by J. M. Dabney
He could practically see Melanie doing her happy shimmy dance or what she called her fluffy girl excited dance. He wished he was as excited as she was. Years had passed with him imagining the day he’d get to ask Linc to marry him. A sliver of his heart taunted him with the fact his man could just say no. He didn’t know if he could handle the rejection. To him, even all the times he’d denied his feelings and believing himself not good enough, they were meant to be. He couldn’t picture his life with anyone else. While he’d rush the man to Vegas in a heartbeat, he wanted to do this right. If Linc wanted the wedding and all that, he’d do it. He loved that Linc wanted marriage and family.
“Do you think he’ll say yes?”
“You bought the ring like stupid years ago. It’s about time you pulled it out of hiding. And yes, I think he’ll say yes.”
“You have to come in this weekend. I want you here when I ask.”
“I’ll hit the bank to get the ring out of your safety deposit box. You never took the key back.”
“Of course I didn’t, all the important papers are in there in case something happened to me.”
“The only thing that’s going to happen to you is you’re marrying the man of your dreams. I’ll be there Saturday. I’ll call Liv to give me a ride.”
“Why Liv?” He hadn’t known Liv and Melanie hung out.
“Don’t even sound like that, that beast is as gay as they come. He’s been on a job here and came in to have breakfast at the restaurant. I think he’s headed home this weekend.”
“See you Saturday then.” Linc and Mal exited the front door, headed in his direction. “Shit, here comes Linc.”
“Love you. You got this, man, Linc loves your hairy ass. Give our son a kiss for me. I can’t wait to be done with school.”
He didn’t have time to say anything else before the call disconnected. Melanie hated being separated from Mal, but she was in nursing school, and not all of it could be done online. Less than a year and she’d be done with school, and she’d come home where she belonged. She’d even lined up a job with the local doctor.
“Melanie says she loves y’all.”
“What’s she up to?”
“The usual. She’s coming home this weekend. Said Liv might give her a lift. He’s in Atlanta for work.”
“That will be great. It’s been nice having her home more lately.”
“Momma’s coming home?”
He leaned down to scoop Mal into his arms and cuddled him to his chest. “She said I had to give you a kiss.” He placed loud kisses all over Mal’s face just like Melanie had done since he was born. Mal squealed and tried to get away. He finally took mercy on his kid and sat him down to enjoy his ice cream. “None for me?”
“You hate ice cream, which is unnatural.”
“It’s not unnatural. I just prefer a burger and fries over some cold ice cream cone.”
“You don’t know what you’re missing.”
He moaned as he watched Linc lick that damn treat and promised himself Linc was getting a spanking later for that impish twinkle in his gaze. He crossed his arms over his chest and watched the man in his life talk and laugh. For the first time, since he didn’t know how long, he was content with his life. Knew exactly where he wanted to be and next time he had to leave for work, he knew that Linc would be waiting for him—hopefully with a ring on his finger.
Fifteen
What do You Say, Baby, Want to Make it Official?
Dinner was almost ready, and Melanie called to say she would be there any minute. He’d told her to invite Liv to stay to eat, but he had a feeling the man would say no. Liv was a nice guy if people looked past the scars, bastard attitude, and his tendency to punch first and ask questions later. Really that wasn’t any different than any of the guys from the Crews. Although, as scary as they were, any of the guys he’d met since he became friends with them were the type to go out of their way to help their extended families.
A thrill worked down his spine at the strum of fingers over guitar strings. The sound was irresistible, and he rushed to the front porch. King was seated in one of the porch rockers, and his guitar hugged lovingly in his arms. He listened closely trying to pick out the tune, but Mal’s attempt to copy King amused him. Mal had played the guitar since before he could walk. He’d so wanted to be like his daddy.
King went out the first time Mal showed interest and got Mal a guitar just like King’s. Not some play one like he’d expected, but a real guitar—bigger than Mal. King’s excitement that his son wanted to play was infectious. It was something Mal and King could share, and Mal’s interested hadn’t waned once.
He stepped off the porch, descended a few steps then sat down with his back to the porch support. Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton, that’s what it was.
“Sing, I miss your voice,” he implored.
“I sing and play for you every day.”
“But you haven’t done it today, please.” King’s deep baritone did it for him every time. He loved being center stage watching King do something he loved, but being able to sit on the front porch for a private show…that’s what he lived for.
He held his breath as King adjusted his guitar and restarted the notes, then there it was. That voice that’s made his heart kick into high gear so many times. He leaned his head back but didn’t take his gaze from King and his man never stopped staring at him as he sang each word. He was about to melt into a very unmanly puddle, but, damn, that man, the whole package just did it for him.
Suddenly he had a lap full of little boy, and Mal leaned back against his chest as they listened to King play and sing. He glanced down to see Mal’s eyes closed. He hugged Mal to his chest and went back to focusing on King.
Too soon the song ended, and when clapping erupted behind him, he turned to find Melanie and Liv.
“I don’t see why the hell you still drive, man.”
Liv sounded disgusted, but that wasn’t unusual. The man sat across from him and leaned back. He was surprised Liv hadn’t made a run for it yet.
