“What about because I love you so fucking much, I can’t stand the idea of spending another moment without you.”
“We don’t even live in the same town! We have a lot to figure out before we get married.”
He sucks his teeth. “I’ve been thinking about that actually. I can’t completely leave Ravens Ridge. Not yet at least. Even once I’m done with the club, I still own the shop. And I’ll still need a job, so I don’t think walking away from it is an option. I think we should move into Gran’s. I know you’ve been trying to sell it, but it feels weird for anyone else to live there. That’s our place.”
“Don’t you worry that someone with a grudge might come after us if we’re still here?”
“We’ll get security cameras and shit. Plus, everyone knows our business now. They’d find us no matter where we are. At least here, we’ve got all the guys as back up.”
And it is crazy, but why can’t I think of a single reason not to? The only thing I want in this world is for all three of us to be together.
I run my thumb over his bottom lip.
“Is that a yes? You’ll move here and marry me?” he asks with that cocky smirk.
I glare.“It’s a maybe. Let’s talk about it tomorrow when you haven’t been drinking. How am I supposed to know if this is real or you’re just fucked up?”
“Oh, I’m fucked up, baby. I’ve been fucked up since the day I met you.”
48
GABE
DECEMBER PRESENT DAY
Waltzing out of our bedroom this morning, I’m stopped dead in my tracks as I reach the kitchen. Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” plays from the CD player on the counter. Ash dances around at the stove in nothing but my shirt with a spatula in one hand. She’s fucking adorable. I cross my arms, leaning on a shoulder. It’s possible I’d be content to sit and watch her for the rest of my life.
Eventually, she notices me and cracks up. “Excuse me. Creep much?”
“I was just enjoying the show,” I chuckle.
I spent the weekend after the wedding installing a security system, and we moved into her Gran’s house a couple of weeks later. It was quick, and everyone probably thinks we’ve lost our damn minds, but I don’t want to spend another second without her or Maggie.
She scrunches up her nose and chuckles. “Breakfast’s almost ready.”
I walk over and wrap my arms around her frombehind.“There’s nothing in this kitchen I want for breakfast.”
Her eyes bulge, and she rolls her lips under before smacking me with the spatula.
“Gabriel!” she squeals.“Maggie’s asleep right down the hall!”
I lean down, grab her thighs, and lift her onto the counter. “Good. Then she won’t hear us making her a sibling.”
She narrows her eyes, wrapping her arms around my neck. “There will be no siblings for a very long time. And some of us like to eat actual food in the morning.”
Smiling, I kiss her lips before stepping back to let her climb down from the counter.
“So, what’s the plan for today?”
She pulls plates down from the cabinet, standing on her tiptoes to reach them. “Everyone’s coming at noon. I need you to run to the shop and pick up the tables and chairs when you have time.”
She planned some sort of Christmas dinner with everyone for tonight. Maggie’s thrilled because that means she’ll get to play with Ryker and Scarlett, JT’s kids. The three of them have been thick as thieves since we moved in.
Ash even invited Lily. She won’t admit this, but I think Lily’s starting to grow on her. Usually, I just spend the holidays with Mom, but Ash insisted that we do something with everyone, and I’ll go along with anything she wants.
“Yes, ma’am.” With a grin, I say, “There’s a Christmas gift for you out front.”
She laughs. “Christmas isn’t for two more days.”
