Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
A s Maggie flew in to land, the flashing emergency lights of a dozen vehicles at her landing pad glittered in her eyes.
It was really over.
The skids touched down, and she released a long, shaky breath.
Ace opened the side door.
Hunter Morgan leaped into the helo.
“Special delivery,” Ace said, toeing Haye.
“You guys do everything the hard way.” Hunt eyed the man dispassionately, then waved two cops in. They dragged the man out.
“A woman fell into the Bay,” Ace told Hunt.
“Shit.”
“Belinda,” Maggie said. “His sister-in-law.”
Hunt nodded. “We’ll take care of it.” His green eyes swung Maggie’s way. “You okay?”
“I wish I could have a stiff drink.”
Hunt smiled. “I think you’ll be fine.” He followed the cops out.
Ace climbed into the seat beside her.
“I don’t think my legs will hold me,” she told him.
“They don’t need to. I’ll hold you up.”
He pulled her out of her seat and Maggie happily climbed onto his lap. His arms curled so tight around her that it almost hurt.
She didn’t care one bit.
“Jeez, Maggie. When I saw that asshole had you…”
“I know.” She pressed her face into Ace’s neck. “And when you were fighting him…” So many times, they’d gone too close to the open door. Air shuddered out of her. Then she saw the battered old Huey coming in to land.
“Thank God for Gus and Vander,” she said.
“Yeah,” Ace agreed.
“Is it really over, Ace?”
He tilted her face up. “It’s really over. Haye is going away for a very long time.”
“Some part of me almost felt sorry for him. That he lost everything.” Then her anger spiked. “But instead of smartening up, making better choices, he kept taking shortcuts and making selfish decisions.”
Ace toyed with her hair. “Yeah. It made me realize we really are who we make ourselves. We aren’t our blood, or what happens to us.
We aren’t the doubts or things other people think of us.
” He tugged on her hair. “It’s our choices and actions that define us.
When things get tough, that’s who we really are. ”
“When did you get so wise?” she asked with a smile.
“Since a smart-mouthed, independent pilot blew into my life.”
“Haye blamed everyone else for everything in his life.”
Ace nodded. “And when you blame others and refuse to take responsibility or control, you’ve already lost. Being a good dad, that’s on me.
It doesn’t matter who contributed to my DNA.
Hell, it wouldn’t even matter if my biological father had raised me.
It’s still all on me. And what happened to Rodrigo, I’ll never forgive myself for it completely, but I know his choice played a part, and that I learned from what happened.
” He cupped her face. “I’m going to be a good father to our baby. ”
Warmth bloomed in her chest. It swelled, filling her. “I know, Ace. I always knew.”
“And it doesn’t matter what your father thinks or says, as long as you know in your heart that you’re living your life the way you want. The way you know is right.”
“I am,” she whispered.
Ace kissed her.
He tasted like home and sexy promises.
Then he pulled back, and a scowl crossed his face. “And you aren’t moving out of my place.”
“Ace, I—”
“No. We’re going to make a home together. Be a family.”
Her breath hitched. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that you’re mine, Magdalena Lopez.” He sucked in a breath. “And I love you. I love your courage, grit, and loyalty. I love your long legs and your saucy laugh. I… just love you. You snuck in and stole my heart, but I want you to keep it. I want you to be mine.”
“Does that mean you’re mine, too?” Her chest was so tight, tears threatening.
“Yes. Always. If you want me.”
She laughed. “God, Ace. I’m crazy in love with you.”
The next kiss was rougher, harder, and sexier.
A throat cleared very nearby.
“Can you let the girl up for air, Oliveira?” Gus grumped.
They both looked back. Gus, Vander, Saxon, and Rhys stood outside of the helo.
“We’d like to hug her, too,” Vander said.
Smiling, Maggie kissed Ace and climbed out of the helicopter.
Gus’ hug was quick, a little awkward, but firm.
“Thanks for coming after me,” she said.
Her mechanic grunted. “You’re a decent boss. I didn’t want to break another one in.”
Maggie laughed.
“And you have to take back all the things you said about my Huey. It saved the day.”
“It sure did.”
Then she found herself in Vander’s arms.
“Thanks, Vander.”
“I’m glad you’re okay. And I’m glad Haye is done.” Vander stroked a hand down her arm. “You and Ace okay?”
She shot him a blinding smile. “He loves me.”
“He’d be an idiot not to. Glad I don’t have to rough him up.”
