Page 103 of Hard Knock Hero

“Yes, boss,” I said.

She swatted my arm. “Such a little shit.”

“Guilty as charged,” I said, hiding a smile. Just like she was. Then I relented, swooping in to kiss my mom on the cheek. “You look very pretty tonight, by the way.”

“Shush.” She shook her head at me. “Go on, then.”

I dodged more family members and acquaintances on my way across the room. My sisters and Harper were smirking at me, probably about to launch into something sarcastic, so I grabbed Jessi’s hand and steered her straight onto the dancefloor.

I pulled her against me.Finally. “I missed having my arms around you.”

Jessi beamed at me. “I’ve been having agreattime.”

I grumbled. “What did they say about me?”

She rested her head on my shoulder, laughing softly. She didn’t answer my question. “They’re all so Californian. Blond and tan. Like they’re from a magazine. You’re the only one who looks like your dad.”

I turned, and every other Shelborne had their eyes on us. “I hear that a lot.”

“The wedding was gorgeous, and dinner was amazing,” Jessi gushed. “Somebody canceled at the last minute, so there was a spot for me. It’s been kinda magical, actually. Right now most of all.”

I shrugged. “Of course dinner was amazing.”

She snorted. “Out of all I just said, that’s what you’re focused on? Your food?”

“What else do you expect?”

“I did have some thoughts on your béchamel, though.”

My brow wrinkled. “That sauce was on point.”

“Yes, but it could’ve been better.”

“Ohreally.” I tugged her closer, glowering.

“If you’re trying to distract me by being ruggedly sexy, it’s working.”

I bent down to kiss her neck. “Actually, I’m the one who’s been distracted. I was worried my family would make you have second thoughts about me.”

“Not at all. They’ve been wonderful.”

“So they didn’t tell a million stories about me as a kid?”

“Oh, they did. Jake and Madison had the most. You sounded pretty awful.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Good thing I’m moving to Colorado. I’m going to disown all of them.”

Jessi laughed, snuggling into me. “They love you, Aiden. It’s obvious. I don’t want to take you away from them.”

“But I want to go. I told Jake how I feel about you, and he gets it. The rest of them will too.”

I would be starting over. So much was uncertain right now. But somehow, I was sure about what Jessi and I could have together. If we worked for it. Now that I’d had a glimpse, I wanted that future with every fiber of my being. I was going to take hold of the possibilities we were building in both my hands, and I was going to hold on tight.

Her eyes flicked up to mine, and they reflected the fairy lights that the wedding planner had strung all over the venue. Shining like stars. “I can’t believe this is my life,” she whispered. “Things like this aren’t supposed to happen to girls like me.”

“Things like what?”

“The perfect man showing up in town and sweeping me off my feet.”

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