Page 23 of For the Promise (The Raider Brothers #2)

“Someone should write a book with all the questions that are considered rude to ask.” ~ Jaxon

Jaxon

“I thought I’d seen it all growing up on Smuggler’s Hideaway,” I say as I escort Blossom from the ceremony toward where the drinks and dinner are happening.

“Jenny was right. Emily can’t handle her tequila.” Blossom giggles. “I thought Stacey was going to lose her mind when her bridesmaid threw up in the potted plant. But I didn’t expect her to start screaming at Emily.”

“Or for her to slap Alan when he interfered to calm her down.” The slap was loud. It sounded painful.

“You should never tell a woman in a full-blown hissy fit to calm down.”

“Duly noted.”

“Still, she shouldn’t have slapped him. I thought their marriage was over before it began.”

“My brothers would have already started a betting sheet on how long the marriage lasts.” Normally, I find my brothers a bit overly anxious to start bets, but in this case, I wouldn’t blame them.

“I give them three months.” Blossom leans close to whisper, “Less if the lawsuit gets dismissed sooner.”

“Do you think Stacey is with him for his money?” I ask as we enter the room where the reception is being held.

She sweeps her arm over the room. “This can’t have been cheap.”

She’s right. I’m not interested in material things but even I can recognize how expensive the centerpieces, aisle florals, tablecloths, and plates are. Not to mention how there are two wedding planners running around. How much money is Blossom’s inheritance anyway?

“Why do you suddenly appear constipated?” Blossom’s nose wrinkles. “Do you need to use the restroom? We passed one on our way here.”

“I’m not constipated.”

She circles my face. “This is the appearance of a constipated man.”

I blow out a breath. “I’m not constipated. I have a question for you, but I think it’s inappropriate to ask.”

“If it’s whether I’m wearing panties, the answer is yes. I’m wearing a thong.”

I groan. I was having a hard enough time keeping my cock under control with the dress she’s wearing. It hugs her curves in all the right places. Curves I’ve touched with my hands and mouth. Curves, I’m anxious to touch again .

And now I know she’s wearing a thong. A thong that leaves her ass cheeks free. Blossom has a magnificent ass. I want to watch it bounce while I plunge into her from behind.

“You’re cruel.”

She bats her eyelashes. “Me? I’m only trying to help you out since you’re afraid to ask your question.” She taps her chin. “Is it whether I’m wearing a bra? I’m not.”

My cock springs to life. It hardens and lengthens before pressing against my zipper, intent on getting to Blossom.

I step closer to her until we’re chest to chest. Her breath hitches, and her breasts rub against my chest. Breasts I now know aren’t constrained in a bra.

“You’re lucky we’re in public,” I growl.

She widens her eyes and feigns innocence. “Yeah? Why?”

“Because otherwise I’d bend you over the nearest table and fuck you from behind.”

Her brown eyes darken to burnt umber as a blush spreads from her cheeks down her neck to the top of her dress. My cock hardens until it’s harder than steel.

“Who’s stopping you?”

“I’m not an exhibitionist.”

Her shoulders drop. “Darn.”

“You’re trouble.” I palm her neck and squeeze.

She winks. “But I’m fun.”

Yes, she is. I’ve never had this much fun with a partner before. Usually, my romantic partners are perfectly pleasant, but they don’t laugh and joke. Interesting. Maybe my brothers are right. Maybe my partners have all been boring until Blossom .

You can say many things about Blossom, but she isn’t boring. And she’s definitely fun.

“What’s your question, Jaxon? Ask away.”

“It may be construed as rude.” I’m not always the best in judging what’s considered rude by society. “I don’t want to offend you.”

“You won’t offend me, but I may not answer.”

I meet her gaze. She doesn’t avoid my eyes. She looks straight at me. Okay, she’s not lying.

“How much is your inheritance?”

“You only thought to ask this question now?”

I shrug. “It’s not my business, but…”

“But?” She prods.

“Alan and Stacey have spent a lot of money on this wedding, considering he’s a tire salesman.”

“I thought Stacey had money but she made it clear during our ‘spa’ morning that they’re expecting a large sum of money soon. Spoiler alert. The large sum of money is their share of my inheritance when they win the lawsuit.”

I growl. “They’re not winning the lawsuit.”

