Page 43 of Reaper & the Lioness (Lone Star Mavericks MC #1)

E va paced the living room, a ball of nervous energy. I’d tried involving her in the cooking process but kicked her out of the kitchen within fifteen minutes. She remained a terrible sous chef, snacking on all the carefully measured ingredients I had on the counter.

The scent of roasting turkey and herbs filled the air, and a pumpkin pie sat cooling on the counter.

“Would you calm the fuck down?” I yelled over the sizzle of onions in the pan. “You’re making me nervous, and I don’t do nervous.”

Had I known she would be this neurotic, I wouldn’t have agreed to host Thanksgiving at our new house.

We’d moved in only a few months ago, the sharp scent of fresh paint still lingering in some rooms, and her father had been itching for a visit.

That had escalated into a whole family ordeal, with additional settings for Linc, Mom, Rhetta, and Thane.

“I can’t help it,” Eva shot back, running her hands through her hair for the hundredth time, messing up her styled curls. “What if your mom hates me?”

I stopped and turned to face her, incredulous. “Are you fucking kidding me? My mom already loves you. She asks to speak to you every time she calls.”

Eva bit her lip, unconvinced. “Yeah, but that’s over the phone. What if she meets me in person and decides I’m not good enough for her son?”

I wiped my hands on a dish towel and strode over to her, placing my hands on her shoulders. The soft fabric of her maroon sweater warmed my palms. “If anything, she’ll wonder what the hell you’re doing with me.”

Just then, the doorbell rang, its chime echoing through the house.

Hawk bounded down the stairs, his nails clicking on the hardwood, tail wagging.

Hot on his heels ran Poppy, our Dutch shepherd foster pup, all gangly legs and floppy ears.

Eva’s eyes went wide with panic. I gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze.

“Breathe, my Lioness. It’s just family. I’ve watched you stab a prospect before. I think you can handle this.”

She nodded, taking a deep breath. “Right. It’s just our family.”

I couldn’t help but smile. Our family. I marveled at how much had changed since the start of the year. Here we were, hosting a Thanksgiving dinner like some normal, suburban couple.

As I opened the door to greet our guests, I caught sight of the small bump just beginning to show under Eva’s sweater. Our little secret, for now. Though Mom would probably figure it out before dessert.

“Hawk, Poppy, sit!” Eva commanded, her voice stern. Both dogs skidded to a halt, planting their butts on the floor, though Poppy’s tail wiggled against the hardwood.

I opened the door, and Mom pushed past me, making a beeline for Eva. Before she could even get out a nervous “hello,” Mom had enveloped her in a tight hug.

“Oh, honey, you’re even prettier in person.”

Eva’s face flushed red, but the tension left her shoulders.

Mom turned to me, her eyes twinkling. “Roman, dear. It smells amazing in here.” She pulled me into an embrace. “She’s lovely,” she whispered. “Don’t mess this up.”

Linc followed with a bottle of wine in each hand. He handed them to Eva with a wink. “You can’t spell ‘family’ without alcohol.”

Eva laughed, the sound genuine and relaxed despite her earlier anxiety. “That makes absolutely no sense at all.”

Linc scooped up Poppy, the brindle-colored pup wriggling in his arms. “So, when are you two making this little girl officially part of the family?”

“She’s just a foster,” Eva insisted.

Linc gave me a knowing grin. “Sure, sure.”

The doorbell rang again, setting off another round of excited barking. I opened it to find Joel, Eva’s dad, standing on the porch. His eyes crinkled as he smiled, taking in the chaos behind me.

“Joel, come in,” I said, ushering him inside. “I’d like you to meet my mother, Susan.”

As they exchanged introductions, the door swung open again. Thane and Rhetta walked in without knocking. I caught the expression on Joel’s face—a mix of surprise and uncertainty. Eva clearly hadn’t filled him in on all the details of our life yet.

Thane and Rhetta hung up their cuts and greeted everyone, hugging Susan like old friends.

“Joel,” I said, sensing an opportunity. “Mind giving me a hand in the kitchen?”

Rhetta, already in on my plans for the night, chimed in. “Great idea. Eva, let’s open that wine Linc brought. I picked it out for him, so I know it will be good.”

I smirked as Eva grabbed her wine glass, already filled with grape juice, ever so prepared to keep our secret for now.

After removing the turkey from the oven, I turned to Joel, pulling out a small velvet box. Joel’s eyes widened as I opened it, revealing a vintage-style emerald ring.

“I want to ask Eva to marry me tonight,” I said, my voice low. “I hope I have your blessing.”

Joel’s face broke into a wide smile. “My daughter has never been so happy. You absolutely have my blessing.”

Silenced filled the kitchen for a moment, and then Joel cleared his throat. “So, your best friend is the president of a motorcycle club. Eva hadn’t mentioned that.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “I noticed you caught that and figured she hadn’t told you anything yet.

