“Fuck yes, it does. You’re the president of the one and only affiliate chapter. We’ve had Kings live in New York City here and there before, but never had a real club there.”
I was shocked when Undertaker stomped over and slung his arm around me. He leaned in and added in a whisper, “You did a good job. He’s proud of you,” before he smacked a waxy kiss onto my cheek. I wiped at the lipstick as he backed off. Men dismounted their bikes, leaving them where they were, and some of the Kings had started drifting toward the front door of the house. I glanced at Jamie, and surprisingly he didn’t seem upset.
“Hunter’s family is my family. Come in.” He took my hand and led me up the steps to the front door, flinging it open. He stood to the side. Men I’d grown to know and love, and in some cases hate—Barnes gave me a long look and a nod—filed into the house, shaking hands with me as they came past.
Barber stopped and adjusted my collar. “Looks good. Can’t believe it took hand-delivering a jacket to get the club on a run together.” He ruffled my hair and slid past me. “Where’s the alcohol? Place like this has to have top-shelf. By the way, I rode your bike here.” He slipped my keys into my pocket with a wink, and I almost died from joy.
“Thanks!”
Jamie’s housekeeper raced toward him and asked a thousand whispered questions he answered at warp speed, while I shook more hands and felt dizzy with all the attention. Soon enough a party was in full swing. Cases of beer were lugged in from a trailer someone had towed behind their bike. I closed the door after the last person and rested against it, staring at the toes of my boots. Warmth overwhelmed me. I was so… happy? Was that what this feeling was called? Smiling, I glanced up, and Jamie stood close by with his hands on his hips, but again, he only seemed amused. He looked more approachable than usual today, in a soft sweater and gray pants.
“Ya all right there? Irish Rose?” His lips twitched, and then he slapped a hand over his mouth, but I heard a low-pitched giggle anyway.
“That better not be what they’re really calling me,” I grumbled as he came over and wrapped his arms around me in a hug.
“I’ll wager it is.”
He pressed a kiss to my cheek, and I leaned back enough to catch his lips with mine. His breath on my face was warm and friendly and made this all better somehow.
“What was that for?” he asked quietly.
The Kings’ jacket was a heavy, perfect weight on my shoulders. He was so fucking handsome. I liked working with him for Killough. I was good at it. I flew off the handle sometimes, but people took my quietness as a good thing in the more businesslike atmosphere of the Company. People respected that Jamie had chosen me to be his partner in more ways than one, and yeah, my worth was tied up with his, but I was actually fine with that because…. “Jamie, I love you.”
He gasped. “Sorry?”
My gut twisted. “I love you?”
“Oh, thank Christ. I love ya too.” He pressed his mouth against mine so hard it hurt. Somewhere deeper in the house was the sound of something smashing and “oohs” and one loud “Fuck!” that I was sure was King. We broke apart laughing.
“Let’s go sort these bikers a meal before they bust up our valuables,” Jamie said and grabbed my hand. “We’ll welcome them to our house.”
My eyes stung and I blinked away a tear. “Until recently, I’ve never had a place that was mine.”
His face turned into a thundercloud. “You’re my heart and my home, and all that I have is yours. Well, whatever they don’t break is yours, at any rate.” He winked and the last of my anxiousness melted away.
“Who knew Irishmen were so sentimental?”
He laughed and looped his arm around my waist, leading me toward the party room and the rest of our life—together.
Epilogue
Hunter
The wind lifted my hair, and I raised my hand over my eyes so I could look out from the top of the gray stone castle-like observation tower at the equally gray cliffs and the steely skies and churning sea beyond. Not far off was a tall, craggy single peak that was lower than the point where we stood, but our vantage point made it seem like the sea was trying to stab the sky. The view was cold and stark and majestic. Light fog boiled off in the distance and seemed like it would be soft enough to sleep on, if I could just get over there and lie on it.
“The cliffs of Moher. Now you’ve seen one of the things everyone talks about.” I shivered as a strong wind socked through my winter coat. Jamie tugged my wool cap lower over my ears and then wrapped his arms around me and leaned his chin on my shoulder. “What do ya think?”
“Love it,” I murmured, and he kissed my cold cheek, leaving behind a bright spot of warmth. There were a few other brave tourists out today, but with snow threatening and the temperature dropping, we were two of only a few, and I liked it that way.
“Do ya know why I dragged ya all the way out here in the middle of a cold Irish winter?” He paced over to the ledge of the tower, made of a thick stone, and rested a hand on it. I followed, and he opened his arm so I could snuggle into his side. We watched the water froth and churn, and I couldn’t keep my eyes open wide enough. I’d never seen anything like this in New Gothenburg, and my heart ached with how beautiful it was, even with a cloudy sky hanging overhead, or maybe because of it.
“You secretly hate me and want to toss me in the water?” I said just loud enough to be heard over the wind, and he chuckled.
“No, guess again.”
“Well, we’re visiting your mother tomorrow. Maybe you were embarrassed to take an American and thought you’d try to lose me here in the crowd.” I glanced around. There was only one man nearby. Jamie knocked his hip against mine.
“Why are your thoughts so morbid, me love?” he whispered in my ear, and I couldn’t help it. I let out a moan. It made me so happy when he called me that.
