by R B Hilliard
Chapter Twenty
We crawled back in bed as soon as we cleaned up. I snuggled in to his side and asked him about breaking free from Dooley and coming to Charlotte. He told me all about his first encounter with a drunk Ellie the night that Max returned. Only, he knew him then as Jack. I talked a little about my panic attacks, how they had gotten better with time and how running and listening to music had really helped.
“Speaking of music, did you really have Dillon play that song for me last night?”
“I did.”
“Thank you.” I planted a kiss square on his lips. “That is one of my all-time favorites. I loved it.”
Cupping the back of my head, he gave me a mind stealing kiss. “And I love you.” Those three words meant absolutely everything to me.
We spent the next hour catching up on everything. That is, everything except for what Dooley had done to us. It loomed like an elephant in the corner and I knew that eventually we would have to go back there but not today. Today was about us and our future.
A little before noon someone knocked on the door. Gage threw on a t-shirt and a pair of boxers to answer it.
“Hey man.” Max’s deep baritone reverberated through the door. “Meeting in the conference room in ten.”
“It’s Sunday. Can’t it wait until tomorrow?” Gage asked.
“I wish. Zippo talked to Buck and Garrett needs to introduce everyone to the new guy.”
“Let me get a quick shower and I’ll be down.”
“Have you seen Piper? She’s not answering her door. Ellie was saying some shit last night about Reyn stealing Piper’s boots. I’m wondering if I should be worried or not.”
I bit the edge of the pillow to keep from laughing.
“Piper’s fine. I’ll make sure she shows for the meeting,” Gage told him.
“Great. Thanks. See you in a few.”
As soon as Gage shut the door, I broke into laughter.
“Get those boots back today, Princess.”
“I will, I promise. What should we tell everyone about this?” I held up my hand sporting my new bling.
“That you are marrying my ass. That’s what we’re telling them. In fact, I want you moved in here by tonight. We’ll start house hunting next weekend.”
His words made my gut clinch in both surprise and pleasure. “Isn’t that a little fast?”
He gave me a hard kiss. “I’m not losing you again. So, no.”
That answers that.
“Okay then, I’ll call my parents later today and give them the news. My mom knows how crazy I am about you. She’ll be so happy for us.” I held up my hand and stared at the ring. I’m getting married!
After a shower and a change of clothes we headed down to the conference room. Garrett, Cas, Max, Zippo, Dillon, Kurt and Hulk were all sitting around the table waiting for us. I could tell by the expression on their faces that Max and Cas had already put two and two together.
“Glad you both could make it,” Max wryly said.
I was still mad that he videotaped me, so I ignored his dig and asked where Reyn was.
“This meeting primarily concerns you and Gage. We thought we’d let Reyn sit this one out.”
Gage jumped right in, “What’s the news?”
“Zippo?” Garrett said.
“When Gage and I first came to Charlotte, Buck and some other boys rode in with us. Gage and I had just broken away from Dooley and told everyone that we were taking a much needed vacation. In all actuality, we were looking for Piper.” His eyes grazed over me before landing on Gage. “The second that we discovered she was here in Charlotte, Gage made the executive decision to stay.” I glanced over at Gage and smiled. He winked at me and naughty thoughts from this morning skittered through my mind like bad little mice. Everything this man does is a turn on. As if reading my mind, his blue eyes heated and I basked in the warmth of his gaze. Dropping my eyes to the table in front of me, I shifted in my seat in hope of relieving the pressure from between my legs. Eventually I forced myself to focus on what Zip was saying.
“Right after Gage made the decision to stay in Charlotte Buck was called home to Ohio because of a family matter. The rest of the guys rode back to Texas. It turns out that Buck’s momma has cancer and is dying. Her medical bills are financially killing him. He didn’t plan on going back to Texas. However, Dooley is short staffed and desperate after Gage and I exited the picture. He contacted Buck at his momma’s and offered him a lot of money to come back and work full time for him. Buck felt that he had no choice.”
