Page 17 of For the Promise (The Raider Brothers #2)

“No, I don’t want to dance.” ~ Jaxon

Jaxon

“A re you okay?” Blossom whispers as we make our way to our assigned table for the rehearsal dinner.

I realize I’m clinging to her hand and force myself to loosen my hold.

“I’m okay.” She lifts her eyebrow, and I blow out a breath. “I’m not great with big groups of people.”

She squeezes my arm. “I know. We don’t have to stay long. Eat, boring speeches, and we’re out of here. The prohibition officers will never catch us.”

“For someone who didn’t grow up on Smuggler’s Hideaway, you’ve certainly adjusted quite well.”

She shrugs. “I love it here. No one makes me feel as if I don’t belong.”

But how long will she love it here? When will she get bored and leave? I shove those thoughts away. The answers don’t matter. This marriage is a charade .

I pull out her chair for her. “I’m glad you’re here,” I whisper in her ear before kissing her neck.

She shivers and my cock twitches. It wants to make her shiver a lot more. This is just for show, I remind it.

I feel eyes on me and scan the room. Alan is sitting at the sweetheart table throwing daggers at me with his eyes. I smile and wave. If he thinks he can intimidate me with a look, he’s obviously never met my brothers. He’s lucky I only pull pranks for the prank war with them.

I’ve barely had a chance to sit down when the food is served. Roast beef with au gratin potatoes, glazed carrots, and green beans with fried shallots.

Blossom rolls her eyes at the food. I lean in close. “Do you want me to order you something else?”

She snorts. “And give Alan the satisfaction? No way. He knows I hate roast beef.”

I glance over my shoulder and, sure enough, Alan is watching us. He’s obsessed with Blossom and I don’t like it one bit. I wave at him with my left hand, showcasing my wedding ring. She’s mine, asshole. When his eyes narrow, I know he got my message.

Blossom slathers her meat with the white sauce before slicing into it. “He thinks I won’t eat it and he can complain yet again about how I waste money. I’ll show him wasting money.”

She shoves a large piece into her mouth, barely chews before swallowing it.

“It’s a good thing—”

“Achoo!” Her sneeze cuts me off .

“Bless you.”

“Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!”

I hand her a napkin for her nose. “Are you okay?”

“What’s in… Achoo!...the white sauce? Achoo!”

I try the sauce. “Sour cream and…” I taste it again. “I believe it’s horseradish.”

“Oh no.” Her eyes widen. The tip of her nose is red and shiny and her eyes are watering. “Horseradish makes me sneeze.”

I transfer her roast beef to my plate. “I’ll finish it. Do you want my po…?”

I trail off when she scoops up my potatoes and puts them on her plate. She shoves a forkful into her mouth. “What?” she asks when she notices me staring.

“Are you going to steal potatoes from my plate for the rest of our marriage?”

She nods as she chews. “If they have cheese in them.”

“And here I thought I only had to guard my chocolate.”

“Oh please. You wouldn’t dare guard your chocolate.”

“Maybe I would.”

“It’s cute you think I wouldn’t find a way to steal your chocolate.”

I notice Alan and his fiancée begin making their rounds. I’m not surprised when they make their way to our table first. I wait until he’s within hearing range before I respond to Blossom.

“I’d have to punish you for stealing my chocolate.”

Her eyes flare until the light brown is the color of a dark sherry. I’m fascinated by the way her eyes change colors. I want to watch them as I sink deep into her. What color will her eyes darken to then?

“You’re not spanking me again,” she breathes out.

“Why not? I seem to remember you enjoying it.”

She gasps. “I did not!”

“Ahem!” Alan clears his throat. I contemplate ignoring him. I’m having way too much fun with Blossom.

It’s a ruse, I remind myself. Merely a ruse.

I grasp Blossom’s hand and we turn together to face Alan and his fiancée.

“Alan,” Blossom greets with a flat voice. I bite my tongue before I chuckle at her cheekiness. This woman could keep me on my toes for the rest of my life. Too bad she won’t.

“Alan,” his fiancée elbows him when he doesn’t speak. “Introduce me to your friends.”

Judging by the hate in her eyes when she looks at Blossom, she knows exactly who we are. And isn’t happy we’re at her wedding. I can’t blame her. I would have been pissed if Alan attended our ceremony.

“Of course, darling. Blossom, Jaxon, this is my fiancée, Stacey.”

Blossom waves to Stacey, whose eyes widen when they catch on the ring. “That’s some ring.”

Blossom sighs as she studies the ring. “You think so?”

“It must have cost a pretty penny.”

Blossom shrugs. “I don’t care if it came from a box of cereal. I love it because Jaxon gave it to me.”

I kiss her nose. “Anything for you, Petal. ”

“Glad you could tear yourselves away from the hot tub to attend one of the wedding activities,” Alan says.

Stacey scowls. “Your room has a hot tub?”

“We’re in a chalet,” I tell her.

“But Alan said he couldn’t get a discount for the chalet.”

I fiddle with Blossom’s ring. “My wife and I are still in our honeymoon stage. I wanted to spoil her.”

Blossom giggles. “He means he wanted to watch me walk around in my bikini.”

“Don’t lie and say you don’t enjoy strutting around in your bikini for me.”

She smirks. “Of course, I do. I especially enjoy it when I throw my bikini top at you and you chase me.”

A vision of Blossom standing in our chalet in her white lacy bra and matching panties flashes into my mind. What I wouldn’t give to have seen her without her bra on. My cock twitches in agreement.

Alan clears his throat. “Speaking of chases.”

I force my gaze away from Blossom. “Yes?”

“Why did you two run from me this afternoon?”

Blossom’s brow wrinkles. “Run from you?”

“I waved at you. You waved back. When I started for you, you ran.”

“I don’t remember you starting for us.” She meets my gaze. “But I do remember running.”

I tug on her hair. “I always catch you.”

She smiles and it lights up her face. “Yes, you do. ”

“Alan.” Stacey jerks on his arm. “Let’s greet our other guests.”

“Of course.”

They march off but not before I hear her mutter to him. “They’re obviously married. How are we going to win this lawsuit now?”

“Damn.” Blossom blows out a breath. “It doesn’t sound as if they’re giving up.”

I rub her neck. “Don’t worry. He’ll drop the lawsuit eventually. The lawyer fees must cost a pretty penny.”

“Not to mention how expensive this wedding is,” she adds.

“What does he do for work?”

“He’s a tire salesman.”

My eyes widen. “I didn’t realize tire salesmen earned enough money for a destination wedding.”

Her nose wrinkles. “They don’t.”

I open my mouth to ask her more questions but the lights lower and music blares from the speakers. I wince but Blossom jumps to her feet.

“Let’s dance!”

I hold up my hands. “I don’t dance.”

“Come on. It’s Gangnam Style. Everyone knows this dance.”

“I don’t.”

She grabs my hand and drags me out of my chair. “I’ll teach you.”

I debate fighting her but she’s happy. After all the worry about Alan and the lawsuit, she deserves a bit of fun. I give in and allow her to pull me to the dance floor.

I’m afraid I’d allow her to pull me anywhere she wants.