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I nodded. “Before the end of February, I’m puttin’ a cut on you. Ring will happen around the same—”

She put a finger to my lips. “Hey, hey, hey! Surprise is a wonderful thing, big guy. And to be very clear, I’m a woman who loves a well-planned surprise.”

I kissed the pad of her finger. “I’m not wasting time. Think about where you want to live and raise kids.”

Her eyes widened. “Okay, but—”

“Honey, planning a wedding can be hired out. Nobody but us can decide on where we live.”

The look on her face…I wished I had my phone in my hand to take her picture.

“I’ve thrown too much at you.”

She shook her head. “Sort of, but I agree with not wasting time. It’s not lost on me how lucky I am to be alive after—”

“Wild child, put that out of your head.”

Seriousness crept into her gorgeous blue eyes. “I’m gonna have to talk to someone about it…and I’d prefer that someone to be you.”

I sighed. “Yeah. I’m sorry, you’re right. Anytime you want to talk about it, I’ll listen. I don’t want that asshole to be part of a conversation I thought would make you happy.”

Her lips tipped up. “It is making me happy. It’s going to be hard to decide if getting married here or in Biloxi would be better.”

I smiled. “Either one works, Mick. Hell, we could do Vegas or any place your heart desires if you want a destination wedding. It’s your call.”

She almost rolled her eyes at me. “You won’t mind if it’s in Biloxi? Your sister and—”

“Brandy will love an excuse to leave town and Mom will, too. Come to think of it, Mom will book a cruise out of New Orleans if I had to guess.”

She smiled, then it faltered.

“What is going through your head now, sweetheart?”

“I told you I couldn’t get away for Bike Week because of On a Lark. Three days ago, I’d thought perhaps we could do a day thing, but now…I’m not sure that’s doable. Definitely no campers for me,” she shook her head. “Not for a long time.”

I let go of her hand and cupped her cheek. “February first is the day after tomorrow, babe. I want you fully recovered before I put you on the back of my bike again. There will be other Bike Weeks. Don’t worry about it.”

She gave me a small smile. “Now for the real question. Are we going to be working together at the bar? Or do you still need to sleep on it?”

“Do you want me working alongside you?”

“I think it’ll be interesting. Though, the supply closet will be off-limits to you, boss.”

I shook my head. “My goal isn’t to be your boss. I’m going to tell Volt, I’ll give it a trial run. You can’t go back to work for at least two more weeks.”

“I can make drinks—”

“You can take two weeks off, instead. Gives you time to see a therapist. And figure out where we’re gonna live.”

She growled at me.

I chuckled. “I have to know if I can work with your brothers, without you there to run interference. That’s why it’s a trial run, Mick. Ricochet shouldn’t be a problem, but time will tell with Nickel.”

She stared at me. “Once he buries the hatchet, everything goes back to normal with my brother. I’m serious.”

I took a deep breath. “I’m still two decades older than you.”

“And I don’t give a fuck, which means he shouldn’t either.”