Page 78 of Ryder

Her eyes crinkle along with her smile. “It’s always been you, Ryder. I tried to replace you, and it didn’t work. I thought all men were good, like you, but I was wrong. I learned a long and painful lesson.”

“That isn’t your fault. People lie.” I smooth her hair back off her face.

“I know.”

“So, we’re good?”

“Yes, but I’m still ugly.”

“You’re not ugly!” I press my forehead against hers. “But Bronco was tellin’ me about somethin’. It was his suggestion, if you wanted…”

She pulls back. “What is it?”

“If you miss your long hair, we could get extensions, till it grows back.”

She stares at me and I think I’ve done the wrong thing. Then she bursts into tears, shoving her head into my shoulder. “I love you, Ryder Cane. Do you know that?”

“W-well, okay.” I’m surprised by her outburst. “Is that a yes, then?”

She nods. “I can’t make this shit work, I just can’t. I’m not a short haired girlie. Kudos to those who can pull it off, but that isn’t me.”

“Just so you know, it doesn’t matter to me about any of it. I just want you to be happy.”

She cups one side of my face. “I am, Ryder. I’m happy with you in my arms.”

I smile.

We’re going to get through this together.

16

CRYSTAL

Eighteen months later

I stare downat my wedding dress, unable to fathom that the big day is finally here.

When Ryder proposed, I couldn’t say yes fast enough. I’ve always imagined my wedding day, though back when I was a teenager, I thought it would be in a church. Maybe we’d have the reception at the country club, or some other nice restaurant. But when Ryder suggested we have it at the clubhouse, I wasn’t sure at first. Somehow though, all of my friends, including Liliana, Summer and Deanna from the Bracken Ridge Rebels MC in Arizona, and my sister and Jas, helped put it together. I have the best friends in the world.

After I healed from my kidnapping, Ryder and I moved into a new place together. I didn’t want to be away from him, and he felt the same way. Things moved fast. We fell madly in love and didn’t want to wait another second. Especially now that I’m pregnant.

I’m showing, heavily, but I love it. I have no clue what I deserved to have a husband and a baby on the way, but I’m so thankful for each and every blessing.

What that man did for me you wouldn’t read about in any fairytale. He really is my knight in shining armor. Even though we’ve had our struggles, we’re still here, every single day, showing up for one another.

I went off birth control six months after we got together because we both wanted kids eventually, and I never expected to get pregnant so fast. We’d already planned the wedding so when I found out I was going to be a mom, we both wanted to be married before he was born.

The Devils Ink — well, there’s a story. Cash ended up dealing with his stepbrother in the worst possible way, but it had to be done. The Devils Ink are no longer. And as for Rifle? I never asked Ryder what happened. He supposedly died in an explosion, but I can’t be sure. To be honest, I didn’t want to know.

He was on the run for a while, coming and going from the Devils Ink. They still welcomed him back knowing what he’d done to me, because men like them don’t care. They sell drugs, guns and traffic people — why would they care? The best thing that happened to New Orleans was getting rid of that motorcycle club. They say the mob were worse, but I beg to differ.

I run my hands over my belly as I stare at myself. My dress is beautiful; a long, white mermaid style with bling all over it. The neckline is high, and I love the lace sleeves. My hair is swept to one side, caught with a clasp. We’re going to be married in Cash’s rose garden. Since I pride myself in being the one taking care of the gardens around here to give me something to do, it was the perfect place for a wedding marquee. I planned on taking maternity leave from my job, but realized early on that I want to be at home raising our son.The pregnancy has beendifficult, but I’m so ready to finally meet the little guy. I’ve also been bored out of my mind because I’ve already transformed our house with the nursery. It’s all ready to go. So, Cash let me resurrect the clubhouse gardens to keep me out of trouble; his words are kind of rude if you ask me. But it gave me a sense of purpose, and I love seeing things grow. It’s like the child in my belly; each day is another day closer to bloom.

“Knock, knock.” Deanna smiles as she enters the room. “How are you doing, babe? You ready?”

I asked the girls to give me a few moments alone to gather myself. I’ve waited a long time for this day, and now that it’s here, I want to run down the aisle toward my husband. Not that Icanrun; waddle may be a better term. Ryder doesn’t care. He loves me this big, and wants to expand our family with at least one more. I smile when I think about how sweet and nurturing my man has been since we found out we were pregnant. He’s really stepped up to the plate; massaging my swollen feet, making dinner when I’m too tired to get up, bringing me drinks and snacks when I’m a whale on the couch. He’s the best.

I turn to face D. “I’m ready.”

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