Chapter Thirty-Two
SIX HOURS LATER, Cam and Sedona walked into the sheriff’s department with the rest of The Thunderhawks trailing behind them.
Levi Montgomery leaned back against his desk, arms folded across his chest. “It’s about time you got here, Sims. We were about to issue a BOLO on you.”
“Ha ha. The emergency room was backed up. It took a while to get to Sedona, then took even longer to x-ray her wrist and splint it a second time.”
“What’s the verdict on her injury?”
“Broken wrist. She’s scheduled for surgery in a couple of days.”
A slow smile curved Levi’s mouth. “That’s enough time.”
Cam narrowed his eyes. “No meddling, Montgomery.”
“It’s a good idea,” Dario said. The rest of his teammates nodded.
Sedona looked from one man to the other. “What am I missing?”
“Nothing.”
“Liar,” Spencer said. “I’ll bet Sedona thinks it’s a great idea.”
“Ask her,” Isaac said. “You know you want to, and you’ll put the rest of us out of the misery of hearing you bemoan the fact that she’s too good for you.”
“Shut up, and that’s an order,” he snapped. He wouldn’t push Sedona into something she might not want. For goodness’ sake, he hadn’t even talked to her about marriage.
Rhys said, “I see an empty office. Go take care of business, and we’ll help with the details.”
These guys were like a bulldozer, rolling over any obstacle in their wake.
Sedona’s small hand slipped into his. “Come on. I want to know what’s going on, and you won’t tell me with these troublemakers heckling you.”
The Thunderhawks protested her assessment, but Sedona ignored them.
Cam allowed himself to be led away from the chaos of the squad room.
He wondered if David meant what he’d said earlier today.
Hiring The Thunderhawks as deputies and as Morgan County’s Search and Rescue team solved the shortage of law enforcement officers that had plagued the department even before David inherited the problem.
He opened the empty office door, ushered Sedona inside, and after a last glare at his grinning friends, shut the door behind him.
Turning to face Sedona, his heartbeat sped up.
She said she loved him, but what if loving him wasn’t enough?
What if she needed more? He’d give her the world if he could.
Taking him on and merging her world with his was a lot to ask of any woman.
“Your friends are troublemakers.”
He snorted. “That, my love, is an understatement.”
“So, what do they want you to do?”
“Propose.”
She blinked. “Propose what?”
“Marriage.”
Sedona’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“What do you think of the idea?”
She threw her arms around his neck and smiled up at him. “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate surviving a world-class assassin. I love you, Cameron Sims. Are you asking me to marry you, or was this discussion a hypothetical exercise?”
“This is as real as it gets. Marry me, Sedona Hart.”
“Yes. Anytime, anywhere.”
He froze. “Do you mean that?”
“Which part?”
“Anytime, anywhere.”
She nodded.
Relief swept over him. Thank God. “Tomorrow?”
Sedona stared. “Are you serious?”
“Unless you want a big wedding. If you do, I can wait.” Maybe. Keeping his impatience in check might be impossible.
She remained silent for a moment. “What time will we finish here?”
“Probably in a couple of hours. Why?”
Sedona released his neck and held out her hand. “I don’t know what happened to my phone. I need to borrow yours for a minute.”
Curious, Cam gave his phone to Sedona.
She tapped in a number and, when a woman answered, said, “Hey, Cindy. It’s Sedona. I need a favor. Can you get a marriage license ready in two hours? Great. I need a second favor. Would you ask Harry if he can squeeze us in today?”
No. Way. She couldn’t be setting up what he thought she was. Could she? Rather than ask dumb questions and reveal his ignorance, he waited.
Sedona beamed. “You’re the best, Cindy. Tell Harry I owe him a chocolate turtle cheesecake for this.” She ended the call a moment later and returned Cam’s phone. “It’s all set up.”
“What is set up, Tiger?”
“The marriage license and the wedding before a judge.”
He stared. Holy smoke. She really did it. Although he didn’t want to question her about this next thing, he’d feel guilty if he didn’t. “What about your sisters? Do you want to wait for them?”
She shook her head. “My sisters are strangers to me, Cam. We should do what’s best for us. Do you want to wait?”
“No!” He cupped her face between his palms. “I adore you, Sedona Hart, and I want the entire world to know that you’re my whole heart.”
Cam reached for the doorknob. “Let’s do this. We have more important things to do than waste time at the police station.”
He opened the door and escorted Sedona back to the bullpen. “Gather around, boys. We have an announcement to make.”
When everyone had moved closer, Cam said, “Sedona and I are getting married as soon as we’re finished here today.”
Now it was his turn to laugh at the stunned expressions on his teammates’ faces. “What are you so surprised about? You’re the ones who were pushing me earlier.”
Dario shook head. “Yeah, but we were pushing for a proposal. We didn’t expect you to rush our girl to the altar.”
