going because we need to get into the reception.”
I didn’t wait for Clyde’s reply. He called after us, “Nice to meet you, Jade. Y’all enjoy the rest of your weekend.”
With my arm firmly around Jade’s waist, I steered her through the crowd as we made our way into the reception. I had to admit, Jade had thoroughly dissuaded me from the idea that I had control of this situation. If she hadn’t gone and kissed me this morning, I might’ve been able to live within that illusion.
As we crested the top of the stairs, Jade murmured, “Well, I must admit you’re good at marking your territory.”
“Excuse me?”
We stopped in the hallway where it was quieter, the voices muted from the large event room nearby where the reception was being held and the crowd was filtering in.
Jade moved slightly, not stepping away from where my arm was wrapped around her waist, but shifting to face me better. Her dark hair fell to the side, and she brushed it over her shoulder. “Mark your territory. You know, showing up when that guy was being nothing more than polite to me. I swear, men can be just like dogs. Actually, that’s not fair. I adore dogs.”
I couldn’t help it. I burst out laughing. “I love dogs too, so I don’t mind being compared to them.”
Jade rolled her eyes.
“You did say we needed to put on a good act. Also, you kissed me this morning, so you started it.”
“Is that what I did?” she murmured, her cheeks flushing a deeper shade of pink.
I didn’t know why I said what I said next. Maybe it was all this talk about weddings and love. Maybe it was watching my best friend get married. Maybe it was Dave’s passing comment that I must believe in love if I believed he loved Jenny. Maybe it was because my brain was addled by the hum of desire sizzling through me whenever I was near Jade. Maybe it was my ex-girlfriend’s observation that I seemed to have a lot more with Jade than I’d ever had with her. I didn’t think I would ever know what prompted my next comment.
Yet, the curiosity had been simmering under the surface ever since I heard the rumors that Jade didn’t ever date and was open about her intention never to do so. I wasn’t usually curious like this. But, there were a lot of things I wasn’t usually like when it came to Jade.
“Rumor has it you’ve permanently sworn off men. Tell me why.”
I didn’t miss the brief flicker of surprise in Jade’s eyes. I certainly didn’t miss the way she stiffened slightly in my arms. I barely heard it, but I didn’t miss the hiss of her breath between her teeth.
She was quiet for a few beats, and then she shrugged. “What does it matter?”
I didn’t know why it mattered to me, but it absolutely did.
Chapter Eleven
Jade
What does it matter?
My own question mocked me while we sat at a table during the reception. It didn’t surprise me Walker had heard I didn’t date. Stolen Hearts Valley was a small world. People talked. I also hadn’t tried to keep it a secret. I’d stated my intentions and thrown it back into the faces of anyone who questioned me. Social expectations never sat well with me. People shouldn’t be bound by what others expected of them. Women, especially, had spent so many centuries under the brutal thumb of social expectations largely dictated by men.
I wanted to be independent and sure as hell didn’t appreciate people questioning that choice. I was fine. Better than fine. I savored my choice and the freedom of just not worrying about the whole stupid dating world.
And yet, here I was at a wedding where people were sighing and happily getting teary over the bride and groom. Dave and Jenny truly seemed to love each other, and it was lovely.
Based on the responses, I was pulling off a good little act with Walker of convincing people we were an actual couple, offering only the vaguest of details about meeting at Stolen Hearts Lodge and so on. The part that had me restlessly crossing and uncrossing my legs and shifting my shoulders was the fact it was definitely no act that I wanted him.
Hell, I craved him. Every little subtle touch was electrifying—his hand holding mine, his arm around my waist with his strong palm curled around my hip, and the feel of his lips pressing against my neck with a