Boss (Steele Riders MC)

“We also missed out on your special dance.”

“Sweetheart, the second you swayed your ass on the dancefloor with me, my dick was so hard, I couldn’t handle a private dance. Wife, knowing you’re mine forever, I had to have you right away. Perhaps you can give me that dance later.”

“Yes, much later. We have a very busy day today.”

He taps my nose and then gives me a kiss. “That we do. Now eat. I’m going to jump in the shower and get ready. Some of the guys are still here and willing to help out with the move, so I’m anxious for their help.”

“I won’t be too long.” I stretch and then sit up to eat my breakfast which doesn’t taste great to me, but I manage to eat it anyway. Then as Liam steps out of the bathroom, I run in and shut the door and empty my guts.

“Damn it, love. Are you okay?” Liam shouts through the door.

I stand up and turn on the bathroom faucet. “I’m fine. I don’t think the breakfast was good.”

“I’ll let Emiliano’s staff know.”

Rinsing my mouth and wiping my mouth, I add, “Don’t bother. How long was it sitting out there?”

“Not long.”

“Well, I’m going to take a shower. What time is it?”

“Nine-fifteen.”

My eyes widen and I begin to panic. “We have to hurry. I have an hour until my appointment.” I rush the rest of the way, forgetting about my upset stomach for now and get on with getting ready, washing up and freshening up all of me before I go to the doctor.

Twenty minutes into my checkup, I stare at my doctor like she’s got two heads. This isn’t real. I’m forty-four years old. I can’t be pregnant; could I really be? I look over at Liam, who hasn’t stopped looking stunned. We knew it was a possibility, but I suppose we never really expected it to happen.

“You’re not happy,” I state. It’s not a question because he doesn’t look pleased at all. Maybe it was just talk of a man wanting to spread his seed type of shit, believing it wasn’t even an option.

“Selfishly, I’m excited, but I’m not sure you want to be a brand-new mother again at forty-five.” He’s right. I’ll be forty-five in a month, and the baby will be born in eight months.

“You want us to have a baby?” I gasp. My stomach flutters with excitement.

“If I ever got to have a baby, I would have wanted it to be with you. I love you so much, Esperanza.”

“I love you, too.”

“Emiliano is going to flip out.”

“Yes, he is. He’s going to worry.”

“I won’t let anything happen to you, and I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

“I know you will.”

***

“How the hell could this happen?” Emiliano roars, pacing around the room.

I grab his arm and he stops to stare at me. “The same way it happened for you and Roxie. Why are you acting so upset?”

“Because you’re too old to be having a baby. It’s not safe.” I can see the pain and fear in his eyes and I know that my boy is truly worried about me. I give him a hug.

“The doctor says it’s safe and that I’m in great shape and perfectly healthy enough to deliver a baby.”

“This is all your fault,” he snaps at Liam while still holding onto me.

“No. If you hadn’t come to Steeleville, I wouldn’t have met your mother, so technically it’s your fault. Still, you’re the only one being irrational about this. Your mother is excited about the baby, and so am I.”

“I just don’t want to lose you,” he says in a hushed whisper.

“I’m going to be fine,” I insist.

“Do you promise, Mama?”

“Yes, mijo,” I whisper, hugging my son who has tears in his eyes.

“I’m sorry. I should be happy. After all these years, I’m finally getting a sibling,” he says with a chuckle.

“At least you don’t have to share your toys,” Liam offers, winking at Emiliano.

“And he or she will be younger than our baby,” Roxie says.

“Oh my goodness, that’s true.” I press one hand to my lips and the other to my stomach. It’s tremendously shocking that I’m going to be starting all over again. I was a mother as a baby and a mother as a grandmother.

“Don’t freak out. We can go baby clothes shopping together. I’m so excited,” Roxie squeals, throwing her arms around me.

“Take care of my mother.” Emiliano sticks his hand out to Liam, and they shake hands before he pulls him in for a hug. The men are back to where they were before.

“I’ll always take care of her like you will with Roxie.”

“I’m glad we understand each other.”

Liam holds me close, kissing my temple several times. “I love you, beautiful. Thank you for giving me a chance at a family.”