He took a shower after we had that heart-to-heart last night, and he smells yummy. Fresh like his shower gel, a hint of his cologne, and the masculine scent of his skin.
In the back of my mind, I realize I should be hightailing it out of this bed and throwing up barricades left and right. Because men like Jace are not built for long-term relationships. Our four-month marriage has an expiration date.
“You’re thinking too hard.” His voice is raspy from sleep.
“I just…” I don’t want to get hurt, and this is venturing into deep waters. Much deeper than I was expecting when I agreed to do this.
“I know,” he says softly, leaning back to look at me, but I glance away. He takes my chin and turns me gently until I make eye contact. “We’re okay, you and me. Better than okay.” I nod slowly, surprised when he cups my face. “How about we make one of those rules?”
I’m embarrassed to admit I forgot all about those. “Okay.”
“Rule number one.” He clears his throat. “We should snuggle every day.”
Laughing, I shake my head. “You’re terrible at this.”
He shoots me a lopsided grin. “Kinda think I’m just getting the hang of it,wife.”
I shouldn’t like how that sounds. “If you say so,husband.”
“So you’re sure it looks good?” I ask Baylee over our video call as I hop around on one foot, trying to get my shoe on.
“Fantastic. You spliced together a bunch of different angles. Jace looks great, and the crowd is hyped. I say post it. Hold on.” She’s talking to someone in the background. “Paige and Honey both give you a thumbs-up too.”
“Do you like the pics as well? I was thinking I’d post the first three.”
“My client just said Jace looks, and I quote, ‘mouthwatering.’ I won’t say that ’cause I’ve known him my whole life and he’s like my annoying brother, but yeah.”
Laughing, I nod. “Great. Thanks.”
Once I get off the phone, I forward everything to Jace and attempt to wrangle my hair into a ponytail. This humidity isn’t doing me any favors.
A few minutes later, I’m ready to check out that shop Honey suggested because it’s not far. I hate shopping. I usually buy my clothes online because that way, I can avoid dressing rooms, mirrors, and pushy salespeople.
In the lounge, I stumble to a halt when I find two girls in bikinis sitting with the guys. Jace is at the table with Layla, and one of the women sits across from him while the second one lounges between Shane and Cooper on the couch. The girls smell like sunshine and tanning lotion.
“Hi,” I say awkwardly as I twist my wedding band. “Did you get the video and pics I sent?”
Jace nods as he feeds Layla some yogurt. “Looks good. Thanks so much for doing it.”
“No problem.”
“And you don’t need our approval. Just post what you like when it’s convenient. I trust you.”
“But make us look good,” Cooper says as he runs his hand along the thigh of the woman next to him. Doesn’t he have a girlfriend?
The woman across from Jace smiles at me. “Your baby is so cute.”
“Oh, um. She’s…”
Jace grins at me. “Just tell her thank you, wife.”
“Thank you?” Am I supposed to tell people Layla’s mine?
He motions to the pretty blonde across from him. “This is Quinn and that’s Karina.”
“Y’all are married?” Quinn asks. When I nod, she smiles. “Sweet.”
But the brunette on the couch, Karina, must disagree because she rolls her eyes. I catch it in my peripheral vision. I don’tknow why I confront her—that’s not like me at all—but for some reason, I snap. “Do you have something to say about this?”
