“Hi, Mom, Pop,” I replied, shooting him a grin over her shoulder as my mom proceeded to hug me so tight, I could barely breathe.
“Hi, baby,” his gravelly voice greeted, his blue eyes warm with affection. As the former prez of the Knights MC, my pop could make for an intimidating presence when he wanted to be. But he was the kindest man I’d ever known, showering my mom, me, and my brothers with unbridled love and acceptance ever since they’d adopted Max and me when I was only four.
“I think you’re cutting off my oxygen,” I wheezed theatrically.
She released me and moved to Gunner, and he stooped to accept her hug. “So, you two, hmm?” She grinned. “It’s about goddamn time.”
“Agreed,” Gunner replied, his gaze on my pop.
My dad made some sort of grunting noise that only alpha males could understand as the two had some sort of conversation without words.
Gunner extended a hand, and as the two shook, I knew something monumental was taking place.
“I’m starving,” I interjected, wanting to lighten the mood and knowing my mom loved nothing more than feeding us, which could prove to be quite a task when my brothers were around.
She wrapped an arm around me, ushering me into the kitchen where countless family meals had been eaten, food fights commenced, and lively family discussions had taken place around the well-loved kitchen table.
I took in the familiar, comforting sight of the table set, her signature cornbread muffins steaming in the basket at the center.
Yet again I had Gunner to thank for knowing what I needed before I did.
“How was your first day?” my mom wanted to know as she got us all a beer before beginning to serve up the massive dinner she’d made. As usual, she’d cooked enough for an army.
“Good.” I nodded.
“’Cept for that nurse sniffin’ around,” Gunner grumbled into his beer.
“He is not sniffing around,” I protested, smacking his arm. “He was asking for recommendations for him and his girlfriend to eat out.”
Gunner looked to my pop. “You ever ask a woman you didn’t know for a spot to take Jill?”
“Nope.” My dad’s response was annoyingly swift.
“Sniffin' around,” Gunner concluded with a nod.
“Ugh.” I rolled my eyes. “Can we eat?” I pleaded with my mom.
She grinned. “Sure, honey. How’s your mom, Gun?” she asked as we sat around the table.
“Good, enjoying life. Hoping we can make a trip down to see her soon,” he added, his eyes on me.
I nodded readily. Though I’d had many interactions with Karen Pierce over the years and she’d always been kind, she’d obviously preferred to keep to herself. I’d always summed it up as shyness. But now that I knew her story, what she’d been through, I genuinely looked forward to getting to know her in a completely different way.
“You gonna sell the house?” my pop wanted to know.
“Thinking things over,” Gunner answered evasively.
Typical for my pop, he didn’t press. Conversation shifted to our time in Colorado and subsequent visit with the Royal Bloods.
“Good crew.” Pop nodded as he refilled his plate. He might not be prez anymore, but he wasn’t out of the game. “Ruston’s been through some shit.”
Gunner nodded his agreement, and as they talked about the Royal Bloods, my mind drifted, still caught up on the house and how I could help. I was sure one of the reasons Gunner had put off dealing with it was because of me.
When Pop invited Gunner to the garage after dinner to look over one of the Harleys he was restoring, I had to smile. It was something he’d ask my brothers to do, and it was just another reminder that Gunner was family.
Except now, he was also mine.
“Happy for you, honey.” My mom smiled as we stood side by side washing dishes.
“Thanks,” I murmured. “We certainly took our time in getting here,” I admitted.
“The best things take time.” She was no doubt speaking from personal experience. After being married to an abusive husband, Mason’s father, she’d been reluctant to fall in love again. But Cal had persisted, and eventually, she’d trusted him enough to take the leap.
And thank god they had. They’d adopted Max and me after our biological mother had proven many times over to be unfit. We’d been a family since I was four, and I had very little memory of a time before them being my parents.
Though I didn’t dwell on the past, I’d spent a fair amount of time throughout the years wondering where Max and I would be if things had turned out differently.