“Incoming,” Saxon warned.
The gang arrived.
Gia led the charge. Maggie saw her parents there, as well. Her mom had clearly been crying, as her eyes were red rimmed.
Maggie was hugged and patted, and then checked over by Ryder. Her mom held her tight, and even her dad kept touching her—stroking her back, patting her shoulder.
“Is our grandbaby okay?” her mom asked.
“I think so, although I’m hoping to have a few far-less-stressful months.”
Her mom laughed, then kissed Maggie’s cheek.
“Mom, Dad, I’m moving in with Ace. I love him.” She looked over to meet Ace’s gaze. He wasn’t far away, talking with Hunt and Vander. “And he loves me.”
“The man leaped onto a helicopter to save you.” Her father’s voice was gruff. “I’d say he’s absolutely crazy in love with you.”
She smiled. “He’s everything I ever wanted. And he’ll be an amazing daddy.”
Her father gripped her hand. “I’m glad. My baby girl deserves all of that.”
Love for both of them hit her. They weren’t perfect, but neither was she. Underneath it all, she knew they loved her, and she always needed to remember that.
She hugged her father, then headed over to Ace.
“ Gatinha .” He opened his arms. “You need to get off your feet.”
She leaned into him.
“You all right?” he asked.
“Yes,” she replied. “Everything’s more than all right.”
Ace swept her into his arms. “I’m taking my woman home.”
As he carried her across the landing pad, everyone called out their goodbyes.
“I love you, Ace.”
“I love you too, Maggie.”
“I’d fight a hundred bad guys, if it meant I got you in the end.”
“ Querida .” He set her feet down by his Porsche. “No more bad guys. Let’s have a boring life for a bit.”
She pressed her hands to his chest. “Not too boring, I hope.” She stroked the skin at the neck of his shirt.
He cocked a brow. “Has the near-death experience left you a little worked up?”
She leaned closer. “Maybe. Maybe I just want to celebrate us being alive.”
He slid a hand down and squeezed her ass. “Then let’s get home, gatinha , and celebrate.”
* * *
Crap, he was late.
Ace turned onto his street and saw all the familiar cars parked outside his place. Work had run over.
And now he was late for his own baby shower.
He parked the Porsche in his garage and leaped out. As he raced to the front door, he heard music and laughter inside.
Gia opened the door, wearing a sexy, red wrap dress. She tapped the toe of her high heel. “You’re late, Oliveira.”
“I know.”
“Luckily, your baby mama is having too much fun to miss you too much.”
He kissed Gia’s cheek. “Thanks for organizing this. She’s been excited.”
Gia softened a little. “She deserves that. So do you.”
It had been three months since Davis Haye had attacked Maggie. Since then, things had been busy.
Haye was in jail.
Maggie had moved in officially.
They’d had an ultrasound, and he’d seen his baby and heard its little heart beating.
Thankfully, life had been normal—no murder attempts, no kidnappings, no problems.
He’d bought Maggie a nice BMW X3. It fit her drones in the back, and had plenty of room for a baby seat.
Life was good.
He slung an arm across Gia’s shoulders as they headed up the stairs.
“How’s the wedding planning going?” he asked.
“Extravagantly,” she answered.
“Lucky Saxon is loaded. And totally in love with you.”
Gia smiled.
The living room was filled with people—friends and family.
He spotted his mom and dad talking with Maggie’s mom and dad. Leo Lopez was drinking a frothy blue drink. There were lots of pink and blue drinks with straws all topped with pacifiers.
Cute.
Ace had warmed to Leo. The man did love his daughter, he just didn’t always get things right. The prospect of a grandchild had mellowed him a little. He and Kiki had bought so much baby gear, that Maggie had finally lost it.
They were now creating their own nursery for the baby at their house, for future visits.
The Norcross guys and their women were dotted around the big room. Saxon and Rhys were on the couch working on something on the coffee table.
“What are they doing?” Ace asked.
“A game. Make a baby out of Play-Doh. There are prizes for the cutest, the ugliest, the weirdest.”
Ace raised a brow.
“The diaper toss game is next.” She grinned. “You have to toss a diaper into a trashcan. You’ll need the practice.”
He laughed. He no longer got that wave of sheer panic at the thought of having a baby. He and Maggie were reading books and checking out websites. He was going to be a dad, and he was going to do it well.
