Epilogue
Two months later
“I like it better by the other window,” Fallon said, pointing behind Paco’s shoulder.
“Woman, make up your mind,” Diablo gritted as he and Paco moved the seven foot Christmas tree yet again.
“I just want it to be perfect. It’s been so long since I had a Christmas tree.”
“I get that, sweetie, I really do. But you’ve also bought a shitload of lights we still have to wrap around this sucker. We’ve been moving the tree around for the past half hour.”
Fallon giggled. Diablo’s so cute when he’s trying not to be pissed. Do I dare tell him I like the tree best where it was when we first started? “Don’t be mad, but I like it best right in front of the middle window.”
“Where we first had it?” Paco said.
She nodded. “Sorry. I’m baking chocolate chip cookies and butterscotch bars. And I’m making hot chocolate.”
“It better have a couple shots of Jack. We’re gonna fuckin’ need it.” Diablo walked backward toward the middle of the family room.
Smiling, she went to the kitchen to check on the cookies. She loved her double ovens and shiny new appliances. Actually, she loved their new home. They’d only been in it for the past few weeks, but she had it practically finished. She couldn’t believe that they’d found the perfect house so soon after they’d started looking.
Paco and Diablo came into the kitchen and sat at the counter. She slid the bottle of whiskey to them and place two steaming mugs of hot chocolate. Turning around, she grabbed the oven mitts and took out the cookies and bars from the ovens.
“We gotta get some of the brothers over here to help with the fuckin’ lights,” Diablo said as he poured the whiskey into Paco’s mug.
“And the ornaments,” Fallon added.
Paco took a cookie and shook his head. “My Christmas tree duty stops with the lights.”
“Call Raven and Breanna. They’ll like helping you with the other stuff.” Diablo took a bite out of the warm chocolate chip cookie.
“That’s a good idea. We can order pizza and salad for everyone and make a party of it.” Fallon took out her phone and called Raven.
“Tell her to bring Muerto over here.” Diablo poured more Jack into his mug.
Soon the house was filled with Night Rebels stringing lights around the tall tree. Raven, Breanna, and Fallon stood by the fireplace giggling as they saw the men fumbling with the lights, arguing as to how to make them look good, and untangling them numerous times.
“I never thought I’d see the guys so interested in a Christmas tree,” Breanna said.
“I should take a picture,” Raven added.
“You do that and I’m just gonna delete it,” Muerto said over his shoulder.
“If you can get to it before it goes viral.” Raven laughed.
Fallon bent down and put another log in the fire and it cracked and spit as the orange flames curled around it. “It’s cold tonight.”
“It was snowing when we got here,” Raven said as she sat on the couch.
“Have you picked a date for your wedding yet?” Breanna asked as she joined Raven on the couch.
Fallon shook her head. “Not yet. I want to be engaged for a while before we get married.” She glanced at the white diamond solitaire on her finger. “I’m thinking next October. We’re going to California for our honeymoon, and I figure there won’t be so many tourists there in October. Not like the summer.”
“That sounds like so much fun. I think it’s a good idea to have some time before you get married.” Breanna smiled and picked up a box of ornaments on the table. “These are lovely. They look old.”
“They were my grandmother’s. My lawyer gave them to me when we went to Denver last month. My grandmother had a large storage unit and she didn’t have anything in the will about it. I ended up inheriting all the stuff in it. It was so much fun to go through all the old photos, heirlooms, and memorabilia my grandma saved.”
“I bet there were a lot of cool things in there. If you don’t want any of the old jewelry, let me know. I’ll buy it from you,” Raven said.
“Actually, I was thinking of you when I saw all these old broches and earrings. Some of them look like they could be from the 1940s. I pulled a couple of pieces I wanted, but you’re welcome to the rest.”
“Awesome. I can’t wait to see what you have. Let’s plan to get together next week.”
As the men finished stringing the lights, the doorbell rang and Diablo went over to answer it.
“Pizza’s here,” he said as he took out his wallet.
