Thunder (Hell's Handlers MC #10) - Lilly Atlas Page 0,145
lists or police reports.
They hadn’t been, thank God. But there had been an attorney searching for her. Apparently, her mother had some money in an account set up by her family. They’d tried for years to get her to leave the community to no avail. Somehow and at some point, someone, maybe the grandparents she’d never met, had listed her as a beneficiary.
Well, they’d left it to Delilah.
Acer had been able to perform some sort of internet magic, most likely of the highly illegal variety, and got the money to her. It’d been enough to make a really sizable dent in the cost of a huge house with six bedrooms, a huge backyard, and a kitchen that had made her weep when she first saw it. And one of the best parts—she could see Shell and Copper’s place from the front yard.
It was perfection and she had to pinch herself daily to make sure she hadn’t gotten lost in a beautiful dream.
Thunder glanced up from his food as though he’d sensed the serious direction of her thoughts. He winked and smiled the smile that still charmed her every time he flashed it her way.
Her heart swelled until her chest felt full to the max. This man had come to mean everything to her. He’d taught her how to enjoy her life, to be playful, and how to find pleasure in every day. He loved her and never failed to show it.
Thunder was a priceless gift she tried to repay in her own actions each day.
His grin disappeared and he tilted his head as though to ask if she was all right.
Holding his gaze, she nodded.
“I love you,” he mouthed.
Emmie patted his leg with greasy fingers leaving an oily handprint on his jeans. He didn’t even seem to notice, let alone mind. The man truly loved her family as much as he loved her.
Suddenly, overcome with emotion, Mak’s eyes watered. She pressed a hand to her heart and mouthed, “I love you, too,” back at Thunder.
His own eyes looked suspiciously wet as if he felt the significance of the simple moment as well.
But then every minute spent with him was important. Because they’d chosen each other and against some pretty impressive odds, found a perfection neither of them had dared to wish for.
BONUS EPILOGUE
FIFTEEN YEARS LATER
COPPER NARROWED HIS eyes as though he could use the orbs as lasers to vaporize the problem playing out before him. When nothing happened, he settled for another sip of scotch and a growl.
“You know,” Shell said, as she stepped up behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m pretty sure the birthday girl shouldn’t have to spend twenty minutes searching for her sexy ol’ man at her party. But I am over the hill now, so maybe my memory isn’t serving me as well as it used to.”
With a grunt, Copper pulled his wife around from behind him, tugging her down to his lap. She looked even more gorgeous than usual tonight in a form-fitting black dress he couldn’t wait to peel off her later on. With her sunny hair straightened sleek and glossy and subtle makeup, she looked fresh, young, and happy. “Over the hill, my ass,” he said, palming her ass. At forty, well thirty-nine and three-hundred-sixty-four days, Shell didn’t look a day older than she did at twenty-four when he’d finally pulled his head out of his ass and admitted his love for her. If there were lines around her eyes, and a softness to her middle, he sure as hell didn’t notice it.
Making the woman his had been the best fucking move of his entire life. Soon to be the second-best because eliminating this problem in front of him might top everything, even his decision to marry Shell.
“You seeing this shit?” he asked, nudging his chin for Shell to follow his gaze.
She did, but her giggle didn’t seem appropriate for how fucking bad the situation was. “Do I see our daughter flirting with a handsome man? Yes, Copper, I do. Those two have been sniffing around each other for about six months now.”
He straightened, nearly dumping Shell off his lap. “Excuse me? How the fuck did I not know this?”
Rolling her eyes, his sassy wife swatted his chest. “Could you not break my hip on my birthday? And seriously, what’s the big deal? Beth has been dating for years.”
“Yeah, but not him. Not one of my guys.” He shot his daughter another glower.