Chapter 289: Elizabeth
*Mr. Chance, I thought you were going to wait for me so we could get married. – Elizabeth*
Wednesday Chance went back to work so that he could get payroll done. Karan returned the same day. Rye was off for the whole week and spent most of the time catching up with her family.
That night, Tilly was teaching Rye how to make chicken cordon Bleu in the kitchen. Every chance they got, they were in the kitchen with Tilly teaching her how to cook or bake. Slowly, Rye’s confidence was building in the kitchen.
The boys had said that they had gone to go help Chance with something and had left around five. The three of them were quite mysterious about it. Geo had simply grinned like a fool and promised that she’d like it.
Anthony walked into the kitchen carrying a still full bottle and a very upset Michael. It was well past the time that Chance was usually home and fed the baby his evening bottle.
“I don’t know what to do.” He said admitting defeat.
“Chance should be here soon.” Rye said rolling the chicken as her aunt had shown her. “You can try taking your shirt off.”
“What?” they both asked as the garage door opened.
“Dad, what did you do?” Geo asked as the three brothers entered the small kitchen.
“Nothing.” Rye said. “He wants Chance.”
“I hear you, buddy.” Chance yelled from the foyer. A minute later he came around the corner pulling off his work polo. “Come here, little man.”
The instant that the infant was against the tattooed chest he began to calm down. After a moment of gasps, he began to bounce with hiccups. Chance rubbed his little back and rocked him until he calmed down and the hiccups passed.
“I know, I was late, and you wanted your bottle.” He said shifting the baby and accepting the bottle. Michael smiled and reached for it as Chance gave Rye a kiss. “Hey, Duchess. You okay? It’s a bit crowded in here.”
Rye nodded as she focused on the chicken in front of her. Anthony shooed his sons out and followed them to the living room. Tilly watched as the large tattooed and half naked biker soothed both mother and child. Rye leaned her head against his shoulder, and he kissed her hair.
“I’m going to take this one and we’re going to discuss manly things.” Chance murmured.
“Ten-millimeter sockets?” Rye asked with a grin.
“They disappear and it’s a mystery.” He agreed as she tipped her face up to him for a kiss. He obliged before grabbing his shirt and leaving the kitchen.
Forty minutes later, they were all sitting around the table for dinner. Dishes were passed and plates were filled as the women were complimented on the meal.
“I just supervised.” Tilly smiled. “Rye did all the cooking.”
“Fuck, Duchess.” Chance grinned. “This shit is good.”
Rye blushed as she smiled and looked down. “Thank you.”
“It really is good, Stripes.” Her uncle agreed.
“How are my kids?” Rye asked, uncomfortable with the praise.
“They miss you. They made us cards. I was informed that they are not as good as they could have been. I wasn’t there to cut out flowers and Miss Cora wouldn’t let them have glitter.”
“I’m sure that they are wonderful. Is your girlfriend still upset with you?” She grinned and her family glared at him.
Chance laughed as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. “She forgave me for not waiting for her since her mom explained that I would be old by the time she was thirty. That’s when her dad said she could start dating.”
“She’s right. You will be old in twenty-five years. You’ll be what? Fifty-four?” Rye smiled.
Chance leaned in and with his hand on the back of her head, pulled her to him for a kiss. Resting their foreheads together, he smiled at his wife. “Even at fifty-four it will be you that I’m crazy about.”
“Are you sure?” Rye asked quietly, all teasing gone as her insecurities crept in.
“Very sure. I love you, Rye. You. The beautiful woman who tazed me in a grocery store. The woman who irritatingly saw me for what I was. And gave me the strength to change.” He gave her another light kiss. “My wife. Mother of my son. And, someday, my daughter too. Hopefully, it will be you telling her that she can’t marry a man three decades her senior before she turns five.”
Blinking back tears, Rye smiled at him. “She told me that first day that she was going to marry you.”
“Karan told me that it wouldn’t last between her and me.” He gave her one more quick kiss before sitting up and releasing her. “She said that Elizabeth would dump me.”
“How old is your girlfriend?” Anthony asked.
“Four.” Chance smiled.
“Four and a half.” Rye corrected. “She will be five in July.”
“Well, good. I don’t need my girlfriend hanging out with my wife.” He teased.
“Don’t get too comfortable with that thought.” Rye smiled. “I think I have a student teaching position over at Monroe elementary.”
Smiling, Chance grabbed her hand, and lifted it to press a kiss to her fingers. “You’ll get it, and you’ll do great. And do you know why?”
“Because I am enough, I am strong, and I am loved.”
“Damn straight you are, Duchess.” He kissed her fingers again. “I have to go to the clubhouse tonight. I’m meeting Dawg and Smokey there. You want to go?”
“Why?” She asked.
“We’ll be right back.” Chance said standing up and pulling her with him.
He guided her through the kitchen and out to the garage and then the driveway. There sat a black four door pickup that had not been there earlier in the day.
“They are putting in my car seat.” Chance explained as he was opening the back door showing her the still boxed carrier. “Your cousins helped me bring it home.”
“You… your bike?” She asked quietly.
“It’s not going anywhere.” He assured her. “But if I take your car for something then you’re stranded. And same thing if you go somewhere and leave Michael with me.”
Rye snuggled into his chest, and they wrapped their arms around each other. He kissed the top of her head and closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of her in his arms. A year ago, even at the beginning of this year, if you had told him that he would be happily married with a woman that was just getting comfortable with him holding her, he would have scoffed and called you a liar.
But here he was. Married to a woman who he had yet to even see naked. His love for his Duchess made him believe that someday she would move past her fears and insecurities. His heart held out hope that she would someday love him too.
