Lilly woke up later on in the day, shivering. They had been hot and heavy when they went to sleep, but once their body temperatures leveled out, it got a tidbit chilly. Lilly had found herself curling further and further into Cass in an attempt to warm up. She’d doze off and wake up shortly thereafter, shivering again. When she could no longer fall asleep because she was so cold, she huffed and eased her way off of Cass. She pulled her pants on and tiptoed to the door, easing it shut behind her. She let out a breath she had forgotten she was holding in her silent escape attempt that she’d succeeded at. She knew Cass had to be worn out and she wanted to let him rest as much as possible. She wasn’t sure what last night had consisted of, but she was sure that lives were lost. She was also sure that Cass had been in some sort of altercation based on the gash on his arm.
The house was quiet upstairs as she made her way to the staircase. Once she made it downstairs she could hear movement and chatter. The size of their house was still amazing to her. It was still surreal that this place was hers to call home.
Lilly followed the smell of food to the kitchen where she found Mindy and Linc sitting at the bar with Lucy and Shorty and Leo standing next to Carrie who was cooking something on the stove. Mindy’s eyes lit up at the sight of Lilly, causing everyone else to look in her direction.
“Good morning!” Mindy beamed.
“Good morning,” Lilly smiled, her voice throaty and still laced with sleep.
“What time is it?” she asked. She had forgotten to charge her phone last night and it was somewhere in her ‘office’, probably deader than a door nail.
“Eleven thirty. Lunch time!” Carrie said.
Lilly leaned in Carrie’s direction to see what was in the pot on the stove behind her. “Whatcha cooking? And better yet, where’d you get it to cook it? Cause, we lack groceries for the moment.”
“You were lacking groceries, but not anymore. Leo and I went out earlier and filled the fridge, freezer, and part of the cabinets for you. I’m cooking a chicken and sausage gumbo and the potato salad is done already and in that bowl,” she pointed to a red bowl on the counter that had a piece of foil wrapped on top of it.
“Oh my God, I haven’t had a gumbo since the last one my mom made…shit!” she cursed.
“What’s wrong?” Lucy asked, looking at her with a worried frown.
“My mom. I haven’t talked to her with all this madness going on and she’s gotta be worried sick. I’m not good at juggling this shit, in case you couldn’t tell.” She sighed and rubbed her temples with her right hand.
“Just go call her and kind of fill her in.” Mindy’s reassurance was always just what Lilly needed.
“It’ll have to wait. My phone’s dead. What’s another few hours added on to the last week?” she asked sarcastically. Hanging her head, she took a seat at the bar next to Mindy.
“How are you feeling?”
“Like I got run over by an old, rusty train.”
Lilly looked over her at Linc. “You better not be letting her engage in any strenuous activity.”
She glowered at him unwaveringly. He didn’t even attempt to hide the laugh that bubbled up after a few seconds beneath her glare. “I don’t let her do anything, you should know that. She does what she wants.”
Mindy’s cheeks reddened and Lilly realized that although she was joking with them, it seemed she was right. He and Mindy had been doing some strenuous activities.
“You better be careful, you’re going to end up hurting something if y’all keep trick-fucking,” Lilly said to Mindy quietly since the rest of the room had resumed their own conversations.
“We aren’t trick-fucking. Calm your tits. But a girl does need dick every now and then…”
“Trust me, I understand. Just try to be careful. I worry enough about you already.”
“I got this.” Mindy smiled.
Lilly rested her head on her hand as the rest of the room talked. She hadn’t seen the other prospect from out of town nor had she seen Raven, Brock, Ryan or Gater.
“Where’s everybody else? Did they leave?” she asked.
“Ryan and Gater left right after Cass and Scott got here last night,” Linc said.
“Raven’s still in bed,” Mindy said.
“Brock too,” Leo said.
“Bobby left for the clubhouse a few hours ago. His charter is heading out tonight and they wanted to make sure he was taken care of before they took off on their long trip home,” Shorty said.
Everyone was returning to their normal lives outside of all of this mess and that made Lilly excited. The war was ending. She wouldn’t have to worry about Cass’s safety anymore, or anyone else’s for that matter. Of course, there was reason to be concerned daily since they did ride motorcycles after all, but at least there wouldn’t be any more added stress. Hell, maybe she could even go back to work! She could hardly contain her excitement.
“So it’s over then?” she asked, looking at all the guys standing around.
“I think so,” Leo beamed.
