by Emma James
“I don’t think you’re helping, babe.”
“Let’s worry about all those speed-humps-in-life when the time comes. You’re jumping the gun.”
“Maybe…” He doesn’t sound convinced.
“Husband, it’s time to mingle and get tipsy.”
“That it is, Mrs. Masson.”
And don’t I like the sound of that.
I come up behind Flora, my lips feathering her ear. “Sunflower... would you like a drink?” I’m not sure, but I think I hear a little sigh leave her lips as her head twists ever so slightly in my direction.
My caveman grunts silently with approval. I rest a hand lightly around her waist, testing the waters a little deeper.
When I’m satisfied she isn’t going to pull away, I draw her back against my chest to remind her that I like having her close.
I like it a lot.
My caveman beats his chest with pride when she stays put.
PDA rule abolished.
I won’t test her when Bowie is around, but I know he’s off with the other kids doing kid stuff. I’m keeping an eye out, and I also have Romeo watching out for me.
I glare at Lethal and Blueblood over Flora’s shoulder. “How are those beers going down? Did you not think to offer the lady a drink?” I reprimand them.
“Actually—” Blueblood holds a finger up.
“—Hermano—”
“Oh, they certainly did offer me a drink,” Sunflower cuts off the unison twins to hurriedly explain how incorrect my assumption is. “I decided to wait for the other girls to arrive before I started to drink,” she says confidently, further putting me back in my place, just as the musical laughter of the bridesmaids filters through. “And here they are now!”
Blueblood bows low with bonus flair, keeping his eyes on Flora. “Madam, can I now interest you in a glass of French bubbly?” He smirks at me and winks.
Hmmm. It looks like Blueblood is amusing himself at my expense.
“Got somethin’ to say, Blueblood?”
“Nah... just keeping up the flirt with the gorgeous Flora, here. Your inner caveman got a problem with that?” He lasers a shit-eating grin at me.
Really?
“From where I was standing before, it looked like you two were not going to let the lady leave, and that is the caveman’s issue.” I arch an eyebrow at the both of them communicating I want an explanation.
“Misunderstanding, that’s all,” Blueblood says, “I was actually about to apologize to Flora for being a little pushy—”
“Sticking your nose where it is not wanted?” I correct him.
Blueblood clasps Lethal’s shoulder. “Sound about right, Lethal?”
“I think that is a fair assessment, Hermano.”
“Thank you, guys. I appreciate you want to apologize to me, and I accept your apologies.” Flora angles her body to look out the corner of her eye at me. I know she is telling me to drop it.
“Glad you two could work out the error of your ways like the grown-ups you are.”
Flora steps away from the space I had her enclosed in. “If you will all excuse me, I was on my way to freshen up as I’ve not had a chance to.” Flora is trying to make her escape.
“You look perfectly fine to me,” Blueblood replies, still showing waaay too many teeth. He’s really enjoying himself. “I would go as far as to say—”
“Best not say, Hermano.” Lethal surmises.
“That’s very sweet of you to… um… think.” She then looks at me. “Maybe I can find you and have that drink with you?”
“I’m your plus one. Why wouldn’t you find me?” I cock my head on the side because I obviously haven’t made myself clear about what we are doing here.
I gently cup her elbow and turn us slightly away from Lethal and Blueblood.
“Darlin’… tonight is our first date. When I said I was claimin’ you and you agreed to try what we are feeling here, then that is what that means. I’m yours for tonight. And I’ll be back tomorrow. I intend to get to know you better, but at your speed, on your terms. If you don’t want me to kiss you goodnight tonight, I won’t. If you don’t want me bringing your body into my personal space—then I won’t. You just gotta tell me to pull back, and I’ll be good with that because I want to please you. I know you have blocked any male attention in the past, but I can see that changing. You feel it and I can see it. I will give you what you need, but I want you to want it from me. You hearing me clearly, Flora Templeton? When I say I am claimin’ you, that means we are now a “thing,” and we will work it out as we go. No pressure, just two people enjoying each other’s company, and I will respect what your boundaries are when it comes to Bowie because I need him to be okay with me spending time with his mother and with him.”
