“Come on, Jade. We should be back from our honeymoon by now, settling in together. Both of us starting our careers at Dad’s Denver satellite.”
“Yeah, we should. But you know what? I’m here, hanging out with Marj and her brothers, and I’m having a great time. I’m really glad to be here. My bar results are due any day now, and in the meantime, I’m working for one of Marj’s brothers at the winery. I’m learning lots of stuff that I’m becoming passionate about. All in all, I’m glad we didn’t get married. I think it really would’ve been a mistake. So I should thank you.”
His lips trembled. “Please don’t say that.”
“Why not? You embarrassed and humiliated me in front of all of our family and friends, Colin. At the time, I didn’t think I could ever forgive you for that. But I can now, because I think it was the right thing in the long run.”
“Jade—”
“I don’t want to hear it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have lots to do today.” I took his arm and started walking him out the door.
He turned and grabbed me, pulled me into him, and pressed his lips to mine.
I gasped, and he slid his tongue into my mouth. Everything about this kiss felt wrong. I tried pushing him away, but his strength defeated mine.
“What the fuck is going on here?”
The voice came out of nowhere. Heavy footfalls. Toward us. Powerful arms wrenched me away from Colin’s grasp.
Talon stood, glaring, his eyes afire. “Who the hell are you?”
Colin stumbled backward. “It’s okay. I’m her fiancé.”
“Her what?” Talon said through clenched teeth.
“Talon, it’s all right,” I said, wiping Colin’s taste from my lips. “He was just leaving.”
“You never touch her again.”
Colin stood his ground. He wasn’t as tall as Talon, but he was buff, a great athlete. “Or what?”
In an instant, Talon jammed his fist into Colin’s cheek. Caught off guard, Colin fell against the wall. Talon grabbed him by the neck and punched him again, this one landing square on Colin’s nose. Blood oozed from his nostrils, while Talon gripped his shoulders and threw him to the floor, kicking his stomach. Colin groaned, covering his nose.
“Talon,” I yelled. “Talon, stop! Please!”
He kept kicking Colin, who lay on the floor doubled over.
I grabbed Talon around the waist, my heart thundering. “Please! You’re really going to hurt him.”
No change.
“Please! For me!”
Talon froze mid-kick. His facial features went blank, and he backed away.
I bent to Colin. “Are you okay?”
He nodded. “I’ll be fine, I think,” he choked out. “I’ve taken worse on the football field.”
“I’ll show you worse.”
I looked up. Talon’s dark eyes were glazed, ferocious.
“Oh, no, you don’t, Talon. Don’t just stand there. Go get him an ice pack for his nose.”
Talon hesitated for a minute but then walked to the kitchen. A few seconds later, he came back with a plastic bag filled with ice. I held it to Colin’s nose.