Hitched: Spinoff from the Dark Romance Thriller Series: Edge and Whisper Are Getting Married

by Emma James

  “If I was a betting man,” he murmurs, tickling my ear with his lips, “I’d bet you just sniffed me, Sunflower.”

  My head jerks away from his ear. I did just sniff him. What the heck am I doing?

  “What? Of course not!” I am protesting a little too loudly.

  Whisper tries to be discreet by hiding her obvious amusement from behind the back of her hand.

  I clear my throat in embarrassment. If this is my punishment, then I will gladly take it on the chin, but I also need to keep face in front of my small audience. “Really... I did not sniff him,” I lie to the room.

  I forcefully drag myself forward to escape Torque’s hold, trying to add more strength to my lie.

  His arms tighten for a second before they lazily slip away from my body, giving in to my need for space.

  I try to act casual by crossing my arms over my boobs to hide their twin peaks while I move so I can see everybody in the kitchen.

  The loss of Torque’s comforting embrace I strangely miss.

  “Bloody hell, mate, you only went over there to drop the kid off.” Boxer pats Torque on his good shoulder. It’s as though he’s congratulating him. “And now...?” He keeps the last part of that sentence unfinished, which I’m grateful for. Because what is ‘now’ meant to mean anyway?

  I need to steer the conversation out of these unchartered waters. “Torque, I interrupted Dr. Castille attending to your butt cheek, so I’ll get out of your way.” Butt cheek. Really? Did I have to say that out loud? “And you need clothes.” Duh.

  I don’t want to wait for a response from Torque, so I go to turn and flee when Whisper hooks her uninjured elbow with mine. “Miss Flora, don’t you go running away from me, while Torque and Evelyn finish up here, you and I are going to have that little chat about the spell Torque has cast over you,” Whisper murmurs in my ear as she guides me along to her destination.

  “You better look after my plus one,” Torque calls out to Whisper.

  “Your plus one?” Whisper raises a pretty eyebrow.

  “Yep, you heard right”—Torque looks straight at me with what can only get described as a hungry look—”mine.”

  “Oh, boy,” Whisper and I say in unison, although she sounds a lot more excited than I do.

  “Are you all right with that, honey?” Whisper says to me as she swings me toward the kitchen door with our backs to Torque.

  “To be truthful... I think I am, but I shouldn’t be, for Bowie’s sake,” I admit as she guides me somewhere private.

  “But what are Flora’s heart, body, and mind telling her after hearing that statement from Torque?” Whisper gently pushes me for an answer.

  “To enjoy today and to walk away with no regrets,” I answer with pure honesty. I do want to let myself go, just this once, and enjoy the company of this ruggedly handsome man.

  “Honey, I doubt you’ll be walking away, and you certainly won’t have any regrets because if you think one day with Torque’s company is going to be enough, then you don’t know these biker men. One day I might tell you the edited version of how I met Edge. When it comes to a man like Torque—if you are feeling a connection now—it will only magnify. You might not understand it at first, but you’ll have trouble ignoring those feelings. It might be time to think about you for once. I’m sure Bowie will trust in your decisions. He’s not blind. Your son’s mature enough to know you’re missing out on a man’s company.”

  We walk outside to where they have a fully stocked bar set up. Whisper opens the large glass doors on the fridge and takes out one mini, chilled French champagne bottle. She opens it and pours half the contents into one champagne flute and pours water into the other delicate glass. She hands me the champagne filled flute. “You’ve got time for a little drink to calm your nerves, but not impair your driving skills. One small one won’t hurt. And a quick woman-to-woman chat. I’m on painkillers so just water for me, for now,” she says.

  She pats the barstool next to the one she’s slid onto, the train of her beautiful dress flowing over her arm.

  Whisper doesn’t act worried about her dress or the fact her wedding has been held up by forty-five minutes now. Whisper is so unpretentious. She’s just a woman having a drink in her enormous, party-almost-ready back garden. I know Edge would have been contacted, but she is still so late because of Bowie.

  “You know, Flora, it might be time to live a little on the wild side.” Whisper holds her glass out for me to clink.

