Her mom let me right in, grinning like a damn fool the entire time as if she knew what I was coming there to do. Stating that he was in his office before I even asked where he was.
I opened the door and walked inside, abruptly stopping when I saw him cleaning his gun on his desk. I didn’t even know he had a gun, but fuck did I respected him a hell of a lot more for what he was trying to do. Showing me we weren’t that different from one another. I would have done the same fucking thing if a man like me was coming to ask for my baby girl’s hand in marriage, too.
“Nice piece.” I nodded to his 9mm Glock, taking a seat in one of the chairs in front of his desk.
“I have three more just like it.”
I hid back a smile.
“I know why you’re here, Creed.”
“Figured you would.”
“What makes you think you’re good enough to be her husband and my son-in-law?”
“Cuz I love her. I’d do anythin’ for her. Includin’ gettin’ your blessin’ cuz I know it would mean everythin’ to her.”
“Don’t think just because I might let you marry her that you’ll be able to get rid of me. I’ll always protect my baby girl. You hurt her. You so much as make her cry, I won’t think twice about shooting off your balls. That goes for any of my future grandbabies as well.”
“I’d never hurt her or my family, sir. Mia has always been my life,” I simply stated, looking him in the eyes, so he knew I spoke the truth.
He nodded, leaning back into his chair. “Don’t think you’re ever going to call me Dad. It’s Mr. Ryder or sir to you. Understood?”
“This mean I got your blessin’ to make Mia my wife?”
“She has to say yes, Creed. Until then, I’ll hold onto the hope that you won’t be my son-in-law,” he said with a hint of a smile on his face.
“She won’t say no.”
“You think so?”
“I wouldn’t let her.”
He narrowed his eyes at me, taking a good long look at my face. “For reasons I may never understand, my wife fucking likes you. Alex has always been a hopeless romantic, and she thinks you’re good for our daughter. That is the only reason I’ll give you my blessing. Not because I fucking like you. We clear?”
I nodded again. “Thank you, sir.”
“Good. Now get out of my office before I change my mind.”
I chuckled and leaned over to shake his hand. He looked down at my gesture, hesitating before taking it for the first time... respecting the hell out of me, too.
“Oh, and, Creed,” he announced, making me turn back and look at him. “One day, I’ll thank you for saving my daughter’s life.”
I smiled. “Lookin’ forward to that day, sir.”
“Whatcha thinkin’ about over there?” Mia asked, pulling me away from my thoughts, six weeks later.
“Babe, don’t play with me. What’s it say?”
She put her finger up to her lips. “Oh, whatever do you mean? What does what say? Was I supposed to be doing something? I don’t remember.”
“Pippin...” I warned. “Asked you a fuckin’ question. Expectin’ an answer.”
“See, here’s the problem, Creed Jameson.”
“Oh, we got fuckin’ problems now, Mia Jameson?”
She smirked. “Yes. We need to have a word.”
I laughed, big and throaty. I couldn’t help it. She was too fucking adorable for her own good. She smiled, all proud of herself as she made her way toward me. Straddling my lap on the couch and wrapping her arms around my neck.
“I don’t want my baby’s—”
“Our babies,” I corrected, gripping onto her waist. Letting her know I wanted more than one. Wanting a house full of kids, running around driving us fucking crazy, but loving the shit out them regardless.
“Yes. That. Our babies. I don’t want their first words to be shit, fuck, goddamn it, motherfucker, son of a bitch, bullshit, and... well, the list is endless when it comes to your filthy, dirty mouth.”
I kissed her lips. “I thought you loved my filthy, dirty mouth, especially when it’s fuckin’ yo—”
She placed her hands over my lips again, silencing me. “And you just proved my point. So, I think you need to start watching how you speak and what you say.”
“Is that right? Now, why is that?”
“Because...” She pulled out a stick from her back pocket. I didn’t realize it had been there or I would have pulled it out myself when she walked out of the bathroom.
“Babe... you’re testin’ my fuckin’ patience.”
