Needing Carrie: A Savage Brothers MC Novella(14)

“Once in a land far, far away lived a Princess with beautiful long red hair…”

“Just like me, Daddy!”

“Just like you, baby. She had laughing green eyes and everyone that met her, loved her…”

I tell the story from memory, because I made it up myself so many years ago, about a beautiful Princess and the ugly Troll that she insisted on loving. It’s a story I never get tired of, and a story Jazz always demands. A story that has a happy ending because of Carrie.

Always, Carrie.



“Shouldn’t you be getting ready?” Mary asks, coming in the room, as I finish telling Jazz her story.

“Just heading that way,” I answer, kissing Jazz before I help her off the bed. I take the box out of Mary’s hand, kissing her cheek. “You look beautiful, Mom,” I tell her, and it’s the truth. She’s wearing a soft pink dress and her gray hair is brushed until it shines. It frames her small, pixie face, appearing much younger than she actually is.

“This old thing? My son bought it for me on the day he gave me one of the best presents he’s ever given me.”

“I didn’t get a pwesent!” Jazz complains, and Mary laughs while I grin at the way she mispronounces her r’s. I’m going to miss these small things when Jazz gets older. Maybe Carrie and I should think about having another child? We want more, and really it would be better if the kids were closer in age so they would play together when they got older.

“You did too, it’s in this box,” Mary says, patting the box I laid on the bed a second earlier. “Speaking of which, you better take Carrie her box. Just leave it outside of the door, Jacob Blake. I don’t want her seeing you before the wedding.”

“Mom—”

“I mean it! We will not tempt fate.”

I shake my head, but there’s a big part of me that agrees with her. I don’t want to do anything that might mess up today. I need today to be as close to perfect as possible for Carrie.

“Got it,” I tell her, kissing her forehead. “You would have made a good drill sergeant,” I tease her, walking towards the door.

“Daddy!” Jazz squeals, and I stop, turning around just before she slams her little body into my legs. “You didn’t hug me,” she says, so I kneel and give the Princess what she demands. A hug.





15





Carrie





My tears have finally stopped, and I’m moving my finger over and over the locket.

“Care Bear,” I hear Jacob through the door.

“Jacob! Come in, honey. It’s not locked.”

“Mary has ordered me away, baby. At least till after the wedding. Something about bad luck.”

“That’s silly! You’ve already seen me today.”

“You explain that to Mom,” he laughs. “I got your note.”

“Mary didn’t give me time to write more.”

“You said yes. That’s all that matters.”

“I love my presents,” I tell him, wondering if he’d really be mad if I opened the door.

“I have another one for you. Something old. I uh…hope it’s okay. I’m going to leave it outside the door for you.”

“Jacob!” I cry like a wild woman, not really wanting him to leave.

“Yeah?” he asks, his voice hoarse.

“This is silly. I need to kiss you.”

“It probably is Care Bear, but…”

“But?”

“It sounds stupid, but I don’t want to even take the chance that something will mess this up. I want…I need this day to be perfect for you,” he says and the emotion in his voice vibrates so thickly I can feel it hit me, settling in my stomach.

“Close your eyes, Jacob.”

“What? Carrie—”

“I’m coming out, Jacob, so if you don’t want to see the bride before we say I do, you better close your eyes and keep them closed.”

“Damn it, Carrie.”

“Close them. I’m opening the door!”

“They’re closed,” he growls, as I open the door.

When I open the door, my breath catches. There stands Jacob in a suit. I love my man naked, I love him in torn jeans and a t-shirt, and I love him when he has on his Savage MC cut, and riding clothes. There’s nothing I’ve seen him wear, or not wear, that I haven’t loved. But like this…my heart literally stops and flips in my chest. How did I ever get so lucky?

“You look so beautiful,” I whisper. And he does…I honestly think it couldn’t get any better, until that smile. Jacob has these masculine lips that are thick and soft, but somehow rugged at the same time. I can run my tongue over them and never get tired. They taste like musky male and heated sex. Seeing them in a smile always makes me catch my breath, but right now, this smile affects me more than any he’s ever given me to date. This smile is full of happiness and joy, but I see something else. I see…peace. I can literally see it. My heart beats hundreds of times within a minute in my chest as excitement funnels through me. This is the first time that I can’t see a trace of the past in Jacob’s face. There’s no wrinkles around his eyes or forehead, nothing that would make me think he’s trying a little too hard to smile.