“After the terror we’ve lived through in the past few days, we don’t want to be separated anymore,” Sedona said. “Will you mind letting a female into your group?”
“For you, we’ll make an exception,” Isaac said.
“And you’ll come to our wedding?”
“You couldn’t keep us away.”
She beamed at The Thunderhawks, then glanced at Cam. “We need to tell David so he can tell the Montgomery wives. They’ll be livid if they miss the wedding.”
Amused, he wrapped his hand around hers and led her toward the first interrogation room. Since the station didn’t normally interview so many people at once, David had to be creative to interview all of them at the same time. “If he doesn’t interview us, I’ll send him a message.”
A couple of minutes later, David hurried into the interrogation room. “Sorry for the delay.” He glared at Cam. “I’m short on help today.”
Cam just smiled. He was so happy, even his boss didn’t get a defensive reaction. “We have something to tell you.”
David froze. “Good or bad?”
“Very good.”
The sheriff relaxed. “Excellent. Let’s hear it.”
“Sedona and I are getting married today.”
David stared. “Today?”
“As soon as we get out of here. Will you contact the Montgomery wives so they can attend the wedding with their husbands and The Thunderhawks?”
“I can’t think of a better reason to leave the station and paperwork behind.” He opened the door and stepped into the hall. “Give me a minute, and I’ll be right back.”
Two minutes later, he returned to sit in the chair across from Cam and Sedona. “It’s all set. The ladies will be waiting at the courthouse. I hope you don’t mind, but I also invited Mrs. G.”
“Of course not,” Sedona said. “I love Mrs. G.”
“Everybody does.” He laid a notebook on the table and pulled out his pen. “Let’s get this party started so we can celebrate something we’ve been hoping for.”
Just as Cam predicted, they all walked out of the police station two hours later and crossed the square to the courthouse. The Montgomery wives and Mrs. G swept Sedona into a group hug, all of them talking at once.
Cindy Walker opened her door and motioned Cam and Sedona into her office. Five minutes later, their marriage license was complete. “Judge Thomas is waiting for you in his chamber. Do you know where that is?”
“We do,” Cam said. “Thanks for the fast work, Cindy.”
“Are you kidding? This will be the talk of the town for weeks. I’ll be a hero for helping you pull this off. So, thank you for trusting me. Now, how long do I have to sit on this news?”
“Thirty minutes, then you can tell whoever you want.”
“Great.” She beamed. “I’ll go make a list. Congratulations to both of you.”
“Thanks, Cindy.” Sedona gave her a hug, then she and Cam led their entourage to Judge Thomas’ chambers.
Cam knocked on the door.
Judge Thomas’ judicial assistant opened the door, smiling. “Go to the inner chamber. Judge Thomas is ready for you and your friends.”
The door to the inner chamber opened before Cam could knock. Judge Thomas shook Cam’s hand and hugged Sedona. “I’m so glad you asked me to marry you. I’m honored.”
“We appreciate you squeezing us into your schedule,” Sedona said.
“For you, young lady, I’ll be glad to make the court wait.” He shook David’s hand and those of his brothers present. “Looks like you have plenty of witnesses, so let’s proceed, shall we?”
Ten minutes later, Judge Thomas said, “Cam, you may kiss your bride.”
He gently tugged Sedona into his arms and kissed her. Cam ignored the catcalls and applause from their friends. When he lifted his head, Sedona’s eyes were unfocused. Yeah, that’s what he wanted. “Are you ready?” he asked.
“For what?”
“Everything. First on the list is buying breakfast, then we need an engagement ring and wedding band for you.”
She wrinkled her nose. “It sounds like fun, except my hand is swollen.”
“We’ll ask the folks at the jewelry store for suggestions.” He eyed her hand. “We’ll choose the set of rings that you love, then select a chain necklace so that you can wear the rings around your neck until your wrist heals.”
“That’s perfect.”
“Hey!” Dario grinned. “It’s our turn to kiss the bride.”
Cam scowled. “If any lips but mine touch Sedona’s, you’ll drink your meals for a month.”
His friend rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. We’ve got it.”
His teammates took turns hugging Sedona and slapping Cam on the back.
David said, “Before you leave, we need to talk.”
“On that note, I’ll excuse myself to finish out my day.” Judge Thomas left them.
“Which of us are you talking about?” Cam asked.
“The Thunderhawks plus Sedona.”
“Come with me, ladies,” Mrs. G said. “We’ll have our own tea party to celebrate Cam and Sedona’s wedding and plan their reception/celebration party.”
“Sounds like fun.” David’s wife, Emma, looked at her sisters-in-law. “Right?”
The rest of the women exhibited varying degrees of enthusiasm, but all agreed to go with the Montgomery’s housekeeper.