More Than Hate You (More Than Words)

“I’m fine.”

Like hell. Her face drawn so tight, she’s almost expressionless. But I see her pain. Rawson’s unexpected appearance on her wedding day was a body blow. Though she’s trying to hold herself together, she looks a half second from falling apart.

But she won’t give in to her emotions in front of everyone, especially Evan—and me.

Taking Sloan’s hand in mine, we cross the lanai, accepting congratulations and well wishes along the way. Evan and Nia catch us just before we ease inside the house—and into the honeymoon suite for the next twenty-four hours.

“I’ve got the office covered until Monday,” my boss assures me. “Turn off your phone and enjoy married life.”

Given how tense Sloan is, that will be easier said than done. But I simply smile. “That’s my plan.”

“We left a few things for you to enjoy in your suite,” Nia confesses, wearing a wide grin. “Y’all should have fun.”

Since I didn’t give Evan any time to throw me a bachelor party, and all the ladies pouted that I’d rushed Sloan to the altar, subverting a bachelorette bash, I’m almost afraid to see what sorts of things they left us in the suite.

“Thank you,” my wife says nervously.

When Nia starts chatting up Sloan, Evan leans in and drops his voice. “I don’t have to tell you that you need to make this work. There’s a new rumor that Michael Astor will make Wynam’s decision in the next two weeks. The moment we’ve officially assumed control of Reservoir, I have an email ready to go, advising him that we’re now one and the same. You just have to keep your bride too busy to work behind your back for the next five days.”

That’s not all I have to accomplish, but Evan is focused on business, so I nod. “I’ll do my best.”

“Your ex-girlfriends usually wore happy smiles, at least before the breakups, so I assume you have skills.” He claps my shoulder. “Use them.”

Believe me, I’m hoping to. “Understood. Let’s go inside, baby.”

“Stay,” Sloan insists. “Enjoy the party. I need a few minutes alone anyway.”

So she can button up her emotions and build more walls around her heart with me on the other side?

“No.” Before she can object, I lift her into my arms and ignore her squeal. “This is our wedding night. It’s time for us to start being man and wife.”

Sloan clutches my shoulders. Not that I would let her fall, but clearly she doesn’t understand that.

Yet.

“It’s still morning.”

I raise a brow at her. “You know what I mean.”

Before she can reply, our guests turn their attention to us. They cheer and toss flower petals from little pouches I suddenly see in their hands.

I take that as my cue to wave, then slip into the air-conditioned house. Thankfully, Nia shuts the door behind us, leaving the wedding guests outside. Presumably, Keeley and Maxon have other guests staying at the Sunshine Coast Bed-and Breakfast, but they must all be upstairs, still in their rooms. No shock since it’s not even nine o’clock, but that means my wife and I are essentially alone.

I’m taking advantage of it.

And I’m going to do my damnedest to make sure Sloan starts falling for me.

I carry my wife across the great room and round the corner to the honeymoon suite before she turns stiff and begins to wriggle in my grasp. “You can put me down.”

Now that our guests aren’t jubilantly pelting us with rose petals and smiling for our joy, Sloan thinks she’ll retreat into herself? Is she nervous that we’ll be alone for the rest of the day and all night? Or upset that her father crashed our wedding? Probably both.

“I could, but I’m not going to,” I tell her as I make my way to a pale door with a sign that reads male ána. That’s wedding in Hawaiian, which tells me we’re in the right place.

After ducking inside, I kick the door shut behind us, set my wife on her feet, and stare down into her wide, wary eyes. “You look so beautiful. I didn’t get a chance to tell you earlier.”

She looks away. “You don’t have to say things like that. I’m a big girl. I know this is a business arrangement.”

One she probably already regrets. If she tied herself to me purely in the hopes of saving the sinking ship for her father, she has just cause to be bitter.