“Because being gone a week at a time is better than being away from my family for months. They’re more important, and besides, playing is fun, I ain’t turning that shit into a job.”
“And your man does enjoy how you give him private shows.” Melanie smiled and kissed his cheek as she ascended the steps to hug King.
King set his guitar aside so that Melanie could curl up on his lap. He waited for a moment of jealousy but only laughed as his sister sighed.
“You’ll have to play and sing some Staind for me before I go home. You haven’t done it in forever.”
“I promise, you’ll get some Aaron Lewis. I know you just like to listen and imagine you’re getting serenaded.”
“You fucking know it. He’s like the perfect man, but also if a cute little blonde comes along, I’d be happy too.”
“What about the chick you went out with?” King casually asked.
Melanie hadn’t dated much since the divorce, but there always seemed to be something off about the ones she did. Some weren’t ready for the instant family. Others weren’t too enthused about being best friends with the ex-husband. He worried about Melanie being lonely. She worked and went to school, then came home every weekend she could. His sister deserved to find someone of her own.
“No-go, chemistry was there when we met, but during dinner, I could see her as a friend to hang out with. Let me get through school, and I’ll see about finding my person.”
“You got plenty of time, and you’ll be home soon.”
“Yeah, plenty of time.”
The longing in Melanie’s voice broke his heart, but she hid it quickly with a smile and came over and plucked Mal from his lap.
“Linc, come here.” King held out his hand.
The sad expression on Melanie’s face changed to a bright happiness so quickly the shift made him dizzy.
“Go,” Melanie ordered and grabbed his hand forcing him to stand.
“You’re being weird,” he whispered as he approached King and took the man’s calloused hand. The roughness caused a shiver to move up and down his spine.
“Now, I was hoping I could do this a little different, but me getting down on one knee isn’t possible, so this’ll have to work.”
A box opened and he forgot to breathe. Two matching bands were nestled inside, simple silver wedding rings.
“Don’t say this is quick, we’ve known each other for almost a decade. I’ve waited so long to be able to announce to everyone you’re mine, but when I do that, I want my ring on this finger.” King punctuated the statement by brushing a kiss to his ring finger.
“King—”
“No, please, let me finish. You’ve been everything to me even when the guilt ate at me, but the day I met you this was the only way it could end. You here, in our home, with our son, and I don’t want to wait. There’s not a lot I’m sure of in life, but you being mine is as solid as it gets. So, what do you say, baby, want to make it official? Please, marry me.”
He pinched his thigh with his free hand, and it hurt so he couldn’t be dreaming. King looked like he was about to lose his mind. He dropped to his knees next to the chair and grabbed King’s scruffy cheeks, then pulled the man’s face to his. He kissed him, tasted salty tears and didn’t know if they were King’s, his, or a combination of both.
Their movements were unhurried, sweet and tender. He whispered against King’s mouth, “Yes.”
“About fucking time.”
He glanced at Liv and found the man scrubbing his hands over his face. Relief etched into his scarred features like it was Liv waiting for the answer. His attention was drawn away from Liv as cool metal slid onto his finger for the first time and he knew the last. King was it. There wasn’t another man for him. He didn’t care if it was quick or if they’d dated for years, the only thing that mattered was it was right.
“I love you.”
“I love you too. So, the question is how fast can you pack for Vegas?”
“Vegas? What if I want the long engagement and ceremony, all that stuff?”
King groaned and tipped his head all the way back. He held in his laughter at the pained expression.
“If that’s what you want, then that’s what you get.”
“Fuck that, let’s go to Vegas.”
King’s mouth slammed onto his, and it wasn’t like the kiss of moments ago. The kiss was a claiming and he was completely okay with that.
Sixteen
Vegas, Here We Come!
Bags littered their bed. Linc had already packed Mal’s, and all that was left was a bag for them, then they were off to Vegas. Sin and Saint had already filed a flight plan and were waiting out at the private airstrip their stepfather Ernie had outside town near Pelter’s place. It was a six-seater, so, not everyone could come, but everyone had told him the party would be out of control when they came back. Peaches and Lily, the matriarchs of the Crews, weren’t exactly happy with the Vegas deal.
Lily had performed every ceremony since the first crew member Berzerker married his man years ago. He felt bad for robbing her of the moment, but Lily liked a production, and he and Linc just wanted something simple. Them, Melanie, and Mal, along with Liv and the twins, and the twins were flying them out. Also, the twins were looking forward to a few days in Vegas. Well, Sin was, Saint just wanted an excuse to fly.
“You sure about this, King?”
“Why do you keep asking that?”
“Because, I don’t know, I’m sort of freaking out.”
He flinched. Was he pushing Linc into marrying him too quickly? Maybe his man wanted all those things that went along with getting hitched? The ceremony and the reception, the honeymoon after all the planning.
“No, not like that.” Linc crawled across the bed and straddled his lap.
He gripped Linc’s hips and looked up at his man, his husband-to-be. So much had changed in a short period of time, could Linc feel pressured?
“I want to marry you, sooner the better, but I feel bad. Lily and Peaches live for these moments of marrying their boys off, and here we are robbing them of it. I know it’s stupid to feel guilty, but I do.”
