by Jayne Rylon
“Uh—” Maybe some part of him worried that if he fucked up they’d disown him. Even after so long together. He tried to sit straighter, but Nola kept him pinned to her with her deceptively strong arms. His cock twitched despite the way she’d wrung him dry not five minutes ago.
“Everyone fucks up, Kaige.” She squeezed him tight. “No one’s perfect. Hell, Rebel has that bug up his ass about rich people. He’s reverse classist and pretty rude about his prejudice. Honestly, I have no idea how he manages to hide it when he works customer service. But you guys still accept him, including his faults.”
“You like him too.” Kaige was quick to defend his friend, proving her point he supposed. “If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have let him keep Buster McHightops.”
“True.” Nola smiled down at him. “I think he’s adorable. A big, sweet lug. Even more so now that he’s got that puppy following on his heels.”
This time Kaige couldn’t keep his boner down. Because an image of Nola sandwiched between him and his best friend flashed into his mind. What if she was down with sharing?
No way, she’d never…
Would she?
A loud bang on the door startled them both. Nola yanked the skirt of her sundress down, covering her perfect thighs, now enhanced with several love bites he hardly remembered administering before he’d mounted her.
Kaige cursed as he levered himself to his feet. He drew on his jumpsuit, hopping from one foot to the other and barely closing the zipper before cracking the door.
“Wanted to make sure you two hadn’t killed each other.” Mustang Sally peeped through the gap, swiping paint speckles from her fingernails. Her wide eyes took in Nola’s disheveled state. “From my studio, it sounded like two wounded animals fighting in here. The fact that I could hear you over the compressor is pretty impressive.”
Instead of shying away, Nola came to the door, opening it completely. “Thanks, Sally. I’m fine. Reeeeeeeeally fantastic in fact.”
The women high-fived each other, then hugged.
“You’re good for our Super Nova. Yeah, you are.” Mustang Sally whispered, “Thank you.”
“How do you feel about telling your future husband that we’re taking the rest of the afternoon off?” Kaige wasn’t about to let what had happened slip away. He needed to talk to Nola. In private.
Despite being afraid, maybe it was time to come clean about the extent of the Hot Rods’ relationship. Losing her now would be easier than getting dumped in a few months when he could no longer hide the bond the gang of mechanics shared. It would come out sooner or later.
She wouldn’t appreciate being lied to.
Or cheated on. Because they weren’t just fucking around anymore.
But keeping his hands off the Hot Rods was killing him too. The ruckus echoing down the hall from their common area at night nearly had him howling at the moon. He felt stuck, not fully making anyone happy—Nola or the gang.
Flickers of irritation prickled the nape of his neck. Maybe Nola was right about that. Because right now he felt like he was disappointing everyone.
Himself included.
“I’ll cover for you.” Sally winked. “If I do it right, he won’t even notice you’re gone.”
“I owe you.” He kissed Mustang’s forehead, then hauled Nola to his car.
Though he thought they might talk and get around to trying sex again, except a variety more mellow this time, they actually ended up taking a nap together. Snuggled in his car, they parked in a field of wildflowers overlooking Middletown and enjoyed the peace and quiet. Neither one of them seemed ready to shatter the closeness they’d established.
Right when he blinked open his eyes and cleared his throat, Nova was jabbed by Nola’s buzzing phone. It was Amber ranting about a snafu she needed assistance resolving.
And just like that, his last chance to settle things before the wedding vanished.
Chapter Nine
The big day had arrived.
Two weeks of drama was plenty for Nova. He pitied men who had to endure a year plus of that bullshit before making things official with the girl of their dreams. If it was ever his turn to march down the aisle, he’d beg for something simple. Maybe a destination wedding. A beach, or a mountain retreat with just him, his woman and their closest family and friends.
In reality, Mustang had kept things relatively sane. Until today.
