Epilogue

Six Months Later

 

Robyn swiped at the front of her dress, scrutinizing her appearance for the fiftieth time that afternoon.

 

“Are you sure I don’t look like an overdone B-list actress?” She huffed, checking her appearance from the side. Healing from the C-section had been hell. And now, preening for her own wedding day, inspired a type of anxiety she hadn’t even counted on. She wanted to be gorgeous and flowing, easy and relaxed.

 

Instead, she was slightly sleep-deprived and second-guessing.

 

“You look beautiful,” Alicia said softly, taking Robyn’s face in her hands. “I know you don’t believe me, but you do. Your hair and makeup are perfect. Your dress is gorgeous. And you, my dear, have recovered wonderfully from the C-section. Avon is going to eat you alive when he sees you come down that aisle.”

 

Robyn sighed, looking at her reflection once more, trying hard to see herself the way her friend said. Maybe she was right. Her makeup was elegant and understated; her blonde hair swept up into a curly and fascinating updo.

 

The dress was a vintage score from a boutique store the next town over. Her bouquet was all deep purple lilies.

 

Not to mention the groom waiting for her at the end of the aisle.

 

She had it all. Who was she kidding?

 

“I guess this is what they call the pre-wedding jitters,” she cracked, sending her friend a warm smile. “God, I’m glad I have you.”

 

“You should be,” Alicia said, swatting Robyn’s ass as they made their way out of the wedding prep room. Really, it was the back room of the Chained Kings’ clubhouse. Robyn and Avon had opted for a springtime wedding, and Avon wanted it nowhere but at the clubhouse.

 

He’d stepped down as the president – a permanent stepdown, not just the temporary ‘let’s see how this goes’ stepping down like before. In fact, he was on his way to full retirement. After the past six months of raising Hope and Matt together, Avon realized he had a new calling.

 

Stay-at-home dad.

 

They headed down the hall leading to the backyard, where a small arch awaited by the back trees, flanked by hundreds of chairs. Avon had insisted on going all out, which meant not just the club brothers, but every member of every friendly MC in a one-hundred-mile radius. They had enough food prepared for the reception to feed a small nation.

 

And that didn’t even include the liquor.

 

“Oh, my God,” Robyn breathed out, peeking through the window of the back door. People milled around, white flowers dotted the archway, and tables were lined with white paper and deep purple lilies. It was simple yet elegant, tasteful and sweet. Exactly how she and Avon had imagined it.

 

“Can you believe this?” Robyn said, turning back to Alicia. “I’m about to get married. But not just to anyone. To the ex-president of a fucking motorcycle club.” She let a short laugh.

 

“Life has ways of surprising us,” Alicia quipped, adjusting her hair. “I never pegged you for the biker type, to be honest.”

 

Robyn snorted. “Yeah, me neither.” She sighed as she caught sight of Avon darting by, dressed in dark slacks and a black dress shirt. His leather kutte over the top gleamed – probably freshly polished. He directed some of the workers setting up the food table. Robyn’s stomach flopped.

 

“This is gonna be such a bash,” Alicia said. “Let’s get this show on the road so we can start drinking! Maybe I’ll find my Prince Charming here.”

 

“Ha!” Robyn thwacked her lightly with her bouquet. “Careful what you wish for. There are probably fifty eligible bachelors at this wedding who would take you in a heartbeat.”

 

“And probably knock me up even faster.” She poked Robyn in the ribs. “Like someone did to you.”

 

Robyn grinned, knocking her friend with her hip. “Yeah, but we made a cute baby. I can’t complain.” Her grin widened when she spotted Lisa out on the lawn, Hope hoisted on her hip.

 

The two friends watched the frantic last-minute preparations like they were at the movies. All that was missing was the popcorn.

 

Robyn couldn’t tear her gaze off Avon though. Every step he took, every gesture he made… it was like her eyes were designed to only see him. Her entire body craved him. Even throughout the first tense weeks of Hope’s life, and then the roller coaster ride of the first few months. They just worked together – a team. A partnership. And soon to be marital union.

 

“I think they’re almost ready for you,” Alicia said, jostling Robyn out of her daydreaming. “Do you have the vows?”

 

“Check.”

 

“And your garter belt?”

 

“It’s in position,” Robyn said with a grin.

 

“Then I think you’re ready to get married!” Alicia whooped.

 

All the guests had been seated, and Avon was at his position at the altar, looking nervous as hell, which made Robyn break out into laughter.

 

“What’s got you cackling?” Alicia asked.

 

“Look at him.” She jerked her chin toward Avon as they stepped out of the back door. The pleasant spring afternoon settled into her, birds chirping in the distance as they followed the white carpeted path toward the altar. Soft music played from the speakers – the wedding song they’d selected: What a Wonderful World by Louie Armstrong.

