Keeping Winter

Chapter One

Winter: Two Months Later

As we stroll through Whitfield’s community park, I look around at the naked trees, thinking about how different my life is now from only a year ago. A year ago, I was hiding away in Blackmoor, struggling to find my future and haunted by my past. I was so unsure of everything then, my feelings for Gabe, my place in the world, and what I could possibly do without my family fortune or father. 

And now, I’ve never been more sure. As Gabriel pushes Brigitte’s stroller, I watch him making silly faces for our little girl. She smiles up at him, ever our happy girl. The month or so after her birth had been exhausting. Learning the ropes of parenting on the job wasn’t easy, but I wouldn’t give a second of it up for the world. 

“Mallory’s excited to have me back at work, even if it’s only part-time,” I say. 

She’s agreed to let me work three weekday mornings when Gabriel’s able to look after Brigitte while he gets work done at the club. It’s nice to get back to doing something productive, even if it’s only for a few hours every other day. 

“I’m sure,” Gabriel responds, smiling at me. 

“You’re really okay with taking care of Brigitte so I can work?” 

Gabriel chuckles. “Now that we’ve started the new schedule, I don’t think the guys would let me leave Brigitte home even if I could. She’s got them wrapped around her little finger.” 

I laugh lightly, fully capable of picturing them arguing over who gets to hold our little girl. Who’d have thought Gabe’s three friends would be such softies when it came to his kid? I never imagined seeing those rough-and-tumble bikers using baby talk and playing peek-a-boo. But it only goes to show how little I know. 

“Things at the club are going well?” I ask. Gabe’s been working some long hours lately, though I know he would rather be spending his time with Brigitte and me.

“Yeah, it’s good. Picking up like crazy really. We have a few more runs now, some going as far south as Florida and Alabama. And I think we might need to consider expanding the shop. It seems Whitfield was in desperate need of a good mechanic.” He flashes me a cheeky smile.

“That better not mean you’re working even more hours,” I scold.

Gabriel chuckles and shakes his head. “Word is getting out about the club. We’ve had a good number of new recruits asking to join. Now that we have a good foundation, I’m trying to keep growth steady, only accept men I really feel are going to make us stronger. But as we grow, we’ll be able to take on more routes, more clients, and more responsibility. And with that will come the money.”

Brigitte releases a soft cry, and Gabriel slows as we turn our attention to our daughter. 

“You know, we don’t need more money,” I remind him, scooping Brigitte out of the stroller to check and see if she needs me to change her diaper. “I think we’re all good,” I say, this time referring to whether she needs to be changed, but rather than putting her back in her stroller, I prop her on my hip. 

“I know we don’t need the money,” Gabriel says, continuing to push the stroller along as we walk down the park sidewalk. “I just like spoiling my girls, is all,” he says.

Not that we’re overwhelmed with cash flow or anything, but it’s been nice to know the club is doing well enough that we have a decent savings stowed away and even some spare spending money to go out for a nice dinner once a week. 

“Dallas still making regular runs to Blackmoor?” I ask casually. I haven’t brought up with Gabe the dynamic I see between his friend and Starla. Honestly, it’s none of my business since Starla hasn’t breathed a word to me in all our conversations over the phone, but I can’t help my curiosity. 

Dallas has definitely changed for the better over the last year, and I’m certain Starla has something to do with it. 

Gabriel shrugs. “Now and again. Why?” he asks suspiciously.

I laugh. “I just get to thinking about our hometown now and again.”

“You ever miss it?” he asks, his gaze open and kind.

I shake my head, studying him. “No. I’m far happier here. Blackmoor has too many dark memories and too much conflict to feel like much of a home. Do you?” 

Gabriel shakes his head too. “My whole life is here. And while Blackmoor was a beautiful town, I feel like Whitfield just really suits us. You know?”

I nod, a smile spreading across my face. 

“Plus, it’s been really nice getting to spread my wings, try my hand at running my own club. I wouldn’t have been able to do that in Blackmoor.” 

“No?” Somehow, that surprises me. 

Gabriel shakes his head. “With the whole upheaval and Jaxon taking over as vice president, he will naturally inherit the club when Mark is gone. And I doubt Jaxon would have picked someone like me to be his second. No, if I had stayed, I would have been stuck as a lackey. One with a good amount of respect—don’t get me wrong. But I can actually put my skills to work here.” 

“You make a good president,” I say with pride.

