“Trevor, I want you to know you don’t have to give up meat. I appreciate the support, but I’m not even tempted to change my diet.”
“Told before you, Pixie, this shit isn’t about you. My past is tainted in blood. Saw too much, especially recently.”
“You wanna talk about it?”
I genuinely want to support this man as much as he does me.
“Can’t. My job, Pixie, my life, there are things I can’t ever discuss. Are you gonna be okay with that?”
“I’ll be honest; I’m not sure.”
There is a heaviness in the air at my response.
Apprehension.
“Pixie, if you can’t understand my job and lifestyle, then this ain’t gonna work.”
“Trevor, what you’re asking me to do hurts.”
Pain sears through my chest. I bite the inside of my cheek as the uncertainty settles between us.
“Pixie, I’ll never do anything that hurts you. But my job is off limits. I’ll do the best I can not to bring the dark home, but you need to know I can’t talk about it.”
“I don’t need you to tell me details, Trevor. I just want to help you remember you’re on the good side and take away the heavy and the dark.”
His lips crash against mine in a searing kiss. “Love you, Pixie. Love that you are the light in my world.” Each word is against my lips before he kisses me again.
“I’ll always be your light, Trevor Blake,” I whisper before we get lost in each other and the connection we share.
Chapter Eighteen
~Coal~
With our mission report turned in for Cook, we are in the clear for any ties to him. As far as the US Government is concerned, the Regulators MC don’t exist and Cook is a missing person … one that will never be found.
Apparently, Cook was hired to do a job and failed. An informant told him the hit was out. Deciding to go out with too much attention on him from us, the cartel backed down to let us clean up their mess.
After he injured Lisa and took out Big Jim, I’m happy to have dished out our vengeance and clean up for them.
Lisa is doing okay. Pixie put together a care package with salts, and we mailed it yesterday. She’s surrounded by family in Kentucky and picking up the pieces. Her life will never be the same, but she is strong.
Precious is strong, too. She found herself a real job as a receptionist in a doctor’s office. The benefits are good, and she even got herself a home. I set her up with some money in savings, and so far, she hasn’t touched it since starting the job.
Since we had the cruise liner mission for the DEA and Cook murders, we have a little down time until the next mission comes up. Normally, I would be anxious to get the next job. Life was just one assignment to another … until Pixie.
I even called my mom a couple of times. She’s doing good and is back at work. I hope to take Pixie to meet her soon. From what Mom told me, Amber went to see her when she got settled at home. She told my mom I didn’t rape her. She wanted to tell my family sooner, but felt she owed it to me first. Only, I was unable to be reached.
If I had gotten in touch the first time she posted, I could have saved my mother, maybe my father, and myself years of added grief. Then again, if anything had been different, I might not have Pixie. To hold on to the feelings I have … Well, it’s all been worth it.
“I did it.”
“Did what?” My eyes are roaming the club, looking for potential problems as we sit in a corner booth at After Midnight. We just finished up a weekly meeting with Ice in the back, and now Hammer and I are unwinding by drinking a beer before we go home to our women.
“I bought the ring,” Hammer clarifies.
Turning my attention back to him, I say, “No shit? When are you planning on popping the question?”
Hammer drums his fingers on the table top. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I have an idea, but I need your help.”
“With what?” I ask him curiously.
“Proposing to Des. I need your help.”
Baffled, I look at Hammer like he’s nuts. “Brother, this is like holding your own dick while you piss sort of shit—you’re supposed to do it yourself.”
He rolls his eyes, and then it looks like he is digging through his pockets.
To our left, movement out of the corner of my eye catches my attention, and I look over to see the new girl we just hired flirting with a customer. I know these girls know what they are doing, but since this one’s new, I watch for a while to make sure she doesn’t accidentally get too handsy with the customer and lead him on.
Suddenly, I hear Hammer say, “So, will you?”
Glancing back at Hammer, I see a diamond ring in a jewelry box on the table between us and a hopeful look on the man’s face.
That’s when I hear a woman say, “Aw, that’s so sweet! Look, y’all, he’s proposing to his partner!”
I turn to see the new stripper shouting at the rest of the club, which has suddenly gone silent as all eyes land on me, Hammer, and the fucking engagement ring between us. Talk about fucking awkward.
My eye twitches, and I think about strangling the new girl as Hammer says, “You’ve got it all wrong, honey. He could have the suction of a Hoover vacuum while going down on me and I would still say the woman I got at home is ten times better.”
The club bursts out laughing, and it sort of feels like a flashback to high school. I can’t seem to get my mouth to move, but what I do know is that now I want to strangle both the new girl and Hammer.
“This ring here is for my woman, and I’m asking my brother here to help me surprise her when I propose.”
The stripper comes over to our table with a grin. “Aw, that’s so sweet!”
Jesus. The woman just said that.
I don’t give her another chance to repeat herself again. Giving her a stern look, I catch her attention and tell her what she needs to do before I lose my temper. “Woman, go back to work.” It comes out a growl, and her eyes get as big as saucers as she realizes she’s getting on my nerves.
