Epilogue
EPILOGUE
LESLIE
T WO YEARS LATER
"Miss Leslie! Bobby ate the glitter again!"
I look up from the Valentine's cards I'm sorting to find Tommy--now in my second grade class--pointing accusingly at his tablemate.Some things never change.
"Different year, same drama?" Ace's amused voice comes from the doorway.He leans against the frame in his signature cut, looking dangerously handsome and completely out of place among the pink and red hearts decorating my classroom.
"Like father, like son." I nod toward Bobby, who grins up at us with silver-sparkled teeth."Your prospect's kid is definitely taking after him in the chaos department."
"Better glitter than engine parts." He crosses to press a kiss to my temple."You about ready, darlin'? The party starts in an hour."
Ah yes. The clubhouse Valentine's party.Because apparently being an old lady means helping organize holiday events now.Though I suspect Shari, who Tank has been talking to more frequently of late, had more to do with that tradition starting than anything else.
"Just need to finish up here." I turn to Bobby."Bathroom. Now. And remember--"
"Art supplies are for paper, not eating." The whole class choruses, having heard this particular lesson many times.
"See?" I tell Ace as Bobby heads for the sink."I'm teaching valuable life lessons here."
"Mmhmm." His hands settle on my hips as he surveys the classroom."Speaking of lessons, Emma's been asking about that thing we discussed."
My heart skips. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." He pulls me back against his chest."Says a little sister would be nice.Even offered to share her room."
"Did she now?" I try to sound casual, but my pulse races.We've been dancing around this conversation for weeks."And what did you tell her?"
"Told her she'd have to ask her mama." His lips brush my ear."So? What do you say, Mrs. Hunter?Ready to give our girl a sister?"
The title still gives me butterflies.Six months of marriage, and I'm not used to it yet.Don't know if I ever will be.
"Could be a brother," I point out, turning in his arms.
His grin is wicked. "Only one way to find out."
"Ewww!" A chorus of disgusted voices reminds us we have an audience.I jump back, cheeks flaming, as my students dissolve into giggles.
"And that's our cue to leave." Ace grabs my bag, completely unrepentant as I turn to Jana to thank her once more for covering the rest of my shift."Come on, darlin'. Got a party to get to."
The ride to the clubhouse is familiar now.I no longer hesitate before wrapping my arms around his waist, and no longer tense when we pass the spot where we confronted Ian.Those ghosts are long laid to rest.
The parking lot is already full when we arrive.Bikes line one side, and minivans the other.
"Mom! Daddy!" Emma launches herself at us the moment we walk in.At seven, she's grown so much and filled with wild energy."Uncle Tank says I can't help in the kitchen anymore."
"That's because you're as much of a menace as your father," Tank calls from behind the bar."Nearly burned down my kitchen last week."
"Did not!" Emma protests. "I was making chemistry!"
"Pretty sure chemistry doesn't involve putting metal in the microwave, princess." Ace drops a kiss on her head."Why don't you show Mom the decorations you and Maria put up with Reaper earlier?"
Emma brightens, grabbing my hand."Come see! We made paper chains and everything!"
The main room has been transformed.Red and pink streamers hang from the ceiling, paper hearts cover the walls, and yes, what looks like miles of paper chains drape every available surface.It's simultaneously the sweetest and most ridiculous thing I've ever seen in an MC clubhouse.
"Beautiful job, baby." I smooth her hair, noticing glitter stuck to her cheek.Some things definitely run in families.
"Leslie!" Maria emerges from the kitchen, flour dusting her dark curls."Thank God. Maybe you can talk some sense into your husband about the entertainment?"
I raise an eyebrow at Ace. "What did you do?"
"Nothing!" He holds up his hands."Just suggested that since the kids will be in the back room watching movies, the adults might enjoy some... alternative entertainment."
"He wants strippers," Maria clarifies.
"Traditional Valentine's entertainment," Ace argues.
"Absolutely not." Maria and I say in unison.
"Told you," Tank laughs. "They've been arguing about it for an hour."
"No strippers," I tell my pouting husband."But if you behave, I might have a private show planned for later."
His eyes darken. "Yeah?"
"Not in front of the kid!" Tank covers Emma's ears, making her giggle and squirm away.
"Speaking of kids." Maria's eyes narrow on my untouched wine glass."Something you want to share with the class?"
Heat floods my cheeks. "Not yet.But maybe soon."
Her squeal draws every eye in the place."I knew it! Tank, you owe me fifty bucks!"
"You bet on us having kids?" I shouldn't be surprised.The club bets on everything.
"Honey, we've been betting on you two since that first parent-teacher conference." She winks."Why do you think I kept sending Bobby to your class with art supplies?"
My jaw drops. "You planned that?"
"The glitter was his idea." She nods toward Tank."But yeah, we might have engineered a few meetings.Someone had to save Ranch from himself."
"I did just fine on my own," Ace grumbles, but his arm slides around my waist.
"Sure, you did, boss." Tank rolls his eyes."That's why you spent three months stalking her before making a move."
"You did what?" I turn to Ace, who suddenly finds the ceiling fascinating.
"I might have had Reaper keep an eye on you before we officially met." He shrugs."For Emma's safety."
"Bullshit." Tank coughs into his hand."And after you met her and got all whipped?"
He shrugs again. "That, was for Leslie's safety."
"That true?" I poke Ace's chest."You were stalking me?"
"Protecting you." But his lips twitch."Though the view wasn't bad."
"You're impossible."
"You love it."
"God help me, I do." I rise on tiptoes to kiss him, ignoring the gagging sounds from our audience.
"Mom!" Emma tugs my hand. "Can we do presents now?Please?"
I check my watch. "As soon as everyone gets here, baby.Why don't you help Maria finish setting up?"
She runs off, leaving a trail of glitter in her wake.Some of Ace's guys are starting to arrive with their families, the kids immediately gravitating toward the craft table Maria set up.
"Well?" Ace's voice is low in my ear."You never answered my question."
"Which one?" But I know exactly what he means.
"About giving Emma that sister she wants."
I turn in his arms, playing with the collar of his cut."I threw out my birth control last week."
His whole body goes still. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." I bite my lip. "That okay?"
His answer is a kiss that curls my toes and draws whistles from around the room.When he finally pulls back, his eyes shine with something that looks suspiciously like tears.
"I love you," he says roughly."You know that?"
"I love you too." I straighten his cut, brushing off some stray glitter."Even if you are a stalker."
He laughs, the sound pure joy."Protective, baby. The word is protective."
"Possessive is more like it."
"Damn straight." He pulls me closer."You're mine. Always will be."
"Promise?"
"Cross my heart." He draws an X over his chest."Or you can ask Reaper to show you the security footage from that first month.Pretty sure I still have it saved somewhere."
"You're ridiculous." But I'm laughing as I shove him away."Go help Tank with the food before Maria starts threatening people with wooden spoons again."
I watch him walk away, admiring the view.Two and a half years ago, I came to Serenity looking for normal.Looking for safe. Instead, I found a family.Found love.
Found home.
"Mom!" Emma calls from thekitchen."Uncle Tank's trying to add whiskey to thepunch!"
"It's tradition!" Tank protests.
"There are children here!" Maria's voice rises over the generalchaos.
"Like I said," Ace grins, heading toward thecommotion."Family."
I follow, ready to prevent whatever disaster is brewing in thatkitchen.This might not be the future I planned, but it's better than anything I could havedreamed.
Besides, someone has to make sure these outlaws don't corrupt the next generation tooquickly.
Although watching Emma sprinkle glitter into Tank's drink while he's distracted, I realize I might be too late forthat. Oh well. At least it's not the metalkind.