Page 60 of Be My Bride

“You’re being rude.”

I drive her by the shoulders and steer her to a sofa. “They’re used to it.”

The attendant hands me the shoes and a new pair of socks. When Asia tries to go for the items and put them on herself, I swat her hands away.

I want to do this.

I need to do this.

Taking care of her is the only thing keeping the panic at bay.

If I allow myself to think about all the families that’ll be impacted by our failure to secure the Jensen deal—

If I let the self-hate pile up—

“It’s not your fault either you know,” Asia says softly.

“This one is on me.” I set her leg on my thigh.

“Why are you so hard on yourself?”

“My recklessness is fine as long as I don’t get people hurt.”

It’s why I have my two-day rule with women. Why I don’t skip work even if I’m hung-over.

These lines protect others from me.

“Is getting married in Vegas that big a deal?”

I focus on rolling the ankle socks up and then slipping her feet into the first shoe.

She sighs. “We were just… we made a mistake. I mean, it was fun in the moment, but—”

“Having fun shouldn’t come at a cost that someone else has to pay.” I glance up. Meet her eyes. Try to smile. “But it’s nothing you need to worry about. I’ll talk to Brett and we’ll try to convince Jensen to change his mind.”

I doubt we’ll be able to. Jensen was already skittish about us and this was the chance he was waiting for to back out.

I climb to my feet after securing Asia’s shoes and gesture to the door.

Asia stands too. To my surprise, she slips her hand in mine and gives it a squeeze. “We got this.”

Three words.

And a simple smile.

But it’s enough to blast my heart wide freaking open.

I should tug my hand away.

I should put some distance between us.

Wanting her in my bed is a far cry from wanting her in my heart.

These feelings aren’t good for anybody.

But I don’t let go.

I squeeze her hand back and hold on tight as we walk out of the store.

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