Epilogue
Kelsie - Six Months Later
“I feel like a whale,” I said with a sigh, resting my hands on top of my belly.
The sun’s warmth felt so wonderful after the long, cold winter. Ryker and I found a cute little farmhouse on the edge of town. Noah offered us a loan to cover the cost, and we closed the deal by Easter.
Now in early spring, we were fully moved in. The Blackjacks put together a housewarming party to celebrate. I knew everyone so well now, after they helped us transport furniture, paint our house, cleaned the rain gutters, and landscaped the backyard.
“You look beautiful, sunshine.” Seated on the bench next to me, Ryker tugged my feet into his lap. Sliding my sandals off, he rubbed my swollen ankles and aching feet. “You always do.”
“I think you need your eyes checked,” I replied. “That pepper spray blinded you.”
He huffed a laugh.
“Very funny. I can see just fine.”
“Hot dogs and steaks are done,” Tex announced from the barbecue. “Come get your grub, boys.”
A flurry of activity filled the yard as a horde of hungry bikers descended, eager to get their hands on Tex’s mouth watering food.
Ever since I casually mentioned that I had been craving biscuits and gravy, he kept my refrigerator stocked with the fattest, fluffiest biscuits I’d ever tasted in my life.
Ryker whistled to get Crash’s attention as he rummaged through the ice cooler full of water, sodas, and beer.
“Hey, kid. Can you get a refill for my girl? Her iced tea is almost dry.”
Crash straightened up, popping the top off a beer. Then he turned around, jabbing his thumb with triumph at the full Blackjacks MC patch across his back.
“Nope,” he said. “I don’t have to do that, brother. I’m not a Prospect anymore.”
Ryker growled. Crash chuckled and sauntered off.
“That damn kid got too big for his britches real quick as soon as he earned his patch.”
I laughed.
“Leave him alone. He’s enjoying himself. Besides, we need to talk.”
Ryker’s gaze slid away from Crash to focus on me.
“About what?”
“When are you going to make me your Old Lady?” I wiggled my bare ring finger at him. “This baby is due in less than two months and you still haven’t proposed.”
“You mean Noah didn’t tell you?” Ryker replied.
My eyebrows shot up.
“Tell me what?”
The corner of his lips twitched with a small smile.
“Nothing. Never mind. Forget I mentioned it.”
“Ryker!”
He laughed. For the first time…ever…Ryker “Gatling” Bridges laughed.
His head tipped back, eyes crinkling with amusement.
He looked so much lighter. If this was a glimpse of what our future looked like together, I couldn’t wait to see how fatherhood continued to change him, filling him with the love he never received before.
Over the past few months, Ryker tried his best to adapt to the rapid-fire changes that had consumed our lives.
He moved in with me at my apartment, but I could see how restless he was.
Like a wild animal, trapped in a cage that was too small.
Circling restlessly. When we got the house, things were better and he calmed down, especially now that he had a backyard with a small wooded area.
My morning sickness abated after my first trimester.
Then the hormones kicked in. And I cried over everything.
Poor Ryker was baffled by all of it. Most of the time, he was at a loss for words and didn’t know what to say to comfort me.
But he held me, and hunted all over town for ice-cream when my cravings hit.
And he read parenting books. Dozens upon dozens of parenting books.
“What are you and Noah plotting?” I demanded.
Ryker plucked my empty glass from my hand and stood, tucking my feet onto the bench.
“I guess you’ll have to wait and see.”
“Oh, you tease,” I replied.
He chuckled and leaned over me to kiss my forehead. I tilted my chin up with a smile.
After Ryker was gone, Noah made his way over, carrying two plates of barbecue. He passed one to me, with the steak already cut up into juicy bites, and the hot dog streaked with mustard the way I liked it.
“Dinner for two,” he said.
“Thank you.” I balanced the plate on my stomach and popped a bite of steak in my mouth. “If you and Ryker keep waiting on me hand and foot like this, I’m going to get spoiled.”
“Maybe that’s part of our master plan,” Noah countered.
I gestured at him with my fork.
“Nice shirt, by the way.”
He puffed out his chest, displaying the World’s Coolest Uncle in bold electric green letters.
“You like it? My sister got it for me. She’s a pain in the ass, but she’s cute so she can get away with it.”
I laughed and nudged him with my foot.
“Hey, gimme your phone.”
He snorted.
“Damn, butterbean. Did I teach you nothing? Say please first.”
I flapped my hand at him, making a grabbing motion.
“I promised to help with your online dating profile, remember?”
Noah wrinkled his nose and retrieved his phone from his back pocket.
“What if I told you I already have a date? For tonight.”
“Really?” I perked up.
