I nod even though I know she isn’t looking at me. “Every one of your tears makes me want to go kill someone, but yeah, I’ll be by your side every step of the way until that light in your big blue eyes is as bright as the day I met you. Until you’re back to that kinky sexpot who gave me a good time in a bathroom stall.”
She snort-laughs outright, happy. “How did I get so lucky, Coop?”
I shrug casually. “Must have been one hell of a birthday wish.”
She laughs again, and the sound works its way under my skin, warming me down to my bones, and in that moment, I know she’ll get better, that we’ll be all right.
“Well I was very good, so I totally deserved to have my wish come true.”
I wrap an arm around her, ignoring the small hitch in her breath before she relaxes against me. “You deserve a hell of a lot more, but you have my heart, so I plan to keep you close. Really fucking close.”
She snuggles closer into me and sighs. “The closer, the better. I feel safe when we’re together.”
That’s the best damn compliment she could have given me. “Love you, babe.”
“Love you too, Coop.” She lets out a content sigh, and we both stare at the ocean for long minutes, the silence between us growing more comfortable with each passing moment.
The buzz of my cell interrupts the peaceful moment, and I reach for it without looking. “Yeah?”
“Coop. It’s Ace.
I sit up taller, instantly on alert. “What’s up?”
“Meeting. Clubhouse. Now.”
“Be there soon.” I sigh after ending the call.
Kelsey sits up and looks at me with worry in her eyes. “You have to go,” she guesses correctly.
“No, we have to go. Club meeting for me.”
“And me?”
I shrug. “I’m sure the prospects will be happy to entertain a pretty lady for a little while.”
“How can I refuse an offer like that?”
I lean forward and press my lips to hers. “I’m betting on the fact that you’ll find it irresistible.”
“Always,” she sighs.
“Forever,” I shot back. “You’re mine.”
“Happily,” she whispers and hesitates for a moment, before pressing a quick kiss to my lips and pulling back.
It’s a small step, but it gives me hope.
For her.
For us.
Epilogue
Coop
Ace snarls at me the moment I rush through the giant doors where we hold our club meetings, also known as Church, because you goddamn well better show up unless you’re in the hospital or desperately in need of one.
“Coop, you’re late,” he says, and leans back in his chair at the head of the table, staring at me with his patented scowl on his face.
I nod and rake a hand through the hair I didn’t bother to style and let out a sigh along with a nod of acknowledgment.
“My bad, Ace. I guess I’m feeling a little paranoid after everything with Kelsey.”
I take my seat on the left side of Ace since the spot on the right is waiting for Dix to get out of jail in a few months.
“Those bastard Iron Kings had to have been watching us for a while to know about Kelsey. I took a longer route to the clubhouse just to be sure no one was tailing us.”
I can admit to my brothers that this shit has me spooked.
“Still late,” Ace replies because he wants me to know he would accept my excuse. For now. He didn’t want any of us getting the idea that Church is something we can blow off.
“But I get it. Did you notice anyone?”
“Yeah. Maybe. I don’t fuckin’ know, Ace. There was an old-ass red Saturn a few cars behind us damn near the whole way. Is it paranoia or justified? Can’t fucking say.”
I let out a long breath and fall back against my chair. “Sorry I’m late.”
Ace nods his acceptance, and I let my shoulders relax a little. He’s the President, not a monster, but Ace runs the Reckless Souls the way he ran his unit in the Marines, at least according to Shades. And all the other vets in the MC.
“How’s Kelsey holding up?”
Ace’s question surprises me, given all of his warnings about falling in love in general and with a girl like Kelsey specifically. He was right, though. Loving her is a weakness to our enemies, but I wouldn’t give it up for shit.
“Terrible,” I answer truthfully. “She has nightmares every night, sometimes more than one a night. She jumps at every little sound. But she’s getting better.”
At least that’s what I tell myself. The truth is, I’m not sure yet.
“Healing takes time.”
Ace’s words come from the heart, as do the nods of the other men around the table who’ve had their own traumas. They know more than the average citizen the shit life can dole out to the innocent and unsuspecting. Ace sighs, his sober eyes looking through mine.