Page 96 of Snake's Charmer

“I love you, Turner,” I breathe out and sit back in my chair.

He lets go of me, but his reluctance is obvious. I eye him for a moment because there’s one thing he said that doesn’t make much sense. Well, not in the traditional sense.

“Did you call me your fiancé because in the eyes of the club we’re married, with this whole Old Man, Old Lady thing we have going on here?”

Turner glances away and bites his lip. When he looks back at me, the resolve in his eyes has my curiosity spiking. “No,” his voice is deeper than normal, “that’s not why I said it.” When I arch an eyebrow, he runs his fingers through his hair making it stick up in a million directions. “I seem to find the worst time to do these things and with none of the planning and pomp and circumstance the moment demands.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Your cut,” he points out. The memory brings a smile to my face.

I’m not entirely sure what he’s getting at, but I remind him, “I told you I was pregnant by screeching in the bathroom so loud that you came running and found me there, naked, with a pee stick in my hand.”

“It was perfect,” he whispers, his eyes soft and filled with love.

Something seems to click in my man because he straightens his spine and shifts just enough to dig something out of his jeans. “I was going to do it differently, but I don’t need to. I just need you and the life we’re building,” there’s a plea in his voice as he reaches for my hand.

The moment I feel him slide something on my finger, my gaze snaps down and I let out a sound reminiscent of an animal in the throes of death. Not a good sound.

“You’re mine, Graycie-girl,” he tells me, his voice shifting with the demand, “you’re going to marry me.”

“I’m going to marry you,” I agree, not because I don’t have a choice, but because I’ve never wanted anything more.

I tear my eyes away from the ring, which is ostentatious in its size, and gorgeous, when Turner’s large hand slides over my belly. His eyes slide closed and he takes a deep breath like he’s committing the feeling to memory.

The diner erupts in applause and hollering. When I look around, I realize everyone who matters, the club, Lara, Ezra, and Jessi, are now in Dolly’s Place. I don’t know how they knew to come, but here they are.

Tears slide over my cheeks as their excitement chokes me in the best of ways. My gaze moves to Stan and he’s looking around with a very self-satisfied look on his face, and I know, without a doubt, how everyone knew when to show up.

The thing that amazes me is that they did. Stan might have sent out an SOS, but they showed up to be here for us.

And that is amazing, and something worth holding onto.

“I’m pregnant,” I tell everyone who missed it earlier.

This time the sound is deafening, but I can still hear Turner’s chuckle, Patsy’s gasp, and Opal’s squeal.

I find Warden in the crowd just as a tear slides down his face. He’s looking at me like I’m a miracle, a gift, and my heart grows even bigger.

Because this family deserves it.

I can’t wait to see how it continues to grow.