As she scurries back to her customer, I look at Hammer and let him have it next.
“You’re a dick.”
Hammer gives me a laughing smile. “But you love me, big guy, don’t you?”
“You’re going to get on my nerves until I agree to help you, aren’t you?”
“Pretty much, brother.”
Feeling my eye twitch again, I give in. “Fine, I’ll help, but you’re still a dick.”
Leaning forward, Hammer mock whispers, “No, me being a dick would sound something like this. Now that you got a steady woman so you don’t have to pay for sex, you must be saving a boatload of money. I say you get her a big diamond ring with all that cash and make it official.”
I flip him the bird, and he laughs.
Asshole is lucky I actually like him, or he would be getting a face full of fist right about now. That’s all right. I got better ways to get back at him now that I have Paisley. She mentioned something about a detox shake that will give you the shits. I think I will have her make one for Hammer.
Chapter Nineteen
~Hammer~
“Why the fuck did I agree to do this shit again, woman?”
Des laughs at me as I hand her the exercise ball to my left. Her back is to me as we do rotational passes, working our abdominal muscles in this exercise that you do with a partner by standing back to back and passing the exercise ball to each other.
Ever since she helped rehabilitate me from that wheelchair, I go to the gym a couple times a week to work out with her and stay in shape. I never want to be vulnerable again, if I can help it. That’s why I felt the gym would be the perfect place to do what I’m about to do.
I need my package delivered first.
“Just wait until we add the squats to this, you big cry baby,” my woman taunts.
The hell with that. I’m going need to put my plan in action fast if I’m going to avoid that exercise.
Des calls out that we are down to three repetitions when Coal comes to stand in front of me where only I can see him. I pass the ball to Des, and that quick, he sticks his hand out with what I need lying in his palm. A little blue box holding one big-ass question inside.
Grabbing the box, I reach over, grab the ball from her with one hand, rotate my body, and hand her the box next.
“What the—” Des starts to say, but stops suddenly.
I wink at Coal that he can disappear, and he takes off.
Turning around, I see Des’s back trembling, and my heartbeat picks up. This is it, and I’m so fucking ready for it. I can only hope that she is, too.
Leaning in, I place my lips at the shell of her ear. “Turn around, sweetheart.”
Slowly, she does. There’s a dozen emotions written across her face as she holds the little blue box in her hands and looks at me with questions in her eyes. Silent tears start to trickle down her face. I can tell she’s nervous, but hopeful, too.
Getting down on one knee, I take her hands in mine. “Desirae, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be the man I am today. I wouldn’t be whole and happy. You did that for me. I was hoping that you might be willing to do it for the rest of our lives.” I open the box lid and turn it so she can see the diamond ring in the palm of her hands, which are trembling now. “Will you marry me, Des? Spend the rest of your life with me? Bust my balls till the end?”
Her breath hitches on a sob, and then she’s nodding like crazy, making me the happiest man in the world.
I’m just about to stand up and kiss her breathless when she surprises me by tackling me to the ground. Should have known my woman would take the initiative on that one.
She plants her lips on mine, and we kiss passionately.
Reaching down, I grab her ass and push my hips up into hers. The moment is perfect … until I hear Coal yell, “No fucking in the gym! Get a room, you two.”
We both laugh, and then I quickly take my fiancée home to show her body just how much I love her heart.
It’s always been about showing between us. Actions speak louder than words, and I’m glad to take action with her body any day, any time.
~Ice~
“Morgan, I’m home!” I walk in the door with the giant box in my hands, calling out for my woman. I don’t see her anywhere, but her car is parked in the driveway.
She walks out of the hallway that leads to the bedrooms and the back of the house with a smile on her face, stopping short when she sees the box in my hands.
“What in the world are you holding, Brett?”
Setting the box down on the couch, I place my hand firmly on the lid and point to the empty spot on the couch next to it for her to sit. “We need to talk.”
A wary look crosses her face as she slowly walks around to sit. “Talk about what, handsome? Why does this sound so serious?”
I give her a stern look. “Because it is. We have been together long enough, woman; it’s time we expand the family.”
Morgan’s jaw drops, her face painted in utter shock. “You want to what?” She shakes her head back and forth. “Brett, I love you. I adore Brooke like my own, but we just got her off to college. Madyson is doing good. Timing … Timing.” She is whispering by the end.
It takes everything I have not to smile, but somehow, I manage. “Expand our family, woman. It’s been too quiet around here since Brooke moved out. I’m ready to change that.”
My woman is looking at me like I have completely lost my mind. “Define expand, please. Because, if you’re talking about a baby, that’s a big step, Brett. I’m not sure we’re ready for that. We should financially save up money before having a kid. They’re freaking expensive. And college! Oh, my God, I don’t know if we could afford to put them through college yet—”
A whine from the box stops her dead in her tracks.
“What the hell was that, Brett?”
Another whine sounds, and this time it’s followed by a little yip of a bark.
