Page 73 of For the Promise

She winks. “But I’m fun.”

Yes, she is. I’ve never had this much fun with a partner before. Usually, my romantic partners are perfectly pleasant, but they don’t laugh and joke. Interesting. Maybe my brothers are right. Maybe my partners have all been boring until Blossom.

You can say many things about Blossom, but she isn’t boring. And she’s definitely fun.

“What’s your question, Jaxon? Ask away.”

“It may be construed as rude.” I’m not always the best in judging what’s considered rude by society. “I don’t want to offend you.”

“You won’t offend me, but I may not answer.”

I meet her gaze. She doesn’t avoid my eyes. She looks straight at me. Okay, she’s not lying.

“How much is your inheritance?”

“You only thought to ask this question now?”

I shrug. “It’s not my business, but…”

“But?” She prods.

“Alan and Stacey have spent a lot of money on this wedding, considering he’s a tire salesman.”

“I thought Stacey had money but she made it clear during our ‘spa’ morning that they’re expecting a large sum of money soon. Spoiler alert. The large sum of money is their share of my inheritance when they win the lawsuit.”

I growl. “They’re not winning the lawsuit.”

She pets my chest as if to comfort me. She shouldn’t be comforting me. I should be the one doing the comforting. She’s the one dealing with an ex trying to steal from her. And here I am asking questions that are none of my business.

“Eight hundred thousand dollars.” When I don’t immediately respond, she prattles on. “I know. No one thinks I come from money. Hell, I didn’t realize my parents had savedup so much. But…”

I place a finger on her lips to stop her. “My silence has nothing to do with thinking you don’t come from money or don’t have class or whatever bullshit you’re telling yourself. I’m fighting the urge to find Alan and beat the shit out of him.”

She blinks up at me. “Beat the shit out of him?”

“I could do it. I have five brothers. I’ve been fighting since the first time Miles threw his dirty diaper at me.”

“I believe you. I’ve seen how strong your upper body is.” She blushes. “I was surprised you want to beat him up.”

“He’s trying to steal nearly half a million dollars from you.”

“I know. I read the complaint.”

“I thought this was an argument over ten thousand dollars. I didn’t realize it was an argument about a fortune.”

“I don’t care how much the money is. I care how my ex-boyfriend, who cheated on me multiple times and planned to spend my money without consulting me, thinks he has a right to the money my parents left me. Money, I only have because they died when I was twenty-six. My mom will never shop for a wedding dress with me. My dad will never walk me down the aisle.”

My heart squeezes at the pain in her voice. “I’m sorry I didn’t give you the wedding you deserve.”

She closes her eyes and inhales a deep breath. When she opens her eyes again, they’re no longer shiny. “You gave me exactly what I needed. Thank you.”

“You never have to thank me,” I grumble.

“But I want to.”

“Excuse me.” Someone bumps into me from behind and I remember we’re standing in a very public place, having an extremely private conversation.

I offer Blossom my arm. “Shall we?”

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