The Perfect Stroke (Lucas Brothers Book 1)
Page 25
“You look beautiful. I’ve never been more proud of my son. He did great.”
“Ida Sue… I don’t know how to… you’ve done so much for me,” she whispers.
“That’s what family does, sweet cheeks. And you’re family. You’re my daughter.”
“Ida…”
“My beautiful, amazing daughter. If your name was Chrysanthemum, you’d be perfect.” CC laughs, just like I intended for.
“I’m not changing my name,” she insists. “Well, I guess after today, I will be a Lucas.” She blushes.
“Dang straight! The sooner, the better. So let’s get this show on the road,” Jansen says. “Besides, Ida Sue made chicken salad for the reception. I want my hands on that.”
“That’s how you got such a fine catch, Ida Sue?” asks Mir. “I always heard the way to a man’s heart was his stomach.”
“Honey, that’s just horseradish. The way to lock in your man is definitely wrangling him by the milk snake.”
“Milk snake?” Mir asks, already laughing along with CC.
“Good Lord, woman,” Jansen says, and I wink at my new daughter. “Let’s go before you say something else I’ll have to spank you for.”
“Okay, sweetheart. See you outside, girls,” I tell them just as there’s another knock on the door. Jackson comes in looking hot as the Arizona heat in the dead of summer. “Jackson dear, you clean up real nice. If I was a little younger, Jansen might have reason to be worried.”
“Ms. Ida,” Jackson says with that sexy little grin of his. “I say we give him reason to worry now.”
“On that note, we’re out of here,” Jansen grumbles just as I reach up to kiss Jackson’s cheek.
“I wouldn’t mind taking a ride on the J train,” Mir says.
Definitely going to have to keep an eye on that girl.
I take Jansen’s hand and we walk out of the room together. When we get to the front door of my ranch house, Jansen looks at me with a grin. “I know today is all about the bride, but I have to tell you Lovey, there’s never been a more beautiful woman than you are right now.”
I move into him, letting him hold me close. “Much more of that sweet talking and I’m going to have to take a ride on the J train before the I do’s.”
“The shindig is set up at the end of the yard. We do pass the little one’s playhouse on the way.”
“I do love a man who thinks on his feet.”
“And here I thought you liked it best when I was off my feet,” he says, sneaking me out and towards the small playhouse.
A new daughter, a happy son, and a ride on the Jansen train.
Life is damn good.
Epilogue
CC
I watch as Mir takes off to walk down the aisle. She’s marching in the middle of all of Gray’s brothers—a fact that made her very happy. That leaves me and Jackson alone in the small bedroom.
“You about ready to get this show on the road, Claude?” Jackson asks and I turn to look at him.
“Can you give me just a minute? I need to get my nerves together,” I tell him, my heart beating hard in my chest.
“Banger would be so proud of you, y’know,” he says, nodding.
“I know,” I tell him, and I finally do.
“Okay, I’ll be right outside the door.”
I watch as he walks out and then I turn to the letter that Ida Sue handed me. My hands shake as I open it up, almost afraid to read it. I’m so happy. I have everything I could have dreamed of and I’m about to marry the man I love more than life itself. With all that good, will this be the bad that I’ve always had in the past?
Dear CC,
I wanted to take a quiet moment to welcome you into the family. Us girls get overemotional and the last thing you need on your wedding day is more tears. I know your new family is crazy. Some are a little mixed-up, but through it all, we stick together and weather any storm, because that’s what family does. They stand up to the world and say fuck you. It doesn’t matter what it throws at us; what matters is that we have each other’s backs—always.
So as you walk down that aisle today, know that you, my darling daughter, are not only gaining a very handsome husband. You are gaining a family and you will never be alone again. Although I suppose I should warn you, that part isn’t quite as great at times as it might sound.
Finally, I know that you gave your garage to Jackson, even after you and Gray insisted I take the money back for it. So, I did the only thing a mother could do when faced with two stubborn children: I bought you a new garage closer to home. Because this is your home now, darling girl. I know this garage won’t be the same as your father’s, but that one will live on through Jackson, who as much as I can gather, loved the man too. This garage will be all yours, and full of your father’s memories because that’s where we carry the ones we love: in our hearts. They never leave us because pieces of them are sewn into who we are. We take them with us. We teach our children about them. We celebrate them. Love never dies, my girl—it just grows.