My mind was still wrapped up in the past and how that might impact my future when we drove home a short while later. I went to get ready for bed while Gunner locked down the house.
“You’re quiet,” he observed as he leaned on the doorjamb to the bedroom, still fully dressed.
I turned my head on the pillow to meet his concerned gaze. “Just thinking,” I murmured.
He came to sit on the edge of the bed, spreading his hand over my thigh. “About?”
“I wonder if it will freak you out…?” I pondered.
“I guarantee nothing is as scary as when you go inside yourself and I have no fucking clue what you’re thinking,” he countered.
“I was thinking about how things would have turned out very differently for me if my parents hadn’t adopted us,” I began as he watched me attentively. “And how so many kids never have that same chance. I guess lately I’ve been thinking more about the future. And more and more, I’m realizing that though I do want to have babies of my own, adoption is something that’s really important for me to consider. And even though we just started dating, maybe before we get too far ahead of ourselves we should make sure we want the same things.” I gulped.
“You don’t seem sure what you want to do with this house,” I blathered on, “and I’m not totally sure why that is. Of course, it’s your decision, but if it’s because you don’t want a family someday, then maybe we should get that out now.”
“Breathe, babe,” he chided, a soft smile tipping the corners of his gorgeous mouth. “That’s a lot going on up there,” he murmured, his hand cupping the side of my face. “Let’s start with the most important part. Emmie, I want a family, but only with you. And if some of those kids are by blood and some of them are by heart, that’s alright with me,” he shared as my heart rate quickened. “I haven’t said definitively what I’m doing with the house because we haven’t talked about it. If this isn’t a place you want to live—and I’d understand why, it’s a lot to take on—then we’ll move.” He shrugged. “There’s no getting ahead of ourselves; I’m in so deep with you, there’s no slowing down and no backing up, and I don’t want to. And lastly, we’re not fucking dating.” He growled irritably.
I grinned with relief and elation. “What are we then?”
“Engaged as soon as I ask you,” he responded without hesitation as he climbed on top of me, looking deep into my eyes. “I think we both know you’re not moving back in with Grace. And it’s not for safety. It’s because I can’t sleep without you, and I don’t want to. And I’m hoping you feel the same way. I want us to move ahead together. Is that what you want too?”
I swallowed, unable to speak, and simply nodded.
His gaze softened. “So, where do you want to live, baby?”
“If it’s truly okay with your mom, then here,” I whispered. “I love this house. I love the land and the idea of filling it with animals and all the chaos that comes with it.”
“That’s what I want too,” he shared. “We can change things up, make it our own.”
I nodded in agreement before he dipped down to take my mouth in a searing kiss.
“Fuck, I’m happy,” he breathed against my mouth.
“Me too,” I replied breathlessly as he got to work proving just how happy he was.
Chapter 17
EMMIE
I woke to an empty bed a week later, which
had become a worrisomely regular occurrence. I stared at Gunner’s empty pillow for a few moments before I went in search of my man.
“Honey, did you sleep at all?” I murmured when I found him, as expected, in his office, staring intently at the screens that to me looked like a bunch of gobbledygook but to him were the key to unlocking Castillo’s whereabouts.
Ever since the threat against me and the dead end in Colorado, he’d doubled down, spending endless hours looking for clues.
He turned to me, his eyes tired, several days of whiskers pronounced on his handsome face. “I caught a few hours,” he assured me as he welcomed me into his lap, laying a kiss on my head.
“It’s not enough,” I protested. “You’re running yourself into the ground, honey. And I miss waking up with you,” I added gently.
He sighed. “I know, I do too. Believe me. But every minute I don’t spend on this is another minute you’re not safe.”
“Gun, you’ve got this place locked down, one of the guys on constant guard, and I have someone chaperoning me everywhere I go,” I reminded him. “As much as I want this to be over, you killing yourself in the process isn’t gonna work.” I cupped his face, forcing him to look at me. “You’ve done this alone for so long—are you sure you’re letting the club help you? Because I’ll tell you what, as important as I know this is, I also don’t want to miss this time with you. We’re just beginning, baby,” I murmured.
