“You think Dash will jump in after her?”
“Not if she pops back up in a few seconds,” I guessed.
She reached Harper and Ember with only 100 feet or so separating her and Dash. We could hear her yelling, “Go! Go! Now!” The three girls held hands and leaped off the 40-foot boulder into the water below. Dash came to a screeching halt, just barely missing her. He stood there with his arms crossed, silently waiting for their heads to pop up. Harper surfaced first, grinning from ear to ear. Reese popped up mere seconds later, but Ember had yet to come up. Dash took a step closer to the edge, and we could see him scanning the water below. Harper and Reese started frantically turning in the water trying to spot her.
We heard a loud curse and looked up to see Dash plunging toward the water. His body entered the water at the same time Ember popped up, alarmingly close to our boat. She heaved in a few deep breaths, then threw her hands in the air and yelled, “Wooooooo! That was fucking awesome!”
“Hope it was worth it,” Duke teased, reaching for her hand to help her into the boat.
Ember turned her head to see Harper and Reese making their way to the boat and a furious Dash just behind them. She pushed past Duke and took a seat in the front of the boat. “It most definitely was.”
Harper and Reese climbed into the boat and knowingly moved to the side. Dash hit the swim platform fuming and stomped his way to his wayward wife. “Have you lost your fucking mind Ember?! What made you think it was okay to jump off a 40-foot rock?”
She jumped to her feet, hands on her hips. “Did you forget that I ran through the woods at night and scaled trees to escape Octavius? Do you remember when we were in the lake and I swam to shore after being shot not once, but twice? Jumping off a freaking rock was a piece of cake.”
“You weren’t fucking pregnant when you did any of those things!” Dash screamed. He obviously realized what he’d just blurted out because his expression and his tone instantly changed. Taking a step closer to her, he murmured, “Sorry, darlin’. You scared me.”
“You’re pregnant?” my little sister asked, her voice an octave higher than usual.
Ember smiled shyly. “I guess we’re telling people now.”
Harper and Reese rushed toward her with their arms outstretched. Duke and I took turns giving Dash a handshake and a slap on the back. “Congratulations, brother! Does Prez know?” I asked.
“Uh, no, he doesn’t. You guys are the first to know besides us…” he said, stumbling over his words.
“Got it. We’ll act like this never happened,” I assured him.
The relief was evident on Dash’s face. “Thanks, brothers. I didn’t mean to disrespect Prez by blurting it out like that, but she scared the shit out of me.”
Duke gave him a sad smile. “Enjoy this time with her. I would give anything to have been able to experience it with Reese.” He would never know it, but that statement earned him a world of respect from me.
Clearing my throat, I spoke loud enough for all on board to hear, “Congratulations, Ember! I’m so happy for you, but you are hereby banned from all water activities except for basic swimming until further notice.” As I had hoped, my declaration lightened the mood.
We stayed on the water for several more hours, until everyone agreed it was a good time to head back for dinner. I couldn’t speak for the others, but I couldn’t recall a time in recent years when I’d had more fun. Judging by the smiles on the faces of some of my closest friends as well as the woman I loved, I would venture to say they felt the same. I stopped Harper on the dock and pulled her into my arms for a kiss I poured my whole heart into. “I love you, Harper, so fucking much.”
She grinned. “I fucking love you, too, Chase Walker.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Harper
Entering the lake house after our day on the water, I screamed when I spotted a man standing by the kitchen island. The next few seconds were a blur of activity. I’m not sure how it all happened, but in the blink of an eye, Chase, Duke, and Dash were in front of me, shielding me, but they weren’t doing anything.
I heard Titan growling and snarling, but I couldn’t see anything. Then I heard a familiar voice request, “A little help, brothers.”
The boys parted like the Red Sea revealing none other than Phoenix, badass president of The Blackwings MC, standing on top of the kitchen island while Titan stood on his hind legs, front paws on the countertop, snarling and snapping at his motorcycle boots.
“Calmati,” I sternly commanded Titan. He silenced and came to stand in front of me.
Phoenix jumped down, eyeing Titan warily. “Tell me that’s one of Ruben’s dogs.”
Chase proudly answered, “Of course, Prez. I wouldn’t have anything less for my Old Lady.”
I rudely interrupted, “What are you doing here, Phoenix?”
He laughed. “Don’t worry, Harper, I’m not staying. I just wanted to stick around long enough to say hello after dropping off Shaker and Hilarie.”