by Evelyn Glass
Gidget was the only one who measured up. And he didn’t need to look further to know she’d be the only one in his life that did.
“Goddammit, Gidget,” he breathed after their kiss broke. “I love you.”
EPILOGUE
TEN MONTHS LATER
“It’s right here.” Gidget pointed through the windshield, motioning to Butch where to pull over. “This is it. Route twenty. That’s the diner.” She pointed more urgently when it seemed he wasn’t slowing down enough. “Don’t miss it, babe!”
“I got it, hang on.” Butch swore as he eased down on the brakes. They’d had the family-friendly SUV for almost three months but it seemed he still couldn’t get the hang of it. It was strictly a baby purchase, Butch was quick to remind her whenever she giggled at the sight of him bunched behind the wheel. And now that the baby was two months old, she didn’t doubt that Butch had started a countdown until when their kid would be old enough to use a bike of her own.
“Oh, I hope she’s still here.” Gidget fidgeted as Butch maneuvered extra slowly into a parking spot. That was another troublesome area of his—parking. “I can’t wait for you to meet her.”
“What was her name?” Butch sounded distracted as he reversed a little to get the SUV straightened out.
“Karen.” Gidget undid her seat belt, peering back between the seats at Lily’s car seat. Their little girl had made barely a peep for the second half of the drive. Surely she’d be wanting to feed soon. Gidget’s life post-pregnancy felt like a whirlwind, but in the best possible way. She’d never dreamed that she’d love being a mother so much—or that Butch would be the exceptional father that he was. In so many ways, he reminded her of her own father. Caring, gentle but firm, with a soft spot for his baby girl that no other person could rival.
And it was that soft spot that made Geo come around too. Because her dad had known, at the end of it all, that a grandchild was a gift. Even if it came unexpectedly, via one of the new club brothers. He’d maintained a stiff silence around Butch for the first few months of her pregnancy, but once Gidget’s belly popped and Geo got excited, he started to warm up around Butch too.
And now, Butch was the greatest man that walked the earth, according to Geo. Life was funny like that. Last year Butch had almost taken a bullet to the head from Geo’s hands, and now Geo would take one for Butch from anyone’s hand.
Once Butch parked, they leaned into the backseat on both sides to get Lily out of the car. Per the natural rhythm they’d developed since her birth, Butch unlocked the car seat from the base and carried her, while Gidget cooed fondly. She couldn’t go too long without looking at their baby. It just wasn’t right.
Lily roused a little on their way into the diner, maybe awoken by the rich smells of egg and pancakes. An unfamiliar waitress came up to seat them.
“Is Karen working today?” Gidget searched the diner for a glimpse of her.
“She sure is, honey. You wanta sit in her section?”
Gidget nodded, excitedly following the waitress to a different section than the first time she’d stepped foot in this diner. Butch followed, effortlessly carrying the car seat at his side, his biceps bulging. As they settled into a vinyl booth, a gasp made Gidget turn.
“Is that you?” Karen stared at her with wide eyes, her gaze darting between her and Butch and the baby. “Am I really seeing this?”
Gidget beamed, approaching Karen with open arms for a big hug. “I had to come back and see you. After you helped me so much that day last year.”
“Oh my word.” Karen wiped at her eyes, which were shimmering. “Nobody ever comes back to see me. And trust me, I meet plenty of souls needing some help on this route.”
“I’m sure you do. This used to be Skull territory,” Butch mused, and then offered a hand. “I’m Butch. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Hello, Mr. Butch.” Karen flushed a bit as she took his hand. “I’m Karen. You must be the lovely father of this lovely baby.”
“He’s the one I left in the dust that day,” Gidget said, watching Butch with that familiar mix of adoration and longing. Their relationship had grown and intensified so much in just under a year. She’d worried that the added stress of a baby might be too much for them as a young couple…but they’d only grown together and gelled in ways she could have never imagined. “Luckily, that didn’t faze him.”
“You two look cuter than sin together,” Karen said, and then leaned over the table to peer into the car seat. “And this little one looks a little sleepy but precious as can be!” She grinned at Gidget and Butch, squeezing her shoulder. “You ever take care of them bad men chasing after you?”
“It was handled,” Butch interjected with a tight smile. Gidget couldn’t fight the silly grin that overtook her face. She loved it when his protectiveness flared. Which happened often now that he had two girls to look after in life.
“My daddy helped out a bit,” Gidget said.
