Page 31 of Vegas (Stormy Souls MC #1)
Six months later
Standing in the bedroom of our house, it’s difficult to comprehend just how fast the last six months have flown by. We’ve had our trials, but overall, I’m deliriously happy to share my life with the most handsome and special man ever. I’m proud to be Vegas’s old lady, and despite the rough times, I’ve loved every second so far. I tenderly stroke over my bump while trying not to well up and ruin my makeup. The door opens and Ally steps in.
“You look beautiful,” she exclaims with a big smile. As I look in the mirror, I can hardly believe what I see. A stunning bride in a beautiful, flowy white gown stares back at me. Ally nudges me and hands me a small box. I open it and find a blue garter inside. I smile and hug her tight.
“This is your something new and something blue. I’d say it’ll bring you luck and fertility, but I think you’ve already got that covered,” she teases me with a grin. I place my foot on the end of the bed, and Ally helps me place the garter on my thigh.
Next is Jamie. He clears his throat and wipes a tear from his eye. “It’s not too late, sis, you can still back out,” he says jokingly. I shake my head at him, laughing. He steps closer and places a small box in my hand. I open it and my mouth drops open at the sight of my mother’s diamond studs I thought were lost so long ago.
“Oh, Jamie, where did you find them?” I ask.
“We found them after the fire when the house was demolished. A workman handed them in. I kept them for you, knowing you’d have wanted a part of her with you,” he replies, and I struggle to keep my tears in check. Behind him stands Chloe, who smiles and hugs me.
“Don’t mind him, he’s just a soppy big brother today.” And finally, my maid of honor, Caroline, walks in with the most beautiful diamante and flower veil.
“I wore this when I married Dawg. It was the best and happiest day of my life and I’ve never regretted a single moment. Take this as your something borrowed, a crown fit for a princess. May it bring you as much luck and happiness as it’s brought us.”
I’m fanning my eyes by now and can’t stop the tears from falling. “No,” screeches Caroline, “you’ll look like a pregnant corpse bride if you cry.” That has all of us burst out laughing. Catastrophe avoided.
My brother takes my hand outside the clubhouse door. The parking lot is crammed full of bikes and cars of all shapes and sizes. “Ready?” he asks. I nod and look at him. He looks so handsome in his white button-down, black jeans, boots, and his cut with a white carnation sticking out of his top pocket.
He opens the door, and we step inside. I gasp. The clubhouse is unrecognizable. The old ladies decorated it beautifully with gray and white voile covering every ceiling and flower arrangements everywhere. It’s stunning. Ally, Debs, and Caroline have outdone themselves. I look at Jamie and take a deep breath.
John Legend’s “All of You” softly sounds through the speakers, and I can hear the rustle of chairs as everyone inside the main room stands. We step forward, my hand on Jamie’s arm as he leads me down the aisle toward the man I love more than life itself. I see him swallow, his eyes shining, a bright smile on his face. Jamie hands me over to Vegas and places my hand in his. He kisses me on both cheeks, then steps back, clasps Vegas’s shoulder, and makes his way to his seat. Caroline walks up and takes my flowers to hold them during the ceremony.
The ceremony passes in a blur and before I know it, it’s my turn to repeat after the minister. “I, Ashley Saunders, take thee, Vincent Albright, to be my lawfully wedded husband. To love and to cherish, to honor and obey, in sickness and in health, ‘til death do us part. Take this ring as a token of my love and unbreakable bond.” With that, I place the wedding band on his ring finger and smile up at Vegas.
Now, it’s his turn. He places the wedding band on my finger and looks deep into my eyes, his blazing with pride and love as he recites his vows. Finally, we hear, “You may now kiss your bride.”
He pulls me close, bends me over his arm, and kisses me senseless. When he lets me up, I’m breathless, and the room is cheering and stomping their feet.
The rest of the day flies by. We take our congratulations, enjoy a massive BBQ and buffet, club style, cut the cake, and dance until the early hours. We watch our family and friends join in our celebration and our love for each other. Nathan has made his way home for the wedding and is staying in his old room at the house that Dawg and Caroline bought from me. Nathan has his own room at our house, but he preferred to spend tonight at Dawg’s.
The only person missing from my big day is Sarah. Her mother died last week, and she had to attend her funeral today. I miss her dearly.
I look at Vegas and my heart pitter-patters. He takes my breath away in his gray button-down under his cut, his white carnation in his pocket, and new ‘Vice President’ patch. I’m so proud of him and proud to be with him. He deserved the recognition after the last few months, which have been difficult to say the least. Right now, though, all I want is to be alone with my new husband.
As if he can read my mind, he gets up and we make our excuses and our exit. Instead of a proper honeymoon, we decided to lock all the doors and have a long weekend with just the two of us at the house. But tonight, we’re driving to a posh local hotel to spend the night in the honeymoon suite. Tacky, I know, but worth the top dollar.
We check in and open the door with our keycard to find they’ve already brought our bags up.
“You look stunning, wife,” Vegas declares, and I smile at him.
“And you’re the most handsome, hottest husband ever,” I reply. He steps behind me and wraps his arms around me as we look out the window into the dark night. He cups my bump and strokes it tenderly, as he often does.
I found out I was pregnant four months ago. Counting back the days, it must have happened at the Slayers rally, but everything went crazy, so I didn’t notice for a while. I blamed my missing period on the stress we’d all been under. Vegas went with me when I had my first appointment and we saw our baby’s heartbeat on the monitor. We’re deliriously happy and don’t want to know the sex of the baby. We’d like it to be a surprise.
Dougal and Sarah are together now, and I imagine they’ll be moving in together soon. Dougal is very taken with her and would do anything for her. He gets on great with Leo and can manage his autistic idiosyncrasies and special needs better than Sarah sometimes. He’s growing into a great father for Leo.
I lean into Vegas, resting my head against his shoulder. “Take me to bed, stud, and make me your wife,” I murmur. He lifts me into his arms and smiles down at me as he places me gently onto the bed.
“Your wish is my command, princess.”
THE END