Midnight (The Devil’s House MC: West Virginia #8)

Chapter Twenty-Two

“I’M SO GLAD you can cook,” I chuckled, watching Kaven move around the small kitchen, effortlessly preparing our dinner. The aroma of sautéed garlic and herbs filled the air, making my stomach growl in anticipation. “I don’t know a pot from a pan.”

“Don’t worry, mama will make it her mission to teach you,” he replied with a laugh, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “She fully believes love starts with a full stomach.”

I leaned against the counter, mesmerized by his easy movements. “Can I ask what happened to your father?”

Kaven’s expression softened as he turned his attention to the sizzling pan. “He died when I was five,” he said quietly. “I don’t remember much about him except what mama and papu would tell me.”

“Papu?” I asked, intrigued.

“Grandfather,” he explained, a fond smile touching his lips. “I was his little sidekick, always following him around. He used to bring me up here to this cabin all the time. We’d fish in the lake, hike the trails, and he’d tell me stories about the old days. When he died, he left it to me and it’s filled with memories.”

“It’s beautiful up here,” I said, gazing out the window at the serene landscape. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the trees. “I could stay in this setting forever and just forget the world.”

“Really? You wouldn’t miss all the glitz from your rich world?” Kaven asked, a hint of skepticism in his voice.

“I’ve never needed any of that,” I confessed, my voice tinged with bitterness. “I lived like a prisoner. My grandfather had men following me all the time, afraid I would be abducted and used against him. That’s how I came to love plants and decided to go into botany. I was never allowed to have a normal childhood, so I spent all my time in the garden with the gardener, learning about plants. It became my peace. That’s why I would sneak out at night, because it was the only freedom I had.”

Kaven looked at me with understanding in his eyes. “Things aren’t going to be easy, Haddie,” he said, placing our plates on the table and indicating we sit. The meal he’d prepared was simple but hearty, a testament to his skills in the kitchen. “Your grandfather won’t accept me; Samuel made that clear. He’s going to fight us getting married, and I don’t know what to expect. But I won’t back down.”

I took his hand in mine, feeling the strength of his resolve and drawing comfort from it. “Neither will I,” I promised, squeezing his hand.

“Our lives will be simple. I mean shit, I thought it would be years before I settled down and I’m not really prepared and then there’s the club. I can’t give that up since it’s part of me.”

“We’ll figure it out,” I promised, kissing his cheek. “As long as we’re together, I don’t care.”

“Eat, Haddie,” he urged, tapping my plate gently. “I know you didn’t eat much today, and we both have to remember the baby. As soon as we get the all-clear, we need to see a doctor.”

We began eating, the warmth of the meal and our conversation wrapping around us like a comforting blanket. Kaven talked about the trails he’d explored and the animals he’d seen, his stories painting vivid pictures of the wilderness. I loved the way he described a family of deer he’d encountered on his last visit up here, the grace of their movements, and the way the fawns played without a care in the world, not realizing he watched from the shadows. Kaven was a master storyteller, and I’m guessing he got that from his grandfather.

As we talked, I felt a sense of peace settling over me, a big difference from the constant anxiety of my previous life. “This place feels like a different world,” I said softly. “A world where we can just be ourselves.”

Kaven nodded, his gaze steady on mine. “It is a different world. Up here, it’s just us and nature. No pretense, no expectations. Just life as it should be.”

I wished with all my heart we could stay at this cabin forever, shutting out the rest of the world. The reality of our situation loomed over us, but for now, in this moment, we were free. The dying sunlight cast a warm glow on Kaven’s face, highlighting the determination in his eyes. We talked during the night between bouts of amazing sex, sharing dreams and fears, our bond growing stronger with each passing moment.

The night was quiet, and the only sounds were the wind blowing through the trees and the occasional call of an owl. As I lay in Kaven’s arms, I felt a sense of hope. No matter what challenges awaited us, I knew we would face them together. The cabin, with its memories and promise of new beginnings, had become our special place, and I never wanted it to end.