“We’ll know for sure soon,” Linc said.
Cass came into the kitchen and Lilly knew he’d heard their conversation by what he said. “It’s over. There isn’t a Moccasin left in the whole state, baby.”
The guys cheered, raising bottles and cans of beer in toast. It was finally over. The war was over. She was ecstatic and she could see the same excitement in the faces all around the kitchen, including the extra sleepy one that was walking in behind Cass. Raven’s hair was pulled into a ponytail and her face was red from just washing it.
“What are y’all cheering about?” she asked as she maneuvered through everyone, headed straight for the refrigerator.
“It’s over. It’s finally fucking over!” Mindy shouted, throwing her hands up and wincing as she eased them back down.
“Fuck yeah. Where’s Micah and the guys?” she asked, looking around.
“They should be getting here soon. He just called me a few minutes ago saying they were done and on their way here. That’s what woke me up.”
Raven smirked. “I’m so ready for him to be here so we can go home. No offense, guys. I’ve enjoyed being here and all, but I got shit to do back home at our clubhouse. We have a party coming up, which means I’ll be doing everything for it.”
“None taken, love. I’m ready for all of you to leave, no offense, because I need to christen my house…and that’s frowned upon when other people are in it.” Lilly smiled at Cass whose face mirrored hers.
“Must not have been too frowned upon a few hours ago…” Carrie mumbled, gaining laughter from the entire room.
“Oh, that? That was just breakfast, guys. Tonight, we’re having a four-course meal,” Cass grinned and wrapped his arm around Lilly’s shoulder.
“That’s it. We won’t be here when dinner time rolls around,” Lucy said, smiling.
The air in the room was filled with ease. Tension was no longer present and for that, Lilly was utterly grateful. It was about time they could breathe easily. Though Cass said the war was over, Lilly couldn’t help but wonder if it was truly over. What if they had other charters that were going to seek revenge? What if Keith knew too much and passed that information on to someone else? Lilly pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind as best she could. She didn’t want to think of the bad things that could happen, especially since she’d just been able to see such great things this morning.
“Quit worrying,” Cass whispered, his lips grazing her ear.
“I’m not.”
“You’re also not a very good liar. Quit worrying. It’s over, baby. Now, the only thing you need to be worried about is how I’m going to fuck you seven ways from Sunday for dinner tonight. And don’t even get me started on dessert.”
* * *
Two months later…
“Babe! They’re here!” Cass shouted from the living room. She’d made him sit in there to watch for them since she couldn’t. Lilly’s Mom and her husband David had finally made it in to see the new house and meet Cass. Lilly had been a nervous wreck all morning as she ran around the house like a hummingbird in a cardboard box. She was stressed out trying to make sure everything was perfect for their arrival.
She’d been cooking all day, after she cleaned and ran around like crazy. Now they were finally there! When Lilly had told Cass about her mom coming down, he’d insisted they cook a nice dinner and have dinner with them. Lilly had even put on a dress and done her makeup. She could hear the front door open and the warm sound of her mother’s voice as they greeted Cass. Lilly pulled the apron she had been wearing off and tossed it on the island. She nearly ran through the short hallway that separated the kitchen from where the front door was.
There she stood, her mother, in a low-cut v-neck that was different shades of blue and green with a black neckline and white in between the colors of the design and a pair of faded blue jeans on. Her black, high-heeled ankle boots completed her outfit. David stood next to her in a collared blue shirt and jeans, with his own cowboy boots and hat to match. They weren’t even all the way in the door when Lilly nearly barreled into them.
“Momma!” She pulled her mom into a hug, inhaling the familiar scent of Obsession perfume and cigarettes. One of the most comforting smells on the planet. She hadn’t seen her in months and now that she was finally here, Lilly wanted her to stay.
“Hey, honeys!” she said, hugging Lilly tightly.
“Mom, this is my boyfriend Cass. Cass, this is my mother, Margie and her husband, David,” Lilly said, motioning between them.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you!” Her mom hugged Cass in greeting. While they got themselves acquainted, Lilly gave David a quick hug. He had been around for a few years, but they traveled so much Lilly had hardly gotten time to get to know him deeper than just in passing.
“I’m glad y’all are home,” Lilly said as David shook Cass’s hand. They began talking and Lilly turned to her momma.
“How long are y’all in town for?”
“Well…David took a job down here! So, we’re home for good.”
