If I hadn’t loved him already, I would have fallen in love with him in that moment. I fell in love all over again. It was instantaneous.
Day breaks on the hillside, hiding you from me. As soon as I saw your face, I knew this love was meant to be. I’m too afraid to touch you, afraid you won’t want me. Another time, another place, I might be what you need.
And then they started singing together and my heart filled up and spilled over.
I wrapped my heart in cellophane, afraid that it might break. Someday, I might unwrap it. But someday never comes.
This time, things are different. This time, things are real. This time, it’s worth unwrapping the broken heart I thought that time would never heal.
You’re the one who showed me that this love was worth the risk. This is the time, this is the place, someday is today. This is the time, this is the place, someday is today.
My hands were clenched together. I realized that my face was soaked with tears. I couldn’t speak. I didn’t think I could move. But then Mac put down his guitar and walked toward me. I was on my feet and in his arms before I even know what was happening.
He lifted me up, kissing me.
“I love you, Suzanna. I love you so damn much.”
“I love you, too. Mac… that was so beautiful.”
He smiled at me, setting me on my feet and wiping away my tears as the crowd cheered for us. Then the band started playing and he took my hand.
“First dance?”
I nodded, and he led me to the center of the deck. He held me in his arms, swaying to the music. I was so overwhelmed with happiness I felt like I would burst.
No one ever felt more loved.
I knew it. I was the luckiest girl in the world. I’d thought my life was over. I’d let it be over. Not that I’d wanted to die, but I was content to sleepwalk through life, safe and protected from getting hurt again.
But just like the song, he had woken me up. He had shown me that his love was worth the risk. That I was worth the risk.
Mac was my miracle.
Chapter 44
Donnie
“That was incredible, baby,” I said, my voice clogged with emotion.
“You liked it?”
“Are you kidding? I loved it. When did you write that?”
“That first night you kissed me on my front stoop. When I freaked out and asked you to leave.”
“I was sad that night, too. You were worth the wait, Wife.”
My beautiful wife smiled at me and gave me a quick kiss before running to join the band. Mac and Suzanna were already swaying to the beginning of the song. It was their first dance together. I couldn’t be happier for him.
Mac truly was a brother to me. More than a cousin. And not just because I’d known him his own life. The club bond was as strong, if not stronger than blood. But Mac and me, we had all three. History, blood, and the club.
I loved the fucker so damn much.
I saw Janet give the signal and got out my phone. I saw Cal, Whiskey, and Lucky do the same. The girls were all smiling and watching Jack.
It was time to have a little fun with the big guy. We’d never successfully pranked him. Lord knew, the younger guys had tried. They all looked up to him. Hell, I looked up to him. Jack was one of the most incredible people I’d ever met.
I rubbed my hands together. This was going to be good.
“Jack,” Janet said loudly as she walked over to him. As always, his attention was on her, kind of like a dog with a big ole juicy bone. He was always watching her. So he perked up right away. “It’s time to get the kids in bed.”
There was a van waiting to take all the kids to Whiskey and Becky’s place for a giant sleepover. Mae was watching them tonight. She waved at Jack coyly.
The wily old bird was totally in on the joke.
Jack nodded, giving his wife a meaty kiss before turning in a circle to look for his children. They were normally very easy to find.
But not tonight.
Children came streaming out of the house to run around the deck, screaming. Every one of them wore a wig. A red wig.
Even the babies.
I stifled a laugh as Kirsten patted baby Marie’s back, bouncing the baby up and down. She surreptitiously adjusted the lopsided red wig that was in danger of sliding off.
Jack’s big face crumpled into a frown of confusion.
There were redheaded children everywhere. It was total anarchy. Everyone was laughing as Jack started lifting kids up by the back of their shirts, peering at faces, then setting them down again. Finally, he shrugged and just started scooping children up, tucking one or two under each massive arm, and carrying them to the van.