Page 54 of Hard Ride

Ollie stood by Kyra and Van, watching as Kason, Jordan, and Wren exchanged simple promises, though ones that counted for so much.They slid matching gold bands on each other’s fingers and sealed their vows with a threeway kiss that made Ollie’s mouth go dry.

Though he tried desperately not to glance over at Van, he did anyway.A shock of awareness jolted him when he saw the other man staring back, equally as intent.

Kyra glanced up and caught whatever it was passing between them.She smiled and leaned her shoulders against them, forcing them to step closer to keep her upright.

Together, they held her as their friends promised each other forever.

And when the impromptu ceremony was over and people had dispersed throughout the massive house to eat, drink, laugh, and dance to Kason singing “The Real Thing” for his new wife and husband, Ollie excused himself from Kyra and Van, then went off in search of his boss.

If he wanted to try for that kind of happiness in his life, he was going to have to make some major changes.

Fortunately he stumbled across Quinn, the Hot Rides shop manager, chatting with Gavyn.They were nestled into a sitting nook away from the majority of the merrymaking.He came up from behind them and swung around the end of the enormous leather sofa they were lounging on.

“Hey, Quinn, Gavyn, can I talk to you guys for a second?”Ollie leaned against a nearby case that displayed at least a dozen awards Kason had won for his music.

Which was when he noticed Amber sitting on her husband’s lap, surrounded by Gavyn’s thick arms.Her head rested on his shoulder as if she could barely stay awake.

“Oh, sorry.Didn’t realize this was a family meeting.I’ll catch you another time, when we’re back at Hot Rides.”He turned to leave them in peace.

“Ollie, wait.”He glanced over his shoulder at Amber, who got to her feet more gingerly than usual with one hand pressed to her baby bump.She was really starting to show now, six or seven months into her pregnancy, he guessed.

Rather than make her come to him for whatever it was she wanted, he crossed to her, saving her the trouble.She wrapped him in a warm and surprisingly tight hug.

“What’s that for?”he asked, peering over her shoulder at her husband and Quinn, both of whom were smiling softly instead of looking like they would rip his head off for touching her.

“I’m hoping someday you’ll realize that you’re part of our family now.”Tall and athletic, she didn’t need to go up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek.“Now I’m going upstairs to commandeer one of those ridiculously comfortable-looking bedrooms to take a nap.Come get me whenever you’re ready to go home, Gavyn.No rush.I’ll get out of your way so you boys can discuss…whatever it was you had in mind.”

“Sure you don’t want me to tuck you in?”Gavyn asked, a hopeful note in his tone.

“If you do, neither of us will get any rest, and I’m not sure we know Kason quite that well yet.”Amber chuckled as she wandered toward the stairs, stopping to talk to a few of their friends on her way.

Gavyn slumped on the couch before shooting Ollie and Quinn a lopsided grin.“If she wasn’t so damn exhausted after helping Wren and Devra organize everything tonight, I would have done it anyway.It’s a good thing you’re going to take over running Hot Rides for me, Quinn.Once the baby comes, she’s going to need my help to keep her event planning business strong.”

“Are you looking forward to being a stay-at-home dad?”Quinn asked.

Ollie listened intently as he sank onto a chair facing the two men, who’d known each other for years.

“Yeah.You know how it is, Quinn.Family first.Amber is everything to me and soon there’s going to be a new person who’s part her and part me.How can that not be the most amazing thing in the universe?I can’t wait to meet our child.”Gavyn seemed utterly content.“You’ll see someday, I’m sure.Assuming that’s what you, Devra, and Trevon want.”

“She talks about having kids, yeah.”Quinn drew in a deep breath then blew it out.“I’m just not sure what kind of father I would make.I mean, I don’t even know who mine is and…well…we all know my mom wasn’t Parent of the Year material.”

“Shut the fuck up.You would be a fantastic dad.”Ollie blurted it before he thought too much about the fact that Quinn was his boss and he was here to ask a favor.Probably not the wisest way to speak to the guy.But they were friends too, and maybe Amber had it right…maybe they were starting to be his family.

Fortunately, Quinn only laughed.

It was Gavyn who didn’t.“Quinn, that’s some serious bullshit.You’re already the natural leader of the Hot Rides and take care of everyone at the garage.You’re nothing like your mother.Did she ever have a lasting, loving relationship?”

Quinn shook his head.

“You do.”Ollie pointed to where Trevon and Devra were mingling with Sally, Alanso, and Eli from Hot Rods and James, Neil, and Devon from the Powertools crew.Every few seconds, one or both would glance over at Quinn as if making sure he was real.They were smitten, both of them.

“Still kind of in shock about that.”Quinn shook his head slowly.“But glad and so damn grateful.Same with the shop stuff.Thanks for trusting me, Gavyn.”

“You earned it, kid,” Gavyn said.“So why don’t you see what Ollie wants?”

“Whatdoyou want, Ollie?”Quinn grinned.“I’m in a pretty good mood at the moment, so it’s a good time to ask for a raise or whatever.”

Ollie choked.“Nothing like that.I mean, you already pay meverywell.”

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