I was in a daze as we signed papers and collected our documents.
“Shall we grab some brekky before we pack and head out?”
I nodded absently and let him lead me to the restaurant.
When I remained silent during the drink order, Shane told the server, “She’ll have coffee with vanilla creamer, if you have it, and orange juice,” after he’d placed his own drink order.
Once we were alone, he asked with a grin, “Did I get it right?”
I smiled absently and nodded.
Favorite drink orders for all meals was one of the things we went over last night.
Shane pumped his fist and said, “Yes!” causing me to laugh, which I knew was his intention.
“Thanks, Shane,” I said, feeling a little bit lighter.
“What for?”
“For being so cool about everything … being the perfect partner in crime, and taking all of my crazy in stride.”
“I’ve been trying to tell you what a great guy I am for years.”
“That’s true, you have,” I joked back, but I was really beginning to realize it was true.
I’d always been so hell-bent on seeing Shane in one light, as the flirty playboy Aussie who never had a serious relationship. Maybe I’d been doing us both a disservice.
Hell, if I really thought about it, the same things could be said about me, other than the playboy Aussie part.
Shane and I were actually very similar. Maybe that’s why I’d had blinders on where he was concerned.
“What is it?” he asked, showing once again how perceptive he was … another quality I’d neglected to appreciate about him.
“Nothing,” I said softly. “I’m just thinking maybe I’ve been a bit of a bitch to you over the years.”
“Nah, I’d never say that,” Shane said, blue eyes twinkling. “Maybe you’ve overlooked some of my better qualities, and always kept me strictly in the friend of brother and cousins zone, but I’d never call you a bitch.”
My lips turned up and I let out a deep breath I hadn’t realized I’d had bottled up.
“Thank you. And, I promise to be more open-minded where you’re concerned.”
“I should hope so, wife of mine,” he replied jauntily, then turned to thank the server who was setting out our drinks.
My stomach bottomed out at the word wife.
Holy crap! I was Shane’s wife and he was my husband.
I watched him talk with the server, taking in his strong features and easy-going manner.
He really was a stunning specimen and I was starting to learn that the inside was just as arresting as the outside.
If I wasn’t careful, I’d go against every rule I’d ever had about Shane, because, right now, he seemed like the kind of man who’d make a woman a rule breaker.
Shane
I didn’t so much unpack, as just move things into a bigger suitcase.
I’d always heard stories about Camp Gabriel Lewis, Gabe’s summer football camp for kids, and I’d always wanted to see it.
I was finally going to get the chance.
Every year, Gabe and his cousins went down to the camp early to get it ready for the campers. It started as a cousins only trip, but over the last few years, with the cousins settling down, the invitation had been opened up to include spouses.
Gabe had actually met his wife, Zoey, at the camp when she’d gone there to chaperone her nephew. That had been the event that started the snowball of the Lewis cousins dropping one by one into serious relationships.
This would be the first time everyone was about to go to camp, and it was where Jazzy and I decided to drop the bomb on them by showing up together and announcing we were married.
If it had been any other situation, I would have been gleefully anticipating surprising everyone. But, I truly cared about these people, and I couldn’t help but worry about how our lie would effect each member of the family, and our relationships with them.
Jasmine and I had split up, deciding to divide and conquer so we could get everything in order in time to get on the road again.
She was going to see the realtor, show off our marriage certificate, and put an offer in on the house.
I was going to see Annabeth and request time off, which Jasmine assured me repeatedly would not get me put in the doghouse at work.
I looked around the room and decided it was probably time for me to start sorting my shit and figure out what I wanted to take with me to Jazzy’s new house. Honestly, there probably wasn’t much I’d keep other than clothes and kitchen stuff.
I shot out a text to Jasmine, since I was thinking about it.
You want to check out what I have in my apartment? Unless there’s something you need for the new place, I’ll be donating most of it to Goodwill.
I locked up and walked down to the bar and grill. Just as I was about to enter, I got a text back.
Sure. I can swing by in a bit. Just got done with the realtor. The offer is in!!!
I grinned as I opened the door.
That’s awesome. Congrats. Walking into the bar now.
I put my phone away, but was still smiling as I walked through the restaurant and into the back.
This is going to work.
“Hey, Shane, I didn’t expect to see you until tonight,” Annabeth said as I entered the office.
Annabeth was Gabe’s mom and one of my favorite people on the planet.
Some people thought she was a hard woman, and, yeah, she did have a rough exterior, but inside, she was a marshmallow.
She’d welcomed me into the family with open arms when Gabe and I were in uni together, and had offered me a job as soon as I moved to town. I think she had a soft spot for me because I’d been basically a homeless orphan without a country, and the mother in her wanted to make everything okay.
“Yeah, uh, I actually need to talk to you about something,” I said, suddenly feeling like a mischievous teen.
Annabeth turned fully in her chair and gave me that mom look.
“What’s up?”
“I know it’s last minute, but I needed to see if I could get off the next week to go to Gabe’s camp.”
