EPILOGUE
SIX MONTHS LATER
LARA
Jettson holds up a set of keys, but the door isn’t locked when he turns the handle and lets the door swing open. I love this house. My house. Because this is the place I want to be. With him. With Vanessa.
I want this family, the messy, chaotic biker family which is almost too big for this small town but wouldn’t make sense anywhere else. They know how to love big and protect their own. They know what matters when the days are long and the years feel too short.
They don’t take themselves too seriously, but they don’t tolerate disrespect. Defending yourself and others doesn’t have to be pretty. No one expects it to be.
I’ve never found a home like this, not one I wanted to fight for. I grew up in a house where I was willing to fight to flee. But then I had to stay because Vanessa deserved a home that I wasn’t even sure I could give her.
The house isn’t just done, it’s completely furnished and mostly decorated. You can’t fucking miss it the moment you step inside. As if that isn’t shocking enough, considering I didn’t know it was happening, it’s furnished with things I’ve been eyeing and loving for months.
Everything is exactly how I would do it.
“How did you do this?”
“What?” Jettson teases me and I look over at him and glare. “Oh,” he exclaims, “you’re talking about the furniture and everything being ready for you to move your stuff into it?”
“I might be referring to that part, yes,” I agree drolly.
“I pay attention and your friends have been helping me, covertly of course, get your picks for certain things,” he’s smug as hell.
Honestly, he has a reason to be.
The tour he gives me might as well be a fever dream. I see it all; I process none of it. It’s gorgeous and I’m moving in as soon as fucking possible.
It wasn’t really a question before we stepped inside, and it certainly isn’t one now.
After we walk through the house, we step out back. “I wanted to show Vanessa too, but I didn’t want it to be added pressure on you to move in if she loves it here,” his voice is a little sheepish.
Like I don’t know that she picked out everything in the bedroom I just saw already set-up for her.
I make a humming sound and look out across the backyard. There’s a patio with a seating area; the whole thing is ready to go. It looks comfortable and I can see myself sitting there, but that’s not what catches my eye.
“What’s that?” I ask while pointing toward the pink shed next to the patio. There is even a little walkway leading right to it.
“Go check it out,” he prompts me, “I think you getting a sneak peek will be okay.”
I step closer and notice the sign hanging above the door reads ‘Vanessa’s Palace’ and my throat closes up. The moment I step inside, the tears start.
One side of the shed is set up for costume play, a row of them already hanging there along with chests of accessories. The other side is all about art, including a small sink. Along the back wall, it’s set up as a reading nook with a chair and sconces.
When I step closer to the small desk, the coloring book Jettson has been working on is printed and ready for her. My eyes flood with tears. This man.
“Everything in here is fully functional,” Jettson tells me as I take it all in, again, “including the A/C unit.”
He points above the door where it’s mounted and I nod numbly. What else can I do?
“This is amazing,” I breathe out. “Vanessa is going to love it.”
“I hope so.”
“Is this just to give us more alone time and privacy?” I can’t help but tease him a little bit.
“Does that mean you’re moving in?” He counters me so damn smoothly.
I don’t hesitate. I nod.
“Yes.”
He stares at me for a long time as his smile grows larger and broader.
“Then, yes, that’s exactly why I set this up.
” He frowns. “And because it’ll make her happy.
I want her to have a place where she knows she has roots, a place where she can always return.
It’s the only thing that got me through, the only thing that made sense sometimes, when I was growing up. ”
I reach for him and my fingers curl in the soft fabric of his t-shirt. His arm hooks around my waist and he pulls me flush against his chest.
“You love her,” I murmur.
It’s not a question. It’s a fact.
“Of course.” He gets a thoughtful expression on his face. “I think I might have loved her before you, but only just barely.”
I let go of his shirt and poke his muscular pec. He probably doesn’t even feel it.
“You need to petition to get your road name changed, officially now. You’re living with your Old Lady and have a daughter.”
He chuckles as he leads me out of the haven he’s put together for Vanessa. “It doesn’t work like that, Cupcake, but it doesn’t matter what my road name is. I’m yours.”
My heart flutters as he laces our fingers together and we walk over to Snake and Graycie’s house. They’re home now with their baby girl and I am obsessed.
The moment we walk in, I go straight to the sink to wash my hands and then to Emerson. I try to keep my squeal of delight quiet but it’s not easy to do.
I relax back into my seat once she’s in my arms and I’m staring down at her. I glance at Graycie and Snake.
“She’s so perfect,” I gush.
Graycie has an exhausted smile on her face that feels familiar; Snake looks much the same. But they look happy.
Once I’m settled, Graycie leans forward, her eyes darting between Jettson and me. “So? Don’t keep us in suspense,” she demands.
“She’s moving in,” Jettson says, pride laced through his words.
The man’s chest puffs up with it. All I can do is roll my eyes.
I’m not sure how long I’ve been enjoying baby snuggles when Vanessa arrives with Rumble right on her heels. She gives Jettson a hug first, her arms squeezing him a little tighter and a little longer than everyone else.
“We need more grandbabies around here,” Rumble declares. He pats Vanessa’s head, “I’m glad you’re moving here, little lady, you’ll be able to walk down to see me.”
I tease him, “How do you know I agreed to move into the house?”
Rumble smiles like I’m the one being ridiculous. “I just know.”
Vanessa is practically vibrating with excitement. “Are we really moving?”
I look at her and my face softens. She wants this. Even if I wasn’t sure, that would be more than enough of a reason. She’s thriving.
“We are. We need to make a plan for how and when we’ll move,” I explain.
Rumble scoffs and Snake coughs but covers it by clearing his throat. When I look at Jettson, he winks at me.
Okay?
I turn toward Vanessa. “Are you ready to see the house?”
The question barely leaves my lips before she’s out the door. We share a laugh before I reluctantly hand the baby back over to Graycie. I’m sure Rumble will be stealing her soon enough. Warden is a baby hog and Rumble has a lot to say about it under his breath.
Jettson leans closer to me as we walk back, his lips brushing the shell of my ear, “You looked really good holding that baby.”
My mouth twists to one side while I appraise him. “Since I’ve brought on a few more people and I can cut back a little, I would be open to negotiating having kids.” I muse, “I guess I’ll keep my apartment open then, just in case I need to take a nap or something.”
He stops me and turns me, his grip firm on my shoulders. He studies my face, but he doesn’t ask if I’m sure.
He smirks and drawls, “I’ll negotiate the hell out of you, my Cupcake.”
When he kisses me it’s full of heat and is barely restrained. I cling to him, wishing we were not standing out in the open right now.
“Hey,” Vanessa calls out from the front porch. “Dad, are you going to give me a tour of this place or not?”
Jettson rips his mouth from mine, lifts me up, and practically sprints the rest of the distance to the house. Air is sawing in and out of his lungs as he stops in front of her.
“What did you say?”
Vanessa smiles and wraps her arms around his waist. “I called you Dad because it’s what you are. You’re my dad.”
I don’t even try to stop the tears; I let them come. When Jettson looks up at me, his eyes are glassy and I can see just how deeply this matters to him.
“I love you, my girls.” His hand rubs over the back of Vanessa’s head while he pulls me into his side. He kisses my temple and murmurs, “Both of you. So much.”
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Snake’s Charmer (SOMC: Dogwood Ridge, TN Chapter, Book 1)
Ryker’s Renegade (SOMC: Dogwood Ridge, TN Chapter, Book 2)
Sidewinder’s Secret (SOMC: Dogwood Ridge, TN Chapter, Book 4)
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