Page 55 of Christmas Candy

“Daisy, move.” I would do whatever it took to explain the photo to Jess.

“No.” Daisy put her hands on her hips.

I could have easily manhandled her out of the way, but I was in enough trouble as it was. Still, I took a step toward her, hoping to intimidate her. Nope, she just kicked her chin up and dared me to do shit about it. No wonder Jess loved her.

“Daisy, please.” Craig said from over my shoulder. “You and I both know that Michael’s head over heels in love with Jess. That photo doesn’t mean shit. Let him by.”

She pointed her finger in my face, so close it almost touched my nose. “You better have a good goddamn explanation, because if you don’t, I will have your goddamn balls in a jar on my mantle.IfI can find a small enough jar. Wait here.” Daisy turned and disappeared behind the door. I couldn’t catch a glimpse of what was inside, though the space looked roomier than the groom’s quarters.

After a few moments, the bridesmaids filed out, their eyes downcast.

“Come in,” Daisy called.

I darted in, desperate to find Jess, to explain.

“Whoa.” Daisy blocked my path and held up a swatch of cloth. “Turn around. You can’t see her before the wedding. I’ve already blindfolded her. I don’t know if her seeing you is bad or not, but I’m not risking it. Once your eyes are covered, you can talk to her.”

If she’d said “I’m going to drive bamboo shoots under your fingernails and then you can talk,” I wouldn’t have cared. I would have held my hands out and waited impatiently for her to get it done. I had to get to Jess.

I bent down and let her tie the sash.

“Okay, follow me.” She led me a few steps and then directed me to sit.

A sniffle caught my ear and a piece of my heart froze and shattered. Jess was crying.

“She’s sitting right next to you. I’m going to stand outside. Jess, yell if you need me.”

“O-Okay.” Another sniffle.

I reached my hand out next to me and patted around until I found hers. She didn’t pull away at least.

“Let me explain.”

“Okay. Explain why you were kissing a model.”

I winced, but I wasn’t going to pass up this chance. “I was doing the swimsuit edition shoot. Sadie wanted to know if she made the cover. She hugged me and kissed meon the cheek. That was it. I told her that you’re my girl. She knows I love you. She just wanted to know if she made the cover. I swear, baby. Please don’t cry. I can have my assistant get her number if you want. You can call her. I promise you’re the only one for me. I love you. I would never do that to you. I swear on my life.” I ended my plea on a desperate note.

I was foolish for not telling her sooner. I’d gone to her office that night to tell her, but then put it off because of what happened with Mr. Avery. And after that, I’d forgotten about it.

She took a deep, shaking breath. “I believe you.”

I could breathe again. My heart beating, but only for her.

“I want to see you so bad, baby.” I clutched her hand and kissed the back of it. “To look in your eyes and tell you how much I love you.”

“I know. I missed you.” Her voice still crackled with tears, but it was clearing up. “I knew you wouldn’t. I just knew it. But I wanted to be sure.”

“It’s okay. I should have told you about it when it happened. I intended to, but that was the day at your office…” I didn’t want to bring up that bad memory on our wedding day.

“I understand.” She squeezed my hand. “And I have something to confess, too.”

I tensed and tried to keep my voice calm, any number of dark ideas trying to crowd my frontal lobe. “What’s that?”

“Daisy took me to an all-male review last night. Strippers.” She sounded horrified.

I couldn’t subdue my chuckle. “It’s okay, babe. It was your bachelorette party and with Daisy, I expected nothing less.”

She sighed, a relieved sound that soothed me right along with her. “Thank god. I was so embarrassed.” She paused. “Wait, did you go to a strip club, too?”

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