Epilogue
Kat
AFew Weeks Later…
“You think he’ll like it?”
I sat at Dad’s kitchen table, holding a sleeping bundle of not quite joy, but something along those lines. Noodle came by for sniff, but walked away unimpressed.
Dad snorted, pulling out a chair to sit next to me. “He’ll be surprised, that’s for sure. But that man would love anything you give him.”
I sighed like a lovesick teenager. “Yeah.”
“I’m happy for you, Katie. Really.” Dad’s voice turned serious.
“I’ve been so proud of you over the years, graduating from college and getting that highfalutin job.
To think someone with half my DNA could be so smart.
” He smiled. “But I’ve been worried, too.
I know your mama and me didn’t give you the best examples.
Not with her running through husbands like free samples at Costco—”
“Dad!”
“—and me who’d rather get another dog than ever date again. But you deserve better than that, and I’m glad I got to see you find it.”
Tears welled in my eyes. “And you’re going to be seeing it for a long time.
” We’d finally gotten that appointment with the neurologist, and he’d been on his medication for about three weeks.
I could already see a difference. He wasn’t cured, but he was less confused.
I’d been gone for a full week to pack up my condo and get it on the market, and he’d known exactly who I was when I’d arrived fifteen minutes ago.
I’d decided to open my own business, basically accounting for small businesses and nonprofits, just like I’d envisioned in school.
Mav was renovating the second floor (another reason I’d been happy to leave for a week).
We were making it into an entire apartment suite, complete with a small office for me so I could work from home and keep an eye on Dad.
And if I couldn’t be around, or needed some time away, we had plenty of friends in the MC willing to help out.
I cleared my throat. “Are you ready to head over?”
Lexie was hosting a welcome back cook out. I told her it wasn’t necessary, but she insisted. And I’d learned never to resist her food.
****
“SHUT UP!” Pixie squealed as I entered the back yard of the clubhouse. “That is the cutest thing I have ever seen in my life!”
“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god. Stitch!” Ivy shouted as both women raced toward me; Dad shook his head and walked off. “I want one!”
I gazed down at the tiny little pig at the end of the blue rhinestone encrusted leash. I’d worn a pair of tight black pants and a cropped Ravens jersey, just in case my gift didn’t go over as well as I’d hoped.
“Kitty Kat!”
A smile broke over my face as Mav stalked toward me, carrying a box under one arm.
“What the fuck is that?”
I bent over to pick up Pinkie, making sure to dip low enough that he got a clear shot of my tits through the v neck of my jersey.
“I brought you a present.”
“That thing is for me?” He tried to look stern, but I saw the way his eyes softened when he looked down at the little guy.
“Pinkie can stay with Miss Patsy and Leroy. I thought we could add another one to, uh, help with your work.”
“My work?” he repeated.
I shrugged. “Or whoever’s work. I don’t need the details.”
A knowing look passed over Mav’s face. “I see.”
“This is my attempt to show you, in case it wasn’t obvious when I quit my job and listed my condo, that I’m here with you, with your club, one hundred percent.
Mav grinned. “Is that so?”
His fingers stroked Pinkie’s back, and for the first time in my life, I was jealous of a pig.
“I’ll trade you.” He handed me the box and took the piglet. “Pinkie, huh?” he scratched behind the as the piglet squealed.
Damn. I checked to make sure I wasn’t drooling. Who knew a biker holding a pig would be so sexy?
“Open the box, babe. I got you something, too.”
I ripped off the top and inside lay a black leather cut with a giant ‘Property of Maverick’ patch over the back.
I gasped. “Are you sure?” I asked, understanding this was the biker equivalent of getting engaged and married all at once.
This was no temporary situationship/entanglement. This cut meant forever.
“Yeah, babe, and I want to make sure everyone knows it.”
I flipped the cut to the front and ran my hands across the name patch. City.
I raised an eyebrow. “Not Kitty Kat?”
Mav’s eyes darkened. “Ain’t no one calling you kitty but me.”
I chuckled. I liked it. City. As much as I joked about being Country Kat, the truth was, I was a city girl through and through. And Mav loved me for it. If I had any doubts, this was the proof, sewn into leather. This man saw me, the real me, and he loved it all.
***
Darkness had fallen and I was lounging next to Ivy by the fire pit, both of us unable to move after all the food we’d inhaled. Lexie hovered nearby, refusing to sit but at least she was finally getting a bite to eat.
“Oh. My. God.” She dropped her hot dog onto her plate and stared at the back door of the clubhouse. Ivy and I turned quickly and a biker I’d never seen before walked in with a curvy redhead. She was cute with a strawberry shortcake vibe, if that was even a vibe.
Ivy squealed. “No fucking way!”
“Okay, what am I missing?” I asked. There were lots of bikers and women here.
“That’s Tracker!” Ivy whispered. “He hasn’t been to a cookout since, well…” Her eyes shifted to Lexie.
“Since I found him stabbed behind the dumpsters months ago,” Lexie finished.
“Oh wow.” I turned back around so as not to be so obviously staring.
So this was Tracker, the elusive road captain.
The one Dad had threatened with a pocketknife and Mav had been so worried about.
I’d heard he was a big help in my rescue, but I still hadn’t met him.
“Who’s the girl? I didn’t know he had an old lady. ”
Ivy turned with me and clapped her hands. “He doesn’t. Or he didn’t. This is so exciting!”
“I thought he never left his house. How did he get a girlfriend?” I massaged my stomach, wondering if I had room for another martini.
Lexie shrugged. “Maybe she met him on the bookmobile. They go around and visit shut-ins.”
Ivy’s confusion mirrored my own and Lexie laughed.
“Oh sorry, I forgot y’all aren’t from here. That girl he’s with is Juniper. She works at the County library.”
Interesting.
Ivy eased out of her chair and stretched. “You know, I’ve been wanting to get a library card. I wonder how you do that.”
I giggled and stood up, swaying slightly. Maybe I didn’t need another drink. “Me too. Maybe we should ask Juniper…”
Lexie nodded vigorously. “Let’s go. I’ll make the introductions.” The three of us linked arms and took a step toward the couple when Mav shouted over the crowd.
“Can I get everyone’s attention please!” He banged his empty beer bottle on the picnic table. “I’ve got some big news to share.” He cleared his throat. “North Carolina’s prison system is terribly overcrowded.”
What the hell? Was my man drunk, too?
Lexie gasped and dropped our arms to cover her mouth. I looked at Ivy, but she shrugged. What was going on?
Mav continued, his voice rising, “So overcrowded, in fact, that they are sending some inmates home a little early.”
Bear moved close and Lexie ran into his arms. No idea what that was about, but at least she looked happy rather than upset.
“It’s official, boys! Sinner’s getting released. In three days, our president will finally be home.”
THE END