“Relationships grow and change, they ebb and flow. I’m sure nothing is as bad as what you think it is now. I can’t see Jagger ever giving up on what the two of you have together,” Meredith reassured her.
“I don’t know, I haven’t felt this alone since he and I started dating. I feel like I did after he had his wreck, when he tried to push me away. I hate that I had doubts and pushed him, and now he’s pushing back.”
“I have a feeling that nothing about the situation is as it seems.” Meredith offered her a smile. “I honestly have no idea what’s going on, but call it a gut feeling. I know him, he’s not leaving you.”
“I hope you’re right.”
And Bianca did hope she was right, but in this moment, she had her doubts. There was a large part of her that was worried she would go home and find he’d moved out of the apartment and back into the clubhouse.
*
“Are you sure this is the one you want?”
This was the one thing Jagger hadn’t second-guessed. He’d known the minute he’d walked into the jewelry store on the square that the art-deco 1920s estate ring was the one he wanted for Bianca. It was everything that she was to him, all rolled into one. Classy, with flash, and a subtle hint of elegance. It was unique. He’d done some research on the internet with the help of Travis, and he’d only found one other ring that looked remotely like it. That made it all the more special to him; a way to prove how special he thought she was.
“I’m sure.” He took a deep breath. “Yeah, I’m sure.”
“Do you have a special lady you’re gonna give this to?” the older woman behind the glass counter asked.
He had to give it to her, she hadn’t shrunk away when he came in wearing his cut, the beard he still hadn’t shaved, and boots that pounded loud against the hardwood floors; she’d treated him just like any other customer.
“I do.” He nodded, for the first time in a while thinking all of this would be okay. As soon as he could give this to B, she would understand. “I have the perfect lady to give this to.”
She smiled a genuine smile at him. “I’m glad, I truly am. This ring should be on the finger of a woman who knows her worth.”
Bianca wasn’t sure of hers right this moment, but Jagger was going to make sure she knew just how much she meant to him, very soon. “She does, and she will for the rest of her life.”
The sales lady nodded. “Now how will you be paying for this?”
“What’s the total?” he asked, wanting to make sure he had enough cash on him.
“Six thousand five hundred, sixty-five dollars and forty-two cents.” She showed him the receipt that included the cleaning package and warranty he’d purchased.
“Cash,” he told her, pulling out a wad of bills. “I’ve worked hard for this.” He grinned across the glass at her.
The grin always got women, and she was no exception. “I’m sure you did, young man, I’m sure you did.”
Chapter Ten
‡
After volunteering with CRISIS, Bianca went back to the apartment and showered, changing into her favorite pair of shorts and tank top. Grabbing her e-reader, she settled onto the couch to read the newest book that Jessica had put out. She had texted Jagger earlier, but it had sounded like he was busy, and she didn’t want to disturb him. Whatever they had going on between the two of them, she knew they would work things out. It would be a matter of time and patience.
An hour later, she was getting to a good part in the book when she heard the roar of his motorcycle on their street. Her heart sped up, as it sometimes did when she knew that she would be seeing him. It was the small things like that that let her know the fire was still there, the passion was still there. They weren’t done with each other, they were just going through a rough patch.
His motorcycle boots stomped up the stairs before he let himself into their apartment. Glancing up, she couldn’t believe what she saw. He was wearing a nice button-down shirt underneath his cut and held out a bouquet of fresh-cut flowers.
She opened her mouth, and he reached out a hand to stop her. “Before you say anything, I’d like to do some talking, if that’s okay?”
Speechless wasn’t something that happened to Bianca Hawks normally, but all she could do was nod an affirmative to his request.
“I know you’ve been wondering where I’ve been going at night.” He blew out a deep breath. “Actually I already knew that you and Christine followed me last night, which I have to tell you wasn’t exactly the smartest thing in the world you could have done. I’m willing to give you a pass though, because I know I haven’t been very forthcoming to you in the past few months. You have to know,” he ran a hand through his hair, “I’ve had my reasons.”
He had a seat across from her on the couch, handing her the flowers and wiping his hands on his jeans. “These are for you by the way.”
She finally found her voice. “Thank you, Jagger, they’re gorgeous.”
“So are you.” His voice was little more than a whisper. “I’ve got to be honest with you. I wanted to tell you so many times what I was doing at night, but I didn’t want to ruin the surprise.”
“What surprise?” she asked, not able to stop herself.
“I said let me talk, remember?” This time, when the words were said, they were accompanied by his easy smile, not the harsh facial features he’d been sporting of late.
She made the motion of zipping her mouth and throwing away the key.
“As you found out, I’ve been doing the repos for the shop. What you don’t know is for the past three months I’ve been doing every repo, which is where I’ve been most of the nights, why my nights are later, and why I’ve been a bit of an asshole. What you also don’t know is why I’ve been doing it.”
Bianca sat on her hands to keep herself from asking questions. She wanted badly to ask him why he’d been doing these things and why he’d felt the need to keep them from her.