“Ahh, yes. I… um… okay,” she says a little breathlessly. “I wasn’t sure if you still—”
“Darlin’, I’ve never claimed a female because I have never been interested enough to see past the pretty packaging, and you haven’t wanted to try any of the pretty packages which have asked you out on a date in the past. Now here we are, and we both want to see what is under the wrapping. Am I right?”
“Yes.”
“I think I just fell in love with you, Torque.”
“Tuuucker!” I groan.
Flora laughs, which makes Tucker’s passing comment worth it.
“I might go now and also check in on Bowie, and then I will apologize to Edge for—”
“How ‘bout you leave that to me.” Flora’s a good person. I knew she wouldn’t be able to hold out until another day to say her piece to Edge.
“No,” she says firmly. “It’s my responsibility. I’m no coward, no matter how nervous I am. My boy did wrong; I need to make it right. Well, as right as it can be, which really isn’t going to be much. He will need to own up to his mistake.”
“He already has, Flora. No need to find me.” I’ve watched Edge through my peripheral vision walk up to Flora making her jump in reaction, her hand flying to her throat as she faces him. “Bowie has come clean about what happened to Whisper, and Boxer”—his head tilts in my direction—”and Torque. Bowie manned up and has taken responsibility for his actions. It was an accident.” He shrugs. “Nothing to come clean about, although I respect your need to talk with me about the matter.”
“Um... thank you, but I will think of something Bowie can do for you and Whisper to remind himself that there are consequences for his actions. I know he would never hurt Whisper deliberately, but—”
“Flora, honey, all is forgiven,” Whisper says, slipping into Edge’s arms. “I couldn’t help overhearing. I know Edge told me he would handle it, but woman to woman, I’m tougher than you could ever imagine. My day didn’t get ruined. Bowie can wash my car for a week if that will make you feel better. Children make mistakes, and he is innocent of any crimes. You’ve already done me a huge favor by revealing there is another side to Mr. Serious here.” She points to me, and I grunt under her scrutiny, which turns on a thousand-watt beaming smile from Whisper’s lips. “I think now Torque may well understand how a chance meeting can lead to something much more. Isn’t that right, Torque?”
The woman is having way too much fun at my expense. She remembers how I didn’t trust her with Edge. I didn’t know two people could fall for each other so quickly.
And here I am, doing the same thing—damn hypocrite—without knowing much about Flora, other than what my body is telling me and what I see.
Edge has learned a thing or two from Whisper about patience and forgiveness, and I’ve gotta give him credit where credit is due. Never thought I would see the day Edge gave up being an enforcer and took on family life like a fish to water.
Mathias has paid his dues, helping bring the bad guys down for enough years. It was time for a sabbatical. It was time for all three of them to live a lighter life. He couldn’t have Whisper in any danger, ever again, and being an enforcer was a life of uncertainty. He couldn’t bring that in
to her life, no matter how much she would have willingly accepted who he was.
Love does that to you.
It makes you a better person.
Edge found an accepting woman of his past who would not step in his way if he chose to join his club again in the capacity he once belonged.
Which has me wondering if Flora could understand my sins against the wicked?
“… and lastly, I want to tell my brother—the man I lost nearly half a lifetime of contact with—the words that took a while to feel because we were adults starting from scratch, learning each other, forming a bond...” Mathias raises his glass high and says, “I hate we got torn apart, but by no small miracle, the universe decided to bring us back together. I love your wife and your little angels. I would die to protect them. We have our secrets we share, but I want you to know in front of everybody here tonight, you and your family gave me the gift of being an uncle, a brother, a friend, and a business partner, and that means more to me than you can know. These past eight years have been the best in my life. We are a family. I fu—” Mathias remembers the swear jar. “I mean… I love you, brother. I wish I had told you this sooner. Here’s to another eight years; to family; to more babies for me to be a doting uncle to—no pressure. Cheers!”
