Winter's Touch (The Last Riders Book 8) (13 page)

V
iper held
her hand as Winter laid on the examining table in Dr. Price’s office, while the doctor pointed at the tiny being they had created.

She couldn’t help crying, and she could have sworn she saw some tears glinting in Viper’s eyes, as well.

“From what I’m looking at, I think you’re around four mouths.”

“That was when I had the implant put in and I stopped taking the pill.”

“I’m going to talk to Willa about quality control in the condom company she owns.”

Winter couldn’t tell if Viper was serious or joking, but Winter made a mental note to tell Willa that the Last Riders were going to be changing their choice of prophylactic.

“There is always a chance. Nothing is infallible.” Dr. Price pressed a button, and a digital image of their baby slid out. Dr. Price handed it to Viper. “We’ll make you another appointment to remove the implant.”

The doctor wiped the jelly from her abdomen and then helped her sit up on the table, covering her with the paper blanket. He then sat on a stool next to the x-rays of her spine that Dr. Matthews had sent with her for his review.

His serious look frightened her as she tightened the grip on Viper’s hands.

“We’re going to have to watch your weight very carefully to keep extra pressure off your spine. For now, keep working out, but don’t increase the amount you’ve been doing. A pool would be good. I know the local Y has one. That will be a good way to exercise without hurting your back.”

“My aunt has a pool.”

“Good. As your pregnancy progresses, the titanium pins in your hips are going to be what concerns me the most. I suggest we plan a C-section as soon as the baby is strong enough to hold his or her own.”

“I don’t want to risk the baby’s health. I will do anything you tell me to do.”

“I’m only talking a couple of weeks early. The last trimester is going to be hard on you, Winter. As the baby grows, so will the pressure on your spine. You’re going to be in a great amount of pain.”

“I’ll deal with it.”

“I’ll remind you of that when you’re in a wheelchair and on bed rest.”

She swallowed hard at his grim expression.

“It’s going to take a lot of sacrifice from both of you, but working together, in five months, I’ll be placing a healthy baby in your arms.”

“I can do whatever you tell me.”

Dr. Price’s expression lightened as he stood up. “Now, go celebrate. Congratulations to both of you. He shook Viper’s hand. “I didn’t know when you talked me into moving to Kentucky that you would be putting me to work so soon. I haven’t even had time to take my new boat out.”

“I have to admit, I’ve never had an investment pay off so fast.”

The two men left her alone to get dressed, and when she came out through the door, Viper was waiting for her.

He took her arm as they left the office. “You okay? You look a little shocked.”

“I’m fine.” She placed her hand on her stomach. “I’ve been pregnant four months.”

“Yes, you have.” Now that his own shock was over, Viper had a confident swagger that she found endearing. “You want to go get something to eat?”

“No, I’m goo—”

“Mrs. James?”

Both Winter and Viper stopped as a young woman called her name.

“Hi, Megan. How are you doing?” Winter saw Megan had lost the glow she had when she last saw her.

“I’m good. Getting fat.” She patted her growing belly, staring at Viper with envy in her eyes. “Is he who you’re married to?” she asked unabashedly.

“Yes. Viper, this is a former student of mine, Megan… Dawkins.” It still made her sick to think that Curt had married the girl.

Viper held his hand out for Megan to shake. She blushed when he stared down at her.

“Were you in Dr. Price’s office?” she asked nosily, when Viper took his hand back.

As they were outside his office, it was impossible to deny where they were coming from. All the Last Riders and Aunt Shay knew she was expecting, so she saw no reason not to tell her.

“Yes. We’re having a baby.” Winter clutched Viper arm, who would have passed the inquisitive teenager without talking.

“Congratulations. When are you due?”

“November 3. When are you due?” Winter tried to inject a spark of enthusiasm for Megan becoming a mother, hiding her anger that her husband should be in jail instead of being legally able to share her bed.

“December 7
^th
. Dr. Price is your doctor, too?”

“Yes. It’s good seeing you again. We’re just going to get some lunch.”

Winter felt Megan staring at them as Viper held the truck door open, gripping her around her waist to lift her onto the truck seat.

