Bulldog - Hope Ford Page 0,24
don’t care. She can call me whatever. As long as I have the both of you in my life, you can even call me Oliver.”
Emma starts to laugh, and when she sees that I am serious, she stops. “Wait, Oliver? Your real name is Oliver?” She starts cracking up, holding her sides from laughing so hard.
“Har, har, Emma. Isn’t it past your bedtime?” I ask her.
She turns to go, but gives us one last laugh. “Yeah, goodnight, Oliver. I mean Pops. I love you, Mom. Love you, Pops.”
We can still hear her laughing as she goes down the hall, but I’m looking at the spot she just left.
Kate notices and touches my chin, to have me look at her. “Hey, you okay?”
“Yeah, but she just said she loved me.”
Now it’s Kate’s turn to give me that “duh” look. “Of course she loves you. You’ve been here for her more in the past six months than her dad has in a lifetime. She loves you, Bull. I love you too.”
I wipe at my eyes. Not because I’m crying or anything, but because my eyes are watering. “I love you both.”
She settles back onto my lap. “I know you do.”
Epilogue 2
Kate
Four Years Later
“You know your dad is about to have a heart attack right now. Right?” I tell Emma.
She looks over at her dad and he’s surrounded by a few of the men from the Heartlands. Even from across the way, I can see his discomfort. He’s used to being around people in suits and ties. I’m sure all the leather and boots are something new for him. I almost get out my phone to take a picture of him standing underneath the Ride or Die sign.
Emma just shakes her head. “Bull offered to have the party here. They closed the bar and everything. Plus, all our family is here anyway.”
I have to agree with her there. If you had told me four years ago that my family would consist of a bunch of bikers, I would have called you a liar and then laughed my head off. But looking around the bar, that’s exactly what’s happened.
Every one of these people have taken Emma and me in as one of their own. They’ve become our friends and our family.
“I can’t believe you graduated high school today,” I murmur, giving her a tight hug. “And my baby is going away to college.”
I feel him before I hear him. Bull’s arms go around Emma and me, and he holds us tight. “But college is only an hour away. I’ve already got it planned for Saint, Gage, and a few of the others to ride up with us when we drop her off for school.”
“Pops!” Emma says, shaking her head and smiling at him. “You do know that no one will talk to me if you show up on campus glaring at everybody, right?”
“I know that no boy will, that’s for sure,” he deadpans right back.
She rolls her eyes, a trait she’s yet to grow out of before she sees Maddox waving at her and she leaves us to go and talk to him. Bull starts to follow her, but I put my hand on his chest, reminding him, “She’s eighteen now, Bull. This is her graduation party. Plus, you trust Maddox.”
He looks over at his friend and gives him a You better not think about it glare before turning back to me. His arms go around me and he’s smiling softly, and I know he’s waiting on me to break down. Sort of like I have been Emma’s whole senior year. “You okay, baby?”
I shrug my shoulders. “Yeah, it’s going to be weird with her out of the house, but I knew this day was coming. I’m just going to miss her.”
He leans down and puts his forehead to mine. “I know. Me too. Buuuuutttt….”
I give a breathless sigh. “But what?” I know Bull, and just by the look on his face, this is going to be a good one.
“Well, I tried to think about what I could do to get your mind off of Emma leaving…”
I interrupt him, rubbing my hands across shoulders. “And you’re going to keep me chained to the bed for a week.”
His eyes light up. “I like that idea, but no. I’m taking you to Hawaii. We’re dropping Emma off at school and then we’re leaving.”
“Hawaii! I’ve always wanted to go,” I say dumbly, but of course, Bull already knew that. He knows everything.
But as soon as the excitement rises, panic starts to set in. “But what if something happens? What if Emma needs me…”
He steps to the side and pulls me in front of him so I’m leaning my back against him. His arms are around me and as always, I feel more safe and loved in his arms than ever. “Look, Kate. Look at her. Do you not think that if she needs anything, our family wouldn’t step in to help her?”
I look at Emma, surrounded by all the Heartlands. They’re all laughing and having a good time. And I know without a doubt every one of them would be there for her if she needs it. I turn in Bull’s arms and wrap my arms around his neck. “Thank you, Bull. You’ve given me and Emma the best life, you’ve shared your family with us, but most of all you’ve given us your love. We were lost before you came along. I love you.”
He pushes the hair from my face and cups my jaw and looks into my eyes questioningly. “So, Hawaii… you good with this?”
I feel as if my heart is in my throat. “Yes. I’m good with anywhere… as long as I’m with you.”
“Me too, baby. Me too.”
Heartlands
The alpha males of Heartlands Motorcycle Club are the most possessive, devoted, and territorial men in the country when it comes to the ones they love.
Heartlands is a rough and rugged new series of standalone stories. Written by four of the most trusted names in short and steamy romance, each book will get your motors revved and your hearts racing. Guaranteed.
XO, Frankie, Dani, Olivia, and Hope
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Bestselling short romance author Hope Ford writes short, steamy, sweet romances. She loves tattooed, alpha men, instant love stories, and ALWAYS happily ever afters. She has over 70 books and they are all available on Amazon.
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