Epilogue
Titan - New Year's Eve
I propped my elbows on the bar, studying the depths of my whiskey glass.
On New Year’s Eve, the clubhouse was jam packed.
The noise levels were quickly reaching a deafening level, but it was comforting too.
Now that I was settling in Juniper Creek for the long term with Ruby, maybe I could resume my membership with the Reckless Order.
Then again, I might have my hands full raising a family and being a husband. I hadn’t decided yet. There was still time to figure it out though.
Ruby was working late at the coffee shop on account of the crowds. We agreed to meet at the clubhouse to celebrate the new year. She was due to show up any time now.
“Can I get you anything to eat?” the waitress asked, practically shouting to be heard over the din.
Elaine, her nametag read. Roughly in her mid-thirties, if I had to take a guess. With a kind gaze, soft voice, and laugh lines around her eyes—too sweet to work in a joint like this, but when bills piled up, they needed to be paid, one way or another.
I remembered her from my VP days. She worked part-time back then for extra cash. Something about a kid at home…
“Not yet, no,” I said. “I’m waiting on someone.”
“I suspected as much.” She nodded to my phone, resting on the counter next to my elbow. “Every time you look at your phone, you get this dopey little smile on your face.”
“Am I that obvious?”
She shrugged and tilted her head from side to side.
“Maybe. Or maybe I’m just nosy and I like to gossip about people’s love lives too much.”
I huffed a laugh.
“You must have plenty of entertainment in a joint like this.”
“It never fails to amaze me what sappy romantics you boys are,” she replied. “Underneath all that tough guy talk and tattoos, you’re just as soft as marshmallows.”
I made a slicing motion across my throat.
“Quiet down, woman. You'll ruin our reputation.”
Her eyes twinkled with mischief as she touched a finger to her lips.
“Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.”
Then a pair of arms latched around my neck from behind. Ruby pressed a loud, smacking kiss to my cheek. Her chestnut waves spilled over her shoulder as she hugged me.
“What secret?” she demanded. "Are you hiding a secret from me?"
My hand strayed to the pocket of my cut, tracing the shape of the small box hidden there. Barrett had helped me pick out the ring two days ago. He thought I was absolutely insane, but at the same time…I could see the understanding in his eyes.
Because he knew what it was like to love a woman with everything he had. That’s how he felt about his ex-wife. She had moved on. But he never did. I hoped one day that might change. He deserved to have another chance to grow old with someone who loved him back.
“Your biker told me I’m not supposed to blab that he’s a softie for you,” Elaine said.
Ruby snorted and rolled her eyes.
“Oh, is that all? I figured that out ages ago.”
Elaine chuckled as she headed for the kitchen.
“I’ll get you two lovebirds some dessert. On the house.”
Ruby hopped onto the bar stool next to mine, threading our fingers together.
“So, I have a surprise for you.”
“Does it involve black lace? Or red silk?” I asked.
She swatted my shoulder playfully.
“No. That’s for your birthday.”
“Honeybee, I’m not a patient man. My birthday is months away. Don’t make me wait that long to see you in something tiny and strappy that I can rip off with my teeth.”
A pleased blush colored her cheeks. She shifted on the stool, crossing one leg over the other. I couldn’t help noticing she was wearing another mini skirt. This one was snug and black. I hoped to God I would be getting under it within the hour.
“Stop distracting me. I’m trying to do something nice and you’re messing up my plans.”
I gestured for her to go on. She nodded and reached into her coat pocket, pulling out an envelope. Placing it on the counter, she slid it over to me. I cast a questioning look at her.
“Open it,” she said.
Picking up the envelope, I looked inside to find an MC patch that simply read, Member.
“I talked to your President,” Ruby went on. “He’s more than ready to have you back. But I told him that you probably wouldn’t want too much responsibility right away. Since you’ll be settling into your new life with me.”
“Ruby, I—”
I broke off. For as long as I could remember, I’d been the bad kid. The biker with a rap sheet, scarred knuckles, blood on his hands for the sake of defending his club and his brothers. I wasn’t like her father—a good, patient, upstanding man who believed in doing the right thing at all costs.
I did things I wasn’t proud of. I did things that landed me in jail.
But for Ruby, I wanted to do better. Did I need to leave my MC life behind in order to do that? Or could I strike a balance?
“I want you, Dean,” she said softly. Wrapping her hands around my arm. “My biker. My Titan. I want everything that came before. And I want everything that comes in the future. With you.”
I picked up the member patch, running my thumb along the edges. Shrugging out of my cut, I folded it up and placed it on the counter in front of her.
“If a biker is single, he stitches his patch on with his own two hands. If a biker has a woman, his Old Lady sews that patch on for him. It’s a point of pride and an honor. And those stitches are said to protect him, keep him safe, strengthened by her love so he can get home to her."
Ruby’s eyes brightened. She picked up my cut and hugged it to her chest.
“I’d be happy to do it.”
“Prospect,” I barked.
A kid about Ruby’s age came scrambling out of nowhere.
“Yes, sir?”
“Get my Old Lady a needle and thread. Move your ass and make it quick.”
“Yes, sir!”
The night flew by in a blur of drinking, games, laughter, and stories. Barrett and Sharon showed up for a few beers. Dash and Sierra cuddled at a table, necking like teenagers.
When Ruby was finished stitching my patch, she slid my cut onto my shoulders. I turned to face her.
“How do I look?”
She beamed, sliding her arms around my waist.
“Like the badass biker who will utterly ruin me when we get home.”
I huffed with amusement.
“Do you really think we’ll make it that far? That goddamn mini skirt is coming off as soon as we get in the fucking car.”
“Promises, promises, old man,” she replied lightly. “Let’s see you put your money where your mouth is.”
I took a breath to reply when the countdown to the new year began, chanted throughout the clubhouse.
“Ten…nine…eight…”
Reaching into my cut pocket, I pulled out the box and pressed it into Ruby’s palm. Her smile dropped and her gaze flicked up to my face with surprise.
“Dean, what is this?”
“Marry me, honeybee.”
“Seven…six…”
Ruby sputtered.
“Dean, you can’t…we just…we’ve only been together for a week. How can you possibly know if you want to marry—?”
“Five…four…”
“Because I know what it’s like to live without you, Ruby,” I said. “I’ve been missing something for so long and I never realized it was joy. Your joy. The way you brighten everything and everyone around you. Marry me. Please. So I never have to live without you again.”
“Three…two…”
Ruby gaped in shock. With trembling fingers, she opened the box and found the ring inside—a red ruby, like her, like the Christmas she adored, nestled between a fluster of diamonds.
She flung her arms around my neck, crashing her mouth against mine.
“Yes,” she murmured against my lips. “Yes, yes, yes!”
Cheers erupted through the clubhouse.
“Happy New Year!”
I didn’t even notice. I was too busy kissing my future wife.