Page 10 of Rough Return

“And don’t let her sissy up my funeral with flowers and church songs. You hear? I want Steppenwolf and bike motors. Got it?”

Not the typical son-in-law speech. “Yeah.”

“And get her married now. Don’t wait for some big to-do. She needs the comfort of knowing that if I can’t be there, she has someone to lean on. Don’t you let her fall.” Every word Max spoke seemed to wear him down a little more. His breath wheezed, and his chest shook with every inhale and exhale. “I don’t have many days left. I want to see my girl married.”

Grier nodded. His heart ached for Fiona and the pain she would go through. Not just for her. Max had been the closest thing to a real father figure he’d ever had, too. There’d once been a time when he would have killed for the old man. And it went without saying he would have died for him.

“You will.”

Max nodded. “Take her somewhere nice now. Get her the hell out of here.”

Of all the things Max had asked of him, getting Fiona to leave would not be the easiest.

* * *

“You want wine?”

He hated the stuff, but Eliana had always insisted they drink it with their dinner. He assumed it was a woman thing. “I’m more of a beer guy.”

Fiona breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank God.” She chuckled, the strain from leaving her father seeming to dissipate on the ride back to her place. She’d changed from her “power suit” into jeans and a tank before leading him back to a small deck in her backyard.

He lit a fire while she marinated some steaks for grilling. When she handed him his beer, she smiled. “What did Dad say?”

Grier shrugged. Most of their conversation had been for him alone. “That he wants us to get married before he dies. He wants to see you married.” He didn’t add that Max had told him about the special place Grier held in Fiona’s heart. He didn’t know what to do with the information yet, so he chose to ignore it.

She took a long pull of his beer. She’d already finished hers. “What did you say?”

He wasn’t sure whether he should turn this into a flirty moment with a “hell, yeah” or leave it as it was. “I said okay.” He shrugged as if the choice was solely his. “Last wish and all.”

Since she was a teenager—Grier hadn’t known her before that—she’d been her father’s daughter. She didn’t speak without having a good idea of what the other person would say. Not to say she hadn’t fumbled through some awkward days, but she’d never put everything out there, except with Grier. He hadn’t appreciated that back then.

“How’s tomorrow? You free?” She didn’t smile. Didn’t even look at him now.

“You sure?”

She sighed. “Are you trying to back out? Because Ham—”

Grier had had enough of the Hamilton threat. “I don’t give a fuck about Hamilton.” He shook his head. “Are you sure you want to do this?” She could choose any of the guys, and the club would follow him because she chose him. Grier was the least likely to stir their devotion. She had to know that.

She stared at him, eyes wide and unblinking. “It’s the only way.” But her gaze flickered. Her mouth compressed into a line and tears pooled, tipping over her lashes. Oh, God. He couldn’t do this. Not if it made her so upset. Of course, she could have been crying over losing her father. It didn’t matter. He was going to wrap his arms around her and hold her until she got it all out. Then, they could talk if she wanted to. Or he could go, and they could leave every little detail to rest until later.

He stood and walked around the table, crouched in front of her and pulled her close. Her tears soaked the shoulder of his shirt, and her sobs tore something inside him. From that moment on, he would protect her. No matter what.

Fiona awoke with her head cradled against Grier’s chest, his heartbeat a lull to her aching soul. She hadn’t handled last night well, had let her emotions go wild, had abandoned her plan and leaned on Grier. Shit.

He opened his eyes and smiled at her when she finally moved away. “Was it good for you?”

Of course, he teased her. Of course, his smile made her heart speed up. And of course, she didn’t mind as much as she should. Grier had always had that effect on her, even when he’d walked away from her in the mall. Damned if she understood why. She’d seen nice looking men before. Dated them. Even had sex with a few. But no matter who she kissed or shared her bed with, Grier had always been the one.

Still, for appearance sake, she glared. “Must not have been. I slept through it.”

His chuckle went straight to her stomach and spread heat. That he’d stayed, let her cry on his shoulder, literally, didn’t hurt either. Nothing except her pride anyway.

“So… are we still getting married today?” He still wore his grin but there was a hint of uncertainty lingering in his eyes. Second thoughts probably.

Married to Grier Owen. Mrs. Owen. Years ago, she’d dreamed of being his wife, having his babies, waking up every morning knowing he belonged to her and her to him. Pipe dreams meant for a little girl. Now, everything had changed. The choices had been taken from her. Especially if she wanted to run the club, bring them into this millennium.

Rather than answer his question, she scowled. “Still trying to get out of it?”