Bonus Scene

Two months later…

A bottle of Macallan in his hand, Avery skirted the crowded edges of the ballroom, his best man duties fulfilled. Bachelor party last weekend—check. Getaway vehicle decorated—check. Ring safely delivered to the altar—check. Reception speech—check. One last thing to do.

He hummed along with the band as the lead vocalist sang of soul mates and everlasting love. He got it now, the feeling of having the person who completed him by his side. Jo was that person for him, and he had two fucks to give about the shit his friends gave him.

Finding her across the room, he smiled. She was busy, preparing the wedding cake for the traditional cut and directing extra staff she’d hired for tonight. Her business—Confection Connection—was taking off, and this week, she’d finally signed the lease and set up shop in the unit next to Letty’s.

If only he could get her to give up her apartment. She was never there, anyway. He woke each morning to watch the sun stretch its beams across his bed, as if its sole desire was to touch the fire in her hair. He loved watching her sleep…almost as much as he loved waking her up.

I’d like a repeat of this morning’s wake up, right now.

But his brothers were waiting for him up ahead at the table Jo had marked with a Reserved sign and four whiskey glasses.

Nick spotted him first. “Let me guess. Dane?”

Avery held up the bottle of Macallan. “Yep.”

Ignoring the frown that deepened Nick’s brow, Avery poured a finger of whiskey for each of his brothers and folded into a chair between Marcus and Nick. He gestured toward Marcus with his glass.

“Four months ago, I bought the Macallan to mourn the loss of my brother’s freedom.” But choosing a different path, building a life with the woman he loved didn’t mean leaving his brothers behind. Marcus, Spencer, and Nick would always have his back. Nothing would ever change that. “Tonight, we celebrate as you begin a lifetime of love and happiness with Charlotte.”

Crystal clinked across the center of the table, and they tossed back the whiskey.

Marcus sank deeper into his chair, but his knee bounced. “Thanks, man. I’ll just be glad when all this is over, and we can get back to normal.”

Avery poured another two fingers, but this time, he savored the lingering smoky flavor of wood spice and orange zest. The whiskey reminded him of Jo—warm, edgy, intoxicating. Heat bloomed in his chest and spread lower to curl in his belly. There was no catering van to hide in, but the room he’d reserved for them to dress in was a mere elevator ride away.

He sought her out again. This time, he caught her eye. Her brow spiked as if she knew exactly what he was thinking.

A slow grin tipped the corner of his mouth to let her know he spared no shame in admitting that, yeah, he was indeed imagining fucking her hard and dirty. And that afterward, he’d take his time worshiping every inch of her sweet body before he made love to her with slow deliberation to show her exactly how he felt.

Her eyes widened and her cheeks flushed pink. She shivered and crossed her arms to hide the evidence of her reaction beneath her gray silk dress. He loved that he could do that to her. Get her all flustered, her pulse racing and her panties wet, with just one look.

“Jesus, you two are going to set the hotel on fire,” Spencer said, butting into Avery’s fantasy just as someone stole her attention.

He mentally sighed because, of course, his fantasy was just that. He’d end up helping Jo break down and pack up, then make the drive to her apartment to unpack. Whatever she needed, he was down for it.

But they wouldn’t make it back to the hotel. He’d already stowed their things in his truck, knowing his condo was closer to her place than the hotel and they’d head there to fall into bed too exhausted for fun.

Still, he swung his gaze to Spencer. “I seem to recall lots of sparks flying in your office, the elevator, and—”

“—the mayor’s garden,” Nick muttered over the top of his glass, his nod encompassing both Spencer and Marcus.

“Touché.” Spencer raised his glass and turned to Marcus. “Mel asked me to remind you not to get cake all over Charlotte.”

Marcus scoffed. “Why would I do that?”

“So you can lick it off her later.” When no one said anything, Avery looked up to find them all staring at him. He shrugged. “Jo’s a baker.”

“On that note…” Marcus shoved out of his chair, his hand gripping Avery’s shoulder. “I’m being summoned.”

As his brother joined his bride, Avery once again tracked Jo. She stood back and apart from Marcus and Charlotte behind the cake. Close enough to help, but far enough away to stay out of Brooke’s camera shot.

Once the cake was cut and no crumbs were led astray by either the bride or the groom, they moved off for a quiet moment alone. Jo’s staff moved in to serve, and the band picked up again.

Spencer stood. “Think I’ll see if Mel wants a turn around the dance floor.”

Once he’d gone, Nick held out his empty glass, his gaze fixed across the room. “Guess you’ll be next.”

Avery poured, his answer as steady as his heartbeat. “I will. Got any words of wisdom?”

