by Pj Fiala
“Kayden, I want us to start out a whole new life, together, the three of us. Will you marry me?”
She sucked in a breath and froze. She stared into his eyes, so long he almost squirmed. “Yes.” It came out as a whisper.
“Really?”
“Yes. We’ll marry you.” She looked at Dakota, tears spilling from her eyes. “Won’t we, Kota? Do you agree?”
The biggest smile that JT had ever seen graced her beautiful little face. “Do you mean you’d be my daddy?”
“Yes. I’d be your daddy. My mom and dad would be your grandma and grandpa for real. And if you wanted, I could adopt you and you could be Dakota Sheppard.”
Her sparkling blue eyes sought Kayden’s. “You want to marry JT, Mommy?”
“I do, very much.”
Giggling, she said, “I want to marry JT, too.”
Dakota lunged forward and wrapped her little arms around both of their necks.
JT hugged both of them for a long time and then set Dakota back on the sofa. “We have to make it official.” He reached into his shirt pocket, his fingers slightly shaking, and pulled out a beautiful diamond halo ring with an oval diamond in the center. It was the most beautiful ring Kayden had ever seen in her life. Tears sprung to her eyes as he held her hand in his and asked, “Will you marry me, Angel?”
Swallowing profusely, all she could do was nod her head. He slipped the ring on her finger and pulled her head down to kiss her lips.
He held up his index finger and then pulled a petite little gold chain from his pocket. He held it up to Dakota and showed her three little hearts in the middle of the chain. One in gold, one silver and one rose. “This is for you to seal the deal. Three hearts for three people in our family.”
Dakota’s mouth fell open, and in all of her five years, Kayden had never seen that little girl speechless, but she was now. JT ducked his head to look at her eye level. “Do you like it?”
She nodded, still stunned at the beautiful gift. “It’s beautiful. I’ve never had my own necklace before. Momma said I was too little.”
Kayden giggled and swiped at her tears. “I think you’ve grown up quite a bit these past few weeks.”
JT motioned for Dakota to turn around and he placed the necklace around her neck. Though he struggled with the tiny clasp, he managed to get it together. Dakota turned around and touched the little hearts with her tiny fingers ever so lightly.
“Thank you, JT. I love it.” She stood on the sofa and flung herself into their arms and hugged them tight.
She let go, turned, and jumped from the sofa to the floor. “I have to go and look at it in the mirror.”
She briskly walked from the room and Kayden giggled as she watched her little girl growing up before her eyes before turning to JT and kissing him deeply. Touching his face with her fingers and clasping the ponytail with her other hand, she slowly slid her tongue into his mouth, exploring it fully. He pulled her into his groin and she could feel his quickly growing erection against her thigh.
His voice raspy, he whispered, “Will you come home with me to Wisconsin?”
She pulled back and looked into his eyes. “There’s nothing here for me anymore and honestly, earlier this week a feeling came over me and I just knew that my home is where you are. You’re my home, JT.”
He looked down at the ground and a small sob tore through his throat. He swiped at tears in his eyes and when his watery gaze met hers, he said, “You’re my home, Kayd.”
He kissed her lips fully, loving the feel of her lips against his. He reached up to lightly squeeze her breast.
She pulled away a fraction. “I’d love to celebrate with some hot monkey sex right now.”
Chuckling, he said, “Me too.”
Hearing little footsteps coming toward them, Kayden turned to see Dakota enter the room. She was adorable with her little blonde curls and her biker boots. “I was just thinking,” she said as she walked toward them, “this means I can call you Dad.”
JT’s brows raised. “I guess it does. But only if you want to.”
Dakota nodded. “I’ll think about it.”
They both burst out laughing, which caused Dakota to laugh with them.
The funeral was a big affair; everyone in the small town of Shady Pines came to pay respects to the man they’d known for the past fifty-seven years. Oakes had been born here and he died here, just like he’d always said he would. Kayden couldn’t help but hear the whispers from some of the old biddies who insisted on making this about gossip and not paying respects, but she would be leaving this town soon enough. On the way to the funeral, they’d spoken to Dakota about staying in Shady Pines or going back to Wisconsin, and she wanted to go to Wisconsin where her new family lives.
Entering Grumpy’s, the little restaurant on Main Street, after the funeral, JT and Kayden, holding Dakota’s hands in theirs, found the tables set aside for their large clan. Payton, Ruby, and Chance joined them; Duncan had just been released from the hospital and for obvious reasons, wasn’t interested in attending. Who could blame him? The Sheppards and their employees, Chase, Frog, Janice, and Ricky, who had been so supportive through all of the mess this past week. Her two aunts had come to the funeral, but declined to join them for dinner, citing a long drive as a reason. They both did come from a distance, but each were angry and embarrassed at the sham Oakes had been.
It was at the table after the food had been delivered that Dakota piped up and said, “Mom and JT are getting married.”
Most of the group laughed and Ryder leaned forward and said to Dakota, “Did you catch them kissing again?”
She giggled. “No, silly. We told JT we’d marry him when he asked.”
