Tully didn’t mind doing dishes . . . especially when Jaxon volunteered to help. Watching his sexy, tatted forearms sink into sudsy water made her want to go back to her house and take a bubble bath together.
But once they finished and locked up, Jaxon didn’t take her hand and walk her to his truck. Instead, he led her out to the river and stopped beneath the old gnarled oak that grew next to it and pulled her into his arms.
“Have you heard the legend of The Kissing Tree?”
She looped her arms around his neck and smiled. “Of course. It’s one of my favorite Honky Tonk Heaven legends.”
“So you know that if you kiss beneath it, chances are you’ll get married and live happily ever after.”
She smiled. “And just how many girls have you kissed beneath this tree, Jaxon Hennessy?”
He kissed her, soft and sweet, before he drew back. “One. There’s only one girl I want to spend my entire life with. One girl who has made me believe a happily ever after is possible for me.”
Tully’s eyes filled with tears as her heart swelled with love. “There’s only one man I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
He cradled her face in his hand. “Then I guess if we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together, we should make it official. Marry me, Tallulah Gentry. Sooner rather than later. Marry me and let’s make some Honky Tonk Heaven legends of our own.”
Nothing sounded better to Tully.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
When Jaxon had said he wanted to marry Tully as soon as possible, he hadn’t thought she’d want to marry him two nights later at Honky Tonk Heaven’s grand opening.
He should have known better.
Like his mama, his girl had a special connection to the dancehall and always would. But there was a big difference between the two women. Tully would never let a bar come before the people she loved.
She’d just finished proving that.
While there were still a lot of last minute things to get done at Honky Tonk Heaven before the wedding, she had lured him back to her bed where she had satisfied all his needs . . . and he’d satisfied a few of hers. He wished he could stay in her arms all night, but he knew there were traditions to uphold.
“I need to go. It’s almost midnight and it’s bad luck to see your bride on your wedding day.” He started to get up, but she pinned him to the mattress with her sweet naked body and straddled him.
“You aren’t going anywhere, Jaxon Hennessy. I don’t want you going home and getting cold feet.”
She knew him too well.
He had already started to worry that he was forcing her into marriage too quickly. He figured he’d always struggle with insecurity and doubts. That was what happened when you had an insecure childhood. But he refused to give into those doubts.
He threaded his fingers through her hair and pulled her toward his waiting lips. After he had a good, long taste, he drew back and smiled. “I’m not going anywhere, Tull. Ever.”
The next morning, he woke with a sexy-as-hell woman and a snoring cat sleeping on his chest . . . and the doorbell ringing. He squinted at the clock on the nightstand and realized he’d overslept. He was supposed to meet his siblings at the dancehall an hour ago to set up for the wedding.
Figuring the incessant doorbell ringing was his impatient little sister, he eased Tully over, cozied Dumplin’ in next to her, then got out of bed and pulled on a pair of jeans before heading for the door.
But when he pulled it open, it wasn’t Poppy standing on the other side, holding a bagged wedding dress and the handle of a roller suitcase.
It was Tully’s mama.
If her widening eyes were any indication, he looked like a man who had done exactly what he’d done . . . spent the night having wild sex.
With her daughter.
He flushed and quickly finished buttoning his jeans. “Uhh . . . good mornin’, Mrs. Gentry . . . I’ll just go get?—”
Laura Gentry swept past him, cutting him off. “No need to wake my daughter.” Once inside the house, she gave him the onceover. “Especially when it looks like she could use the extra sleep.”
Could embarrassment burn a man’s face off?