“What do you think a baby is going to do?” She turned the stick so I could see the word clearly written across the screen. “Seeing as you’re going to be a daddy.”
I smiled, immediately grabbing onto the sides of her face. Bringing her closer to me to kiss her pouty fucking lips. My heart was so full I could barely see straight, the emotion coursing through my veins was almost as crippling as the news itself. We’d been trying to make a baby girl for the last nine months and nothing. Her doctor reassured us that she was perfectly fine. I didn’t want to lose hope, but it was starting to take its toll on me that she wasn’t getting pregnant. I never let her see that side of me, though. Knowing that she wanted a baby just as much as I did.
“Mia, I’m really gonna be a daddy?” I asked, needing to hear her say the words.
She nodded. “I took four pregnancy tests. This is the only one I brought out here to show you. They all came out positive the second I peed on them. I’m pretty sure the answer is a yes, but I still need to confirm with the doctor.”
I kissed her again, long and hard. My cock throbbed to be inside her. “I fuckin’ love you, baby.” Turning us sideways on the sofa, I leaned her back into the cushion. Kissing her all over her face.
I had everything I ever wanted and more.
My wife.
My baby.
My family.
My life was finally complete, and I owed it all to a little girl wearing pigtails and a pink baby doll dress. Who stole my heart when she was nine-years-old.
Before I even knew what I was doing, I lifted her dress and kissed her stomach, whispering, “I already love you so much, baby girl. You and your momma are my world.”
“How do you know it’s a girl? It could be a boy.”
“I wanna name her Harley.”
She smiled, and it lit up her entire beautiful face. “Harley it is.”
“Did you hear that, Harley? You’re gonna have your momma’s bright blue eyes and her pouty lips that are goin’ to be too big for your round face. And her button little nose, too.”
“You’re making me sound like a Gremlin,” she giggled as I rubbed all over her belly.
“You’re fuckin’ gorgeous, and our baby girl will be, too. Hopefully, you have my good sense, cuz I still don’t know how your momma chose me,” I said to her stomach. “But damn do I thank God for it every day.”
“You’re gonna make me cry.”
“No fuckin’ cryin’,” I let out, causing her to shriek and shudder as I started tickling the sides of her stomach with my hands. Using my beard to attack her neck.
“This isn’t fair!” she shouted, thrashing around through a fit of laughter.
“What?” I taunted. “What’s not fair, babe? Can’t hear ya. You’re gonna have—”
The doorbell rang, interrupting us.
“Fuck off! We’re busy!”
“Creed!” She slapped my arm. “You better hope they didn’t hear you. What if that’s my parents’ or your momma? Go answer the door!”
I groaned, irritated that I had to go take care of whoever was out front. When all I wanted to do was spend the rest of the afternoon inside my wife. Talking to our baby girl.
I opened the door. “This better be fuckin’ import—” I jerked back as soon as I came face to face with the last person I ever expected to show up on my doorstep.
“Noah,” I greeted, shocked as shit by the sudden turn of
events.
“Hey.” He nodded to me. “Was in the neighborhood. Thought I’d stop by and see how you were doin’. See how both of you were doin’.”
I stepped aside, gesturing for him to come in. He did, following behind me as I made my way back to the living room. The expression on Mia’s face mirrored mine.
“Noah,” she muttered with wide eyes, taking him in.
“Hey, Mia,” he replied, peering at her in a way I hadn’t expected.
Like family.
She stood, walking over to him. Pulling him into a tight hug. “It’s so good to see you.” I knew she was missing him. She hadn’t seen or heard from him in a long ass time. Even after everything that happened, she held out hope that they could be friends.
He hugged her back, slightly smiling. “Good to see you, too.” Pulling away, eyeing me. “Good to see the both of you... Heard you had a beautiful wedding. Sorry I missed it.”
“We missed you there. How are you? What are you up to these days?”
“I’m good. Been travelin’ a bit. Nothin’ too crazy.”
“Oh, where are my manners. Would you like something to drink?”
“Sure, I’ll take a beer.”
“Okay. You want one, too?”