Lilly squealed. “Oh my god! Mom, why didn’t you say something sooner?”
“I didn’t know if he was going to take the job or not until last week. He accepted their offer and we loaded up our things and came home. I was ready to be back, I missed my girl. It’s so good to see you, baby,” she beamed and looked over Lilly’s shoulder. Lilly turned to find Cass and David walking toward the kitchen, talking about machining tools and the fabrication shop he ran.
“Looks like they’re getting along just fine,” Lilly smiled, looking back at her mom.
“They seem to be. And he is just as handsome as Mindy said! Speaking of…when is she going to be here?”
“Cass talked to Linc earlier and they were just about to head this way. She should be here any minute now. Until then, come see the house!” Lilly grabbed her hand and nearly dragged her toward the kitchen. She took her on a tour of the entire house, which was now fully furnished, decorated, and stocked with groceries. They had set up Cass’s man cave, her creative room, and had the other rooms set up as spares adorned with a set of bunk beds and a queen bed in each.
Her mom marveled at the house the way she had when she’d first seen it and it gave Lilly a sense of pride. She’d just finished showing her the wine room when the back door popped open and Mindy and Linc walked in.
“Margie!” Mindy ran past everyone and hugged her. The two of them had become close because they had one thing above all in common—they both worried about Lilly.
“Hey, Min.”
“Alright you guys, let’s eat!” Lilly lifted the lid on the pot that was filled with a cream based shrimp and corn soup with garlic toast on the side. She pulled plates and utensils out of the cabinet and drawer and set them out for everyone to use. Linc and Mindy were spooning rice onto their plates before Lilly could move out of the way. David was right behind her, but her mom and Cass were standing a few feet away, whispering. She eyed them suspiciously and Cass looked up just in time.
Immediately he burst out laughing and made his way over to her.
“Is she telling secrets from my childhood?” she asked as her mom approached.
“Not a chance, sweetie.” But the sly grin on her mother’s face said otherwise.
“Hmm,” Lilly sighed, but didn’t press the issue.
Once everyone had their plates fixed, they sat down at the dining room table that had just been delivered last week. The large, rectangular, burnt umber table sat eight people regularly but had an extension that would fit an additional four, which would be perfect for holidays.
Dinner was a success and Lilly learned that Cass and David had worked together on a job a few years ago before he had opened his own shop. They knew a ton of the same people, too. Linc didn’t know much about what Cass and David were talking about, but he listened intently anyway since Cass had just hired him at the shop. He was eager to learn, from what Cass had said.
Lilly, her mom, and Mindy were talking about how her mom’s stay in Ohio was and what she did. She’d crocheted fifteen blankets, watched every Harry Potter movie more times than she could count, and did a ton of cooking. That was her life while David worked, that and worrying about Lilly.
“If you would’ve returned a phone call or two every now and then…” she chastised.
“I did! I’ve talked to you every day for the past two months!”
“Yeah, but before that. Before that I was lucky to hear from you once every month. That’s okay, though, cause I’m home now and I know where you live.”
“Good. I might ignore your calls just so you’ll show up.”
“And she will,” David chimed in and the two of them shared a googly-eyed exchange. Her mom was happy, finally, and it looked good on her.
After dinner, they made their way onto the back patio. The sun had just started to set and once again, the beautiful hues of the evening sky danced atop the water. Sitting at a table around the pool, her mom and David smoked while Cass and Lilly went inside to grab a few beers for everyone.
“I like them,” Cass said as he opened the fridge and filled his arms with as many cans of Bud Light as he could hold.
“Whew! Good thing, cause I kinda like them too,” she picked as she pulled three Smirnoffs from the bottom drawer in the fridge.
“They’re good people. You’re a lot like her, you know.”
Lilly grinned and started toward the back door. “Thanks, baby.”
That was a huge compliment and he didn’t even know it. She’d always strived to be like her mother. She was her biggest role model. As the night went on, her mom and David left early to get to their hotel since they had a busy week ahead of them. They were buying a house and had a whole house full of things to move in a short amount of time. Cass had offered his assistance and told them he’d ask the guys in the club to see if any of them would help, too.
Once they were gone, Mindy and Linc headed out shortly thereafter. Lilly had no complaints, though. She’d enjoyed their evening with their family and was ready to clean up and relax. At least that was what she had in mind. Fifteen minutes later, she had a clean kitchen and a boyfriend that was dragging her out of the back door.
