Hammer sent him a knowing glance. “Because Zoe is running shit for you right now.”
Dante glared at him again. “Shut it. Why do you ask?”
“Come on, let’s go grab some of the guys. You’re going to help me stack the wood in the back room.”
“Why the hell would I want to do that?”
Hammer slapped him on the back as Dante stood. “Because you are such a good friend…and I’ll make sure Zoe knows when you also help me build the fence in a few days.”
“I fucking hate you sometimes.”
Hammer laughed all the way out the door.
****
“Are you sure I look okay?”
Hammer looked into Kali’s worried green eyes and fought down the surge of anger that swept through him at her family for making her so damn nervous to see them again.
They had driven the hour and change into Houston a little early so they could check into their room at the hotel where her cousin’s wedding reception would be held. They had both dressed comfortably for the drive, stowing their dress clothes away for later. At first the drive had been fun. Hammer found himself enjoying talking to Kali about anything and everything, but there was also a comfortable feeling to the silence that settled between them from time to time.
As they had drawn closer to Houston, he had sensed the stress building in her as she had sat in the passenger seat of his metallic gray F-TYPE S Jaguar Coupe. The car had been a bonus from his last big win as a professional fighter. He loved the sleek ride, but preferred to drive his truck in town when he wasn’t on his Harley. Still, having an idea how difficult this day was going to be for Kali, he wanted to show her family that she was being well taken care of.
It might have been small and petty of him, but fuck it. Even if he knew she did well for herself, her family seemed like a bunch of assholes, and he wanted, even needed, to show off a little on her behalf.
When they had arrived at the hotel where she had booked a room, they had just enough time to get ready before they had to go to the church. Putting on his tailored black suit he’d turned, and his entire body tensed when she had stepped out of the bathroom wearing a long, emerald green strapless dress that matched her eyes.
“You are so fucking beautiful,” he had whispered, drawn to her like a siren’s song. She had done something with her makeup that gave her eyes a smoky, seductive look, and her lush lips had been painted a liquid red that made him ache to see them wrapped around his cock.
The brilliance of her smile had made his chest ache as she had rubbed a hand down the stark white of his shirt right over his heart as if she knew it beat for her and her alone. “How about we skip the ceremony and stay here,” he suggested as he wrapped his arms around her waist to pull her to him.
She laughed a little. “We can’t do that.”
“I know,” he said with an exaggerated sigh. “I have to warn you, I don’t know how I’m going to be able to control myself if I catch some jack-ass staring at you.”
Her eyes glittered with humor. “You look so handsome, Jared. I have a feeling I’m going to be the one fighting women off of you,” she said softly as she’d straightened his silver tie. “Now, let’s go before you convince me to stay.”
The church was less than fifteen minutes away from the hotel, and it drove him crazy to see the nerves eating at his little fairy as they got closer to their destination. He pulled into the parking lot and followed the directions of a man pointing them to a parking space while the man gawked at his car. When Hammer turned off the car, he turned to her. “Kali, look at me.”
She turned to him, and he wanted to hit something at the bleak look in her eyes. “Thank you for coming with me,” she whispered as she reached out a hand to grip one of his.
He held it tight, determined to help her through today any way he could. He had a feeling that today was going to be a test of his control, and he’d have trouble holding onto his temper if anyone hurt her. He blew out a breath and went for honesty. “Let’s see if you say that when this is all over.”
“I’m still going to thank you.” She gifted him with a small smile as she reached up and stroked his neck where his tattoos peeked out from over his collar. He grabbed her hand, holding it over his heart.
“Are my tattoos going to embarrass you?” His tension eased at the confusion shining in her beautiful eyes.
“No, why would you ask that?”
He shrugged, then leaned in to brush his lips over hers. He gave her a quizzical frown when he saw that her lipstick hadn’t faded at all.
When he asked her about it, she smiled. “Ah, the secret of smudge-proof lipstick.”