I was literally fidgeting and shuffling my feet as I watched her face and waited for an answer.
“Gabe’s camp? But, he usually keeps it very low-key, just the cousins.” Annabeth looked at me and her face gentled. “Not that you aren’t family, because you are, I don’t know why Gabe’s always had that silly rule.”
“Oh, it’s no problem, Annabeth, I’ve never begrudged Gabe this time with his family. You know how superstitious he can be. He and I do plenty of other stuff together … but, no, he actually doesn’t know that I’m coming.”
“I don’t understand…”
Shit, I need to just come out and say it.
“Well, this year Gabe’s opened it up to the cousins and their significant others,” I began, because although Jed and Rena were living together, they weren’t married yet.
“Yeah…”
I cleared my throat.
Fuck, this was harder than I’d thought.
“And, since Jazzy and I got married, we decided to join everyone at camp.”
Annabeth dropped the pen she’d been holding and her jaw dropped. She was speechless. Frozen. The only thing moving was her eyes, which were blinking rapidly.
“Are you okay?” I asked, worried she was having a heart attack or something. “Do you need water?”
She got to her feet and brushed past me, shaking her head as she left the office and started toward the bar.
“Annabeth?” I called, hurrying after her.
“You know, I usually like your jokes and fooling around, but this isn’t funny, Shane.”
She didn’t stop walking, just kind of shouted at me while she stormed away.
“I’m not joking, Annabeth, I swear it. Look, I was even going to ask for some boxes so I can start packing up my loft.”
Annabeth stopped at the edge of the bar
and spun on her heels, her fists landing on her hips.
“And why are you packing up your loft?” she asked, tapping her foot.
Man, she is really pissed.
“Because Jasmine and I will be moving in together,” I explained slowly.
She let out a huff.
Just then, the door opened and I heard Jasmine call, “Hey, everyone. Beautiful day, isn’t it?”
Jasmine was beaming, probably from submitting the paperwork on the house, but I decided to use it to my advantage and prove to Annabeth that I was telling the truth.
It was time for us to show the world that we were actually a couple.
My face broke out into a smile to match Jazzy’s, and I strode confidently toward her. Like I had every right to.
Like she was mine.
She had one second to falter as she read the intent on my face, and then I was there, pulling her into my arms and claiming her lips.
I felt her breath catch with surprise, but within seconds her lips parted and I took the opportunity to deepen the kiss.
She tasted of mint and promise, and I soon forgot everything but what she felt like as she went pliant against me. Her arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer, causing her breasts to flatten against my chest.
I was heady with emotion, kissing her until we were both breathless.
“Oh my God,” I heard Annabeth cry from behind us, then the clapping began.
Jasmine
My mind blanked.
I just felt.
His lips were tender, his tongue searching, and the way his body felt against mine was the stuff poems were written about.
I totally lost myself in his kiss.
And then, Aunt Annabeth’s voice and the sound of someone cheering broke through my lusty haze and I remembered where we were.
Shane broke the kiss, but rather than letting me go, he dropped his forehead to mine and closed his eyes.
His breathing was rapid, as was mine, and I wondered if my face looked as flushed and soft as his.
Holy crap, we just had our first kiss in the middle of my aunt’s bar.
If this was what would happen every time we showed PDA to prove our relationship was real, I was going to be in serious trouble.
One kiss and I was ready to tear his clothes off … in front of my aunt.
“You’re serious?” Aunt Annabeth said, and I assumed that meant Shane had told her about the wedding and was just proving his point.
Shane dropped a kiss on my nose before taking my hand in his and turning to Annabeth.
“Completely,” he replied.
I, on the other hand, couldn’t say a word. I was currently in a puddle on the floor after that nose kiss.
So much trouble, I thought, then forced myself to turn my attention to the room.
Aunt Annabeth was looking at us in shock, while Becs stood behind the bar clapping her hands and doing a happy dance.
“Surprise,” I said brightly, hoping Shane couldn’t feel my hand slightly trembling in his.
My aunt came rushing forward, pulling me into a big hug. She was gushing and rocking us back and forth, then she came to a realization and pushed me away.
“Wait, you are already married? Jasmine Lewis, tell me you did not deprive your mother of your wedding … and, your father? Uh. First your brother and now you?”
“Well, even though Dillon and Laurel got married at the JP, my parents were still there,” I argued, then snapped my mouth shut at her look.
“And you? Where did you get married?” She included Shane in her glare and he had the peace of mind to look guilty.
“Vegas,” I said, trying to keep my tone from wavering under the force of my aunt’s sudden disappointment.
“Were you drunk?” she asked bluntly.
“No, ma’am, we were not,” Shane replied.
I shifted to face him and mouthed, suck up.
He bugged his eyes out dramatically, and I fought back a laugh.
“If you knew what was good for you, Jasmine Michelle Lewis, you’d be sucking up, too.”
Uh-oh, she three-named me.
“Sorry.”
“Do you want me to call your parents?”
