“What’s wrong?” he asked, concern pulling his deep-green eyes together.
I blinked, smiling wider, the words sliding up before I could even think about their consequences. “Marry me.”
He stiffened, then he blinked. Yet his words stayed locked inside.
Crap, what have I done?
“I’m not saying now, or within the next year. I’m not saying it’s a deal-breaker if you don’t want that. I just—”
He yanked me close again, his mouth to mine, his fingers in my hair, his body shaking…
Crap. Was he telling me no, doing it the only way he could, by distracting me?
Seconds later, there was another tap on the window. This one tinier. I jumped, sweat dripping down my temples and tears in my eyes. Archer stared up at me like he wasn’t sure what to say, and I gave him the out we both needed, opening the door.
“Finally,” Niyol growled, looking handsome as ever with his dark hair, his dark vest, a white button-up dress shirt beneath, and his signature black jeans and boots.
“Sorry.” I cleared my throat and smiled at the little thing in his arms.
“Yeah,” he barked, handing me his daughter as I got out of the car. “You’ll be sorry when Summer’s beating my ass down the aisle with a ruler.”
Archer jumped out of the car then. His distance from me couldn’t be more obvious. His voice was smooth though, casual. The act he was so good at putting on for everyone but me.
“Sorry. JP owed me.” He wrapped a hand around my waist, fingers squeezing at my hip. He dropped a small kiss to my niece’s head, then winked at my brother. “You know how it is, right?”
“It’s my fucking wedding day, asswipe.” Niyol, always the gentlemen, smacked Archer alongside his head.
Right away, the tiny blonde laid her head on my shoulder and yawned, calming me like a drug. I hiked her further up into my arms, thankful for the millionth time that I had this little thing in my life. Despite my previous disinterest when it came to being a nanny for this kid, I’d realized just eight weeks after she was born, when Summer had been struggling to find a caregiver for her, that I, indeed, was the best person for the job. Someday I planned on working again, preferably as a science teacher. But for now, this job was perfect for me.
Eleanor “Ellie” Lattimore, named after her grandma—Summer’s mother. If it weren’t for her, I’m not sure how I would’ve gotten through my mom’s death without losing my mind.
Once Niyol took off, running through the gravel of the compound and heading toward the tiny field which they’d turned into a place to have the ceremony, I let go of my breath, praying that the tension I was feeling would keep away and not ruin this day.
“You ready?” Archer cleared his throat, sticking his hands into his pockets.
I nodded, stroking my hand down the back of Ellie’s sleeping head. Her body had grown limp in my arms, proof that she’d likely sleep through the entire ceremony.
I didn’t look at Archer when I nodded, but my chest ached from the thunder of my heart. He cleared his throat, keeping a good foot between us as we walked. Damn it, I hated this. So much. I knew what his stance was when it came to marriage and families, but it had hit so hard, so fast, that I hadn’t been thinking with my head, but my heart.
Just outside the gates of the compound, when tears started stinging my eyes, he touched my arm, pulling me to a stop.
“Were you messing with me in the car? Or are you being real?”
I blinked, and tears slipped out. The guitar player Summer had hired to play their music had already started.
“Let’s talk about this later, okay?”
“No.” He shook his head despite the fact that I could now see Summer and her dad coming out of the clubhouse.
How she’d gotten the man to agree to have this entire wedding at the compound was beyond me, but that was beside the point.
“Emily.” Archer lowered his voice, moving closer, his hand to my face, drawing it up. “Tell me you weren’t fucking with me.”
I bit my lip, knowing eyes were on us now. Summer and Niyol didn’t have attendants, but they’d wanted me and Archer to come in last with Ellie.
“I’m not doing this right now.”
“Tell me, damn it,” he growled.
“No, I wasn’t fucking with you, alright?” I hissed, louder than I intended, but damn it all to hell, this was not the time or the place to discuss this.
His eyes widened in amazement, but he wasn’t smiling. Oh, God. Archer didn’t want marriage. What was I thinking?
Summer’s and her dad’s footsteps could be heard to my right, crunching against the gravel. Ellie stirred in my arms right then, lifting her head just in time to see her mom. She let out a huge wail, reaching for her, and I hustled toward the crowd of onlookers, thankful for the temporary distraction from my obvious mistake.
I was pretty sure I’d never learn.
Ellie cried louder as I struggled to get us to our seats up front. I smothered my face into her soft curls and whispered calming words into her ear. Realizing that it was me holding onto her, she finally settled, her entire body shaking from the tears. This was a frigging nightmare.
