loved every second of living with him, she’d had to get used to a burly man taking up space in her small home. But the biggest issue they’d encountered was that Jace didn’t like guys hitting on her at work. Although news of their engagement had spread quickly, there were still customers who didn’t know Dixie or Jace. Jace had wanted to hang out at the bar and shut down any advances, but Dixie hadn’t taken a stand with her family only to be babysat by her fiancé. It had taken a week or two for them to figure things out, but in the end Jace had relented, allowing Dixie to handle any issues that arose. If the rock on her finger wasn’t enough of a deterrent to flirtatious men, Dixie let the offenders know in no uncertain terms that she was not, and would never be, on the market.

  The only man she wanted was standing shirtless and barefoot in their kitchen talking on his cell phone, looking scrumptious. His thick dark hair was still wet from their shower, the curls she loved so much not yet tamed.