I felt him before I saw him, leaning in the doorway, his arms crossed, watching me, appreciation clear in his gaze.
My cheeks heated as I blushed. “What are you looking at?”
“The most gorgeous fucking woman I’ve ever seen,” he replied without delay, shoving off from the doorway and stepping into the bakery. “You had a good day,” he murmured.
“I had a great day.” I smiled, shutting the register.
He stepped around the counter, pulling me to his broad chest. “I’d like to make it even better.” His head tipped as his lips skated over my neck. “I’ve got something to show you.”
I’d been curious all day about what surprise Maddox had in store for me. “I’m ready.” I nodded. “Just need to lock up.”
“I’ll help.” As he moved around me helping to put things away, I couldn’t help but think of that first time we met. How effortlessly we’d moved together in my nonna’s bakery—the electricity I’d felt at his nearness. It was no different now.
A short time later, my arms wrapped around his middle, the rumble of the bike beneath me, we made our way up the mountain pass not far from his parents’ house. When we pulled down a dirt drive I marveled at the beauty of the land, all while wondering what we were doing here.
He helped me off the bike, took my hand, and guided me toward a clearing encircled with trees, a gorgeous view of the mountains just beyond the ridgeline.
“Do you like it?” he asked, and I didn’t imagine his voice was deeper than normal, some unknown emotion behind his words.
“Of course, it’s beautiful,” I marveled. “But what are we—”
My words were cut off abruptly when he dropped to one knee. I nearly lost my breath as he stared up at me, his gorgeous eyes bright with love as he looked up at me. “I wanted to ask you to be my wife on the land where I plan to build our home.”
My hand flew to my mouth as I stared down at the gorgeous diamond ring he held out to me. “There aren’t words to describe how happy you make me, how much I love you and our babies.” He swallowed hard. “There may not be words, but there is nothing I want more than to spend the rest of my life showing you. I want to love you, to take care of you for the rest of my life. Will you be my wife?”
I grinned at him through tears. “Yes,” I managed over the lump in my throat as he slid the ring on my finger, its weight unlike the kind I’d experienced most of my life. This time, it was an anchor tying me to the love of my life forever.
He stood up, taking me in his arms and kissing me deeply. “Thank fuck,” he breathed, his forehead pressed to mine.
“Did you think I’d say no?” I teased, my hands gripping the back of his tee.
“Wasn’t gonna let you say no, sweets.” He grinned. He stepped back, wrapping an arm around me as we stood, staring at the land stretched out in front of us. “Gonna build us a house big enough to fill with as many babies as you’ll give me,” he declared.
“Let’s get through these guys and we’ll see where we’re at.” I laughed, patting my stomach affectionately. “When do you want to get married?” I asked, my gaze on the blue sky overhead.
He kissed my temple. “As soon as possible.” His tone was resolute.
That suited me just fine. I didn’t need anything more than my man and our family and friends. A sliver of sadness slid through me that my dad wasn’t here to walk me down the aisle, that my mom wouldn’t be dress shopping with me. Neither of them would ever meet their grandchildren. But I knew if they were here now, they’d be over the moon for me. They’d have loved Maddox and his family.
“We’ll figure out a way to bring them into our children’s lives,” Maddox murmured, reading my mind as he always did.
I bit back tears, not of sadness but of utter joy that I was marrying a man with such a huge heart.
My life hadn’t been without its challenges, without despair and loss. But now, looking at the beautiful land where I’d build a home with the man I loved, I knew that if that’s what it had taken to get me here, it was well worth it.
Our adventures were far from over, in fact they were just beginning, and one thing was for sure: it would be a hell of a ride.
Epilogue
“Isabelle Viola Black, don’t you dare,” I warned our three-year-old daughter, trying to sound stern instead of wanting to laugh. She stood poised to throw a handful of flour, the dimple she’d inherited from her father flashing with mischief. She had so much of Maddox in her, everything from her gorgeous eyes to her huge heart. But there was me, too. Being named after my mother and grandmother wasn’t the only thing she’d inherited from my side. From the moment she understood the concept, she’d been wanting to bake, and frequently accompanied me to the bakery.
“In the bowl, love,” I coaxed with a smile, relishing these mornings with her.
“Daddy? Chase?” she asked after Mad and her twin as she sifted the flour, managing to keep most of it in the bowl.
“Soon.” I smiled at her. Though the twins already had different interests—Chase wasn’t as into baking and preferred anything to do with tools and bikes—they didn’t like to be parted for long.
Unlike Isabelle, we hadn’t had a name picked out for Chase before he was born. But when he came barreling out after his sister not thirty seconds after her first howl, the name had seemed fitting.
