Page 31 of Reckless Promises

Shane smiles wider. “Nice to meet you, Cillian’s wife.”

She nods back at him, before glancing up at me for the briefest moment. And having her this close to me clogs my senses with her warm cocoa butter scent. A smell that’s both comforting and dangerous.

Still, I can’t help that I lean in closer to get another hit.

The moment I slipped my ring on her finger, something changed. The thought of anyone else laying a hand on her sent my brain spirally. And that includes my brother.

“So, Shane, you got Cill a present?” Fallon swishes her hips, shuffling her ruffly pink dress around. “How sweet of you.”

“Sweet.” I draw my drink to my lips. “What Shane’s known for.”

Shane shakes his head. “At least I got you something better than that stupid vase Fallon bought you.”

“It’s sentimental.” Fallon glares at both of us. “Not that I expect either of you to understand. Luckily, Odette is smarter than you both. She loved it.”

My sister smiles at Odette, and I don’t miss that the gesture has Odette absentmindedly rubbing her thumb over the back of my hand.

“Besides, it’s a traditional wedding gift. That’s what this is, after all.” Fallon crosses her arms over her chest.

“So I’ve been told.” Shane’s gaze lands on me. “Hence the present.”

Fallon claps. “Tell us. Tell us.”

Shane shakes his head, pausing to grin at something over my shoulder. “There she is.”

“She?” Fallon’s smile falls as her face scrunches.

But then a man stops beside me, carrying a black and brown dog.

“A puppy?” Odette’s tight grip on my hand softens at the sight of it.

“You’re welcome.” Shane plants a hand on my shoulder and shakes it.

“You got us a dog.” To anyone else, it might seem nice, but Shane knows how I feel about dogs.

Dad treated his better than people, which isn’t uncommon for men in his position. Dogs are loyal. Dogs will protect you. And best of all, they don’t ask questions.

“What do you think?” Shane asks, already knowing the answer to his question as he smiles at me.

I’m ready to tell him to take the dog back to wherever he found it, when Odette takes a step forward, resting her free hand on my forearm. It might be that she’s uncomfortable in a room of people she doesn’t know, but I hate that it feels like more.

“Is it a Doberman?” Odette asks, her gaze fixed on the small black and brown dog in the man’s arms.

The man nods.

“Can I?” She reaches out a hand, pure light shining in her eyes as she watches the puppy.

I wasn’t sure anything could make her happy after she turned down the dress I bought her, but the dog seems to.

“Of course, ma’am. She’s yours.” The man bends down to set the puppy on the floor.

And when Odette lets me go, I expect her to reach down and pet it. But instead, she drops to the ground and sits with her hundred-thousand-dollar lace wedding gown fanned out around her.

“Come here.” She pats her lap, reaching out for the puppy.

“So cute.” Fallon takes Odette’s lead and sits down next to her on thefloor.

Eyes are on us. They’re no doubt wondering why my wife is sitting on the floor playing with a dog in the middle of her wedding reception. But I couldn’t care less as I watch Odette petting the puppy, not caring as it rips holes in the lace and gets hair on her dress.

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