Chapter 35
“Welp. That didn’t turn out the way I expected.” ~ Blossom
Blossom
I glance at the clock. Thirty minutes. I have less than half an hour to finish this inventory, order any missing supplies, and get changed for the party. I can do this.
Ha! I throw my arms in the air in celebration when I finish ordering the supplies in less than twenty minutes. Ten minutes to change. More than I need.
There’s a knock on the restroom door when I’m applying my lipstick. “Blossom, are you ready?”
I open the door and flash a smile at my boss, Paisley. “With five minutes to spare.”
“Your obsession with time management rivals mine.”
“There’s a reason you hired me.”
We walk out of the brewery to my car. I’m giving her a ride since her boyfriend, Eli, will be at the restaurant and will drive her home.
“I hope everything works out,” I say as I drive toward the restaurant.
“Rhett is a Raider. He’ll convince Dakota to give him another chance.”
I smirk at her. “You sound experienced.”
“Eli is very persuasive.”
My stomach cramps but I ignore it. I’m happy for my friends. I am. Paisley and Dakota deserve all the happiness in the world. It’s not their fault I’m obsessed with a Raider brother who pretends I don’t exist.
Except for the time Jaxon and I made out at the distillery. I nearly fan myself. His kisses turned me on like no man before him has done. Unfortunately for me, Jaxon said it was a mistake and has been ignoring me since. And, trust me, I’ve done everything I can think of to get his attention.
We arrive at Hideaway Haven Resort and make our way to the restaurant. I frown when I notice the Raider brothers are waiting in the hallway.
“What’s going on?” I ask as we approach.
Eli points inside. “Rhett is still groveling.”
Miles chuckles. “It’s hilarious.”
“We should have planted a microphone at their table,” Zane says.
Kai sighs. “I tried. The hostess wouldn’t take a bribe.”
Only one Raider brother doesn’t speak – Jaxon. He fiddles with his glasses. Why are his nerdy tendencies sexy? Since when am I into nerds?
Saying Jaxon is a nerd isn’t an exaggeration – he’s the smartest person I know, obsessed with distilling the best whiskey ever made, and lacks social skills – but, except for the glasses, he doesn’t resemble a classic nerd.
He’s tall with broad shoulders. I’ve never met a nerd with the muscles Jaxon has. I’ve had the chance to touch his spectacular shoulders and biceps once before but guessing by the way his t-shirt strains over his chest, those pec muscles are spectacular, too.
And he has those classic Raider blue eyes. They pierce through you. When the man deigns to meet your gaze, which, if your name is Blossom, doesn’t occur often.
Finally, his jaw is covered with scruff since he always forgets to shave. Fine by me. I love running my fingernails over a beard.
“Uh oh,” Miles mutters and I shake my head to force my Jaxon cloud away. “Dakota’s crying.”
“Those are happy tears,” Paisley says.
“How can you tell?” Zane pushes his way to the front. “Oh.”
“Oh, what?” I elbow my way through the brothers. “Ah,” I say when I catch the couple making out.
Kai smirks. “Time to interrupt.” He marches through the hotel with Miles and Zane hot on his heels.
I chase after them. “Can’t you let them kiss for a while?”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Zane asks.
He has a point.
“Hey!” Kai shouts as we reach their table and they startle apart.
“What’s going on?” Dakota asks.
I throw my arms in the air. “We’re here to celebrate your relationship!”
Jaxon flinches, and I glare at him. “Excuse me. I’m so sorry it’s impossible for you to pretend I don’t exist when I shout.”
“I’m not pretending you don’t exist.”
I snort. “Liar. Liar. Pants on fire.”
Jaxon lifts his glasses and pinches his nose. I refuse to find the gesture adorable. Re-fuse! “I’m not a liar.”
“Seriously? You walked into a wall to avoid me.”
Paisley glances back and forth between us. “I’m confused. I thought you two were hooking up in the distillery.”
She saw us? She never mentioned a thing. We work together every day. And we’re friends.
A blush covers Jaxon’s face. “It was a mistake.”
“A mistake?” I screech. “I’m a mistake?”
