My Vegas Groom (The Greene Family #3) - Piper Rayne Page 0,49

it to stop. Nikki stirs in my arms, and I kiss her temple.

“Go back to sleep,” I whisper and slide out of bed.

I don’t have a lot of expectations for today’s workout. My body is sore from the workout Nikki gave me last night. The movie only lasted fifteen minutes before she was kissing my chest and one thing turned into another. We ended up back in the shower, then went down for a snack at two in the morning. I’m not sure how much sex we had the night of our wedding, but last night, I’m fairly sure we exceeded that.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about where her head will be with the sunrise, but I’m hoping it remains where it was last night and she’s finally crossed over that bridge of doubt.

After pulling on my track pants, a T-shirt, and a sweatshirt, I brush my teeth and grab my gym shoes, then quietly walk out of the bedroom. I should be home before she even wakes up.

Craig is already stretching outside when I open the front door.

“You’re late,” he says.

“Like, two minutes.” I sit on the porch stairs and put on my shoes.

“You’re never late.” He gives me a look that makes me think he somehow knows Nikki’s in my bed. Which makes no sense because he’s the one who doubted our marriage was real. “Wife keeping you up?”

I shake my head, finish tying my gym shoes, and jog in place. “This isn’t yoga, let’s go.”

“You’re going to be the one with a Charlie horse.” He laughs, and we start on the trail he’s mapped out for us. “So…” He elbows me.

I glance over. “What?”

“I don’t want details, but last night I woke up in the middle of the night and your kitchen light was on. I saw two shadows.”

“You fucking Peeping Tom,” I say, and he laughs.

“I wasn’t peeking in. I just happened to see. When I saw someone crouch down and then the other’s head tilt back, I had the decency to go back to bed.”

“How considerate of you,” I say dryly.

There’s no way I can hide the smile that breaks free from just the memory of having Nikki to myself last night.

Craig pushes me in the shoulder, and I lose my footing for a moment. “You son of a bitch. You took my advice, and it worked.”

“Technically no. I tried the whole let it go thing, but after the retirement center, we ended up in a fight.” Maybe I should’ve given her more space, but I feel like I did the right thing.

“I love that. When you’re all heated and angry and you just go after one another.” Craig jogs to the right up a trail we haven’t been on before.

“It didn’t happen quite like that. Where the hell are we going?”

“I took this trail the other day and it adds another mile, which you need now that we’re getting closer to the fight.” He pats my stomach and sprints ahead of me.

“I want to take her on a date,” I say. “But I have no idea what we could even do around here.”

“I’m sure she’s done everything this place has to offer.”

I nod. “Exactly. And I don’t want it to be cliché.”

“You need to fly her out of here then. Go somewhere just the two of you. Without Vince finding out. He keeps calling and asking what the situation is up here.”

I shake my head. “If he’s so concerned, then why doesn’t he just come up here and see for himself what’s going on?”

He slows to a steady jog when we hit downtown. “I gotta ask you a question and I want you to be upfront with me.” The good humor from earlier is gone.

I slow my pace, wondering what’s concerning Craig. “What’s up?”

He glances over then away before looking me in the eye. “I know we touched on this before but do you think Rinaldo is your last fight? Are you retiring?”

I stop and throw my head back to catch my breath. Walking, I debate my answer, but I owe Craig the truth. “I’m not sure. I’m getting older, man. Every injury is harder to recover from. I’m sick of the strict diet and training regimen. I want to live a normal life, but at the same time, what the fuck will I do if I retire?”

“I’m pretty sure you don’t even have to work.”

Craig’s right. If I lived a normal life, I’d be good to go with the