Page 53 of Hard Ride

Walker shot his partner a glare and slapped him in the back of the head.“You can’t just say shit like that.Someone who doesn’t know better might think you know what you’re talking about.Especially about something so important.A kid isn’t a joke, asshole.”

Dane flipped Walker off, then went to grab a refill on his plate of appetizers.

“Sorry about that.”Walker shook his head.“He’s a dumbass.Please don’t listen to him.”

“Well, whatever it is must be important since they went to all this trouble.”Van scanned the room and Ollie knew he was verifying everything was secure.Members of his team were positioned near several of the doors and they’d had extra guards stationed at the gatehouse.

Jordan wasn’t taking any chances with the safety of his lovers or their friends.

“Maybe I should go check with my team…” Van started to take a step toward them when Kason appeared at the railing.

Ollie still couldn’t get over how fancy his place was.Overlooking the great room, the balcony was only two thirds as tall as the mammoth pine tree, sparkling in front of the three-story glass windows.On the far wall a floor to ceiling stone strip encapsulated a gorgeous fireplace, complete with a snapping and crackling fire.

He skipped quickly past that, trying not to think about how the entire place was made of timbers or how near the flames were to the Christmas tree.Kyra held his hand tighter, her grip reassuring.

A few older kids he recognized as Mike’s and Joe’s from the Powertools crew played with Nola and Kaige’s daughter, and a couple of the other mini Hot Rods.It was hard keeping track of them all.The rest of the local gang, their friends from out of state, plus Tom and Ms.Brown, collectively gave their attention to Kason.

He had a way of capturing people’s focus.Ollie guessed that was what made him a star.

Kason projected so everyone could hear him even without his usual microphone.“Good evening, everyone.Thank you for coming!”

“Not that I don’t enjoy a good party, but…what are we here for?”Tom asked what everyone was thinking.As the honorary patriarch of their group, he spoke for them all.

“To celebrate my wedding.”Kason had never smiled as wide as he did when he shocked the crowd.“I asked Jordan and Wren to marry me and they both said yes.We don’t want to wait.So…let’s do this.”

“Shit, Iamunderdressed.”Ollie looked at his scuffed boots and grimaced.

“If you are, everyone is,” Kyra pointed out.“Even Kason is wearing jeans.”

Okay, that was a fair point.Besides, he knew Wren wasn’t the sort of woman to stand on tradition.It did surprise him when she emerged behind Kason, wearing a sexy red satin dress.Jordan was with her and, not so different from how Ollie had come inside with Kyra and Van, he clasped one of Wren’s hands and one of Kason’s before leading them both down the sweeping circular staircase.

Their friends swarmed them, offering congratulations as they made their way to the base of the Christmas tree, where they stood in a triangle and everyone crowded around.

Wren smoothed down her dress, still nervous about having on something other than her welding gear in public, he was sure.Though she shouldn’t have been because she looked incredible.

She said to Devra as they hugged, “I thought I’d carry on your tradition and wear red.”

“I approve.”The woman swiped a happy tear from the corner of her eye as Quinn and Trevon looked on, shaking hands with Kason and Jordan while they offered their congratulations.

Ollie smiled as he thought back on the time he’d tried to flirt with Wren and had imagined she might be someone he could love, before Kyra—and Van—had crash-landed in his life.What he’d felt for Wren had been intense, more powerful than anything he’d experienced before.Still it paled when compared to how he felt about the woman, and her lover, who now shared his bed.

Wren had known what he hadn’t—they were meant for other people.

When she looked his way, he grinned and nodded.“So happy for you.”

Kyra wasn’t having any of that.She charged across the gap between them and flung her arms around Kason.Van piled on.Ollie knew they’d seen the man through some rough times.This was a victory for them too.

He edged closer, wanting to be near them and share in their joy.

Jordan didn’t miss it either.He raised his brows at Ollie, then said quietly, “Maybe it’ll be your turn next.”

“Uh, I doubt it.”He wasn’t sure what else to say.Though he’d dreamed about their fling lasting, it was still far too fragile to declare his desires so openly.

Except Kyra chose right then to turn toward him.She frowned at his response.

Shit.

He knew she battled her own insecurities about being desired, and now that he had more information about her upbringing, he could see why that might be an especially sensitive spot for her.Before he could clarify, they were being swept aside by more of their friends edging in to give their well wishes to the established trio, who were declaring their relationship official and permanent that night.

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