Page 22 of For the Promise (The Raider Brothers #2)

“Apparently, a wedding doesn’t have to be romantic.” ~ Blossom

Blossom

I ’m laying on the bed in the chalet, dozing, when Jaxon returns. I sit up. “Where have you been?”

“I could ask you the same thing.”

“I went to the bridal spa day.” I was also escaping from the awkward morning after talk but I avoid mentioning how much of a coward I was.

I promise I’m not usually a scaredy-cat, afraid to discuss my emotions.

I also don’t usually marry a man who ghosted me for months either. “Or, at least, I tried to.”

He frowns. “What happened?”

“In a word. Stacey is a bitch and she deserves Alan.”

“You sound surprised.”

“Nope. I’m not.” I notice he’s wearing wet swimming trunks. “Did you go swimming?”

“I usually row every morning for an hour, but I had to settle for swimming this morning. ”

“Rowing every morning sounds awesome. Witnessing the sun rise over the ocean.” I sigh. “Smuggler’s Hideaway is such a magical place.”

His brow wrinkles. “You really think the island is magical?”

“What do you mean? You’ve lived here all your life. You must realize how charming this place is.”

“Charming? There’s a seal who thinks it’s a road stop.”

I gasp. “Don’t you dare make fun of Sammy the seal.”

“And there are a ton of holiday celebrations with unique and often strange customs,” he continues.

“You better not be dissing The Smuggler’s Gauntlet. It was awesome.” I grin. “And we won.”

“And let’s not forget Mermaid Karaoke. ”

I wave a hand in dismissal. “ Mermaid Karaoke doesn’t bother me. Let them have fun, I say. They’re not harming anyone.”

His brow furrows. “You really like the island?”

“Um, yeah. I chose to live here.”

He checks the time. “You better start getting ready. The wedding’s in two hours.”

I groan. “I’ve peopled enough today. Can we skip the wedding?”

He frowns at me. “Peopled enough today? But you love people.”

“There’s a limit to how much I enjoy people.”

“Do you want to skip the wedding because you still have feelings for Alan? ”

“I’m sorry.” I pretend to clean my ears. “I must be going deaf because you did not just accuse me of still having feelings for Alan.”

“I wouldn’t use the term accuse.”

I jump off the bed and stomp over to him. “I do not have feelings for that man.” I poke his chest. “Do. You. Understand?”

He captures my hand and lays it against his chest. His shirt is soaked, allowing me to feel his defined muscles. And now I want to skip the wedding for an entirely different reason. A dirty, sweaty, get naked reason.

“You don’t want to avoid the wedding because of him?”

I roll my eyes. “Are you serious? I could have said no to his wedding invitation. But I didn’t. I don’t run away from my problems.”

“But you don’t want to attend the wedding. I’m confused.”

My brow wrinkles. “You’re an introvert. How can you be confused about me not wanting to people anymore today?”

“You’re not an introvert.”

“Doesn’t mean I always want to spend time with people.”

He studies me for a few seconds before nodding. “Okay. We’ll say I got sunburned and am too unwell to attend.”

I rake my gaze over his tanned figure. “Except Alan has met you and knows you’re already tan.”

“Let me think.” He taps his foot as he tries to come up with another excuse.

“It’s okay. We came here for the wedding. We’re going to the wedding. I was just being a whiner.”

“You are not a whiner. ”

I giggle. “I’ve got you fooled.”

He frowns and I push up on my toes to kiss his cheek. “I was joking.”

His scent hits me and I lean closer. Bad, Blossom. Bad. This is a fake marriage. Time to get your butt moving toward the real marriage of the weekend.

“I need to shower,” I mumble before rushing off to gather my things.

“I’ll be on the back deck.”

“I’m not kicking you out.”

He nods toward the glass panel between the shower and the chalet. The see-through glass panel. “Oh.”

“Yeah. Oh.”

I watch as he shuts the sliding glass door behind him. Does he not want to watch me shower? Should I have made it clear he’s welcome to watch me? My body tingles at the thought of soaping up my breasts while Jaxon watches through the window.

“Fake, Blossom. Fake.” Maybe if I remind myself out loud, it’ll help.