Nick grunted over the glass hovering at his lips. “You’re asking the wrong person for marriage advice. Mine failed.”

Avery jutted his chin toward Spencer and Melody, then Marcus and Charlotte. “I want that. Jo does, too, but we’re taking it slow. Right now, I’d be happy if I could get her to move in with me.”

Someone passed between Nick and whoever had caught his interest. He leaned to one side to see around them, then sat upright as his view cleared.

Avery smiled. His brother was finally getting back in the saddle.

“Maybe it’s too much for her.” Nick’s gaze cut to Avery, then darted back to track his query. “Not the commitment. The lifestyle.”

Avery’s set his fingers in motion on the tabletop. He’d thought his condo minimalist, never lavish, but from Jo’s point of view… “Maybe.”

“Who is that?” Nick growled, his eyes narrowing. “With Jo.”

Avery’s head snapped up. His first thought was that some asshole was moving in on his girl, but he relaxed as he zeroed in on Jo. Brooke stood beside her with a camera aimed at the dance floor. “That’s her friend, Brooke, but you won’t get anywhere—”

“Not her. The other one.”

The other one? Stretching to get a look around the crowd, Avery was surprised to see Letty. Petite, light brown hair, not stunningly beautiful but pretty in an earthy sort of way—she was nothing like Julie or the women Nick had dated before her. “That’s Letty.”

“Letty.” Nick said the name as if testing it to see if it tasted right. He sat back but continued to watch her. “She looks familiar.”

“You might have seen her at Jo’s sister’s wedding. She helped out.”

“No, that’s not it.” Nick stared over the rim of his glass. “I can’t quite figure it out. What’s her last name?”

Avery groaned. “To use your words, you’re asking the wrong person. I’m doing good just remembering her first name, but she owns the flower shop next door to where Jo’s opening her bakery, so you can look her up. Or better yet, why don’t you go ask her?”

Another grunt sounded from Nick as the music stopped and the single women were called to the center of the dance floor. Charlotte grabbed Jo’s hand and dragged her into the herd of hopefuls while Melody tried to coax Letty, but the girl shook her head and began to gather empty dessert plates from a nearby table.

Jo rolled her eyes at Avery, making him chuckle. She hated being thrust into the spotlight but would never disappoint Charlotte. Whether she caught the bouquet or not wouldn’t make any difference. He’d put a ring on that finger soon.

With her back to her target, Charlotte readied for the toss. The bouquet sailed over her head, but she overshot the group by a good ten feet, and it landed on the plates in Letty’s arms.

Eyes wide, Letty stared at the flowers. The crowd cheered. Her head snapped up. She looked like a rabbit caught in a snare. Her gaze swept the ballroom and locked on Nick. Something dark washed over her face—guilt, sorrow, fear, regret. Avery wasn’t sure which. Maybe all of them.

Nick slowly stood, his body tense, his face a mask of accusation.

Avery rose with him. “What’s wrong?”

His brother didn’t answer. Instead, he stalked toward Letty, his strides sure and measured. She gasped and bolted in a crash of dishes as she practically threw the tray of plates on the table behind her, leaving the bouquet in a puddle of Burgundy sauce.

Jo started to follow Letty, but Nick headed Jo off, halting her with a harsh wave of his hand—what the fuck?—then disappeared through the kitchen door, still swinging in Letty’s wake.

Avery shot forward, but a swarm of eager women scrambling for the bouquet slowed his pursuit of Jo as she launched into protective mode.

He caught up to her at the edge of the dance floor, hooked an arm around her waist and redirected her forward momentum toward his table.

She blinked up at him, her blue eyes angry and full of concern. “I need to make sure she’s okay.”

“Nick’s got this.”

“But—”

“If they’re not back in ten minutes, we’ll both go look for them.”

Jo’s frown deepened, but she let him guide her past the table and into a dimly lit corner, away from prying eyes just as the call for single men was announced. He’d wanted to catch the garter, but again, it didn’t really matter.

“What just happened?” she asked as soon as they were out of earshot. “What did I miss? Why did Nick go after Letty?”

“I’m pretty sure they have a history.”

“Letty and Nick?” Her jaw dropped. “No way.”

“He said she looked familiar.” Avery shrugged. “I was thinking high school girlfriend or a hookup gone bad. The unfinished business kind.”

“Judging by their reactions, whatever history they have couldn’t be good.” She shook her head. “But why would she take Charlotte as a client if she didn’t want to see him?”

“That’s a good question.”

Jo shook her head. “Letty doesn’t seem the hookup type.”

“Maybe she was, and now, she isn’t.” He palmed her cheek. “People change.”

