Ink Enduring (Montgomery Ink #5)(75)

“Maya Montgomery,” Jake began, “from the moment I saw you dancing in that bar, I knew you were something special.”

Her family laughed, but Maya couldn’t do anything but remember to breathe.

“I knew you from Jake’s letters,” Border added with a smile. “Every time he talked about you, I knew you were something…special.”

She licked her lips. Were her fingers numb? What about her ears? Could she even feel her ears? And why the hell was she worrying about things like that?

“You’re my best friend, baby,” Jake said.

“Don’t call me baby,” she said with a laugh, though it was more of a habit than anything.

“You’re my baby,” Jake said softly. He put his hand over her stomach. “You’re having our baby. You’re everything, Maya Montgomery. I’m so freaking happy you said you’d be with me. With us. I don’t think I could have become the man I am today without you.”

Tears freely flowed down her cheeks then.

Border wiped them away, and she cried harder. “You let me in, Maya. You didn’t have to. You opened your heart to me, and I’ll forever treasure that gift. I’m a better man because I know you. A better man because you’re in my life.”

They both knelt in front of her, and she swallowed hard. Other people sniffled in the room and her hands shook.

“Will you marry us?” they asked at the same time.

“Will you be my wife?” Border asked. “Will you be part of the three, part of our everything?”

“Will you be his wife and my everything?” Jake asked. “You’ll make him our family in truth and even though I won’t have the piece of paper, I’ll still be there. I’ll be part of it all. We’re asking you to be our wife, be our future. I have my brothers, but Border? He has us. That’s why he should be the one. Unless you want something different and we can do it that way.”

She opened her mouth to speak and nothing came out.

“Well, guys, you made the impossible happen—Maya’s at a loss for words,” Storm said from behind her.

She flipped her brother off without even looking at him, and the room erupted in laughter.

“Children present!” her mother admonished, even though she laughed.

Maya put her hands over her mouth before laughing, as well. “I’m going to have to learn not to curse or flip people off in every sentence when the baby comes.”

“You should be trying that now since my kids are here,” Austin added with a chuckle.

“Answer the guys already!” Miranda said, exasperated.

Maya went to her knees in front of them. “Yes. Of course. I love you both. I want to marry you. For now. Forever.”

They brought her to them, their large bodies surrounding her with their warmth and strength. Her family came around her, as well, shouting and celebrating, but she only had eyes for her men.

They’d endured their pasts, their pain, their angst and loss so they could have each other now. Without that, they wouldn’t be who they’d become, and their connection wouldn’t taste as sweet. They were hers, her men, her future, her everything.

“We need matching ink,” she blurted.

Jake cracked up. “Yeah, I think we do”

“Dibs!” Austin called out.

She glared over her shoulder at her big brother. “I don’t think so, they’re mine. And if you don’t let me have my moment, I’m going to ask Shep to do my ink instead of you.”

Austin put his hand over his heart and feigned being wounded but didn’t speak. She turned to her men and grinned.

“This is going to be so much fun.”

Border looked at Jake, his eyes wide. “I’m a little scared at what we’ve unleashed.”

Jake nodded solemnly. “Thank God you’re here, because you know I could never handle her on my own.”

She glared, but instead of getting back at them for the jab just then, she hugged them close, vowing to never let them go. “Damn straight it takes two of you two handle me. I’m full of awesome.”

“Full of something,” Austin muttered.

This time when she flipped him off, she kissed Jake, then Border, knowing that no matter what, she was a Montgomery, and that meant her life would kick ass.

And the three of them would kick ass together.



THE END



Coming next in the Montgomery Ink world…

Alexander begins to heal in INK EXPOSED





A Note from Carrie Ann


Thank you so much for reading INK ENDURING. I do hope if you liked this story, that you would please leave a review. Not only does a review spread the word to other readers, they let us authors know if you’d like to see more stories like this from us. I love hearing from readers and talking to them when I can. If you want to make sure you know what’s coming next from me, you can sign up for my newsletter at www.CarrieAnnRyan.com; follow me on twitter at @CarrieAnnRyan, or like my Facebook page. I also have a Facebook Fan Club where we have trivia, chats, and other goodies. You guys are the reason I get to do what I do and I thank you.

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