  I touch her glass and take a small sip.

  Maybe it’s time to see what it feels like to be a plus one.

  It couldn’t hurt.

  I’m beginning to think I have Me, Myself, and Irene, tagging along, helping me to make decisions.

  It’s just for one night.

  Right?

  We’ve made it to Cuvier Park, no less than an hour late.

  I look around the stretch Hummer at my beautiful bridesmaids, all dressed in various complimenting versions of as-close-to-tiffany-blue-as-legal dresses and smile at my good fortune. These women rock! They are the friends I never knew could be possible.

  Presley, Harper, and Bowie are seated together. The boys look so handsome in their little suits.

  Bowie has had a slight adjustment to his outfit with his suit jacket removed for Presley to wear. Flora was ready to pull her son from the wedding party, to enable Presley to be suited up because my blood was too noticeable on my son’s suit. I figured it was only a little blood. I’ve seen far more spilled of my own. Bowie was so damn cute and charming all at the same time with his apology to me. Children are too precious to be sweating over the little mishaps.

  Harper is angelic as the flower girl in her satin and tulle dress. I can already see this trio as teenagers. Still, after Bowie’s confession today, I wonder if he’s going to be in a world of hurt in the future when it comes to my Harper. Maybe things will turn out how he predicted.

  Boxer lightly touches my arm as I’m wondering how to tell Edge of Bowie’s declaration. “Just give me a bit of time with Edge, love.” Boxer gives me a crooked smile and waves his phone in the air as he rises from his seat.

  “If you need backup, I can talk to him,” I add in a show of support. Everybody in this Hummer knows Edge is already worried about the time it has taken for us to arrive at Cuvier Park and wondering what has caused our delay. He knows he only got told the bare minimum, and that will be playing on his mind, but it’s a good sign he isn’t waiting up here where Torque parked the stretch Hummer.

  “I think I can handle him by myself.” He winks at me just before stepping out of the Hummer.

  I look out the window while Torque assists the ladies out one by one.

  Bowie stands, holding his hand out for Harper to hold onto as she gets out of her chair. The trio walks toward the open door.

  Bowie climbs down out of the stretch Hummer, unwilling to get a hand from Torque, and then the boy goes to lift my daughter out of the Hummer.

  “Christ, kid, just don’t let her trip over.” Torque’s deep voice booms to my amusement. He keeps a wary eye on the two of them, ready to step in if Harper looks like she is going to face plant it.

  Bowie struggles to lift Harper. “I’ll take it from here, kid.” Torque swings Harper down to the ground. Presley follows suit, although he is a little shorter than Bowie, he doesn’t need assistance jumping, landing solidly on his feet.

  Harper is a little clumsy, and I don’t doubt she will grow out of it, but she has had her fair share of falls and scrapes. I don’t need any more ruined clothes until at least after the bridal party wedding photos.

  I’m up out of my seat and making my way to the doorway just as Ghost pokes his head inside the Hummer then assists me out with a gentle hand to my good elbow, looking very striking in his suit.

  “You look stunning, Whisper,” Ghost says in his deep, smooth voice. He gives me a soft kiss on the cheek. “Edge’s eyes are gonna pop when he sees you, not that they don’t pop every time he lays
eyes on you.”

  “Awww... thank you, Ghost. You look very handsome yourself.” And he does. His mocha-colored skin is a stunning backdrop to his smart tan suit.

  Ghost is a private man, rarely being out of his professional zone, but when he does leave his Alaskan home to work with Boxer and his men, he brings gifts for the children, and I get a glimpse of the man beyond what he shows a lot of people. I see the softer man who will make a woman very happy one day.

  “A suit will do that to a guy,” he answers on a shrug and a smile.

  His pretty brown eyes are now scrutinizing me with one eyebrow arched in question. “I had to come and see for myself. I heard whispers that something had gone down, hence the delay. Where are you hurt? The other ladies don’t seem the slightest bit damaged, which is a good thing. Torque is moving a little different to normal, and I haven’t gotten to Boxer yet, but my gut tells me it’s you, darlin’. Anything I should be warning Edge about?”

