Page 15 of For the Promise (The Raider Brothers #2)

“Being a nerd doesn’t mean I can’t pull off a surprise.” ~ Jaxon

Jaxon

I wait until Blossom shuts the door to the bathroom behind her to connect the call.

“I thought you were at the wedding,” Eli says when he answers.

“I need my brothers.”

“We’ve been on standby all morning. I’ll rally the troops and we’ll be at the resort within the hour.”

“Not the resort. I need to plan a wedding.”

Silence falls.

“Eli, did you hear me?”

“I’m hallucinating. I’m trying to figure out what I did to piss Paisley off. She must have put hallucinogens in my coffee.”

I growl. “This isn’t the time for jokes.”

“Jaxon, you haven’t had a serious relationship since high school.”

Technically, I’ve never had a serious relationship. It’s difficult to have a serious relationship when you know she’ll eventually leave you anyway. But this isn’t about me. This is about Blossom. She needs me.

“Raider brother secret,” I insist.

“By barnacle, booze, and brotherhood – what’s said is sunk,” he vows.

“Blossom’s ex is suing her for her inheritance from her parents and she thinks he’ll drop the suit if he believes we’re married. Alan isn’t buying we’re married, so we’re getting married.”

“Does Blossom know she’s getting married?”

“No, but she will. Can you set it up?”

“For today?”

I check my watch. “In an hour, preferably.”

“When you call in a brother favor, you don’t mess around.”

“Can you do it or not?”

He snorts. “Of course, I can. Meet you at city hall at one-thirty.”

I quickly hang up as Blossom is opening the sliding doors.

“Are you ready?” I ask.

“Are we going to the welcome lunch?” She checks the time and cringes. “We’re thirty minutes late.”

“We’ll be back in time for the rehearsal dinner.”

I usher her back into the chalet and toward the door. She doesn’t fight me. Does she trust me after how I treated her after our kiss? My body warms – I want her to trust me – but I push those thoughts away. This isn’ t about me.

“Where are we going?” Blossom asks once we’re settled in my car and driving toward Smuggler’s Rest.

“It’s a surprise.”

“If you’re trying to cheer me up after hearing my sad story, there’s no need. It’s sweet. But not necessary.”

I reach across the console to squeeze her thigh. Her dress is thin, allowing me to feel the heat of her skin through the material. My cock wakes up. It wants to feel her thighs wrapped around my hips as I bury myself in her.

I realize I’m caressing her skin and snatch my hand back.

“It’s completely necessary.”

She rubs her hands together. “What are we going to do? I’m up for an adventure. The last time I went on one, Dakota ended up giving some stranger a bloody nose and it ruined our fun.”

I chuckle. “She has a habit of giving people bloody noses.”

She places her hand over her face. “I hope she doesn’t give me one. My nose is one of my favorite features on my face.”

I pull her hand away. “You should like all your features. You’re beautiful.”

She rolls her eyes. “There’s no need to play husband now. We’re alone. No one can hear you.”

I squeeze her hand before releasing it. “No playing. You are beautiful.”

“And here I thought Miles Raider was the smooth talker in the family.”

“Trust me. He is. But Zane and Kai aren’t far behind.”

“Speaking of Zane, Kai, and Miles.” She points to my brothers standing on the sidewalk outside of City Hall .

“We’re here,” I say and park in front of them.

“Here? Does this adventure involve all of the Raider brothers? I’m not into multiple sex partners. I admit I enjoy reading reverse harem novels, but I have no desire to try and have a harem of men. Especially not brothers.”

My mouth gapes open. “What are you talking about?”

Her cheeks darken. “No reverse harem. Check.”

Miles opens her door before I can get there. I shove him out of the way.

“Sorry. I should have let you open the door for your bride yourself.”

“Bride?” Blossom asks. “We’re only pretending to be married.”

Miles holds up his hands as he retreats. “Oops.”

Eli waves from the entrance to City Hall. “You’ve got five minutes.”

Five minutes to explain to Blossom why we’re getting married at City Hall? This is going to be interesting.

I shackle her wrist and drag her to the alley next to the building.

“Are you kidnapping me?” she asks as she studies the alley. “Is there a speakeasy I don’t know about?” Her nose wrinkles. “I don’t know if it’s a good idea to get drunk before dealing with Alan. I might end up punching him.”