Ninety minutes later, we’re walking toward the wedding venue.

“I’m glad the ceremony is inside.”

“I thought you enjoyed weddings on the beach.”

“Alan knows I want a beach wedding.”

“Ah. And you didn’t want him to steal the idea.”

I nod. “It sounds petty but I’m allowed to be a little petty today.”

He squeezes my elbow. “You’re not being petty. Watching your ex marry someone else in your dream wedding ceremony is not a trivial matter.”

“For a socially awkward whiskey distiller, you know the right thing to say at the right time.”

His cheeks warm and he slides his glasses up his nose. “Thank you?”

We reach the event room where the ceremony is happening and find seats in the back, away from everyone else. I notice several people crane their necks to get a glimpse of us. I smile and wave at all of them.

That’s right, folks. I leveled up.

Jaxon squirms in his seat next to me. “Do you know seventeen tons of gold are made into wedding rings each year in the United States?”

“Really? I thought gold wasn’t used as much since white gold and platinum have gained in popularity.”

“White gold is an alloy containing about 75% gold and about 25% nickel and zinc. It was originally developed to imitate platinum.”

“Oh, right. Meaning three-quarters of white gold wedding rings count as gold.”

“And gold is usually cheaper than platinum,” he adds.

“I’m aware. Only about 150 tons of platinum are mined a year.”

Jaxon’s eyes widen in surprise and I slap his shoulder.

“Did you forget I have a degree in chemical engineering? ”

He clears his throat. “I’ve never met anyone who had a degree in chemical engineering but wasn’t…” He trails off. “Never mind.”

I know exactly what he’s thinking, but I can’t help wanting to tease him. “Wasn’t what?”

He fiddles with his glasses as he contemplates the floor of the room. “Um…”

He’s adorable when he’s flustered. I need to fluster him more often. Except he’s going to ghost me as soon as this wedding weekend is over. I scowl.

“I’m sorry.” He squeezes my hand. “I didn’t mean to call you a nerd.”

I don’t care if he calls me a nerd, but I roll with his apology. It’s better than thinking about how this man has been the sweetest, kindest man to me this weekend but it’s all a charade.

“How could you think I’m a nerd?” I challenge.

“Um…”

I bark out a laugh. “I got you.”

“You were making fun of me?” he grumbles.

“Not making fun of you. I love how comfortable you are in your skin. It’s a great trait.”

“But you laughed at me.”

“I didn’t laugh at you. I laughed at how I misled you. At how clever I am.”

His brow wrinkles. “You laughed at how clever you are?”

I open my mouth to respond but the person in front of me clears her throat. I frown at her. “What? ”

She nods to the front of the room where Alan is standing with his groomsmen. He’s also glaring at us. Geez. Am I not allowed to have fun at his wedding? He’s the one who invited me.

I wave. His eyes narrow and he steps forward but the music begins and his best man pulls him back to his spot.

“You may not care for Alan,” Jaxon whispers to me, “but he still cares for you.”

“He doesn’t care about me. He wants my money. And for me to be miserable without him.”

The first bridesmaid glides down the aisle. I have to bite my lip when I see what she’s wearing.

The dress looks like a fight broke out between a corset and a cocktail napkin and bad taste won. The top is strapless with a sweetheart neckline, leaving little to the imagination. Especially when you add the sheer mesh panels with enough visible boning to warrant a PG-13 warning.

And the skirt? Flouncy, flirty, and dangerously short. One wrong breeze and the bridesmaids will be flashing half the wedding guests.

“If this is the bridesmaid dress, I’m scared to ask what the bride’s wearing.”

“Lingerie and a tiara?” Jaxon suggests and I have to slap a hand over my mouth before I bark out another laugh and earn the wrath of Alan once again.

“You’re trouble,” I mutter to him.

“There’s more to me than meets the eye. ”

I am well aware. I have not only glimpsed beneath those nerdy clothes. I thought I reached the holy land when I did because holy mermaids swimming the sea! Someone’s been working out.

I’ve been inexplicably drawn to Jaxon since we first met. And since I’ve been getting to know him? I’m even more drawn to him.

I need to reinforce those steel walls around my heart before this weekend ends with me having a broken heart.