Page 41 of Perfect Bragg

“I’m not running,” I claim despite inching backwards.

Elder steps toward me and I swear at how unfair this all is. How dare my friends buy me the perfect dress and play the perfect song for me to walk down the aisle to the perfect man?

The perfect man I can never have. Because he’d bolt as fast as he could if he knew the truth about me. And I can’t handle another person leaving me.

“This is fake,” I say as I begin down the aisle.

Damon chuckles. “This is fun.”

We reach Elder and Damon kisses my cheek before handing me to his brother.

“You got a good one, brother. Don’t screw this up.”

“This is fake,” I mutter.

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear what you said,” the chief of police who’s officiating the wedding says.

Elder kisses my cheek before whispering into my ear. “Remember why we’re doing this.”

I inhale a deep breath and nod. This is for Robin. I’ll do anything for my baby girl. And make no mistake about it, Robin is mine.

Chapter 14

Why did the bride change her last name?Because it had a nice ring to it. ~ Text from Brody to Elder

“Inow pronounce you husband and wife,” Lyric, the chief of police, announces after finishing the basic necessities of the wedding ceremony. “You may now kiss each other.”

Kiss him! Kiss him!Rebel Harmony shouts.

“Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” The crowd chants.

“I hate to disappoint Winter Falls,” Elder smirks as he bends toward me.

My gaze snags on his lips. They appear firm. Are they hard? Or soft? Does he taste of beer and musk and man?

His lips meet mine in the softest of kisses. My eyes close and I lean into him. He does taste of beer but also something spicy with a hint of musk. Put it all together and it’s yummy. I grasp the lapels of his jacket and push up on my toes to get closer.

“Yahoo!”

I jerk away from Elder when someone cheers. Damn it! I shouldn’t have kissed him. Now I know exactly how delicious he tastes. I was better off not knowing. Because I could become addicted to his taste far too easily.

He grasps my hands. “No running.”

“Running. I wasn’t…” I trail off when I notice I’ve already retreated several paces. Oops.

Elder chuckles and throws an arm over my shoulders. “What do you say we walk down the aisle as husband and wife?”

I glare at him. “You’re having too much fun with this.”

“Did you hear about the two cell phones who got married?” He smirks. “The reception was terrific.”

“This is what my life is now? Listening to a grown man tell jokes meant for children?”

“Lucky you.” He grasps my hand. “Race you to the end of the aisle.” I don’t get a chance to respond before he bolts.

“How is this racing when we’re holding hands?” I ask as he tugs me down the aisle with him.

“I’m still winning!”

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