“You didn’t even let the poor girl out of the bathroom?” Patch called as he walked into the house, making me wish yet again that I’d made it upstairs to the privacy of our en suite bathroom before my second round of puking for the day. When he came up behind my dad, he chuckled. “Ah, a confrontation with the dad and not a celebration of the good news. I guess I’m not sorry for interrupting then ’cause this might help.”
He moved to stand at my dad’s side and tossed a leather vest to Garrison. “Thanks, man.”
Patch jerked his chin up. “Figured since I was headed this way to check on Alyssa, I might as well do double duty and serve as the courier for the shit you needed too.”
“Damn glad that you did.” Garrison slipped the vest onto me and traced his finger over my back once it was in place. “Property of Bear. Looks fucking good on you, baby.”
“Aw, you had this made for me?” I sniffled, thrilled with my third surprise of the day. The perfect house, a baby on the way, and now Garrison was making me his old lady. I’d been looking forward to the day when he officially claimed me ever since he’d told me about how things worked in his motorcycle club.
“Property?” my dad sputtered, his reaction the opposite of mine. He looked as though his head was about to explode again.
“Yeah, I didn’t think making Alyssa my old lady would hold a fuck of a lot of weight with you. But I figured this would.”
Patch tossed a ring box at him this time, and I gasped, pressing trembling fingers against my lips. “You want to marry me?”
We both ignored my dad, who muttered, “He damn well better if he knocked you up.”
Garrison flipped the top of the jewelry box open with his thumb. “I don’t just want to marry you, baby. I’m gonna marry you.” He shot a glance at my dad. “No shotgun needed unless it’s what it takes to get you up the aisle.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks when he pulled the diamond solitaire out and slipped it on my finger. “My dad won’t need his shotgun. I’d run up the aisle to you if I had to.”
“Good, baby. Because I’m not leaving anything to chance. You’re mine.” He brushed his thumb over my knuckle. “With my ring on your finger, my property patch on your back, and my baby in your belly, I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my whole damn life.”
“Me, too,” I whispered before looking at my dad. “The only thing that would make me happier is if we had your blessing.”
My dad sighed again, his shoulders slumping. “The only thing I want in this world is for you to be happy. I guess I’ll have to find a way to accept your relationship before you walk down the aisle.”
“You better figure it out damn quick.” Garrison tucked me against his side. “We’re not taking forever to plan our wedding. It’s gonna happen soon. Like next weekend soon.”
My dad’s eyes narrowed. “A week? You don’t have to rush into getting married just because you’re pregnant, pumpkin. You should take a little time. Make sure you get it right.”
I shook my head, smiling so big that my cheeks hurt. “As long as I have a pretty dress and some flowers, the only thing that matters to me is that I’m marrying Garrison with you and Mom there.”
“Alyssa carrying my baby isn’t why our wedding is gonna happen soon.” Garrison brushed a kiss against the top of my head.
I twisted my head to the side to look up at him. “It isn’t?”
“Nope.” He stroked a finger down my cheek. “Just don’t want to risk anything getting in the way of me marrying the woman I love.”
My eyes widened as I gasped, “You love me?”
“With every fiber of my being.”
Today truly was the best ever. “I love you, too.”
His lips curved into a satisfied smirk. “I know, baby.”
My dad muttered under his breath, but I caught his small smile before he lowered his head to look at the floor.
Patch let out a low whistle. “Damn that was beautiful. Don’t think I’ve ever heard Bear say so much. If he’s gonna put on shows like this now that he has you in his life, we might have to rethink his road name. Maybe change it to Circus Bear or something.”
Garrison quirked a brow. “Joke all you want, Patch. Your day will come soon enough.”
Epilogue
Bear
“She’s beautiful, honey,” Alyssa’s mom told her softly as she stared down at her first grandchild. “I knew you two would make gorgeous babies.”
Jana had been ecstatic when she found out her daughter was not only engaged but also pregnant. It had gone a long way in improving the sheriff’s attitude. Jensen still struggled with the fact that his son-in-law was in a motorcycle club who made their own rules for justice, but we had respect for each other. In order to have a good relationship, we just avoided that subject whenever possible.