Truth was, Geo taking out those two Skulls was the smartest move he could have made, even though he hadn’t known it at the time. The Skulls had long been suffering from conflicting viewpoints on where their club should go, with the two assholes that had been after Gidget constituting the bulk of the friction. Once they were taken out, it seemed the Skulls heaved an internal sigh of relief. It had ended up a bygones-be-bygones situation, especially since Geo had dangled the kidnapping of his pregnant daughter over the new Skulls leadership until they relented.
“Thank the lord. Nothing worse than men who can’t take a hint,” Karen intoned.
Gidget grinned over at Butch. “And some guys like to ignore hints until a girl is forced to throw herself at them.”
Butch sent her a flat look. “In those cases, it’s the girls who can’t take a hint.”
“Ah, it was like that, was it?” Karen swatted at Butch’s arm. “She had to beg you?”
“Worse. I was forced to use every last ounce of my charm,” Gidget cracked.
“Just needed you to use it all up so other men couldn’t get it too.” Butch flashed a cheesy smile.
Gidget laughed. This man made her happier than what she’d imagined was possible. And the responsibility that came along with settling down weren’t so scary, like she’d feared her adult life. In fact, turns out she was more than cut out for it. She excelled at it. As did Butch.
“Now that’s a keeper,” Karen said, squeezing Gidget’s shoulder. “He do all the housework and make all the money, too?”
“Oh, no. I earn my keep at our place.” Lily gurgled a bit, and Gidget checked her before continuing. “I’m going back to work in a few weeks. A little fashion boutique in Sturgis. But then we’re moving to Shreveport.”
She didn’t miss the private look of contentment that flashed across Butch’s face. Getting her old job back had taken some work, and Butch helped convince Frida that Gidget was no longer a liability. Besides, Frida’s business only expanded and thrived with Gidget’s influence. Something even Frida couldn’t deny.
But Gidget wanted bigger things, at least a longer-term taste of them. And Butch loved the idea of going back for a semi-permanent visit to Shreveport. This time, though, they’d have a mobile home, and not a motel room. Another place that Lily could call home. Geo was a bit panicky about the pending move, but Gidget promised plenty of visits to the clubhouse to see his baby granddaughter.
‘Well, lordy!” Karen said, smoothing down her apron. “Look at how much can change in just ten quick months!”
“Don’t I know it,” Gidget said, reaching across the table to grab Butch’s hands. “This is life, though. This is what happens when life happens.”
“And love,” added Butch, his dark gaze snagging hers with a grip that wouldn’t relent. She couldn’t look away from this man if she tried. He was the only one for her. For Lily. For their new family.
Karen laughed, swatting at Butch’s shoulder. “You two love birds are filling this place up with sap. Now let me go get you some waters.” Karen
strode off, leaving Gidget and Butch to gaze into each other’s eyes.
“Just when I think I can’t love you anymore, I do,” Gidget said.
“It ain’t hard with you two.” Butch brought her fingers up to his lips. He placed a rough kiss there. “You made a rough man go soft.”
“You were already a little soft,” she murmured, leaning over the table for a quick kiss. “On the inside.”
“Don’t let anybody hear that.” He cupped his hands around hers. “Only you and Lily can know.”
“And the next baby,” Gidget said.
“And the next one after that.” He sent her a grin that made her heart flutter. “But that’s it.”
“Fine. We’ll keep it our little secret.”
Butch pinched her cheek, prompting a face-splitting smile that couldn’t even touch the depths of what she felt for this man and their daughter. Despite all the sleepless nights and the sensitive breastfeeding and the lover’s quarrels that flitted in and then out of their lives with frequency…she didn’t want it any other way.
This family was hers for life.
THE END
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OTHER BOOKS BY EVELYN GLASS
HE’S MY SAVIOR, MY DOWNFALL – AND THE FATHER OF MY BABY.
The hitman came fully loaded.
He saved me from the worst fate a woman can face…
Then took my body as the cost of my freedom.
Now, I’m carrying a killer’s baby.
My captors swore I’d never escape.
Then Chance blew through my prison door.
Guns blazing, he laid waste to the men who meant me harm.
Then his sights landed on me.
I wasn’t part of the plan.
But he isn’t going to leave a pretty, helpless girl behind.
Now, I’m chained to a hitman.
There’s lust in his eyes, a beast waiting to burst free.
He tries to hide it, to keep it caged.
But when that’s no longer possible, he shows me what it means to be truly owned.
Now, I’m pregnant with the baby of a stone cold killer.
