Three months later

Stud settled back into the couch at the Lair, a video game controller in his hands and a beer at his side. Several other brothers were around, him just hanging out. It was a lazy Saturday afternoon in late fall. The weather was cooling off and the leaves were turning the mountains into seas of reds and golds. Eva had gone into town to drop off a load of new sewing projects and to pick up some supplies. Stud knew she would come back with saddlebags full of material. Her lounge pants were flying off the shelves and being shipped around the country just as fast as she could make them. A number of custom quilts had been commissioned and a few local women had asked about dresses as well. The River’s Edge bar was going strong and busy as ever, and the club’s other businesses were flourishing. Life was good. Real good, and he hoped nothing would change that.

Eva stomped into the Lair. Clearly, she was pissed as hell. She spotted Stud on the couch and pointed a finger at him.

“You asshole!” she yelled. “This is your fault!”

Stud threw up his hands in defense. “What I’d do?”

One of the guys coughed behind his hand “whipped!”

She stomped over to him and threw something on his lap. “This is what you did, and you did it deliberately!”

She switched to a singsong voice, her eyes fluttering and going all girly-girl for a moment. “Oh, sweetheart, you can’t get pregnant so soon after your period. Let’s not worry about condoms this time. No probs! Arrgh!”

She switched back to her usual self and crossed her arms in front of her chest. “I can’t help it that the pill made me sick and I couldn’t take it! You planned this out perfectly, didn’t you?”

Stud stared at her fuming face and picked up the white stick sitting near his hardening crotch. Two pink lines met his eyes.

“You’re pregnant,” he stated calmly, standing.

“Yes, I am! I’m due the same week as that big rally the club goes to every year, and thanks to you, now I can’t go! Well, I’m telling you now, Daddy, if I can’t, then you can’t either! Your ass is going to stay right here and hold my hand when I’m in that labor room pushing—”

Stud cut off her tirade by kissing her silent, much to the amusement of the spectators.

“Woooooooh! Stud the man, gonna be a daddy!”

“That’s right, buddy! Get her knocked up and keep her that way!”

“Get a room! No wait, you already did! Hahaha!”

Stud said nothing. He pulled a small pouch out of his pocket and opened it. Eva went speechless at the sight of him sliding the huge rock on her left ring finger.

“No place I’d rather be than with you while you give life to our firstborn. Sons are cool, but I want at least one little girl.”

“Fuck me sideways!” she breathed, holding up her newly adorned hand.

“Think he already did, darlin’!” came a comment from the couch.

Eva rolled her eyes and tried to recover some of her attitude. Stud loved that about her and smiled his half smile. Eva growled.

“I’ve got too much stuff going on to plan a big wedding. I hope you don’t want it ’cause I’m not doing it! We can get married at the church one afternoon.”

Stud chuckled and hugged her close. “You know Betsey, right? Small wedding, my ass! I just have one request, baby.”

Eva looked up. “What’s that?”

Stud grinned at her. “Instead of carrying a big bunch of flowers, you have to carry a potted plant. A cactus!”