Page 61 of Knockout (Whiskey Dolls 2)

A chorus of agreements rang out through the room. I loved my girls for being so optimistic. I just hoped it ended the way they were imagining.

27

Jude

Ithought catching Gram and Layla together a few weeks back at her apartment was my worst nightmare brought to life, but I’d been wrong. This was it, and as the fancy-ass resort hotel, tucked deep into the towering trees that stretched from the mountains and reached toward the sky, came into view, my gut roiled and pitched, a clammy sweat beading along my upper lip, forehead, and palms.

“Whoa,” Layla breathed as she leaned forward in the passenger seat of my Jeep, craning her neck to look up at the monstrous hotel. “This place is insane.”

“Let’s turn back,” I croaked, the anxiety that had been crawling up my throat the whole way here making me hoarse. “It’s not too late. We can go home and spend the whole weekend in bed.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw her look at me with raised brows. “Are you crazy? That was a three-hour drive! The chance for you to turn back passed about the same time I finished that Big Gulp. If I don’t get to a bathroom soon, you’re going to have to buy a new car.”

I shot her a flat look. “You’re the one who made me stop for road trip snacks. It’s not my fault you drank your weight in soda.”

“It’s the rule of the road,” she defended. “You have to have junk food and sugary drinks to road trip! Everyone knows that.” She made a face that screamedduh, and picked up the huge fountain drink she’d bought back at the gas station she’d made me stop at, slurping the dregs through the straw.

“Stop drinking,” I exclaimed. “That’s what got us in trouble in the first place!”

She sucked on the straw even harder just to mess with me with me. “Hey, this is going to be great,” she stated once she was done, trying for a soothing tone that did absolutely nothing to ease the unpleasant churning in my gut. Reaching across the center console, she placed her hand on my thigh and gave it a gentle squeeze.

A bark of sarcastic laughter burst from my throat and filled the cab of my car. “You’re kidding right? This is going to be a shit show, princess. No two ways about it.”

“With everyone else, maybe. But don’t forget, you have me and your grandmother. And we’re both pretty awesome company.”

I snorted derisively. “I’m still not talking to Gram,” I grumbled. “She’s the one who got me into this fucking mess in the first place.”

“Aw, poor baby,” she cooed teasingly as she strained against her seatbelt to lean over the console and press her lips against my cheek in a smacking kiss. “Don’t worry, I’m here to protect you. No one is going to screw with you while I’m around, I promise.”

But it wasn’t me I was worried about. I knew what I was walking into; I knew just how awful my family was. I didn’t care about myself, I worried about what could potentially happy to Layla. I worried that I wouldn’t be able to protectherfrom these vultures. I just got her, and every day we’d spent together only made my feelings for her grow. The thought that these assholes could possibly send her running scared the shit out of me.

The hotel was just ahead, the drive curving into a huge circle with a valet stand right outside the entrance. The closer we got, the tighter my chest got.

“There’s still time,” I insisted. “We can turn around and I’ll find a gas station or something so you can pee. If we leave now, I promise that when we get home, I’ll do that thing with my tongue you like so much.”

Layla blew out a raspberry before laughing. “Got news for you, buddy. You’re going to do that thing anyway. Especially if you want me to do that thing withmytongue that you like so much.”

I let out an unhappy grunt even as my dick started to twitch. “You’re going to run screaming for the hills before this weekend is over, mark my words. Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” I mumbled, finally giving voice to my biggest concern about this weekend.

“Hey,” she called, waiting for me to glance in her direction before smiling brightly. “I know you’re not looking forward to this, and from the stories I’ve heard, I don’t really blame you. But I’m made of some pretty tough stuff, trust me. I’m not going to be run off or scared away by some rich, snooty jerk-offs with sticks up their asses and enough Botox between them to kill a horse.” I managed to let out a semi-genuine chuckle at that. “And hey, you’re forgetting to look on the bright side.”

“Yeah? Not sure thereisa bright side to an extended weekend with the Kingsley clan.”

“Of course there is.” She gave me a saucy wink. “We get to have all the hot, raunchy hotel sex we want for the next three days.”

I groaned just as I made the curve to the valet stand. Can younottry to get me hard when we’re seconds away from walking right into a nest of rattle snakes, please?”

“Sorry, sorry,” she giggled, not looking sorry at all as I pulled up and put the car in park. “I’ll behave. For now.”

Christ, she was going to be the death of me. But I couldn’t think of a better way to go.

She reached for the passenger door handle, ready to climb out, when I placed a staying hand on her arm. “Hold on. One thing before we head in there.” Layla looked at me with open curiosity as I leaned toward her, reaching past to flip the glove compartment open. “To sell it to everyone in there,” I stated, holding up the ring Gram had given me the day before. “Can’t have my fiancée walking in there with a naked finger, now can I?”

Hey eyes widened to the size of saucers, her jaw hanging open as she gaped at the ring. “Is thatreal?”

I glanced at the massive solitaire, the sunlight coming through the windows of my Jeep and catching the diamond, sending a rainbow of colors exploding outward. “Yeah. It’s Gram’s wedding ring. She thought it would add a little believability to this weekend.”

“I can’t wear that!” she yelped, the color draining from her face, leaving her an unnatural shade of sickly white.

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