I nodded, unable to form any words yet. Still completely taken aback that my baby brother was in my house. A place he had never been before. Not that I didn’t want him there, I just never thought it would actually happen. Figured seeing Mia and me together might be too much to handle. But here he was, and I was grateful regardless. I gestured to the couch before I sat down, placing my elbows on my knees. Rubbing the back of my neck.
“How’s the shop? Heard all sorts of good shit about it. Ma’s proud as fuck, can’t say I ain’t either.”
“Thanks, bro. Business is good. Life is good. Always thinkin’ about you, though. You stickin’ around town for awhile?”
“Yeah, I’m back. Just needed a little time away, clear my head, ya know?”
Mia walked back in the room with our beers and water for herself. Giving me a stern look when she handed me the bottle, with her back turned to Noah.
Mouthing, “Don’t.” Gesturing to her stomach.
I pulled her down on my lap. “What was that, babe? Tell Noah he’s gonna be an uncle in nine months?”
“Creed!” she scolded, smacking my arm.
“What?” I looked over at Noah, expecting to see a hurt look on his face. But seeing the exact opposite.
His eyes went back and forth between us not knowing who to focus on more. He smiled, nodding his head to me. “That’s great, you two. I’m happy for you. Honest. I am. Need some fuckin’ kids in our family. Did you tell Ma, yet?”
“Naw, just found out ourselves.”
“Well, I’m honored to be the first to know. Can’t wait to be an uncle. Expect me to spoil the shit out of them, too,” he stated in a sincere tone before adding, “Rumor has it you opened up your own club, yeah? Well, that’s actually why I’m here. I came back to be your VP.”
I smiled. I couldn’t help it. “Yeah?”
“Fuck yeah.”
And just like that...
Some things never changed.
Especially when it was your goddamn blood.
“But, Momma, I don’t wanna wear the black bathin’ suit!” Harley argued, folding her arms over her chest. Cocking her hip out to the side. “It ain’t pretty. I wanna wear the pink bikini. Please, Momma, please!” she begged in the cutest baby voice.
“You don’t want to wear the black bathing suit. It’s not pretty. You want to wear the pink bikini,” I corrected, emphasizing the right dialect.
She tilted her head to the side, looking at me like I was crazy. “Well, my daddy don’t talk like that.”
I laughed, shaking my head at her as we stood in her room. I swear she was five going on twenty-one.
“I’ll tell you what. I’ll work on your daddy with letting you wear the pink bikini, okay? I promise. I think the pink bikini is much prettier, too, baby girl. But for today you have to wear the black bathing suit.”
She sighed. “Fine.” She rolled her eyes, walking over to me so I could help her change. “But, Momma, why do Daddy let you wear the pink bikini? When he says you belong to him, too,” she asked, scratching her little head when we were done.
She was too smart for her own good.
“Cuz, Daddy, will beat some asses if anyone so much as looks at Momma the wrong way,” Creed chimed in, holding our two-year-old son, Luke, in his arms.
“Creed... mouth!” I reprimanded, now shaking my head at him. I swear I had three kids already.
Harley, Luke, and my husband.
He kissed Luke on the cheek before handing him over to me. Leaning forward to kiss my swollen belly. “How’s my boy in there?”
“Kicking, moving around, driving me crazy. Much like his father.”
“Pippin, don’t hold him too long. You gotta enough weight on your tiny frame with that belly. Don’t want ya to strain yourself.”
“I’m fine,” I replied, kissing all over my little man’s face.
“Momma, I think the next baby after that one should be a sister, not another brother.”
“Another one? Who says I’m having another one?”
“Daddy.” She innocently shrugged, trying to put her shoe on the wrong foot. “He says he wants ta keep ya barefoot and pregnant in da kitchen, makin’ his food, cuz that’s where you belong. Momma, I thinks that’s a good idea, cuz I like when you make my food, too.”
“Oh my God, Creed! What are you teaching my daughter?!”
He proudly smiled with a gleam in his eyes, pulling me in for a kiss. “Our daughter,” he corrected.
