Page 81 of Never Wed an Outlaw

“What's going on? We're not on lockdown, are we?”

I shook my head, hiding the smile trying to infiltrate my lips. “Go upstairs and change into your best that'll still let you on my bike. Meet me outside.”

Didn't say another word. I left her standing there while I went outside and had a quick puff off my pipe.

This is it, boy. Biggest fuckin' day of your life, if tying the knot the first time and seeing your kid wasn't enough. You ready?

Hadn't heard that voice in my head for months. Early's ghost deserted me ever since I used the last few months' blood and tears to smooth things over.

I saw him coldly in the corner of my eye, looking as somber as the day he died in that wreck, propped up in his coffin, the hard demon edges he'd lived by subdued for once in his life. My old man looked on sadly, like he couldn't believe I'd done what he couldn't, and now I stood to reap the rewards forever.

“Ready? I've been waiting my whole life. Went through hell to have it, and I'll work like hell to keep it.” I stubbed my pipe out and tucked it into my pocket, half a second before I heard the garage door opening behind me.

“Who were you talking to?” She stood at the edge of thedriveway, several feet from my bike, looking good enough to devour with her high brown boots, short black skirt, and purple top clinging to every raw inch I wanted to claim again. Preferably over and over.

“Nobody who matters, darlin'. You ready?” I reached for the spare helmet on my bike and pushed it toward her.

“I guess. Still can't say I'm a fan of the mystery going on here,” she said, eyes narrowed playfully. She took the helmet from my hands, strapping it onto her head.

“It'll be worth it, babe. Trust me. There's a lot of shit I didn't do right when I should have. Today, I'm fixing it.”

“Dusty...” She laid a hand on my back when we were both seated, my key in the ignition. “You don't need to impress me anymore. It's not like I'll ever forget you saved my life several times over.”

She leaned in, pressing her lips to my neck. I didn't say anything, just revved my engine and slowly took us down the driveway.

Pretty fuckin' cute, really. She thought I was about to make her heart throb for the millionth time because I had some crazy obligation.

Bullshit.Love ain't work, and it ain't never a chore.

When we got to the clubhouse, she'd see how wrong she was. She'd see the only thing I ever wanted was to light up her face like the moon 'til she begged me to stop.

Sure, I'd saved her life, and put my own ass on the line to do it. Wouldn't stop 'til I went into my grave either, if any wolves were ever dumb enough to come sniffing around her ever again.

Salvation went both ways.

I saved her from psychos with knives and bullets. She saved me from myself. Put my life on the straight and narrow I'd sought for forty years without realizing it 'til I woke up to a woman I wanted in my bed, and a son carrying our blood.

Loving Hannah wasn't a chore, dammit. And if she thought it might be, I'd send those nasty thoughts spinning from her head so fast they went all the way to Jupiter.

Took every muscle I had not to start grinning like a fool when we were halfway to the clubhouse.

My poor, precious, clueless wife didn't have a hint what was about to hit her. If there was one thing I appreciated after surviving several ambushes, it was surprises that put a smile on people's faces.

I parkedthe bike and put my hand on her back, guiding her round the side of the clubhouse, toward the back patio. Used my own money the last few weeks to have it fixed up, real nice and special for this occasion.

“Why's it so quiet here?” she whispered, flashing a cautious look over her shoulder.

“Darlin', you keep on walking. No questions.”

“No? Not even if I'm going to guess I'm walking into some kind of surprise party? I know you do these kinda hijinks in the spring. Huck told me.”

“Keep. Walking,” I growled, shaking my head, prodding her forward a little more firmly with my hand.

She had thepartyright, at least.

“Give it a push,” I said, putting my hand over hers when we got to the latch over the new gate. It towered over us, giving the club the privacy we'd always wanted, thick reinforced wooden doors attached to a ring of brick that'd stop anyone from coming in who wasn't supposed to.

Music started blasting the second the gate creaked open. My boys were all standing, and they came to attention the second we walked in, standing by the makeshift altar.

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