by Frankie Love
She nods. "We are. You helped me every step of the way as I worked to graduate," she says, pride in her voice.
After five years, she finished her four-year degree and earned a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in photography. Her business is up and running and she has skills now beyond portraits.
After our honeymoon in Europe, she was captivated by landscapes and architecture, things she had never considered before, suddenly exposed to a world bigger than the one we previously knew existed.
Every year, we've saved our vacation days and our extra cash and gone on a month-long trip. Some people might think we're crazy, but I think we're adventurous, more of free-spirited than we even knew we were before we fell in love. I never had dreams of traveling the world when I was growing up. But with Lydia, suddenly we can’t get enough of seeing new things together, experiencing things for the first time with our hands held, our hearts entwined.
Every trip we take is like falling in love all over again. But instead of with one another, we're falling in love with a new place. It gives us a high that makes us feel alive. And I love that we found that spirit of adventure together.
I’ve taken over the auto shop and am now the owner. Five years in, I’ve proven myself time and time again. The brothers of the Heartlands are my family.
"Are you going to open it," I ask, "or are you just going to be thinking about the fact we get to leave town tonight?"
"I can't wait," she says. "I'm a little nervous though.”
"About what?" I ask.
As she holds the box in her hand, she bites her bottom lip. "Okay, I'm a little nervous because the flight to New Zealand is really long."
"We've taken long flights before," I say.
"Yeah, but…” She tilts her head to the side. "This one is different because I might have morning sickness."
There is a little lift to her voice and my eyes widen. "You're pregnant?"
She nods. "I am."
"Oh my God, baby. Really?"
"I know, it's crazy, but I'm pregnant. We're having a baby."
"Wow," I say, looking at her in a whole new way. "No wonder you're glowing."
"I know we weren't planning it, but—"
"No," I say, cutting her off. "It's perfect. You're going to be a mother."
"And you're going to be a father," she says, tears in her eyes.
"Damn, Lydia, how'd we get so damn lucky?" I brush her tears away and she brushes at mine.
"I love you so much,” she says. “I can't believe I have the honor of making a life with you."
"Stop it," I say. "I'm a goddamn biker, I shouldn't be crying."
"I don't think crying makes you less of a man. It makes you more of one in my book."
"We're going to have a baby," I say, shaking my head. "Are you going to be okay to fly? Should you see a doctor first?"
She nods. "I actually went to the doctor yesterday."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"I was waiting for our anniversary. I thought it would be more romantic. But I wasn't feeling well and thought maybe I had the flu, and I was a little nervous since we’re going to go on this big trip, so I went to the clinic yesterday and they gave me a urine test, and I'm pregnant. They said there is nothing to do until I come in for a 10-week ultrasound, when we can hear the heartbeat. I told them we were traveling to New Zealand for a month. And they said they understood, that that was totally fine. And that I should just make sure I take good care of myself and get good rest and not overextend myself in any way, but that we should enjoy our trip. And when I come back, it'll be almost time to go to the next appointment."
She's smiling so big, so wide. My heart is goddamn bursting.
"Wow," I say. "You really trumped my anniversary present."
"Yeah?” she asks. "What is it?" She opens the box and she lets out a gasp. "Oh, Jackal," she says. "It's beautiful." She takes out the ring and slips it on her finger.
It's an antique diamond. When we got married, we exchanged simple gold bands, both of us saying fancy jewelry wasn't necessary. And while she saves her money for our trips, I’ve stashed some of my extra money away this year for this diamond ring.
"It took five years," I say. "And maybe that’s too long."
"Shush," she says. "We made that choice together. We made our priorities together."
I nod. "I know, baby. But I thought it was time to get my girl a ring — a real ring."
She smiles as I slip it on her finger. "You know I'd marry you all over again," I tell her. "You've made me the man I am, the husband I get to be and the father I..." I shake my head in disbelief, pressing my hand to her belly. "We're going to have a baby."
She smiles. "Yeah, we are."
I pick her up off the counter. "I'm so fucking in love with you," I say as I carry her to the bedroom, laying her on the bed. She pulls off her shirt and I tug down my sweats, naked and alone in our home.
We'll be traveling for a month. But there is no place I'd rather be than right here. With my wife.
She opens herself for me. And I take her nice and slow, remembering the first time we made love, how we were both nervous and scared, how it was all so damn new and all so damn right.
"I love you, Jackal," she says.
"I love you more."
And it's the goddamn truth. The both of us became adults here in the Heartlands and we've really grown up in the last five years, together.
I kiss her slowly, with intention, wanting her to know that she is, and always will be, the love of my life.
Heartlands MC
The alpha males of Heartlands Motorcycle Club are the most possessive, devoted, and territorial men in the country when it comes to the ones they love.
Heartlands is a rough and rugged new series of standalone stories.
Written by four of the most trusted names in short and steamy romance, each book will get your motors revved and your hearts racing. Guaranteed.
XO, Frankie, Dani, Olivia, and Hope
DOWNLOAD NOW: Heartlands MC Series
Make sure you check out the other books in the Heartlands MC Series:
Ranger by Frankie Love
Chain by Dani Wyatt
Killian by Olivia T. Turner
Saint by Hope Ford
Jaxon by Olivia T. Turner
Gage by Hope Ford
Hammer by Dani Wyatt
Conley by Frankie Love
Hammer by Dani Wyatt
Beckham by Olivia T. Turner
Bulldog by Hope Ford
Jackal by Frankie Love
Want More?
SIX MEN OF ALASKA
A Six Book Full Length Series in Kindle Unlimited!
Six men, one wife.
And I have no say in who those men will be.
It's more than a game of chance—it's my life falling into the hands of strangers.
But the men who win my hand are ruggedly handsome and promise to protect me until death do us part.
Fallon and his strong will.
Giles and his protective streak.
Salinger and his easy smile.
Banks and his intellect.
Emerson and his faith.
Huxley and his charm.
I want them all, each for a different reason. My body is awake, my heart beats wild. But I’m also a woman running from a past that’s catching up. Fast. My father is coming for me and he'll make my husbands pay--and that’s not a gamble.
That’s a guarantee.
DOWNLOAD NOW: SIX MEN OF ALASKA
About the Author
Frankie Love writes filthy-sweet stories about bad boys and mountain men.
As a thirty-something mom who is ridiculously in love with her own bearded hottie, she believes in love-at-first-sight and happily-ever-afters.
She also believes in the power of a quickie.
Find Frankie here:
www.frankielove.net
cle Club Book 12)