Now don’t you dare try to pay me back. If you do, I’ll have to skin your hide. I wouldn’t mind if you had me a grandkid or two, though. Children keep you young, so I figure if I have about a hundred of those little boogers running around, I’ll be good.
Love,
Mom
I fold the note up with shaking hands, leaving it on the dresser. I stand up and use Jansen’s handkerchief to dry my eyes. I pick up my flowers, securing the handkerchief inside. My heart was full before, but now I’m just completely overflowing with love and happiness. I stand at the door knowing that whatever comes, I’m going to be fine. I do a mental list in my head. My hand goes to the small locket at my neck which belonged to Banger’s mom. Something old, check. I touch the pearl clip in my hair that was a gift from Gray’s sisters. Something new, check. Next, I move my foot around to make sure the penny inside hasn’t fallen out that Maggie’s little boy Terry let me borrow. Something borrowed and a penny for good luck. My hand automatically goes to my thigh where the blue lace garter is. Something blue. I’m being silly, but I just want to make sure everything is there.
As I walk out and take Jackson’s hand, we head down towards the wedding. I see Ida Sue and Jansen come out of the playhouse. Ida Sue is trying to fix her hair and her obviously rumpled dress, and Jansen is grinning from ear to ear. We hear the oh-my-gods from the crowd, the loudest coming from all of Gray’s brothers. Finally, I see Gray. My husband-to-be. The man I love with my entire being. The man who made me believe I was valuable, who makes me feel valuable. Who loves me. Never have I been more secure… or happier.
I’m reminded of Ida Sue’s words, and she’s right. Bring it on world. I’m not alone.
Crazy mother-in-law with a heart of gold, a loud, loving family to drive me nuts, and the sexiest man alive to love me the rest of my days.
Life is damn good.
Epilogue
Gray
“Have I told you how beautiful you are today, Cooper?” I ask my wife as we’re dancing. The wedding was perfect… Hell, life is perfect right now.
“You’re going to have to quit calling me that now, Crayon Man. I’m a Lucas now.”
“Fuck, yeah,” I whisper into her neck, kissing her there and taking her scent into my lungs. “You look beautiful, Claudia Lucas.”
“Right back at you, Grayson Lucas,” she whispers, snuggling against me.
“I can’t believe our mother had sex in the playhouse my son uses. We’re tearing that down,” Maggie grumbles from beside us.
“I think it’s hot. We should try it,” her date says, and I’ve heard about all of that conversation I care to hear. I steer my wife away from them. Too bad I apparently pick my brother and his best friend to dance next to.
“I can’t believe you caught the bouquet, Kayla. Why did you even try?”
“Maybe I want to get married, White.”
“Weddings are for idiots. Why tie yourself to one person when there’s a who
le world out there?”
“My brother is stupid,” I tell CC when I pull her away from the idiot and whatever garbage he keeps mouthing off with. “He’s in for a very rude awakening someday,” I tell her.
“I hope she gives him hell,” CC agrees with a laugh.
“Me too, but enough about them. How about we blow this popsicle stand and go get the honeymoon started?”
“I’m not sure I can wait that long,” she says with a grin.
“Is that a fact?”
“Mmm-hmm… Though, I did hear there was a playhouse around here somewhere,” she says.
“Claudia Lucas, I do believe my crazy family is rubbing off on you.”
“God, I hope so,” she says with a laugh, and I take her hand and lead her away from the crowd. She pulls me toward the small house and I crouch down and go through the door after her.
Crazy family, and the woman of my dreams wearing my ring.
Life is so fucking good, there are no words.
Other works by Jordan Marie
Doing Bad Things
(Lucas Brother’s Spinoff Series)
Going Down Hard
In Too Deep
Taking It Slow
Lucas Brothers Series
Perfect Stroke
Raging Heart On
Happy Trail
Cocked & Loaded
Knocking Boots
Savage Brothers MC
Breaking Dragon
Saving Dancer
Loving Nicole
Claiming Crusher
Trusting Bull
Needing Carrie
Savage Brothers MC—Tennessee Chapter
Devil
Diesel
Rory
Devil’s Blaze MC
Captured
Craved
Burned
Released
Shafted
Beast
Beauty
Filthy Florida Alphas
Unlawful Seizure
Unjustified Demands
Unwritten Rules
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