Wrapping an arm around her, I whisper into her hair, “I know, but it’s supposed to snow tonight, and I want you to have it before then.”
She narrows her eyes, stepping out of my hold to pad toward the door. When she swings it open, her jaw drops at the sight of her brand-new red Jeep. I don’t know when she got rid of her old one, but she’s made a few comments over the last month that made me think she misses it. The look on her face tells me I was right.
“Stop!” she squeals. “You did not get me a Jeep!”
She whips her head to me then back to the vehicle before launching out the door, off the porch, and into the driver’s seat.
I’d do anything to keep that look on her face.
From the driver’s seat she yells, “Go get Maggie! We’re going for a drive right now!”
“You should probably put on pants first.”
She looks down at her bare legs like she didn’t realize she wasn’t wearing any despite the temperature.
“Shit! Okay.” She jumps out and prances toward me. “Pants, then we go.” Wrapping her arms around my neck, she presses her lips to mine. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. I love it!”
“I love you,” I say between her flurry of kisses.
She finally stops, pats my chest, and just before rushing to change says, “Now, go wake her up.”
I’ve never seen her get dressed faster in my life. Within ten minutes we’re on the road. The radio blares while both of my girls sing along, not missing a word. Ash beams, her hair pulled on top of her head. My daughter in the back seat sports the same messy look. Next to her is Chaos, our rottweiler—well, he’s ours now. Dean bought him for my mom when Dad died. He said she needed someone to guard the house. Shortly after we moved in here, Mom brought him to us. Ash said no, but Maggietook all of five minutes to fall in love with him and give her puppy-dog eyes, and Ash caved. Now we have a guard dog.
I can’t help but smile because I’ve honest to god never been happier. This is all I ever wanted. I can survive losing my club, but losing these two would no doubt kill me. A bright laugh leaves Ash’s lips. It’s still my favorite sound. Even in the dead of winter, it sounds like summer.
EPILOGUE GABRIEL
APRIL PRESENT DAY
Here I am, standing under the magnolia tree behind Gran’s house patiently waiting for Ash to come down to me. Shane stands next to me with JT as Nik walks toward us, followed by Jess, and then my perfect daughter.
She’s beautiful in the new dress. Ash told her she could pick out anything she wanted, and in true Maggie fashion, she picked something pink.
Then Ash appears, and all of the air evaporates from my lungs. She’s in the white sundress she wore the night she came to the clubhouse six years ago. I swallow, trying to hold back a smile, but I can’t.
Ash is the sun.
There’s an invisible rope tying me to her. She’s the one I want to wake up to everyday for the rest of my life.
It took me six years to realize it wasn’t the club or my dad standing in my way. It was me. All I had to do was make the decision and let her in. And fuck me, she’s in now. She’s all over me and under my skin.
Her curls sway in the breeze as she walks toward me, looking every bit like the golden ray of light she is.
When she’s finally right in front of me, she says, “Sure you want to do this?”
“I’ve never been so sure of anything.” I lift a brow. “Are you?”
She grins at me, nodding.
Dean’s officiating the ceremony. Does he have any qualifications to do so? No. But you can get ordained online, and who else would we pick?
“Welcome! Thank you for joining us to finally watch Gabe and Ash tie the knot. It’s about damn time.”
There’s a soft chuckle from the crowd.
“Gabe made it clear I was to make this short. So, let’s get right to the vows.” He gestures to me first.
I pull the piece of paper from my pocket and clear my throat. “Fuck, here it goes.”
