Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8
ACE
F reedom at last.” I loosen my tie, the silk sliding against my collar as I step into the bright afternoon sunlight. My head throbs from last night’s bachelor party, but it’s nothing compared to the ache in my chest every time I caught Andrea’s eyes during the ceremony.
Hank stumbles down the chapel steps beside me, sunglasses sliding into place. “Jesus. Remind me never to let Cody mix drinks again.”
“You’re the one who ordered those tequila shots.” I squint against the glare, scanning the crowd for a glimpse of lavender dress.
“Looking for someone?” Hank’s smirk irritates me more than it should.
“Shut up.”
Cody joins us, slapping Hank on the back hard enough to make him wince. “Here, ladies.” He pulls a silver flask from his inside pocket. “Hair of the dog.”
“Hand it over.” Hank takes a swig, his face contorting. “Christ, what is this?”
“Bourbon. The good stuff.” Cody passes it to me. “You need it more than he does. You look like hell.”
I take a small sip, the liquid burning down my throat. Relief that the formal ceremony is over mixes with a growing tension about seeing Andrea at the reception.
“Did you see Jax’s face when Leesa came down the aisle?” Damien joins our circle, adjusting his cuffs. “I wasn’t sure if he’d be able to keep it together. I’ve never seen the man cry, but he looked like he was about to. He’s joined you all on the dark side.”
“When you find a woman who looks at you like that, you’ll dive headfirst into the dark side too,” Rowan says, unusually philosophical. Damien always talks about how he’ll never settle down with a woman, but he never talks about the woman who broke his heart. “That’ll be me and Ophelia soon,” Rowan continues. “I ain’t never letting her go.”
“You proposed to her already?” Damien asks, taking a swig of bourbon.
Rowan shakes his head, but his smile doesn’t fade. “It’s just a matter of time. We both know we’re in it for the long haul. Like Jax said in his vows, I never thought I’d be this happy, but damn if Ophelia doesn’t make me the happiest man in the world. And we have Leesa to thank for that.”
“Speaking of diving headfirst,” Cody turns to me, “you’re awfully quiet, Lincoln. Usually can’t shut you up.”
I force a smile, accepting the flask again. “Just enjoying the show.”
The guys launch into their usual bullshit—ribbing each other, reliving last night’s drunken highlights, though thankfully, they’re skipping most of me brooding over Andrea. I nod at the right moments and laugh when expected, but my mind keeps drifting to Andrea. The way she looked down when our eyes met.
Hank grabs my elbow, pulling me aside while the others debate the fastest route to the reception. “So what’s the deal with you and Andrea? You fix that mess yet?”
My jaw clenches. “There’s nothing to fix.”
“Bullshit.” He doesn’t bother keeping his voice down. “You’ve been watching her like a hawk all morning.”
“And you’ve been a pain in my ass all morning.” The defensive words come automatically, but then resignation sets in. I fucked up, and I know it.
Cody’s head swivels our way. “Are we finally talking about Ace’s Andrea situation? Because we’ve got a pool going on when you’ll finally grow a pair.”
“There is no situation,” I snap, my hands clenching into fists. “And there is no pool.”
“There’s definitely a pool,” Rowan confirms, not looking up from his phone. “I’ve got twenty on ‘never’ because Jax scares you too much.”
“Jax doesn’t scare me.” The protest sounds hollow even to my own ears.
“Then what’s your excuse?” Hank challenges. “Because we all saw you at the bachelor party. That wasn’t a man celebrating his buddy’s wedding. That was a man drowning his sorrows.”
The accuracy of his assessment stings. I said too much that night—about Andrea, about what happened in the greenhouse, about wanting her since the day I arrived in Silver Pine Ridge. Now they’re using it against me.
“Look,” Hank’s voice drops, surprisingly serious. “We’re headed to a reception with an open bar and dancing. If you want another shot, this is it.”
His words strike a chord. I think about Jax standing at the altar today, sure and steady, as he promised Leesa forever. No hesitation. No fear. Just certainty about what he wanted.
Maybe it’s time to stop hiding.
“Let’s roll, gentlemen!” Jordan calls, keys swinging around his finger.
We pile into the waiting vehicles, Cody and Rowan still arguing about whether Damien will dance with Leesa’s college roommate, despite him always saying he’s a confirmed bachelor and nothing will change that. Damien hasn’t even looked at any of the women here. I’ve been here a few years and don’t know much about the man. Like most of us, he has something in his past that makes him love the solitude up here.
I watch the cars ahead of us, knowing Andrea is in one of them. For three years, I’ve kept my distance. Respected Jax’s rule. Told myself it was enough to be part of the crew, to have the cabin, to joke and flirt with her from a safe distance.
It’s not enough. Not anymore.
My heart pounds against my ribs, equal parts terror and anticipation. Not because I might lose my place on the crew or disappoint my father again. But because for the first time since the Navy, I’m stepping toward something that genuinely matters—something worth risking everything for.
Andrea.
* * *
“...so I told him the fish was already dead when I found it.” Jordan’s punchline hangs in the air, and everyone erupts in laughter.
I nod mechanically, barely registering the conversation around me. The VA Center pulses with light and music, alcohol is flowing, and all I can focus on is scanning the crowd for Andrea. My drink sits untouched in my hand. I want to be clear-headed when I find her— if she’ll even talk to me.
Then I see her.
Andrea moves across the dance floor in her lavender dress, laughing as she spins under the arm of a tall man I’ve never seen before. The fabric clings to her curves, and deep desire surges through me. I’m the one she should be dancing with. She should be in my arms. I watch the man pull her closer than necessary for the dance, his hand resting low on her back.
