Page 17 of Reaper
I grin and reach for Reaper’s hand as I lean up from the ground. “More like ten, and I figure I’ve wasted enough time already.”
My father groans out a reply, but I can’t hear him. I’m locked on Reaper’s gaze again and everything else has faded away.
If this were a week ago, I’d be desperate for my father’s approval, and I’d feel horrible that I was dating his best friend. But right now, I’m happier than I’ve ever been, and I’m not afraid to let my father walk into the house alone while I sink into Reaper’s big, rough hands, and take a ride on his motorcycle.
Epilogue
Reaper
Three Months Later
I pull up at the veterinarian’s office and climb off my bike. It’s busier than normal today. Usually, this time of night there’s one car in the parking lot. Today, there’s six.
“Hey, little cat. What’s going on here?” I greet Mabel at the counter with a smile.
She’s tucked behind the counter with her kitten scrubs and a little gray sweater. Her hair is tied back into a low ponytail and her tone, as usual, is soft and sweet as she says, “I’m almost done, babe. I have one more client to check in and then we can go.”
She rounds the counter and lifts up onto her toes to give me a kiss. I’m not sure I’ve ever been prouder of another human being before in my life. In the last three months, Mabel has stood up to her father, quit work on the farm, gotten a job as a receptionist here at the clinic, enrolled in school, and moved in with me. Her life has done a complete one eighty.
Mine has too. After missing the last two bounties, I pulled from that life and went to work on the farm with Danny boy. I still run with the MC and help out as I can, but chasing after assholes got old and my buddy needed me. Besides, it’ll give me more time with the baby when she comes.
I sit in the clinic and watch Mabel work. She’s so sweet with the clients, taking extra time to scratch them between the ears and give them a treat. She’s good to the humans too, always greeting them with a smile.
When she’s officially checked the last person in for the day, she stands from her chair and hollers into the back room, saying goodbye to everyone in the office.
They answer back in unison. “See you tomorrow, Mabel. Good luck on your road test tomorrow!”
Mabel bounces out of the back room with a grin, waving to everyone as she leaves as though she’s a princess. I’m glad she feels like that, because she is.
“How was your day?”
“Fantastic!” She grins and steps out of the door I hold open for her. “Yours?”
“Well, your father has officially hired three ranch hands, and we decided today that we have enough help to expand.”
“That’s great! Is he… okay lately? I know he came to the wedding and all, but he’s been quiet the last few times we talked.”
We married a month ago near a stream on Beartooth Pass. Mabel dressed in a simple white gown, and I wore a pair of jeans, a black T-shirt, and my cut. I took her to the patch of wildflowers near the edge of the road where we had our first kiss and we gathered bunches of balsamroot and fireweed. I’ll remember that day forever.
We laughed and smiled the entire afternoon. I walked away wondering if the days would get much better than that. It’s funny, every day since has. Sure, they all have their unique challenges, but there hasn’t been a day that’s gone by that I haven’t looked at Mabel and been more grateful than ever.
“Earth to giant…” She kisses my cheek. “Where’d you go?”
“Thinking about the wedding. Well, about us picking wildflowers beforehand.”
She grins. “Yeah! That was an amazing day. Especially the part where you laid me out and had your way with me in some of the taller ones.”
I lean into her neck and scrape my teeth against her skin as a warm breeze blows across the parking lot. “Is that right?”
“Yup! Any chance that’s happening again anytime soon?”
I clear my throat and brush my hand over my beard. “We’ll see how you do on this road test tomorrow. You ready or you want to go out driving again tonight?”
“No, I’m ready. I could do this in my sleep. Besides, everyone says the DMV in the Springs is super easy on folks. You think that’s true?”
“I’ve heard that too. But even if they weren’t, you’re a great driver. You’ll pass.”
She tips up onto her toes and kisses my cheek as we wander through the lot toward my bike. “Thank you, babe. I love you.”
