Page 42 of Nova

''Hey, sweetie.''

''I have never been able to do a fishtail, and dad is the master.'' Piper hooks a thumb over her shoulder toward Cain.

''She insisted on wearing it like this to school every day when she was eight. I had no choice but to figure the shit out. I had to carry my ass down to the hair salon in town and let Mrs. Betty teach me.'' Cain finishes by securing a tie at the end of Piper's hair. His daughter stands then kisses him on the cheek.

''That's what makes you the best.''

With Cain'sgrandfather living close, we opt to walk to his place. And by the looks of things when we get there, we are the last to arrive. As we stroll hand in hand into the backyard, there is a round of fist bumps and pats on the back between Cain and his brothers.

''Alright, out of my way. Get, get,'' a male's voice calls out from behind everyone. Cain's brother Riggs and his wife Luna, who is holding their baby girl, along with Fender, Kiwi, Wick, and his woman Tequila, all back away while laughing as an older gentleman who I know must be Cain's grandfather, steps forward. He looks to Cain, then to me and back to Cain before a huge smile takes over his face. ''Why I never thought I'd live to see the day. Don't just stand there, son. Introduce me to your girl.''

''Pop, this is Promise. Promise, this is my grandfather Abraham LeBlanc.''

I hold out my hand. ''It's nice to meet you, Mr. LeBlanc.''

''Oh, child. Call me Abe or Pop.'' Instead of taking my hand, he pulls me in for a big bear hug. For an older man, he sure is strong.

''Pop, can I have my girl back now?''

''Not yet. Why don't you go help your brother with the grills while Promise and I get to know each other.''

I can't help but giggle when Cain walks away grumbling. Left alone with Abe, he turns to me. ''Join an old man on the porch for a glass of sweet tea?''

''I'd love to.''

Abe holds out his arm, and I place my hand in the crook of his elbow letting him lead me across the yard and up the steps of the porch where a couple of rocking chairs sit. Like a true gentleman, he waits for me to take my seat before he lifts a pitcher of tea sitting on the table beside me, pours me a glass then hands it to me.

''Thank you.'' I take a sip as Abe sits in the chair next to me.

''I like to give Cain a hard time, but I always knew this day would come.'' I look at Abe as he continues. ''Cain has never brought a woman home to meet his family. That tells me you're something special. It's written all over his face.''

I shake my head. ''I don't know, Abe. What I feel for Cain scares me a little. I mean, we hardly know each other.''

"I knew my wife, God rest her soul, was the woman I would spend the rest of my life with the moment I laid eyes on her. I told her as much on our first date. She thought I was nuts. It didn't matter much though. No way was I lettin' her go and I didn't.'' Abe looks out at the water's edge, where the sun is beginning to set. ''I see it in Cain's eyes. In the way, he looks at you. I'd recognize that look anywhere because it's the same one I had all those years ago. It's also the same one Abel had with Luna.'' Abe looks away from the sky and sets his attention back on me. ''It doesn't matter how long you have known someone. Time is just time. What matters is what your heart tells you. Cain is listening to his. The real question here is are you going to listen to yours?''

A couple of hours later,Cain is lounging in a chair near the water's edge with me on his lap. The sun disappeared behind the river a while ago and is now dark. The only thing lighting the sky is the moons' refection and lightning bugs dancing along the bayou.

''You and Pop's have a good chat?'' Cain nuzzles my neck.

''We did.''

''What did you two talk about?''

I shift on Cain's lap and rest my head on his shoulder. ''We talked about you.''

''Figures,'' he sighs, and I giggle. I'm quiet for a moment then add, ''You're fortunate to have the family you do.''

''They're your family now, too, Promise.''

''Cain,'' I breathe.

Cain grips my chin, and I have no choice but to look at him. ''You are mine,'' he jerks his head toward the men and women sitting with us. ''You belong to us and we belong to you. Me, Piper, Pop's, and the club, we're your family now. I know you're scared shitless at how fast things are moving, babe. But I don't know any other way. You're it for me, Promise and I don't plan on wastin' any time fightin' this pull we have. I sure as fuck hope you don't either.'' I swallow past the lump in my throat as I try to find my words—the sincerity of Cain's seen in his eyes. ''Now tell me this, Sugar. You takin' this ride with me?''

Reaching up, I run my palm over his cheek, and through his beard, I love so much and take a deep breath. ''Yeah, honey. I'm with you.''

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