That was true. Since everything happened at the ranch, Hawk hadn’t wanted to take Jessie back. They’d been staying in the apartment above Montgomery Defense. In fact, it wasn’t just them staying there. The entire team had stayed for weeks, making sure he and Jessie always had people to lean onthrough the craziness of newborn life and recovering from that awful night.
Sure, Adrienne, Mack, and Leo were all in custody. Not surprisingly, federal agencies were involved in their cases. Dakota had taken a plea deal for his role in everything. He was scheduled to testify against the organization he’d been involved with in exchange for immunity. Until then, he was placed on house arrest with his family. After all was said and done, Hawk prayed Dakota would move somewhere far, far away. Jessie didn’t deserve to have to constantly face him. She didn’t need to have Dakota reminding her of everything she went through because of him.
Those assholes had been behind everything. The cars following Jess. Almost running them over in the hospital parking lot. And everything that happened at Lachlan’s shop. Jessie’s family was holding out hope, but Hawk knew it would likely never open again. Physically, he was healing as well as anyone could hope for. But Lach had stopped leaving his house. Stopped seeing his family. He was pulling into himself, which was a big part of the reason Jessie wanted to be back on the ranch.
“I just think we’re moving back a little fast. We’ve only had those three therapy sessions and you’re meant to be recovering from his birth…”
Jessie’s palm landed against his chest and he watched as she went up on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
“I love that you are always thinking about me and my needs. But I’m ready to be back there. That’s our home. It’s filled with all the love you poured into it, and I want Beckett to be spending time out there too.” Jessie smiled. “Don’t get me wrong, having everyone here—especially Gunner and Lily, and your sister and Stone who dropped everything at their own homes to be here—it meant the world to me. But we’regood. So good. You heard Birdie and Jake. I’m great. Beckett’s great. Let's be great together in our home.”
Hawk hesitated.
“Are you sure this is about me and our son?” Jessie asked. He didn’t need to answer. He saw the truth reflected in the softness of her gaze.
“Of course it is,” Hawk grumbled.
“Because, if you’re not okay with going back out there, then I don’t want to push.”
He reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose, which his son apparently thought was hilarious, because the little goober who should be sleeping gave him another smile. The books all said it was still just a reflex at that point. That his son didn’t actually know he was smiling, but Hawk knew that was bullshit. Beckett was wise. One look in his eyes and anyone could tell that.
His son deserved afternoons in the sunshine, out on a blanket in the wildflower fields at Silver Ridge Ranch. Jessie deserved cuddles on the back porch, reading under the stars. And Hawk knew he deserved to remember that he was capable of keeping them safe.
“If you’re good, then I’m good too.”
Jessie wiggled her eyebrows. “Good. Because you know I finally got the all clear from Birdie, and if Beckett goes down for bed tonight, I was thinking we could recreate that little moment we shared together when we got engaged.”
“The kiss at the springs?” Hawk asked, knowing that wasn’t what she was suggesting.
“Try again,daddy.”
Fuck. “Walking around the house together?”
“Nope.”
His hand slid around her waist. “Ah, you must mean all those orgasms I gave you in your sun room.”
“Bingo.”
Hawk chuckled, stepping away to kneel and tuck their son into his car seat.
“Beckett, your dad’s really looking forward to being back at the ranch now.” Jessie’s laughter filled the entryway of his old apartment.
For a moment, time stood still. Dust floating in the air caught the golden rays of the early morning sunrise and shimmered all around the two people who he loved most in the world. Hawk swallowed down the painful tickle in the back of his throat. Because for so long, he was afraid to admit something was missing from his life. For so long, he was happy to stand in the background and watch his friends fall in love and get every ounce of happiness they deserved.
Every day since Beckett was born, Hawk spent time walking with him in his arms as the sun rose above the horizon. And every morning, he had the same thought. The day he’d been called to a little town in Texas by Sebastian had changed everything. He’d jumped at the chance to protect Emma for Cap. And slowly, he’d been given the opportunity to watch all his friends, every single man he considered a brother, experience the happiness of finding their person.
And inside of all of that, his own happiness was always there, waiting for him. The day they all moved to Silver Springs and he’d met Jessie had put him on a path to the greatest love he’d ever known. Each morning would always remind him of that. How love, and life, are precious. And that there are truly no words to describe how beautiful it is to find your people. The chosen family who love and cheer for you through all your celebrations, but who also walk alongside you in the darkest moments right before the sunrise.
Two Years Later…
“Beckett Michael Morgan! What did I just say?” Hawk’s voice boomed across the living room. His son—now a very mischievous and rambunctious toddler—was teetering precariously on the back of the sofa. Beck was a climber. And Hawk and Jessie were having one hell of a time trying to keep him safe from his own curiosity.
But Hawk loved every minute of the chaos.
“Becky-boy… you heard Daddy.” Jessie walked down the stairs in a sundress that wrapped perfectly around her delicious curves and made Hawk’s mouth water. Her fingers were in her hair, working it back into a sunflower clip. Strands fell out mismatched and haphazard, andfuckif his heart didn’t skip a beat or two watching his wife walk into the room.
“You’re drooling a little bit there, Chief,” she teased as she walked over and scooped their son up off the sofa, plopping him onto the floor where he started running towards his favorite toy bronco. Growing up on the Silver Ridge Ranch had its benefits. Beckett was starting to ride, thanks to the sweet older gelding Jessie’s brothers surprised them with a few weeks before his second birthday. Hayes handed over a tinyhelmet and Beckett was all smiles when Colt threw him up onto the saddle. The only thing that finally got him down was Gunner and Lily showing up with the girls for a play date. Hawk had nearly had a heart attack watching Daniel walk the horse while Colt kept a hand on Beckett, but Jessie just wrapped her arms around his waist and laughed.
