Page 26 of For the Promise

“Come on.” I herd her down the hallway. “Let’s go somewhere private and discuss this.”

“You want to discuss why you ignored me for two months?”

No. I want to discuss why she lied to her ex. I need to know why she’s afraid of attending his wedding. Does she still have feelings for him? My stomach curls as jealousy fills me. Blossom isn’t mine to be jealous of but my body doesn’t care.

We pass an alcove with two chairs. I coax Blossom into a chair and sit across from her.

“Why did you tell your ex you’re married to me?”

“Wow. No small talk. No asking how I’m doing. Just bam! Straight to the point.”

I frown. “I don’t understand small talk.”

“Of course, you don’t.” She motions to my t-shirt and I glance down to read it. This one saysHi, I’m good. Thanks. There. Now we don’t need to make small talk.

“Blossom, you pulled me into this situation by saying we’re married. And now we’re invited to your ex’s wedding next weekend. If you want my help, you need to tell me what’s going on.”

She scowls. “Who said I want your help? I told you I won’t be attending the wedding.”

“And what kind of message will your absence send?”

Her nose wrinkles. “Message?”

“You told this man you’re married. I assume there’s a good reason you lied.”

“There is. I promise.”

“If you don’t show up at his wedding, he might figure out you’re lying. What happens then?”

She gasps and clutches her chest. “He can’t figure out I’m lying. He can’t.”

I capture her hand and squeeze. “Why? What will he do?” I feel her pulse race. She’s obviously terrified of this man. I growl. “What did he do to you?”

“It’s not what you think.”

“He didn’t hurt you?”

She ducks her head. “Not physically.”

I pinch her chin and force her to meet my gaze. “There are more ways to hurt a person than physically.”

“I know,” she whispers.

I want to find Alan and bash his face in. How dare he cause this vibrant woman to be afraid? But I can’t abandon Blossom. Not when she’s hurting. I want to pull her into my arms and kiss her until she forgets all about any other man who came before me. Let alone, Alan the asshole.

I’ve been fighting Blossom’s pull from the first time she told me she doesn’t have cooties. I can’t have her, but I can help her.

“Let’s go to the wedding.”

She blinks at me. “What?”

“Let’s go to the wedding.”

“Why?”

“Let’s show Alan the asshole he did not break you. In fact, you leveled up.”

She giggles the way I intended her to. “Leveled up? With you?”

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