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Hazel and I roll up to the clubhouse in my cage. She thinks she’s smart, but if she wants her shit, she can pile it in her car, and I’ll rent a trailer to pull it back to West Virginia. “You coming in or waiting out here?”
“I’ll wait.”
“If I leave the keys in you aren’t going to drive through the gate, are you?”
She laughs and her smile is infectious. “No. I promise to behave. Cross my heart. Stick a needle in my eye.” Her hands move, acting out the old rhyme.
“C’mere.”
She leans across the center console, and I kiss her briefly. “I’ll be back.”
“Hurry it up. I’m starving.”
“All right. I’ll do my best, but if ya change your mind come on in. I’m sure there’s coffee.”
I head inside and look for Prez, hoping to catch him before him and Alexa leave for his honeymoon. I don’t think he’ll oppose to my taking Hazel to get her shit, but I still need to clear my travel plans with him after taking off last week unannounced. I’ve been so caught up in finding Hazel I don’t know what’s going on this week.
Remnants from the wedding reception are still evident in the bar. Sandman is passed out on a pool table with some big titted blonde. Banks and Danika are on one of the couches.
I see Viking behind the bar. “Is Prez around?”
“Might check his office. I got your crazy bitch home by the way. Did you know she’s fucking married?”
“I did not. Really dodged a bullet with that one.”
“Her husband pulled a gun on me when I walked her to her damn door.”
“Fucking hell.”
“So that was fun.”
“I’m sorry, man.”
“Why didn’t you say shit about your past with Hazel? Friends share shit like that.” He gives me the evil eye.
“You mad about it?”
He shrugs. “Just thought it would have come up in conversation considering I helped your ass find her and had to rush my ass back here. Lot of shit went down. Could have used you having my back.”
“Noted. Viking lost his dick and sprouted a pussy.”
“Fuck you.”
“Need to hug it out? Come on. Bring it in.” I hold my arms out.
He shakes his head. “If I see Prez I’ll tell him you need a word.”
“Might want to ask if he can get you a tampon while you’re at it.”
“Get the hell outta here.”
I chuckle. “I hear Midol is good for when your pussy cramps.” I go to Prez’s office before Viking kicks my ass but he’s not around. I try his cell, but it goes straight to voice mail. Fuck it. I leave a note on his desk. Hell, we’ll probably be back before he notices I’m gone. He has more important shit to deal with like enjoying his wife.
When I come out of Prez’s office, Banks is rolling Danika off him.
I stop long enough to tell him I’m taking a trip with Hazel to let Prez know I’ll be back as soon as possible.
“The fuck you doing, man? Running off to get hitched?”
I grin. It’s not the worst idea he’s had. Wonder what Hazel would do if I took a detour to a chapel in the Smoky Mountains? I stroll to my cage still cheesing big. I slide into the driver’s seat and pull Hazel in for a kiss.
“What are you so happy about? Did you rescue a kitten or something? Scare a small child?”
“Or something. I’m in a good mood.”
“If you say so.”
“We stopping to eat or are you cool with hitting a drive-thru?”
“I’m cool eating on the go.”
I stop off for gas and swing through a fast-food joint for a couple of sausage biscuits and coffee. Once we get on the freeway Hazel starts fiddling with my radio.
“What are you doing?”
“Finding something decent to listen to.”
“Have a few rules I think we need to go over. No one drives my cage but me.”
“Cage?”
“Yeah. Cars and trucks don’t hold the same freedom of a motorcycle, so we call them cages.”
“Interesting.”
“You think its dumb.”
“Kind of.” She grimaces.
“It’s ok, Hazel. You’re a cager, we’ll work on that.”
“Why does it seem like you insulted me?”
“Back to the rules of being my passenger. No touching my stereo.”
“No fair.”
“You always had horrible taste in music.”
“I had a boy band phase. You can’t hold it against me forever.”
“Says you. I’ve heard you sing and as much as I love you I can’t in good conscience subject my ears to that horror.”
“Okay if that’s how you want to play this. I can’t in good faith allow your dick anywhere near my vagina nor my mouth anytime soon. I think I’m about to start my period.”
“That’s what anal is for but the blood will only make ya wetter. Either way I win.”
“Eww.”
I shrug and decide I don’t want to think about bloody period sex while I’m eating, but I’ll fuck Hazel period or not.
“Tell me more about these biker world rules. If I’m going to be an Ol’ Lady, it’s only fair I know the proper etiquette.”
“We already went over this, but I think I should cover it again. When we’re around any of my brothers you don’t question me. What I say is law. If you disagree with something you can say your peace on it when we’re behind closed doors. It’s a respect thing. You see a brother messing with someone who isn’t his woman you keep your mouth shut. Their relationship is none of your business. When a brother is at the clubhouse, he doesn’t need to be worried about looking over his shoulder. Don’t have to like it or agree with it, but that’s the way of it.” I glance over at her already knowing where her train of thought is headed.
