TEN MONTHS LATER
“It’s right here.” Gidget pointed through the windshield, motioning to Butch where to pull over. “This is it. Route twenty. That’s the diner.” She pointed more urgently when it seemed he wasn’t slowing down enough. “Don’t miss it, babe!”
“I got it, hang on.” Butch swore as he eased down on the brakes. They’d had the family-friendly SUV for almost three months but it seemed he still couldn’t get the hang of it. It was strictly a baby purchase, Butch was quick to remind her whenever she giggled at the sight of him bunched behind the wheel. And now that the baby was two months old, she didn’t doubt that Butch had started a countdown until when their kid would be old enough to use a bike of her own.
“Oh, I hope she’s still here.” Gidget fidgeted as Butch maneuvered extra slowly into a parking spot. That was another troublesome area of his—parking. “I can’t wait for you to meet her.”
“What was her name?” Butch sounded distracted as he reversed a little to get the SUV straightened out.
“Karen.” Gidget undid her seat belt, peering back between the seats at Lily’s car seat. Their little girl had made barely a peep for the second half of the drive. Surely she’d be wanting to feed soon. Gidget’s life post-pregnancy felt like a whirlwind, but in the best possible way. She’d never dreamed that she’d love being a mother so much—or that Butch would be the exceptional father that he was. In so many ways, he reminded her of her own father. Caring, gentle but firm, with a soft spot for his baby girl that no other person could rival.
And it was that soft spot that made Geo come around too. Because her dad had known, at the end of it all, that a grandchild was a gift. Even if it came unexpectedly, via one of the new club brothers. He’d maintained a stiff silence around Butch for the first few months of her pregnancy, but once Gidget’s belly popped and Geo got excited, he started to warm up around Butch too.
And now, Butch was the greatest man that walked the earth, according to Geo. Life was funny like that. Last year Butch had almost taken a bullet to the head from Geo’s hands, and now Geo would take one for Butch from anyone’s hand.
Once Butch parked, they leaned into the backseat on both sides to get Lily out of the car. Per the natural rhythm they’d developed since her birth, Butch unlocked the car seat from the base and carried her, while Gidget cooed fondly. She couldn’t go too long without looking at their baby. It just wasn’t right.
Lily roused a little on their way into the diner, maybe awoken by the rich smells of egg and pancakes. An unfamiliar waitress came up to seat them.
“Is Karen working today?” Gidget searched the diner for a glimpse of her.
“She sure is, honey. You wanta sit in her section?”
Gidget nodded, excitedly following the waitress to a different section than the first time she’d stepped foot in this diner. Butch followed, effortlessly carrying the car seat at his side, his biceps bulging. As they settled into a vinyl booth, a gasp made Gidget turn.
“Is that you?” Karen stared at her with wide eyes, her gaze darting between her and Butch and the baby. “Am I really seeing this?”
Gidget beamed, approaching Karen with open arms for a big hug. “I had to come back and see you. After you helped me so much that day last year.”
“Oh my word.” Karen wiped at her eyes, which were shimmering. “Nobody ever comes back to see me. And trust me, I meet plenty of souls needing some help on this route.”
“I’m sure you do. This used to be Skull territory,” Butch mused, and then offered a hand. “I’m Butch. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Hello, Mr. Butch.” Karen flushed a bit as she took his hand. “I’m Karen. You must be the lovely father of this lovely baby.”
“He’s the one I left in the dust that day,” Gidget said, watching Butch with that familiar mix of adoration and longing. Their relationship had grown and intensified so much in just under a year. She’d worried that the added stress of a baby might be too much for them as a young couple…but they’d only grown together and gelled in ways she could have never imagined. “Luckily, that didn’t faze him.”
“You two look cuter than sin together,” Karen said, and then leaned over the table to peer into the car seat. “And this little one looks a little sleepy but precious as can be!” She grinned at Gidget and Butch, squeezing her shoulder. “You ever take care of them bad men chasing after you?”
