Page 16 of For the Promise (The Raider Brothers #2)

“I need to forget my clothes more often.” ~ Blossom

Blossom

I stare at the diamond ring on my finger as we drive back to the resort after our quickie wedding. The diamond is huge, but it’s not ostentatious. It’s classy and beautiful. And not mine to keep, I remind myself.

“You only have to wear it this weekend,” Jaxon says. “Once Alan drops the lawsuit, you can drop the ring.”

“And we’ll get our marriage annulled.”

“It should be a simple procedure.”

My stomach drops at his quick agreement. I should want an annulment. I hardly know Jaxon. We’ve shared a mere two kisses. But I don’t want to annul our marriage.

I should want to. I’ve learned my lesson with men. But Jaxon is the complete opposite of Alan.

“The ring is pretty,” I say, since I don’t want to discuss our annulment any longer.

Jaxon grins. “I’m glad you like it. ”

I check the time on my phone. “We missed the welcome lunch and the wine tasting this afternoon, but we should make the rehearsal dinner. It’s two hours from now.”

He lifts his eyebrow. “Should make it? We’re five minutes from the resort. How much time do you need to get ready?”

“I have to change outfits. And I have to wash my hair.”

“Wash your hair? It looks lovely.”

I wiggle my eyebrows at him. “But it’ll probably get wet in the hot tub.”

He shakes his head. “I should have known.”

We arrive at the resort and he hurries around the car to open my door. He takes my bouquet from me before offering me his hand. “I’m glad you kept the bouquet.”

“It’s too pretty to sit in my apartment while I’m away for the weekend.” And it’s the first flowers Jaxon gave to me. I want them near me.

We skip the building with the reception and walk to the gardens where our chalet is. I notice a group of tables set up near the beach. I point to it. “It must be the wine tasting.”

“Do you want to go?”

My nose wrinkles. “Do I want to drink wine with a bunch of pretentious people?”

“You don’t know they’re pretentious.”

I giggle. “Trust me. Alan is all about impressing people. Like attracts like.”

“Blossom!” Alan shouts.

I pretend I don’t hear him.

“Blossom!” he shouts again and waves at us .

I wave back. “Hello!”

“Come join us for wine!”

“I can’t hear you. The wind.” I cup my ear with my hand and shrug as if I’m oh so disappointed to not be able to hear whatever my asshole ex-boyfriend is saying. I might be enjoying this a bit too much.

Alan starts jogging toward us.

Jaxon chuckles. “You handled the situation well.”

I ignore him and begin speed walking toward our chalet. He hurries to keep up with me.

“He’s following us. He’s speeding up.”

I glance around for somewhere to hide. There are no buildings nearby. Just trees and plants. And there – a hedge.

I jump over the hedge, pulling Jaxon with me. I lay flat on the ground. Jaxon opens his mouth to speak but I slap a hand over his mouth. “Quiet,” I hiss.

“Blossom! Blossom!” Alan yells as he runs past.

I wait a few minutes after he passes before kneeling and peeking over the hedge. Alan’s nowhere to be seen.

“Phew. He’s gone.”

“One thing you were right about,” Jaxon says.

“What?”

He pulls a twig out of my hair. “You need to wash your hair.”

I slap his shoulder. “It’s not my fault they’re doing the wine tasting next to reception. I would have walked around if I’d known. ”

He stands and pulls me to my feet. “I’m glad I discovered my wife enjoys playing dirty.”

I roll my eyes. “Whatever.”

“Want to get in the hot tub with me?” I ask when we arrive at the chalet.

His blue eyes darken but he shakes his head. “Nah. I want to finish listening to my podcast.”

“You can listen to your podcast in the hot tub. I won’t mind.” It’d give me the chance to study his naked chest and shoulders without him realizing it.

His nose wrinkles. “I’m not much for hot tubs. I’ll go for a walk.”

My stomach sinks as he shuts the door behind him. I was looking forward to spending some time with my husband. But he couldn’t escape fast enough.

It’s a good reminder – this marriage is fake. Despite the massive diamond ring. And the beautiful flowers.

Fake, Blossom. Fake. Fake. Fake.

Jaxon hasn’t returned by the time I drag myself out of the hot tub and into the shower. I’m drying my hair in my bra and panties when I realize I didn’t bring my dress into the bathroom. I set the hairdryer down on the vanity.