“Repos pay the most money in the shop, and since I’m still one of the newer members of the club, my share isn’t the biggest when it comes to pay. Granted, you and I are more comfortable than we’ve ever been, but I think we both know there’s not a lot of money to play around with,” he spoke to her clearly and honestly. “So, when I was visiting Christine at the hair salon on the square a few months ago, I took a walk and went into the jewelry store. There was an amazing ring there that I loved. I knew right then that I wanted to get it for you, but when they told me the price, I knew there was no way in hell I’d ever be able to afford that ring.”
Her eyes watered as she realized what this man she’d given her heart to was telling her. She wanted to blurt out that she loved him, but she knew she had to see this through, she had to let him get this all out.
“I went back to the shop and asked the guys if it was okay if I took the repos. I explained to them what I wanted to do, and they all supported me. They took a pay cut so I could have an increase for you. Do you know how much that means to me?”
She did, because it meant a lot to her too.
“Last night was the final repo I needed, and today I walked into that jewelry store and bought this ring with hard-earned cold, hard cash.”
Bianca watched as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring box. He set the box in her hand and then slid off the couch, getting down on one knee.
“The reason I wanted to buy this ring was because I wanted to ask you to marry me. Really and truly. Take my last name, be my partner for the rest of my life. Have kids with me, grow old with me, ride on my bike with me until we’re so old we can’t stay upright, wear my property patch until the name fades so badly that I’m the only one who knows what it says.” He was breathless as he said the last words. “Marry me because I love you and I can’t see my life without you. The last few months have shown me what that could be like, and damnit, it’s a shitty life.”
She tried hard to speak around the lump in her throat and the tears in her eyes, but she couldn’t
. All she could manage was to nod before she threw her arms around him, tackling him to the ground.
“Is that a yes?” he asked, his eyes boring into hers.
“Yes.” She nodded, her voice cracking with emotion.
“Thank you God,” he breathed, kissing her head, inhaling deeply, and throwing his arms around her to hold her tight.
After a few moments, he pulled back. “Don’t you want to see the ring?”
“I do, but I want you to put it on me.”
He pried the box from her fingers and opened the lid, revealing the ring inside. Her gasp was everything he had hoped it would be, and he couldn’t help but give himself a pat on the back. Sliding that ring onto her finger was the happiest moment of his life.
Epilogue
‡
Two Days Later
“You know, I thought sliding that ring on your finger was the happiest moment of my life,” Jagger told her as the two of them lay in bed. It was mid-afternoon, but they were on nobody’s timetable except their own. “I was wrong.”
“You were?” she questioned, turning so that she rested her head against his bare chest. “What was the happiest moment of your life?”
He pulled her hand to his lips, placing a kiss there. “When I slipped this ring on your finger, earlier today.” He indicated the plain gold band they had exchanged at the courthouse.
As with most everything to the two of them did, they were on their own time frame, and they had decided they’d waited long enough to make it official.
“I think that’s the happiest moment of my life too.” She grinned up at him.
He pulled her so she was tucked underneath him when he turned them over. “I’m looking forward to making sure you have many more happy moments in your life to come,” he told her, promise in his voice as he captured her lips with his. He’d already had her twice, but he wanted her again. When she made room between her thighs for him and he slid home, he knew that this was the best, most right thing he’d ever done in his life.
“You’re gonna get sick of this,” she taunted, reaching up to thread her fingers through his hair.
“Making love to my wife?” He shook his head. “Never.”
His wife. Bianca loved the sound of that, and she told him so as she moaned her approval at the way he moved inside her body. Running her fingers down his neck and around to grasp his shoulders, she threw her head back, giving her body over to him.
As he shuddered against her, she hid a small smile against his neck. If there was one thing this experience had taught her, it was that it would always be worth it to work on their relationship, and sometimes the best thing in the world was a rough patch.
The End
Thank You From Laramie
I want to say a heartfelt thanks to every author who agreed to be in this box set with me. You’re all great friends of mine and I’m a huge fan of all of you. None of you laughed at me or even second-guessed when I asked. I appreciate that greatly and I’m honored to be right here alongside the rest of you.
Readers, I hope you enjoy the talent in this book. The talent is amazing and I’m truly blessed to call them all my friend!
Laramie
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Stories
Hot Summer Nights
Copyright Page
About the Book
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
About The Author
Also by Laramie Briscoe
Connect with Laramie
Heath
Copyright Page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
About the Author
Connect with the Author
Twist
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Connect with the Author
About the Author
Other Books by Carian Cole
Nobody But You
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Also By Seraphina Donavan
Never to Hope
Copyright Page
Epigraph
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Letter From Aimie
About the Author
Rebound Biker
Copyright Page
Dedication
Other Books from the Author
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Epilogue: Winston
Epilogue: Meredith
About Bijou
Rescuing the Bridesmaid
About the Book
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Connect with Stella
Unhinged
Copyright Page
About the Book
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Connect with the Author
Defending Her Turf
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Author Thanks
Rough Patch
Copyright Page
About the Book
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Epilogue
Thank You From Laramie
Blue Colla Make Ya Holla Page 60