She pets my chest as if to comfort me. She shouldn’t be comforting me. I should be the one doing the comforting. She’s the one dealing with an ex trying to steal from her. And here I am asking questions that are none of my business.

“Eight hundred thousand dollars.” When I don’t immediately respond, she prattles on. “I know. No one thinks I come from money. Hell, I didn’t realize my parents had saved up so much. But…”

I place a finger on her lips to stop her. “My silence has nothing to do with thinking you don’t come from money or don’t have class or whatever bullshit you’re telling yourself. I’m fighting the urge to find Alan and beat the shit out of him.”

She blinks up at me. “Beat the shit out of him?”

“I could do it. I have five brothers. I’ve been fighting since the first time Miles threw his dirty diaper at me.”

“I believe you. I’ve seen how strong your upper body is.” She blushes. “I was surprised you want to beat him up.”

“He’s trying to steal nearly half a million dollars from you.”

“I know. I read the complaint.”

“I thought this was an argument over ten thousand dollars. I didn’t realize it was an argument about a fortune.”

“I don’t care how much the money is. I care how my ex-boyfriend, who cheated on me multiple times and planned to spend my money without consulting me, thinks he has a right to the money my parents left me.

Money, I only have because they died when I was twenty-six.

My mom will never shop for a wedding dress with me.

My dad will never walk me down the aisle. ”

My heart squeezes at the pain in her voice. “I’m sorry I didn’t give you the wedding you deserve.”

She closes her eyes and inhales a deep breath. When she opens her eyes again, they’re no longer shiny. “You gave me exactly what I needed. Thank you.”

“You never have to thank me,” I grumble.

“But I want to. ”

“Excuse me.” Someone bumps into me from behind and I remember we’re standing in a very public place, having an extremely private conversation.

I offer Blossom my arm. “Shall we?”

She threads her arm through mine. “Let’s find our table.”

We meander through the room past tables until we find ours. There are already two couples seated at the round table when we arrive.

“I’m Jaxon and this is Blossom,” I introduce as I pull out Blossom’s chair for her.

“I’m Hugo and this is my wife, Lilian,” the man on my left introduces.

“And I’m Crispin and this is Diana,” the man next to Blossom says.

Silence falls on the table. I scramble to think of polite conversation. I usually avoid small talk, but this is one of those situations where I believe Eli would tell me it’s required.

“And what do you do for work, Crispin? Diana?” Blossom asks and I blow out a breath in relief. Naturally, she knows how to handle the situation. I’m coming to find she can handle most any situation.

“I’m an investment banker,” Crispin answers.

“How did you meet Alan?”

Crispin sips on his water before answering. “Alan is preparing for when he receives a large inheritance. He asked me for advice.”

Blossom’s hands fist in her lap. I capture one and slowly peel her fingers apart before placing it on my thigh .

She gives Crispin her back. “And how do you know Alan, Hugo?”

“I’m his car dealer. And what do you do, Jaxon?”

I don’t enjoy the attention on me, but I’ll do anything to keep the subject away from Alan’s ‘inheritance’.

“I’m the lead distiller at Buccaneer’s Whiskey & Distillery. ”

Crispin’s nose wrinkles. “You make whiskey? Do you work with your hands?”

“I find it fascinating,” Blossom says before I have the chance to answer. “I brew beer, which I love. But whiskey distilling is a more delicate art.”

Crispin appears appalled. “You brew beer?”

“Yep. I’m the assistant to the brewmaster at Five Fathoms Brewing. It’s a local brewery here on the island.”

Diana leans forward. “You seriously brew beer? And he distills whiskey?”

“Actually, Jaxon is being shy. He’s also part-owner of the distillery.”

Crispin’s eyes spark. “Part-owner. Let me give you my card.” He pats his chest, but before he can pull out a card, Blossom stops him.

“Thank you, but no thank you. We already have an investment banker on the island.”

He sputters but the servers arrive with our wine. Once he’s distracted, I lean close to whisper in Blossom’s ear. “You don’t have to protect me. I can handle questions from strangers.”

She shrugs. “It’s no trouble. You don’t enjoy small talk. I don’t mind. I’ ll be your buffer.”

I quite enjoy having a buffer. A sexy buffer, I want to spend all night buried inside.

There’s more to Blossom than I originally thought. Yes, she’s different than me. But we have things in common as well. Maybe she’s not my complete opposite after all. And she does love Smuggler’s Hideaway. Maybe we could have a future together.