Page 2 of Built for Dreams

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“Selma!” I spun around to face whoever called my name. A blonde woman was jogging across the parking lot, waving at me. Wearing a pair of black slacks, a baby blue blouse, and pointy black flats, she looked like one of the workers. I tentatively waved back, wondering who in the world she was. She reached me, beaming, not even out of breath. I would have felt like I was dying. “I’m Mikayla.”

“Oh!” I thrust my hand out, a light blush staining my cheeks. “Sorry if I appeared a little freaked out.”

She shook my hand, her smile never faltering. “Don’t worry about it. If some random freak woman started yelling my name and running to me looking like she worked in this courthouse, I’d run, too.” I laughed. “I don’t normally dress like this. In fact, I actually had to go shopping so I had something suitable to wear.”

I grinned at her; her smile was so infectious. “Anyway, I wanted to introduce myself, my significant other, and our son.” She smiled at a bulky man standing next to a pickup truck. A boy angled out of the backseat—probably about fifteen or sixteen years old—and walked to stand beside the man. “My spouse is Beau Justice, and that’s our son, Bentley.”

I waved at them, and the older man cracked a grin, waving back. Bentley sort of just raised his hand and dropped it back to his side, shoving his hands into the pockets of his blue jeans afterward. He had on a button-down shirt open over a white t-shirt and a pair of Converse. The other man was wearing a pair of slacks the same color as Mikayla’s and a black button-down.

“I need to head on inside,” Mikayla told me. “Please join us at the get-together after,” she pleaded. “You’re recording something so important to us. It doesn’t feel right to not have you there, too.”

“I—well, I’ll need to edit your pictures—” I stammered. I’d rather not go considering it would be nothing but strangers. Which would one hundred percent be out of my element and uncomfortable.

She waved me off. “Nonsense. Come hang out with us at the clubhouse. You know where it is, right? Storm Hogs MC?”

I nodded. Who didn’t know of the Storm Hogs MC? I hadn’t lived here long, but they were known all over the state of Georgia for all the charity runs and donations they did. People really looked up to them.

“Okay,” I agreed, not wanting to ruin her day even the slightest bit. “I’ll be there.”And hoping I won’t regret it, I silently added.

She beamed at me. “Great!” With that, she rushed off.

I headed toward the entrance of the courthouse so I could be ready with my camera. I already had video cameras set up from different angles so I could create a beautiful video for her. I didn’t want her family to miss a moment of this from a spectator’s point of view. She was paying a big enough price for it.

I screamed when a bike tore into the lot, almost running me over. The rider screeched to a stop at the very last second and ripped his helmet off, his blue eyes wide and filled with horror. His black hair was a mess on his head from his helmet, and damp strands clung to his forehead from sweat.

“I’m—”

“What thefuck?” I exploded at him, my hands shaking. I swallowed vomit from the fear, my heart knocking painfully against my breastbone. “Learn to fucking drive!”

With that, I stormed into the courthouse, my entire body trembling from the adrenalone and my knees just about knocking together.

two

Remi

I quickly parked my bike,my heart hammering in my chest too fast to be even remotely safe. Scrambling off the bike, I quickly began to rush after the gorgeous blonde, who was currently marching up the steps of the courthouse like I’d personally lit a fire under her heels.

I hadn’t meant to almost hit her. I swore I hadn’t. I’d just been running late and didn’t want to miss a single part of Bentley officially becoming Mikayla and Beaus son and a member of the Storm Hogs MC family. He was important to all of us, and I was terrified I was going to be late for his big day.

Bentley deserved to have everyone here on one of the most momentous days of his life, and I wouldn’t be one of the many people in his life who had already let him down.

“Shit,” I muttered. “Hey, wait—” Beau stepped into my path, and I cursed, coming to an abrupt halt. I thrust my hand through my hair, glaring at him as the blonde disappeared into the courthouse. “What the fuck, bro?”

“Did you really just almost run over the photographer?” he hissed at me. I groaned and scrubbed my hands down my face. I’d almost hit thephotographer. The most important person at this event besides Bently, Mikayla, and Beau. Christ, I’d really almost fucked this entire day up.

“I didn’t mean to. I fucking swear,” I told him, meaning it. I sighed, smacking my hands against my sides. “I didn’t want to be late.”

Beau pinched the bridge of his nose before dropping his hand and narrowing his eyes at me. “Best fucking behavior, Remi.” I nodded once. “Mikayla was ready to rip your fucking head off your shoulders for almost hitting her. If you had, this entire day would’ve gone to shit.”

I cringed. “I’ll buy her apology cupcakes later,” I told him. His wife was the sweetest woman I’d ever met, but when it came to Bentley, she was a nightmare. I didnotwant to end up on her bad side.

“Better make them damn good ones,” Beau told me. He clapped a hand to my shoulder and nodded his head toward the courthouse. The pretty, blonde photographer came to mind again, and I blew out a soft breath. “Let’s go.”

Nodding, I fell into step beside him, heading into the courthouse to watch Bentley become an official member of our family. He’d been a member since Beau and Mikayla brought him home, but today, it was time to cement it and make it permanent.

I’d find the photographer later and apologize to her…and Mikayla.

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