Page 16 of Burn Bag

“Happily married.”

“You also met your woman in a tornado and refused to admit you liked her.”

“Not refused. I didn’t tell her. I got the sign.”

I rolled my eyes at him. “You didn’t get the sign. You had crossed signals. There’s a difference.”

“No difference,” he snapped, getting to his feet. “She clearly told me to back off.”

“And she says you clearly told her you weren’t interested in a relationship with her!”

“Bah! Like that could ever be true! You were there. You saw the chemistry between us.”

Here we go.

“Every time we were in the room together, it was like fireworks.She sat on my lap at night. She snuggled me in bed. I mean, who could possibly think we didn’t belong together?”

“You, you big jackass! She was living with you the whole fucking time, sleeping in your bed, and you didn’t make a move!”

“Actually, I did. Remember? That’s how she got pregnant.”

“By accident! Neither of you actually thought you’d had sex! Geez, it was pathetic as hell!”

“Hey, am I sitting over here criticizing you for meeting a woman you intend to marry in two days?”

“Yes! That’s all you’ve fucking done from the moment I started doing this!”

“That’s because it’s insane!”

A woman in a green apron walked over, her face flushed as she approached. “I’m sorry, but could you keep it down? You’re disturbing the other customers.”

“Sorry,” I muttered, taking my seat again.

“Look,” Dash leaned in as the woman walked away. “Just calm the fuck down. You’re getting all worked up, and that is not the way to meet this woman in person, okay?”

I nodded, taking a deep breath just as the bell over the door tinkled. Spinning around, I jumped to my feet as the woman of my dreams walked through the door. With long blonde hair cascading over her shoulders, she glanced around looking for me.

And time stood still.

She was a fucking dream. Those pictures hadn’t done her justice—not one fucking bit. I swallowed hard, trying not to swallow my tongue as she turned and smiled at me. Her eyes lit up, but it was those fucking bright blue eyes that really got to me. It was like a punch to the gut.

“Emily,” I croaked, wiping my hands on my pants. “Hey. I’m Bradford Kavanaugh.”

I held out my hand, wrapping my large one around her petite fingers. Holy hell, it was a miracle. It had actually worked. She was here and she was amazing.

“Bradford,” she said shyly.

“Just Brad or Kavanaugh,” I quickly corrected. “Uh…please, take a seat.”

I pulled out a chair for her, noting the way Dash looked just as surprised at her ethereal beauty as I was. She really was magnificent.

I told you so,I mouthed as I took my own seat.

I smirked at him just before I turned to Emily and studied her beautiful face. How could a woman like this possibly need to go online to find a husband?

“So, tell me about yourself.”

“Uh…” Her eyes flicked to Dash for an uncomfortable moment.

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