Kaige leaned his hip against the bar of the kitchen where girly shit like cosmetics in a zillion different shades of pink were strewn. He couldn’t believe the vision in front of him. Mustang Sally was swaddled in a dress fit for a princess. Rose-colored silk hugged her curves up top then dipped in to her waist, which looked tiny, before flaring to a skirt big enough to hide the entire Hot Rods gang beneath, Buster McHightops included.
It had some kind of crumply look to it like someone had wadded up a ball of paper then made a half-assed effort to smooth it out. Flashes of light danced from crystals sewn in the fabric. It was one of the prettiest things he’d ever seen. A work of art in its own right.
Panicked, Sally didn’t match the serene flow of soft fabric. She’d called Nova and begged him to bring Nola upstairs to rectify some crisis he couldn’t comprehend through her hiccupping sobs. His heart had dropped as he imagined her needing emergency surgery or something equally dire when actually she’d flipped out about her freaking makeup.
Who was this woman?
“You look beautiful, Sal.” Kaige didn’t have to lie. She really was stunning. While he’d always appreciated her natural features, she’d done a bang-up job highlighting her assets with subtle yet elegant applications of her own brand of flair. Colorful tattoos and her piercings added enough of her usual badassness to make him relatively certain this wasn’t some alien replacement of the girl he’d known most of his life.
“But it’s got to be perfect today.” She balled her fists. “I can’t get my liner straight because my damn hands are shaking.”
“No worries.” Nola stepped in, pressing one finger to her plump lips behind Mustang’s back, bidding Kaige to bite his tongue. “Let me help. This’ll only take a second.”
“Thank you.” The bride hugged Nola, worrying her lip as she asked, “How are things going outside? Your sister doesn’t need you right now, does she?”
“Nola’s my guest, not hired help.” Kaige felt it necessary to remind the three of them that he and the consultant were here as a couple today. Something about the ceremony and the atmosphere had him feeling oddly possessive. Hopeful.
“Oh, shush. I’d lend a hand if there were any loose ends. But there’s no need. My sis is a pro. Besides, she brought in someone far more competent than me to help her wrangle people. Our mom is out there keeping her eye on things too.” Nola surprised them both with that news.
“I’d love to meet her.” Kaige was curious about Nola’s family. He’d bumped into Amber earlier. The woman had sized him up pretty good with a laser-beam glare before nodding and extending her hand for a firm shake.
How much had Nola shared about the past two weeks?
“Oh, you will.” She laughed, flashing her straight, white teeth. “Pretty sure my mom’s not going to be able to resist asking you twenty questions before the day is done. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Nope, I don’t.” He grinned. “Might as well be introduced the only time I’m wearing something halfway decent. Make a good impression, I hope.”
Why was his stomach suddenly doing flip-flops? Charming a woman—or her mother—had never been very difficult for him.
Sally had her head cocked, staring at the two of them. What did she see?
Kaige glanced away.
“So…yeah…” Nola picked up their earlier conversation in an attempt to reassure Sally. “Everything’s set and ready. The flowers look unbelievable, the tent is pitched with the extra rain flaps you ordered tied up—doesn’t look like you’ll need them, it’s sunny with blue sky and fluffy white clouds—the caterers are in full s
wing and your out-of-town guests are already settled in the front rows, heckling your grooms.”
“I bet they look so handsome.” Mustang blinked rapidly.
“Of course.” Nola beamed. “You’re one lucky bitch. Now don’t go messing up my hard work here. You can cry later, though I’m positive you’ll have no reason for sad tears. Want me to put some touch-up supplies in my purse in case you need them down there?”
“Would you mind?” Sally peeked up at Nola with enormous eyes. Kaige could have kissed their miracle worker. “That would be amazing. You did a great job. Sorry I kind of lost it there for a second.”
“No problem.” Nola tucked the cosmetics in her beaded clutch. “It’s an important day. I get that. All I did was draw a teensy hot pink, glittery line. Kaige was right, you’re beautiful on your own. Seriously, you look dazzling.”
“You both do.” Kaige cleared his throat as he approached, the threat of a thermonuclear meltdown seemingly avoided. His gaze raked Nola from her ample cleavage, tucked behind the beaded fringe of her cappuccino-colored dress, to the spikes of her sophisticated yet sexy-as-sin shoes.
