Chapter 6 #2
He took it off the hangar in the bag, and she turned so he could put the comb in the back of her head.
It was a long, simple veil attached to a single comb.
She wasn’t sure if she should wear it now or wait to put it on at the church.
But despite standing in the center of the quiet woods and inhaling the smell of smoke, it felt right.
Having him put her veil on her head carried an intimacy she’d not expected, and her eyes filled with unshed tears again.
“I can’t cry yet,” she said as she sniffled.
He kissed the back of her neck. “I don’t have a handkerchief to give you.”
A small laugh escaped, and she found her dress on the ground. “Actually, I have one.”
She pulled out the red bandana they’d played with the night before and handed it to him.
He grinned, but there was a seriousness in his gaze she’d not expected. He used the bandana to dry her eyes, then he pressed the bandana into her palm. “I love you, Sophie Sinclair.”
She carefully folded the bandana and put it into one of the pockets she’d insisted the dressmaker include in the dress alterations. Then she stood on her toes and kissed him. “Let’s go get married.”
Together, with him carrying her long train and veil, they made their way out of the forest, toward the road where Cali and Hawk stood near the truck and bikes.
When they both saw her, their eyes widened, and they stepped aside to show off Cali’s bike.
They’d used the white ribbon she’d bought yesterday and made bows that they’d tightly fastened to Cali’s bike handles and the seat’s metal backrest. The ends would stream as they rode, making it clear to everyone on the road that they were on their way to a wedding.
Just in case no one noticed her wedding gown.
She kissed Hawk’s cheek, and then Cali’s, before climbing onto her seat and adjusting her skirt and veil. After Ben handed her Cali’s helmet and mounted in front of her, she grabbed his waist and prayed that she still remembered how to ride behind him on a motorcycle.
Twenty-five minutes later, when Ben turned the bike onto Kingsmill’s Main Street, Sophie relaxed her hold on his tuxedoed waist. A few miles ahead of them, at the end of the road where the river made a sharp right turn, the church’s white steeple shone in the afternoon light.
The breeze blew her gown behind her, and the hum of the bike’s engine sent tremors along the inside of her thighs.
The white ribbons streamed around them. Although she’d tucked her veil around her waist, it’d come loose to fly high above her dress’s train.
Cali’s helmet kept the veil’s comb attached to her head.
Ben gunned the engine, and she closed her eyes. It’d been almost a decade since she’d ridden with Ben because, since she’d arrived in Kingsmill, they’d buried every aspect of their past.
But no longer.
The church bells rang twice, and she opened her eyes.
When Hawk’s bike pulled up to escort them, she released Ben’s waist and raised her hands to feel the breeze.
The wind on this side of the mountain tasted fresh and cool, and as they drove down Main Street, people waved at them.
She couldn’t remember any time in her life when she’d felt this happy, this loved, this free.
Once they stopped in front of the church, she removed her helmet, gathered her skirt and veil, and hopped off. Two people ran toward them.
Her maid-of-honor Ivy, wearing a blue strapless gown, carried two bouquets and a pair of white satin stilettos, while Ben’s brother, Kane, in a black tuxedo, followed.
Ivy and Kane both stopped a foot away, their gazes filled with relief, shock, and exasperation.
Ivy shook her head and handed the shoes to Sophie.
Kane frowned at Hawk as he tossed his helmet onto his bike, and she hid her grin. Hawk still wore his jeans, black T-shirt, and his leather cut–all covered in ash, dirt, and blotchy spots that looked like oil but could be dried blood.
“What the hell happened?” Kane asked.
Hawk crossed his arms and tilted his head. “Club stuff.”
Kane shook his head as if tired of dealing with a difficult teenager and turned toward Ben. “Come on, brother.” Kane took Ben’s arm. “Everyone is in the church, waiting. And we need to find you some black shoes. You can’t wear dirty boots to your own wedding.”
Ben handed Hawk the keys to Cali’s bike. “You’re staying for the wedding.”
Not a question. Just a statement filled with emotion and gratitude.
Hawk nodded, and Kane dragged Ben away.
Ivy gave Hawk the bouquet of mini sunflowers and white roses.
Then she kissed Sophie’s cheek and whispered, “Take your time. When you’re ready, meet me in the vestibule.”
“Thank you.”
Ivy took Sophie’s hand. “You were right yesterday. I’m running the Bonfire Night Festival in three months.”
Sophie laughed, and Ivy followed Kane and Ben into the church.
Once alone with Hawk, she slipped off her sandals and used his shoulder for stability while she put on a stiletto. “I can’t thank–”
“Don’t thank me, Sophie.” He held her elbow so she could slip on her other shoe. “We’re family. In more ways than blood.”
She blinked away another round of tears. “Last year, my step-father died. Other than Ivy, I’ve no family with me today.”
He gently squeezed her shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.” When her shoes were on, she fluffed her skirt, retrieved her bouquet, and smiled at him. “Since you’re staying for the wedding, would you walk me down the aisle?”
His brown eyes widened, and he motioned to his messy hair and dirty cut. “Are you–”
“Yes, Hawk.” She took his arm, and they headed toward the church stairs.
Her dusty train floated behind while her wrinkled skirt and veil drifted around her.
When she heard the entrance music come out of the church, she walked faster.
She was marrying the love of her life, and they were going to have a glorious future.
Everything was more perfect than she could’ve planned for or imagined.
“I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life. ”
The End… for now.
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And if you’d like to read an excerpt about how Ben and Sophie found each other again in their first story, His Wildest Sunflower, visit