Kraken (Hades Abyss MC 4) - Harley Wylde Page 0,19
in the tub as Ember smacked her hands, sending another wave over the side.
“Guess she loves bath time,” I said.
Phoebe looked at me over her shoulder. “Well, she should. Do you see all this?”
Ember sat in a little bath seat I’d found online and had overnighted, as her rubber duck bobbed beside her, along with the foam letters Titan had dropped off and a boat from Poison. Other things had started showing up on our doorstep too. A purple teddy bear from Wizard, a rag doll from Boomer, and a collection of baby-sized party dresses from Pretty Boy. I’d given him shit over it, but truth be told, Ember looked fucking adorable in them.
“Our girl about ready?” I asked.
“Think so.” She pulled the stopper on the tub and lifted Ember out of the seat. I held open the soft baby towel and took my daughter from her. My daughter. The little cherub had me wrapped around her finger.
I carried Ember to her now-finished nursery and set her on the changing table. I’d become a pro at putting a diaper on my girl, and soon had one of the frilly little dresses on her. I cradled her against my chest and checked her diaper bag while Phoebe got ready. “Is Daddy’s beautiful girl ready to meet some people?”
Ember babbled at me. I kissed her cheek and breathed in her sweet scent.
I heard the click of Phoebe’s shoes and turned in time to nearly have a heart attack. The skirt of her dress swished around her knees. It was modest, but seeing her like this made something inside me shift. I’d admired her, cared about her, but it wasn’t until this moment I started to fall in love with her. She’d put her hair up with little pieces curling around her face.
“Your mommy is beautiful, Ember.”
“Bet you say that to all the women sleeping in your bed.” She gave me a sassy smile.
“Only one woman in my bed. My wife.” I pulled her to me, kissing the hell out of her. “And she’s the prettiest woman I’ve ever known.”
Her cheeks flushed and she bit her bottom lip. Cute.
“We’ll be late if we don’t hurry,” she said.
“They can wait a minute.”
She pushed at me. “Blake, be serious. You said they’re here to meet me. It’s rude to keep them waiting.”
“And there’s the proper preacher’s daughter I married.” Her lips tipped down at the corners. It seemed my words hadn’t had the effect I’d hoped for. “Baby girl, what those bastards did to you doesn’t define who you are. You were raised to be a proper young lady. Taught right from wrong. Your parents will get what’s coming to them, and same for the Sadistic Saints.”
“I’m not some naïve girl anymore,” she said.
“No, you’re not. You’ve seen the evil in the world. Survived it. You’re stronger now than you were before. Instead of a scared young girl, you’re a mom. A wife. An amazing woman.” I kissed her again. “And I’m damn lucky to call you mine.”
“You’re going to make me cry,” she said.
“It’s all right, as long as they’re happy tears.”
The gifts I had could wait until later. I needed to get my girls to the clubhouse before Phoebe talked me into staying home. I led her from the house. Since I hadn’t gotten a car for Phoebe yet, I still had one of the club trucks. Ember’s seat was in the back, so I buckled her in. I helped Phoebe into the passenger seat, lingering a moment. She gave me a smile, and I couldn’t help but think she was so damn beautiful. Didn’t know what a pretty little thing like her wanted with a guy like me.
I shut her door, then went to the driver’s side. It didn’t take long to reach the clubhouse, but it was far enough I hadn’t wanted to walk. Especially with Phoebe all dressed up. I heard her indrawn breath when the line of bikes came into view, along with several trucks and SUVs. My particular chapter wasn’t as large as some clubs I’d been around, but since we had guests, the place was packed.
I unbuckled Ember and carried her inside with Phoebe walking slightly behind me. I knew she was scared, or maybe just nervous, but everyone would love her. They’d never hold her past against her. Even if she’d chosen that life, the simple fact she was mine meant they’d welcome her with open arms. Just hadn’t been able to convince her of it