I cradle her face between my hands and kiss her nose. “I’m not kidnapping you. We’re getting married.”

She gapes at me for a long moment before gulping. “Married? ”

I nod. “Married. Alan doesn’t believe we’re married, but it doesn’t matter what he believes if we actually are married.”

“But this isn’t fake, Jaxon. This is real. When you fall in love and want to get married.” Pain lights up her eyes before she blinks and it disappears. “You’ll have to tell your future wife you’re divorced. I can’t do that to you.”

“You’re not doing anything to me. This is my choice.”

She scowls. “I can’t let you make this choice.”

“You’re not letting me do anything. But you do have a choice. You can get your sexy ass into the courthouse and marry me, or you can continue to fight Alan over a lawsuit no judge should allow.”

“Sexy ass.”

My eyes fall closed. “That’s all you heard?”

She shrugs. “A woman enjoys hearing she has a sexy ass. Especially from a man who ghosted her after he melted her panties with a kiss.”

I rest my forehead against hers. “I’m sorry. I never should have ghosted you.”

“Or called me a mistake.”

“Or called you a mistake.”

“Or pretended you were invisible.”

“Or pretended I was invisible.”

When she doesn’t continue, I cock an eyebrow. “I’m done.”

“Do you accept my apology?”

“You’re marrying me to get my ex to drop a lawsuit. I think you’re good. ”

I chuckle. This woman. Just when I think I know what she’s going to say, she surprises me.

She’d surprise me for the rest of my life if I let her.

Too bad there is no rest of my life. This marriage won’t be any more real than the marriage we pretended we were in this morning when we checked into the resort.

I step away before grasping her hand and leading her out of the alley. When we reach the sidewalk, my brothers cheer.

“She said yes!” Miles shouts.

“Yes, to bad sex with Jaxon for the rest of her life,” Kai adds and they high-five each other.

Dakota pushes her way past my brothers to hand Blossom a bouquet. “I’m sorry it’s not tulips. Jaxon said tulips but they’re out of season and you have to order them in advance.”

“You remembered my favorite flower?” Blossom asks me.

I roll my eyes. “Don’t be flattered. I’m a genius.”

She elbows me. “You remembered. You like me,” she sings.

“Obviously, I like you. We’re getting married.”

“About getting married,” Dakota begins.

I know, as Blossom’s best friend, she must have questions, but when we’re surrounded by my nosy brothers is not the proper time to discuss this.

“Not now,” I tell her. “We have a wedding to attend.”

Dakota nods before leaving us to stand with Rhett.

Eli whistles. “We need to go.”

I offer Blossom my elbow. She hesitates. “Are you sure about this? You don’t have to do this. ”

“I’m doing what I want to.” She stares at me for a long moment before finally threading her arm through mine.

“I’m sorry,” I say as we walk.

She rears back. “Sorry about what? Being a perfect gentleman? Riding in on a white horse to save me?”

“Technically, it wasn’t a horse.”

“A mustang is a horse.”

I nod to acknowledge her point since I do drive a Mustang. “I’m sorry this isn’t the perfect wedding you imagined. You have to wear shoes. There’s no beach. And the flowers aren’t your favorite.”

“Jaxon Raider.” She glares at me. “Don’t you dare apologize for helping me out or I’ll consult Paisley for a prank.”

Paisley, standing next to Eli, clears her throat. “I am always available for consultations with a member of the sisterhood.”

We arrive at the mayor’s office, and Eli knocks. “Come in,” Lana, the mayor of Smuggler’s Rest, replies.

“Show time,” Blossom whispers before Eli opens the door and we file into the office.

“A last-minute wedding,” Lana cheers. Her gaze drops to Blossom’s stomach. “And not a shotgun wedding. Love this!”

Lana is a bit of a romantic, which is probably why she’s been married five times. She hurries around her desk to stand in front of us.

“The lovebirds stay here. Who are the witnesses?”

“Eli and Dakota.”

Blossom mock glares at me. “Stop being perfect.”

“I want to make you happy. This one’s easy. ”

“That’s what she said,” Miles mutters behind me. Rhett smacks him upside the head. I nod at Rhett in thanks.

