Kale, p.30
Kale, page 30
part #2 of Texas Kings MC Series
I had overheard some of the conversation between the men in my family earlier. Apparently one of the markers was permission to set up the brother of their choice on a dating website. That one seemed to be a hot commodity. The others seemed more like torture. Whoever won that could force one of the others into no sex for a month, not even with your own hand. Another was to wear a dress every day for a week, complete with high heels and a big floppy hat.
Too late, Brenda had let us all know that drinking while in the air was a bad idea. Something about the altitude making the alcohol affect a person differently. None of us knew that. I was the only one that had ever flown before, and even then, it was only a trip to Dallas.
I had watched my brothers each drink at least three beers and a couple of shots of whiskey. My father on the other hand, schemer that he is, was still sipping on his first beer, waiting on his sons to get too drunk to play so that he could take all their money and all their markers.
I caught Smokey’s eye when he looked my way and he winked at me. Wiley old bastard, my Dad.
Mama, Terra, Brenda and Jenna were all in a huddle discussing a party they wanted to plan at the clubhouse to raise money for our friend Kari’s apartment complex that was really a shelter for abused women.
In less than an hour we would be touching down in Alaska and then heading out to the wilderness to see the house that Terra grew up in. My parents would stay with us for a few days and then take Jenna and Brenda with them to go on a cruise ship and see the sights.
My brothers were excited to ‘rough it’ in the wilderness for the next few weeks, spending time with Terra’s Uncle Jonas, the survivalist. Terra had spoken to Jonas once a week and she had convinced him that he would love my family. It was his idea to introduce my brothers to nature.
I had wondered a few times during the planning of this trip if I could bribe the man into feeding them to a bear. When I asked Terra about it she looked offended and asked me what the hell did the poor bears ever do to me.
I watched Terra laugh with my Mom and then lean over to hug her. I loved that the two of them were close. My Mom could be a bit bristly occasionally, but Terra took it all in stride. All of us were luckier to have her in our life.
The object of my fascination turned around just then to check on me. When she saw that I was awake she spoke to the girls and then got up and made her way to the back of the plane where I was reclined after my nap.
She crawled up the chair and laid herself flat on top of me. She propped her head on her hands and looked up into my face. I stared at her for a minute, amazed at her beauty and her strength. I was even more amazed that she was mine.
“I love you, Terra. More than I can even say.”
“I’m going to go back into the kitchen thing and wait for you. Meet me there in two minutes. We’re going to join the mile-high club today, buddy.” Terra winked at me and then got off my lap. I turned to watch her walk down the little hallway to the back of the plane. As I turned back to face the front to sit my chair up my Dad caught my eye.
Smokey just smiled at me as he shook his head. I shrugged and then stood up to walk to the back of the plane.
Far be it from me to deny my woman anything her heart desires.
EPILOGUE
“Terra.” I shook Terra’s shoulder as I whispered to her. “Wake up.”
Her eyes opened, and she stared at me. “What’s wrong?”
“Come with me, sweetheart.”
I stood back from the bed so that Terra could stand up. I took her hand and led her out of the bedroom and through the front room to the door. I opened it and pulled her outside onto the covered porch with me.
“It’s raining.” Terra looked out in awe and moved to the porch rail. She stuck her hand out and let the raindrops falling through the trees land on her palm. She stood there with her arm out for a minute before she whispered, “It’s as beautiful as I remember.”
I got down on one knee and waited for her to turn and look at me. She turned around and her smile lit up her whole face.
“Oh, Kale, I just...” She stopped talking and looked down at me. “What are you...”
“Terra, will you marry me?”
“Yes! Oh, Kale! Yes, a million times!” I pulled Terra’s hand out and slid the engagement ring on her finger before I stood up to face her. She held her hand out and looked at the ring and then looked back up at me, tears streaming down her face.
“I want to go through the rest of my life with you beside me. I want to see you round with my babies, I want to watch you rock them to sleep, I want to take walks with you as our kids run around us chasing the dogs. I want to grow old with you and talk about the first time we met, the first time we kissed, the day I proposed to you. I want to retire and get on the bike with you to take a road trip with no destination in mind, just to get away for a while. I want it all, and I want it all with you beside me.”
Terra tried to speak but she was crying so hard she couldn’t get the words out.
“I love you, sweetheart. So fucking much.” I put my hand up and wiped the tears off of her cheeks. “You’re so beautiful inside and out.”
Terra jumped up into my arms and kissed me until we were both breathless. I pulled her legs around my waist and walked down the porch steps out into the rain with her wrapped around me.
“Let’s make a new memory in the rain, Kale. One we can talk about when we get old and gray.”
And, of course, I could never say no to my Terra.
About the Author
Cee Bowerman is proud, lifelong resident of Texas. She is married to her own long haired, tattooed biker and is the proud Mom to three almost adult kids, a daughter and two sons. She believes in love, second chances, rescue dogs and happily ever after.
Cee received her first romance novel along with a bag of other books from her Granny when she was recovering from surgery at 15 years old. She has been hooked on reading romances ever since. For years she had a dream of writing her own series of stories but motherhood and all the other grown up responsibilities kept getting in the way. Luckily, with the support of her family and the encouragement of her son, she purchased a computer and let her dreams become a reality.
You can find her on Facebook @ceebowerman.
Look for more fun romances in this series in the coming months, and get updates on the Facebook
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Cee Bowerman, Kale
