She nods, still catching her breath, and manages a soft, satisfied smile, no walls or defenses. Just her. She rises unsteady on her toes to kiss me, slow and sweet this time, pouring everything she can't say into the press of her lips.
"No more running," I murmur against her mouth.
She shakes her head then whispers, "No more running. I'm ready to go home."
Outside, the crowd roars to life as another fight begins, but in here, in the small space, I can finally say we've stopped fighting each other. Now, I just have to make damn sure going home doesn't change that.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
TRIGGER
"So, a ring tat?" London says, eyeing my left hand. "For the girl who threw a milkshake on you your first day of freshman year." He takes a long drink, eyes fixed on my hand.
Hollis nearly spits his beer back into the bottle. "Strawberry, right?" He's leaning over the table now, shoulders shaking with laughter. "All down the front of his shirt in front of the team?"
Someone cheers at the game playing on the screen behind us, but my brothers don't even glance over.
"She hated you," Hollis tacks on, shaking his head, still smiling at the memory.
"Nothing says 'soulmate' like someone who knows exactly how to ruin your day." London's voice drips with mock sincerity.
I rest my tattooed hand flat on the table between us. "All that energy was just foreplay." I flash them my cockiest grin. "I like to take my time."
"Dude, she's my cousin." Hollis straightens, his face sobering.
“In all seriousness, married life looks good on you." London's glass clinks against mine, the sound bright and celebratory despite the tension coiling in my shoulders.
We've been so busy since we got home from Spain that Asha and I have been working nonstop, between finding a place to stay and preparing for our first bull delivery. Luckily, London has stepped in—in a big way—with the horses. Right now, breeding Thoroughbreds is still paying the bills.
"I think he looks constipated," Hollis chimes in, though he's not looking at me; he's looking at Sydney.
I pulled him from the girls' table ten minutes ago, and he’s obviously butthurt about it. Asha needed time with her friends. The three of them haven't got together since we got back, and I know exactly what kind of interrogation is happening right now. They want every detail: when, how, andwhy the hellweren't they looped in before our surprise nuptials. I'm ninety-nine percent certain I even caught Sydney asking about my performance in bed. I've already made a mental note to ask Asha later what she whispered, because Sydney squealed, and Laney gasped.
"He's not constipated." London swirls his drink. "He's waiting to see what hand his new father-in-law is going to play tonight."
Sydney's voice cuts through our speculation as the girls drift over from their cocktail table, with three empty glasses. "What makes you think he's playing games?"
"How is he not? He won't let Asha on the property unless she is there to speak to him. He blocked off our access to the road, forcing us to excavate a new one, and then demanded Asha attend tonight to keep up appearances."
"You forgot the part about how he shut off the electricity to the back sixty," Asha offers up bitterly. "I'm not asking fora handout. He's just making everything difficult. I'm his only daughter. It could have been a conversation."
"But you refuse to see him, so how could it be?" Sydney's tone is careful, but the implication still slaps.
"Whose side are you on, Sydney?" Asha scowls. "My father may have extended an invite, but it hasn't included Trigger. He still thinks this is a game. If he really wanted to talk, he would include my husband."
Sydney's shoulders drop. "I'm not trying to upset you." She straightens. "I'm going to get another drink."
"I'll go with you." Hollis is already moving, following her toward the bar.
Laney seizes the moment, shaking her empty glass at London with a sweetness that doesn't quite hide her exhaustion. "London, I want another Ranch Water, but my feet are killing me. I'm going to call and check in on Grace."
He leans down and presses a kiss to her forehead. "One Ranch Water coming up."
I step behind Asha, wrapping my arms around her waist, and she melts back against me. I can feel the rapid flutter of her heartbeat through the thin fabric of her dress, and it instantly soothes me. "You good, sweetheart?"
She exhales slowly. "I don't know. I’m just flustered. I feel like we shouldn't have come here tonight."
"Are you saying you're not going to try to sneak into the house tonight?"