“Who the hell is that?” my voice is rough with frustration and jealousy.
Hank follows my gaze. “Ryan. Firefighter from Seattle. Old Army buddy of Jax’s.”
My stomach flips. Heat climbs my neck as the man—Ryan—says something that makes Andrea throw her head back in genuine laughter.
“Jax introduced them,” Hank adds, twisting the knife. “Apparently, they’ve been hitting it off.”
Across the room, Jax watches the pair with obvious approval. The message couldn’t be clearer: this man passes inspection. This man gets permission to touch his sister.
“You gonna let him take your girl?” Hank’s voice cuts through my spiraling thoughts.
“She’s not my girl.” The words taste bitter.
“And whose fault is that?” He downs his drink. “That guy’s been in town for what, three hours? Already moving in.”
My fingers tighten around my glass until my knuckles turn white. Three years of careful distance, of respecting boundaries—and this stranger waltzes in and gets everything in a single evening.
“You know she won’t wait forever.” Leesa appears at my elbow, her wedding dress shimmering under the lights. “You two need to settle whatever went down this week.”
“It’s complicated.” The excuse sounds pathetic even to my own ears.
“It’s only complicated because you’re making it complicated.” She nods toward Andrea. “If you want her, go get her. Before someone else does. Before Ryan does.”
Andrea’s hand rests on Ryan’s chest as she laughs at something else he’s said. The intimacy of the gesture twists in my gut.
This isn’t just about getting Andrea anymore. It’s about risking everything else. My place on Jax’s crew. My cabin on his land. The fragile approval from my father that I’ve scraped together since the Navy spat me out.
One reckless move cost me the Teams. One impulsive decision could cost me everything I’ve rebuilt.
But watching another man hold Andrea—watching her slip away—suddenly makes those consequences seem insignificant.
I set my drink down with enough force to slosh liquid over the rim. Jordan makes another joke, but I’m already moving.
My feet carry me toward the dance floor before I fully decide what to say. Each step feels heavier, yet more certain than the last. This isn’t just about Andrea. It’s about who I want to be. The man who follows the rules or the man who fights for what matters.
The music pulses in rhythm with my heartbeat as I weave through dancing couples. Halfway across the floor, Jax’s eyes find mine. His expression shifts from confusion to wariness as he tracks my trajectory. I don’t look away.
For once, I don’t change course.
Andrea spots me approaching. Her smile falters, uncertainty replacing the easy laughter she shared with Ryan. The hardness that entered her eyes after the greenhouse incident returns.
“Excuse me.” My voice comes out steadier than I feel. “Mind if I cut in?”
Ryan looks to Andrea, clearly waiting for her cue. For a moment, I think she’ll refuse. The rejection hovers in the air between us, a very real possibility after how I hurt her.
“Sure.” Her voice gives nothing away.
Ryan steps back with surprising grace. “Thanks for the dance, Andrea. I’ll find you later.”
The moment he’s gone, the atmosphere shifts. We stand in a bubble of tension as couples dance around us.
“What do you want, Ace?” Andrea stares me in the eyes, her arms folded over her chest. The carefree look she had just a minute ago is replaced by tension.
I reach for her hand and she gives it to me, allowing me to pull her into a dancing embrace.
“I’m done hiding how I feel about you.” The words rush out, my heart pounding in my throat. “I was wrong in the greenhouse. Wrong to suggest keeping us secret.”
Her eyes widen slightly, the only indication she’s affected by my words.
“You deserve someone who stands beside you openly.” I pull her closer, acutely aware of the heat rolling off her body. “I want to be that man.”
“And my brother?” Her question cuts to the heart of everything.
“Your brother doesn’t get to decide who you love.” I take her other hand. “And he doesn’t get to decide who I love, either.”
The word hangs between us. Love. I hold her eyes to let her know this isn’t a joke and I’m more serious than I’ve ever been.
“I don’t need permission to pursue the woman I want to spend my life with.” My voice drops, but the intensity increases. “I’m done playing it safe.”
I’m vaguely aware of people watching us, but I don’t care. All that matters is the gorgeous woman standing in front of me.
“How do I know you won’t back down the moment he confronts you?” Her voice wavers slightly. “How do I know this isn’t just another moment that won’t last? You don’t have a great track record when it comes to my brother.”
Instead of answering with words, I pull her flush against my body. I reach up with one hand and cup her face, thumb tracing the curve of her cheek. The other slides to her waist, feeling the warmth of her skin through the thin fabric.
“Because I’m doing this in front of everyone.”
I kiss her.
This isn’t like the kiss we shared in the greenhouse. Her lips part under mine with a soft sound that sends fire racing through my veins. She tastes like champagne and promise, her body melting against mine as her initial surprise melts away.
My hand slides from her waist to the small of her back, drawing her closer. The feel of her sexy curves pressed against me nearly shorts out my brain. Every fantasy I’ve had about her pales compared to the reality of her in my arms.
When we break apart, her eyes are wide, lips slightly swollen. Something fierce and protective roars to life inside me. This is what I want. Who I want. For as long as she’ll have me.
“Still think I’ll back down?” I murmur against her lips.
Her laugh is soft, breathless. “You’re insane.”
“About you? Absolutely. The only insane thing is how long I spent scared of telling you how much I care for you and need you in my life. I’m done denying my heart. I’m never letting you go.”
She shakes her head, but her hands remain on my chest. The intensity of her smile burns into my soul, and I vow to make her smile with such joy every day for the rest of our lives.
“Jax is going to kill you.”
I laugh and shake my head. “He can try.”