Page 45 of Forever Zara

Sure enough, Hawk and Gia were already at the destination when she pulled up in her yellow hatchback. Even now, the boys ragged on her for the ‘banana skin’ car. She was due for an upgrade, but she had sentimental attachments to this vehicle.

Shivering against the snowy chill, she pulled the coat around herself as she stepped out, lifting the dress a little so it wouldn’t trail in the mounds of slush along the curb.

“Hey, guys. Thanks for coming.”

“Rider’s gonna lose his mind knowing you’re out here without Pretty,” Hawk stated in his monosyllabic tone, looking imposing in his club clothes of jeans, cut, and a leather jacket. His hand reached out to curl around Gia’s waist when she backhanded him gently in the stomach and told him, “hush you, no he won’t, it’s romantic.”

Her soon-to-be sister-in-law beamed at Zara, and the two women hugged. “I’m so excited. Thanks for including us.”

Zara couldn’t think of two better people to have here with her.

She was nervous but enthusiastic too. And that enthusiasm tripled when she heard the familiar roar of engine pipes coming around the corner. They stood by the curb, watching Rider’s big Harley growing closer.

Though he gave his VP and sister a curious glance when he pulled in and switched off the engine, his gaze was all for Zara. He lifted off the helmet, hung it from the handlebars, and swung his leg over the bike, climbing down.

“I got your weird message to meet you here. What’s going on, Icy?”

Navy eyes scanned her from top to toe and back to her face. She reached out and took his hand, the cold palm wrapped around hers, and she went toe-to-toe with her biker-man.

It was crazy; she was feeling nervous.

Her heart was rattling like chains in her chest.

This was Rider. The least complicated man she knew. He went above and beyond to make her happy, to make their kids happy, and to keep their spark alive. She felt it now, sizzling along her arms and making her chest bloom with heated love. Their lives could have been so different, so empty without each other.

But here they were on the cusp of their wedding day.

A day neither of them thought would come.

Being happy as they were, she’d been apprehensively to rock the boat, assuming getting married would somehow jinx what they had. But Rider, loyal and lovely Rider, persevered until she’d been ready. It was a kick in the pants how she’d waited all this time to marry him.

Now she couldn’t wait.

“We’re getting married.” She exclaimed, beaming up at him. She watched his dark eyebrows fold in, kicking a glance to the other two for a second before coming back to her.

Outside of the courthouse, the snow fell softly. She loved snow almost as much as the man standing before her, anyone knew that.

“We’re getting married?”

“Yes. Just you and me. With Hawk and Gia as witnesses. I planned it all. Are you surprised?”

“Yeah, baby. You could say.” He half-smiled. “What about tomorrow?”

“Oh, we’re still having that ceremony tomorrow too! Today is for us, honey.” Curling both arms around his waist, she felt at peace when his two hands touched the base of her spine, and he brought his lips to her forehead. “Are you okay about it?”

She knew his answer even before he smiled his rogue smile. Her heart knew too because it was lazily rolling over in her chest at his nearness.

“Zara, I would marry you any fuckin’ day. You know that, want you for my old lady.”

“I’ve been your old lady forever,” she pointed out, and he smirked so sexily.

“Wish I’d known so I could have dressed better.”

“That would defeat the purpose of a surprise,” she told him with a smile etching the corner of her mouth. Because he so rarely looked unsure, she was enjoying seeing his surprise. “Besides, you always look sexy.” He smirked at that. Ego biker-man. “You’re perfect. So, are you going to marry me today?”

For a big man, tall and intimidating to everyone but her, he crumbled so gracefully as he let his neck fall, and their foreheads came together.

He breathed in. And she breathed out.

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