A grin spread across Ty’s face and he posed in front of his new bike. “How do I look, Dad?”

“Like my son.” He put his arm around his Evie and pulled her close. “Our son.”

EPILOGUE

Three Months Later

“Zane. Stop. Please.”

Evie’s voice rang out in the forest, and Zane slowed his pace. He’d never felt such joy as he did today, save for the last time he had been to Stanton Creek.

He stopped under the willow tree and sucked the warm Montana summer air into his lungs. He would do anything for her, even if it meant his heart bursting all over again.

Evie heaved in a breath as she came up behind him, her steps barely audible in the soft grass. “What’s wrong? Why did you leave? Jagger said you bolted out of the courthouse and didn’t even tell him what happened. I was so worried. I didn’t know where you were. And then I figured you might come here. What did the judge say? I won’t lose you, Zane. If we have to, we’ll go on the run.”

For a moment, he couldn’t speak. How could he explain the emotions he’d kept bottled up inside for the last few months, the hopes and dreams that had come true when the judge dismissed the case?

“I’m free.” He braced himself, and turned to face her. “All the charges have been dropped.”

“Oh.” She gasped and her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh Zane. I’m so happy.” She threw herself into his arms, her new riding leathers creaking. He’d bought her a full set of leathers for the trip to Stanton. And after she’d tried them on in their bedroom, he stripped them right off her. He had a wild streak when it came to his old lady, and the sight of her in leather had given him all sorts of ideas.

He was having those ideas right now. His Evie was beautiful in the twilight, her hair shining to gold, almost the same color as the late summer leaves of the willow tree.

“Come sit with me.” She pulled away. “Here by the creek like we used to do. Tell me all about it.”

Zane shook his head. “I promised if this day came, I would give you a choice. I need to know, Evie. Do we live or leave the life? It’s up to you.”

Her beautiful face softened. “I made my choice a long time ago. Wherever you go, whatever you do, however you live your life, I want to be with you”

Zane’s heart squeezed in his chest. He was nothing and came from nothing. And yet, he had made something of his life. He had a family now, and enough money that assured they would want for nothing. He had his brothers, a home, a kick-ass bike, and an embarrassing, but safe, Volvo. And he had dared to hope. Twenty-eight years old and he still wanted the girl he’d met when he was ten.

“It’s always been you,” she said. “Ever since the day we first met. I’ve loved you since I was eight years old and I’ll love you always.”

His world shifted, darkness becoming light, despair turning to desire. Although he had dreamed of this moment, wanted her with an intensity that took his breath away, he reigned it all in and kissed her with a gentleness that belied the torrent of emotions flooding through his body.

She sighed into his mouth and he crushed her against him as he had last night when they thought it might be their last time together. Sensation overwhelmed him: the coffee and cream taste on her lips, her scent of jasmine and the open road, the warm summer breeze, the softness of her body beneath her leathers.

“I have a present for you.” She handed him a package wrapped in pink tissue paper. “It’s nothing big. I’m sure what Jagger got you…”

“Jagger got me a custom set of pipes that he was planning to take back if I wound up in jail.” He gave her a wry smile. “So unless you got the same thing, I’ll love it. And even if it is, I’ll love it, because it came from you.”

He tore off the paper and stared at the photograph in the handmade frame, painted with Evie’s signature style. Jagger had taken the picture of him, Evie, and Ty on the couch one afternoon while they were playing a new video game. Zane had managed to survive for the first ten levels before Evie ripped off his head with her feline claws.

Emotion welled up in his throat. “It’s good.”

“Good?” Her eyes narrowed. “Do you know how long it took me to make that frame?”

Yeah, he knew. Because he had made one nine years ago, never imagining that one day it would be sitting on the mantle in the home he shared with Evie and their son.

Gently, he drew her down to the forest floor. He had hoped for this moment, dreamed of this moment. His heart made whole again.

And he made love to his beautiful Evie under the setting sun on the last day of summer in Stanton.

Also By

SARAH CASTILLE

ROUGH JUSTICE

(SINNER’S TRIBE MOTORCYCLE CLUB #1)

BEYOND THE CUT

(SINNER’S TRIBE MOTORCYCLE CLUB #2)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah Castille is an award-winning author who writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense featuring blazingly hot alpha heroes and the women who tame them. Her books have appeared on the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists.

Visit her website at: sarahcastille.com. Or sign up for email updates here.

Praise for ROUGH JUSTICE

“Castille takes the MC genre and lights it on fire! I want my very own Sinner’s Tribe Motorcycle Club bad boy!”

—Julie Ann Walker, New York Times bestselling author

“A sexy and dangerous ride! If you like your bad boys bad and your heroines kicking butt, Rough Justice will rev your engine. A great start to a new series!”

—Roni Loren, New York Times bestselling author of Nothing Between Us

“Raw, rugged and romantic, Rough Justice is so gorgeously written you’ll feel the vibration of the motorcycle engines in the pit of your stomach, smell the leather and fall in love with this story!”

—Eden Bradley, New York Times bestselling author of Dangerously Bound

Praise for

USA Today and New York Times bestselling author

SARAH CASTILLE

and her sizzling-hot romances …

“Castille’s debut is steamy.”

—Publishers Weekly

“Hot, hot, hot.”

—Nocturne Romance Reads

“Smart, sharp, sizzling and deliciously sexy … a knockout.”

—Alison Kent, bestselling author of Unbreakable

“I highly recommend this spicy book!”

—Paranormal Cravings

“It’s a book that’s gobbled up in giant bites.”

—Dear Author

“This book would be for anyone who likes a tough alpha male and a heroine who is just discovering the joys of a kinkier lifestyle!”

—Harlequin Junkie

“Hilarious, hot, and occasionally heartbreaking. I loved it!”

—Maryse’s Book Blog

“I really REALLY enjoyed this book:)”

—LoveLivLife Reviews

“Sexy … I love a good alpha-male!”

—About That Story

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