“Thank you.” Smiley drew Vanni’s attention. “That would be the one Beth is on.” He glanced at both men. “We should go meet her at the heliport.”
“Let’s go.” Jericho paused next to Jaded. “Nice outfit. Did you borrow it from Harley?”
“As a matter of fact,” Jaded chuckled, “I did call him and ask where he obtains his clothes. A local motorcycle club is hosting a barbeque fundraiser to buy some land for the preservation of a campground they use every summer. A logging company wants to purchase it and cut down all the trees.”
“I thought you only got involved if animals were in the mix.” Jericho frowned.
Jaded shrugged. “There’s a lot of wildlife living in those woods. It’s for a good cause and they sent me an invitation. I thought it might be fun.”
Smiley removed his arm from Vanni but kept hold of her hand. “We have to go.”
She was really excited about seeing Beth. She just hoped her best friend would behave and not act too outrageous when she met Smiley. It was a real concern.
* * * * *
“Relax,” Beth ordered. “I like Smiley.”
Vanni shifted nervously on her seat. “It’s not that. I knew you would. I’m getting married. My hands are shaking.”
“Are you having second thoughts or is this just bride jitters?”
“Jitters. I really want to marry Smiley.”
“Close your eyes.” Beth applied eye shadow. “He’s a hunk, Vanni. I also notice the way he looks at you. I see love and the guy has the hots for you too. He totally stares at your ass when you walk in front of him. Is he as muscular under those clothes as he looks in them?”
“Yes.”
“Lucky bitch.” Beth stopped. “Open.”
Vanni peered up at her friend. “Thank you for doing my makeup. How do I look?”
“Good. I kept it light. It gives you the natural look with a little extra help.”
“Thank you. Smiley said he prefers me without makeup but it’s my wedding. I need to look my best. He promised that someone will take pictures.”
“I’m going to take some with my phone too.”
“You can’t post them anywhere,” Vanni reminded her. “Nobody can know we got married just yet. He said it could cause problems.”
“Have you told the family yet?”
“No. I know they’d want to be here and I just…”
“Say no more. Your sister is a prude. Your brother is a jackass and pushy. Your parents—I love them but your mom is a control freak and it kind of weirds me out how your dad just does everything she says. My parents are the opposite. My dad is the controller and my mom does everything he says.”
“I know. I think Dad just doesn’t want to argue. Mom became pretty bossy, having to raise three kids while he was traveling. He’s mellow.”“You get that from him. You’re the quiet sibling and you let them boss you around. I’m glad you decided to elope. That fiasco of an engagement to Carl about killed me. I really hated him and then your family was messing up the plans you had left and right. I got upset for you.”
“That’s why we’re keeping it simple. This is just about Smiley and me.”
“I’m just glad I got to be here, even if it was kind of a nightmare.”
“The helicopter ride is horrible.”
“I meant the big-ass fight I had with Elvis. I kind of liked the ride and the company wasn’t too bad either. Do you think you could introduce me to a hottie?”
“What about Elvis? I kind of hoped staying with him would make you closer. On the phone it sounded like it was going well.”
“We were starting to fight. He was pissed that I was leaving and especially when he saw a bunch of guys pick me up. He thought it was payback.”
“For what?”
Beth bent at the waist and grinned at her. “No depressing shit on the day my best friend hooks up with Mr. Hottie. I did have them make a stop on the way. Remember that outlet mall right next to the freeway? I got you a surprise.”
Beth straightened, spun away and walked over to the suitcase lying on her bed. She opened it and removed a bag from a name-brand store. “This is for you. It’s that dress we saw a few weeks ago when we went shoe shopping. They still had it.”
Vanni gaped at her. “The pretty off-white one with the lace?”
“Yeah.”
“It was a hundred and fifty bucks, Beth. It was too expensive.”