A smile softened her eyes and the crease of her brow. Leaning into him, she slid her fingers under his lapel. “They do.”

“Not that much though.” He grinned and tightened his hold. Her eyes widened and just as he’d gauged her reaction to him earlier, there was no way she could miss his for her. “We could sneak up to the room for a few minutes. No one would miss us.”

He ducked to kiss her, but she planted a finger across his lips. “Rules!”

Avery groaned. She’d laid down the law regarding tonight. No flirting, no touching, and absolutely no sex until after her work was done.

“You’ve been breaking them all night,” she said, “looking at me like I’m naked. I can’t concentrate when you do that.”

Capturing her wrist, he pulled her hand away. “I can’t help what my eyes say.”

“They say a lot, and so does that monster in your pants.”

Avery grinned. “He wants to eat your cookie.”

She made that clicking sound and rolled her eyes. “My cookie is off limits for the moment.”

“How about third base?” He was only half teasing because he’d be happy just watching her shatter as she came all over his fingers.

“Avery.”

“I know. Rules.” He sighed dramatically but released her. “While I have you to myself for a minute, I need to ask you something.”

Her head on a swivel, she looked around them. No one was paying any attention to them. “Avery Preston, if you get down on one knee… We talked about this, and you promised.”

She’d made him swear not to surprise her with a proposal until they talked about it rationally and were both ready for the next step and, especially, not to do it publicly.

“No, Legs, if anyone gets on their knees tonight, it’ll be you.” Even in the dim light, he could see the pink flushing her cheeks, and he’d bet she was wet, but he had to stay on track. He cleared his throat. “I wondered if you might want to do that at your apartment tonight.”

Her head tilted to one side. “What are you talking about?”

“Us living together. If you don’t like my place, I don’t mind moving into yours.”

She studied him for a moment, then tugged her hands free and a smile of contentment lit her eyes as she wrapped her arms around his neck, breaking her own rule. He liked it when she did that.

“Avery, everything I own is at your condo.” She palmed his cheek. “I moved in the last time you asked me.”

He’d noticed her stuff on the counter in his bathroom, the shampoo and body wash in his shower. Maybe he’d missed her other things. Still… “Why are you over there every day? Why aren’t you baking at my—our—place?”

“I’m working out of my apartment until the patisserie is up and running. That could be a while, and it’s not just a few dozen cannolis anymore. It’s taking up a lot of space. After that, I’ll figure out what to do with the apartment, maybe sublet it. But Avery, I’m not going anywhere.”

The tension in his body redirected to his chest, pressing against his ribs. It was the good kind of tightness, the kind that felt like he’d burst if he didn’t let it out. “Jo?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry, but I’m about to smash your rule to fucking pieces.” He swooped her into his arms and whirled her around, then smothered her startled laugh as he slanted his mouth over hers. Her tongue tangled with his. She tasted of champagne and sugar and the future.

When he lowered her to her tiptoes, he rested his forehead against hers. “I love you so fucking much”

“I love you, too.”

He kissed her again, a soft brushing of lips that was only a whisper of the emotion raging inside him. “You’re going to have to be the strong one because I can’t let you go, and if we stay here much longer, I can’t be responsible for the things I do to you.”

She leaned back to stare up at him. “I really should go check on Letty.”

Before she could slip out of his arms, a rush of movement over her shoulder dragged his gaze from hers. “Fuck.”

She glance over her shoulder as Nick stormed across the dance floor, turmoil wrecking his features. He swept past the table without seeing them, then stopped abruptly, retraced his steps to the table, grabbed the bottle of Macallan, and stormed out of the ballroom.

“It doesn’t look like their reunion went well,” Jo murmured.

“No, I know that look. It’s not good.” Avery stepped back but captured Jo’s hand in his. “I’ll go after Nick. You check on Letty.”

“Here I thought drama only occurred at weddings like Georgia’s.”

“There’s always drama at weddings.”

“Not at ours. I won’t allow it.”

He chuckled. “The only way to prevent drama is to elope.”

“Hmm, a trip to Vegas.” Jo nodded. “It’s something to think about.”

As they parted, Avery was already making plans for a Vegas wedding, just the two of them.

Nah, she’d want Brooke at her side, which meant Aaron would be there. And he’d want Marcus to stand up with him, which meant Charlotte. And he couldn’t get married without Spencer and Melody and Nick. And shit would hit the fan if his mom and dad weren’t there.

Yeah, eloping was out, but they’d figure it out.

Now, if he could just find Nick.

~*~

Thank you for reading the bonus scene for Bachelor Bad Boy.

The Preston Brothers series continues with Nick’s story in Bachelor Betrayed.