He climbed in the front seat, saying, “Well, that was awkward.”

“Yes, it was. I should have asked how Curt was doing, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.”

She saw he missed the turn to Aunt Shay’s house. “Where are we going?”

“I thought you might want to get your car. Rider texted me that it was done when you were getting dressed.”

“Thank God! I hate everyone having to lift me up like I’m a bag of flour.”

She stared out her window, making sure none of the deer were by the road as they neared the clubhouse.

“What are you staring at?”

“I don’t want a… deer…” Winter’s mouth fell open as Viper pulled into the factory’s parking lot. She didn’t even look away until he opened the truck door. She saw all the Last Riders sitting in the side yard; all of them were watching her reaction.

Wonderingly, her eyes met his as he set her gently down on her feet. “When did you do this?”

“We started the night we thought Aunt Shay had a heart attack.”

She moved to the side so she could see it better. “Who’s it for?” Her voice was barely audible.

“You. I was tired of waiting for you and Aunt Shay to make up your minds, so I took matters into my own hands.” He took her hand. “Come look at your new home.”

The Last Riders had cleared off the land on the opposite side of the factory and the clubhouse to build a two-story house. Viper had even put up a white picket fence.

“I finally convinced Drake to sell me that property at Christmas,” her husband confessed, as he led her up the path identical to the one at the clubhouse.

She stepped into her new kitchen, stunned by how beautiful it was. The cabinets were white, and there was a huge double oven. She ran her hand along the surface of the gray marble-top counters. There was also a large table, and as she grew closer, she saw it looked like cracked glass.

The living room was next to the kitchen, but unlike the clubhouse, it was an open concept, so she would be able to talk to Viper as she cooked dinner. She ran her hand along the soft gray leather sofa with white pillows. It looked big enough to hold ten people.

“The Last Riders are not allowed to fuck on my couch,” she warned.

“I’ve already threatened them,” Viper assured her.

Turning, she went to the banister that led upstairs. The black stairway led to a large room with three single doors and one doorway that had a double door. The big room was meant to be a family room where children could play, and she and Viper could watch television. In fact, the television was enormous; she hadn’t even known they were made that big.

“Is that a soda fountain?” she asked, seeing it, a mini-fridge, and a coffee pot on the wall counter.

“Yes. It’s for when you girls all want to have a movie night or an all-night drinking party.”

“Or game nights.” She rolled her eyes at his explanation. She would never get the men out of here. “Do all those have beer on tap?”

Viper pulled her hand. “We’ll get rid of it when the baby gets big enough to climb. Let’s look at the bedroom. The walls are all white except for the master bedroom. I thought you would want to put your touch up here.”

Viper guided her through the three bedrooms before he opened the double doors of the master bedroom. The bed was a king, and it still only took up a fourth of the room. There were chairs that were set facing the road and the mountains above. She went to the bathroom, which was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. The black and grey bathroom was almost the same size as the bedroom. It was no spa retreat; it was an attack on the senses, from the two rainfall showerheads to the sleek style of the double sinks. It was everything she could have wished for.

“It’s beautiful. I don’t know what else to say.”

“Does it beat Shade’s?”

“Yes. It looks like it belongs in a magazine.”

“Sasha designed it.” Viper’s grin filled his whole face.

“She did the whole house?” Winter had seen decorating shows on television that couldn’t compare to what she was staring at in shock. Sasha had combined her and Viper’s tastes into one that would work for both of them. It wasn’t too feminine or masculine, using neutral colors, and soft fabrics.

“Yes.” His grin disappeared, waiting to see her reaction.

“It even has a tub. I just can’t believe it. It’s like a dream, and you’re going to wake me up. She did a gorgeous job.” Winter threw herself in Viper’s arms. “I can’t believe you did this for me.”

“The men worked all morning to install that tub. It even has jets. The bathroom had a vanity, but when you said you loved a bath, I wanted you to have it.”

“I bet the men were upset about having to change it.” The tub could fit four people.

“Rider cried.”

Winter laughed so hard she cried.

