Page 39 of Just Heartbeats (Royalla Motorcycle Club #1)

Kodiak leaned against the doorframe of the clubhouse, arms crossed loosely, watching Roma scrub the top of the picnic table in the setting sun. Her laugh carried across the distance as the young pup tangled its leash around her feet.

He inhaled deeply, content and happy. Right now, everything felt right.

Years ago, he wouldn't have believed such peace existed. Hell, he'd never seen someone settle down. His dad never settled. Most of the Royalla men never settled. Love was fleeting, and loss played a massive part in his life. Roma had shown him what family and home meant.

He thought about Chopper more often these days. Chopper's ghost rode shotgun some mornings, especially when he rode alone. He could still hear Chopper's thunder-laced voice—always a little amused.

"Take care of her, brother. She's worth more than either of us combined."

He'd promised on the patch, on his life, on everything he had left to take care of Roma. At the time, he thought he was giving protection.

He hadn't meant to love her. But he did. Fiercely. Endlessly. And not because she needed saving, but because she was a part of him. He'd even go as far as to say she was born to love him.

She lit a fire in him that no one had been able to do before. She'd done that, whether she was trying to get to him or it happened naturally, he could never figure it out. He only knew that day after day, he found himself loving her more.

He crossed the compound and wrapped his arms around Roma from behind, burying his face in the crook of her neck.

"You ever wonder if he'd approve of us?" Kodiak asked softly.

Roma leaned into him, her fingers finding his without hesitation. It was always like that with her. Long explanations weren't required. She could understand what he was talking about before he finished his sentence.

"Of course, he'd approve. You were his best friend," she said more confidently than he'd expected, leaving no room for him to doubt it.

"Didn't set out to fall for you," he murmured. "But now I can't breathe right without you."

She turned in his arms, smiling like sin and salvation all rolled into one. "Kiss me."

He growled, claiming her mouth. That's what he was talking about. Fucking oxygen.

"Everyone should be arriving any minute." Rubbing her hip, he pulled back. "I'll take the pup inside and hand her to Hunter."

She leaned over and picked up the puppy. "Make sure you tell him not to let her out of his sight. I don't want her getting lost in the crowd, running away, or getting run over."

"She'll be fine." He scooped up Alanis, named after Roma's favorite singer.

He'd found the dog, a mutt with short hair and big paws, one night when he and Cruz were out riding.

He had no idea what made him catch the puppy and zip her into his jacket.

Roma had never asked for a pet before. He had no idea if she even liked dogs.

But the moment she spotted the puppy, it was love at first sight.

"Make sure you repeat yourself until Hunter nods." She looped the leash around his neck. "You know he only listens when he wants."

He cradled the dog under his arm and kissed Roma. That was the easiest way to get her to calm down and relax.

"I got this, baby girl." He kissed her again before walking to the clubhouse.

Inside, he found his MC brother. Hunter was the only one Roma trusted with the dog.

Waving his hand, he got Hunter's attention and then said, "Keep her alive."

Hunter nodded, setting Alanis on his lap. To his surprise, the puppy curled up and put her head down on Hunter's stomach with a deep sigh. He shook his head in wonder. Maybe dogs could sense where they were needed.

The low hum of engines grew louder. He grabbed a beer from Baker as the door flung open and everyone poured into the room.

Halfway done with the bottle, he caught sight of Roma.

She passed out drinks and bantered with the men with the ease only time and trust could bring.

When he saw her mid-laugh and her head thrown back, cheeks flushed, he grunted in approval.

She wasn't only surviving anymore. She was blooming.

Rusty, who once refused to deal with Roma in the garage, now waved his hand in a heated debate over the difference between Jack Daniel and Benchmark. Vein called her "Sis" like they were raised together. And Flash, hard-edged as he was, gave her a nod of respect that only a few received from him.

She belonged. To them. To him. To Royalla.

Not staying away from him for long, she wandered off, first finding Alanis and then finding him.

She waved before she reached him and then disappeared down the hallway.

It wasn't like her to miss out on a get-together that she organized.

She enjoyed when families showed up at the clubhouse because it gave her other women and children to talk to.

Living with a bunch of men often bored her.