“We promised them they could throw the biggest reception in the history of Powers when we come back in a few days. Lily and Peaches just want us to be happy. I feel guilty a bit too. So, let’s get finished packing so we can get to Vegas and get back to make the matriarchs happy.”
He knew he didn’t soothe away all of Linc’s guilt, but maybe he’d assuaged a bit of it. They were already dressed in their suits. Linc looked handsome, and he couldn’t believe his man said yes—that Linc would be his forever. He looked down at himself and groaned, the pant leg was split to allow for his cast and pinned at the ankle, but he was not going to get married in exercise shorts.
“Remember when you and Melanie got married,” Linc asked getting off his lap.
“She was wearing a hot pink tank top and cut-off jeans, with flip flops, and I had on jeans and a Metallica t-shirt. Twenty minutes at the county courthouse and we were back to work. Your parents refused to show up. Did you want—”
He knew what was going to come out of Linc’s mouth as soon as Linc interrupted him. Linc’s parents were traditional, and they hated the way Melanie, him, and Linc were raising Mal. If it wasn’t for Peaches and her threats that she’d ruin Linc’s parents, they would’ve probably tried to take Mal from them a long time ago.
“King, do you think my parents would come to watch me get married to a man? They’re going to be scandalized when they learn I’m sleeping with my ex-brother-in-law.”
“I’m going to be your husband, and they don’t need to be here.”
“What about Bear? Wouldn’t you like him to be your best man?”
“I already talked to Bear, and he said he’d give us a honeymoon for a present, just do whatever made us happy. He couldn’t be happier for us.”
“Has he wrangled Mary yet?”
That was a long, sad story, and he felt sorry for Bear. The man was in love with the woman. “He thought he had, but she’d refused to see him the last month or so. He’s fucking miserable. I’ve never heard him that down. You know how Bear is.”
“The always bubbly gentle giant. He has no idea why she won’t see him?”
“None. They’d made this list of things Mary missed out on and always wanted to do. They were working through the list and all of a sudden, she stopped answering his calls. Joker won’t even let Bear near the garage office so Bear can apologize for whatever he did.”
“They’ll work it out. Maybe it was too much for Mary. She hasn’t had a lot of good in her life. It could’ve been too much too soon.”
“Hope so, but enough about my uncle’s tragic love life. We ready?”
“As ready as I think we’ll ever get.” Linc zipped the bag closed and slipped the strap over his shoulder. Mal and Melanie were waiting in the living room. It had been two days since Linc said yes because it had taken a little bit for Sin and Saint to make arrangements. They would’ve been happy getting a regular flight, but the twins had insisted, and he’d noticed Linc wasn’t good at telling the cute little Twinks no especially when they started batting their pretty blues at him. Linc was a total pushover.
He used his crutches to get up and again, couldn’t wait to get rid of them and the damned cast. He hated being away from Linc and Mal, but he had to get back to work. With picking up a gig here and there for the extra money and his benefits, they weren’t hurting. It wasn’t the same amount coming in though, and he still had a family to provide for. Melanie shouldn’t have to work her ass off like he did.
He cleared his head of everything but the fact he was getting ready to marry his man. He entered the living room behind Linc. Mal bounced in his tiny suit they’d gotten him. Hell, even Liv cleaned up well. That was one expensive suit that had dollar signs floating around the designer threads.
“We ready to do this damn thing
, gentleman? It’s about time you made an honest man out of my brother.” Melanie bounced around with Mal on her hip.
She looked beautiful in a peach-colored sundress. Her hair up and flowers woven into the dark honey curls. It was a Lily special, the same style Lily wore when she performed the ceremonies.
“You look stunning, Melanie.” He approached her, set his crutches aside and gave her a tight squeeze. Mal trapped between them protesting being smashed.
“Thanks, you’re not too bad yourself.”
Melanie hated compliments on her looks. She’s always been a little on the curvy side, but since Mal, she’d filled out and was a little self-conscious about the extra weight. His best friend was always on a diet, and she didn’t need to be.
“Ready to be my best lady?”
“I’ve been ready for years,” she whispered as she gave him one more hug.
“Your ride awaits. The twins texted to say they were gassed up and ready to go whenever we got there,” Liv announced and headed for the door.
They all quickly followed, wanting to get in the air as soon as possible. He was impatient to say I do to his man and have Linc have his name. They’d discussed it, and as much as he wanted Linc to have his name, he wanted the man to be happy, and luckily Linc loved the sound of Lincoln King. Linc said he was his family and he wanted to have his name, the same as Melanie and Mal had.
They piled into Liv’s massive SUV and pulled out toward their destination. In a matter of hours, every dream he’d ever had would come true, and he couldn’t fucking wait.
Seventeen
Kidnapped!
Flying always made Linc sick, and he was there with his head between his knees, trying to keep the little he’d put in his stomach that day stay down. King was rubbing his back from his seat across the narrow aisle, but he had a feeling the little plane was worse than a jet. Claustrophobia and air sickness, just what he fucking needed before getting goddamned married.