My glass is raised. I’ve plastered a grin on my face, but on the inside, I’m fighting to keep my composure.
“Are you okay, Edge?” My bride places a finger on my jaw and turns my face toward hers.
I nod, unable to talk.
“I’ll hop up off your lap, and you go over to your brother. I am sure he is feeling the same as you are.”
I nod again.
I’m up and meeting Mathias halfway. We fling our arms around each other in a bear hug and hold on, letting silence be enough. Then we ruffle each other’s hair because it’s easier than words.
Then I find those words among the emotion.
“Love you too, brother.”
Mathias nods, looking down at the ground and then up at me.
We shake hands and then…
… Lincoln takes the mic.
“I’ve got a confession to make about today. I know I’ve already had a go at the mic, but it’s really your beautiful wife’s fault.”
“Me?” Whisper looks confused.
“Yes, you.” Lincoln points to my wife in mock-court-room-drama style.
“Babe, you been instigating trouble?” I’ve got my wife on my lap again.
Lincoln has my back. He knew to jump on the mic and move me out of my emotional funk. But what has he been up to? “Lincoln, you sound like you’ve been very busy today while I was standing in the sun, working on my tan.”
“I have no clue where this is going, but it can’t be all that bad.” Whisper smiles sheepishly. “Can it?”
Lincoln continues, “You see fellow guests, my best friend put the ball in my court today and asked me for a favor and to do ‘whatever it takes’ so I jumped right on that liberty and made a few of the guests financially better off while I was at it. Win-win.” Lincoln is having a great time with the mic.
“Is this something I am going to have to spank you for later tonight?” I murmur in my wife’s ear.
“—I would like you all to avert your eyes to the screen and note Exhibit A.” Lincoln’s still holding the floor.
“Let me see how naughty I have been first.” She winks at me, and with subtle practiced finesse, she wriggles into juuust the right place.
Christ!
“Oh, you are playing with fire now, babe. Regardless of what you’ve been unintentionally up to, you are getting a spanking for that maneuv—”
“Will you two pay attention to the court?!” Lincoln scolds us, exaggerating his fake annoyance by tapping his foot. “Anybody would think you two are in love and are talking grown-up stuff, instead of paying attention to me—the best friend.”
I look up at the screen. “Oh, for fu—” Crap. Children are present. “Really? That is the liberty you took? I burst out laughing because Lincoln sure got me.
I look around. “Yo, Hazard! You in on this?”
“I didn’t make any fu—far-out-brussel-sprout green bills off it. So no, I was not in on it. I gather all the cell phones at Cuvier Park that went off at once, were in on it.”
There are hooting and hollering from the Ocean Beach crew and grumbling from the biker crew.
The OB crew is always up for a betting pool. They bet I would pinky swear, and my brothers won’t bet against me.
“For those of you who are at a loss of understanding what Exhibit A represents, that would be the evidence of proof-of-pinky-promise made by Hazard and Edge, witnessed by the groomsmen, who unfortunately were not in on the betting pool.”
“I still don’t understand,” Whisper calls out.
“Edge, would you like to do the honors?”
“Nope, I’m quite comfortable where I am. Hazard?”
“Shi-shoot!” Hazard takes the mic from Lincoln, who is throwing out a shit-eating grin his way.
“I’m gonna go all Doctor Watson here and deduce: Whisper asked you—Lincoln—to do whatever it takes to make sure Edge no-matter-what doesn’t leave Cuvier Park to go find his bride-to-be. You needed it to sound like Whisper asked Edge for a promise, and we all know Edge won’t break a promise to his woman. Lincoln pulled a fool-proof plan off to make sure the groom stayed put. Just ask Harper. You pinky swear, you gotta stay loyal to that promise. The betting pool knew nothing other than whether Edge would do what was asked of him by Lincoln or not. Now, if the betting pool knew it got communicated as Whisper’s words, then nobody would have bet against Edge pinky swearing.”
