| |
“That was fucking easy.”
Sloane waved the piece of paper in the air. “We’ve got our marriage license,” she cheered.
“And it’s fucking crazy that you guys could sign that right now, and you’re officially married,” Dove mused. “Like, you guys don’t need an officiant or even witnesses.”
Apparently, Colorado was one of the easiest states in America to get married. Hell, there was literally a ten-minute wait to get the license.
We had been in Golden for a total of thirty minutes, and Sloane had her marriage license in hand.
The camera crew moved around us, and people near us were taking notice. I didn’t think Golden was the type of town that was used to a camera crew filming. Especially not two bikers and their ol’ ladies.
That was still crazy to think about.
I had an ol’ lady.
“Excuse me.”
I turned and pulled Dove into my arms to make way for a woman coming down the sidewalk.
The woman stopped in front of us and put her hands on her hips.
“Hi?” Dove asked.
The woman smiled wide. “Hi,” she chirped. “I saw you guys when you came into town.”
She seemed harmless, but Aero and I were on alert in case this chick was someone who was going to try to hurt us.
“In the van?” Sloane asked. “I know it’s a creeper van, but I didn’t think it was that noticeable.”
“No,” the woman laughed. “I meant when you guys were walking down Main Street. I actually noticed your guys’ cuts first.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
The woman thrust her hand out to Dove. “I’m Hannah. My fiancé is part of an MC in town. I’m so used to seeing VII Knights cuts that I was shocked to see a different MC.”
Oh.
Oh fuck.
We were in a town that had an MC, and here we were, walking around their town with a camera crew like we owned the place. We very well might be in a town where the local MC did not appreciate having other clubs just appear.
Dove shook her hand and glanced at me. “Uh, we’re just in town for a couple of days. My parents used to come here years ago, and my friends decided to come here to get married.”
Probably a little bit more information than I would have given, but it was fine.
Sloane was still holding the marriage license, and obviously, we weren’t from around here.
Hannah’s eyes bugged out. “You’re getting married here? Where? Did you book the church?”
Sloane shook her head. “Uh, actually, we don’t know where we are getting married. Aero asked me suddenly, and I didn’t want to wait. Dove’s dad mentioned this place, and here we are.”
“Seriously?” Hannah asked.
There was a good possibility she thought we were all idiots.
“Uh, yeah.” Sloane hooked her arm through Aero’s. “Like I said, this is all really sudden.”
“Where are you guys from?” Hannah asked.
“Texas,” I replied. “We’re not trying to step on anyone's toes by being here.”
Hannah reared back. “You guys are totally welcome here. The club would love to meet you guys.”
Dove glanced at me.
Hannah pulled out her phone. “Let me see what Ice is up to today.” She smiled wide, pressed a few buttons, and put her phone to her ear. “The club owns Knight Building, and I never know where they are.” She pasted a cheery smile on her face and waited.
Aero turned his head toward me so Hannah couldn’t hear him. “I don’t know how to feel about this shit, brother. Part of me is on alert with her being so nice to us, but then I know Sloane would do the same damn thing if the tables were turned.”
“Same,” I muttered. “Just stay alert, and we’ll see how this goes.”
“Ice?” Hannah called. “It’s me. I’m in town, and I happened to make some new friends.” She paused a bit and then continued. “They’re from Texas and part of an MC. Wouldn’t it be fun to invite them to the clubhouse?”
Aero glanced at me. “I’m picturing Yarder on the other end of that phone and all the cuss words he would be saying.”
“Uh, I’m in front of Bay Books, why?” Hannah called.
“Uh, oh,” I muttered.
Hannah turned and looked down the street. “Okay.” She ended the call and smiled brightly. “Ice and Mercury are actually just down the street. They’re on the way.”
Jesus.
A blacked-out truck rolled down the street and parked across the street.
“Honey,” Hannah called.
The driver opened his door, and a large brown dog jumped down. He barreled across the street and straight into Hannah.
“God dammit, Samson,” the man called. “Can you at least look when you cross the street?”
“Daddy took you to work today, didn’t he?” Hannah cooed to the dog.
Sloane crouched down next to Hannah and meekly petted Samson.
I watched the man cross the street, but my eyes moved to the man who got out of the passenger seat.