I watch the confusion melt away from Morgan’s face as excitement takes its place.
“You got us a puppy!” she shrieks excitedly.
Bending over, I pull the lid off the box and let the German Shepherd puppy poke his head out. He takes one look at Morgan and starts yipping happily.
She scoops him up as tears fall happily from her face. “Hello, puppy love!”
I grasp my chest like I’m in pain. “Morgan, you wound me!”
She stands up with a wiggling puppy in her arms and kisses me.
“While I got you all happy, time to talk, Morgan.”
She stills, her face filled with confusion and concern once again. “Brett, what’s going on?”
“Things aren’t always what they seem,” I begin.
The puppy wiggles, so she sets him down.
“Brett, what are you getting at?”
“I know you are all about the numbers. I get it, but I want the puppy so you can see I’m committed. I’m committed to you, Morgan, and our family.”
“You really wanna have a baby?”
I nod so she understands I really am serious. The guys brought it up, and yeah, I brushed them off because I need to get my woman on the same page before I tell my brothers what I want. It wouldn’t be right to tell them without Morgan being on board.
Since the moment Morgan came into my life, I have been able to live, really live again. To create a new life with her … Well, nothing would make me happier.
“Being a dad has been the best thing I’ve ever done. I know we had stuff to handle when Madyson came back. She was our priority, and then Brooke …” Emotions actually overtake me. “Fuck, Morgan, seeing you with my daughter, I fall in love with you more every fucking day. The way my daughter loves you, relies on you … Morgan, it makes me rely on you. I want it for us, together.”
Tears fill her eyes. “Are we going to make a plan?”
I smile. “No, baby.”
She studies me. “Things aren’t always what they seem … What is the reason for the puppy beyond your show of commitment? Brett, there isn’t a more committed man in the world than you.”
“I flushed your birth control pills down the toilet. I needed to see if I could get you on board, and well, puppy here, he’s a good distraction.”
She opens her mouth to say something, and then closes it in shock.
“I’m serious, Morgan. I want a family with you.”
“Then I suggest you be a man of action and show me just how we’re gonna make this baby you want.”
Scooping her up, I take her to our room to do just that. This woman is everything I ever wanted and needed, and so much more.
Life is fucking good.
Chapter Twenty
~Coal~
Six months later…
“Good luck, brother.”
I thank Ice for the ride, and then look down at the box in my hands. It’s not often I ride in a steel cage, but I had to today. Can’t exactly drive home a custom vegan cake on a motorcycle. Of course, it’s not the cake I’m worried about as much as the diamond ring on top of it.
Today is the day I ask Paisley if she will be, not only my ol’ lady, but my wife.
Who would have thought that a biker and a vegan flower child would be a match made in heaven? Certainly not me. Yet, here I am, ready to take that leap of faith because I know she’s a woman worth putting all my faith into.
That’s why I don’t want to screw this up. I’m not saying it will be flawless, but I’m doing my damnedest to give Pixie what should be the perfect proposal for her.
I watch as Ice drives away then look down at the box in my hands again.
I tracked down a vegan baker and had this cake special ordered for tonight. It’s a vanilla cake made with
almond milk and maple syrup, glazed with cocoa icing. The damn thing smells delicious, yet my mouth is as dry as the Sahara Desert. That’s probably because of the message. Or, I should say, question iced on top of the cake.
Glancing up at Pixie’s apartment, I take a deep breath and shore up my defenses. Making my way toward her door, I use the key she gave me months ago and let myself in. Something sweet fills the apartment, and I wonder what she’s cooking.
Walking up to the kitchen, I see her shaking her booty as she sings to the loud music blasting through the apartment. In her hand, she has a knife and is cutting up a banana. On the stove, I can see a small pot of melted dark chocolate. And on a plate, I see what looks like toasted and chopped walnuts.
She’s singing so loud she doesn’t even notice me come in.
Not wanting to scare her, I try to make some noise as I set the box down on the counter.
Pixie jumps a little, but looks over at me with a smile. “Hey, babe! You’re home too early.” She gives me a fake pout. “I wanted to surprise you.”
Setting my chin on her shoulder, I place my hands on her hips and watch as she starts cutting up another banana. “Surprise me with what, Pixie?”
“Something sweet for us to eat while we watch the movie tonight.”
Kissing the side of her neck, I murmur into her skin, “I’ve got your sweet covered.”
Problem is, she can’t hear me over the music, so she asks loudly, “What’d you say, honey?”
I let go of her long enough to reach over and turn the music down, then look back at her. “I said, I’ve got your sweet covered, Pixie.”
She looks at the box with curious eyes. “Oh? And what do you have there, Trevor Blake?”
Nervous, I walk over to the box and lightly put my hand on it, debating if I should say anything before I show it to her. Then I decide no, the cake says it all.
Lifting the lid, I push the now visible cake with its question closer to her, and she gasps. Her hands start to tremble, and I watch the hand holding the knife with a wary eye. Perhaps I should have asked her to put that down first.
Coal (Regulators MC Book 3) Page 16