He sighed, and I knew I’d hit my mark. “I s’pose I could pull Cason from the Bloods in a bit more,” he grumbled. “I intended to, but you’re right, I’m used to doing this shit on my own. But speaking of, I looked into Peter Davis.”
I pulled back to look at him in surprise. “My coworker? Gunner, you can’t investigate every man that talks to me,” I complained with an eye roll.
“Hell, yes, I can,” he argued. “Especially ones you’re around more than I’d like,” he grumbled.
“And what did you find?” I sighed in exasperation.
“Not much,” he replied, looking frustrated.
“Sooo? That’s a good thing.” I shrugged.
“No, baby, I mean, I hardly found anything. Not a parking ticket, late bill, nothing. It doesn’t sit right. I’m just asking you to be careful.”
I wrapped my arms around him, eager to soothe him when he was so stressed. “I’m always careful, but I promise. Now, I have to get ready for work. What do you say we go out tonight?” I asked with a raised brow.
“Sorry baby, rain check. I promised Axel I’d help out at the bar,” he explained.
“Rain check,” I agreed easily, an idea starting to form.
* * *
“We are so overdue for this.” Grace beamed that night as we got ready to go out to Mad’s. “Gunner is going to lose his mind. You never let me dress you up like this,” she added.
I shrugged, looking down at the leather pants and black tank with a plunging back I’d let her convince me to wear.
“You look seriously hot,” Wren agreed as she put gloss on her lips.
“I don’t know how much of a girls’ night this is gonna be with you all dressed like this,” Liv noted dryly. “Is it just us?”
“I think so.” I nodded. “Layla couldn’t get away, and of course Frannie can’t. Not yet. By the way, we should plan a little something at the club soon so she can get out of the house.”
“Good idea,” Gracie agreed readily, always eager to plan a party.
“And I think Ginnie is meeting us there,” I concluded as we left the master bath, headed for the main room, where Tatum rose from his spot on the couch and promptly groaned.
“The guys are gonna have my head for letting you outta the house like that,” he complained. “Go put on, I don’t know, more.” He waved a hand toward the bedroom.
Grace rolled her eyes at her brother. “Stop. We look good. Come on, let’s go.”
“Fuck,” Tatum mumbled, grabbing his keys and following us out to his SUV. “Who’s drinking tonight?” he wanted to know.
When we all raised our hands, he made another grumbling sound. “Grace, Liv, I can get you home later. Wren, I assume Max will pick you up?” At her nod, he continued, “Em, you’re gonna wait till Gun’s off shift?”
“Either that or she can catch a ride with us,” Wren put in.
“Good.” He nodded as we piled into the car.
When we walked into the dimly lit bar a short while later, I couldn’t help but note every male head in the place swiveling in our direction.
But only one made my heart pound.
Gunner’s eyes narrowed to slits, his jaw clenching from behind the bar. “Emmie, in back, now!” he barked.
“We haven’t even ordered a drink yet,” Wren complained.
I sighed, moving to follow my man who, as soon as I reached him, towed me in front of him as though shielding me from the rest of the bar.
“What the fuck are you wearing?” he barked once we reached the empty office and he’d slammed the door.
I looked down at my outfit. “Pants and a shirt.”
“Where’s the rest of it?” he demanded.
I crossed my arms at the chest. “I wanted to surprise you.”
His eyes bulged. “By giving me a heart attack?”
I looked off to the side. “I thought I looked good,” I muttered.
He let out a pained-sounding laugh. “Baby, you look fucking amazing. Don’t get me wrong. That’s why you wear this for me when we’re alone. Not when a bunch of horny men can stare at you.”
“But that’s all they can do,” I pointed out, appeased.
His nostrils flared. “Damn fucking straight.”
