“Andi!”I shout.
“I’m just sayin, you have a lot of life left to live, and after this snow lets up, you never have to come back here again if you don’t want to. So, if you want to take a turn on someone else’s ride, you can.”
“First of all, I’m not interested in anyone else’s ride. And second, I live in this town. I have a business. One that these men frequent as it sits next door to Jake’s tattoo shop. There would be no way to avoid seeing Gabe, so making a clean break of things is the best way we could’ve gone.”
“And I’m telling you. You’re deadass wrong.” Sadie smiles. “But I’m willing to take a front seat and watch as Gabe proves you wrong. Just promise me you’ll make that grumpy asshole work for every bit of your forgiveness. If he wants to make you his—as in his ol’ lady, his woman, who knows maybe even his wife—whatever his plans are, you make him earn your heart and then you make sure he knows what’s expected of him to keep it. Don’t settle for the whole bikers are neanderthals grunt and grumble bullshit. If he wants you to stand by his side as his queen, as the president’s ol’ lady, a place that deserves high respect from everyone in the club, then he needs to prove he’s going to give it to you first.”
“He’s not going to try?—”
“Promise. Me.” Sadie says again, accepting no argument. “You’re going to be his queen, Linzie. Act like it.”
Taking a deep breath and wanting to change the subject, I ask, “What shoes am I supposed to wear with this scrap of fabric with built-in air conditioning?”
Avery smiles. “I have some heels you can borrow in the closet over there.” I make my way to the closet, open the door and find black knee-high leather boots with a three-inch heel.
“Are you for real?”
“Think of this as your Sandra Dee moment,” Avery chimes in, and Sadie’s eyes roll hard. Avery smiles and shrugs. “It’s a good movie. Get over it,” she tosses at Sadie. Jayde and Skyler are laughing. Avery walks over to where I’m now sitting and putting on the boots. She places a long gold chain with three single diamonds that hangs perfectly in the center of my breasts. “When Sandy realized she wanted to be Danny’s girl, she made some changes to prove she could be what he needed, but she also made him realize he needed to do the same. A queen doesn’t bow to her king. She stands beside him.”
“But first, you make him bow before you and eat that pussy,” Sadie interrupts. “You make him get down on his knees repeatedly and apologize the right way. Don’t you dare let him skimp on those orgasms!”
CHAPTER 14
GABE
Jake and Eli have taken their places at the front of the stage, both looking comfortable in their long sleeve button-down shirts and black jeans. It’s not what they had planned, but Avery wasn’t too upset over the guys not having tuxes. I’m sure she would’ve felt differently if the girls hadn’t had their dresses here already. They’ve been storing shit up in the playroom for weeks. I know because Carter has complained just about every time he’s been here since it started.
The prospect plays music over the stereo, cuing everyone to the fact we’re about to start the wedding. Kaylie comes around the corner all smiles in her pretty little flower girl dress, flinging rose petals into the air as she goes. She turns to each person at the end of each row of chairs and tosses another handful. Some land on the ground, but most land on people’s laps or in their hair, but no one cares. Instead, they laugh and encourage her to throw more, higher each time. She’s having a good time and looks cute doing it. Lisa’s only had to wrangle Kaylie once to keep her moving down the aisle.
Carter follows right behind her with a pillow in his hands that has two rings tied with a ribbon. He looks sharp in his blackbutton-down with a red vest and tie, matching Declan with his hair slicked back and combed over to the side. Carter tips his chin at Declan and his mama sitting in the second row. His steps falter for a moment until Declan gives him a nod, probably to reassure him his mother is fine. That boy is very protective of his mama, with good reason. He thankfully trusts Declan to take care of her. He rarely questions anything Declan says.
The music changes, and the women come down the stairs one at a time. Sadie comes down first. Her short red dress and heels make her appear nearly as tall as Hawk. She takes Hawk’s arm and they make their way down the aisle, smiling at everyone as they pass.
Skyler comes down next. Her dress is longer than Sadie’s and form-fitting at the top, flowing looser around her middle. I heard her complaining about her still carrying a few pounds around the middle since Emily was born the other day. I also heard Ethan threaten to tan her ass if she made another derogatory remark about his wife. Skyler, taking Ethan’s arm, follows Sadie and Hawk’s path, splitting off at the front of the aisle.
I don’t know what I was expecting to see next coming down the stairs, but it wasn’t my woman looking like a fucking pin-up in her sexy as fuck full-length dress, showing off all her curves and way too much fucking skin for the likes of these assholes to see. The plunging neckline of Linzie’s dress leaves little to the imagination. The slit that stops mere inches from her waistline has me curious to know what, if anything, she’s got on under that thing?
“Jesus.” I mutter quietly, but she must’ve heard me because she’s glaring daggers my way. She looks about ready to claw my eyes out. “Put your claws away, Vixen. Unless you plan on scratching my back while I take you right here in front of everybody.” Her eyes widen with shock.
“Behave yourself, Gabriel. There won’t be any ofthat.”
“For now.” Her eyes narrow, and I know she wants to fire off some smartass response, but she won’t. Not here. Not now, with everyone watching and waiting for us.
She looks a little confused when she reaches the bottom step and she’s without a partner. “Where’s Declan?”
I step up, taking her hand and placing it through the crook of my elbow and whisper, “Declan is sitting with Violet. She’s too weak to stand for the ceremony, and he’s too protective to leave her side, so it looks like you’re stuck with me today.”
Linzie’s brows crease momentarily, but she doesn’t speak. After a moment, she takes a deep breath and then nods her concession, and we begin our trek down the aisle. “You look beautiful, baby.” I whisper so that only she can hear me. She glances at me briefly, keeping her focus on the people at the front of the room. When we get to the stage, she splits off to her side and stands behind Skyler, who whispers something, making Linzie blush. I spin on my heels and head back to meet Avery at the foot of the stairs with Russ.
We both take one of Avery’s arms in ours and everyone in the room stands, watching and waiting. We walk slowly to the bridal march. Everyone is smiling and whispering about how beautiful Avery is as we pass. There are even a few sniffles in the crowd.
“You look beautiful, Avery,” Russ says. “Your mother would have loved to see you like this. I’m sure she’s watching down on you, smiling at how happy and loved you are.”
“Thank you, Gramps.” Avery sniffles.
We stop when we reach Jake and Eli standing front and center. Jake’s face lights up when Avery steps forward to take his hand. His eyes take in her white dress with crimson trim. I wasn’t sure about the red rose patterned overlay with the long flowing train, but it’s what Avery wanted. Now that I see it on her, it was the perfect choice.
Lifting Avery’s hand, Jake nudges her to spin around. She laughs but does as he asks. “Fucking gorgeous, Angel.” Avery blushes at his compliment.
