My joy.
I loved each of them with every fiber of my being.
Daisy peeked up at me, her smile wistful, no question thinking the same thing.
I caressed up and down her side. So damned thankful that I’d been given this.
That after so much loneliness, I was whole.
Completed in this little family I’d discovered camping by my river.
“Now there he goes again.” Otto arched a razzing brow.
Theo laughed as he took a swig of his beer. “You’re worried about Cash and Daisy when you and Raven walk around loving each other up so much it’s a wonder you ever get dressed?”
“Why do you think Raven wears all those dresses? Easy access for when I don’t have time to peel her out of it.”
River groaned, though he tightened his hold on Charleigh, who was curled on his lap, the woman laughing under her breath. “Down boy,” she murmured.
He only grunted in return, shooting daggers at Otto that held no heat.
Kane chuckled and his attention snagged on Emery who walked out the front door, followed by Piper and Raven.
“I, for one, am all about the loving.” He raised his glass like he was offering a toast. “Continue on, dear Cash.”
Emery waltzed over, grinning down at her husband as she asked, “What are we celebrating?”
“We’re celebrating this thing called love. And just how hot our women are doing it,” he tacked on with a wink, the tease underscored in emphasis.
The truth that we all were lucky fucking bastards.
Every single one of my crew had suffered so much. In different ways. Each of us alone and afraid. It was wild that the streets of LA would bring us together. That it would forge a bond unlike any other as we fought for survival.
And that bond had reached fruition as each of these women came into our lives. Shaking up everything we thought we knew and showing us what was truly important.
I’d been terrified of it.
Believed I wasn’t worthy of it.
Had thought every single one of my days would be spent alone. A penance for the sins I’d committed.
But Daisy had shown me there was forgiveness.
There was healing.
There was joy on the other side of grief.
“Hey, Daddy-O! Catch!” Nolan shouted from where he’d run up to the base of the porch steps right before he threw the ball at his dad. River reached out and caught it with one hand.
“Come on, you gotta come play with us! I get to be on your team!” Nolan shouted.
Colin came beelining up to his side. “Dad, Dad, come on, we gotta be on a team because you’re so big and we gotta beat ’em.”
Daisy peeked up at me, adoration pouring out, her faith and belief.
I patted her butt, and she shifted around so I could stand. I moved across the porch and down the steps, taking my son’s hand. He hauled me out into the clearing, his little feet scuffing on the gravel and dirt.
River had stood, too, and he cocked back his arm and sent the ball sailing.