He opened the door to his black F-150. He’d just bought the truck and it was identical to the one he’d rented in Cali. She’d wondered when he brought it home if he’d actually bought that truck, but it had a few differences. The interior cloth was a much darker grey and the steering wheel had thirty different controls, and this truck had a sun roof.
“Baby, where are we going?” she asked as he pulled out of their driveway.
“Some place quiet.”
Lilly sighed. She wasn’t sure about surprises lately, the last few she’d gotten over the past few months weren’t good ones. She went through a mental check list. They weren’t going to eat because they’d just eaten. They could be going to shoot pool somewhere. They could be going to the movies, it wasn’t too late for that. No, that isn’t quiet. They could be going to the clubhouse, for whatever reason. Shit, no, that isn’t quiet either. Hell, they could be going anywhere, especially if Cass was in charge.
Where in the hell is he taking me?
* * *
Cass
Cass could see that it was killing Lilly inside as she sat restlessly in the passenger seat while he drove toward their destination. She had only asked once, but the longer she sat in the truck not knowing, the antsier she got. She’d fiddled with the radio at least twelve times in the last fifteen minutes and she was no longer staring out her window. Instead, she looked straight ahead and every thirty seconds she’d turn her head to stare at him.
When he pulled in at the city park, her eyes lit up as she stared at the array of lights hung around. They’d decorated the place recently for some big event they had coming up and Cass was about to take advantage of it. The city shouldn’t mind, he probably helped pay for it anyway.
White strings of Christmas-looking-lights were hung everywhere and the fountain in the center of the park had a color-changing light in the center of it. Cass parked in front since no one was out there at that hour. It was supposed to be closed, but he called in a favor to the security guard who just so happened to be the newest prospect for the Hounds.
“This is gorgeous!” Lilly looked around in awe.
“They just decorated for their big event coming up. I think it’s the city’s hundredth anniversary or something,” he said, killing the truck. He stepped out and walked around to open her door. He offered her his hand and she took it, hopping down. His arm was curled around her waist as they walked toward the opening.
“The park stays open all night?” she asked, looking at the open gate.
“It might…kind of.”
They walked through the front gate and into the park. Concrete paths curved their way through the center, all of them branching off then meeting back in the middle, ultimately leading to the fountain and beyond it. Flowers of all colors lined the walls in different places, strategically placed between different monuments.
Slowly, inspecting everything that was around, Lilly walked down the concrete path. She looked around them at the large trees that were decorated with lights and small animal figures, pointing different ones out to Cass. He walked quietly beside her, watching her more than he was watching anything else. He wondered how he had gotten so lucky. So lucky to find a woman that accepted not only him, but his club.
“Baby, look!” Lilly pointed at the fountain as it changed from the color-changing light, to a beautiful flash of white lights that looked like miniature fireworks exploding in the water of the fountain.
She took off towards the fountain, with Cass on her heels. She stopped at the edge of it, and Cass walked behind her, wrapping his arms around her. They were so close that the mist from the fountain was coating them in tiny droplets of moisture.
“I wanted you to see how pretty it was here at night. It’s beautiful. Breathtaking.”
She smiled and tilted her head slightly in his direction. “Thank you. For thinking of me and for bringing me.” Her head rested against his chest and he could feel his heart beating faster with every passing minute. His nerves were on the verge of going haywire, but he was maintaining his composure quite well for someone who was more nervous than he’d ever been in his entire life.
“You know why I wanted to meet your mom so bad?” he asked.
“Nope,” she said, her eyes closed and her head never moving from the spot on his chest. Good. Stay like that a little bit longer.
“Because she’s the most important person to you. Your dad isn’t here anymore, so she was the best second.”
“The best for what?” she asked, her brow knitted in confusion but her eyes remained closed.
Cass reached into his pocket and pulled out the little black box he’d been carrying all day. He popped it open with one hand, trying like hell not to gain her attention. He didn’t want her to know anything just yet.
He kissed the top of her forehead and took the plunge. He got down on one knee and looked up at a stunned Lilly. Her hand was covering her mouth and she was looking at him in utter shock, her eyes wide and mouth hanging open behind her hand.
“The best person to ask permission for your hand in marriage. Lilly, I love you. My life has changed so much for the better since you walked into it and I don’t want to waste another second of it without making you mine forever. Will you marry me, Lilly Summers?”
Lilly’s arms wrapped around his neck before she spoke. “Abso-fuckin’-lutely.”