“Fifty bucks says he’s the prez,” Aero muttered.
I was not going to bet against that.
The two men made it across the street and stood behind Hannah.
Hannah stood, and the driver of the truck pulled her into his arms.
The passenger nodded to Aero and me. “I’m Mercury, prez of the VII Knights MC.”
The other man raised his hand. “I’m Ice.” He reached out his hand to Aero. “Nice to meet you guys.”
“Aero.”
I tipped my head to them. “I’m Throttle, and this is Dove.”
Aero nodded to Sloane, who was still petting the dog. “And that is Sloane.”
“And they are getting married,” Hannah cheered. “Here! They just got their license and were trying to figure out where to do it.”
Mercury nodded. “Congrats.”
“There’s a chapel down by the river,” Ice offered.
“Oh,” Hannah sighed. “That place is so pretty. It’s a tiny steepled church that the river runs behind.”
Sloane looked up expectantly at Aero. “That sounds really nice.”
Aero shrugged. “I don’t care where we do it as long as you sign that paper, babe.”
“Look, honey,” Hannah laughed. “He’s as romantic as you are. It must be a biker thing.”
Ice scoffed.
Sloane stood and moved next to Aero. “Uh, do you know who we can contact about getting married at the church? I know we could technically just sign this paper and be married, but I wanted some kind of a ceremony.”
“I do!”
Sloane waited for Hannah to tell her who owned it.
Hannah excitedly pointed her finger into her chest. “I own it. I bought it last summer since it butts up to our house. I’m kind of modest about telling people about it, and Ice picked up right away that someone needed to tell you guys about it, but it wasn’t going to be me.”
Ice rolled his eyes. “Tell me how someone who owns the huge sawmill in town can be modest.”
Hannah now rolled her eyes. “My sister basically owns it, and I’m the company accountant.” She waved her hand. “But that’s not important. What is important is you guys are getting married, and you can totally use my chapel if you want!”
“I, uh.” Sloane glanced at Aero.
Aero shrugged. “If that’s what you want, babe.”
Sloane turned to Dove.
“Uh, duh. You totally need to get married at the chapel with the river running behind it,” Dove laughed. “You’d be crazy not to.”
Sloane clapped her hands together. “Then it’s decided. We would love to get married at your chapel.”
Hannah pumped her fist in the air. “Yes! And I know just the person to marry you.” She pointed at Mercury, who just rolled his eyes but didn’t protest. “Mercury has married nine other couples in town, and you guys would make ten. However, we might have to push back the big day to tomorrow so I can do a little cleaning and decorating. Is that okay?”
Sloane nodded and threaded her fingers through Aero’s. “Tomorrow is perfect.”
Dove sheepishly raised her hand. “You wouldn’t happen to also know of a place to stay, would you?”
Hannah beamed proudly. “There just so happens to be a three-bedroom cottage set back from the chapel that was the minister’s home when there were Sunday services.”
“Oh, uh, I was more talking about a hotel or something. You’re already doing so much for us by letting us use the chapel.” Dove tipped her head down the street. “We’re not picky.”
“Nonsense. It’s perfect for you to stay at the cottage. It’s all ready for visitors. Just give me an hour to make sure everything is perfect, and you guys can head down there.”
Dove glanced at me.
“Whatever you guys want, doll.” It wasn’t like we had a real plan for what we were going to do once we got to Golden.
“We’ll take it,” Sloane chirped. “We’ll totally take you up on the offer to stay in a three-bedroom cottage just feet away from your white chapel where Aero and I will get married.”
Hannah, Ice, Mercury, and Samson took off after Hannah rattled off her phone number and the address to the chapel and cottage and asked us to give her an hour before we dropped in.
We watched the black truck drive away, and I noticed Garett off to my side.
He lowered the camera and shook his head. “That right there is what I am talking about. I don’t know how it happens, but shit happens so quickly around you guys. You went from having no clue where to get married to finding a chapel down by the river with a three-bedroom cottage the perfect size for all of us. I won’t even get into the fact that they are being married by the prez of a local MC.” Garett shook his head and raised the camera. “Fucking wild, man.”
I was starting to see what Garett was talking about. That was an eventful first hour in Golden. Who knew what the next seven days would have in store for us?
*
