I’d been so busy looking at the changes that when Giggles spoke, I jumped with surprise. He’d been silent as a nun the whole ride in. There was admiration in his voice when he said, “This looks good.”
Turning my head to him, I really look at him. He’s young, probably not much older than Tru and Janis. Longish, tightly curled light brown hair on the top and cropped close to his head on the sides, unusual grey eyes with a ring of blue around the edges, scruff on his face. He’s still got that lanky build of the young, but I can see he’s filling out. His face is serious as he looks over the work we’ve done.
“It does, doesn’t it?” I agree, turning back to perusing the work that’s been done. “They’ve worked their butts off the last few days.”
Janis waves her paintbrush at me as the door to the centre opens and Siera comes out, carrying bottles of water that she puts on the trestle set up near Janis.
Hands on hips, she waits for me to get out. “Thanks for the ride, Giggles.”
“No problem,” he says, giving me a blinding smile that lights up his entire face. It changes him from a good-looking young man to an extremely handsome young man in the blink of an eye.
“Holy shit,” I snigger, opening my door, “no wonder you don’t smile. They’d be opening a strip club next and having you shake your ass.”
He belts out a loud surprised laugh. I’m grinning as I get out of the vehicle and turn to him before closing the door. “Don’t worry, Giggles, your secret is safe with me.”
He shakes his head, but the smile stays on his face. “Appreciate it. It was nice to meet you, ma’am.”
“Angel’s just fine, Giggles. I’m sure I’ll see you again. Thanks for the ride.”
He nods. I turn back to my family, waiting until he drives away before I speak.
“Well?” Siera demands as soon as it’s just us four. “Is everything okay? Actually, scratch that. I can see by your face that you’re fine and from the limp that you’ve been fucked within an inch of your life.”
“Mom,” Janis groans. “I don’t need to know about my aunt's sex life.”
“Then don’t listen,” Siera informs her. Grabbing my hand, she drags me inside the centre. “Come on, let's get away from sensitive ears.”
We snigger when we hear Janis’s heartfelt, “Thank fuck.”
Siera links her arm through mine. “Let’s grab a coffee, and you can tell me all about it. Although I have to say, the way he held you, took care of you, I already know he’s a good one.”
“He never stopped looking for me,” I whisper. I halt and turn to look at Siera. “That’s how Lala at the diner knew to contact him. Twenty-eight years later, Siera, he never gave up. Asked all over the country if anyone had seen me.”
“Jesus,” she mutters incredulously. “That’s a soul mate for you. I’m thrilled for you Ang, maybe now you can be happy.”
“Yeah,” I bump my shoulder to hers and get us moving again. I head straight to the coffee machine when I get to the makeshift kitchen we’ve set up in the staffroom. Filling two cups, I set them on the table, sitting in a chair opposite Siera.
We doctor our coffee. When she’s settled, she lifts serious brown eyes to mine, reaches over and grips my hand. “Tell me.”
Love for my sister fills my heart. Yes we joke, give each other shit and argue but when push comes to shove, she’s there for me. She has been from the minute I landed on their doorstep.
Squeezing her hand, I think of where to start. “It was amazing, terrifying and heart-breaking all in one go,” I begin. I fill her in on everything that has happened since the diner. I don’t hold anything back, finally ending with me going back tonight, and Garret wanting me to move in.
“And are you okay with that? You don’t have to move so fast if you don’t want,” Siera reminds me.
Taking my time, I mull it over. But like I’d known from the first moment I saw him; Garret was the one for me. Always had been, always would be.
“I’m sure,” I smile tearfully at Siera. “He’s always been the one for me. That he’s looked for me for so long means the world. He’s still the same person, just a bit older but underneath, where it matters, he’s the same Garret he always was. Protective, loving and deep down good.”
“I’m glad, sweetie,” Siera smiles, and I can see she truly is. “What about the motorcycle club? Are you okay with that?”
I shrug. “Honestly for me, that’s secondary. Those years on the run changed my perspective of things and as your dad always says, even bad men can be good for the right person.”
“Yeah,” Siera shakes her head, “dad really is one of a kind. But then he grew up with men like your Garret, so he should know. It always surprised me when I found out. The man was a fantastic Marshal, but I guess it helped him see both sides of his job.”
She’s not wrong. Jake isn’t like any man I’ve ever known. He’s the best of the best, and a hard act to follow.
“Your dad is one in a million Siera. I’ll always be grateful that he took me under his wing.”