Page 46 of For the Promise

She gapes at me for a long moment before gulping. “Married?”

I nod. “Married. Alan doesn’t believe we’re married, but it doesn’t matter what he believes if we actually are married.”

“But this isn’t fake, Jaxon. This is real. When you fall in love and want to get married.” Pain lights up her eyes before she blinks and it disappears. “You’ll have to tell your future wife you’re divorced. I can’t do that to you.”

“You’re not doing anything to me. This is my choice.”

She scowls. “I can’t let you make this choice.”

“You’re not letting me do anything. But you do have a choice. You can get your sexy ass into the courthouse and marry me, or you can continue to fight Alan over a lawsuit no judge should allow.”

“Sexy ass.”

My eyes fall closed. “That’s all you heard?”

She shrugs. “A woman enjoys hearing she has a sexy ass. Especially from a man who ghosted her after he melted her panties with a kiss.”

I rest my forehead against hers. “I’m sorry. I never should have ghosted you.”

“Or called me a mistake.”

“Or called you a mistake.”

“Or pretended you were invisible.”

“Or pretended I was invisible.”

When she doesn’t continue, I cock an eyebrow. “I’m done.”

“Do you accept my apology?”

“You’re marrying me to get my ex to drop a lawsuit. I think you’re good.”

I chuckle. This woman. Just when I think I know what she’s going to say, she surprises me. She’d surprise me for the rest of my life if I let her. Too bad there is no rest of my life. This marriage won’t be any more real than the marriage we pretended we were in this morning when we checked into the resort.

I step away before grasping her hand and leading her out of the alley. When we reach the sidewalk, my brothers cheer.

“She said yes!” Miles shouts.

“Yes, to bad sex with Jaxon for the rest of her life,” Kai adds and they high-five each other.

Dakota pushes her way past my brothers to hand Blossom a bouquet. “I’m sorry it’s not tulips. Jaxon said tulips but they’re out of season and you have to order them in advance.”

“You remembered my favorite flower?” Blossom asks me.

I roll my eyes. “Don’t be flattered. I’m a genius.”

She elbows me. “You remembered. You like me,” she sings.

“Obviously, I like you. We’re getting married.”

“About getting married,” Dakota begins.

I know, as Blossom’s best friend, she must have questions, but when we’re surrounded by my nosy brothers is not the proper time to discuss this.

“Not now,” I tell her. “We have a wedding to attend.”

Dakota nods before leaving us to stand with Rhett.

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