“No, ma’am,” I said, meekly.
Aunt Annabeth let out a huff.
“Then you’d better tell them before you head to camp. If not, I’ll tell them myself.”
“I’ll tell them tonight,” I said, even though I hadn’t been planning on telling them until we got back.
“I’m sure your husband won’t hang you out to dry like that, will you, Shane?” she asked, putting his feet to the fire.
“Oh, uh, no, of course not, but … I have to work tonight,” he said, that last part directed at me.
Before I could say I understood, because, honestly, I wasn’t prepared to go tell my parents with Shane in tow, I wasn’t even sure what I was going to say, Aunt Annabeth beat me to it.
“You’ve got the night off. We can cover you tonight, and while you’re at camp, you just may have to trade shifts to help those that have to cover for you while you’re gone.”
“I will, of course.”
“Great, then it’s settled.”
She started to turn and walk away, but turned back and gave us a gentle smile.
“Congratulations, I’m really happy for you both.”
We watched her leave in silence. Once she’d entered the back hallway, Becs came hopping over, clapping once again.
“Oh my Gosh, this is like, a total dream come true! I’m so excited for you guys,” she gushed as she flew at Shane and hugged him. “I knew she’d come to her senses.”
Becs looked at me happily and added, “I told him you were missing out. I’m so happy you finally gave him a shot.”
I looked at Shane over her head, eyebrow raised, then looked pointedly at her body, which was practically wrapped around his.
Shane did his best to untangle her and said, “Thanks, Becs, but maybe tone it down a bit, yeah? I don’t want people thinking I was the pursuer here. Jazzy’s the one who put a ring on it.”
I let out a startled laugh and said, “Yeah, right,” as he let Becs go and pulled me close so I was standing right next to him and his arm was around my waist.
“It’s okay, baby, you can admit it, we’re all friends here,” Shane said smoothly, his flirt out in full force.
I just rolled my eyes at him and said, “We’d better get out of here, baby, and head to my parents’.”
After the scene with Aunt Annabeth, I was worried about how my parents, and everyone at camp, was going to take our big news.
The only good thing was, she’d seemed to believe us.
Shane
My palms were sweating as I watched Jasmine open the door to her parents’ house, calling out, “Hello!” and gesturing that I should follow her inside.
I’d been mentally prepared to talk to Annabeth, and had been working up to telling the gang at camp, but for some reason telling her parents had never crossed my mind.
A quick fling and impromptu marriage may seem romantic to some people, at least, I’d do my best to sell it that way, but … not to parents. Her dad would probably want to flay me and her mom was going to be disappointed that we went off without telling anyone.
A million worst-case scenarios were running through my mind as I followed Jazzy through the homey-looking house.
“Hey, honey, we’re in the kitchen,” her mom replied.
We walked in to find her mom at the stove and her father cutting up vegetables at the counter.
She turned with a smile, her eyes widening when they saw me.
“Oh, I didn’t know you brought company,” Jasmine’s mom said, wiping her hands on a towel as she came over to greet me. “It’s Shane, right? You work at Annabeth’s.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I replied.
Her lashes fluttered and she smile.
“Oh, I love your accent.”
“Jeez, Mom,” Jasmine said,
giving her mom a side hug. “Don’t be weird. In case you haven’t officially met, Shane, these are my parents, Michelle and Jacob.”
“Nice to meet you both,” I replied, looking from her mom to her dad, who was watching us curiously.
Just then, we heard the door open and Dillon’s voice call out, “Mom?”
“In the kitchen.”
I looked to Jasmine, whose expression matched my thoughts.
Shit!
“I saw Jazzy’s car out front,” Dillon was saying as he joined us.
He stopped, looking at me with surprise, and said, “Shane, hey, I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”
He clapped me on the back, friendly as always, but obviously curious.
“What’s going on, monster?” Dillon asked Jazzy as he pulled her into a hug.
“Well, we actually figured we’d catch you up at camp tomorrow, but since you’re here, you may as well hear it with Mom and Dad,” Jasmine said, not looking her twin in the eye.
“Hear what?” Dillon asked, picking a celery stick off the cutting board and taking a bite.
Jasmine glanced at me and I gave her an encouraging smile.
“Okay, well, we … uh, Shane and I, wanted to share our good news.” Her tone was bright and chipper, but her face looked panicked.
“What news?” her dad prompted.
“Jasmine has made me the happiest man alive, by becoming my wife,” I announced, trying to take some of the pressure off her.
“What?” Jacob asked, dropping the knife. Thank God.
“Is that true?” Michelle asked, her hand coming to her heart.
Dillon was silent for a beat, then he burst out laughing.
“Stop,” Jazzy said, hitting her brother on the arm, then looking at her mom and saying, “It’s true.”
“Yeah, right,” Dillon said, still chuckling. “You’ve never even given Shane the time of day. Yeah, I could see there was interest on his end, but there’s always been zero on yours … No offense, man.”
Too Dangerous: The Lewis Cousins, Book 5 Page 4