Baker approached, leaned against the wall beside Kodiak, and peered in the same direction. "Where'd she go?"

"Room. Maybe." He kept his gaze on the hallway.

He'd give her two minutes and then he'd check on her. She was looking forward to tonight, so it was unlike her to leave.

"All she's talked about this week was the get-together." Baker tipped back his glass. "You'd think she never had a birthday party before."

Every year, Baker made her a cake. The guys hanging out would gather in the clubhouse to sing her Happy Birthday.

However, for some reason, this year, Roma declared that turning nineteen was a special occasion.

And maybe it was. Ever since Chopper was killed, Roma kept her birthday low-key as if it wasn't the same with her dad gone.

Roma walked out of the hallway in her leather jacket and walked straight to him with determined steps.

She leaned against him and whispered, "Will you come outside with me?"

"Don't you want to blow out your candles first?" he asked.

She shook her head and tugged on his hand, leading him toward the door. "I have something to show you."

Rocco held the door open for them. He stepped outside, unsurprised when she led him toward the first picnic table. She stepped onto the bench and sat cross-legged on top, patting the wood, urging him to sit.

She slipped her hand into his. "I did something."

He raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"I accidentally overheard—no, it wasn't an accident. I eavesdropped on you." She wrinkled her nose. "It wasn't hard, you were talking to Hunter and practically yelling."

He cocked his head, playing through all the conversations she might've overheard. She inhaled swiftly and shook her head. He squeezed her hand, encouraging her to go on with what she had to confess.

"I knew what you were getting me for my birthday," she whispered.

"Figures." He chuckled. "Not much is secret around here with you."

"Where did you get it?" She inched closer. "Can I see it?"

Yesterday, he'd spent all morning hiding out in one of the spare rooms with Hunter while Baker kept Roma busy organizing the kitchen in the clubhouse.

Then, last night, he had to be careful when he fucked her, to make sure she wouldn't see the surprise.

He should've known she'd find out about it before he could show her.

He leaned back, pulled up his shirt, and showed her his stomach. She gasped, peering closer and then snapping her gaze up to meet his eyes.

She looked back at the tattoo. "This is wild."

"Like it?"

Across his lower abdomen in three-inch tatted letters was MY ROMA permanently placed on his skin. He let his shirt fall to cover the new ink.

"I love it." She raked her teeth over her lower lip. "When I heard you ask Hunter, I asked him for a favor, too."

He narrowed his eyes. "What did you do, baby girl?"

She shifted on the picnic table, facing away from him and raised the hem of her jacket and shirt, baring her lower back.

MY KODIAK was written between her back dimples.

He palmed her hip and ran his thumb over the edge of the tattoo.

She turned around and grabbed his hands.

He could see that she was pleased. They had yet to go to the courthouse and get married.

To him, having her name on his skin was better than any piece of paper that could get lost or go up in flames.

"I wanted you to know how I feel," she said softly. "So I had Hunter write it where everyone can see it in the summer, and you can see it when you bend me over in front of you."

"You didn't have to—"

"I wanted to." She leaned closer. "I can never repay you for what you've done for me."

"It was never about that," he said softly.

She cupped his face, lifting his head. "I know."

She moved close enough that she could slip her hand under his elbow and hug his arm.

The sky was dark now. The first stars were starting to appear. Bathed in the flood light coming off the building, he reached for her hand, rough fingers curling around hers. "Love you, baby girl."

"I love you, too." She pressed her cheek against his upper arm.

They sat in silence for a while, the kind that didn't need to be filled. The kind that said everything.

Eventually, the music inside kicked up—someone had cranked the volume, and the bass thumped through the walls. Laughter spilled out through the open windows, followed by a chorus of chants and the unmistakable crash of a bottle hitting the floor.

Roma's laughter drifted in the air. "They've already forgotten that it's my birthday."

Kodiak chuckled. "You'll be lucky if they leave you a piece of the cake."

She stood and tugged at his hand. "Come on. Let's join them."

He let her pull him up and lead him back toward the noise and the light and the people who had become more than a club to them. They were family. Not perfect. A little bit criminal. But real.

And as the door swung open and the warmth of it all wrapped around them, Kodiak knew he'd settled.

He liked to think Chopper would approve.