He held out his arms and hugged each woman to his chest. How could he care for them both? Want them both? Finally he was understanding how Eli and Al felt about the gang.
Kaige craved Nola. In his bed—son of a bitch, that would be amazing—but also out of it, for the woman she was. A perfect complement to him. Still, he wanted to indulge in the bond with the Hot Rods. Different yet necessary for him to be complete. Hell, he even thought about sharing Nola with the gang. Watching the rest of the guys pleasure her more than any single man was capable of would please him too. He wanted to give her everything good and enjoyable in the world. As much of it as she could handle.
Shit. He was screwed. Because he didn’t even know how to ask Nola to consider something like that. Would she assume she was lacking? Or that he didn’t value her enough to be selfish and keep her to himself? Would she leave him before they’d really gotten started?
He couldn’t handle that possibility.
The door cracked open and Tom’s voice called out. “Everyone decent in here? I’m comin’ in.”
Kaige’s heart spasmed when their dad popped inside. The man’s eyes bugged out then misted over when he caught sight of Sally. He cleared his throat and turned around for the space of a few heartbeats.
Nola rubbed Kaige’s shoulder, helping him relax the knots forming there with each barrage of emotional intensity, which hit him harder than the last. And they hadn’t even started the damn wedding yet.
“Good afternoon, Tom.” Nola bridged the gap for them, preventing the situation from becoming awkward. She was good at that. At easing friction and keeping things under control.
Kaige wished he had half her social skills.
“Hey, kids.” Tom smiled softly as he joined them, clasping one of Sally’s hands in his. “You’re going to make them so happy. You already do. But…wow.”
A speechless Tom was something to see.
“I love you, Dad.” Mustang hugged him, laying her head on his shoulder. “Thank you.”
“Same goes.” He moved as if to ruffle her hair then thought better of it when he took in the intricate knot her mane was woven into. “So…I wanted you to have this.”
Sally leaned away enough to see what he referred to.
Tom held out a worn velvet bag. “You don’t have to put them on if they don’t match or whatever, but…”
“Tom, are you kidding?” Mustang’s lip quivered. “These are Eli’s mom’s pearls, aren’t they?”
“Uh, yeah.” He sniffled.
“I can’t accept these.” Her shoulders shook as she petted the soft material in her palm.
“She would love for you to have them. To enjoy them. I’ve seen you admire them, running your finger over them in her jewelry box.” He chuckled. “They’re pink, even. Trust me. If she were still with us, she’d be setting the clasp around your neck herself today.”
Kaige laid his hand on Mustang’s trembling back. “I believe he’s right, Sally. It’s an honor.”
“Of course.” She nodded vigorously. “I would be proud to wear them.”
“Good.” Without wasting another second, Tom spun her around and fumbled with the catch.
“Here. Let me.” Nola came to the rescue again. She deftly unclipped the gold and realigned it over the nape of Sally’s neck. She handed it off to Tom so he could finish the job with minimal fuss.
When Sally rotated slowly to face them once more, the effect had them catching their breath. Perfect. No detail had been left undone. She couldn’t get any more spectacular than she was right then.
Before they deteriorated into a sob fest, another knock resounded followed by peals of laughter that could only belong to one gaggle of women. Sure enough, Devon popped her head through the door momentarily before rushing Sally with a high-pitched squee.
Kayla, Morgan and Kate—wives of the infamous Powertools crew—were hot on her heels. Estrogen powerful enough to wither Nova’s chest hair flooded the space. Tom was peppered with so many kisses that rings of lipstick dotted his cheeks.
Kaige held Nola’s hand and waited for the crew girls to notice their connection. Considering the videochats they’d had lately, it didn’t take long for them to put two and two together.
“You must be Nola Brown.” Morgan reached out to greet Nola. She didn’t settle for shaking hands. Instead she went straight in for a hug. “You’re even prettier than Nova said you were.”