“You haven’t seen the best yet.” He led her down the steps that ran past a small hall on the other side of the kitchen, where there were two doors, one with frosted glass that had
Laundry
painted on the door.

She looked inside. “Everyone is going to be jealous that I won’t have to take the dirty laundry to the basement anymore.”

She closed the door before opening the next one down and seeing another master bedroom. The only difference was that the upstairs one had been done in turquoise, and this bedroom was in soft purples with a full bed.

“I meant this room to be for Aunt Shay.”

Winter turned to him. “You built this room for Aunt Shay?”

“I thought, if Cash can live with Mag, I can live with Aunt Shay.”

Winter threw herself into her husband’s arms, kissing his lips before lifting her gaze to his. “I am the luckiest woman on earth. I don’t know how you did all this in under three weeks, but I’m amazed at how well it turned out.”

“It almost cost me a divorce, the men threatening to leave, and six of them threatening to sue me for bodily injury for lugging that tub upstairs, but if you’re happy, I’m happy.”

“Viper, happy doesn’t begin to explain how I feel right now.”

He lifted her up to kiss her. “Good enough to give me a blowjob like the one last night?” he teased her, nuzzling her neck.

“This house makes me so happy I’m going to give you a blowjob every night.”

Her husband was obviously so anxious to hold her to her word that he started to carry her back upstairs. But then a knock on the back door had him putting her back down on her feet.

When he opened the back door, dozens of smiling faces swarmed inside. Train and Knox came in, carrying twenty-four-packs of beer on their shoulders. Rider came in with an exaggerated limp, while Willa, Rachel, Diamond, Evie, and all the Last Riders followed. She hugged each of them, thanking them for helping Viper build her dream home.

“It was so hard not to tell you,” Beth confessed, hugging her before moving aside so her aunt could hug her next.

“Viper’s convinced me to move in with you both if you’re sure.”

“Aunt Shay, if you don’t move in with us, then we’re just going to move in with you permanently.”

Her eyes twinkled. “I guess I’m moving in, then. I’m going to donate my furniture to the church store. Well, everything except that mattress in the room over mine. It’s too loud.”

Winter wanted to sink through the floor. Viper laughing his head off like a fool didn’t help matters.

“I was right about you making up with Viper before I was asleep.”

“Aunt Shay!”

“We need to have a long talk before you move in with us,” Viper told her. “Winter told me you told her to wait a year before sleeping with me again.”

“She did?” Her aunt stared at her, expecting her to confess.

“I… need to go thank Sasha,” Winter excused herself, hurrying away.

Seeing the two talking conspiratorially, she knew she was busted.

Sasha was standing by the door, poised as if she were ready to fly out of it. Winter could tell from the look on her face that she expected to be run out of the house. She had taken a step back before Winter could catch her hand, pulling her into a heartfelt hug.

“Thank you, Sasha. My home is beautiful. I couldn’t have done it better myself. I would have never been able to match everything the way you did.”

“If there’s anything you want changed, I can—”

Winter shook her head. “I wouldn’t change a thing… except for the way I treated you. I’m sorry.”

“I was trying to make you hate me,” Sasha confessed. “I wanted you to leave the clubhouse so Viper could get the house built. I expected you to go to the Bahamas or Vegas, but I didn’t expect your aunt to become sick. I’m glad she’s better. I was afraid I would get arrested before I could get it done. Diamond came through. Now the charges are dropped, and I can go back to Ohio.”

“Do you want to go back to Ohio, or do you want to stay here?”

“Ohio. None of the women knew what Viper was planning because he was afraid one of them would tell you, so I didn’t make a good first impression on them. I guess I do a good job of making people hate me.”

“Yes, you did. But you’re still welcome here until you really want to leave.”

“You sure?”

“I’m positive. You can help me decorate the baby’s room as soon as we know if it’s a boy or a girl.”

Her excited expression made Winter feel terrible about the mistake she had made in judging the woman. “Thank you,” she said again sincerely.

“You should start your own business.”

“Do you really think so? It’s a competitive business and I’ve never taken any decorating classes.”

“You can use Viper and me as references. As soon as they see the work you’re capable of, they’ll hire you.”