Page 209 of Heartbeats & Highways

I took a few moments to myself. After I used the bathroom, I looked out the window. I could see the tent and the party and the wedding spot.

A lone figure stood underneath the pergola. A blond man wearing a leather cut. I knew by the stance that it was Savage.

With a sigh, I felt my annoyance at him dissipate.

I went to him, wondering if I could convince him to dance with me. I walked down the aisle toward him. He waited for me.

“What are you doing over here? Why aren’t you at the party?” I asked when I got to him.

His grin was lopsided. “Do you really think I’d propose to you in the middle of a party while I was eating a fig stuffed with goat cheese?”

“I don’t know what to think,” I admitted. “Since we’ve been back, you’ve been really busy with the club, which makes sense. But I—I miss you. Going to sleep without you. Waking up and you having to leave almost immediately.”

Savage didn’t say a word. Instead, he took off his leather cut and handed it to me to hold and then he began to undo the buttons of his white dress shirt. Savage was not a suit guy, not even for a wedding. But he had dressed up in his own biker way.

“You can’t get naked,” I snapped. “This is a wedding!”

He smirked. “I’m not getting naked. I wanted to show you something.”

Savage opened his shirt enough so that I could see the bandage concealing the spot over his chest. He then gently peeled back the covering to show me what he’d gotten tattooed on him.

Two peas in a pod.

“When did you have that done?” I whispered. “I sent that sketch to Roman only a few days ago.”

“This morning. I had Roman do it for me.”

“It’s beautiful.”

I started to cry.

“There’s another handkerchief in the inner pocket of my leather cut.”

I reached into the pocket, but there was no handkerchief.

Instead, there was a square velvet box.

I pulled it out and stared at it.

Savage took it from me and opened it, presenting it to me.

“I love you, Evie.” His eyes burned into me. “You’re my Old Lady. You’re the mother of my children. Be my wife.”

I swallowed, emotion pouring through every part of my heart, blasting away every worry, every concern.

Savage was Savage. And I hadn’t known it at the time, but I was his from the moment we’d met.

“Yes, Savage. I’ll marry you.”

Second Epilogue

17 years later

Evie

“I got my license!” Iris yelled as she blew through the front door.

“I’m proud of you, sugar,” I said with a wide smile, hugging my oldest daughter to me. “Open the oven, will you?”

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