RAIF
“Wait.”
I watch her shoulders hunch as though she’s expecting a great weight to fall on her.
I don’t answer because my mind is working on a delay. Which could be the fault of the fucking bikini she’s wearing. My tongue feels at least two feet long in my mouth, like if I open it to speak, it might roll out.
“Is there something—”
I hold up my hand, silencing Moreno.
“I have to tell you something,” Lavender says, her eyes anywhere but on me.
“It can’t wait?” Tension tightens my gut. There’s so much at stake. I’m almost there, yet…
Fucking Lavender Whittington.
If I’d known she would be so much trouble, I would’ve chosen someone else.
No, you wouldn’t, whispers a voice in my head.Not now. And not because of her brother.
Fuck that. I don’t like women to be a handful. Other than when I want my hands full of them. My gaze slides over her, the knitted fabric of her tiny dress providing little in the way of coverage. Her bikini even less so.
Who brings a bikini to a wedding she had no choice in?
I push the tangle of thoughts away, ignoring the puff of surprise from the registrar and the offendedharrumphof the paper pusher behind me. I sense my security team stirring subtly. They’re here mainly to witness thehappy event,but I also know they’re staring at Lavender’s ass. I can’t blame them. Or blind them. But I might need them to make sure everyone stays until this thing is done.
Including Lavender fucking Whittington.
“Can it wait?” Lavender blinks as though just considering this. “Apparently not.” She seems annoyed by her own answer.
“Well, what is it?”
“I need you to know,” she begins visibly drawing her shoulders higher still. “That I am in love with Tod.”
I almost chuckle.No, princess. No, you are not. Not even a little.
“Okay.” I give a tiny shrug, a one-shouldered one. “That it?”
“Yes.” A dozen things flicker across her face, chief of them, disappointment.
“Okay.” I turn back to the registrar and make a slight gesturefor him to continue.
“Wait, doesn’t that bother you?”
“It’s not a requirement.” I don’t spare a glance her way. Maybe that’s why the register thinks I’m asking him.
“No, but—”
“I wasn’t asking for your opinion,” I drawl, cutting him off.
“N-no,” he stammers, “of course not. I was just about to say that there is nothing specifically mentioned in the legalities that—”
“Good.” I flick my bride-to-be a look. “Well?” She looks pretty pissed.
“I can’t believe you’re not bothered.”
“Sorry, princess.” I allow my gaze to fall slowly over her. “Give Tod your heart. It’s your body I need.”
