I spin around with a goofy grin on my face. “Saxon is going to lose his mind.”
Layla nods. “You look stunning.”
I look at her curiously. “How much is it? I’m not spending some ungodly amount no matter how amazingly perfect it is.”
Layla smirks. “It doesn’t matter because Mum and I are buying it for you.”
I gape. “What?”
“Consider it a wedding gift.”
“Layla are you crazy that’s not necessary—”
She holds her hand up. “I want to do something nice for you, so stop arguing. There’s no point.”
“I’m a lawyer, I’ll never stop arguing,” I grumble.
She walks to the desk to pay for the dress while I hesitantly take it off.
I leave the store with a huge smile on my face.
*****
I walk into the gym and nod my head at Reid.
“You’ve been MIA,” he notes. “I heard about what happened to you, and I’m sorry.”
I ignore his speech and walk up to him and hug him. He stands there for a moment, but finally gives me an awkward tap on my back. “Thank you for teaching me.”
He clears his throat. “You’re welcome. You coming back to train some more?”
“Of course I am,” I tell him. “I’d be stupid to turn down this opportunity.”
He gives me an odd look. “I got a visit from your man.”
I groan. “You have to be kidding me right now.”
His lip twitches. “Don’t worry I told him that under no circumstance, single or not, I wouldn’t touch you with a ten foot pole.”
He blocks my punch to the gut. “You ass munch!”
His laugh grates on my damn nerves.
“I’ll have you know, I’m wanted by many a men,” I tell him sticking my tongue out.
“Trust me I know,” he replies. “I’ve seen them all over you at the bar. Now you want to train or you want to sit around and talk about how hot you think you are?”
I narrow my eyes. “I think I’m talented enough to do both. At the same time.”
He smirks and nods to the ring. “Let’s do this then.”
He cracks his knuckles.
I roll my eyes. Reid would never hurt me. Although he has this intensity about him, I know he would never hurt any woman.
“Let’s do this,” I tell him.
*****
My boss finds out that Taryn was sleeping with one of the lawyers, and she gets fired. I wish I could say I was a better person and didn’t react, but I couldn’t stop the smirk that was on my face as I watched her pack her belongings and move out of the office. I might have even waved at her.
After work I walk into the Italian restaurant near my house to pick up my food, and then come to a standstill. What the hell is going on here? I see my cousins Jet and Trey, on what looks like a double date. I didn’t even know Trey was back in town! I walk over to them and stand next to the table. Jet curses, but Trey just flashes me one of his charming smiles, stands, and hugs me.
“How have you been?” I ask him, kissing his smooth cheek.
I lean over and kiss Jet on his cheek too.
“Good. Tee this is my girlfriend Sadie, and this is Kelly- Jet’s date.”
The girls say hi, in a guarded ‘how do you know my man’ way.
“Nice to meet you, I’m their cousin,” I say, emphasizing the word cousin. “So put your claws away.”
Trey looks down at Sadie and frowns. “I told you about my cousin Tenielle, remember?”
I get the feeling that Trey is serious about this Sadie. She has dark hair and eyes, with flawless pale skin and red lips. She is stunning.
Sadie smiles, this time genuinely. “Yes, I’m sorry. It’s just that you’re stunning and…”
And I don’t exactly look like either of them because of my darker skin.
I wave a dismissive hand in the air. “No problem. I just wanted to say hi.”
“Did you hear the news?” Jet asks.
“What?”
“Trey is joining the band,” he replies, looking at Trey fondly.
I smile widely. “That’s amazing. Congrats Trey. Crawfords are taking over the band, huh?”
Trey laughs. “Something like that. I think they needed some extra sexy.”
I scoff. “Saxon is all the sexy Morning Alliance will ever need.”
“Congrats on your engagement by the way,” Trey tells me. “And I’ll always be here to make sure he treats you right.”
I roll my eyes. “He treats me like a queen, don’t worry about that.”
“He better. Do you want to stay and eat with us?” Trey asks.
“No I’m good,” I tell him. Sweet that he asked though. “You guys have fun.”
I look to the women. “Be good to my cousins or I will come after you.”
With that parting comment, I walk away grinning.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Saxon
“Saxon! Saxon! Can I have your signature?” a woman asks as I exit the studio.
“Sure,” I tell her, signing in a book and wishing her well. When I see a camera following me, I sigh and slide into my car, driving off and hoping not to be followed. I stop at Ryder’s house on the way home after he rang me this morning and asked me to stop in for a chat. Lexi opens the door and lets me in, and I find Ryder sitting in his living room strumming on his guitar.