I close my eyes and bury my face in Rake’s neck, smelling him.
In his presence, I allow myself to be vulnerable.
I show him weakness, as I cry in his arms.
He comforts me.
He holds me.
He loves me.
And I know everything will be all right.
When I wake up I hear Rake mutter something into his phone about dealing with the Kings MC “shit” later. I close my eyes and pretend I don’t hear it. Maybe they weren’t letting the whole Rake-sleeping-with-that-woman thing go. I don’t want to think about that; I’m not ready to deal with more drama yet. “Okay, yeah, Vinnie,” he says into the line. “’Bye.”
“Everything okay?” I ask, rolling over and snuggling into him.
“It will be,” he says, kissing the top of my head. “Go to sleep.”
I go back to sleep.
THIRTY-FOUR
One month later
IRISH comes inside and grins when he sees me. “Rake told me you wanted to see me.”
I nod and point toward the kitchen. “I wanted to thank you, for everything,” I say, shifting on my feet. “So I cooked your two favorite meals for you, just like you wanted.”
Irish grins and steps to me, wrapping me in a one-armed hug. “You didn’t need to do that, Bails. Any of the men would have done the same. It’s who we are, who we decide to be when we join the club. Family is everything, and you’re family.”
I wrap my arms around his torso and squeeze. “I know, but still. Thank you.” I let go, only just remembering his injury. “Your wound?”
“It’s fine,” he says, taking a step toward the kitchen. “It was nothing but a scratch. You women all need to quit fussing over me.”
I follow him into the kitchen and watch his eyes widen at the huge spread. “Fuck me.”
“Hope you’re hungry.” I grin, grabbing a plate for him and gesturing for him to sit.
“How did you know?” he asks, watching me. “I never told you.”
“I asked Faye and Rake. And Tracker. And Arrow.”
Irish throws his head back and laughs. “Fuckin’ hate that I’m that predictable.”
“More like easy,” I say, pointing to the pepperoni and jalapeño pizza. “Pizza? Super easy. And ribs? Also easy.”
“I’m a simple man,” he replies, taking a giant slice of pizza and studying it.
“All homemade,” I tell him, taking a seat and grabbing a slice. “I didn’t cheat, although it would have been easy to.”
He shakes his head, then says in his slightly accented voice, “That’s not it. I wouldn’t have cared if you bought it; the thought alone is fuckin’ nice enough.”
“Then what?”
“Just,” he says, shrugging sheepishly. “It’s really nice you did this. For me and me alone. I don’t know, I guess I wanted to savor the moment.”
He’s so cute right now, but I don’t think he’d appreciate it if I point that out, so I just smile at him and go and grab a beer for him out of the fridge.
“It’s so damn good,” he says, practically inhaling the first slice and going onto the next.
“Thanks,” I tell him, happy that he likes it.
“Where’s Rake and Angel?” he asks after chewing and swallowing.
“Rake took her to the movies. They should be back soon,” I tell him, reclaiming my seat and sliding him his beer.
“Thanks, Bails. You know what?”
“What?” I ask.
“You’re one hundred percent old-lady material.”
I smile warmly. “I’m glad you think so.”
He looks at the food when he says, “I did meet someone.”
So, for once, the gossip was right. I feel special that he decided to share this with me, of all people.
My eyes widen at his admission. “What’s her name?”
“Valentina.”
“That’s a pretty name,” I tell him truthfully. “When are you going to bring her to meet everyone?”
“Very soon,” he says, lip twitching.
“Is she old-lady material too?” I find myself asking.
“Fuck yeah.”
We both share a smile.
* * *
When Arrow gets down on one knee and proposes to Anna, in front of all his brothers and the women, I can’t help it when tears of happiness stream down my face.
“Yes!” Anna squeals, letting him slide the huge diamond on her finger, then practically jumping on him.
“About time he made an honest woman out of her,” Rake says into my ear, his smile wider than I’ve ever seen it. He wipes the tears from my cheeks and shakes his head. “Fuckin’ softhearted you are, baby.”
“It’s Anna” is all I say.
“Yeah,” he agrees, kissing the last tear away. “She deserves to be happy. She deserves the best. Never thought she’d find it in someone like Arrow, but I guess weirder things have happened.”