Page 53 of For the Promise

I trail off when she scoops up my potatoes and puts them on her plate. She shoves a forkful into her mouth. “What?” she asks when she notices me staring.

“Are you going to steal potatoes from my plate for the rest of our marriage?”

She nods as she chews. “If they have cheese in them.”

“And here I thought I only had to guard my chocolate.”

“Oh please. You wouldn’t dare guard your chocolate.”

“Maybe I would.”

“It’s cute you think I wouldn’t find a way to steal your chocolate.”

I notice Alan and his fiancée begin making their rounds. I’m not surprised when they make their way to our table first. I wait until he’s within hearing range before I respond to Blossom.

“I’d have to punish you for stealing my chocolate.”

Her eyes flare until the light brown is the color of a dark sherry. I’m fascinated by the way her eyes change colors. I wantto watch them as I sink deep into her. What color will her eyes darken to then?

“You’re not spanking me again,” she breathes out.

“Why not? I seem to remember you enjoying it.”

She gasps. “I did not!”

“Ahem!” Alan clears his throat. I contemplate ignoring him. I’m having way too much fun with Blossom.

It’s a ruse, I remind myself. Merely a ruse.

I grasp Blossom’s hand and we turn together to face Alan and his fiancée.

“Alan,” Blossom greets with a flat voice. I bite my tongue before I chuckle at her cheekiness. This woman could keep me on my toes for the rest of my life. Too bad she won’t.

“Alan,” his fiancée elbows him when he doesn’t speak. “Introduce me to your friends.”

Judging by the hate in her eyes when she looks at Blossom, she knows exactly who we are. And isn’t happy we’re at her wedding. I can’t blame her. I would have been pissed if Alan attended our ceremony.

“Of course, darling. Blossom, Jaxon, this is my fiancée, Stacey.”

Blossom waves to Stacey, whose eyes widen when they catch on the ring. “That’s some ring.”

Blossom sighs as she studies the ring. “You think so?”

“It must have cost a pretty penny.”

Blossom shrugs. “I don’t care if it came from a box of cereal. I love it because Jaxon gave it to me.”

I kiss her nose. “Anything for you, Petal.”

“Glad you could tear yourselves away from the hot tub to attend one of the wedding activities,” Alan says.

Stacey scowls. “Your room has a hot tub?”

“We’re in a chalet,” I tell her.

“But Alan said he couldn’t get a discount for the chalet.”

I fiddle with Blossom’s ring. “My wife and I are still in our honeymoon stage. I wanted to spoil her.”

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