I think she wasn’t quite sure how. To keep it simple, Thane’s the president of the Mavericks.

And I’m his VP.” I paused, choosing my words carefully.

“I do everything in my power to keep Eva safe from that part of my life. But honestly, she doesn’t need protection.

That daughter of yours is a force of her own. ”

Joel nodded, a mix of pride and concern in his eyes.

“She doesn’t need a knight in shining armor because she’s too busy forging her own goddamn sword,” I said, admiration coloring my tone. “She’s tougher than most men I know. I’m not the only one who watches out for her, though. Every single Maverick stands ready to protect her.”

Joel’s expression softened. “She is a strong woman. I raised her that way. But life has hardened her more than it should have.”

I nodded as I added a bit of salt to the bowl of mashed potatoes. “I know. She’s been through more hell than she deserves. I’ll do everything I can to make sure she never has to worry again, though.”

I handed him the bowl of potatoes and picked up the platter holding the turkey, carrying it to the dining room and placing it at the center of the table. The spread of food displayed before us could belong on the cover of Southern Living magazine.

As we gathered around the table, the warm glow of candles flickered. I took in the sight before me. While I considered all my men family, Thane was as important to me as Linc. Seeing our parents at the table and Eva’s glowing expression fulfilled me in a way I’d yet to fully comprehend.

I stood and raised my glass. “I just want to say how thankful I am for all of you—especially Eva.” I turned to face her.

My heart thundered as nerves I didn’t know I had surged to the surface.

“You’re my Lioness. Fierce, protective, and loyal.

You face every challenge head-on with a courage that never ceases to amaze me.

Your strength isn’t just in your ability to stand up to danger, but in the way you love. ”

The ring box weighed heavily in my pocket.

“Before we carve the turkey, I just have one question …” I dropped to one knee in front of the only person in this world I would kneel before.

The room fell silent as I pulled out the vintage ring, its teardrop emerald surrounded by marquis diamonds catching in the candlelight. “Will you marry me?”

The room fell silent, all eyes on Eva as tears welled up in her eyes. “Yes, Roman,” she whispered, then louder, “Yes!”

As cheers erupted around us, I slipped the ring onto her finger.

The long weekend with our family had filled our home and hearts.

Our family. It still struck me as strange, but it was something I could grow accustomed to.

Susan and Dad left this morning, promising to return for Christmas. I’d started shopping online for the perfect special gift to reveal the big news to them.

The weight of the ring on my finger still felt new, catching the light as I twisted it. I couldn’t stop smiling from the joy radiating from within. I watched Roman move around the kitchen, cleaning up the last dishes from our Sunday brunch.

“I still can’t believe this is real.” My hand instinctively moved to rest on the swell of my stomach.

Roman turned, his eyes softening as they met mine. “Better start believing it, my sweet Lioness. You’re stuck with me now.”

I laughed, the sound bubbling up from somewhere deep inside. “Stuck with you? I think you’ve got that backward. You’re stuck with me. You’re about to marry a woman who can’t cook, hates to clean, and is a better shot than half your club.”

He crossed the room in a few long strides, pulling me into his arms. The familiar scent of leather and his cologne enveloped me, grounding me in the moment.

“That’s why you’re perfect for me. I can do the cooking.

We have more than enough money to pay for a maid if you want.

And I love that I can trust you to shoot straight. ”

A wave of nausea washed over me, a reminder of the morning sickness that had been plaguing me. I took a long, shaky breath, Roman rubbing my back in understanding. “You know, when I first came to Conroe, I never imagined this was where I’d end up,” I murmured against his chest.

Roman pulled back, raising a brow. “You mean an old lady hosting Thanksgiving dinner for our mismatched and broken family while carrying an outlaw’s babies?”

I nodded. “Exactly. But I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

Roman’s chest rumbled with a low chuckle. “And I never imagined I’d be lucky enough to meet a woman like you, let alone start a family with her. Life’s funny that way.”

I pulled back, seeking his eyes. “Do you ever wonder what would have happened if you hadn’t been there that night?” The night he’d saved my life. Twice.

He shook his head, his expression serious. “I don’t waste time on ‘what ifs.’ All I know is that meeting you changed everything. You became my world. And now, you’re giving me even more.”

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, hormones amplifying my emotions. “After losing Mom and Jace, I thought I’d never have a family again. But you, the club, even Hawk and Poppy … you’ve all become my home. And now we’re creating our own little family.”

Roman’s thumb brushed away a tear that had escaped. “Home isn’t a place, Lioness. It’s wherever we are together. You, me, and our little cubs.”

A sense of peace settled over me as I leaned in to kiss him. This life wasn’t the one I’d planned, but it turned out better than anything I could have imagined.

Our story didn’t resemble a fairy tale. It felt messy, complicated, and at times dangerous. But it belonged to us, and I wouldn’t change a single chapter.