Page 40 of Ironside
“Let me guess. Those pussies got insecure and defensive when you were the same height as them. Or taller, I bet. Weak ass little bitches couldn’t handle a real woman.”
Ironside growled.
“Is that true, petal?”
I hedged.
“Well, yeah, but it’s in the past—”
“Put the damn heels on the registry, Lila,” Ironside said in a commanding tone.
“Wait a minute,” I protested.
He glanced at me, arching an eyebrow. I slid Lila’s iPad closer protectively.
“What if I want to keep looking? I might find something else I like.”
A smile curved the corner of his mouth up and he draped his arm over the back of my chair, leaning in to kiss my temple.
“I better not hear anymore bullshit nonsense from my future wife about being too fucking tall to wear what she wants.”
I snuggled closer against his side, nuzzling into his neck. A few days ago, when he was making breakfast for me one morning, I asked him how he earned the road name Ironside.
Because I’ve always been a bullheaded son of a bitch,he replied.Doesn’t matter how many hits I take, I’ll stay standing to protect my club and the people I care about until I can’t do it anymore.
Ironside interlaced our fingers together and kissed the back of my hand, his icy blue eyes so full of adoration.
No one else fought to stay with me the way Ironside did. I tried to push him away, I tried to make him see that I wasn’t worth it.
But that only made him fight for me even harder. This man was my rock and my fortress. Unwavering in his determination to love me with everything he had.
When dinner was over, Ironside and Jenny presented an array of desserts they’d made, spreading them across the bar. S’mores cookies with gooey marshmallows and chunks of rich chocolate. Peanut butter brownies sliced into thick slabs. Brown sugar peach cupcakes topped with whipped cream. And chocolate truffles loaded with whiskey, bourbon, brandy, and irish cream.
“It might be a little bumpy as you adjust to things around here.” Jenny selected a truffle and bit into it with a moan. “These boys are loud and proud and a damn handful around the clock. My ex-husband still makes me want to tear my hair out. But…”
She paused and placed a few cookies on my plate.
“No one goes hungry on our watch. Welcome to the family, Lena. And thank you for lighting up Ironside’s life again. I’ve never seen him this happy.”
I glanced across the room to where Ironside was seated with Pretty Boy and Psycho, trash talking each other until Ironside burst into hearty belly laughter.
I loved him so much that it seemed as if my heart would burst from it.
Then he caught my eye and crooked a finger in my direction, beckoning to me.
I felt like I had wings on my feet as I practically flew to him. Ironside rose from his seat and took my hand, leading me to a more private table in the corner. He settled into a chair and pulled me onto his lap.
“I have an engagement present for you,” he said.
I held up my hand and wiggled my finger, making my pink diamond wink in the light.
“You already gave me one, remember?”
He hummed.
“Are you saying that I can’t spoil my bride-to-be and shower her with gifts?”
A pleased blush warmed my face. I loved it when he called me his future wife or his future bride. It made me so giddy, so unbelievably happy that I got to marry this man and build a life together.