“You have to say that because you’re my wife,” he teases, turning and taking my elbow so he can kiss me.

I laugh. “Maybe, but I’ve seen the way your men look at you, the way they respond to your commands. They respect you. And in less than a year, you’ve really made the business thrive.” 

Brigitte gurgles happily from her place on my hip, and I bring her in front of my face. “You’re daddy’s good at his job, isn’t he?” I ask melodically. 

Brigitte breaks into an adorable toothless smile, giggling happily. 

“Yes, he is. He knows how to take care of business as well as you and Mommy, doesn’t he?”

Brigitte kicks her little booted little feet, seeming oblivious to the cold day since she’s bundled up in a warm onesie. Her shock of black hair, just like her father’s, is starting to come in thick now, and I’m almost certain her eyes are going to be green. 

“All right, hand her over,” Gabriel insists. “You’re both looking far too happy. It’s my turn to play.” 

Brigitte trades hands willingly, her eyes bright as she takes in the sight of her daddy. She’s going to be a daddy’s girl. I can already see it—the way she snuggles against his chest every time he holds her, resting her cheek at the base of his neck. If we’re ever having a hard time putting her to sleep, I hand her to Gabe, and he takes her out to our front porch swing, where he murmurs to her gently as he rocks her. Without fail, she’s asleep within fifteen minutes. 

I can’t say I blame her. There’s something about Gabe that is just so incredibly warm and safe and comforting. It’s funny to think that I feared him at one time in my life. He’s so big and strong and intimidating that I was sure he would hurt me. But as we’ve grown together, I’ve found him capable of a love deeper than anyone I’ve ever known. 

Pushing the stroller up to a park bench, I take a seat, and Gabriel follows me, sitting down on its frosty surface so our elbows touch. I’m so filled with happiness, sometimes, it catches me by surprise, and my eyes sting with unshed tears of emotion. 

Those tears burn the back of my eyes now, and I sniffle. 

“Is something wrong?” Gabriel asks, concern tinging his voice as he turns to me, his intense gaze burning into me. 

I release a breathy laugh. “No,” I sniffle. “I was just thinking about how perfect my life is. We’ve been through so much together. It’s hard to think that just over a year ago, you saved me from the basement of Blackmoor manor.”

Gabriel chuckles darkly. “I appreciate that you still call it saving you,” he says.

I giggle in response. “Well, that sounds much better than ‘you kidnapped me,’ especially since I married you after it was all said and done.” 

“Sometimes, I think back to those first few months and feel like I went about it all wrong.” 

The remorse in his voice makes my heart twinge. I reach up to cup his jaw and stroke his cheek with my thumb. “It might not all have been easy, but I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I needed a kick in the pants to help me realize that I had to let go of my past and see the gifts staring me straight in the face. I don’t regret a single minute of our story.” 

Gabriel’s full lips pull into a tender smile. “I don’t know how I ever got so lucky with you.” 

I stroke the silky back of our daughter’s tiny head and smile, my heart overflowing with love and affection. “I don’t either, but I know I can count my blessings.” 

Gabriel shifts to look down at our baby snuggled against his chest, his chin dipping so he can get a peek of her face. She’s sound asleep already, her lips parted in the sweetest little O. Her tiny fingers are curled around the collar of his shirt. 

“I think that’s her favorite place to sleep,” I whisper. 

A quiet chuckle rumbles in his chest, and he brushes a soft kiss over the top of our baby’s head.

“I think she could use her newest present from Auntie Starla,” he murmurs.

I nod and dig through the baby bag hanging from the stroller until I find the thick, soft beanie to cover her quickly growing head. As gently as I can, I guide it over the back of her head, pulling it down until it covers her ears. 

Winter’s setting in, and with it, I’m having to relearn how to dress our child. It amazes me how each day brings chances when it comes to our baby girl. She’s constantly learning, growing, and discovering new things. She’s started to push up off the floor when she’s on her belly, and her curious eyes seem to take the world in with endless fascination. 

As our child sleeps quietly on one of Gabe’s shoulders, he wraps his free arm around me and pulls me close. I rest my cheek against him, looking out at the still, quiet world. It’s infinitely beautiful, seeing everything so at peace. It’s my favorite part of winter, the stillness that takes over, bringing peace and quiet. And nothing in the world could change the deep contentment that settles inside me in this beautiful, perfect moment.

Thank you so much for reading Gabriel and Winter’s saga. Please join my FB group here for tons of sexy, fun cool stuff!