Chapter 9
9
LESLIE
I can't stop pacing. Two hours and seventeen minutes since Ace left thewedding.Two hours and four minutes since I started wearing a path on the floor of his old clubhousebedroom.My mind spins with images of everything that could go wrong, each scenario worse than thelast.
He said he loves me. Just blurted it out like it was the most natural thing in theworld.And I stood there like an idiot, too shocked to say itback. And it’s Valentine’s Day.
What kind of person doesn't say itback?
My hands shake as I pull out myphone.Shari answers on the firstring.
"Finally! I've been worried sick since Tank texted that they had to move you to the clubhouse.What's--"
A sob bursts out before I can stopit."He might die because ofme."
"Who might-- Leslie, slow down. Breathe."
"The man I love might die, and it's all my fault." My voicecracks."And I didn't even tell him I love himback."
"Start from the beginning," Shari says, using that calm tone she reserves for my worstmoments."What happened after our call lastnight?"
I sink onto the bed, clutching one of Ace's oldt-shirts."It was perfect, Shari. The most amazing night of mylife.He made dinner, and we talked, and then..." Heat floods my cheeks at thememory."Let's just say your dress advice was spoton."
"That's my girl." Her smile comes through thephone."So what wentwrong?"
"Everything." My throattightens."This morning, someone threw a brick through hiswindow.A threat from Ian. And now Ace is gone to confront him with the Kings, and it's been over two hours,and--"
"Breathe, honey. Just breathe."
"You should have seen Emma this morning." Fresh tears spill down mycheeks."She looked so beautiful in her flower girl dress, and she ran straight tous.Like we were really afamily.And then Ace had to leave, and what if that's the last time she sees herdaddy?What if the last thing he remembers is telling me he loves me and me just staring at him like anidiot?"
"Leslie Anne James." Shari's voice turnsstern."That man is not going todie."
"You don't know that!" I'm on my feet again, pacingfaster."He's been gone for hours. No talk lasts thatlong.Something must have gonewrong.What if he's hurt? Whatif--"
The door opens and I spin around, heartleaping.But it's justTank.
"You need anything?" he asks. "Water? Fresh air? Or--"
My breath catches as a second figure appears in thedoorway.Ace fills the frame, blood staining his white dress shirt, but gloriously, wonderfullyalive.
The phone slips from my fingers as I launch myself athim."Oh my God. Oh myGod."
His mouth meets mine in a desperate kiss, but he flinches when I press against hisribs.
I jerk back, words tumbling out in arush."I love you. God, I love you somuch.Don't you ever do that to meagain.Where are you hurt? Let mesee."
"Easy, darlin'." He catches my frantically roving hands, chuckling despite the pain I can see in hiseyes."I'mokay."
Behind us, Tank retrieves myphone."She'll call you back, Shari... Yeah, he's fine.Just a few scrapes... Willdo."
"What happened?" I demand, trying to assess Ace's injuries without touchinghim."Are you reallyokay?"
"Ian won't be a problem anymore." His voice carries that dangerous edge, but his touch remains gentle as he tucks me against his uninjuredside."The Kings might be, but notIan.That ship has sailed. And the money you paid him should be back in youraccount.Withinterest."
My stomach flips. "How?"
"Think real hard if you want the answer to that, sweetheart." He tips my chin up, eyesserious."I'll tell you every detail if you want toknow.But you don't have to. That's the kind of choice every old lady has to make forherself."
"Old lady?"
His thumb brushes my bottomlip."Well, yeah. Figure if I'm gonna marry you, you should decide what kind of MC president's wife you want tobe."
I blink. "Marry me?"
"Unless you got other plans?" That familiar smirk plays at his lips, but vulnerability flashes in hiseyes."Because I gotta tell you, darlin', I'm not letting yougo.Not now, notever."
"You're proposing? Now? You'rebleeding!"
"Seemed as good a time as any." He shrugs, thenwinces."Nothing like a little mortal danger to put things inperspective."
A laugh bubbles up, half hysteria and halfjoy."You areinsane."
"That's not a no."
I grab his face, careful of the bruise forming on hisjaw."Of course it's not a no, you impossibleman.But we're getting you cleaned upfirst."
"Does that mean you want details?" He lets me lead him toward the attachedbathroom."Because I gotta say, watching you plot the bride's demise this morning was kind ofhot."
"Shut up and take off your shirt." But I can't stop smiling, even as I assess thedamage."We can discuss murder techniques after I make sure you're notdying."
"Yes, ma'am." He catches my hand as I reach for the first aidkit."Hey. I loveyou."
This time, I don't hesitate. "I love youtoo.Now hold still and let me take care ofyou."
His answering grin is puresin."You can take care of me anytime, future Mrs.Hunter."
And just like that, normal isn't what I wantanymore.What I want is this beautiful, dangerous man who loves our daughter--and yes, she's ours now--and would burn the world down to keep ussafe.
What I want is him.Forever.
"Mrs. Hunter," I test the name out, loving how itfeels."I like the sound ofthat."
His eyes darken with promise. "Good. Because you're stuck with me now, darlin'. No take backs."
"Wouldn't dream of it." I press a gentle kiss to his bruisedknuckles."But if you ever scare me like that again, I'll kill youmyself."
"That's my girl." Pride and love shine in hiseyes."Knew you had a little outlaw inyou."
And as I patch up my future husband, planning our life between kisses and bandages, I realize Shari was right allalong.
I do deserve happiness. I deservethis.
And anyone who tries to take it from us better pray Ace gets to them before Ido.
Because that's what it means to be an oldlady.To love fiercely. To protect what'syours.
And this outlaw and his little girl? They're all mine.