Page 99 of I Got You

“I am,” I tell him bluntly, feeling like I need to remind him of our agreement.

“I’m glad. You deserve to be. You’ve taken on a lot, and I’m glad you’ve found someone to share it with. Especially if he makes you happy.”

“Thanks.” I’m done talking about Shane and me or anything else personal with him. “Let’s go. If I’m going to make it through dinner, I have to keep moving.”

Twenty minutes later, we pull into the parking lot of the restaurant/bar where Shane and the guys are. Yes, ‘we.’ Danny convinced me to let him tag along rather than drop him off at this hotel, and I decided he’d be a good distraction for the bachelorettes.

I hobble in with Danny following close behind, really hoping bringing him wasn’t a terrible idea. Shane, Mark, and Sean aren’t hard to spot at the bar, and he wasn’t exaggerating when he said they were surrounded.

A group of women wearing skin-tight dresses no bigger than cloth napkins are swarming like moths to three flames. Do I wish I was in something other than a leotard and tights with sweatpants over them? Hell, yes. Even more, I’d like to not smell like I just ran a marathon. Whatever, I’m married, and Shane is stuck with me…at least for now.

I limp towards them, feeling like every muscle in my body tears a little more each time I move. I push through the cloud of perfume and glitter, ignoring the pouts, huffs, and whines. At least these ladies’ scent is strong enough to cover me.

“Excuse me.” A girl in a tiny tight black dress and boobs pushed up to her chin turns to look at me. She’s probably my age and standing all up in Shane’s space, trying to get his attention, but she’s only getting his giant shoulder. I point to him. “Sorry, this one’s mine.”

She gives me a once over, clearly not impressed by what she sees, but Shane doesn’t wait for her to move as he slides his arms around my waist pulling me between his legs. That helps her get the message, and she steps back.

“You weren’t kidding.” I lean closer, resting my hands on his neck.

“If I have to listen to one more giggle or squeal, my head might explode.”

“Maggie!” Sean and Mark erupt beside me.

I smile. “Looks like they’re having a good time.” We turn at the sudden gasps and cheers as the group notices Danny.

“What’s he doing here?” Shane growls.

“Easy, Grizz. He makes a nice decoy.” I grin. Shane pulls me to him a little tighter. “How’s your ankle?”

I look down at my UGGed foot. “Really sore and a little swollen. I need to ice it as soon as we get home.”

“Let’s get away from here and find a table so you can put it up.” Shane stands, using his big body to create room for us to get out of the cluster. “These losers can do whatever they want.”

Shane sees my struggle and, without hesitation, scoops me up like I weigh nothing. “Seriously, I can walk.”

“Doesn’t look like it to me. Plus, you need to keep the weight off of it.”

He finds a table in the back and sets me down. I take a seat in a chair, and he disappears. Mark, Sean, and Danny appear a second later, having escaped from the single ladies' club. They all take seats, joking about the numbers they just scored, which they toss into the middle of the table.

“What? All that attention and no winners?” I’m quickly learning Mark isn’t all that much of the playboy he’d like everyone to believe he is, and Sean is a lot more like Shane than I’d imagined. Just a little softer version.

“I learned my lesson a long time ago,” Danny says.

“What lesson was that?” Shane stands behind me, a bag of ice in his hand. He sits beside me, grabbing my foot and resting it on his leg. He pulls my boot off and settles the ice around my ankle.

The table is quiet as Shane’s gaze returns to Danny, waiting for an answer.

Danny meets his eyes. “Not to mess around with people's feelings. I have a girlfriend, and she wouldn’t appreciate me holding on to another girl’s number.”

“Good. Make sure you don’t mess with my wife’s, or I’ll break your legs.” Shane’s no-nonsense threat is clear, and Mark and Sean try to hide smiles while my entire body ignites with fire and need. This no kissing Shane thing is for the birds.

I want to find a dark corner in this joint and make out with this big hunk who just laid down the law on my behalf. This table is full of good-looking men, but Shane and all his gruffness are by far the sexiest of them all, and for now, he’s mine. Why am I not taking advantage of all of the benefits of that?

Danny raises an eyebrow. “I have no intention of doing anything to make that necessary.”

“Well, I’m glad we got that little detail out of the way,” Mark says, breaking the ice.

I can’t stop staring at Shane, and I don’t care. He’s supported me, helped me, and defended me. Now, he’s carried me, got me ice, and said he’d break another man’s legs for me. What am I doing? Why am I so afraid of him not caring or being able to open up? I’m not sure anymore, or maybe I’m just clouded by lust for my husband.

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