Page 56 of Irresistibly Wicked

“What? No. I don’t want to cause a rift between you and your family. I’ll find another way to pay you back.”

“You’re not causing a rift.”

“Yes, I am. I’m the one you’re marrying.”

“This was my idea, remember? You didn’t tie me down and force me to say I’ll marry you. I want to do this for you, and you’re not going to change my mind, so you might as well save your energy.”

Her brow furrowed, her eyes narrowing. “I appreciate that, but will you at least tell me what happened?”

He shook his head. “I don’t want you worrying about it.”

“Too late.” She crossed her arms. “I’ve been worried about it since you convinced me this was a good idea.”

“It is a good idea. Brian is where he needs to be, and you’re not in danger of getting physically or emotionally battered.”

She uncrossed her arms, her expression softening. “I appreciate it, but if we’re doing this, then we have to be honest with each other. I know you’re tough, but this is your family. I know how much you love them, and to be honest, I can’t blame them for thinking this is crazy. I haven’t told Cap yet, for that very reason. You’re not just helping me, Zan. You’re changing your life, even if only temporarily, for a recovering alcoholic. You moved me in, and you’re putting a ring on your finger—”

“I never told them about your background. We never got that far, and I wouldn’t have anyway. It’s up to you to decide who you want to share that with.”

“Oh,” she said with surprise. “Thank you, but you could have told them. I wouldn’t have minded. I understand why they’re upset, but still, I wish you’d talk to me about it. It has to hurt that they’re not supportive when you were so sure they would be.”

“What do you want me to say?” he snapped. “That I’m bummed? You’re damn right I am.” He paced. “I thought I’d have their support without question. I was raised to believe nobody rides alone, and it’s always been that way. It’s not like I don’t understand their worries about the sanctity of marriage. I get it. They think we’ll spin around in a few years and find our soul mates, and regret having already been married once.”

“Well, that’s not going to happen. At least not for me.”

“Me either, and I told them that.” He didn’t want to admit the next part, but she deserved to hear it, because even though he’d do everything within his power not to fuck this up, this was new territory for him, and honesty had to be paramount. “They’re also worried that I’m the same guy I was before the accident, and I’ll embarrass you or hurt your feelings by flirting with other women when we’re married.”

“Oh…um…? Do they know it’s not like that between us?”

“That doesn’t matter. It still has to look real, but as I said before, I’m not that guy anymore, and I sure as hell wouldn’t do that to you.”

“I believe you,” she said without hesitation.

She couldn’t know how much her trust meant to him. “Good. Now can we stop talking about them and have some of that takeout you mentioned?”

“Yes,” she relented. “But I need to finish cleaning up first, and—”

“The mess can wait.” He hooked an arm around her neck, pulling her against his side as they headed into the kitchen. “You’ve had a hard day of making up stories about my cat when we both know you had a wild party with your pole-class friends while I was gone. Thank you for getting them out before I got home.”

“It was the least I could do,” she said without missing a beat.

Coolest woman on the planet. “Just so you know, I’m getting a nanny cam.” He reached for the bag of Chinese food on the counter.

“Hey, Zan?”

The change in her tone from playful to softer had him glancing over as he opened the bag. “Yeah?”

“Thanks for sticking by me. I know it’s not the same, but you don’t have to ride alone. You’ve still got me. I’ve never ridden on a motorcycle, but I’m loyal, and you know I can save your life.”

“I’ll be proud to have you as my ride or die, Flores. It’s you and me against the world.”

“You, me, and Kitty,” she said, picking up Kitty to cuddle her.

That sounds pretty damn good to me. “Do you think they’ll accept a paw print as the witness signature at the courthouse?”

“You’ve taken care of everything else. Leave finding a witness to me.”

Chapter Nineteen