Fallon went over to help carry the bags of salad the delivery boy handed to her. Breanna and Raven jumped up and followed her to the kitchen. In a short time, a huge bowl of salad and numerous boxes of pizza lined the kitchen counter. The men filed in, grabbing a plate and filling it up. A large aluminum bucket contained bottles of Coors.
Several hours later, Goldie, Paco, and Chains stubbed out their joints and heaved themselves up from the couch.
“It’s a fuckin’ big tree,” Goldie said as he walked to the front door.
“Biggest one I’ve seen in a house,” Chains added as he followed Goldie.
“And a fuckin’ heavy one too.” Paco laughed.
“Thanks for helping out.” Diablo bumped fists with the three men.
The brothers walked out into the frosty air, their breaths rising in visible puffs to join the clouded night sky. Diablo closed the door and wrapped his arm around Fallon. “Why don’t you fix us a couple of spiked hot chocolates?”
She smiled and went toward the kitchen. When she came back into the family room with two mugs, the flickering tree with its glistening ornaments made her eyes shimmer. “This is the most beautiful tree I’ve ever seen,” she murmured as she placed the cups on the coffee table. She sat down and snuggled next to Diablo. “Don’t you think it’s magical?”
He reached over and picked up his mug, blowing on the hot liquid before he took a sip. “You make the best hot chocolate. And the tree fuckin’ rocks.”
“Thanks for making our first Christmas in our new home amazing.” She kissed his neck.
“Anything you want, sweet pea, you got.”
She giggled. “I can’t believe you talked the guys into coming over here to help trim the tree. I mean it was so funny to see all these big, buffed guys hanging lights. You got an awesome group of friends.”
“My brothers are the best. We’re there for each other even if it’s going to Rooster Mike’s son’s baseball game, helping Goldie with his grandma, or stringing lights around this damn tree. You must’ve bought a thousand long ass strands, woman.”
She laughed. “I guess I did get carried away, but look how beautiful the tiers of lights are. And the ornaments are so vibrant. I love that I have my grandma’s baubles on the tree. I know they’re the same ones my mom helped put on when she was a young girl. Just thinking about that makes me shiver.”
Diablo put his empty mug on the table, then bent down and kissed her. “I’m hoping that soon you’ll be passing the ornaments to our kids.”
Pushing away a bit, she choked slightly. “We’ve got plenty of time for that. We’re not even married.”
He frowned. “Don’t you want kids?”
She nodded. “Yeah. I do. I just don’t want them for a few years. I want some time for us first.”
“I just don’t wanna be an old man when our kids are born.”
She kissed him gently. “I don’t want to wait that long. You’ll make a great dad. You have a good heart.”
“I know I’ll always be there for them no matter what. You’ll be a kick ass mom.”
“One thing’s for sure, our kids will always know we love them.”
“And they’re gonna know how crazy in love I am with their mom.” He pressed her to him and kissed her hard.
“Oh yeah?” she whispered.
“Yeah,” he said thickly as he eased her onto her back.
The Christmas lights shone in his eyes as he hovered over her. She glanced at the window and saw snowflakes swirling and dancing in the icy wind. “It’s snowing again.”
Diablo looked over at the window. “That wind’s really blowing.” He turned back to her and swept his lips across hers.
The warmth from the fireplace covered them but it was nothing compared to the bonfire that his kisses lit up inside her. Shivers tingled her spine and she raised her head off the cushion to meet his scorching lips. The moment was perfect: the glittering tree, the falling snow, the crackling fire, and the love of her life. Every touch, kiss, and whispered word ignited sparks in her.
After years of isolation and sadness, she’d found her place. Never could she have imagined that a tough outlaw biker would ride into her life changing everything. And she wouldn’t trade him for the world. He was hers and she was his and they’d have children and live out their years together.
“I love you so much,” she breathed against his ear as he nipped her skin.
“I love you too,” he rasped, his gaze boring into hers.
In that moment they loved with their eyes, their bodies touching as their souls mingled in the quiet moments between action and stillness.
Then it was all passion—intense and intoxicating. His touch scorched her, his voice melted her, and his kisses blazed a trail to the throbbing between her legs.
He’s the only flame I’ll ever need. I’ll always love him.
She captured his smoldering gaze and opened her legs wide.
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