“It was handled,” Butch interjected with a tight smile. Gidget couldn’t fight the silly grin that overtook her face. She loved it when his protectiveness flared. Which happened often now that he had two girls to look after in life.
“My daddy helped out a bit,” Gidget said.
Truth was, Geo taking out those two Skulls was the smartest move he could have made, even though he hadn’t known it at the time. The Skulls had long been suffering from conflicting viewpoints on where their club should go, with the two assholes that had been after Gidget constituting the bulk of the friction. Once they were taken out, it seemed the Skulls heaved an internal sigh of relief. It had ended up a bygones-be-bygones situation, especially since Geo had dangled the kidnapping of his pregnant daughter over the new Skulls leadership until they relented.
“Thank the lord. Nothing worse than men who can’t take a hint,” Karen intoned.
Gidget grinned over at Butch. “And some guys like to ignore hints until a girl is forced to throw herself at them.”
Butch sent her a flat look. “In those cases, it’s the girls who can’t take a hint.”
“Ah, it was like that, was it?” Karen swatted at Butch’s arm. “She had to beg you?”
“Worse. I was forced to use every last ounce of my charm,” Gidget cracked.
“Just needed you to use it all up so other men couldn’t get it too.” Butch flashed a cheesy smile.
Gidget laughed. This man made her happier than what she’d imagined was possible. And the responsibility that came along with settling down weren’t so scary, like she’d feared her adult life. In fact, turns out she was more than cut out for it. She excelled at it. As did Butch.
“Now that’s a keeper,” Karen said, squeezing Gidget’s shoulder. “He do all the housework and make all the money, too?”
“Oh, no. I earn my keep at our place.” Lily gurgled a bit, and Gidget checked her before continuing. “I’m going back to work in a few weeks. A little fashion boutique in Sturgis. But then we’re moving to Shreveport.”
She didn’t miss the private look of contentment that flashed across Butch’s face. Getting her old job back had taken some work, and Butch helped convince Frida that Gidget was no longer a liability. Besides, Frida’s business only expanded and thrived with Gidget’s influence. Something even Frida couldn’t deny.
But Gidget wanted bigger things, at least a longer-term taste of them. And Butch loved the idea of going back for a semi-permanent visit to Shreveport. This time, though, they’d have a mobile home, and not a motel room. Another place that Lily could call home. Geo was a bit panicky about the pending move, but Gidget promised plenty of visits to the clubhouse to see his baby granddaughter.
‘Well, lordy!” Karen said, smoothing down her apron. “Look at how much can change in just ten quick months!”
“Don’t I know it,” Gidget said, reaching across the table to grab Butch’s hands. “This is life, though. This is what happens when life happens.”
“And love,” added Butch, his dark gaze snagging hers with a grip that wouldn’t relent. She couldn’t look away from this man if she tried. He was the only one for her. For Lily. For their new family.
Karen laughed, swatting at Butch’s shoulder. “You two love birds are filling this place up with sap. Now let me go get you some waters.” Karen strode off, leaving Gidget and Butch to gaze into each other’s eyes.
“Just when I think I can’t love you anymore, I do,” Gidget said.
“It ain’t hard with you two.” Butch brought her fingers up to his lips. He placed a rough kiss there. “You made a rough man go soft.”
“You were already a little soft,” she murmured, leaning over the table for a quick kiss. “On the inside.”
“Don’t let anybody hear that.” He cupped his hands around hers. “Only you and Lily can know.”
“And the next baby,” Gidget said.
“And the next one after that.” He sent her a grin that made her heart flutter. “But that’s it.”
“Fine. We’ll keep it our little secret.”
Butch pinched her cheek, prompting a face-splitting smile that couldn’t even touch the depths of what she felt for this man and their daughter. Despite all the sleepless nights and the sensitive breastfeeding and the lover’s quarrels that flitted in and then out of their lives with frequency…she didn’t want it any other way.
This family was hers for life.
THE END
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