Page 28 of For the Promise

“I like you just fine.” More than just fine, actually but I can’t give Blossom any hope. Our relationship will never be more than friendship, despite how my body yearns for hers.

“Geez, hubby. Careful how romantic you get. I might not be able to handle it. I might end up jumping you right here and now.”

She’s joking but my cock doesn’t realize it. It urges me to take Blossom up on her offer.Jump her! Jump her!

I ignore my cock. It’s usually not difficult to ignore my physical urges. But with Blossom, I have to grit my teeth and force myself to calm the hell down before I do something I regret.

“We’ll save the jumping each other for this weekend when we have privacy.”

Her mouth drops open. “Jaxon Raider, did you just make a joke?”

“I can make jokes.” Not often and not very well but I’m not completely inept. Socially awkward? There’s no denying it. But even the most socially awkward person can laugh and joke sometimes.

“Maybe this weekend won’t be terrible after all.”

I squeeze her hand. “This weekend will be wonderful. I promise.”

“You don’t have to do this. Alan is my problem.”

Anyone who causes my vibrant Blossom to dim is my problem to deal with. I can’t have her for myself, but no one is hurting her on my watch. No one.

“I agreed to help you. The matter is closed.”

She stands. “I thank you, good sir. For your services.” She curtseys. “But I will pay you back,” she mutters before walking off.

As I watch her retreat, I realize she deftly avoided answering my questions.

I still don’t know what Alan did. But I will find out.

Chapter 10

“It’s no fun being on the other side of the gossipmongering.” ~ Blossom

Blossom

Knock! Knock! Knock!

“We know you’re in there!” Dakota shouts through the door.

I hurry to open the front door before she wakes up the entire apartment building. Considering most of the apartments are vacation rentals used by visitors who think it’s ‘fun’ to test how strong the Smuggler’s Hideaway moonshine is, waking up my neighbors is not a good idea. There’s a limit to how many times I’m willing to clean vomit from the hallway carpet.

“I never denied being home.”

Paisley’s nose wrinkles. “We expected you to.”

I know exactly why they expected me to, but I’m not afraid of my friends asking questions. Doesn’t mean I’ll answer them. But I’m not a scaredy cat who hides.

I usher them inside my apartment. “What’s up? We didn’t make plans for today.”

Diverting their attention isn’t hiding, FYI.

Dakota giggles. “You seriously think you can disappear from my party with Jaxon – the man of your dreams – for several hours and not think we’ll show up at your door the next day?”

I hold up a finger. “One, Jaxon is not the man of my dreams.”

“Liar,” Paisley mutters but I ignore her.

I hold up a second finger. “And, two, I did not disappear for hours.”

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