Page 14 of Wild Return (Wild Heart Mountain: Wild Rider’s MC #15)

SYDNEY

T he clubroom buzzes with conversation as I twirl the pasta salad with my fork.

“You going to eat that or play with it?” Nate nudges me with his elbow, and my fork skitters across my plate. It lands on the edge of my plate, and a piece of pasta rolls off it and onto the table.

“Play with it.”

My neck prickles, and I glance up to find Viking staring at me from across the room. He has a pitcher of ale in one hand and looks as miserable as I feel.

But I’m not going to let him see that.

I sit up straight and scoop a forkful of pasta into my mouth. I turn to my brother and force a smile as I chew the pasta and swallow it down with a large gulp of wine.

Nate says something about a new kind of coffee bean he’s trying and I laugh loudly, earning a confused look from my bother. But damned if I’ll let Viking see he’s hurt me again.

I worked from home all week, feigning a lingering cold. But I couldn’t miss the club dinner.

It must only be a few days until Viking leaves, and then I can get back to my life. My lonely life.

I push the thought from my head and try for another mouthful of pasta.

The front door to the restaurant bursts open, and a man I don’t recognize strides in. He’s wearing tan chinos and heavy boots, and his hair’s cut in a buzz-cut.

Obviously military, but by the murmurs that ripple around the room, I’d say he’s not an expected guest.

The man strides straight over to Viking followed by a woman in camo pants and a headscarf.

“You’re a hard man to track down.” The stranger’s voice booms over the stilled conversation.

Viking frowns and shakes his head. “You’re wasting your time, Paulie.”

But he’s not looking at the man. He’s looking at me. “I told you; I’m staying.”

The man chuckles. “They all say that at first.” The woman steps forward, and she holds out a brown envelope and some paperwork that I take to be the contract.

“Here’s a sign-on bonus. And I’ll triple the danger pay.”

The room goes silent, and all eyes are on Viking. Barrels sets his fork down, and Nate stiffens next to me.

“Six months, Chris. It’s the easiest money you’ll even make.” Viking stares at the envelope and swallows.

He takes the contract, and my body sags. I put my elbows on the table, and my head sinks into my hands. Viking’s really leaving, and my heart breaks all over again.

The sound of paper tearing has my head jerking upwards.

Viking stares straight at me as he rips the contract into pieces. “I left once, and I’m not leaving again.”

Paulie’s eyes go wide. “This is life-changing money. You’d be a fool not to take it.”

Without breaking eye contact, he flings the scraps of paper into the air. “And I’d be a fool to leave.”

The paper flutters down around him to the floor.

My stomach unclenches, and my chest fills with hope.

“He’s staying,” I whisper.

Paulie’s assistant ducks to the ground to pick up the scattered papers. Viking steps around her, still looking at me, and there’s a question in his expression.

“I’m really staying, cupcake.”

And for the first time, I believe him.

I push my chair out from the table so hard it tips backwards.

Viking strides around the table, and I move toward him on shaky legs. Tears sting my eyes, and I blink them away as he meets me in the middle.

“I will not leave you again, Sydney. Ever. And if this is what I have to do to prove it to you, then I will.”

He takes a small box out of his pocket as he slides down on one knee.

I gasp, and my hands cover my mouth.

“I walked away from you once, and I’ll never do that again. I want you by my side always. Sydney, will you marry me?”

He opens the box to reveal a simple gold band with an emerald set in the middle. My birthstone and the same color as my eyes. It’s perfect.

The last of the hurt dissolves, and my heart dares to hope. All the heartache, the lonely nights, the shattered dreams don’t matter. In the ring I see a new hope, a real commitment. Safety and security with the man I love.

“Yes,” I gasp. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

The room erupts into whoops as I fling myself into Viking’s arms. He staggers under my weight, and we almost topple to the floor before he catches me and pulls me up with him.

Tears stream from my eyes, but they’re happy tears.

Our lips collide, and heat jumps through my body. Our hips bump together and it’s electric, making me push my body against his, wanting more. The whoops turn to catcalls, and we break apart as I remember we’re in a room full of bikers and kids.

Nate is the first to congratulate us. He pulls me into a hug and then Viking. But I hear him mutter in his ear, “You hurt her again and I’ll gut you.”

Viking chuckles. “No chance of that, brother. I’m here for good.”

Nate nods, and his expression softens. “Come for dinner tomorrow. Get to know your nieces.”

The entire club streams past us to offer their congratulations.

Paulie is the last, and he shakes Viking’s hand ruefully. “I don’t understand it.”

“You will when you meet the right person,” Viking says.

“I’m married to the job. I get to travel. I have a nice flat, secure investments.” Paulie shakes his head like he can’t understand why anyone would choose anything else.

I see the life Viking could have had. Job security and adventure, but instead he chose love. He chose me. I squeeze his hand a little tighter.

Viking slaps Paulie on the back.

“Try Hope for recruits. There’s a SEAL team cooling their heels.”

Paulie cocks his head. “Oh yeah, what happened?”

“A mission went bad. The details are classified, but I heard one man lost his life and another lost his speech.”

We were all devastated to hear about the damaged ex-SEALs on the other side of the mountain. The club went to pay their respects at the funeral of the man who didn’t make it home.

“Some of those men might be interested in private work,” says Viking. “They’ve got some aches and pains and not all of them on the outside. But I bet you’ll find someone who wants an adventure. Speak to Joel. Tell him Viking sent you.”

“I’ll do that.”

“But please, stay and eat with us first.”

Another place is set for Paulie and his assistant. And by the end of the night, I reckon he’s half-convinced to give it all up and stay on the mountain.

Viking tucks me into his side, and I snuggle against his warm body.

“I told you I’m home, cupcake. Forever.”

And this time, I believe him.