Page 39 of Jaxon

She found him waiting on his motorcycle, his piercing blue eyes peering out from under his leather cut. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him.

“Get on,” he said with a jerk of his chin.

“What are we doing?” But she was already swinging her leg over the seat behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist.

The engine roared to life beneath her, vibrating through her body. “You’ll see.”

Jaxon took them to the poorer side of town, where run-down tenements crowded together and trash littered the streets. He pulled up outside a community center and killed the engine.

“What is this place?” Rachel asked.

“They provide meals and services for homeless folks and poor families. But they’re short-staffed tonight. I thought we could volunteer to help serve dinner.”

Rachel stared at him, stunned. “You want to volunteer?”

He shrugged. “We’re gonna change things around here. Might as well start now.”

Joy and purpose flooded Rachel again, mingling with her affection for this complicated man. She leaned in and kissed him soundly. “Let’s get to work.”

Inside, they donned aprons and helped ladle stew into bowls, carry trays for those who couldn’t, and clear away dirty dishes when people had finished eating.

Rachel looked at the hope and gratitude on people’s faces and felt Jaxon’s hand squeeze hers, his eyes reflecting the same emotions.

They were making a difference together. And in that moment, Rachel knew this was exactly where they were both meant to be.

Epilogue

Three years later…

The rev of Rachel’s motorcycle rumbled through her as she pulled up outside the steel door of the Green Devils’ clubhouse. She killed the engine and swung her leg over the bike, the familiar ache in her lower back barely registering.

After a twelve-hour shift at the medical center, her scrubs were wrinkled and stained with traces of antiseptic, a far cry from the tailored leathers she now wore as an old lady of the club. She ran a gloved hand through her windswept hair and took a deep breath of the crisp night air, scented with the aroma of cigarettes, motor oil and stale beer that meant she was home.

Home. The word still felt foreign to her tongue, eliciting a mix of fear and longing in the pit of her stomach. She shook off the feeling and walked towards the door, the heavy thud of her boots grounding her in the present.

The clubhouse was smoky as always, filled with the raucous laughter and drunken shouts of her brothers. Their eyes followed her as she made her way to the bar. A sea of respect, lust and brotherly affection. She nodded at a few of them; her gaze settling on Jaxon in the corner.

He was watching her with those piercing blue eyes, a slow smile curving his lips. Her heart skipped as warmth flooded her cheeks. After all these years, his gaze still had the power to unravel her, stripping away the layers of control and composure she clung to.

“Hard day at work, darlin’?” His gravelly voice was laced with concern as he enveloped her in a hug, the familiar scent of leather and spice enveloping her senses.

She sighed and sank into his embrace, the tension seeping from her body. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

His chest rumbled with laughter. “That’s my girl.”

A smile tugged at her lips as she breathed him in. She was home.

Jaxon pulled away reluctantly, his hands lingering on her waist. His eyes were soft with affection as he gazed down at her, a hint of nervousness flickering in their depths.

Her brow furrowed. “What is it?”

He cleared his throat, shoving his hands into the pockets of his leather cut. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”

Her heart lurched. “Yes?”

For a moment, he seemed at a loss for words. Then he steeled himself and dropped to one knee, grasping her hands. A hush fell over the rowdy crowd as all eyes turned to them.

Jaxon took a deep breath, his piercing gaze holding hers. “Rachel, from the moment I saw you, I knew you were the one for me. You crashed into my life and turned it upside down, in the best way possible.” His voice shook slightly as he continued. “You bring out the best in me and inspire me to be a better man. I want to share my life with you, through all the ups and downs, as your partner in crime, and as the man who will always be there to hold you when you fall.”

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