“Babe, she’s going to think that’s okay,” I whispered low so she couldn’t hear. Knowing it was useless because she could hear everything, but I had to at least try. “What are you going to do when her boyfriend says that to her?”
He narrowed his eyes at me, arching an eyebrow. “First off, ain’t gonna be a boyfriend. Got my guns for a reason. And most importantly.” He glanced over at Harley. “Baby girl, cover your ears.”
She did, smiling and giggling. Knowing exactly why she had to take cover them.
“Any boy comes near her, I’ll break his fuckin’ legs and that’s if I don’t put him to fuckin’ ground first.”
“Creed!”
“What?” He grinned, looking at me with a mischievous glare. “She can’t hear. Can you, baby?”
She giggled louder. Making me laugh right along with her.
This was my family.
The loves of my life.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“You ready, baby girl?”
She eagerly nodded, grabbing onto her pink backpack. “Daddy, can you helps me? I can’t reach it.” She stood on the tips of her toes with her little arms up high, trying to get her cut from her closet. I had it custom made for her, the back read, Property of my Daddy.
I grabbed it down for her, and she immediately put one arm through the hole of the vest while I helped with the other.
“How do I look?” She smiled, posing for me with her huge sunglasses on her head like she was grown. Reminding me so damn much of her mother.
She looked just like her, exactly how I wanted. My son, Luke, on the other hand, was all me. Much to Mia’s distress, saying she could only imagine what kind of trouble he would get into. Especially with the ladies. Making me proud as fuck my boy would divide and conquer just like his father. Already molding him to love bikes and women. All the baby girls followed him around on the playground. Causing Mia to only worry about him more.
“Beautiful, baby. Just like your momma.” She grabbed my hand, and I kissed Mia one last time.
“I’ll be right behind you guys. Going to get little man dressed, and I’ll meet you at the clubhouse. I won’t be long. Drive carefully please.”
“Always.” Baby girl took my hand and led me out of her room and to
my bike. I placed her on the seat, grabbing her helmet from the garage.
“Daddy, when I gonna get to drive this bike?”
I snapped her helmet into place, patting her head to see if she was ready.
She looked up, smirking. “Come on, Daddy! Let’s ride.”
I chuckled, putting on my own helmet and getting on my bike behind her. Wrapping my arm securely around her waist, bringing her close to my chest. “You can drive when you can tie your own shoes.”
She happily nodded, putting her hands on the gas tank in front of her just like I taught her. Ready for the ride down to the clubhouse. Baby girl loved my bike just as much as her momma did, riding around with me with bystanders all looking over at her, pointing. Saying how cute she was with her little girl cut that matched my Prez cut. She was the talk of Mia’s mommy group that she took her to. Saying she needed to learn how to socialize or some shit. My baby girl didn’t need to socialize with any fucking boys, and I made sure to tell the facility that.
Pulling up to the clubhouse, I cut the engine and got off my bike. Taking off my helmet, then helping Harley with hers. She handed me her hairbands from her pocket, patiently waiting for me to do her hair. I put it back in pigtails the best I could like I did every time. They weren’t nearly as perfect as what Mia did, but Harley always said she loved mine more.
“Unkey Noah!” Harley shouted, running over to him as soon as I put her on the ground. Running as fast as her chubby little legs could move.
“Baby girl,” he greeted, immediately picking her up and throwing her onto his shoulders.
She wrapped her tiny little arms around his neck, laying her face on the top of his head. Hugging him tight with her eyes closed. She adored her uncle, she was attached to everyone, but Noah held a special place in her heart. They had a bond, probably because he was just another person who let her get away with anything. Always giving her what she wanted before she even batted an eye.
“Everyone’s already inside. What took you so long?” he asked, nodding to me.
I grinned, and he rolled his eyes. “Harley, cover your ears,” he ordered, making her fall into a fit of giggles. She had the most adorable fucking laugh, making us laugh right along with her. “Jesus Christ, bro. Let your ol’ lady breathe. She’s already knocked up. Don’t need somethin’ else inside of her,” he chuckled.