The table grew very quiet and all eyes turned to JT and Kayden. Kayden looked into JT’s eyes and a smile grew upon her face. She slowly raised her hand to show off the rock he’d given her just a couple of hours ago and the mood turned to one of celebration.
Once the elation of the announcement died down, Joci looked over at the newly engaged couple and asked. “Will you be staying here or coming home?”
JT took Kayden’s hand in his. “We’re coming home.”
Joci reached over and took JT’s hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. “I’m so happy for you. Both of you.”
Dakota said, “I’m getting married, too.”
Joci chuckled and looked at Dakota. “I’m happy for the three of you. But Mommy and JT are getting married; you’ll be part of it, but not getting married. You’ll need to wait to meet your own Prince Charming and marry him.”
Dakota cocked her head and looked at Joci. “I have to rescue him first.”
JT and Kayden laughed and explained Dakota’s meaning.
Jeremiah stood and held up his beer. “I’d like to make a toast.” He nodded to the new couple, and said, “JT, Kayden, and Dakota, on behalf of everyone here, I’d like to congratulate you and welcome Kayden and Dakota into our family. Despite the disappointments we’ve had this week, I also want you to know that Oakes was a brother at arms and I loved him like one. I always will. Nothing he did diminishes that love. It’s disappointing, but it doesn’t erase all we were to each other.”
He looked around the table and then down at Joci. She put her hand in his and he kissed her fingers before saying, “JT, when we get back home, I’d like you to head up our new design department. Your mom and I have been talking and with the new addition to the building, we have room to set up an office and a design center for you, Joey, and Chase to continue on with the great work you’ve done. If you accept.”
JT looked into Kayden’s eyes and the smile she bestowed on him said it all. He kissed her lips, stood and walked over to hug his dad. Pulling back, he said, “I accept.”
Jeremiah held up his beer and waited for JT to pick up his. Raising it in the air, he said, “Cheers,” to which the rest of the group repeated.
After the dishes had been cleared, Kayden stood to use the restroom. A man who had been sitting a
few tables away, stood and intercepted her path. He held out his hand and introduced himself as Daniel Selisen.
“Your dad has spoken to me a number of times about buying the bar. I’m a miner and I mine mica.”
He pulled his business card from his wallet and JT stood and walked over to see what the conversation was about. He handed JT another card and continued.
“I’d like to buy the property from you, Ms. Leathers. I’ll pay you fairly; we can have it appraised and go from there.”
Kayden turned to JT, the question in her eyes. “It’s up to you, Kayd.”
She nodded and turned to Daniel. “I’d like to explore selling the property to you. I’ll see about getting an appraisal on the property and make sure you get a copy. Is that fair?”
He held out his hand and shook hers. “Yes ma’am, that’s fair. Thank you.”
46
The following morning, the Rolling Thunder group began packing to leave. As JT tossed the last of his clothing into his duffle bag, his phone rang. He picked it up from the nightstand and tapped the answer icon. “JT.”
“Hello, JT, my name is Stu Baker. I’m the marketing director for Blaze Tires. I’d very much like the opportunity to sit down with you and discuss a licensing deal.”
JT flopped onto the bed, staring out the window of the bedroom as the fluffy white clouds floated by.
Swallowing, he asked, “Licensing of what?”
“Sorry, I guess my intro wasn’t that thorough. We noticed that you used our tires on your builder bike. We loved what you did with that bike. It’s new, fresh and sexy. We’d like to talk to you about building some pilot bikes for us and our affiliates using our tires only and we’ll use those bikes in all of our ads. They’ll tour the country as we attend every major bike and car rally, race, show and whatnot. Your bikes can have your own signature logo on them, but they’ll be licensed to us.”
JT was speechless. Letting the news sink in, he swallowed the emotion beginning to rise to the surface. He broke out into a sweat, his heartbeat increased, and his hands shook.
“I hope I didn’t lose you?”
Shaking the dismay from his head, JT quickly continued, “No. Sorry, I’m trying to get my head around what this means.”
Stu laughed a hearty laugh from the other end of the phone and then added, “What it means is eighty thousand dollars a year. We’re thinking we’d like six bikes next year and we’ll talk after that about how we might want to expand. You can keep your job at Rolling Thunder; we know it’s a family business. Just build us the set number of bikes each year and agree to pose for a few ads. We’ll talk further about attending a few of our shows annually, but this can all be laid out in a contract.”
JT coughed. That was a great sum of money. For doing something he loved? No-brainer. “I’ll need to discuss this with my fiancée and my father. The four of us should sit down together. They’re just packing up to leave Shady Pines in the morning. I’ll be here for another couple of weeks.”
“I’m still in Sturgis, let’s get together this afternoon. Say, two-thirty?”
The bedroom door opened and Kayden strode in with a plate of food and a bottle of beer. She smiled as she walked around the bed and set his plate on the nightstand. His eyes never left her as he drank in her long legs and ample breasts, softly moving as she walked. Delicious.
