Rake's Redemption (Wind Dragons MC #4)(57)

“Very eloquent,” I say, trying to lighten the intensity radiating from him. “I’m so what?”

“Just,” he replies, pushing my hair back behind my ear. “Everything. You’re everything. It overwhelms me sometimes.”

“Good everything?” I find myself asking, even though I know he meant it in that way.

“Very good,” he says, resting his forehead on mine. “Never did I think, ever, in my f*ckin’ life, would we be here right now. Together. Winning. Beating the past. Fuck.”

“We haven’t won yet.”

“We will,” he says with confidence. “Because if there’s one thing I won’t lose, it’s you for a second time.”

*

“Uncle Rake, it’s my birthday!” Clover yells, running up to us as we walk outside, where a big bouncy castle has been set up.

“I know, princess,” Rake says, lifting her up with one arm and handing her a brightly wrapped present with the other. “Happy birthday.”

Clover takes the package and beams up at Rake. “Thank you! I’ll add it to the pile. Daddy said I can open them all later.” She then turns to me, her big hazel eyes curious. “Are you Uncle Rake’s girlfriend? Mom said he has a lot of them.”

Rake playfully tickles her. “Why you always gotta make trouble for me, Clover?”

“Someone has to.” She grins, her black hair blowing in the wind. This little girl is going to be an absolute heartbreaker when she’s older, and with that attitude too, men better look out.

“This is Bailey,” Rake says, gesturing to me. “You be nice to her, you hear me?”

“I’m always nice, Uncle Rake,” she says, an amused glint in her eyes. “Nice to meet you, Bailey.”

“You too, Clover,” I tell her. “I’ve heard so much about you. And happy birthday—I hope you like the present.”

“You chose my present?” she asks, staring down at the black-and-pink-wrapped gift.

“I did,” I reply, wondering about why she was asking. She turns her little head to Rake. “Uncle Rake, you didn’t even choose my present?”

Rake throws his head back and laughs. “Give me a break, princess. I don’t know what seven-year-old girls like these days.”

She grins, looking back at me. “Thank you for the gift, Aunt Bailey.”

My heart instantly warms at being called that. “You’re welcome, sweetie.”

“Now I have some other people for you to meet,” Rake says, then puts Clover down. “Clover, this is Cara and Rhett.”

Clover looks down at the two children by my side, as if only just noticing them.

“More friends. Yay!” she squeals, running up to them and taking them both by the hands. “Come on, let’s go play.”

Cara glances back at me once but then follows Clover into the bouncy castle, Rhett, as always, by her side.

“She’ll look after them,” Rake says, watching me. “Come on, baby. Let’s get something to eat; I’m starving.”

I roll my eyes. “What’s new?”

He hugs me from behind, enveloping me in his warmth. “Always hungry when I’m around you.”

His lips touch my neck, and I shiver.

I’m always hungry around him too. I step forward, pulling him with me. Everyone says hello and comes over to greet us. Rake goes over to Sin, who is working the grill, with a plate in his hand, while I sit down with Anna, Lana, and Faye, who are watching the kids and chatting among themselves.

“You two look so f*ckin’ cute together” is the first thing Faye says to me. “I feel like taking a picture every time I see it, because I never thought I’d see this day.”

Anna looks up from her phone and smirks at Faye. “That some of the men would be happily taken?”

“That Rake could be satisfied by one *,” Faye replies casually, making me almost choke on the piece of candy I’d just popped into my mouth.

“Faye,” Anna admonishes, flashing me an apologetic look that turns into a wince.

“It’s okay,” I tell her. “I know he was a man-whore.”

Lana leans forward, resting her elbows on the table. “Yeah, but name one of them who wasn’t.”

“Arrow wasn’t too bad,” Anna says a little defensively. “At least not as bad as the rest.”

“Rake was the worst,” Faye says, staring Anna down. “Sorry, but you have to admit.”

Anna and Lana reluctantly nod.

“Yeah, but now he’s the same way he was with Bailey in high school,” Anna says. “He doesn’t even look at any other women. And trust me, I’ve been watching him.”

Faye looks to me. “You’re his, and he’s yours. It’s actually beautiful to see. Who’s next? I vote Vinnie; he needs to be taken down a peg.”

We all look to Vinnie, who is out on the grass, enjoying the sunlight. He pulls his T-shirt over his head and stretches out, and we all lower our gazes to his six-pack.

“Don’t think it’s going to be hard for him to attract someone,” Lana murmurs, fanning herself dramatically.

“Where did he pull those muscles from?” Faye asks quizzically. “I don’t remember them looking like that, and I’ve known Vinnie ever since he was a prospect.”