Page 213 of By His Vow

I’ve had two weeks with Tatum so far, and we’re on the eve of our union that kickstarts the timer on our relationship. Already, she’s turned my life upside down, made me feel things that I’m not sure I have before, and I don’t just mean impossibly high levels of irritation at her constant defiance.

What’s it going to be like a year from now?

Will I be able to consider a life without her in it, or will she have become such a huge part of my days that it’ll be impossible?

Predictably, Kieran disappeared with a jersey chaser on each arm a while ago. And despite his teasing about our little brother’s antics, Kian just walked out of the bar to do exactly the same, although there was only one woman on his arm.

I let out a sigh, pushing my empty glass back.

“No one catching your eye tonight?” I ask Miles as he scans the bar.

Shaking his head, he turns his eyes back on me. “Got bigger things to worry about than getting my dick wet.” He scoffs.

“Who are you and what have you done with my best friend? I remember a time not so long ago when that was the only thing to worry about.”

“Yeah, well. That was before I took on a company on the brink of bankruptcy and was having to hand my little sister over to the big bad wolf.”

“Aw, you love me.”

He does, I know he does. But this is pushing our friendship right to the max.

If it’s possible, his expression hardens further.

“Did you mean it?” he asks, making me frown.

“Mean what?”

“That you don’t have any intention of hurting her?”

I slump back, keeping my eyes on my best friend.

“I know I’m a bit of an asshole, but I don’t go out intentionally to hurt people. Women.”

“Shit, I know. I just—” He scrubs his hand down his face.

He’s stressed; I can see it in the darkness of his eyes and the fresh lines around them. I hate it, but there is only so much I can do.

Together, we will fix Warner Group. It might mean making some very tough decisions, but we will not let it go under.

“Fuck, KC. She’s my little sister, man. She deserves the fucking world and?—”

“I’ll give her it,” I promise before I have a chance to think about what I’m saying. “Whatever she wants for the next year of our lives, it’s hers.”

I hold his stare strong, letting him see just how truthful those words are.

“And what if Kian is right?” My heart begins pounding harder as his words repeat in my head.

“You are going to fall in love with her, and there is no way you’ll let her go and allow someone else to have her after all this.”

I scoff, trying to play it off. “I think you know me better than that, Miles.”

He doesn’t say anything, yet his silence says a thousand words.

“I’m gonna call it a night,” he finally says, pushing his chair back from the table. “Big day tomorrow.” He grips my shoulder and squeezes hard in another warning.

“She deserves to have the day she’s always dreamed about.”

“Bro, this is Tatum we’re talking about. She doesn’t dream about stuff like that.”

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