He just laughs and smiles, not the least bit scared of me. “You’re right, I did. And I can’t wait to do it again.”
“Ha! Let’s bring this one to the world first. Then we can talk about a second one.”
“I’m going to get a daughter, Addi.”
I rub my hand across my stomach. I stare down at my huge belly and can’t help but focus on the big, princess cut wedding ring on my hand. It all happened so quick, some days I still feel like I’m trying to catch up. After everything with Officer Johns and Officer Green, James didn’t let me out of his sight. He asked me to take a few weeks off from school, and I knew it was the right thing to do. The way I looked I would have scared those poor kids to death. But it seemed that James had ulterior motives. He had me standing before a preacher and a ring on my finger before the week was up. He moved into my little house with me, and even though we’re a little cramped, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love waking up in his arms.
And now, here I am, six months later and six months pregnant, and already looking like I’m about to pop.
“I thought you were happy we’re having a boy.”
He covers my hand with his, and instantly the little boy inside me starts to kick. It always seems he knows any time James is near because he gets a little wild in there at the sound of his voice. “I am happy. I can’t wait to meet little Ice. But I want a little girl too.”
“We are not naming our child Ice,” I deadpan to him. He keeps trying to sneak that name in there, but it’s not happening.
“Fine. So are you ready?”
We’re going to a party over at the Valor Clubhouse. James has taken me over there a few times, and today they’re having some kind of cookout. James has been looking forward to it all week.
“I’m ready.”
I gather up the tin of cookies I made, and James helps me out to the car. I’ve still yet to ride on his bike, but he promises me that as soon as the baby is born, he’ll take me out on it.
“So is everyone going to be there today?” I ask him.
I’ve met a bunch of the guys, but it always seems when I think I’ve met them all, another new face shows up. “Not really.”
His answer seems odd, but I don’t question him on it. We drive down through town, and when he gets close to Valor territory, he keeps going past the turnoff to the clubhouse. “Where are we going?”
His hands are tense and wrapped tightly around the steering wheel. “It’s a surprise.”
“A surprise? James Ice Cole, we both know you’re terrible at keeping surprises. What is it?”
Ice
God, she’s right. I’ve always been good about keeping surprises actually. That is until I met her. Then it’s like I couldn’t keep anything to myself because everything I planned, I couldn’t wait to tell her because I knew it would make her happy.
But this, this is huge, and I knew I wanted it to be a surprise.
“I’m not telling you. But I think you’ll like it. I hope you like it.”
I keep driving and pull off at the road next to the turn-off to the clubhouse. It’s still on Valor territory, but it’s off on its own. I get only a few feet down the driveway and Addi covers her mouth as she gasps.
I stop in front of the one-story cabin. It’s been here for years but no one lives in it. My brothers and I have spent the last six months fixing it up, and it was just this week we finished it.
She points at the house. “It’s a white picket fence.”
I lean across the console and touch my fingers to her chin. “I told you that I’d get you one one day. Do you like it?”
“Is it ours?”
“It’s ours, baby. We’re going to raise our family here. It’s got everything you want, and it’s on Valor territory so I know you and our children will always be safe.”
“I love you, James.”
“Fuck baby, I love you too. You want to go see your house?”
She nods her head, and I jump out and run around the car to help her out. She stops me on the porch. “I don’t suppose there’s a bed in there, is there?”
I pull her hair back off her shoulder. “There’s a bed. I was adamant on that. Everything else you’ll have to pick out.”
She’s nodding her head. “Take me to the bedroom. I want to see that first.”
I laugh because man this woman gets me.
I lift her up into my arms and take her inside. I may have been a dirty talkin’ biker, but the day Addi came into the strip club changed my life forever. I’ll spend eternity showing her how much I love her.