Rules of Protection(104)

I tried to outrun him, but Jake lunged for me. He caught me around the waist and pinned my wrists behind my back with one hand. His mouth covered mine as his tongue dipped into my mouth, teasing and taunting. My boneless body melded to his like a pliable piece of warm putty.

Then the cold click of handcuffs bound my wrists. Jake threw me over his shoulder and carried me toward the door.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Hey, I warned you,” Jake said, laughing. “You never learn.”

“This is kidnapping! You’re already in trouble because of this—”

“Oh, you haven’t heard? I’ve been cleared of all charges, and I’m no longer suspended. I put in my transfer to Texas weeks ago. Guess you should’ve stayed in touch.”

“Okay, Jake, I’m sorry. Take the handcuffs off. Jake, come on…please?”

“Rule number one: no begging. At least not until I get you naked and into a bed, then you can beg all you want. Rule number two: no sneaking out on me, especially right before the wedding. Rule number three…”

“Jake, you know I’m not any good at following rules.”

“No shit,” he said, patting me on the rear. “That’s why I’m changing them. Rule number three: the only name you’re changing is your last one…”





Epilogue

It was a sunny afternoon, and almost all of the guests had arrived at Miller’s Bird Farm. They sat lazily under the shade trees, sipping iced tea as they waited for our wedding to begin.

Floss and Bobbie Jo helped me plan an intimate, non-traditional wedding, thrown together almost as fast as Jake and I’d been. It was the largest “small wedding” I’d ever seen, with over a hundred guests. But it was perfect.

Jake and I watched Cowboy, who was dressed in a new pair of Wranglers and a pressed western-style shirt, saunter over to us.

Cowboy eyeballed my body through the short, formfitting white eyelet lace dress. “Hey, beautiful! You look amazing!”

I blushed at his flattery. “Thanks. You do, too.”

He then glanced to Jake and scanned over his pressed slacks and white button-down shirt. “Nice outfit. Are you taking her to the prom?”

Jake glared at him. “Shut up.”

Grinning, Cowboy leaned over to me. “Wow, someone’s in a mood today. Cold feet?”

“Like he’s been walking barefoot through snow,” I said, giggling. I’d never seen Jake nervous before, but I couldn’t help enjoying it.

“How’s the swear jar coming along?” Cowboy asked with a smirk.

“It’s about half full already. I should probably have a five-gallon swear bucket instead.”

Cowboy chuckled. “Well, I wanted to be the first to kiss the new bride,” Cowboy said, hesitating and looking over to Jake, as if he were asking permission.

Jake became more annoyed. “You do know you’re supposed to do that after we’re married, right?”

“Well, yeah,” Cowboy said, “That only applies to traditional weddings. But it’s okay, Jake. If you’re afraid she might back out of marrying you after locking lips with me, then I can’t blame you.” Cowboy winked at me to let me know he was goading Jake.

I smiled, but it faded, along with the color in my cheeks, when Jake said, “Go ahead.”

Cowboy looked as shocked as I was. “What?”

“You heard me,” Jake said. “One kiss. That’s all you get, so you better make it good. Because after that, if you even think of putting another one of your body parts near her, I’m going to see if I can’t straighten out the bone in your nose by breaking it a second time.”

He had to be kidding, right? “Jake, this isn’t funn—”

Cowboy didn’t waste any time. His fingers dug into my waist as he cradled me against him, securing his mouth over mine. My lips froze and I tried to push my hands against his chest, but he held me tighter. He was taking this one kiss, whether I liked it or not.

Satisfied he had done the best job he could on an unwilling partner, he released me from his death grip. I swayed to the left, and Jake had to keep me from falling.

“Oh, give me a break. It wasn’t that good,” Jake insisted angrily.

A proud smile smeared across Cowboy’s face.

“Oh God! I think I’m going to be sick,” I replied, placing my hand over my mouth.

Cowboy’s grin faded and transformed into a smirk on Jake’s mouth. “Do you want to sit for a minute?” Jake asked.

“No, I think I got overheated.”

The frustration and confusion showed on both of their faces. “Okay, it isn’t funny anymore,” Cowboy said, irritated. “Did I make you sick or hot?”

“I’d like to know myself,” Jake muttered.

I groaned, annoyed with both of them. “I’m pregnant, you morons!”

Cowboy’s eyes widened. “Damn. I’m better than I thought.”

Jake’s face paled, and I realized I’d ruined my own surprise. I planned to tell him once we were alone and in bed on our wedding night, not after I had made out with his best friend.

“Hey, ho!” Gina called out. She and Dale walked over with huge smiles, obviously having seen the kiss. “How’s the big, bad wolf treating you?”