Entangled (The Accidental Billionaires #2) - J. S. Scott Page 0,47

can’t let him bully me into things, either.”

She set her mug down on the table. “He’s pushing too hard? I know Aiden has a tendency to go after what he wants with a vengeance.”

“God, I can’t really say that he’s demanding that I do things. Well, not very often, anyway. But he can be pretty persuasive.”

Jade laughed. “I know. He got me to eat my vegetables all the time. And I sure as hell didn’t want to. But he usually tried to bargain with Brooke and me.”

“He hasn’t changed much, then,” I replied drily.

“But his heart is good.”

“I know.”

“So give him a chance,” she requested. “Take it at your own pace.”

“That’s the plan,” I confided. “Though sometimes I want to put the pedal to the metal with him, but then I get . . . scared.”

“Relationships are pretty terrifying sometimes,” she agreed. “My connection with Eli certainly never went smoothly. And sometimes I still can’t believe he’s my husband. Me. The little geeky animal lover. How did I end up with someone like Eli Stone?”

“He’s lucky to have you,” I defended.

Maybe Eli was one of the richest men in the world, but nobody was too good for my best friend.

She rolled her eyes. “That’s what my family says, too. But it still seems surreal to be Jade Stone.”

I snorted. “You’ll get used to it.”

“I suppose I will. But I never want to take Eli for granted. What we have is . . . special.”

“You won’t, Jade. You’re not the type. You appreciate everything you have.”

“So do you,” she said confidently. “Just don’t let your fears rule your life.”

I nodded and then took a sip of my own coffee.

Unlike Jade, I didn’t have a husband who would walk through hell for me. But that didn’t mean that I couldn’t appreciate the fact that Aiden wanted me, even though I was still kind of a train wreck.

“I think that I’m afraid he’ll realize how much I’ve changed, and that will push him away,” I mused.

“Maybe you aren’t the same woman you were at eighteen, but none of us are, Skye. Experiences shape us all as we grow up. But you’re still the same sweet friend you’ve always been. Nothing has changed that. Okay, you bury your emotions more, but you have good reasons to do that. Trust takes time. I think after what you’ve been through, I’d prefer you were wary than to trust every single person you meet.”

“I just hope Aiden can be patient,” I said uncertainly.

“Um . . . patience has never been his strong suit,” she advised. “He’s always pretty much known what he wanted, and then he tries like hell to make it happen.”

I smiled because she’d just described her brother exactly. “He’s stubborn.”

“I’m not going to argue with that,” Jade said with a smirk.

“Talking about me?” Eli asked from the door.

Jade shot out of her chair and ran to hug her new husband like he’d been gone for months.

And it was adorable.

Eli kissed her, and my best friend came away with her cheeks on fire.

Aiden came through the door with a grin. “You two at it again?”

“I can’t help myself,” Eli shot back at Aiden.

“It’s time for you two to get moving on to the honeymoon. I don’t really want to watch my little sister get groped.”

“We’re on our way,” Eli said jovially. “Unless Jade needs more time with Skye.”

“Nope,” I spoke up. “We’re good. But I’m going to want to see lots of pictures.”

“You guys are about ready to go, too, right?” Eli asked.

“Go where?” I questioned, puzzled by his comment.

“You and Aiden are—”

Jade reached out and slapped her hand over her husband’s mouth. “Time to go, Eli,” she told him firmly.

I watched a silent communication between husband and wife that I didn’t understand as Jade took her hand from Eli’s mouth and he grabbed her hand. “So we’re out of here,” he said sheepishly. “Take care, both of you. We’ll see you in a month.”

Aiden frowned. “You better call. I want to know you got there safe.”

“I will.” Jade hugged her brother. “I promise.”

“Eventually, you’re going to have to learn that I can take care of your sister,” Eli joked with Aiden.

“Not happening anytime soon,” Aiden said obstinately. “Just call.”

I had to bite my lip to keep from smiling. Aiden had been protective of his sisters his entire life. He’d raised them. And he wasn’t going to stop just because they were both married now.

There was a flurry of good-byes, and then Aiden and I