Page 45 of Two Weddings and a Shoot Out

“We’d like to welcome everyone to our grand reopening,” Roam said.

“We’re excited to welcome the Ellis siblings—Stone, Emerson, Finn, Ben, and Harriet—along with Francesca Smith, to Bluff Creek Ink. They bring a variety of experience and different specialties. Please meet them and chat with them today. They have openings as soon as next week if you’re interested,” Sprite said.

He started to stand up, but a hand in front of him had him stopping.

“I’m Stone. War said you’re recovering. If you need help, I’m around,” Stone offered.

“Thank you. I’m Locks. Once Hope lets me out of the house on my own, I’d like to talk with you about a tattoo.”

Stone nodded and walked off. He seemed like a man of few words, and Locks liked that. People didn’t need to fill the silence with useless chatter. Stone was standing and nodding to people, which was more than Locks would be doing if he spent twenty years inside for defending his mom and his sister.

The youngest sister walked up to Locks and offered her hand. “That’s the most I’ve heard him say since he got out,” she said.

“How long has he been out? I’m Locks, by the way,” he said.

“Forty-eight hours. And sorry, I’m Harriet, but I go by Harry,” she said.

“I imagine there’d be quite an adjustment after twenty years inside. Give him time to let it sink in that he’s out,” Locks said.

“It sounds like you know something about it,” Harry mused.

“I’ve got some friends who have done time, and they’ve all talked about the adjustment,” Locks said.

“He won’t sleep in the RV. He said it’s too confined. War said there was a place for us to stay, but I’m not sure Stone will be with us,” Harry said, anguish in her voice.

“Sweetie, you know that you’re not the reason he went to prison. Your dad was. You’re part of the Bluff Creek family now, and we’ll figure out how to make a place for Stone to be that he’s comfortable in,” Hope said.

“Thank you. I hope this is a good place for us,” Harry replied.

“It will be. We’ll make sure of it. You let me know anything you need at all, and I’ll make it happen. I’ve got plenty of time on my hands to meddle in everyone’s lives and help them, especially while I’m recuperating,” Locks said.

“Thank you. I should get back to talking with people. Roam and Sprite want us to chat with people today. It was nice meeting you,” she said, wandering off.

“Locks, are you ready to go to the diner for lunch, or are we heading home for a nap?” Hope asked.

Locks frowned at the woman he loved. Nap was not code for sex. It was really a nap, and he despised that he needed them.

“I think I can stay up for lunch. I’d also like to discuss something with you about Stone,” Locks said.

He had a little reprieve before he had to go back home and lie down. He and Hope could discuss an idea he had for Stone. Hegot to help welcome the new people to Bluff Creek. All in all, it had been a good time the last month, minus the shootout.

Compass met the new tattoo artists and could see some new prospects for the club if they were interested. He and Maureen had decided to wait until Locks was well enough to come home and the grand reopening happened.

Lexi and Booker were going to take the majority of the items that Maureen had bought while they were there, as well as the wedding gifts that had been given to them, home in the RV.

Compass and his bride were heading on a road trip. They were going down to Frisco, Texas, and staying in the hotel where they met and then riding over to visit the Cider Creek Chapter’s clubhouse. And if Beth or Flick needed help while they were there, they could offer to lend a hand.

Once they were done there, he and Maureen were riding back through Arkansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and then home. Compass had no plans other than sleeping in hotels. If she wanted to stop and shop for five hours, they’d do that. If he wanted to spend two hours at a Harley dealership, so be it. They had no firm plans and the rest of their lives to enjoy themselves.

Maureen walked up and grabbed his hand, crooking her finger at him with a mischievous look in her eye. He followed because he would do whatever the woman wanted. She walked down the street toward the diner. They’d just eaten, so he couldn’t imagineshe could be hungry again, but she led him through the diner and out the back door.

The RV was parked behind the diner. Maureen unlocked the door and led him in. Well, it seemed like his woman wanted some alone time, and although his dick was getting a tad sore from the workout it had been getting, he’d never tell her no.

Once she closed the door, she pulled him close and leaned up to kiss him.

“Oh my gosh, Booker, harder,” Lexi’s voice yelled.

Maureen paused, and Compass wondered if his eyes looked as surprised as Maureen’s did. He grasped her hand and turned quickly, leading her out of the RV. He closed the door behind them and then chuckled. Maureen was shaking with laughter beside him.

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