There’s no future with Chance.
He won’t let that happen.
I can see the truth, though.
Deep within him, there’s a good man waiting to be released.
I just have to hope I can find it in time.
Before the hitman breaks me.
***
She always gets what she wants… so I got her pregnant.
The little biker princess is used to getting what she wants.
When your Daddy’s the president of the Carvers MC, that’s just life.
I was supposed to guard her, not take her for my own.
But I did it anyways. And now she’s got my baby in her belly.
They call me Butcher.
Partly because I’m handy with a knife.
Mostly, though, because I know how to handle my meat.
But my latest assignment for the Carvers MC is supposed to be strictly hands-off.
The boss’s daughter needs protection.
She’s a brat and a princess, but Daddy’s got a soft spot for her.
That’s where I come in.
I’m not supposed to let her out of my sight.
Should be easy, seeing as how she’s sexy as hell.
Slim hips just begging to be squeezed.
Long hair calling for me to yank it back and make her say my name.
She can see what she does to me.
What she awakens in me.
And it doesn’t take long before that fire is too much to resist.
But crossing the line might have consequences, for once.
Because we went too far…
And now Daddy’s little girl is pregnant.
***
I’M BREAKING ALL THE RULES TO MAKE HER MINE.
She thought she was safe.
Well, she thought wrong.
I don’t obey rules – I break them.
And I’m about to do the same thing to her.
Off limits.
Beyond my reach.
What a joke.
There’s nothing in this world I can’t have.
And this sweet little princess is no exception.
She thinks she can hide out in her little oasis?
That’s laughable at best.
Freedom comes at a price, and she’s gonna have to pay it.
With her lips.
With her moans.
With blood, sweat, and tears.
There’s a war going on outside.
But in here, I only want to hear three things:
“Yes, sir.”
“Please, sir.”
And her moans.
***
I’m finally on the straight and narrow. But this girl makes me want to start sinning all over again.
It’s hard to make an honest living in a dishonest world.
But I’ve finally found my way out.
I’m not going back into the shadows, not for anything…
Well, anything except for her.
I’m not denying that I’ve done bad things.
Plenty of them.
Enough to keep my nightmares stocked ‘til the day I die.
But that was the old me.
I’ve turned over a new leaf.
Blank slate, fresh start, as they say.
Selena is the perfect new girl for the perfect new life.
But the things I want to do to her are far from wholesome.
I want to strip away that librarian façade and find the bad girl underneath.
Yank her hair back, make her beg, hear her moan.
The problem is, she wants a goody two shoes, not a criminal like me.
Oh well.
So be it.
I’ll just have to show her how fun the dark side can be.
***
THIS CALL GIRL IS A TEMPTATION I CAN’T REFUSE.
There’s one unbreakable rule in my business:
Keep your hands off the merchandise.
I was sent to make sure she gets her job done.
But if this tension doesn’t stop, I might have to keep her for myself.
Neither of us wanted to end up here.
But life has a funny way of taking you where you least expect.
She’s a call girl.
I’m the muscle.
We’re both dealing with sh*t we don’t want to deal with.
Still, the only way to stay sane is to keep your head down and your mind on the job.
But how am I supposed to do that when she’s around?
Looking the way she does –
Sultry eyes, curvy body, that sassy smile that makes a man lose control?
Nothing could have prepared me for this.
I thought I was steel.
Unbreakable, unyielding.
But the longer we’re alone together,
The more I realize I’m no match for the beast within me.
And I’m about to let him out of his cage.
***
I’ll give her what she craves and take what I want
The devils left her shattered and broken.
She needed a savior, but what she got was a monster.
A monster who wants to hear her plead.
A monster who will make her scream
They stripped everything from her and took what little she had left.
She was left broken and hollow—with no-one else to turn to.
When I found out what the bastards did to her.
When I saw how the way they left her.
Something inside of me snapped.
She knew her share of monsters.
She knew men like me.
But I’ll be goddamned if I let her go.
Not before I tame her.
/> Not before I own her.
Not before I take what I want.
Again and again.
Until she’s mine.
***
She loves animals, but she's never met a beast like me.
She’s the kind of girl who shouldn’t get mixed up with someone like me.
But that was before I claimed her. Before I f*cked her until she was raw.
She had no choice when she stepped into my world.
And now this monster won’t let her go.
She was in her last year in vet school when she met me.
Good girls like her don’t fall for a monster like me.
But she didn’t fall for me.
I took her.