“I don’t know what you bought during your shopping spree but you can’t get married in everyday clothes. Come on.” Beth held out the bag. “It’s not too fancy and it’s really pretty. I’d call it the perfect summer wedding dress for an elopement. It’s the first thing I thought of when you gave me the news. I just wish I’d had time to buy you matching shoes but when those NSO guys say five minutes, they mean it. I’ve never hustled through a mall so damn fast.”
Beth accepted it, fighting tears. “Thank you so much. I’ll pay you back.”
“Shut up. It’s a gift. Hell, I would have paid three times that much just to see you happy. You just light up when you look at Smiley and I really like him.” She paused. “He is the total opposite of Carl.” She grimaced. “You know what I’m going to say.”
“You really hated him.”
“Big time.” Beth smiled again. “I wish I’d gotten here before they sent him away. I would have liked a few minutes alone with him. I would have kneed him in the balls.”
“You can’t tell anyone about that either. Everyone thinks they fled the country.”
Beth crossed a finger over her heart. “You know you can trust me.”
“That’s why I told you everything.”
Beth glanced at her stomach and laughed. “If it’s a girl, you better name it after me.”
“I don’t know if I’m pregnant or not. We never got a blood test. You came and Smiley put it off.”
“You better tell me when you do.” Beth took the bag. “Let’s get you dressed. You totally know I’m going to hit every damn baby store if you’re expecting. How cute are babies and if it comes out looking like Smiley then I’m going to have to give up wearing lipstick. Your child would be covered from me kissing all that cuteness. The kid will run screaming from Auntie Beth once he or she is old enough to walk. I’ll be that kissing lady who drives them nuts.”
“Top secret, Beth.”
Beth held her gaze and grew serious. “I read the news. I also listened to some of Gregory Wood’s asinine rants. I’d murder someone for you and go bury the body. No one will ever get any information out of me. They could hang me by my nipples and beat me with sticks.”
Vanni laughed. “By your nipples?”
Beth nodded. “Ouch, right? That’s the worst thing I could think of unless it’s by my nether lips. Can you imagine? Oh my god, ouchie. I will never understand how some people get pierced down there. I was going to have sex with a guy once and he had a piercing through his dick. I said no way and got the hell out of there.”
“I remember that. You said it looked horrible.”
“Scary is the word I used. It looked like a rounded barbell just hanging off the end of his dick. Who wants to have that inside them and did he honestly think he’d ever get head again? Choking hazard.”
Vanni laughed. “I’m less worried about my wedding now. Smiley doesn’t have any piercings.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Now get out of those clothes and into this dress. We don’t have too much time. Your groom looked nervous and no damn way do we want to give him time to get cold feet. He looks pretty damn fit. He’d be hell to catch if he makes a run for it. Neither one of us are joggers.”
“Smiley wouldn’t do that.”
“Even better. I’d hate to have to steal one of those Jeeps on my first day at Reservation to go after him and get busted by their cops. I wouldn’t mind being strip-searched though by that big hulk of a guy who came with you to pick me up.”
“Jericho?”
“Yeah. Did you see his chest and those matching arms? He’s like a mountain of muscle on two legs. I bet he could sweep me off my feet and wouldn’t bitch about me needing to lose a few pounds because I’m hurting his lower back.”
“He’s kind of scary looking.”
“Not to me. That’s the right kind of danger and I’d run to it.” Beth winked.
“Don’t hit on him. He’s going to be at the wedding.”
“Come on. I’m the maid of honor. It’s tradition to get drunk and nail one of the groomsmen.”
“Beth!”
“Fine.” She sighed. “I won’t drink.”
“No nailing Smiley’s best friend. He’s going to be like family. I don’t want you to hurt him.”
“Me hurt him? Are we talking about the same guy?”
“He’s really a sweet soul when you get to know him.”
“Enough.” Beth rolled her eyes. “You make me sound like a one-woman destruction crew. I won’t try to nail anyone. I get it. I’m not going to have sex. Big surprise.”“What does that mean?”
Beth opened her mouth but then closed it. She shifted the bag, holding it out again. “My arms are getting tired. Strip. Wedding, remember?”