I’d just put the cupcakes into the oven when the bell over the door jangled, Maddox walking through with Chase on his hip.
“Mama!” my boy yelled, wiggling to get out of Mad’s arms so he could get to me. I knelt down as best I could, embracing his warm little body.
“Careful, baby,” Maddox murmured, wrapping a hand around my elbow and helping me up, Chase wrapped around me like a vine.
“I’m fine,” I assured him with a gentle smile, managing to work Chase’s legs around my huge belly.
Even after being so sick with the twins and a difficult labor, I’d been ready to have another baby as soon as the twins could walk. Maddox had been another story. It had been hard on him watching me struggle and not being able to do much about it. And after an emergency C-section, at first he hadn’t wanted to have any more kids at all. It had taken a few years but I’d talked him around.
Thankfully the little girl in my belly had been a lot easier on me.
He pressed a protective hand to my belly. “How are my girls?” Maddox murmured, giving me a kiss before scooping Isabelle up in his arms.
She squealed in delight. One thing was for sure, our girl was a daddy’s girl through and through.
“Good,” I assured him with a smile.
“You ready, baby?” he asked gently, knowing today was tough for me. As much as I couldn’t wait for my daughter to arrive, this was my last day in the bakery and it was never easy for me to leave it for a long period of time.
“I think so.” I nodded. “Your mom should be here soon,” I added.
The bakery had thrived since we’d opened. Our family and friends had provided unfailing support, especially when the twins were born and I couldn’t work for months. Now they prepared to provide the same support, as the doctor had encouraged me to rest for my final weeks of pregnancy. In particular, Sophie had been a nearly constant presence. We’d grown ever closer over the years and I couldn’t imagine our lives without her. It had taken me years and more patience than I realized I possessed, but I’d turned her into an excellent baker and cook.
I still couldn’t say which one of us was more pleased.
When Sophie walked in, followed by Axel, the twins nearly lost their minds. You’d think they hadn’t seen their grandparents in a decade instead of the twenty-four hours it had actually been.
“How’s my girl?” Axel’s low rumble greeted our daughter as he picked her up and held her close. Olivia swore Axel was even more protective of Isabelle than he had been of her when she was young. Between Mad, her grandfather, and the rest of the men in the club, my little girl would be lucky to date before thirty.
I squeezed her back. “I will.”
“Why don’t you two head to the house?” Axel suggested. “I can bring the twins up in a little while.”
“You sure?” I asked, trying not to laugh when Maddox was already towing me toward the door.
“He’s sure,” Maddox assured me gruffly. Clearly, my man was ready for some alone time. He wasn’t the only one.
With quick kisses to the kids we left the bakery and headed up the mountain road, destined for home.
I still marveled at the gorgeous house Maddox had built us. Facing the clearing where Maddox had proposed, with its back to the woods beyond, the sprawling two-story lodge-style home was breathtaking. We’d moved in shortly after the twins had been born and I could honestly say that I never wanted to live anywhere else.
Maddox parked the truck, coming around to my side and helping me down. I’d learned after years of experience that pregnant or not, he liked opening my door for me. I wasn’t complaining.
“I’d say we have at least an hour, maybe more,” he murmured, kissing my neck and making my skin tingle.
“At least,” I agreed. My hormones had been off the charts with this pregnancy, my need for Maddox never seeming to ebb. He was all too happy to comply with that particular demand.
Really, any demand I had, including one night when he’d gone out at midnight to pick up my favorite ice cream. I’d had both my cravings fulfilled that night.
“You happy, baby?” he asked as we walked into our house, the vaulted wood ceiling and sunlit great room greeting us.
“No one has ever been happier,” I replied sincerely as we reached the master, his hands already roaming my body hungrily.
I’d never spared a moment to my size with either pregnancy; Maddox had made it clear he liked what he saw.
“You think this will be our last?” he asked as he stood behind me, his hands holding my belly possessively.
“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “I kind of feel like I could do one more. You?”
“After the twins I wasn’t sure, but this pregnancy was so much easier for you,” he murmured, kissing my neck. “I love seeing you round with our baby, knowing I got you that way. Plus, we make beautiful babies.”
“That we do,” I agreed with a sigh, tilting my neck to give him better access. “Well, for now we can get some good practice in.” I giggled.
He growled playfully, coaxing me toward the bed. He lay over me, his gray eyes smoldering as he looked down at me. “Love you, baby.”
I smiled back at him. “Love you too, Mad. Always.”
“Always.”
~The End~
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Maddox Page 17