Chapter 19

Nineteen

Gemma

Three months later . . .

I t's the fuss I didn't want, and as Lexi fluffs my hair, I resist the urge to bat her hands away. She's trying to help, and it's nice that we're getting on much better these days, but I told Ruby to make sure they understood I didn't want any fuss.

"Ready?" she asks.

"As I'll ever be," I mutter.

She rolls her eyes and fixes me with a glare. "Try and be a little more enthusiastic."

"She's nervous," Luna cuts in, smiling at me with sympathy.

"I'm not nervous," I hiss, shaking out my shoulders. "You two are making this feel way bigger than it needs to be."

"You're making it official. It's huge." I sigh as Luna opens the bedroom door. "Let's go and claim your man."

Ruby and Fletch are together as usual, and it still brings a smile to my lips whenever I spot them. Being a father seems to have come natural to him, despite his worries, and the pair have a bond that even I struggle to compete with. She announced just last week that she wanted a motorbike, and I know despite my firm reluctance, he's going to get her one. She's already decided she wants to follow his footsteps and work in the garage. I laughed when she told me, knowing how my father would have reacted to the news.

Fletch spots me watching them and holds out his hand, which I take. He tugs me to him and kisses me gently on the lips. "You look amazing."

I glance around the room. "Why are all these people here?"

"I told you, we're celebrating in style. These bikers have come from all our other charters to celebrate with us."

"It's a simple ceremony. We're not even leaving the clubhouse."

He grins. "I know you didn't want anything traditional, but we had to have guests, Snap."

He tugs my dress to expose the tattoo of his name on my collarbone and kisses the spot. He does it often. "You two are gross," Ruby announces, screwing up her nose before heading off to take a seat.

"Are we doing this?" asks Fletch, and I take a deep breath before nodding. He keeps hold of my hand and leads me to the front of the room.

Bikers begin to fill the empty seats that Lexi and Luna carefully set out this afternoon. The vicar rushes over, placing an empty whiskey glass on a nearby table. I smirk, because that could only happen in this club.

"Welcome, everyone," he says jovially. "And thank you for being here to be a part of this very special union between Cameron and Gemma."

I zone out while he drivels on. I'm so lost in staring at my man, I don't hear his words. Seeing Fletch this happy is worth his weeks of nagging to get me to make us official. Since I agreed to become his old lady, he's done everything possible to ensure I don't back out. He doesn't quite understand that I couldn't leave him now even if I wanted to. He owns me, heart and soul. But even the tattoos weren't enough to settle his worry. So, here we are, tying the knot in a small ceremony.

I realised very quickly that club life isn't so bad. I see why he loves it so much because, even after everything, I've been welcomed by the men here. I sometimes catch Axel and Grizz watching me through suspicious eyes, but Lexi assures me that's how they were with her too, but they soon began to trust her.

And Ruby is so happy here, I could hardly refuse when she begged us to move in. It wasn't a hard decision—being closer to Fletch was what I wanted too.

I shake my head to clear the thoughts and focus back on the vicar, who is now reading off the vows we picked.

The whole thing is over in ten minutes, and as the ring slides onto my finger, I feel a sense of finality. Ruby hands me the flower bouquet I lovingly made from the flowers Luna and I have grown out back. The entire room is filled with the scent of tulips and roses, and when I took photographs to upload to my new website, I was extremely proud to finally be following my dreams.

"Throw my way," Lexi hisses as she passes to stand behind me.

I smirk, closing my eyes and hauling the bouquet over my shoulder. When I turn, Duchess is holding it with a huge smile on her face. I glance at Fletch, who wiggles his eyebrows in Duke's direction. There must be a story there I don't know about.

"Let's get drunk," Axel shouts, and the room erupts in cheers.

Everyone heads off to the bar, and I go to follow, but Fletch pulls me back, waiting until the room is almost clear before kissing me in a slow, toe-curling kiss. "Thank you," he whispers. "I know this wasn't what you wanted, that you did it for me, and I appreciate it."

"I always wanted to be your wife, Fletch, I just didn't want to do the big white wedding." Apart from a couple close friends, there's no one here for me. I could hardly invite my friends from the police force . . . or my father.

He gently cups my face. "For the first time in my life, I feel complete. I have my own family, and that's something I haven't had in a long time."

I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him. "Me either."

"I love you, Mrs. Fletcher."

"Forever," I whisper against his lips.

"And ever."

THE END