Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
The diner waited. He didn’t care about what they said.
There were tears in her eyes as she nodded. He couldn’t recall ever being this nervous in his life. He’d looked death in the face, and it wasn’t like this.
“Yes,” she said.
“What?” Bull asked.
“Yes, I love you, too.”
Bull got to his feet as Maddie worked her way through the diners. Fortunately, they saw what was happening and moved out of the way. Within seconds, he had Maddie in his arms, and he sank his fingers into her hair, holding her close as he kissed her.
She melted against him, moaning.
“Bull, you didn’t have to do this,” she said between kisses.
“I did. You had to know that I’m being real. That this between us is right. I love you, Maddie, so fucking much, and that’s never going to change. I want you as my wife. The mother of my children. I want to grow old with you.”
“It also means you’re going to be his old lady,” Grant said.
“Shut up, Grant.”
Maddie glanced past his shoulder.
“Ignore him. He’ll be your brother-in-law, but if it would make you happy, I’ll disown him.”
She chuckled. “You can’t do that.”
“I can, Maddie. I will do anything for you.”
Beatrice cleared her throat. “I think my customers have gotten enough of a view for today. Maddie, you can go. Congratulations, and we will talk soon.” She hugged her daughter, and Carl came out as well.
Bull let her go long enough for her parents to hug her, but he didn’t want to let her go for too long.
Never again.
Leaving the diner, he pulled her into his arms, and Maddie chuckled, looking up at him.
“Forgive me,” he said.
“Bull, I’m going to marry you.”
“I know, but I don’t know how I will ever make it up to you.”
She pressed a finger against his lips. “Just love me. That’s all you need to do.”
“Then that’s so fucking easy, because I love you so much.” He pulled her close and pressed a kiss to her lips. He was never going to let her go, and he would prove to her that he would never hurt her again.
Epilogue
Five years later
“And you forgave him? And what happened to Runt?” Lindsey asked, stroking Runt’s head.
Maddie smiled in the mirror, brushing her daughter’s hair.
“You know what happened to Runt. Yes, I forgave him.”
Bull had helped to invest in the animal shelter. It had taken some time, but all of the dogs were able to find loving homes, and those that were not, well, between the club, the brothers, and of course, her man, they had found a place of love for each of them. Runt had taken a real shine to Lindsey though. Runt had been with her through every single step of the way.
“Your mother has got a heart of gold,” Bull said, coming into the bedroom. Their daughter was dressed for bed. Maddie had bought Lindsey a pair of Christmas pajamas that she hoped would convince her to go to sleep in time for the big day.
Ever since Lindsey could understand the idea of presents and Christmas, their little girl had been a nightmare to keep calm, but she loved it.
She and Bull had conceived on the day he’d proposed to her. Bull had taken her to his home and made love to her well into the New Year, and several days after. In the end, some of his club had invited themselves over to make sure they were both safe and well.
There were many moments over the last five years Maddie had loved, and she would remember well, but some just stood out to her. The day Bull proposed. Their wedding day and night. Their honeymoon. Lindsey’s birth. Their first Christmas together. In fact, every single day with him was a dream come true.
She finished brushing Lindsey’s hair as Bull grabbed their daughter and kissed her, then blew raspberries on her stomach.
Maddie laughed, quickly pulling back the bedsheets as he landed their daughter inside her bed.
“Now, you will stay here or Santa will not stop?”
“Daddy, why did you say all of those horrible things to Mommy?” Lindsey asked.
“Because I was trying to protect her from bad men and I thought I was doing the right thing.”
“But you love Mommy?”
Maddie smiled as Bull pulled her into his arms. “More than anything.”
“Do I have to love someone for saying mean things to me?” Lindsey asked.
“Who is saying mean things to you?” Bull asked.
“David is. He says I’m ugly.”
Maddie stepped close to her daughter, perching on the end of her bed and stroking her brown hair back from her face. “You ignore him. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. You, Lindsey Reynolds, are a beautiful, sweet, young girl.”
Lindsey smiled. “I love you, Mommy.”
“I love you, too.”
“You listen to them, Maddie. You’re an ugly, fat girl, and don’t you go thinking anything but.”