The wedding march began, and I stood, turning to watch my best friend walk down the aisle, all while ignoring the glares of the bikers who stood surrounding me. Obviously, they didn’t know what the hell was going—
“The answer’s yes.”
Arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me and Ellie back against Archer’s firm chest.
Shutting my eyes, and missing the moment when Summer approached Niyol for the first time, I whispered the only word I could, tears falling fast down my cheeks. “Yes?”
“No, Em, not yes. I mean hell yes.”
He nuzzled my hair, pulling my face toward his by the chin. We looked at one another, smiling with our eyes as much as we were with our mouths. And then slowly, painstakingly so, his lips descended to mine for a kiss. The kind of kiss that sent sparks into my toes and said, I absolutely just got engaged to a biker.
* * *
Want to meet another Red Dragon biker? Read another swoon-worthy romance? If you loved Archer and Emily’s will-they-won’t-they romance, you’ll love Her Wild Ride.
Get it here!
Her Wild Ride
‘Oh my godddddd… Sunk 4 hours of my life into this and ignored all my adult responsibilities for the afternoon because I HAD to find out how Niyol and Summer’s story turned out… Honestly couldn’t stop smiling the whole way through this sexy, funny, loveable and also dangerous love story!’ That’s What She Read
I’m Hawk. A biker with a taste for death and destruction. I might be a Red Dragon, but I broke club rules. I betrayed my brothers to save a woman’s life and all hell will break loose if they ever find me…
Two years in prison, just got out, and the only way for me to get across the country is to hitch a ride with my step-sister’s best friend. No one would expect a reckless ex-con like me would travel in a Range Rover with a little blonde princess.
Summer’s my ride. That’s all. But as soon as she slides into the car she won’t stop talking.
I’m more of a strong, silent type, but I’m captivated by her, and I don’t have a damn clue why.
Is it because she’s preppy—with her cheerleader smile—so not a part of my world?
Is it because my sister told me she’s forbidden?
With every mile of our trip we seem to connect. She sees through my muscles, my tattoos, my violence, and she seems to inch closer to me. I could give her the ride of her life.
But I can’t give in to my desires. I can’t offer her a life. I could never make her mine. My brothers are already on my tail. If they catch us together, she’s in just as much danger as me…
This is the first in the Red Dragon MC series featuring an addictive alpha biker. Guaranteed HEA, no cliffhangers and no cheating. Fans of Kristen Ashley, Joanna Wylde and Madeline Sheehan will fall in love.
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it now!
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Books by Heather Van Fleet
Her Wild Ride
Her Rough Ride
Her Hot Ride
Available in audio
Her Wild Ride (Available in the UK and the US)
Her Rough Ride (Available in the UK and the US)
A Letter from Heather
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Heather
Her Rough Ride
My name was Sebastian. But now they call me Slade. I’ve reinvented myself, become a man, been sworn into the Red Dragon MC. I’ve got tattooed and ripped to hell, I’ve cut my hair and my face now bears the scars of all the fights I’ve seen. The last thing I need is to face her again…
It’s been eight years since Maya ran away from the club. Sweet, beautiful Maya. My first love.
Why do I have to ride halfway across the country to pick her up? Because the club is at war, she’s the niece of our President and I’m the only brother who can be trusted to protect her.
She broke my heart, but I still want her. Do I ever. This woman is my goddess. She’s also my curse.
I need to focus on getting her home. But as soon as our eyes lock, she’s looking at me all kinds of ways. Like I’m the sexiest, most perfect stranger she’s ever seen.
And then I realise, I look completely different to the boy she once knew and she doesn’t even recognise me. I could tell her who I am. Or I could have a little fun with her first…
This sexy second novel in the Red Dragon MC series can also be read as a standalone. Fans of Kristen Ashley, Joanna Wylde and Madeline Sheehan will love the heart-stopping tension. Guaranteed HEA, no cliffhangers and no cheating. Order it now!
Acknowledgements
It takes a village to create a book, like it does to raise a child, and I’m so thankful I have a full life with wonderfully supportive people to make that happen for me.
Chris. My husband. My best friend. Some days I can’t seem to thank you enough for everything you do for me and our family. The extra hours you put in at work, the scrapyard trips, the side work… You make it possible for me to stay home and write, and though you don’t always understand the turmoil of authoring, you’re always the first person there to hug me through my tears and serve me up fruity adult beverages when the going gets tough. I love you like nothing else in this world.
Kelsey, Emma, Bella. You ladies are my queens, and my God am I lucky to be your mom. Love you three to the moon and back. Oh. And thanks for always understanding if Mom needs a few moments to rage-cry it out in the shower. You know what I mean.
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