Page 70 of For the Promise

He frowns and I push up on my toes to kiss his cheek. “I was joking.”

His scent hits me and I lean closer. Bad, Blossom. Bad. This is a fake marriage. Time to get your butt moving toward the real marriage of the weekend.

“I need to shower,” I mumble before rushing off to gather my things.

“I’ll be on the back deck.”

“I’m not kicking you out.”

He nods toward the glass panel between the shower and the chalet. The see-through glass panel. “Oh.”

“Yeah. Oh.”

I watch as he shuts the sliding glass door behind him. Does he not want to watch me shower? Should I have made it clear he’s welcome to watch me? My body tingles at the thought of soaping up my breasts while Jaxon watches through the window.

“Fake, Blossom. Fake.” Maybe if I remind myself out loud, it’ll help.

Ninety minutes later, we’re walking toward the wedding venue.

“I’m glad the ceremony is inside.”

“I thought you enjoyed weddings on the beach.”

“Alan knows I want a beach wedding.”

“Ah. And you didn’t want him to steal the idea.”

I nod. “It sounds petty but I’m allowed to be a littlepetty today.”

He squeezes my elbow. “You’re not being petty. Watching your ex marry someone else in your dream wedding ceremony is not a trivial matter.”

“For a socially awkward whiskey distiller, you know the right thing to say at the right time.”

His cheeks warm and he slides his glasses up his nose. “Thank you?”

We reach the event room where the ceremony is happening and find seats in the back, away from everyone else. I notice several people crane their necks to get a glimpse of us. I smile and wave at all of them.

That’s right, folks. I leveled up.

Jaxon squirms in his seat next to me. “Do you know seventeen tons of gold are made into wedding rings each year in the United States?”

“Really? I thought gold wasn’t used as much since white gold and platinum have gained in popularity.”

“White gold is an alloy containing about 75% gold and about 25% nickel and zinc. It was originally developed to imitate platinum.”

“Oh, right. Meaning three-quarters of white gold wedding rings count as gold.”

“And gold is usually cheaper than platinum,” he adds.

“I’m aware. Only about 150 tons of platinum are mined a year.”

Jaxon’s eyes widen in surprise and I slap his shoulder.

“Did you forget I have a degree in chemical engineering?”

He clears his throat. “I’ve never met anyone who had a degree in chemical engineering but wasn’t…” He trails off. “Never mind.”

I know exactly what he’s thinking, but I can’t help wanting to tease him. “Wasn’t what?”

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