  He’s truly a beautiful man as he watches me waiting for an answer with his pretty brown eyes. Women almost suffer whiplash when he walks past. The man draws attention, but he still knows how to become a shadow when he needs to. He’s a strong and protective man who deserves a woman in his life, but I’ve never even heard of a one-night stand. If he didn’t live in Alaska for a lot of the time, I would be so matchmaking the hell out of him.

  ‘Whisper?” Ghost prompts me out of my stare fest.

  “Well, this time, you get a two-for-one special because it’s certainly not cold feet, honey. Boxer is the injured one, followed closely by Torque with a bad case of ass rash and shoulder rash, and I come in third place.” I hold my palms up to him and then swing my elbow at him.

  I watch as a picture paints a thousand outcomes in Ghost’s mind. His brow furrowing, eyes narrowing. “Whisper… what happened?” he says in a low voice his earlier amusement evaporates.

  “A boy crush happened.”

  Ghost wrinkles his brow as though trying to figure out the math of three people getting hurt as a result of one boy crush. I bet he didn’t expect me to say that!

  “You’re handling whatever happened well. Should I ask?” he says, raising a brow, looking over in Bowie’s direction before returning his gaze to me.

  Bingo! Can’t fool this man. His assumption is correct. I am the keeper of secrets, though.

  “Another time.” I grin at him to convey it’s all okay—maybe not entirely under control—but it will all be okay. “I’m good; these things happen.”

  He shakes his head at me, while placing his hands on his hips, then looks at the ground before looking back up at me, watching me intently like he’s assessing me. “You know Edge is going to need answers, sweetheart. Edge has a sixth sense when it comes to you and the children, and he knows somethin’ is up, and he’s not gonna let it slide when he gets a glimpse of those hands. I think you are going to be the best weapon to distract Edge because he sure isn’t going to let Theodore get much said before he can’t help himself and will want to hear it from your mouth that you’re doing okay.”

  I know Ghost is right.

  “Ghost, I’ve got it from here.” Boxer makes it back to my side. “Edge now knows enough to keep him from heading on up here.” He grimaces.

  I gather my husband-to-be had words with the man I call my father.

  “Roger, boss.” And then he’s gone like he really is a ghost.

  Phoenix pipes up to my right, “Ladies, let’s not keep the men waiting any longer it’s time to get into formation so we can get Whisper married and the men in our lives can see we are all in one piece.” As maid of honor, she’s taking charge, and with that, the bridesmaids waste no time getting in line while Phoenix inspects them to make sure all is right with their beautiful dresses and bouquets. She’s taking her job very seriously, like any task she gets given.

  Harper is in front of me with Bowie jacketless behind her and Presley closest, grinning up at me.

  “Mom, you look so beautiful, and I love you.”

  I look down at my boy. Bubbles of emotion are pooling together, ready to slip down my cheeks. He knows just the thing to say to me, just like his daddy.

  I did get so lucky—in the end.

  “Presley, don’t you go making your momma cry now,” Boxer says.

  “Not tryin’ to Gramps,” he replies, all serious-little-man. “Just sayin’ what I know, my dad would say.” It makes the tears dry up, and I laugh with joy because I am the luckiest girl.

  “Mommy.” Harper is nervously bouncing on her toes, waving at me. “I’m ready to blow bubbles everywhere.”

  “Yes, you are, Princess.”

  “I won’t trip.”

  “I know baby-girl. You are the best flower girl a mommy could ever ask for.”

  “You got this, Harper,” Presley adds on to reassure her.

  Bowie swings around to me. “I got her Mrs. M,” he says it like he’s some teenager, and I feel proud at the use of the ‘M’ for Masson.

  Harper grins up at Bowie, and my breath catches in my throat the way he looks back at her.

  It’s more than an innocent look—it’s a promise.

  Harper is oblivious as she swings back around, gripping her bubble blower and tube of bubbles.

  “Christ!” Boxer and Torque mutter in harmony. And I tend to agree with them.

  “Torque, do you mind taking Harper down the stairs?” I whisper to him.

