Six months later

“Nolan, babe. You didn’t have to cook all this. We could’ve gotten a caterer.”

Nolan leveled her a withering look. “I run a concierge chef business—it would be bad form to hire a caterer. Besides, I enjoy it.”

“You do, don’t you?”

“Yep. It’s like it’s not even work.” Nolan dabbed a bit of extra frosting on top of the cake and then placed five perfect candied hazelnuts in the center. “There. The desserts are finished now. I just need to set out the platters, and we’re good to go.”

“Man, I love hazelnut. It’s my favorite!” Bridget swiped a dollop of frosting from the spatula that Nolan had abandoned on the counter.

“Oh really? I thought raspberry was your favorite.” Nolan held up a perfect piece of fruit, tantalizing her. Bridget opened her mouth, and Nolan placed the ripe berry on her tongue.

He leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. He tasted of chocolate, hazelnut, raspberry, and Nolan.

“Oh, no. This is definitely my favorite, hands down.” She kissed him back and wound her arms around his broad shoulders. Nolan grabbed her hips and set her up on the counter.

“This is my favorite, too.” He nipped her chin. “Mmm-hmmm. Delicious.” Nolan nibbled on her neck and her collarbone. He’d just popped the button on her trousers when a familiar voice called, “Knock, knock, y’all!” followed by a clatter of footsteps on the hardwood floors.

Nolan kissed her again, and then he whispered in her ear, “Guess this is going to have to tide me over until after the party.”

A happy squeal of “Iggy!” came from the living room. Bridget snorted a laugh and hopped down from the counter. She popped around the corner to see Bailey, with baby Nora on her hip, and Colin, with a platter of deviled eggs in one hand and a frown that was directed at their other daughter.

“I think you might need to put the kitty down, Maude. He doesn’t look too happy.”

Maude had Iggy in her arms. The cat’s hind legs stretched to try to reach the ground, but the little girl had a firm grip on him. “He likes being held! Plus, he’s so squishy. I love him!” Iggy threw Bridget a pleading look as Maude hugged the big cat tighter.

“Oof! You’re really heavy. Okay, Iggy, we’ll play again later.” Maude placed a big, smacking kiss on the top of Iggy’s head and set the big cat down. As soon as his feet hit the ground, Iggy took off like a shot, feet slipping and sliding on the hardwood floor as he skittered around the corner. Serves you right, you bastard. Bridget and Iggy had an uneasy truce—even so, Bridget fully expected to find poop in her gym bag or her shoes some morning.

“Maude, do you wanna help me set everything out on the table?” Nolan came into the living room and took the egg platter from Colin, who seemed relieved to be rid of the delicate glassware.

Maude nodded enthusiastically and took off for the dining room.

“Baby, wash your hands since you’ve been touching the cat.” 

Bailey chuckled as her daughter heaved a big sigh and answered, “Yes, Mama.”

“Come here and give me a hug, lady.” Bailey held her arms out, and Bridget knew she wouldn’t get out of giving the woman a hug. “I love what you’ve done with the house, Bridget.”

“Well, Nolan is responsible for most of this. You know I would probably still be living out of boxes.”

The arrival of the rest of the DS Fight Club team and their families delayed any further conversation, and soon the little Craftsman house was full of laughter and chattering conversation. Bridget leaned back against the wall and surveyed the group, ruminating about how different her life was from just a few months prior. Back in Boston, she didn’t really have a place on a fighter’s roster because she was too big for the traditional women’s weight classes. Now, with the creation of a new featherweight division, she didn’t have to starve herself, and that was definitely a relief.

Nolan lifted his chin to her from across the room where he stood chatting with Tobias and Colin’s older brother, Mick.

Nolan.

The man was . . . a perfect partner for her. They shared everything—highs and lows, triumphs and defeats. Thankfully, there hadn’t been too many low points. Both Bridget and Nolan had had enough of those, personally and professionally. Even Bridget’s mother was coming around to her shacking up with the burly Southerner, though he’d definitely looked spooked after Caitlyn Doherty pulled him aside for one of her “friendly discussions” when Nolan met her mother for the first time at an out-of-town fight. Nolan wouldn’t tell Bridget what they had discussed, only that they’d come to an understanding, and all Bridget knew was that her mother had been all smiles and support since. It was fantastic but completely unnerving.

“What do you suppose those three are cooking up?” Bailey slipped up next to Bridget and nodded her head at the group of men.

“With those three, who knows? I know Toby’s planning on doing to some session recording with Mick, and I think the big man has some sort of scheme to get steel guitar onto a Skankin’ Janey Mac track, regardless of whether Toby or the guys want it.”

Bailey laughed. “There’ll be steel guitar on that record. Mickey’s the most stubborn man I’ve ever met, and that includes his baby brother.”

“Speaking of brothers, where’s yours?” Bridget frowned. DS Fight Club’s newest member had gotten off to a rocky start, merely due to serendipity and circumstance. What were the chances of Bailey’s long-lost brother showing up as a matchmaker?

