“No, sweetheart, not a threat. That’s a promise,” he growls, and I’m already mentally planning on making him keep that promise before the night is over.
Chapter 31
Knox
AFTER THAT night, there’s been no further discussions about the future. While I’m okay with that, her question did get me thinking about eventually moving things forward. Now that I’m in this condo in Florida, watching Jace nervously pace the room, I realize that I wouldn’t mind being in his shoes, waiting to put the final claim on my woman.
Then all of a sudden it hits me and I see things with complete clarity. This isn’t what I’ve ever wanted. But this is what I want now—with her.
“Dude, you’re going to wrinkle your uniform if you don’t calm down. Why the hell are you acting so nervous?” I ask as I go to the kitchen to pour him a drink. After handing him a whiskey neat, I watch as he downs it in one gulp. “You’re not getting cold feet, are you?”
Jace looks at me, shaking his head. “Fuck no. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. I’ve just been waiting so damn long for this day that I’m having trouble wrapping my mind around it. That it’s finally here. That, in less than an hour, Alexa’s going to be my wife. My fucking wife.”
Walking over to him, I slap him on the shoulder. “You know, I never thought I’d see this day after all those years of you cryin’ in your beer.” He starts to interrupt me, but I keep talking. “I’m happy for you, man. I really, genuinely am. And seeing you find your happiness after so long, well… I guess it’s fucking contagious, because I want that now, too.”
“You serious?” he asks, and I nod, knowing I might as well say it out loud.
“I don’t know when it happened—or even how. But from the moment that girl slapped me, there’s been something there, and it’s built ever since. She’s stubborn, irritating, and she drives me crazy. But she’s also intelligent and kind, and it’s one hell of a turn-on that she can kick my ass. Fuck me, man, but I’m more in love with her than I ever thought possible.”
A huge grin spreads over his face. “You know, if you’d have figured that out a little sooner, this could’ve been a double wedding.”
Holding my hands up, I back away from him. “Hey now. Just because I’m ready to say the L word does not mean I’ll be walking down an aisle anytime soon. Baby steps, J. Mac. Baby steps.”
“Yeah, well when you’ve been waiting as long as I have for forever, you want forever to start as soon as possible.”
The door opens and Jace’s dad walks in. He crosses the room and gives Jace a hug before holding out his hand to me for a shake.
“You ready for this, son?” Patrick McAllister asks Jace.
“I’ve been ready for this day for as long as I can remember, old man,” Jace says, causing his dad to scowl at him.
“Watch it. Just because it’s your wedding day doesn’t mean I can’t still kick your ass,” he says. Watching them interact has me thinking of my parents, and I’m happy knowing that maybe one day I’ll be able to have the same moment with my dad before my own wedding. I don’t know that we’ll ever be as close as Jace and Patrick, but just knowing that there’s a possibility has me looking even more forward to the future.
Checking the clock, I realize we need to get downstairs and out onto the beach. “Okay, guys, you can duke it out later. We’ve got a wedding to get to.”
They both stop messing around, and Patrick goes to straighten his son’s ribbon rack, even though I know it’s perfectly aligned. “I’m proud of you, son. Let’s go get your bride.”
WHEN WE get downstairs, Patrick leads the way out onto the sand where the ceremony will take place. The mothers of the couple have coordinated with the resort to set up a makeshift arch, complete with white ribbon and lilies, where Jace and Lexi will stand up to say their vows. About thirty chairs have been set up in the sand.
I spot Charlie sitting next to a guy who looks about our age, but I don’t know him. She laughs at something he says, and I have to stop from heading over to claim my girl.
“That’s my soon-to-be brother-in-law, Jeremy. He’s happily married, so she’s in safe hands. No reenactments of that day at the gym, got it?”
Turning to Jace, I shrug my shoulders. “I was just curious. That’s all. And don’t worry. I learned my lesson that day. Charlie still won’t let me live it down, and I swear she’s sparring more now with Chris just to test me.”
“Nah, she’s not that kind of girl. I think you’re just paranoid. All right, man, I’m heading in,” he says, nodding to where his dad is talking to the minister. “See you on the other side.”
He leaves me to watch Charlie a little while longer, and she’s completely oblivious to the fact that I’m here until she sees Jace walk past. Turning around, she spots me, a huge smile breaking out on her face. She says something to the guy, Jeremy, before rising.
When I left her earlier to meet up with Jace, she was just getting out of the shower. I had no idea what to expect, because she wouldn’t tell me what she was wearing. As she walks towards me, she’s absolutely breathtaking. She’s wearing a dark green dress, similar to the one she wore to my parents’ house, but this one’s complemented with a brown belt that accentuates the curve of her waist. Just the tops of her breasts are visible, and I swallow hard at the sight of them. The dress flares out at the waist, flowing around her legs as she walks. It stops at just mid-thigh, and when my eyes trail down her legs, I see that she’s barefoot, just a thin gold chain wrapped around her ankle.
My eyes roam all the way back up her body as she gets closer. Her dark brown hair is pinned to the side, and curls cascade down one shoulder, leaving the other one bare save the thin strap of her dress. I have visions of raining kisses on her skin, but I have to shake the thought away or I’m going to be embarrassing myself in front of everyone.
Stopping just in front of me, she gets up on her toes and places a kiss on my lips before stepping back. “I’m pretty sure it’s a sin to look better than the groom on his wedding day, Rugged,” she teases, smiling up at me.
“There are some things in life you just can’t help, sweetheart,” I tell her. “Plus, you’re one to talk. You look beautiful. But don’t think I didn’t notice the whole matching thing. Green on green again?” I ask, raising my eyebrows up at her.
A slight blush creeps on her cheeks. “I couldn’t help it. I love the way the green brings out the color in your eyes. I know, totally cheesy, but what can I say? Weddings make me go a little nuts.”
Leaning down, I place a kiss on her forehead. “I’m just messing with you, babe. You wear whatever color you want. Even if you want us to look like matching pop stars.”
Laughing, she slaps me in the arm. “I never said that!” She looks around as other guests begin to arrive. “I wish Kale and Lucy could’ve been here.”
“I know Kale couldn’t get off his shift, but Lucy could’ve ridden down with us,” I tell her.
“That’s what I told her. She said she hasn’t been feeling well lately and didn’t trust her stomach to stay calm for the long car ride.” Charlie says, shrugging. “Hopefully it’s just a stomach bug. Probably something she picked up from one of the kids at school.”
Before I can respond, music starts, signaling that we better get to our seats.
Charlie
I CAN’T help but shiver when I see Knox watching me intently. The way he looks at me, like I’m the only woman on the planet—at least the only one he’d ever want—sends a jolt straight to my heart—and well, one in between my legs. Seeing him standing there, I notice how he looks gorgeous in his dress greens. Well, let’s face it. He looks gorgeous in anything—and nothing at all.