  He nods in understanding. I don’t need any more mishaps, especially not my little girl in her tutu-style dress with her hair so pretty and her skin so perfect.

  He doesn’t hesitate to walk over and crouch down next to Harper and tap her on the shoulder. She half turns, her eyes big when she sees him so close to her.

  “Princess, is it all right with you if I carry you down the stairs?” he politely asks my daughter whose answer is to turn around entirely, a bigger grin on her face with both arms raised, her pink bubble blower now screwed into the tube of bubbles.

  Torque scoops Harper up who giggles and wraps a little hand around his neck while the other clutches her precious tube of bubbles to Torque’s chest.

  The bridesmaids and the children are taking the stairs down to the Wedding Bowl area, while Boxer, Evelyn, and I take the ramp.

  Although this is a public park and anybody can be down on the grass enjoying the ocean view, it is common for weddings to take place, and sightseers are used to stepping aside.

  A sign with the wedding details is staked into the grassed area at the base of the stairs, letting sightseers know when the wedding is to take place. We roped off the top of the stairs an hour before the ceremony was due to start, to clarify. A sign also got posted stating the time the service would be in progress and to thank the public for understanding. Juan and his crew will whisk the signs away once we are finished.

  Although we have taken up far more than our allotted time, I’m thankful, with how delayed I am, another wedding didn’t get booked straight after ours, or we would be causing quite the upset.

  Before Torque follows the bridesmaids down the stairs, Phoenix hands me my bouquet, which I hold gingerly in my left hand. My palms have dialed down to a manageable burn.

  Grazed hands aren’t going to hold me up any longer from getting hitched to the man I cherish and love with all my heart.

  I take a deep breath and look at Boxer and then Evelyn, who is standing on the other side of me, ready to walk me down the ramp.

  “Whisper, are you feeling okay?” Evelyn can’t help playing her professional role, and I love her for it.

  “I couldn’t be better.” That might be a slight exaggeration with my affected body parts acting out their painful siren calls, the painkillers not strong enough to combat all the pain because Evelyn didn’t want me doped up. Still, I am determined to try to ignore my hands and elbow. “It’s a stunning day to get married,” I add on.

  “Yes, it is, honey.”

  I straighten my back, feeling the soft breeze on my face an
d take a minute to look up at the sky and think about Miss Catherine.

  I wish you were here. I love you.

  The fake name Boxer procured for me will shortly be dust in the wind. Whisper De Ville came with no history or connections. The name that gave me a place in society has always been a necessary lie.

  I’m moments away from becoming Whisper Masson. A surname Edge proudly claims for the love and memories his adoptive parents gave him.

  “You ready, love?” Boxer patiently waits.

  I’m so ready to walk down the aisle and become officially on paper, the wife of Dallas Masson.

  “I think we’ve got it covered from here if there are no skateboards around.”

  With a sense of relief, I make it to the Wedding Bowl at Cuvier Park ahead of the bridal party, even after having to park my car way down the road.

  The bridesmaids are getting assistance out of the Hummer by Torque, who is too busy to notice me, hurrying toward the stairs.

  I look about for the closest free chair and quickly sit down on the seat farthest from the aisle, in an attempt to bring as little attention to my arrival as possible.

  With my clutch purse on my lap, I close my eyes and center myself. Inhaling and exhaling slowly.

  I feel the soft breeze on my face and take in all the scents surrounding me: the salty ocean, the gardenias secured to the side of the chairs, but there is also the scent of leather.

  My eyes flash open, and I see Edge’s focus is zeroed in on me.

  So much for bringing as little attention to myself as possible.

  I give him a nervous smile, which has him cocking his head on the side in a thoughtful manner. If I could caption that look, it would say, “What do you know, that I need to know?”

  I look away and busy myself getting my phone out of my clutch, eager to capture my son proudly watching over Harper as she walks down the aisle.

  A throat clears next to me.

  My head turns in the direction the bride will be walking, and that’s when I realize I’m sitting in a row of bikers, from the cuts I can see they are wearing over a variety of long and short-sleeve button-ups and slacks. Not a piece of denim on them, but there is leather.