Page 21 of Clear Shot

Thisis why I hate duping our friends.

Luckily, the rest of the gifts are less poignant, including some lingerie and gift cards for spas and restaurants.

Why is everyone so nice?

“Let’s dance,” Aiden says when the music slows down.

“No one else is,” I protest.

“But this is our night and I don’t think we’ve ever danced together.”

I gaze up at him, trying to read the emotions lurking behind those golden-brown eyes, but my ability to read minds just isn’t up to par. Not with Aiden anyway.

So I nod and move into his arms.

“I’m a little taken aback by the gifts,” he admits as we sway to Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect.”

“And how happy they are for us.”

“And all the invitations to do couple stuff,” he murmurs.

“This is going to be our life for the next year,” I say. “Are you sure this is what you signed up for?”

“Like I told you earlier—no one made me do this. I wanted to help.”

“You just want us to have an excuse to sleep together,” I tease, hoping levity will ease the plethora of emotions we both seem to be battling.

Instead of laughter, his eyes darken a little.

“One thing you should know about me,” he says in a deep, sexy baritone I’ve never heard from him before. “I never joke about sex. And assuming there’s consent, I’ll never need anexcuseto make love to my wife.”

That does something crazy to the spot between my legs.

Jesus, he’s hot.

My husband might be one of the hottest men I’ve ever met.

“If you use that tone when we’re together, I may never let you out of bed,” I say, all trace of levity gone.

He dips his head and gently presses his lips to mine.

It’s oddly familiar, even though we’ve only kissed twice before.

“I love weddings,” I hear someone whisper loudly.

“And I love seeing people I care about falling in love,” someone else says.

I can’t be bothered to open my eyes because I’m too busy enjoying my husband’s mouth on mine.

I’m in incredibly dangerous territory but there’s no turning back and no stopping the freight train we’re on.

All I can do now is hold on tight—both to my husband and my heart.

Chapter 8

Aiden

I figuredI’d get some shit when I got to the arena the following morning, but I didn’t expect a full-on round of cheers and applause when I walked into the locker room.