“Did Buck give you anything on Dooley?” Cas asked.
“He was hesitant at first but eventually I got him to loosen up and talk.”
“We can afford to take him on here,” Gage said. “He’s a good mechanic and smart as shit. He’d be a good asset to have. If he’s interested in shifting alliances, a job offer might sweeten the deal.”
“He despises Dooley. The only alliance he has is to his momma and her medical bills,” Zip said.
“What did he have to say about Dooley?” I asked.
He looked from me to Gage and then back at me. “He said that Dooley is crazy obsessed with getting you back, Piper. Dooley thinks that you two have unfinished business.” Memories of being trapped in Dooley’s house traipsed through my mind and I let out a gush of pent up air. I will die before going back there again.
As if reading my mind, Gage said, “The fuck he does!”
“Buck said that Dooley has been making everyone jump through hoops to get Piper back,” Zip continued. “Buck didn’t have all of the details but is working on it. He said that Dooley hates the idea that you two are in the same city and is very vocal about it.” He glanced over at Cas and Garrett. “You’ll be interested to know that Dooley talked to Zeke and Buck about how he has been scheming for a while now to get Gage completely out of the picture.”
“Did he say how?” Garrett asked.
“No, but he said that Dooley definitely has a plan in motion. He also said that he has been incredibly short tempered and antsy lately. Buck thinks he is losing focus and that people who matter are starting to lose patience with him.”
“Do we have any new information on Gary?” Gage asked.
“Gage, Piper, this here is Bobby Preston. Bobby joined our team last month from Wilmington, Delaware,” Garrett said. “Bobby and I went to high school together. He’s a genius with a computer and has spent the past month in protection training. He passed his exams with flying colors last week and will be helping Cas watch Piper and Reyn.” Bobby stood and shook both of our hands. The man was massive with what appeared to be military tattoos on his forearms. “Bobby has been following Gary for us. Go ahead and tell everyone what you told me this morning,” he prompted.
“Gary Sanderson disappeared off the grid two days ago. I have eyes on his house, his cell and his car. Zero activity has occurred since approximately ten twelve two nights ago.”
I looked over at Gage to see what he was thinking but he was focused on Bobby.
“Do you think Dooley killed him?” Dillon asked. I let out a little gasp and felt Gage’s hand slide into mine and squeeze.
Our eyes met and he gave me another wink. I knew he was trying to make me feel better and I had to admit, it was working. It was hard to focus on horrible Dooley and all of the destruction he was causing when I was sitting here next to the man I had just agreed to spend the rest of my life with.
Bobby shook his head. “No, but it bothers me that I haven’t located him yet.”
“When you’re not on Piper or Reyn, focus on Gary,” Garrett told him.
“Got it.”
“I think that offering Buck another option could work in your favor,” Garrett advised Gage and Zippo.
“You okay with that?” Gage asked Max.
“You got enough work to take on someone else?” Max asked.
“Definitely,” Zip nodded.
“Then do it,” Max told them.
“Doe
s anyone have anything else?” Garrett asked.
When no one responded, Max stood up. “Ellie, Joss and the girls have prepared a huge lunch for us all. Let’s go enjoy.” We all stood and followed him to the kitchen.
Ellie, Joss, Reyn and Susannah had set out a massive buffet-style lunch for us. After we loaded our plates we headed to the table. That’s another thing that Ellie did after she and Max reunited. She put her decorative flair on the inside of the garage. That included the huge wooden twenty person dining room table that we were currently sitting at.
“Everything okay?” Joss directed at me.
I decided that this was as good a time as ever, so I held up my hand and said, “Couldn’t be better.”
Ellie slapped her hands over her mouth and burst into tears. Joss gaped, Susannah clapped and Reyn squealed. All the guys just sat there in stunned silence.
Dillon was the first to break the silence. “When you asked me to sing that song last night, I don’t recall you saying anything about marriage,” he said to Gage and I couldn’t help but detect an icy tone in his voice.
“After what happened last night, do you think this is wise?” Cas asked.
