“You fell in love with me because of my tats?”
“I understood their meanings.” She reached up, touching the stars on the side of his neck. “The stars are your guide so you always know what’s important, the compass so you never lose your way home.” Her fingertips brushed the one on his collarbone. “Strength and loyalty, meant someone strong enough to always protect me.” Her hand glided down to the tat scrawled across his chest. “Only Death Can Stop Me—someone who will always be there for me. When I realized their meaning, I realized I had found him.”
“Who?” Shade’s tender voice was another reason she loved him. He gave her gentleness; not all the time, but when she needed it most.
“I knew I had found my cowboy.” Lily’s arm circled Shade’s neck, touching his lips with hers in a kiss that expressed how much she loved him.
It had been a long journey from Queens City, Texas. Behind her she had left a life that she would never forget; however, she had learned to forgive because each moment had set her on the path to Treepoint, Kentucky, where she had found a new sister and family who would protect her for the rest of her life. The Last Riders would be a force for anyone to reckon with. Most of all, she had found Shade; a strong, protective and gentle man who loved her.
She felt Shade lift her up into his arms, laying her down on the blanket in front of the fire. She smiled as she opened her arms to her husband. She had been right; God had heard her prayers better in the mountains.
*
Razer closed the bathroom door, seeing Beth standing by their bedroom window, staring out into the starry sky. He came to stand behind her, his arms slipping around her waist.
“What are you doing?”
“Saying thank you. There were times I didn’t think my prayers were going to be answered, but they were.” Her pale blonde hair shone in the moonlight coming through the window.
“I don’t think Shade has ever been referred to as the answer to anyone prayers.” Beth turned to look at Razer.
“He was mine. I prayed for someone strong enough to keep Lily safe and take away her nightmares, and he sent me Shade. Lily wasn’t the only one who had her prayers answered; mine were, too. If Cash had left town and not looked back, I would never have met you.” Beth looked at the still-arrogant man whose heart she had managed to capture.
“Divine intervention?” Razer said wryly.
Beth nodded her head while Razer shook his.
“I don’t know if I believe that, but I’m more than happy with the way things turned out.” His hands slipped the robe off her shoulders before they lifted her breast to his mouth. He sucked her nipple into his mouth, his hand sliding down across her stomach toward her… His hand caught on a piece of tape. He stepped back, looking at the gauze taped across her tat.
“What’s this?”
“It’s your Valentine’s Day present,” Beth said with a smile.
Razer went to his knees so he could take the gauze off. He saw the tat she had gotten on her hip when she first became a member—a razor blade cutting into her flesh and a tiny drop of blood that was in the shape of a heart with the date of their marriage inside. She had told him it represented him. When he had seen the tattoo, he had thought it was cool to have his symbol on her forever.
Razer swallowed hard when he saw what she had just had done. A tiny blue heart was underneath his.
Razer stood up, twirling her around before stopping and kissing her.
“I owe Cash a beer.” He laughed.
“Razer, you owe him a couple of beers. The ultrasound didn’t show the sex of the other one. I thought that I would wait and get their tat after they got here,” Beth said, surprising Razer with her news that they were expecting not one baby but twins.
Razer buried his head in her neck, remembering how much of a jerk he had been when they first met. If she hadn’t forgiven him, they wouldn’t be standing here in their new home with two babies on the way.
“I’ll be right back,” Razer said, avoiding her gaze.
He walked out of their bedroom, leaving her standing naked. She bent down, picking up her robe. She had thought he would be happy. Doubt set in. She should have told him he was having twins more gently. He had gone from being a man who was determined no woman would ever have a hold over him to a married man and now a father in a few short years.
They had been trying to have a baby for the last year. She had let her excitement overrule her common sense. The reality for Razer must have been too much to handle. She should have known that this was going to…
She slid her robe on, tying the belt. Upset, she started to move away from the window when a movement outside caught her attention. She moved closer to the window. A tender smile came to her lips. Razer was on his knees on the still damp, muddy ground with his head bowed. He had known who to thank after all.
Epilogue 1