“Spot-on, Hazard. And you’re welcome, Whisper.”
“You’re still getting spanked,” I whisper and kiss my bride.
Lincoln rolls his eyes at me before continuing, “And that concludes the toasts and speeches tonight. We have cake cutting and dancing up next because Edge has a one-tracked mind, and he needs to be whisking his bride away soon, and I’m sure some lucky lady here wants to catch a rogue bouquet. So look out single men, she might have her eye on you.”
“I’ll have to think of a punishment for you, too—just because.”
“Bring it on, babe.”
Edge and Whisper are dancing to Dan + Shay’s Speechless while we all stand around the base of the raised dance floor, watching two soul mates with eyes only for each other swaying in each other’s arms.
We are all shadows in their light.
It is after eleven, and the past hours have been incredible in more ways than one.
I thought I would feel awkward around all the biker men after their initial curiosity, but to my surprise, when I came back from freshening up in the bathroom, it felt like Torque and I were no longer under the microscope.
I suspect Torque laid down some rules while I spent fifteen minutes hogging the bathroom to regroup.
Not a word about Torque got mentioned to me during pre-dinner drinks and getting-to-know-you conversation. The male biker guests and even the bridesmaids—the women I knew—didn’t make any nudge-nudge-wink-wink comments, which cemented in my mind that Torque had said something because women are women.
Sometimes I would catch interested looks from the other guests before their eyes would pin-ball about like they were saying “nothing to see here.”
When Torque guided me around the party with his hand at the small of my back to mingle, his intimate touch made me want to shake pom-poms about and do the splits in the air, but I acted as though his touch was something familiar to me and not something I was beginning to crave.
Torque has been giving me the space I need to feel comfortable whenever Bowie comes over to us, but when he is out of eye-shot, all bets are off.
Torque slid his chair a little closer to mine when we moved to the beautifully decorated long tables for dinner. Secret touches connect us: a left and right foot blindly finding their way; thighs reaching for each other, all hidden under th
e table. The subtle, deliberate connections bring a peacefulness I don’t understand, but it seems too hard to ignore the attraction otherwise.
After dinner, Torque’s elbow lined up with mine, resting on the table, leaving no space between them, while his fingers tapped a ditty out on the white cloth like they wanted something to do or hold onto. The force was strong to reach over, open my hand and lay my fingers over his. But I restrained myself by playing with the stem of the champagne glass.
I don’t yet dare to touch this man intimately in front of everyone for no reason, but I can’t stop myself stealing glances his way when chatting with other couples around the table. When our eyes find each other, I feel like we are auditioning for a Hallmark TV show—a much steamier version from the well of desire I see in his eyes, and I know I’m not hiding the heat in mine.
Would it be easy for me to slip into the role of being “a couple” with a man like Torque? My mind doesn’t hesitate to whisper, “Yes.”
The champagne may be causing me to lower my internal security wall, but it feels like so much more.
When Torque casually draped his arm across the back of my chair, during the speeches, I couldn’t hold back any longer. I filled the inviting curve made by his shoulder like I owned that rental space.
All night I have been conscious of every movement Torque makes.
Although this is our first date, as the night progresses, it doesn’t feel like we are something fresh-out-of-the-packet.
He is attentive: refilling my glass, standing up and helping me to pull my chair out when I needed to excuse myself, and then he is ready to assist me with my chair when I return.
Whenever Torque leans into my ear, murmuring an explanation about what the other guests are talking about, I am only half listening because I find myself debating whether to turn my head so that our lips have an excuse to fall against each other. I think about what it would be like to be kissed by Torque a lot during the party, but I don’t dare turn my head for fear of launching myself at him.
I’m like a hormonal teenager, and it sucks!