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His gaze raked over me slowly before his gaze met mine again. “Many ways. I expected you to be more… Rex than you are.” His smile was so disarming I almost forgot where I was. And why.

“Well,” I sighed. “Thank you for that.”

“Nervous?”

“Of course. This is my first time meeting you and we’ll be married soon.”

Knox folded his tattooed arms across his massive chest. “You don’t have to be scared of me, Ivy. I’m not gonna hurt you.”

I opened my mouth to respond and immediately closed it. “There’s only one way for me to know that for sure. Experience.” I braced myself for his anger, but Knox surprised me.

He nodded. “Okay.”

“That’s it? Okay?”

He nodded again. “Yeah, okay. This is new to both of us, so I guess we’ll just have to get to know and trust each other.”

“The only person I know I can trust is my best friend, Dani.” I didn’t want to come off as bitchy from the start, but he needed to know that I wasn’t an easy mark.

“My MC is who I trust.” His words were simple, yet I could tell he meant them sincerely.

“That makes sense. Don’t betray my trust and I won’t betray yours. Deal?” I held a hand out to him, proud that it didn’t shake even once.

Knox smirked. “Deal.” His big hand swallowed mine whole. It was surprisingly warm. A sense of comfort snaked through me at his touch, which shocked me. “I guess I’ll see you out there.”

“Yep. See you soon.” I risked another glance at him and regretted it instantly. He was handsome, sure, but he was just as dangerous as Rex. Maybe more so because he was an unknown. “Later,” I said nervously and walked into the field, suddenly obsessed with the flowers in the distance.

I took my time collecting flowers to pass the time, determined to focus on nothing but weaving together the perfect bouquet of flowers to wear as a crown. It wasn’t about the bouquet as much as it was choosing something just for me. I didn’t get to choose the husband. The wedding. The day. The guest list. Nothing.

Except the flowers.

***

“They’re ready for you, Ivy.” The voice was familiar, feminine and smooth like warm scotch.

I turned to find Minx standing there in painted on black denim, a white tank top that showed off a flat stomach and perfect breasts, and black motorcycle boots that made her look beautiful and tough. “Thank you, Minx.” I stood tall, fixed the crown of flowers on my head, and walked forward.

Never backward.

Only forward.

I followed Minx to the clubhouse where a few of the Iron Vows brothers had gathered with their patches on display. A man I assumed was the Justice of the Peace stood near the bar chatting with Hatchet, the President of Iron Vows and my future father-in-law. When he spotted me, he pushed off the bar and motioned for Knox to join him.

This is it. You’re ready, I told myself as I scanned the area in search of a familiar face. I didn’t want to see Rex, but I was surprised he didn’t show up to make sure I went through with the marriage.

Then again, after my failed attempt to get away, I’d never disobeyed him, so he has no reason to think I’d start today.

The Justice of the Peace cleared his throat and summoned me to the front of the room. “If we’re ready?”

Knox nodded.

I did too.

He kept it brief. I appreciated that.

There were no flowery words, just the pragmatic parts of the ceremony. “Join hands,” he commanded in a soft voice.

I held my hands out and Knox took them in his, which were big and warm, and just a little rough from whatever he did aside from being a biker. The touch of his palms against mine affected me unexpectedly. He threaded his fingers through mine and squeezed. It wasn’t possessive or romantic, but it was comforting and unsettling at the same time. “Okay,” I stammered softly.