I cocked my head to the side. “You’re very sweary. Well, more so than usual,” I amended.
He stepped into my space, forcing me to back up against the door. “Well, my woman just walked in practically naked and I can’t fuck her against this door since it’s not my office and I have a feeling she’s gonna convince me to let her walk outta here like this,” he growled.
I put my hand to his chest. “You’d be right.” I grinned. “And baby, I’m hardly naked.” I rolled my eyes. “Not as naked as I’ll be when you get home,” I purred.
He looked up to the ceiling, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Hell.”
“Need any help behind the bar?” I offered.
“No,” he grouched. “Hang with the girls, with your naked back against the wall,” he ordered.
That I could do, so I nodded.
“And Em, one wrong look from any motherfucker out there—”
“And you’ll go full alpha caveman, I know.” I cut him off, lifting to my toes to kiss him. “Love you, baby.”
It slipped out so easily; I hadn’t even planned to say it.
His entire body tensed as he pressed into my space with renewed intensity. “What did you say?” he demanded.
I looked at him, unafraid to repeat myself. “I said I love you,” I murmured.
Before I could catch a breath, I was lifted in his arms, my legs wrapping around his waist. He locked the door and stalked us toward the supply closet.
“I thought we couldn’t have sex in here?” I asked worriedly as he stepped into the dark closet and closed the door.
“Yeah, well, that was before you told me you loved me,” he growled, pulling my pants down my legs and freeing himself from his jeans. “This is gonna be fast,” he warned, hefting me up against the door and thrusting inside me with such divine intensity I had to fight a scream.
He pounded into me with a deliciously frenzied rhythm as I bit into his shoulder to keep myself quiet.
“Give it to me,” he ordered, licking and biting at my neck as I did exactly that.
His thrusts intensified to the point I worried we’d break the door and fall out the other side. His deep groan of relief was the most erotic sound as he held himself inside me, breathing hard into my neck.
“Say it again,” he whispered against my neck.
&nb
sp; “Love you,” I replied dreamily as he helped me slide down his body, holding me steady until I found my legs again.
When we walked back out to the bar a few minutes later, it was obvious our friends knew exactly what we’d been doing.
And honestly, I couldn’t have cared less.
Chapter 18
EMMIE
“I’m going to make you my bitch!” I grunted a few days later as I tried to pull an especially large weed out from near the back patio. I swear the thing was chained and anchored into the soil.
I’d spent hours poring over information on landscaping, raising animals, and vegetation. The idea that I was ready to put my research into practice had obviously been naïve at best.
When I pulled so hard that I fell to my backside, the damn weed still in place as though taunting me, a deep chuckle had me glaring over my shoulder.
“Baby, you didn’t tell me you had a black thumb,” Gunner teased with a handsome grin.
I groaned, tossing my gloves aside in frustration.
He moved toward me, sitting alongside me in the dirt, his forearms resting on his knees. Instead of pushing me, he simply waited, knowing I’d share what was in my head when I was good and ready.
“I want to be good at this,” I muttered, waving to the general property around us. “This is a special place for you. It was your past, but now we’re gonna make it our future—if that’s okay with your mom, that is,” I hastened to add. “But I can’t even get a damn weed out of the ground! And I’m not sure if you want to raise animals here again, but I know nothing about that either. How can we make this what it once was if I can’t even do this?” I gestured toward the vengeful weed with a dubious flick of my wrist.
He cleared his throat as though considering his next words carefully. “Well, baby, thing is, that isn’t a weed. It looks to me to be the start of a pine tree.”
I hung my head and groaned in defeat.
He chuckled and placed a hand on my back. “Em, my mom wants us to live here. I told you that. I talked to her as soon as you agreed to move in. She loves the idea. And as for everything else, this is our home; we can make it what we want.” He rubbed my back in soothing circles. “Tell you what, why don’t we put your weapons away,” he gestured toward my discarded gloves, “and go into town?” he bargained.
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