“It’s a concept piece my brother, Spin, drew up. We can change it if you don’t like it.”
I move the first drawing to look at the second. The framed artwork is of our home, only the three of us are standing outside of it, smiling, and holding onto each other. My nose begins to tingle. I swallow as my throat feels dry. My heartbeat pounds in my chest. It’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me. With a sniffle, I question, “Why?”
“Because I love you.”
I pop up on my tiptoes, kissing him before I begin blubbering like a sappy female. “I love you too. This is perfect.” I remove the framed drawing and set it on the counter. We both stare at it a beat before he interrupts.
“And the other?”
“Hollywood’s Hard Liquor Treats,” I reply. “I love it. I knew I wanted a unique branding for a specialty liquor, chocolate, and spirits store, but this puts it into a real perspective. It’s beautiful. but we spoke about this before, and I told you I want to open my business on my own, remember?”
“Of course, and I know you can do it on your own.”
“Why do I sense a ‘but’ in there somewhere?”
“Because you know me well.” He winks. It’s hard to be firm with him when he’s so freaking handsome and thoughtful. “I understand why you want to do it yourself and believe me, I admire your tenacity when it comes to being independent.”
“You admire it, but I need to be respected as my own person, as a successful woman. This is something I have to do on my own. I want Trixie growing up knowing it’s possible for her to do anything she sets her mind to.”
“I don’t think you understand that you can have a little help starting out and still accomplish your goal. I’m not taking it over or dulling your sparkle. I’m only offering to help you reach that sparkle sooner.”
Well, when he puts it like that, it doesn’t sound so bad. “It’ll be mine, one hundred percent? I’ll pay you back every single cent.”
“Of course. It even has your name on the marquee.”
“What do you mean it has my name on it? On the drawing?”
For an imposing, confident man, it sure is a sight to see him blush. There’s a first time for everything, I reckon. “So, the best way to explain this is just to come out and say it.”
“Oh my God. Chaos, what did you do?”
He chuckles nervously if I’d have to guess. “It’s a Christmas surprise.”
“Nope. You promised to always be real with me.”
He sighs, glances around the kitchen before meeting my gaze again. “Want to take a little drive and check it out?”
“You didn’t?”
He nods.
With an excited screech, I launch toward him. He quickly reacts, catching me and pulling me to his big body. “You’re so bad,” I scold yet smile at the same time.
“But you love me.”
I nod. “So much, Cowboy. Thank you.” I press my lips to his, pouring myself into the kiss. This crazy man just bought me the store I’d been talking about opening for months now. I’d thought that maybe in five to ten years, I’d have a decent enough down payment saved up to get the space, along with everything else I’d need to get going on the business. Chaos holds true to his namesake, always keeping me on my toes. However, for once in my life, it’s the best heart-pounding chaos a girl could ever dream of.
I thought love was lost to me, that I’d had my chance and missed it somehow. I had Trixie and knew I needed to change my life for the better because she deserved more than what I’d given her in the past. Spiritually, emotionally, physically, and financially I had to do better, do more for her. Never did I imagine this journey would include an ex-professional football player turned outlaw biker with a heart made of gold.
“Come on, sweetheart. I want to show you this place before Kadence and her family get into town.”
“Okay, big guy, we have less than an hour before Trixie gets home.”
He grabs my hand, eagerly tugging me out the door. I hop on the back of his bike since the freak weather in Texas decided to grace us with an eighty-degree day in December. According to Chaos, it’s not uncommon, even if it’s a bit weird to me.
We stop at a vacant building we’d passed many times before, but now it has a sold sign on the front window and a giant marquee on the front of the building exactly like the drawing.
I climb off, tears already cresting. I don’t know what to say or do, I’m speechless. This man has offered me more than he’ll ever know. First off, by helping me get Trixie from Georgia before my ex got to her. Then he kept us safe and found us a home. After living in bliss with him the past year, he’s offered me a future. I’ll have his last name, the store I’d planned and talked about, but most of all, I have his love and a very happy little girl. He’s given me my dreams and probably doesn’t even know it.
Grabbing his hand, I pull it to my chest, wrapping my other hand around it as well. Meeting his gaze, I promise, “I’ll never stop loving you. You have all of me.”
His head tilts as tenderness reflects in his gaze. I don’t know what I did to deserve this man to love me the way he does, but I’m so grateful. “That’s all I’ve wanted from the moment I met you,” he replies, pulling me in. He wraps his strength around me, embracing me in the safest, warmest set of arms I’ve come to search for in the night.
For Christmas, I’m giving him his family. Trixie will be his, and I’ll go through with the adoption paperwork. In the next year, I’ll tie my life to his, and he’ll never have to search for peace again.
People say Christmas time is magical, but they forget to mention that so is love. It’ll change someone for the better or worse, it’ll heal a broken heart or crush it in the same blow.
Never underestimate what a kind heart and love can do.
It can move mountains and fulfill dreams if you let it.
The End.
Thank you!
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed Chaos and Hollywood. Chaos was one of my favorite characters to write, and I’ll miss having him on my mind all the time. The scene with Flame and Torch hit me out of nowhere, and now I’m beyond excited to tell their tale!
Please leave a review or tell a friend to check out Hollywood. Your referral and kind words are the best motivation out there to keep me writing.
XO - Sapphire
Other Books by Sapphire Knight
Oath Keepers MC Series
Exposed
Relinquish
Forsaken Control
Friction
Sweet Surrender –
free short story in Newsletter
Oath Keepers MC Hybrid Series
Princess
Love and Obey –
free short story in Newsletter
Daydream
Baby
Chevelle
Cherry
Heathen
Hollywood
Russkaya Mafiya Series
Secrets
Corrupted
Corrupted Counterparts –
free short story in Newsletter
Unwanted Sacrifices
Undercover Intentions
Dirty Down South Series
Freight Train
3 Times the Heat