I rolled my eyes at both of them.
“It’s a good thing we don’t give a shit what either of you think,” Gage growled.
“Is this what you want, Piper?” Ellie asked.
“More than my next breath,” I said with my eyes on Gage.
“You’ve got our support,” Max said.
“Ours too,” Kurt chimed in.
Joss, who was sitting next to me, pulled my hand over to get a better look at the ring. “Yowza!” she exclaimed. We both looked at each other and burst into girlish giggles.
“I want to plan the wedding shower!” Susannah shouted.
Reyn shot up out of her chair and screamed, “I’m helping!”
“No one is doing anything until we figure out Ellie’s baby shower,” I said.
“You’ll be eight months in two weeks. Correct?” Joss asked Ellie.
“A little over eight months,” Ellie answered.
“Technically we should have planned this a month ago, but my Granny told me that if you wait and have the shower in the eighth month, the baby is guaranteed a safe delivery. If you plan it too soon you can jinx it.”
“Well, we wouldn’t want that,” Max said as he rubbed his hand over Ellie’s belly.
We spent the rest of lunch planning the details of the shower. With each of the girls agreeing to take on a specific responsibility, we had it ironed out in no time.
After lunch Gage helped me move my things into his room. Then he took me for a ride through Charlotte on his Harley. We stopped by Dragonfly on the way home for a drink. I didn’t voice this to Gage, but Dillon’s negative reaction to our engagement bothered me and I wanted to have a chat with him about it.
Dillon and Kurt were behind the bar. Harry, Benny, Tut, Dana and Missy were all parked on the stools directly in front of them. Some obnoxiously loud song of Dillon’s was screaming from Sheila and a warm fuzzy feeling surrounded me. Dragonfly, minus crazy Dana and disease riddled Missy, felt like my home away from home. I paused for a second to take it all in.
Gage, likely thinking that Missy was the reason for my hesitation, grabbed my hand and led me toward the bar. Right before taking a stool he said, “No one is going to ruin this moment for us, and I mean no one. Okay?”
The second I let out a slightly breathy “Okay,” He scorched me with a smoldering hot kiss, tongue and all. Then he pulled me down onto his lap. All eyes turned to us and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“What can I get you two?” Kurt asked.
“A room,” Harry muttered and I gave him a good pinch.
“Ouch,” he mouthed and rubbed the back of his arm.
“How about two Hop Drop IPA’s,” Gage answered.
“Looks like trouble found herself a man,” Tut said just loud enough for the eight of us to hear.
“Yeah, my man,” Missy told him.
My eyes flew to Gage and he shook his head.
Tut’s eyebrow shot up in question. “Pi, is that true? Did you steal her man?” Neither Missy nor Dana was smart enough to realize that Tut was my friend and completely messing with them.
“She did,” Dana agreed, “just like Ellie tried to steal Dillon from me.” I choked back the nasty words threatening to spew from my lips.
“Cool it you two,” Dillon warned.
I snorted my disdain. “As if.”
Gage, who had been talking to Harry, squeezed my side. “Ignore them.”
I lifted my mouth to his ear and ran my tongue over the lobe before whispering, “You were mine first, Cowboy. Mine.” A visible shiver rolled through his body and I felt his hand against my back as he reached down to adjust himself.
“Dillon!” Joss shouted from the offices. “I need your help for a second, please!” I watched as he made his way out from behind the bar and back to the offices. Perfect timing.
Kurt set the beers in front of us and I smiled up at him. “Thanks. I didn’t realize Joss was working tonight?”
“She’s helping me with some things in the office.”
The sound of Gage’s phone ringing interrupted us. He pulled it from his pocket and checked to see who it was. Then he silenced it and put it back in his pocket.
“All good?” I asked. He kissed the side of my head and I took that as a yes. I turned back to Kurt. “You are looking a million times better by the way.”
“Yeah, you don’t look like a character from The Walking Dead anymore,” Gage agreed. They both laughed and Kurt started telling us about wanting to brew his own beer.
