Pushing off her, he stared down into her face. Damn. He'd almost forgot the most important thing.
"What's wrong?" She cupped his cheek.
The moment wasn't right. He needed everything to be perfect.
He kissed her and pushed off the bed. "I need to take a shower."
"I'll wash you." She sat up.
"No. You need to get dressed." He took off the condom and pulled the leather band out of his hair at the back of his neck. "It'll take me five minutes."
He couldn't allow her to shower with him. They'd end up having sex again. He had something more important to do.
"You're acting strange." She stood from the bed and walked to him naked.
Her body flushed pink from his hands, he looked away and reached for the door handle. "Meet me downstairs."
She scoffed in exasperation. He strode out of the room naked and went into the bathroom. Not even waiting for the water to warm, he stepped under the stream and washed. All the way home, he'd planned how tonight would happen.
He'd blown it the moment he found her waiting with the others.
Shutting off the water, he strode back to the bedroom, leaving water puddles in his wake. He dressed, flinging his hair down his back. Skipping a shirt, he shrugged on his Slag vest, tied his boots, and went down the stairs.
He found Dinah and snuck up behind her. Clasping her hips, he whispered in her ear, "Stay right there. Don't move."
Then, he jogged outside to his Harley. Opening the soft bag on the side of the motorcycle, he rummaged through his belongings until he found what he was looking for. Inside, he trembled.
Peer approached him carrying Tyr. "Everything okay?"
"Ja." He reached into his pocket looking for his cigarettes and realized he forgot them upstairs. "Do you have a smoke?"
Peer handed him a pack. He took one and gave the container back. Stepping away from the baby, he lit the end and blew the smoke in the other direction.
"Have you had time to get a drink?" Peer lowered Tyr and held him as if he was clutching a football.
"No time." He looked at his hand, took another drag, and snubbed the cigarette out. "Don't even have time to talk. I need to go inside."
Peer scrutinized him. "Need any help with anything."
"It's a one-man job, brother." He inhaled deeply and opened the clubhouse door. When he made eye contact with Dinah, he strode through the room, arriving short of breath.
"Brage?" She lifted her hands to his chest. "What is going on?"
"I went shopping," he blurted. "In Seattle."
Her brows lowered. "Okay."
"With my sister Norah." He inhaled deeply.
A smile grew on her face. "That's nice."
He was fucking everything up. "I love you."
"I love you, too," she whispered.
He lowered himself to one knee in front of her. "There's a million feelings inside of me and only a few words to express how I feel about you."
She covered her cheeks with both hands, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. He swallowed. She was the only woman for him.
"I want to give you all of me." He moistened his lips, sensing the room quieting. "Will you marry me? Will you become Dinah Ann Olden?"
She nodded. "Absolutely."
He slipped the ring off his pinky and reached for her hand. Sliding the silver band lined with diamonds onto her finger, he caught her as he stood and picked her up.
"I love you so much." She kissed him deeply. "I am going to love being your wife."
He set her on her feet. Before he could respond, cheers went up in the clubhouse. He wrapped Dinah in his arms to the congratulations of the club.
"Sing," shouted one of his MC brothers.
"Ja. Sing."
"Sing."
The chant went out. He looked down in Dinah's hopeful eyes and couldn't deny her anything. Stone cold sober, he sang, holding his woman. A song that he felt deeply.
And, he sang in Norwegian.
It didn't matter that Dinah couldn't understand any of the words. Her smile told him she understood his feelings. And, they made her feel good.
Epilogue
Dinah pulled the little cap down on Tyr's head. Brage concentrated on the conversation going on between Roar and Elling while mesmerized by Dinah's ass swinging back and forth as she swayed up and down the alley holding Peer's son.
"The agent questioned me about where we were three weeks ago. I told him we were out for a Sunday ride and returned to the club late. He asked what was happening here that night, and I told him it must've been a hell of a party because I don't remember who was here or what anyone was doing." Elling shoved his hands in his vest. "He kept asking questions, but I was done listening and walked to my motorcycle and rode off."
Roar's mouth hardened. "You're the second person who the agent has questioned."
"Next, he'll be following us anytime we ride past the gate." Brage shook his head. "We'll have to break off into more crews, take him on a goose chase."
"Agreed." Roar turned as the back door of the bar opened. "Keep me updated."
"Will do, Prez." Brage nodded at Lizzy as she joined Roar.
Elling walked off toward the group of men by the motorcycles. He strolled over to Dinah, interrupting her talking to the baby.
Tyr, at six months old, lifted his head and looked around at all the activities going on in the alley. He nuzzled Tyr's neck, growling to make him squirm, then kissed Dinah.
Despite her wearing an off-white lace dress that hit her mid-thigh and wearing high heels, she carried the baby as if the chance of getting spit on was no big deal. She'd taken a crash course in babysitting last month when Peer and Coco were both called in different directions and had asked her to watch Tyr.
"Nervous?" he asked.
Dinah smiled at him. "Excited. I hope my mom gets here in time."
"We can wait until she arrives."
It was the first time Dinah, and her mom would get together after meeting for the first time the day