“So, you guys cheat on your wives and girlfriends?”
“Not everyone is that way but yeah some men fuck around with cut sluts. Women who hang around the club who love to fuck a patched brother.”
“And the Ol’ Ladies accept this?”
“Most of them think their man would never step out, and usually they don’t, but shit happens on occasion.”
“Should I be worried or are you going to ask me to turn the other cheek while you get your rocks off with whoever?”
“Not my style. Wouldn’t want you to pull that shit on me. I respect you too much.”
“Hmm.”
“You need to trust me. If this is going to work, we gotta be on the same page. You need to know that there will be shit I can’t talk to you about and you can’t get all pissy about it. If I say something is club business the conversation ends there.”
“I’m not sure I’m cut out to be a biker’s woman. I don’t take shit and I talk back.”
“That’s why you’ll fit right in.”
“I am so confused right now. Don’t give you lip in public, but I can throw sass at you all day long behind closed doors. Got it.”
“I mean not all day. I can think of a lot of ways to spend your time.”
“Let me guess they all involve ways and places for you to fuck me.”
“Another thing. You gotta get my brand on you.”
“Like they do to cattle?”
“No, my ink. A tattoo.”
“Will it have your name on it? Girls at Night Moves always told me never get a man’s name tattooed on my body. That never works out. It’s like bad juju or whatever.”
“I’m not just any man, babe. I’m the man who is going to marry you.”
“Marriage?”
“Yup. Real deal. Want to make you mine in every way.”
“Tattoos and marriage, that’s some serious sobering talk.”
“I know what I want. Would marry you today.”
“You know just like that after a few days with me?”
“I’ve always known. You trust me?”
“Yes.”
“Enough to take a leap of faith and do something a little crazy?”
“Are you saying you want to marry me, Beni?”
“No. I’m telling you that I’m going to whether it’s today, next week, or in five years. When a man knows he knows. No questions. No doubt. Simple as that.”
“So what? We just go get married and not tell anyone? I move to West Virginia and be your Ol’ Lady. Then what?”
“We live that beautiful life we deserve.”
“It’s insane.”
“Yup.”
“A big ask.”
“Again. I’m not asking.”
“You’d do it today?”
I steer with one hand and take her left in my right. I brush my thumb over her ring finger. “You marry me, and I’ll put a diamond around your finger and your throat.”
“Like a diamond collar? You’re crazy.”
“Think we’ve established that.”
She blows out a breath and stares out the window.
“Think about it.”
“I have a feeling if I fall asleep around you, I’m going to wake up married.” Hazel returns her attention back to me. “I guess this is only a matter of when and not if, huh?”
“Now it’s soaking in.”
“Do you need permission to marry me?”
“Now you’re fishing for excuses. Give me a month. You decide you want out, I’ll let you walk.”
“Just like that.”
I nod.
“Okay.”
“Perfect timing.” I grin and take the exit for Gatlinburg. I pull out my cell and dial Easton Reed. “Need a favor. Where did you take Wylla Mae when you eloped?”
“Who’s getting hitched?”
“Keep it to yourself for now, but I am.”
“Prez’s niece?”
“Yup?”
“Is this a joke?”
“Am I laughing?”
“Shit, man. Congrats. Fucking real happy for you.”
He texts me the info I need.
Hazel doesn’t think I’m serious about this. Thinks I’m fucking around.
I drive up to the courthouse and park.
“What the hell are we doing?”
“Getting our marriage license.”
“Um...don’t we need birth certificates? Take a blood test? I mean you need an appointment for this sort of thing, right?”
“All we need is a license and a preacher. You have your driver’s license in your purse.”
“Fine. You want to marry me? Let’s get married.”
I climb out of the vehicle and go around to open Hazel’s door.
“Why are you pouting? I thought women love this kind of shit.”
“I’m not. Let’s get this over with.”
“You’re making it sound like a chore.”
“I...is this real?”
“My wanting to marry you?”
“Yes.”
“Wouldn’t fuck around about something this permanent. I want you in every way I can have you. You’re the one I want to build a life with. Have babies with. Grow old with.”
“Shit. I guess we’re getting married then.” She smiles and a tear rivets down her cheek.
It takes about fifteen minutes to get our marriage license.
We drive to the chapel and are informed they have an appointment available in two hours. I take Hazel to a jewelry store for rings. She swears she doesn’t want a dress. I think she is still of the mind I’m not serious about this. I’ve never been surer than I am in this. Hazel is living and breathing proof that there’s someone for everyone, and she’s the woman for me. We go with simple silver bands. Nothing fancy.
Hell. We’re doing this in jeans and tees.
The chapel looks more like a cabin, but it blends seamlessly into the wooded scenery like it’s a painting on a wall in a hunting cabin or some shit. Or as Hazel calls it pretty as a picture.