 “He’s dropping off Lucy at her mother’s. He said he’d pop by afterwards.”

Bridget whistled through her teeth. “Oh man, he’s going to be in a great mood.”

Bailey rolled her eyes. “Tell me about it. He’s very easy going until he’s not, and unfortunately, Lucy’s mom pushes every single one of his buttons. Oh, speak of the devil . . .”

Bailey’s brother, Buddy, the man who was now responsible for setting up matches for the fighters of DS Fight Club, followed his daughter through the door of Bridget and Nolan’s home.

“Uh-oh,” Bridget whispered.

“Well, shoot. That’s not a good sign.” Bailey cleared her throat. “Hey, you two. Lucy, Maude’s helping Nolan decorate the table, do you–”

Lucy squealed and took off for the kitchen.

“Well, that answers that,” Bailey said with a chuckle before turning back to her brother, who looked to be spoiling for a fight. “Do I dare ask?”

“That . . . woman . . .,” Buddy sputtered before sucking in a breath. “Bailey, we need to have a serious talk. Not now, because this is supposed to be a party and what I need to tell you will kill any happy vibes you’ve got.”

“Not to be melodramatic or anything.” Bridget’s grin turned to a grimace when Buddy shot her a poisonous look.

“Fuckin’ A, I wish I was being melodramatic.” Buddy balled up his hands and growled. “Goddammit. Fuckin’ bitch.”

Bailey whistled low. “Buddy, you don’t need to bad mouth–”

“Fuck you, little sister, you have no idea–whoa!” Buddy stopped short when Colin’s big paw grabbed his shirt and pulled him close.

“Come again?” All conversation instantly ceased as Colin and Buddy stood nose to nose in Bridget’s living room. “You wanna repeat what came out of your goddamn mouth, Thomas?”

“Fuck. I’m sorry, Bailey. That . . . was uncalled for. It won’t happen again.”

“You’re goddamn right it won’t. If it does, or hell, if you speak to anyone in my gym like that, you’re gone, and I will make sure you never match up another fighter again in any venue.” Colin let Buddy go with a jerk and a grunt. “So get a grip, Thomas.”

Buddy glared at Colin and then turned to Bailey. “We need to talk, tonight. I’m gonna go out to the backyard to cool off for a few minutes.” Buddy cracked his neck. “See y’all in a few minutes.”

Bailey rubbed her temples. “He always did have a temper,” she mumbled and then threw her hands up and shrugged. “Let’s just let everyone cool off, and it’ll be fine. Just fine.”

“Here, darlin’. This will make things better.” Nolan held up a plate with a single perfect piece of cake.

“Is that . . . ?”

“It is. You were talking about it last week, and well, I thought it’d be perfect, so . . .” Nolan grinned at Bailey and handed her a fork and the plate.

Bridget’s mouth watered as she watched Bailey cut into the cake. She’d already designated this weekend as “cheat-end,” so a iny piece of piña colada cake wasn’t going to make a difference.

“Nolan—oh!” Nolan wiggled his eyebrows, and Bridget laughed as he held up another piece of cake – her piece of cake – airplaned a fork full of the delicious dessert into her mouth.

“How did you know?” she mumbled through a mouthful of cake.

“I’m psychic. Plus, another little birdie named Caitlyn might have sat me down with the family recipe books.”

“Oh God. Leave it to Ma.”

“Oh, no, she left it to me.” Nolan pulled Bridget close. “She trusts me to take care of you. And she trusts you to take care of me. Oh God, Bridget.”

Bridget swallowed hard at the soft look in Nolan’s eyes. No one had ever looked at her like he did, and it both scared her to death and thrilled her to pieces.

“Fuck it.” Nolan took a deep breath and lowered his big body down onto one knee.

“Nolan Harper, are you going to make me remember this piece of piña colada cake for the rest of my life?” Bridget’s voice shook as much as the plate did.

“Bridget, I know it’s soon, but in a way, I knew as soon as I laid eyes on you that you were going to change my life. And you did. You gave me the courage to be me and to live the life I was meant to. And hopefully, you’ll be willing to share that life. But I promise you one thing: you’ll never, ever have to share a piece of cake unless you want to. Bridget Therese Doherty, will you marry me?”

Bridget stared at Nolan for a few long moments, and then she turned to Bailey. “Hold my plate, doll.”

Bailey barked a surprised laugh when Bridget practically threw the plate at her so she could launch herself into Nolan’s arms, toppling him over. She grabbed his face in her hands and kissed him on each cheek, his mouth, his chin, and then his mouth again.

“Is that a yes?” Nolan quirked an eyebrow at her, but Bridget just nodded her head. Nolan sighed and pressed his lips to hers.

“I love you, Bridget Doherty,” he whispered against her lips.

“And I love you, Nolan Harper. I’ll be honored to share your life with you. And, babe, I will always share my cake.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

The End