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

SYDNEY

Four years later…

B arrels raises his glass and peers at the frothy light ale as he swirls it around his glass. A smile spreads across his face.

“To Wild Taste Pale Ale, the newest ale on the mountain.”

Cheers erupt around the room, and everyone raises matching glasses. I lift mine carefully, trying not to wake the baby sleeping on my chest.

This one is just like her father. She’ll sleep through anything, even a room full of bikers celebrating their newest beer.

I raise the glass to my lips and sip the cool liquid. Its bitter taste makes my taste buds spring to life, then the sweet undertones kick in to make up for the bitterness.

“Not bad,” I murmur to Viking.

He has his glass in one hand and our one-year-old toddler on his hip who’s trying to swipe the beer glass.

“You want to try?”

Viking lets Leo capture the glass. He pulls it towards him, and his face screws up in disgust when he sniffs the heady beer.

“Yucky. Don’t like.”

Viking chuckles. “I’ll remind you of that when you’re sixteen and stealing these out of my fridge.”

The entire club has come out to celebrate the new brew. Even Lone Star and Trish are down from the mountain. Lone Star sits in the corner with one of his girls on his knee and his other hand firmly entwined with Trish’s.

Specs is seated near them with a heavily pregnant Cassie, and I bet they’re wondering when they can get away to read.

Maisie barrels past chased by Bettie, Danni and Colter’s eldest. Leo squirms in his arms, wanting to be put down to follow the other kids.

Danni follows behind the kids, and she smile when she sees Leo. “You want to come play, little guy?”

Leo stares at Danni with her perfectly coifed hair and bright lipstick. I think he’s half in love with his Auntie Danni. Everyone is an auntie or uncle here. Our kids are growing up with one large family and plenty of cousins.

Viking sets Leo down, and he snatches Danni’s hand as she leads him off to the corner where the kids are. I’ll go take my turn minding the kids soon, but first I want to enjoy a few moments with my man and enjoy the celebration of the new beer.

Viking slides his arms around me, and I lean against him. With my man behind me and my baby asleep on my chest, I let out a long contented sigh.

With his free hand, Viking runs it casually up and down my arm, giving me goosebumps and making me wonder how soon we can sneak out of here and get the kids to bed early.

“There are a lot of people who go into making the brewery what it is, and I couldn’t have done it without the woman who keeps the place running—our operations Manager, Sydney Erikson.”

All heads turn to me, and I raise my glass and catch Barrels’s eye across the room. It’s nice to get recognition for the work I do. But there are others that need recognizing too.

I stand up straight and make my voice carry across the room. “And I couldn’t have kept the brewery running without the support of the entire club. I’d like to acknowledge the unsung heroes of the Wild Riders MC.”

I spy Danni in the corner with three kids around her.

“Danni, who minds the kids, allowing me to keep working…” I search the crowd for Maggie and find her wrapped in Arlo’s arms. “And Maggie, who keeps the cookie supply coming.” I look for my other lifeline and find him with a kid on one shoulder and his wife tucked into his other.

“And Davis for the coffee that keeps the brewery running.”

There’s cheers all around, and glasses are raised.

I get an appreciative look from Raiden. As Club Prez, he knows how important it is to have the club working together.

Barrels goes on to thank his team of brewers, the distributors, Isla, who does marketing, and finally his wife, Charlie, who does the tasting events.

There’s hope that the new pale ale will be another award winner, bringing more prosperity to the club.

I lean against Viking and sigh contentedly. The club is our family, our place of work, and our home.

Four years ago, I gave him a second chance, and I’m so glad he did.

Curious about the injured Navy SEAL’s on the other side of the mountain? Read A SEAL’s Heart next.

Ed’s a wounded warrior and Avery’s his best friend’s little sister. She doesn’t know the terrible secret he keeps about her brother…