“Hey, Cadence,” Andrew smirks. He told me once that he has a look that can get any woman to drop her panties in thirty seconds. I think that might be what he’s trying to give me now but if so, he’s found the one woman immune to his charm. “Can whales even orgasm?”
3
CADENCE
Before I can even blink—let alone respond—Andrew is on the floor. His brother is on top of him, punching him repeatedly.
I gasp, as shock floods through me. I’ve never had anyone defend me like that. Let alone, a strange man that I barely know.
Two of Andrew’s friends finally manage to yank the mountain man off and my groom crawls out from under his brother’s large frame. Fire dances in his eyes but I don’t miss the slight tremble to his hand when he tips his head back and pinches his nose closed.
This can’t be about me. It has to be about some unresolved issues between the brothers. They don’t’ even know me.
“What the hell is your problem? Is your brain still scrambled, you dumb mute?” Andrew demands.
Is that why he’s barely said a word? Could it be that he wasn’t being unfriendly earlier but that he has difficulty communicating?
His chest is still heaving from the exertion of throwing punches. His bloodied knuckles are rapidly turning a deep shade of violet. But it’s the wild look in his eyes that has my heart skipping a beat. He grounds out a word. It’s so low and deep, as if the effort is taking everything from him. “Mine.”
“Wait. You want lardo?” Andrew asks.
He nods at his brother, a fierce look on his face. I think they’re doing this. I think they’re actually negotiating for me. But why would the brutal mountain man want me? More than that, why did he defend me?
“Oh, this is too good. The whale and the idiot.” He snatches tissues from his groomsman and shoves them up his nostrils.
I open my mouth. I should say something here. The deal with Jack only mentioned Andrew. He never said something about having another son or about marrying him instead. Even if I think that maybe this hulking man in front of me might be a better husband, I still can’t risk the terms of the deal. I have to get my dad out of jail, no matter what it takes.
Andrew seems to think over this for a moment before he says, “Tell you what, little bro. You can have her. But you handle mom and dad.”
Savage satisfaction crosses his brother’s expression and I shiver. I’m not afraid of this big man in front of me. I’m afraid of the excited pull low in my belly and the way he makes my heart speed up with a single look.
Andrew issues commands to his assistant, clearly grateful to be done with me. He must really hate me if he’s willing to let go of the payday his parents were about to deposit in his account. But I can’t bring myself to feel hurt or upset. Instead, all I feel is deep relief. Like I’ve just escaped a near collision.
“You and tubby have fun making little piglets,” Andrew’s parting shot is nasally thanks to the damage to his face.
His brother takes one step toward the door. That’s all he has to do. The slightest shift of his weight on his feet and Andrew and the other groomsmen are shoving each other out of the way. The man in front of me might be the little brother, but he’s clearly an alpha.
He nods to himself when they’re all gone then turns to me. His movements are slow when he holds out his hand. His knuckles are bruised for me. He fought for me, to keep me out of a marriage with a cruel man. He speaks now, once again sounding like his vocal chords have been scraped with gravel. “Marry. Me.”
If there were ever a moment to back out of the deal with the Abernathy family, this is it. If I had an ounce of self-preservation, maybe I would. Instead, I take his hand in mine. Just like that, I jump from the frying pan into the fire.
Thirty minutes. That’s how long it took for the Abernathy parents to switch out the grooms. I don’t know what was said or what deals were made behind the scenes, but I went to Jack. I made sure my arrangement with him was still in place.
He regarded me through the hazy smoke of a cigar and assured me that this was a better idea than anything he could have dreamed up. I don’t know what that means, but I don’t care. As long as my father is set free and the fake charges against him are dropped.
I also finally got the name of my groom. Brennon, a name that means prince. But he doesn’t carry himself like one. No, my soon-to-be husband carries himself like a king, a man who owns everything and fears nothing. He answers to no one and rules all he desires.