Page 101 of Worth the Vow

We all cheers, then toss back the shot. My eyes immediately water as the liquor burns my throat. Fucking tequila is disgusting. Travis watches with an amused grin as Dom slaps me on the shoulder, placing another shot in front of me. “You need another one, Lexy.”

“Why must you always bring out that nickname when we’re out?” I groan.

“Because we know how much you hate it,” Luca snickers. “Bottoms up.”

“I drove, asshole. Not about to get a DUI,” I retort. I’m a fucking police officer. Kinda frowned upon in our ranks.

“I’ll get all of us home safely. I promise,” Dominic answers, a weird glint in his eye. “Come on, Alex. You deserve a night to let loose. We’ll make sure you have fun, but also that you get home in one piece. Unless you end up going home with someone.”

“That will not be happening,” I tell him, completely horrified at the thought. I’m thirty seven, and I’ve only had a couple of one-night stands in my life. It’s not my preference. Plus, I met Sara when I was twenty three. Since her death, I’ve barely looked at another woman.

“You deserve to have some fun,” Luca says quietly. “Even if you just hang with us. Take the shot, we’ll play some darts, and we can all relax.”

I sigh, a sound full of resignation and frustration. I know my brothers are right. They aren’t pushing me toward anyone. They just want me to enjoy myself. I’ve focused so much on providing for my kids that I’ve ignored what kind of social life I could have. Other than Stone, I barely have contact with any friends from high school. Sara’s funeral brought tons of people out of the woodwork, but I was in no place to interact with them. My heart and soul were crushed. I barely had a moment to grieve before I was thrust into single parenthood, and it wasn’t long before I deployed again. It’s been nonstop ever since.

So, yeah, I could probably stand to use some time to relax and unwind. Which is why I don’t say no to the third shot.

I’m in no way drunk. I have a pretty high tolerance for alcohol. I kinda had to, considering military life isn’t for the faint of heart. I learned to love beer quickly, and I figured out the best tricks for not getting hangovers that last all day. Three shots tonight has me feeling relaxed, enough that I’m actually enjoying the evening.

After excusing myself to hit the men’s room, in a back hallway with crappy lighting where the floors are sticky no matter the time of day, I overhear a couple arguing. The woman’s voice sounds somewhat familiar, but I can’t place where I’ve heard it.

“It was one time,” the guy says, exasperation evident in his tone.

“It wasn’t one time. This is the fifth,” she replies. Damn. Fifth time for what? Cheating?

“So? It’s your fucking fault anyway. If you did things like I tell you to do them, none of that would ever happen. I run this fucking show, little girl. You’ll do as I say.”

“I broke up with you, Rob. That isn’t how any of this works,” the woman says with a noticeable tremor to her voice. When I finally find the couple in question, they’re shrouded in darkness. All I can see are two silhouettes, the male towering over the female.

“I say if this relationship ends, not you.”

Oh, fuck that.

“Woah, woah, woah!” I shout, sliding in between them and shoving the guy back.

“The fuck you think you’re doing?” he snarls.

“You don’t talk to a lady like that, asshole.” I stare the guy down — what was his name? Rob? He looks like a Rob. We’re about the same height, but I’ve got him beat in weight. One look at his scrawny arms tells me I’ve got him beat in strength too. Looking quickly over my shoulder, I see the hint of a black eye on the woman. Her green eyes widen when I catch her gaze. I know her. I swear I do.

“You better back the fuck up,” Rob growls, he shoves me a little, and I find joy in that movement. Because now my response is considered self-defense.

“Mistakes were made, Robbie,” I tell him cockily as I crack my knuckles.

“The fuck does that mean, assh —” Thwack! My fist crashes into his face, the sound of his nose breaking like music to my ears. It’s been a while since I’ve had any need for hand-to-hand combat. With each passing year in the Air National Guard, I had more managerial responsibilities and fewer fun activities. But it seems my taekwondo training from decades ago is engrained in my muscle memory, because I quickly take a stance to protect the woman behind me.

As soon as Rob staggers back toward me, he throws up a fist, ready to fight back, but I’m quickly surrounded.

“I’d like to fucking see you try to win this one,” Luca says deeply, his arms crossed as he glares at Rob. My brother, though retired from the NHL, is still a massive brick wall of a man. Stone and Dominic stand off to the side of Luca, ready to get involved if needed. I have no idea where they came from, but I’m glad they’re here.

Turning, I say to the woman, “Are you okay?”

I take in her gorgeous features. Beautiful chocolate brown locks of hair cascading down her back, smooth alabaster skin, and eyes such a unique shade of green, they remind me of a clear mountain lake.

“Alex,” she breathes, her voice soft and hesitant as she stares up at me. She knows me. Knows my name. And I realize why her voice sounded so familiar. But before I can say anything, she throws her arms around my neck, and kisses me.

I’m being kissed. It takes me a moment to respond, and I know I will shove her away. In a second. Maybe a minute.

I’m not sure how my hands find her ass, or how my tongue circles hers perfectly. Or how I feel her moan into my mouth, and the sound goes straight to my cock.

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