“You didn’t have anything to say to her? She’s lucky I didn’t go have a few words with her myself.” He glowered.
“She doesn’t deserve the time it would take me, and plus, any closure I might need wouldn’t be solved in talking to her. I think it’s more talking it out with Wren—and with you.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “Anytime, you know that.”
“I do,” I agreed, rising to stand. “Gotta go pick up Wren.”
“She’s gonna be fucking thrilled.” He grinned. Most of the guys were in on the surprise since Sal and I had worked on it at the club for the past few weeks.
“Hope so,” I replied, tapping his desk once. “I’ll catch you later.”
“Later.”
“Cole.” I paused in the doorway, waiting for his eyes. “Thanks.”
He smiled, his eyes warm. “You’re welcome.”
****
I pulled into the community college a few minutes early, wanting to make sure I beat her to the parking lot. She thought Olivia would be driving her home.
I leaned against the car, searching the students milling around, eager to lay eyes on my girl. It had only been a few hours and still felt like it had been way too long.
Then I saw her, walking toward me, laughing at something Liv was saying as Tatum chuckled along with them. She was so fucking gorgeous, she stole my breath on a daily basis. The minute she caught sight of me, her blue eyes lit with excitement that made me feel ten feet tall.
Then she saw the car and I heard her shriek from across the lot.
I grinned at her exuberance as she ran toward me. “How did you…? When did you…?” she sputtered as I took her in my arms. “You’ve barely left my side.”
I kissed her temple. “Some of those club meetings weren’t for real. Your dad and I worked on it together.”
Her eyes popped wide in surprise. “I thought you didn’t want me to drive it?” she demanded excitedly as she opened the driver’s side door and climbed inside. I sat beside her in the passenger side, smiling with pride as she admired the interior.
“We’ll just leave you to it.” Liv winked, linking arms with Tatum as they strode toward her car.
I shot her a grateful nod. Liv was always looking out for my girl, and for that, I’d always have her back.
“I’d still rather have you in something safer,” I admitted, turning my attention back to Wren. “But I know you love this car. As long as you promise me you’ll drive safely, then if it makes you happy, you know I’d do anything to make that happen.”
She looked at me with tears shining in her eyes. “I do know that.”
“All right, now switch with me, baby,” I told her.
“This is my car, and I just got it back. I’m driving.” She shook her head.
Damn, she was cute when she thought she was about to win an argument.
“Baby, I’m in a car, I’m driving, you know this,” I answered patiently. “But you also know I’d make an exception this time if your leg wasn’t still sore,” I added, looking pointedly at her calf.
“Ugh, if that weren’t true, I wouldn’t back down so easily.” She huffed, climbing out of the car. When she arrived at the passenger’s side, I pulled her gently into my lap, loving her little shriek of delight.
“I’ll make it worth your while,” I promised, sliding my nose along her neck, my cock hardening at her delicious scent and the little whimper that escaped her lips. I shifted, putting her ass in the seat and standing up before I took her right there in the parking lot.
The deep rumble of the engine had Wren bouncing in delight as I put the car in gear. I glanced over at her with a grin before hitting the gas.
“Gotta swing by the store. Then we’re headed to your folk’s house,” I informed her.
“And we’re going to the store because you think Pop didn’t buy the right steak?” she guessed correctly.
Sal was good at a lot of things, but he couldn’t grill for shit.
My lip twitched. “Right.”
Her hand made its way to my thigh, resting comfortably as I drove us through town.
“Have you talked to Caleb?” she asked gently.
She’d been pushing the topic ever since Caleb had let that fucker into his house. Somehow, my girl had forgiven him right away. I wasn’t nearly there. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be.
“No,” I ground out.
“Honey—”
I shook my head, cutting her off. “He could have gotten you killed because he didn’t use his fucking head. I’m not ready to forgive that shit. I don’t know if I ever will be.”
She squeezed my thigh, and I knew she’d let the subject drop, for now. My girl knew me well. She knew when to push and when to let me work things through on my own time.
I turned to glance her way as we idled at a red light. “Your mom’s pretty intense about this wedding shit,” I noted dryly.
She groaned. “Don’t remind me. You’d think I was the queen of England or something. Maybe we should just elope.”
“Tempting.” I chuckled as I hit the gas when the light turned green. “But we can’t do that, and you know it. This is important to your mom, and to your pop. He’s just not as vocal about it. There’s only one time to plan their only daughter’s wedding.”
“Yeah, I know,” she grumbled. “But if I have to look at one more bridal magazine, I’m going to lose it.
“I’ll talk to Sal, get him to talk to her,” I assured her.
Sal and I had developed an even closer bond than we’d had before I claimed Wren. Through my relationship with Wren, I’d gained not only the love of my life but another family I loved nearly as much as my own.
“He listens to you.” She leaned back on the headrest, looking peaceful.
It was a new chapter for us, being able to relax. The shit with the Rossis was by no means dealt with, but my girl was safe. We were finally free to just… be.
“I’ll buy some pineapple since you like it with your steak,” I said, trying not to grimace.
“It’s good!” she protested, swatting my arm, no doubt having caught my expression.
“Whatever you say, baby.” I chuckled. “Can’t wait to see what kind of wedding cake you come up with.”
She rolled her eyes, but the pink tinge to her cheeks told me she already had some weird-ass ideas.
The truth was, I couldn’t care less. All I cared about was that I got to make this woman mine for the rest of our lives.
Epilogue
WREN
Three Months Later
“Mom, seriously, you have got to stop crying,” I pleaded as she stood behind me fiddling with the back of my dress for the hundredth time.
“You just wait, baby girl,” she warned, wiping at her eyes. “When you’re in my position, about to watch your baby get married… well, you just wait,” she huffed through tears.
Her gentle warning was met with soft smiles from Jill, Olivia, Grace, Emmie, and Ginnie, who had all helped me get ready. Grace and Ginnie had worked my hair into a beautiful, elegant yet unique updo with a single braid interwoven in my dark strands. Grace had done my makeup, and as I stood looking in the mirror, I could barely believe the gorgeous woman that stared back was me.