“Jaxon!” When he doesn’t respond, I slowly open the door. “Jaxon!”

I peek into the bedroom. When I ascertain it’s empty, I rush to the closet where I hung up my dresses earlier. I grab the dress for tonight and whirl around .

I freeze when I realize Jaxon is standing rooted to a spot at the door. “Sorry. I … um… forgot my dress.”

His gaze rakes over me from top to toe. My body vibrates with excitement in response. It urges me to cross the space between us and jump Jaxon.

I’m tempted. Severely tempted. But this man ignored me for weeks after we kissed. I can’t risk his rejection. Certainly not now, when I know how kind and sweet he is. What a gentleman he is. His kind rejection would kill me.

“I’ll just…” I rush across the room to the bathroom. I slam the door behind me and lean against it as I inhale large gulps of air.

I bet sex with Jaxon would be intense, considering the way he gets hyper focused. I want his attention focused on me. While we’re both naked. And sweaty.

My alarm beeps to let me know we need to leave in five minutes and I shove away from the door. There’s no time to dream about sex with the hot nerd now.

“You clean up nice,” I tell Jaxon as we walk to the rehearsal dinner.

He’s wearing a suit and tie. The suit must be custom made since it fits his broad shoulders and narrow waist perfectly. The tie matches his blue eyes. He’s sexy in his nerdy t-shirts and jeans but in a suit? He’s nearly irresistible.

He tugs at the knot of the tie at his neck. “I don’t understand how Eli wears a tie every day. It’s uncomfortable.”

“I suppose you get used to it. The way women get used to high heels. ”

His gaze drops to my feet and his eyes heat. “I’ve never seen you in high heels before.”

“Don’t get used to it, mister. These heels are strictly for emergencies.”

He chuckles. “Your definition of emergency is incorrect.”

I giggle. “There can be more than one correct definition.”

He rolls his eyes before opening the door to the main building of the resort which houses the restaurant, event space, and the indoor swimming pool.

He places a hand on my lower back to guide me through the hallway and I shiver. He has big hands. I bet they’re big, capable hands that know how to satisfy a woman.

Alan appears at the end of the hallway and all thoughts of sex fly out of my mind. My ex was not a master with big, capable hands.

“You made it.”

Way to state the obvious. “We’re here.”

His eyes narrow. “As opposed to the welcome lunch and wine tasting.”

I’m hardly going to tell him the truth – we were off having a quickie marriage. I glance up at Jaxon from beneath my eyelashes instead. “We had more important things to do.”

Jaxon wraps an arm around my shoulder and hauls me close. “The hot tub was a very important thing to do.”

Alan narrows his eyes as he studies us. “Hot tub? Ms. Vanilla in a hot tub? ”

Asshole. How dare he call me Ms. Vanilla? He’s the one who always wanted sex on a schedule. Probably because he needed to fit in sex with his girlfriend in between sex with his mistress.

Jaxon smirks. “It was a very enjoyable afternoon.”

I pat his chest. “Because I was with you.”

He lifts my hand and kisses my palm. “And I was with you, wife.”

“If you’re trying to convince me you’re married, I’m not buying it,” Alan growls.

“You don’t have to buy it. Facts are facts. They’re either true or they’re disproven,” Jaxon says.

Alan rolls his eyes. “Such a nerd.”

I bite my bottom lip as I stare at Jaxon. “Turns out I have a thing for nerds. Especially when they wear glasses and cheesy t-shirts.”

“Hey!” Jaxon frowns. “I thought you liked my t-shirts.”

“I like them better when they’re on the bedroom floor.” I wink.

He grins as he toys with my ring. “And I enjoy it when—”

“What the hell?” Alan’s screech cuts Jaxon off. “She’s wearing your ring?”

I hold out my hand and wag it in front of Alan’s face. “Isn’t it pretty?”

“But you hate rings.”

Jaxon puffs out his chest. “I made it worth her while to wear mine. ”

“You two are disgusting. I’m going to prove you’re not married and then you’ll drop this charade.” Alan spins on his heel and stomps off.

He’s going to be mighty surprised when he discovers we are married. And then he’ll drop the lawsuit and Jaxon can stop pretending to be in love with me.

My stomach clenches. I don’t want Jaxon to stop pretending. He’s sweet and sexy and everything I’ve always wanted in a man.

And this is fake, I remind myself.