He saw the kitchen island was covered in delicious looking foods. There were cupcakes topped with pictures of little baby bottles, pacifiers, and little baby feet, as well as brigadeiros—classic Brazilian fudge balls covered in chocolate sprinkles. They were no doubt made by his father.
Then he spotted Maggie.
She was in jeans and a pretty green top. She still didn’t look very pregnant, but she now had a sweet curve to her belly and her breasts were a cup size larger. Ace spent a lot of time kissing her belly and talking to the baby.
She turned her head and saw him. Her smile widened. She was in that radiant, glowing phase of pregnancy—where her skin glowed and her hair gleamed.
He waved and she blew a kiss at him.
“Ace.”
He turned to find his brother grinning at him, holding a cupcake in each hand.
“Hey there, maninho .” He hugged Rodrigo. “How are you liking the party?”
“The food is yummy. I love cupcakes.”
Rodrigo took a bite, icing smeared on his upper lip. He looked a lot like his dad with a trim build and dark hair. They both had their mother’s brown eyes.
Ace smiled. “Have as many of them as you like, but don’t get sick.”
His brother nodded solemnly. “Maggie said she has a present for me.”
“She does. You’ll like it.” It was a fun T-shirt she’d had printed that said “best uncle ever.”
Much to Ace’s delight, Rodrigo loved Maggie, and she was great with him. They visited him each week, and he occasionally had a day out with them. He was thrilled about the baby.
“Maggie let me touch her tummy. I think I felt the baby move.”
“It’s a bit early yet, bro. It needs to get a bit bigger yet.” Ace was hoping to feel his child move soon.
“I need more cupcakes,” Rodrigo said.
Ace squeezed his brother’s arm. “Go.”
Next, Ace stopped by the bar. Vander cracked the tops off two beers and held one out to Ace.
“You aren’t making Play-Doh babies?” Ace asked.
“Fuck, no,” his boss said.
“What about the diaper toss?”
Vander shot him a look.
“Right.” Ace sipped his beer. “Jeez, look at this, a baby shower.” He spotted Hunt and Ryder talking to some of Maggie’s friends, including Gus, who looked totally out of place.
Maggie’s pilot friend was also there with her wife.
Penny was going to take care of flying for Maggie’s business while Maggie took time off after the baby arrived.
“I’ve got a baby coming in a few months,” Ace said in wonder.
“Happy?” Vander asked.
He looked at Maggie. “Yeah.” She kept him on his toes—making him laugh, getting him angry, loving him.
“Good. Keep her happy, or I’ll take you down.”
Ace smiled at Vander. “That’s not going to be a problem.”
They clinked their bottles together.
Ace decided he needed to kiss his woman. He stole her away from some of her friends.
“Hello, gatinha .”
“Hi, Oliveira.”
He nibbled on her lips. “Sorry I was late.”
“Vander told me you were finishing up with some work.”
He nodded. “How was your day?”
“Great.” She smiled and looked around the room. “And the shower is wonderful. There are so many gifts.”
He eyed the pile in the corner. A giant teddy bear topped the stack. It was almost as big as he was. “Jeez, who bought the bear.”
Maggie grinned. “Gus. He also bought a cute little mechanic shirt and hat.”
The old guy was so smitten. Last week, he’d set up a playpen in Maggie’s office in preparation for the baby’s arrival.
“How’s our avocado?” He put a hand on her belly, and felt that subtle curve.
“Awesome.”
They weren’t going to find out if it was a boy or girl. They were just calling the baby whatever object it was the size of.
Maggie put her hand over his. The princess-cut diamond on her finger twinkled.
He’d proposed a month ago, on the rooftop deck under the stars, and Maggie had said yes. She’d expressed just how happy she was about it afterward, in their bed.
They decided to have the wedding after the baby arrived. They didn’t want to have too much to deal with all at once. Maggie was stressed out just thinking about decorating the nursery. Plus, she was adamant that she wanted an awesome dress, with no baby bump.
“I didn’t know I could be this happy,” Maggie said.
He nuzzled her neck. “This is just the start, gatinha . We have so much ahead of us.”
“And we’ll rock it all. Parenting, marriage, love.”
“We’re already rocking that last one.”
“I do love you, Ace Oliveira. So much it leaves me breathless.”
He pressed his lips to hers. “If you can’t breathe, I’ll do it for you. I’ll be staying right by your side, forever.”
She smiled. “ Para siempre .”
“No, it’s para sempre . I’ll get you speaking Portuguese eventually.” He kissed his fiancée again.