 

The first few notes of the song already had tears swimming in her eyes. She sniffed hard, Alicia lacing her arm through hers. In lieu of parents, Alicia was acting as the person to give her away. All heads turned to them as they approached the gathering.

 

It was a sea of leather kuttes and square shoulders. Robyn couldn’t fight the smile as she walked down the aisle, seeing everyone but most of all seeing him.

 

Avon. Her man. Her love. Her protector. The father of their child. The best uncle a boy could ever hope for. He stood, looking every inch a man in love. His gaze was hopelessly riveted on her, hands clasped in front of him, his long hair pulled back into a ponytail, his version of a formal updo he’d cracked the night before.

 

Every inch of her body buzzed with awareness under his gaze. Sure, she’d been playing at his wife practically since the day they’d found each other again. But now, it was going to be real. Sealed and signed in front of witnesses.

 

The day she would become Robyn Ross.

 

She and Alicia paused at the alter so she could pass off the bouquet. Over Alicia’s shoulder, she saw Matt in the front row, smiling, right next to Lisa, who held a squirmy Hope in her lap. Matt had been recovering well since his latest misadventures with Keenan. And with therapy, he showed every sign of being able to grow into the healthy, adjusted boy both she and Avon knew he could be. Even with all the damage Keenan had wrought, Matt would be fine.

 

All was well. And soon, all would be even better.

 

Robyn took Avon’s hands in hers as the music quieted.

 

He leaned forward, his voice husky and hot at her ear. “You look fucking hot.”

 

“It’s just my milk boobs,” she whispered.

 

The pastor sent a stern look their way, and Avon straightened. Once the music cut, the pastor began his short and sweet introduction. Unexpected love. Lifelong commitments. Bonds that never break. The rings were brought out. Vows were said. Tears were shed by all in attendance. Even by Avon, who tried to hide it.

 

And then came the most important part of all. The pastor stepped back, raising his book in the air.

 

“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride!”

 

Avon swooped in like he’d been waiting for this moment all along, taking her face in his hands as he pressed kiss after kiss against her lips. She laughed, aware that her lipstick was probably smearing all over his face, but she didn’t care. This was perfection. This was the wedding of her dreams.

 

When they finally broke, the wedding crowd erupted in cheers, hoots, and hollers. Someone from the back started chanting Avon’s name. A couple of rose petals were tossed their way.

 

Avon grinned over his shoulder at the crowd, then looked up at the pastor.

 

“I introduce to you both Mr. and Mrs. Avon Ross.” The pastor smiled, then ushered them down the aisle.

 

Robyn and Avon hurried down the white carpet hand in hand, beaming out at the guests as clapping commenced and the music sprang to life once more.

 

Avon led her away from the party, to the side of the clubhouse. They trudged through the grass until they hit the side of the building. He pinned her to the clubhouse, taking her face in his hands.

 

“Mrs. Avon Ross,” he murmured. “My wife. What a sexy fucking ring that has to it.”

 

She giggled, loving every single thing about this man. “Yeah, you’re right. Never thought it would be so hot to lose my last name.”

 

He grunted, pressing his groin into her. “How much time do we have? Enough to get started on Hope’s little brother or sister?”

 

She shushed Avon, swatting his shoulder. “We have a reception to attend, mister. Fucking comes afterward… on our honeymoon.”

 

“But I want to start the honeymoon now,” he whined, nipping the soft part of her neck.

 

She laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck. His hands roamed over the intricate lace patterns of her dress.

 

“You look amazing.” There was a serious note to his voice, one that made the smile fall from her face. “I never imagined I could be this happy, sweets. You changed my life. For the better.”

 

She swallowed a knot in her throat. It seemed the tears were destined to flow on her wedding day. “I know, babe. I feel the same. And it was from the moment I saw you. I just knew you were different.”

 

“Even though I disappeared for a little bit,” he joked, a dimple flashing in his grin.

 

“Just wanted to keep me on my toes. Stoke that fire of desire.”

 

“Yeah, well, now we’ve got a fire that’ll burn forever.” He swayed his hips against hers, searing her with his gaze. “Because we’ll be together forever.”

 

“Mmm.” Robyn let her eyes flutter shut as she basked in the perfection of this moment. Avon’s solid arms around her. That heady scent of leather and fine wood that clung to him. The heat of him that didn’t just reassure her but sated her.

 

They were a combination she never could have predicted, but one that fit better than she ever could have imagined.

 

“I like the sound of that,” she murmured and pushed up onto her toes to press her lips to his. A sweet kiss emerged, one that confirmed every hope, and sealed every desire.

 

“You keep kissing me like that, and we’re really gonna have to get started on Hope’s little brother or sister,” Avon warned.

 

“Fine,” she said, leading him by the hand back to the party. “Then no kisses until we can escape. Because right now… we have to go fucking party with all our friends. The new Mr. and Mrs. Avon Ross, remember?”

 

Avon trailed behind her, the biggest grin in the world on his face.

 

THE END