“Would that be okay?”
The uncertainty in Ry’s voice was like a knife to his heart. He opened his eyes. “Nothin’ I’d want more.”
“I can find a place to stay nearby, maybe get a summer job while I’m here—”
“Yeah, got you covered on all that. You can help me in my business, got a bunkroom downstairs with only a couple prospects in it. Got plenty of room.”
He didn’t think an eighteen-year-old boy staying under the same roof with an unrelated eighteen-year-old girl was smart. Letting him stay in the bunkhouse was smarter. Ry could still be close, but independent.
Judge took another step closer and their eyes locked. Ry had green eyes just like his old man. Fuck, it was almost like looking in the mirror when he was that age.
But his kid seemed smarter and better looking.
Thank fuck.
He needed to touch his kid. To make sure he was real. Even if it was just a fucking handshake.
Or a fist bump.
Something.
Anything.
Jesus fuck, his son was standing just out of his reach. His fucking son.
Fuck the handshake.
Judge took two long strides to Ry and the last thing he saw was the kid’s eyes go wide as he grabbed him and pulled him into his chest, enveloping him in his arms.
And fuck the burn in his eyes. Fuck the tears that came.
Fuck them. He didn’t give a shit.
If there was a time to cry, this was it. And fuck anyone who thought differently.
He swore he stood there for at least ten minutes, refusing to let his son go.
Afraid if he did, he’d just disappear.
But when he finally let Ry loose, his son still stood in front of him. His kid’s eyes and nose appeared a little redder as he swiped at his cheeks.
Yeah, this was worth crying about. For both of them.
Hell, he heard Cassie sobbing softly behind him, too. Shit.
“You good?” he asked Ry.
His son nodded and sniffled.
“Yeah, me, too.” Judge stepped back and held out his hand to Cassie. She moved closer and when she reached him, she placed hers in his. “This is my wo— ol’—your future stepmother, Cassie.”
Cassie bumped her shoulder into him and laughed through her tears. “Hi, Ry, it’s great to meet you. I’m so glad you came. Sorry for crying like a baby.”
“Me, too,” Ry said with a laugh, rubbing his forearm over his eyes.
“Have you eaten?” Cassie asked him.
He shook his head.
“Why don’t we get you boys some food and you can start catching up while you eat? You two have plenty to talk about.”
“Sounds good, baby,” Judge told her. He turned to Ry. “Why don’t you go on out? Need a sec with Cassie.”
His son’s eyes slid from her to him, then he nodded and headed toward the door.
“We’ll just be a second, Ry,” Cassie assured him.
As soon as the door closed behind his son, Judge said, “Waited seventeen years. Never thought this day would come, so another second shouldn’t kill me, but it is.”
Cassie smiled up at him. “I know. But he’s here. He came to you, Judge. That’s huge.”
“Yeah.” Ry seeking him out gave Judge a lot of hope for the future. That maybe they had a chance to build a relationship between them.
“What did you need to say to me?”
“Just wanted to thank you for bein’ here. For bein’ a good woman. For lovin’ me. Today had already been a great day and it just got better.”
Cassie nodded, her lips trembling. She was struggling with her own emotions. “The future might not always be easy, but we’ll get through it. We can work on fixing the past and building a stronger future. All of us. Together.” She reached up and stroked the length of his beard, giving him a shaky smile. “Now you can cut it all off.”
He jerked his head back. “Bite your fuckin’ tongue.”
“I’ll borrow some clippers.”
“Woman…”
“Hey, let’s go show him how great you are.” As she moved away, he grabbed her arm to stop her. She tipped her face up to him again. “You know, I was walking through a parking lot one day and I came across a whole bunch of bikers. And one in particular was huge and scary looking…”
“Your girl wasn’t scared.”
“No, she wasn’t. She knew better than her momma.”
“Yeah, took you a bit to catch on.”
Cassie laughed. “Did it?”
“Yep. But now you love me.”
“That I do,” she whispered.
“And are stuck with me.”
Her face twisted. “I guess I am.”
“Don’t act like you don’t like takin’ my dick.”
“Meh.” She shrugged. “It’s alright.”
“You beg for it.”
“Let’s not get carried away.”
He dropped his head. “Love you, baby,” he said against her lips, then brushed his lightly over hers. They didn’t have time for him to claim her mouth like he wanted to.