“No,” Noah replied.
I rolled my eyes.
“Pest.”
“Brat,” he said with a wink.
The screen door on the porch opened with a squeal and Kingpin’s wife, Hattie emerged. In her arms was bundled her baby boy, Benji. Kingpin seemed to materialize out of nowhere and slid the diaper bag strap off her shoulder. He touched Benji’s wispy brown hair lightly with a soft look in his eyes.
I waved to get Hattie’s attention and held out my arms.
“Can I hold him?”
Hattie smiled, looking every inch like a proud mama, eager to show off her boy. I shifted to make room for her on the bench as she approached. Benji yawned, his little pink mouth forming a perfect O.
“He has a full belly and he’s ready for a nap,” Hattie said, settling him into my arms. “So he shouldn’t be fussy.”
Benji blinked up at me sleepily. I marveled at his little fingers and toes, his smooth skin, and that sweet baby scent. I could stare at him for hours, memorizing every detail, enchanted with such a flawless little being.
Ryker came to stand behind the bench, placing a hand on my shoulder. I tilted my head back to look at him.
“Jesus,” he muttered. “You haven’t popped out one kid yet and you’re looking at me like you’re ready to have ten of them.”
“We should make it an even dozen, don’t you think?”
Noah chuckled.
“Good luck, brother. You’re going to be drowning in diapers.”
While Benji dozed in my arms, Hattie joined Kingpin, Leigh, and Blackbeard for a game of gin rummy.
Crash swept Colby onto his shoulders, racing around the yard making zooming airplane noises.
Vlad was swarmed by a small army of Blackbeard’s nieces and nephews, climbing all over his burly frame, giggling with delight.
Noah got into a friendly heated debate with Tex and Big G about the art of cooking a good, juicy steak.
Ryker reclaimed his seat next to me, setting my iced tea and a plate of apple pie on the bench’s armrest.
“For years, it was just the three of us in our little family,” I said. “You, me, and Noah.”
“I was a reluctant participant,” Ryker admitted.
“Noah wouldn’t let you be alone, no matter how hard you tried to push us away.”
He hummed, idly brushing his knuckles against my arm. He was much more tactile these days, seeking out little touches like this absently. In the past, he would remain distant, aloof.
“And now…” I gestured to the party. “Our family is so big. It’s wonderful.”
“So…you’re happy?” Ryker ventured, cautiously.
My heart squeezed to hear the hope in his voice.
He studied my face with an earnest, searching gaze.
There were times when I overheard him at night, having late night conversations on the phone with Noah.
Talking about the future, laying bare his fears that he wasn’t doing this relationship thing right.
I shifted Benji in my arms to take Ryker’s hand and thread our fingers together.
“More than words could ever describe,” I said.
A small smile touched his lips. He leaned over and trailed sweet, chaste kisses along my jawline, down my neck.
“I’ll be even happier when you finally propose to me,” I added.
Ryker huffed and pulled away.
“It’s supposed to be a surprise, sunshine.”
“Well, at the rate you’re going, I’ll be surprised when you propose before I’m fifty.”
He snorted.
“You’re just as dramatic as your brother.”
“He taught me everything I know,” I replied.
Benji stretched, his tiny fists grasping toward the sky. Ryker’s gaze settled on the baby, but he made no move to touch Benji.
“Do you want to hold him?” I asked.
Ryker glanced up at me, deliberating. Then he shook his head.
“The kid will probably wake up and start crying as soon as he sees my ugly mug.”
“Ryker,” I said, a soft admonishment.
“What?”
“Just try. For me.”
He sighed.
“You know damn well I can’t say no to you.”
I grinned and bundled Benji into Ryker’s waiting arms. He sat there, stiff as a board, barely breathing.
“Support his head,” I whispered, guiding Ryker’s palm to cup Benji’s head.
Ryker swallowed hard, fighting to control the slightest tremor in his hands.
“See?" I said. "You're a natural."
He said nothing for several minutes. Drinking in the sight of sleeping Benji. Studying his little fingers and toes. Caressing his wispy hair.
Ryker was good at that—watching, observing. Paying attention. He noticed details that no one else did. I suppose it stemmed from his hunting days, then further ingrained into him during his service in the military.
But I could see how that quiet observation was simply a part of him too. Underneath so many years of survival, this man was surprisingly soft, gentle, patient.
“Well,” I said. “It looks like I better brace myself.”
Ryker tore his gaze away from Benji, shifting his attention to me.
“Brace yourself? For what?”
“I’ll have to be the one who lays down the law around here. When our baby girl arrives, you’re going to be an absolute sap who caves to her every whim. I can tell.”
Ryker chuckled.
“I can be a tough nut to crack.”