Evin's Fight (Southern Charmers 3)

“Are we trespassing?” I whisper, ducking.

He smiles, tugging me along. “Len knows we’re here.”

“Where exactly is here?”

“Stick with me.” I follow him to the end of a long dock where he cages me between his body and the railing.

I don’t know where to look first. “This is incredible.”

“Remember when I mentioned I bought my place solely for the view from my porch?”

I nod, my heart speeding.

“I’m across the way.”

“You wake up to this every day?”

“It’s similar. Not as open, considering this is a few acres. That’s why this is one of my favorite places in the world.”

“You know the owners of this property?”

“Len is a client of mine and invites me out fishing a few times a year. We take the boat mostly, but sometimes set up here and just enjoy the views of the water.”

“I can understand why it’s your favorite.”

“One of my favorites. Recently, it lost its top spot.” He brushes his lips over my ear, causing an all-over shiver.

I turn into him, wrapping my arms around his neck. “I love you.” My fingers slide to run along the stubble on his jaw. “Thank you for not being mad at me.”

“I don’t like it. It fucking sucks, but it’s impossible to be mad at you.”

Monday morning, after our remarkable and unforgettable wedding night, my mind was in a state of euphoria so thick, I felt like I could conquer the world. Our marriage may have been spontaneous, impulsive, and lightning-fast, but it was no less magical. Loving a man like Evin Graham is an honor, and what we have is exactly what I wanted. Three weeks, three months, three years—regardless of how long it took us to get to that point, I wouldn’t change a thing. Every woman deserves to have that bliss in her lifetime.

Which is when my thoughts went to Stephanie. They’d planned months, spent tons of money, and this weekend she’d be the most beautiful thing in Todd’s world. She deserved the same love and affection surrounding her on her wedding day.

I couldn’t take any chances of taking even a second of the spotlight off her. We needed to keep our marriage quiet until after the weekend.

Evin didn’t like this idea at all.

As in, he extremely didn’t like it.

I’d seen him upset the night Rina’s text interrupted our evening. Heard his irritation the night I fought about my airline ticket. But I’d never witnessed him mad.

It wasn’t pretty, but I understood how he felt when the situation was reversed.

He was hot. Like smoking, amped-up, to blazing-hot. Chris Hemsworth disappeared altogether, and I faced a living, breathing, bossy, demanding, alpha-male that was not budging.

I had to get creative and took advantage of my newfound sexuality, pouncing on him. He still didn’t agree, but after hearing my words while deep inside me, he compromised.

Sunday night, we’ll announce our news after the wedding weekend.

He takes my hand at his cheek and kisses the band on my ring finger. “You ready to go to your new home?”

“More than ready.”

We leave the dock, and this time a couple is on the back terrazzo. They wave their drinks in the air, acknowledging us as we pass through.

My anxiety grows on the ride. Not because of nerves, but excitement.

When he pulls into his designated space, I’m ready to jump out of my skin.

“Stay here,” he instructs.

“I am perfectly capable of launching to the ground out of this massive beast.”

He grins, slamming his door, coming to my side, and lifting me like he did at our wedding. “One more tradition we’re not missing.” He kisses me quickly.

I join in, throwing my arms around his shoulders and letting him carry me.

He punches in a code on the lock and pushes the door open, stepping over the threshold.

“Welcome home, Poppy Graham.”

I swallow the lump in my throat and smile through it.

“My baby is about to cry.”

“I hate how you can read me so well.”

His grin turns cocky as he places me on my feet in the middle of the room. “Look around, I’ll get our bags.”

While he’s gone, I take in the space and instantly fall in love. It’s masculine yet comfortable. The small hints of color most likely came from Darby and Annie, but they add a lot to his mostly dark furniture.

Since it’s an open floor plan, it’s easy to get a feeling for it all at once.

“Our bedroom is down here, behind the kitchen.” He lugs the suitcases through the house and I eagerly follow.

The first thing I notice is the massive bouquet of fresh flowers in the center of his dresser. “Oh, my.”

“That was the only thing Mom had to do was deliver flowers, but it seems she couldn’t help herself.” His gaze is on the bed, which has a beautiful overloaded basket sitting in the center with my name on a note.