Sweet Curves (Sweet Enough to Eat #2) - Mila Crawford ,Aria Cole Page 0,21

monotone and so lacking the usual warmth that flowed in her words.

“Oh…” I turned my chin up as her eye flirted with Katie’s hand in mine, and then my gaze, a tense look on her plastered plastic face. “Yeah, sorry I'm not great with names, except when it comes to my Katie. I could never forget her.”

Nicola’s eyes swung to Katie’s and squinted, then took in her body pressed close to mine. “I can’t believe Sawyer Dixon is your fiancé.”

“She’s been a psycho the entire time,” Katie grit under her breath when Nicola turned away.

“I think I remember that screechy voice in the back of calculus, and in the cafeteria. I cringed every time she hung around the football locker rooms, watching the guys leave with this gross hungry look in her eyes.”

“Okay, so I’m not sure if Sawyer is paying, but the dress is going to come with a tailoring fee, so many extra inches were required to accommodate her generous bust--” Nicola frowned, eyes leveled on mine, “you know, extra fabric isn’t cheap.”

I felt anger ripple through my fingers, my breathing picking up as I registered Nicola’s disdain for my beautiful bride.

Katie turned her eyes to the counter, licking her lips before she cleared her throat and whispered, “I’m going to collect my jacket and bag. I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll be right here waiting, baby.”

I turned back to the cashier only when Katie was out of my sight.

“You two make such a surprising couple,” Nicola purred as she took my credit card. She murmured the total then giggled, “It’s too bad it costs so much to be overweight, an extra two hundred just for the tailoring alone. I mean, are the cupcakes really worth it? Why not find someone who shares the same healthy lifestyle as you?” She dipped her chin to her shoulder coyly as she grazed her hand with mine when handing back my credit card.

Red bled into my vision then, my anger bubbling to the surface when I snatched my card back from her and seethed under my breath, “You’re a bully--you’re not even good enough to clean the floor she walks on.” I caught her wrist and nailed her with my angry gaze. “You’re lucky I don’t hit women, but say an unkind word about Katie again and I just might make an exception.”

“Well,” her mouth popped open. “I don’t remember you being such an asshole in high school.”

I shook my head with a wry laugh, “Unfortunately I remember you were an epic bitch then too. Funny how some things change, and some things never do.”

“Are we ready, son?” Mom and Katie turned the corner from the coat room then, a look of worry tracing Katie’s features.

“Ready to roll, ladies.” I caught Katie’s hand in mine when she reached me. “Did you leave your number with the cashier? I’ll send a courier to pick it up, I’m not big on the vibe in this place.”

“Sawyer,” Katie stifled a laugh with the back of her hand.

I only shrugged, holding the door wide open for both of the ladies in my life to pass through, giving the cashier from high school one last angry growl before stalking through the door and leaving it swinging on its hinges.

“I never liked that girl, always hanging around the locker room after your games in those too-short skirts.” Mom clucked when I opened the door of the car for her.

“Wasn’t prepared for that flashback today.”

“Well,” mom patted Katie’s forearm, “we’re so lucky to have our girl Katie, sweet from the inside-out.”

Katie’s features still hung heavy with defeat, so once mom was buckled into her seat I closed the door and pulled Katie into my arms. “You’re the most beautiful person I’ve met from the inside-out Katie soon-to-be Dixon. Don’t let any other asshole let you think differently, Katie.” I slipped the pads of my thumbs over her eyebrows, hovering at her temples as our lips grazed. “I’m so damn proud to have you beside me, you’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met--the true meaning of a survivor, and a warrior. You’ve had a lot of assholes in your life. I promise to make sure to always take the bullet for you from now on. You deserve so much better and I am honored to be given the chance to give that to you.”

She shook her head, sniffling once before curling her head into my chest, settling directly over my heart. “I don’t need you to fight my battles, Sawyer, but