“Dakota, you come stand next to Blossom. Eli, you stand next to Jaxon.” Once everyone has rearranged themselves, she asks, “Who has the rings?”

“We don’t have rings,” Blossom says at the same time Eli says, “I do.”

“It appears we’re ready,” Lana says. “Jaxon and Blossom, are you ready to proclaim the foundation of love for one another in the sight of these witnesses and all the smugglers and mermaids who have gone before you?”

I lift an eyebrow at Blossom, and she nods. “We are.”

“Jaxon Raider, do you take Blossom Nelson to be your lawfully wedded partner – your lobster in the trap of life, your moonshine mule, your co-captain on this possibly doomed but definitely entertaining voyage?

Will you promise to love her even when she steals the blankets, honor her even when she forgets to do the dishes, trust her the way a smuggler trusts low tide, and commit to her with the same reckless devotion you’d give to a bottomless jar of Smuggler’s Hideaway moonshine?

Will you stand by her side through smooth sailing, shipwrecks, suspicious mermaid sightings, and family dinners with the full crew – until death or a very dramatic sea curse do you part?”

I meet Blossom’s gaze. Her burnished whiskey colored eyes are filled with wonder and a bit of mirth. I want to witness this look in her eyes every day for the rest of my days .

This is fake, Jaxon, I remind myself.

“I do.”

“Blossom Nelson, do you take Jaxon Raider to be your lawfully wedded partner – your lobster in the trap of life, your moonshine mule, your co-captain on this possibly doomed but definitely entertaining voyage?

Will you promise to love him even when he steals the blankets, honor him even when he forgets to do the dishes, trust him the way a smuggler trusts low tide, and commit to him with the same reckless devotion you’d give to a bottomless jar of Smuggler’s Hideaway moonshine?

Will you stand by his side through smooth sailing, shipwrecks, suspicious mermaid sightings, and family dinners with the full crew – until death or a very dramatic sea curse do you part?”

She smiles at me. “I do.”

Lana beams at us. She is absolutely loving this. “At this time, Jaxon and Blossom will exchange rings. The wedding ring is a symbol of binding. A symbol of attachment and of belonging, not of possession, but of partnership.”

Eli digs the rings out of his pocket and hands one to me.

“Have you written your own vows?” Lana asks.

“I’ll wing it,” I say.

She nods and motions for me to proceed. I take Blossom’s left hand and notch the ring on her ring finger. Her eyes widen and she retreats.

“That diamond is massive. I’m not wearing it. ”

I catch her before she manages to escape out the door. “Do you want Alan to drop the lawsuit or not?”

“Shush,” she hisses as she glances around at everyone who is undoubtedly trying to eavesdrop. “Does everyone know?”

“I had to tell Eli to get this arranged, but he swore on barnacles and booze and brotherhood not to tell.”

“No one else knows?”

I shake my head. “No one else knows.”

She blows out a breath. “Okay. I’ll wear the ring this weekend but that’s my final offer.”

I lead her back to our place in front of Lana. This time, when I place the ring on Blossom’s finger, she doesn’t balk.

“I promise to stand beside you – through calm seas, stormy nights, and small-town gossip. I vow to keep your secrets, laugh at your jokes even when I don’t understand them, and pretend not to notice when you sip the whiskey from my glass.

I’ll be your partner in public and… your problem in private. ”

Blossom holds out her hand to Eli and he drops the match of Blossom’s ring into her palm.

She poises the ring at the tip of my finger. “I promise to stand beside you – even when you pretend you’re invisible. I promise to laugh at your nerdy t-shirts and not notice when you forget to put the toilet seat down. I’ll be your problem in public and your partner in private.”

She pushes the ring onto my finger. I thought it would feel awkward, but the gold feels natural on my finger as if it was always meant to be there .

“By the power vested in me by the town of Smuggler’s Hideaway, I now declare you husband and wife. You may kiss.”

I lean over and meet Blossom’s lips. It’s meant to be a quick and sweet kiss. But the second I taste her cherry lips, I can’t help myself from deepening the kiss. From sweeping my tongue into her mouth for more. I wrap my arms around her.

Eli claps me on the back and I stumble backward. Shit. We’re not alone.

I glance at Blossom. Her lips are swollen, her cheeks are flushed, and her brown eyes have darkened to polished mahogany. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

I want to keep her.