Truly, Madly, Whiskey(81)
“Smart-ass.” He patted her butt. “Move in with me.”
“So you can have your way with me anytime you’d like?”
“That’s a perk. You need to live with me,” he said as she filled her spoon for the umpteenth time. “I’m worried about your eating habits.”
She smiled around the spoon. “Mm. Worried or jealous? Not many people can live off sugar, pizza, and Chinese food and get away with it.”
“Come on, babe. You know you want to take the next step.”
She stuck her spoon into the ice cream again, unable to suppress her unstoppable smile.
“So…?” he urged.
“Remember when we went to Woody’s that first night?”
“Of course. I’ll never forget. That was the night of our first almost kiss. That was the night you started to let me in.”
She melted a little at the way he remembered it. “Yes,” she said softly. “But how did you get me to go with you?”
His brows knitted, and that cocky smile she loved so much appeared.
“Sweet girl, I remember the day I met you. You were so full of snark and attitude, and more beautiful than anyone I’d ever seen. You snagged my attention that day, and you’ve captivated my heart ever since. Chrissy, Christine, Crystal, sugar, baby, baby cakes, sweetheart, will you please make me the happiest man on earth and move in with me?”
Overwhelmed with emotions, she let “Bear” out like a whisper as she fell into his arms. “Yes. Yes, yes, yes.”
Chapter Twenty
THE NEXT WEEK blew in with a surge of happiness and passed in a whirlwind of busy days and busier nights. They spent the evenings packing up Crystal’s apartment and fell into each other’s arms at night with a second wind, making love until the wee hours of the morning. Bear wondered if a person could live on love. If not, he couldn’t think of a better way to die than from too much Crystal. On Sunday Bear’s brothers, Tru, Gemma, and Dixie helped move Crystal’s things into Bear’s house. Our house. Damn, it felt good to think of it that way. They rearranged his den for Crystal to use as a design studio and moved the extra bed to Quincy’s apartment for Jed, who they were helping move the weekend after next. It was amazing how the addition of her belongings transformed the cabin from what Crystal called a gearhead bachelor pad into a warm, welcoming home. She and Bear had taken extra care placing the dolls from her father around the house, setting a few in each room. He liked knowing a piece of the man who had cared enough to try to save her from her mother’s deterioration was with her no matter where she was. Crystal had hung up pictures of her, Jed, and her father. She had no interest in including pictures of her mother, but for her sake, Bear hoped one day her mother would get sober and try to mend the broken fences.
Bear had spent months waiting for things to fall into place with Crystal, and it was worth every second. He’d never felt so complete, but he’d also learned a lot about strength and fortitude from her. As he paced behind the clubhouse Monday night with his cell phone pressed to his ear, waiting for the last of the members to drive away, he prepared to take his final stand in the battle he’d been waging for far too long.
“I just want to be sure that managing the bar is what you want before I make it happen,” he said to Dixie. He’d put off this showdown for long enough, and at this point, it was as much about equality for Dixie in the family businesses as it was about him being able to lead the life he’d always dreamed of. And with Crystal by his side, he’d settle for nothing less.
“Hell, yes. If it weren’t against the stupid club rules, I’d be there with you.”
“I know you would. Did you meet with Dad this morning as we planned?” He’d tried to get an hour alone with his father earlier in the week, but their schedules hadn’t meshed until tonight. With the Silver-Stone offer pending, he didn’t have the luxury of waiting things out.
“Do I ever let anything slip through the cracks?” she challenged.
“Good point. I’ll give you a ring when it’s all said and done.”
Dixie was quiet for a few seconds. “Bear, I just want you to know how much I appreciate what you’re doing. Regardless of what Dad says or does, it means the world to me that you’re willing to go to bat for me.”
“For us, Dix. I want this to work out for my own reasons, too.”
“I know, but you’ve been fighting with Dad on my behalf for longer than you’ve been trying to work with Jace or spend time with Crystal. That counts for something.”
“Thanks. I’ll let you know how it goes.”
After they said goodbye, he called Crystal.
“How did it go?” she asked before he could say a word.
“I’m going in now, but I wanted to see how you were doing.”
“I’m good. I called Jed and told him about what happened when I was in school. I figured since you were taking a big step, I should, too.”
Bear closed his eyes for a beat, fighting the surge of aggression that came with talking about what she’d gone through and wishing he was with her right now. “How did he take it?”
“About like you did. He wanted to be sure I was okay, and then he went ballistic wanting to track down the man and kill him.”