I gave Gage a quick peck and told him I would be right back. I thumped Harry on the back of the head as I made my way down to Tut and Benny. Both men stood and gave me big hugs.
“How is shacking up at the garage going for you?” Benny asked.
I could feel Dana and Missy’s eyes on me. I’ll give them something to look at.
“Couldn’t be better,” I said and held up my hand.
“Would you look at that?” Tut said, grabbing my hand. “Our girl is getting married.”
Missy’s gasp of surprise made my growing smile exponentially bigger.
“Let me see,” Dana said as she jerked my hand from Tut. Matthew Bellamy’s Uprising rang through the speakers and I couldn’t help but shake my hips to the beat. I enjoyed seeing the look of envy on Dana’s witchy face and had to fight back a giggle of glee when Missy stepped up to take a look.
“Isn’t it the most gorgeous thing you’ve ever seen?” I breathily asked. I held it up and let out a melodramatic gasp as I slowly turned my hand from side to side, causing the diamonds to perfectly capture and brilliantly reflect the light.
Missy and Dana slunked back onto their stools without giving me an answer and I winked at Tut and Benny. Looks like my job here is done. Time now to deal with Dillon.
I made my way around the bar to the back and stuck my head in the office. “Hey, Joss, can I talk to Dillon for a minute?”
“Sure, everything still great?” she asked.
“Better than ever, “I replied. “This will only take a minute,” I assured.
Dillon followed me to the break room.
“What’s up?” he asked. The way he leaned against the door reminded me of Max and Gage. All three were cut from the same macho, protective, alpha cloth and I dearly loved each and every one of them.
I reached forward and took his hand in mine. “I love him, D. I want to spend the rest of my life with him. I need you in my corner. Please be in my corner,” I pleaded.
Instead of pulling away like I thought he would, he wrapped his arms around me and yanked me into his chest. “I am always in your corner,” he said. Then he kissed the top of my head. “Don’t you ever doubt that, Piper.”
“And I am in yours,” I mumbled into his chest.
He pulled back and stared down at me. “I don’t like
that he hurt you.”
“You forget that I hurt him first.”
“Maybe, but he made you more than pay.”
I let out a big sigh. “We both paid, Dillon. I’m over it and I need you to get past it too. I need your support. Please?”
“Fine,” he huffed.
“Really?”
“Yes, but if he hurts you again, I will personally rearrange his appendages.”
Not wanting to know what he meant by that, I gave him a big hug and headed back out to my man. I knew the second that I left the room, Missy would pounce and I was not wrong. Gage was at the bar where I left him. Missy, however, had managed to wedge herself between Gage and Harry. Her head was tilted down and she was nodding at something Harry was saying. I had two choices. Either I get pissed that he let her that close to him and leave or I go get her disease riddled ass away from my man. I’m done running. As soon as I made my decision, Gage’s head popped up and his eyes landed on me. I could tell by his concerned expression that he, too, wondered what I was about to do. I made my way back around the bar and, when I reached Gage, I held out my hand and asked, “Ready to go home?”
His fingers laced with mine and I pulled him off of the stool. “Later,” he said to everyone. We walked out the door without looking back.
As soon as we reached his bike, he cut his eyes to me. “You okay?”
“I watched Ellie almost lose Max over two girls who did not understand the word no, Gage. You let Missy get that close to you again and we are going to have problems.”
“What happened with Max and Ellie is not going to happen to us.”
“It already is! Every time I turn around she is up in your grill. What would you do if that was me and some guy?”
“I would kick his ass.”
“Of course you would.” I sarcastically stated as I reached down inside my purse and pulled out a hair band. I quickly braided my hair into one long braid and grabbed the helmet from the bike. “Let’s go.”
Before I could get the helmet up to my head, he whisked it out of my hands and had my chin between his thumb and forefinger. Tilting my head, he forced me to look up at him. “I love you, Princess, and no one is going to get in my way this time. I’m holding on tight and not letting go. Do you get me?”