Evin's Fight (Southern Charmers Book 3) by Ahren Sanders (inspirational books for women .TXT) 📕

“Please don’t be mad. It was my idea to stay quiet until after this weekend.”

Darby’s face softens and she drops the attitude, her smile splitting wide. “Oh, Poppy, I’m not mad. I’m thrilled, elated, want to scream in excitement happy. But it’s my job to give Evin a hard time.”

Poppy relaxes in my arms. “Thank God.”

“Since I can’t do any of those things without making a spectacle of myself because everyone will assume I’m in labor, tell me how long I have to keep this secret.”

“Tomorrow night, you can unleash all the crazy you want.”

“Did Elvis officiate?”

“Shit, no.”

“Marilyn Monroe? Frank Sinatra? Sammy Davis Jr.?”

“Hell, Darby, do you think I’d stand in front of an impersonator and say my vows?”

She shrugs. “You’re full of surprises.”

“It was a romantic wedding,” Poppy pipes in.

My sister’s expression grows dreamy. “Tell me you have pictures.”

“Around two hundred, including Ryanne’s video of our proposal.”

Pierce jerks. “You asked her? Thought you were smarter than that.”

“Not sure you should dole out advice on proposals, man. Considering your track record.”

“I didn’t say he asked. It was more of a telling conversation,” Poppy corrects him.

He grins smugly. “You learned something.”

“This is perfect. I can’t wait for tomorrow night. We’ll bring dessert. Now, I’m taking my baby off your hands.”

“I got him.” Pierce reaches out. “You’re done for the day.”

She rolls her eyes. “You’re being ridiculous.”

“Baby, he’s twenty-five pounds. You want him, then sit your ass down, get off your feet, and rest.”

“Poppy, I hope Evin isn’t nearly as bossy. If he is, nip it in the bud now. Or else, you’ll find yourself in a lifetime battle.” Darby tries to sound irritated, but there’s no conviction in her words. Pierce may be overly protective, but he worships my sister with everything he is.

“I think it may be too late,” Poppy reveals.

“Oh, sister, get ready then.”

At the term ‘sister’ my pulse quickens and I check for Poppy’s reaction. She doesn’t falter, her eyes glowing as she hands Devin to Pierce. “Maybe tomorrow night you can give me some pointers.”

As soon as the baby is out of her arms, Darby takes advantage of her position and slides in for a hug. “My brother has never been this happy, and I have you to thank for that. Welcome to our family.”

“I’m sincerely glad to be a part of it.” There’s an undeniable crack in Poppy’s voice.

Darby transfers her back to me, pulling away with her own quivering lips.

“We’ll leave you two to dance before I mess up and gush.”

“Good idea,” I agree.

“Congrats, man. You’re in for the ride of your life.” Peirce tips his chin and leads them away.

“I didn’t know how much it meant to me until that second.” Poppy winds her hands around my neck.

“What?”

“Her approval and accepting me into your life. It felt awesome.”

Hatred for her family boils in my blood.

“I know that look and what you’re thinking, but this has little to do with them.”

“It has everything to do with them.”

“No, it is me wanting to be accepted by one of the most important women in your life.”

“Look around you, baby. There’s nothing but acceptance and love in your future.”

She flashes me that blinding smile that lights up her face and hits me hard every time.

We stay like this, lost in each other and swaying to the music, until the band announces the tradition of the bouquet toss. “Come on, Poppy, get your beautiful bohemian butt to the front,” Mom yells.

“You are not doing that shit,” I complain, not willing to take a chance she catches it.

“It will be suspicious if I don’t.”

“Get in the back. Don’t even try,” I order.

“I see a lifetime of battles,” she refers to Darby’s remarks.

“You want bossy, I’ll haul your ass out of here over my shoulder and not give a damn.”

She tips up, brushing her lips across mine, and escapes my hold. I step to the side and spot Darby staring at me across the dance floor with a mischievous grin.

“Shit.”

“Hey, man, if she catches it, I’ll sacrifice the ridicule to get the garter, so she dances with me.” Andrew steps to my side.

“The fuck you will.”

“I’ll get in on that, too.” Ashton joins. Mom’s already got stars in her eyes.

“She’s not catching it,” I state firmly

To my horror, Maya links arms with Poppy, dragging her in the front, and whistles loud. The flowers fly through the air, Maya jumping up to bat them into Poppy’s chest. She has no choice but to grab them.

“Oops, looks like I may have a chance to dance with the pretty performer.”

My mom is the loudest one cheering, and I catch Todd slightly jerking his chin my way.

This was coordinated, the list of orchestrators too long.

“That fucking garter is mine.”

Todd takes his time sliding the material down Stephanie’s leg, and I stand in the middle of the dance floor with my eyes locked on Poppy, who’s biting her lower lip with hilarity glowing in her features.

Todd finally slingshots it, not hiding his intended target. I grab it to the chorus of cheers and make my way to my wife.

“We’ve been set up. Your niece is sneaky.” Poppy melts back into my arms.

“She’s your niece now, too.”

“Yeah, she is.” Her answer is dreamy and filled with happiness.

“Baby, you straddling my lap with my dick buried inside you is a sight that I love, but are you gonna move or keep staring at me?”

Her fingertips scale over my abs, and the walls of her pussy tighten. “I need your full attention.”

“You had all my attention the second you woke me up by wrapping your hand around my cock.” I squeeze her ass, driving upward.

“Ahhhh, God, that feels good.” Her head falls back, her chest arching and tits taunting me. I heave up, latching onto a nipple, and suck it deep. Her hands fly to my head, fisting at my hair. “We have to talk.”

“We’ll talk after you fuck me.” I bite gently before rolling my tongue around the hard flesh.

“Sweetie, please.”

“You talk, I play.”