I’ll put up with a lot of shit from a man. As evidenced by my asshole ex who I should have left long before he cheated on me. But saying I’m a mistake? No way. Nuh huh. I have more pride than to be referred to as a mistake.
I spin around and march out of the restaurant. I do not want to breathe the same air as Jaxon right now. He can fall off of a cliff for all I care. Would it be wrong if I pushed him? Probably. Stupid morals.
“Blossom!” Jaxon shouts.
I glance behind me to find him chasing me. Now, he chases me? When we’re in a crowded resort with all of his family watching?
Two can play at his hide and seek game. I scan the hallway I’m running down. There. An open door.
I rush inside and slam the door shut behind me. Jaxon will never find me now.
“Blossom?”
Mother fluffing ducks not in a row. Speaking of exes. I close my eyes and hope I’m hallucinating due to lack of oxygen. I really should work out more.
“Is that you, Blossom?”
Damn. No such luck. I force a smile on my face and spin around.
“Alan. What are you doing here?”
He chuckles. “I was about to ask you the same thing.”
“I live on Smuggler’s Hideaway.” My cheeks are starting to hurt from how hard I’m forcing this fake smile.
“I always wondered where you ended up.”
“Welp. Here I am.” I throw my arms in the air. “What are you doing here?”
I cross my fingers behind my back. Please don’t say you’re moving here. Please don’t say you’re moving here. Talk about a disaster in the making.
Alan grins. “I’m getting married here.”
“Here? As in on the island of Smuggler’s Hideaway?”
He nods. “In this resort.”
Bleeping smugglers drowning in the sea. Thanks for the reminder that things can always get worse.
“Congratulations! Where’s your future wife?” I scan the room, which I now realize is filled with all things bridal – sample bouquets, various champagnes, a plethora of cakes, etc.
“Stacey hasn’t arrived yet.”
At least he’s not marrying the tramp he cheated on me with. I don’t care who he’s marrying. I need to extract myself from this conversation and leave.
“Too bad. I would have loved to meet her.” This is my cue to exit.
“You can meet her. Why don’t you come to the wedding?”
I snap my mouth shut before my jaw drops to the floor. Why the hell would I want to come to his wedding?
“And I can meet your husband,” he continues.
Well, shit.
“There is a husband, isn’t there?”
I know it’s wrong to lie, but I had my reasons for lying. And they were good. But a lie is a lie.
“Of course, there is.”
There’s a knock on the door. “Blossom, are you in there?”
“There he is now.”
I open the door and haul Jaxon to me. “Look who I ran into, honey bunches of oats.”
“Um…”
I widen my eyes in a plea for his help.
“How would I know who you ran into? You were hiding from me.”
I force out a giggle. “Because I enjoy it when you chase me.”
Alan steps forward and offers Jaxon his hand. “I’m Alan.”
“Jaxon.” They shake. Jaxon looks adorably confused while Alan appears annoyed.
“You don’t know who I am?” Alan asks.
“Should I?”
“I’m Alan,” my ex announces as if he’s a superstar. He always did have delusions of grandeur.
“Yes, you said.”
I sputter out a laugh and Alan glares at me. “Sorry. Jaxon isn’t very good with names.”
Alan narrows his eyes on Jaxon as he studies him. “But I’m your ex. Your husband should know your ex-boyfriend’s name.”
Jaxon’s eyes widen. Before he can open his mouth and prove I’m a liar, Terri, the event coordinator for the resort, sweeps into the room.
“I’m sorry.” She lays some lacy material over the table. “I think this is the color you want.”
I grasp Jaxon’s hand and back out of the room. “We’ll leave you to your preparations.”
“I’ll see you next weekend,” Alan calls as I flee the room.
“Next weekend?” Jaxon asks as I drag him away.
I glance around to ensure no one’s eavesdropping before answering. “At his wedding.”
Jaxon skids to a stop. “His wedding?”
I gulp. “He kind of invited us.”
“Us? Why would he invite us?” Understanding lights his blue eyes. “Because he believes we’re married. Why did you tell him we’re married?”
“It’s a long story.”
He consults his watch. “I have time now. Please explain.”
“Well…”