“Sounds good. We can meet at Grumpy’s in town. See you then.” He pulled the phone from his ear and dropped it on the bed. Wrapping his hands around her hips, he pulled her down to him and slowly laid back with her on top of him. His hands gripped her ass and pulled her tight to him and his lips played over hers. She dug her hands into his hair and kissed his cheeks, then dipped lower and licked the rim on his ear. He groaned.
“Who were you talking to, JT?”
“An admirer.”
“Hmm. You’re not allowed to have those any more. Except me. I’m your only admirer now.”
She kissed his neck and nipped at the tender skin; he took that moment to breathe in her hair and absorb the fresh clean scent of cotton and fresh air.
“Well, this one I think you’ll like.”
She slid to the side and laid facing him and he turned to face her. He told her about the phone call and she laughed. “This is so much better than winning the Build-off. Oh my God, JT, this is fantastic.”
He laughed as he stared into her eyes, the happiness replacing the sadness that creeped in from time to time.
“I know.” He chuckled again.
“Are you guys kissing again?” The sweet voice of Dakota broke into their mirth.
“Yes, we were kissing again,” he said as he stood and pulled Kayden to her feet. “Let’s go upstairs and find Grandpa, shall we? We’ve got some news.”
Two weeks later…
JT closed the door on the trailer and locked it. He glanced back at the spot where the bar used to stand, but was now a pile of rubble. Daniel Selisen’s wrecking equipment arrived early yesterday morning and made short work of the wooden building. He’d warned Kayden the day before to say her goodbyes, but only a couple of tears fell from her beautiful hazel eyes when the building fell over, and then she composed herself and slapped her hands together and exclaimed, “I’m ready for our new life, JT.”
He hugged her close, and whispered, “I’m ready for our new life, too, Angel.”
Dakota ran up to him, her pink backpack loaded with stuffed animals, books, and a little pink kids electronic reading device he’d purchased for her so she could fill it with hundreds of books and a few games for the road.
“I’m ready. Mommy’s making snacks in the motor home.”
He chuckled. They’d rented a nice motor home and a trailer for the trip to Wisconsin. The furniture she wanted to bring with them, her motorcycle, and their belongings were in the trailer. Frog and Janice were excited to drive her Jeep back home and took selfies with themselves in front of the Jeep at every state line.
JT helped Dakota carry her backpack up the steps into the motor home and set her down at the booth so she could eat. Kissing Kayden, he asked, “Almost ready?”
“Yep. I just wanted to make these little sandwiches and then we can hit the road.” She stepped to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of water. She held it up to JT and he nodded. She handed it to him and took another one for herself. She poured Dakota some apple juice and said to JT, “Ready.”
“Where are we going to live when we get there?” Dakota asked.
JT chuckled. “Well, I have a house that I just bought after Gunnar and Emma got engaged. We’ll live there, but if it won’t work for us, we’ll sell it and buy a bigger one. Deal?”
She clapped her hands, and said, “Deal.”
JT strapped himself into the driver’s seat, Kayden sat in the passenger seat, and Dakota sat at the table, eating a snack and reading her books. They pulled out of the parking lot of the former OK Leathers Saloon and turned east. Kayden turned and watched out the side windows until Shady Pines had disappeared into the horizon. She was starting a whole new life with a wonderful man. It was more than she had ever let herself dream. She let out a deep breath and smiled at JT. “I’m going to love being your wife, JT.”
He looked into her eyes. "I'm going to spend the rest of my life making sure you do, Angel."
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Other Titles by P.J. Fiala
Second Chances Series
Designing Samantha’s Love
Finding Kiera
Rolling Thunder Series
Moving to Love, Book 1
Moving to Hope, Book 2
Moving to Forever, Book 3
Moving to Desire, Book 4
Copper Moon Series
Copper Moon – The Cup
I was born in a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri named Bridgeton. During my time in Missouri, I explored the Ozarks, swam in the Mississippi River, and played kickball and endless games of hide-and-seek with the neighborhood kids. The summers spent in Kentucky with my grandmother, Ruth, are the fondest childhood memories for me.
At the age of thirteen, my family moved to Wisconsin to learn to farm. Yes, learn to farm! That was interesting. Taking city kids and throwing them on a farm with twenty-eight cows purchased from the Humane Society because they had been abused was interesting. I learned to milk cows, the ins and outs of breeding and feeding schedules, the never-ending haying in the summer and trying to stay warm in the winter. Our first winter in Wisconsin, one storm brought 36 inches of snow, and we were snowed in for three days! Needless to say, I didn’t love Wisconsin.
I am now married with four children and four grandchildren. I have learned to love Wisconsin, though I still hate snow. Wisconsin and the United States are beautiful, and my husband and I travel around by motorcycle seeing new sites and meeting new people. It never ceases to amaze me how many people are interested in where we are going and what we have seen along the way. At every gas station, restaurant, and hotel, people come up to us and ask us about what we’re doing, as well as offer advice on which roads in the area are better than others.
I come from a family of veterans. My grandfather, father, brother, two of my sons, and one daughter-in-law are all veterans. Needless to say, I am proud to be an American and proud of the service my amazing family has given.