“All’s good, darlin’,” he said and went back to help Annabelle with the babies. Or that’s what I assumed he was doing until he extended his arms and smacked Jonah and Reed in the back of the head at the same time.
Phoenix grumbled something I couldn’t hear causing both Jonah and Reed to turn to me. “Sorry,” they both said at the same time.
I blinked in shock and glanced between the two of them. Jonah reached for me and pulled me against his chest. “I didn’t realize you were still concerned about the money. When I told you not to worry about it, I meant don’t worry about it because it was in the process of being returned.”
“Well, you should’ve said it like that.”
“You’re right,” he admitted.
“Okay, then,” I said, a little taken aback by how easily he owned up to being wrong.
He smiled like he knew what I was thinking, but didn’t comment further. Instead, he led me to his bike and we rode the short distance to the clubhouse.
“Brother Judge,” Harper shouted and made a beeline for Jonah as soon as we walked through the door.
“Sister cousin,” he returned as he picked her up and swung her around.
He placed her on her feet and she immediately reached out to hug me. “River! It’s good to see you again.”
When I felt something cold and wet press against my hand, I looked down and yelped at the big beast actively licking me.
“It’s okay,” Harper assured. “He just wants some attention, too.”
“Aren’t you afraid he’ll get hungry and eat you one day?” I asked as I tried to calm my racing heart.
She laughed. “No way. He’s a big ole baby. Aren’t you, Titan? You just want some loving, too, don’t you?”
“Don’t talk to him like he’s a baby, Harper. Treat him like the badass he is,” Carbon said and patted Titan’s head. Carbon extended his hand to me. “Welcome to Croftridge, River.”
“Thanks,” I said and shifted uncomfortably. I was beginning to feel overwhelmed with all the attention on me. I turned to grab Jonah’s hand, but he was no longer standing behind me.
I started to search for him when a loud whistle cut through the noise. The room fell silent and the crowd parted revealing Jonah in the center of the room. He met my eyes and crooked his finger.
I walked toward him wondering what he was doing. When I was two steps from him, he reached for my hands and dropped to one knee.
“Jonah,” I gasped.
“I knew I wanted you from the moment you held my hand in the ER while my hand was being sewn up. I knew I wanted to know you from the night you came to Precious Metals. I knew I wanted to protect you after the fire. I knew I would do anything for you after you stepped in and took care of my mother. I knew I wanted to ride with you forever after you rode the dragon with me. I knew I would rain hell down on anyone who tried to take you from me after you were arrested. I will go to my grave loving you. Nothing will ever change that, but you’d make me the happiest man in the world if you’d agree to be my wife for the rest of our days.”
He flipped open a box I didn’t even know he had in his hand and presented me with a ring I didn’t so much as glance at. “Yes!” I screamed and tackled him to the floor. “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
He kissed me while we laughed in each other’s arms on the floor of the clubhouse with everyone watching.
Jonah
We returned to Devil Springs after spending the night celebrating our engagement in Croftridge. Instead of going to the rental house, I decided it was time to show River the house I was having built.
I expected her to question where we were going and was surprised when she didn’t.
I turned onto the long driveway that lead to my secluded house. When I came to a stop and turned off the bike, I tapped River’s leg so she would know I wanted her to get off. She handed me her helmet, but still didn’t ask where we were. I took her hand and led her to the front door. I pushed it open and was greeted with twin shouts of, “Surprise!”
I whirled around to see my mother and River grinning at me. Confused, I turned back to the house and walked inside.
My brand new, custom built house was fully furnished and decorated from what I could see.
“You two did this?” They both nodded. “When?”
“Two days after I was released from jail.”