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“Precious girl, that was freaking amazing! Young man! I could kiss you.”
Ezra offered her a chin lift and peered at Aunt Joan.
“Dana, it’s about time someone put that self-important asshole and bitch in their place. Shania’s friends will be all over that shit on their social media. Nice to see you finally got a good one,” Taylor explained. “But watch your back. Patrick is fast-tracking his career. This ain’t over yet.”
“Why are you warning us?” Ezra asked.
“Truthfully? Ever since Patrick got involved with Dana’s family, he changed. Patrick was a decent guy once, not now.”
Taylor smiled as he looked at Ezra and gave me a kiss on the cheek. And then he sauntered away with Aunt Joan tucked under his arm.
“Thank you,” I whispered to Ezra and everyone standing close. “For keeping my dignity intact.”
Ezra dragged me away from the group that was forming around us and looked down at me. “Dana, I’m done chasing you. Saw you years ago and decided I wanted you. You gave me a merry chase. No more. Sweetheart, I’m claiming you. I’m deadly serious. You light up like that for me with a kiss; it makes me wonder what we’d be like in bed. And hot isn’t the word I’d use. I’m keeping you.”
“Oh,” I replied, flabbergasted.
Ezra touched a fingertip to my nose. “Get your head around it, woman; you are mine.”
“Ezra,” I murmured, stunned.
This handsome god wanted me?
“Mine, starting tonight. We gonna drink, chill, and have fun. I’m going to get you drunk so you can get the assholes out of your mind, and then tomorrow we’re going to talk. You try running, and I’ll track you down, spank you, and fuck you stupid, so you can’t run again.”
My lady bits quivered. Spank me?
“I’m seeing you like that idea,” Ezra muttered, and his mouth descended on mine.
When Ezra lifted his head, I decided I was putty in his hands. It was a good thing to be.
???
The next day, I paced in my cosy lounge area, wearing a hole in my rug. Ezra had dropped me off last night, totally drunk, as he’d promised. I’d soundly declared my love for Dylan, Antony, Andrew, and all things Rage, including my newly found sisters. Ezra had listened indulgently as I confessed in his truck about my love of the club.
Rambling, I had also told Ezra several times how freaking amazing he’d been. A knight on a white charger, except he wore well-fitting faded jeans and a Henley top and rode a Harley. The Harley, I’d mused, made as much noise as a horse galloping, so I decided Ezra could indeed be my hero.
Ezra had grinned the whole time as I waxed lyrical about the club and what men they were and then how he’d slapped my family in the face. Truly, I thought that was really heroic, considering the weight of their disapproval they’d tried slapping us with. It’d been hysterical when Shania put herself out there—only to be met with Ezra’s sneer.
Ezra’s grin faded a bit when I’d told him how beautiful Shania was and how she hadn’t lied about stealing every man I’d ever been interested in.
Ezra had listened, helped me out of the truck, and put me to bed, and I’d crashed before he even left the room.
This morning, I’d woken up with my hair all over the place and still in my little black dress from the previous night. My shoes were placed neatly on the floor, and on my dressing table was a couple of aspirin and a glass of water.
It was Saturday, so I was off work, and I’d spent the day puttering around the house, tidying up and cleaning. Last night’s events brought a huge blush to my cheeks and gave me some pride. I hadn’t caved under their disapproval, and I’d managed to keep my dignity and self-respect.
Ezra had said that he’d be over for dinner, so I’d put in a rack of lamb and was roasting potatoes. I’d broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and corn on the stove and parsnips cooking merrily. I’d hand made my own stuffing and Yorkshire puddings and was now pacing as they cooked.
My gram had been from England, and she’d taught me how to cook. Dad, however, had been born in South Dakota. They didn’t have time for Gram since she was a content housewife without ambitions. The truth was, I’d spent more time with Gram than at home. Gram’s door was always open. I’d never been happier than when I was in her kitchen learning to cook and bake or sat on the porch making things.
Gram spent lots of time with me, and on weekends, and Dusky would sometimes join us. She even taught me how to sew and knit and crochet. They were old skills, but I knew Lindsey from Rage had made a career out of them. I preferred to do it for myself or friends as I had no family.
My parents had been furious when Gram passed, and they discovered the will. It came as a huge surprise. Grandpa was wealthy from being a doctor and had invested it well. He died when I was a baby, and Gram naturally inherited everything. Gram had apparently carried on investing and playing with it. My mother and father knew Gram had money, but not exactly how much. It’d come as a shock when I had been left eight million dollars and Dusky five. Aunt Joan got another five, and my parents and Shania received nothing.
Gram guessed they would contest the will, so she had ensured it was tied up tight. The lawyer had been amazing. They’d been powerless to intervene.
Gram died when I was twenty, which meant Patrick had learned about the inheritance. It was the only time I’d stood up to him. Against Patrick’s advice, I’d squirrelled the money away until my twenty-fifth birthday and made sure nobody could access it.