Kaige did everything possible to keep from blushing. When the hell had he ever been embarrassed around a woman? Damn the crew and their ladies.
Nola beamed. “Thank you.”
Did she not realize how attracted he was to her? He could fix that.
The women began to introduce each other and chat ninety miles a minute. Kaige thought he might get whiplash from zigzagging his gaze between the bunch. Thankfully, they gave him an excuse to rejoin his brothers where back slapping and belching would be welcome instead of this insanity.
“Nova, the bossman is looking for you. They want to take some pictures of the guys together.” Kate nodded toward the door. “We’ll take it from here with Sally. Nola’s sister showed us the signal to start her walk down the aisle.”
Sally inhaled sharply.
“You’re going to do great,” Nola reassured her. “I guess I’ll go find a seat and see you all down there.”
Kaige moved toward the door and Nola shuffled along behind him as if unsure of where she belonged. The women would have none of that.
“Stay, please.” Sally bridged the gap and welcomed Nola into their throng. “I’d love to count you with my friends.”
Grateful, Kaige touched his finger to his forehead in a salute. “I’ll see you ladies in a little while. Knock ’em dead, Sally.”
At the last second, he couldn’t resist. He pivoted on his heel and returned long enough to swoop down and steal a kiss from Nola, who’d already engrossed herself in conversation with Kayla and Devon. He bent her over his arm to really make an impression on her with his roving mouth.
Someone whistled. It might have been Tom.
Nola sighed as she went limp in his arms, allowing him to do as he pleased. Well, kind of. If he’d had his choice, he’d have shoved her onto the kitchen counter and ruined her outfit, tearing it off of her. Impressed with his own restraint, he placed a light kiss on the corner of her mouth then set her upright before swaggering out the door, pretty pleased with himself.
Tonight was going to be one of the best of his life. Certain, he jogged down the stairs to meet the rest of the misfit mechanics and their crew cousins, who waved at him from Tom’s garden.
“I see what was taking so damn long.” Holden met him partway across the grass, which looked greener than usual today. Swinger dusted some blush or some other girlie goop off Nova’s shoulder then straightened the lapels on his suit. “No one said you had time to sneak a quickie
.”
“Actually, we didn’t even take our clothes off.” Electricity hummed through him and he wished they had.
“Hey, that can be the best kind.” Mike, the crew’s foreman, slapped him on the back. “Way to go, Super Nova.”
The rest of the guys huddled around. Though they weren’t asking him to kiss and tell, literally, Kaige felt the need to explain. “I meant that it was just a kiss. Except not just. You know?”
“Uh-huh,” Alanso practically purred. He grasped Eli’s hand. From the faraway daze in their eyes, they probably did understand.
“All right, we need to keep on schedule.” Amber accompanied the photographer, waving the guys into some semblance of order. “You can give each other shit later. For now, picture time. And if you hurt my sister, I’ll kill you. Or at least make you look hideous in this album.”
Kaige grinned at her and drew an X over his heart. “I promise. I’m not planning to do anything except make us both very happy.”
“I believe that.” She smiled. “But for the record…”
“Loud and clear.” He nodded. The focus shifted to Alanso and Eli, the day and well-deserved bliss. Surrounded by friends, Kaige grew more optimistic by the second. He had one a-fucking-mazing life. And a chance to make it even better.
He wanted the goofy grin on Eli’s face for himself. For the first time, he felt like that could be in reach. If only he didn’t fuck it up. Could Nola handle the Hot Rods? What about the twisted parts of him like his unusual proclivities and his nasty temper?
Kaige swore to himself then and there that he’d be different from his father. He’d never let anger limit his possibilities. He was done with blaming genetics for his lack of coping. From now on, he’d do better. Be better. For Nola. The guys. Himself.
Repeating the mantra over and over, he couldn’t believe the following few hours passed in a blur. Before long he found himself by the pond in Tom’s garden. Eli and Alanso stood near the memorials for their mothers as Tom walked Sally down the cobblestone path.
