The Devoted Groom

by Cami Checketts

  Bree blinked and glanced around. “I don’t know.”

  “She’s … maddening.”

  Bree laughed. “Oh, you have no idea.” She looked him over. Was this renowned star interested in her sister? “There’s no possible way to get ahold of her. I don’t even have her number.”

  He stepped back, and a mask fell over his handsome face. “That’s fine. She’s just an interesting person.”

  Ryder’s arm tightened around Bree. “Are you done talking to my wife?” he asked his brother. “I was hoping you could take Tate for some food so we could make-out a little.”

  Kaleb laughed and grabbed Tate. “Come on, buddy. Let’s go eat junk food.”

  Ryder turned Bree toward him.

  “Ry,” she said in a low voice, “there are still guests waiting to greet us.”

  Ryder looked at the line, who were watching them with amusement. “Can you all wait a minute? I need to kiss this beautiful wife of mine immediately.”

  Several people laughed, and others nodded. “Kiss away,” an older lady hollered.

  “Thank you.” Ryder ran his hands along her back while tenderly tasting her lips. “I love you,” he murmured.

  Bree didn’t have time to say it back as his warm lips and strong hands destroyed any logical thoughts in her brain, but she was pretty sure he got the message by the way she returned his urgent kisses. Having a home and her own people had never tasted so good.

  About the Author

  Cami is a part-time author, part-time exercise consultant, part-time housekeeper, full-time wife, and overtime mother of four adorable boys. Sleep and relaxation are fond memories. She’s never been happier.

  Join Cami’s VIP list to find out about special deals, giveaways and new releases and receive a free copy of Rescued by Love: Park City Firefighter Romance by clicking here.

  Read on for a short excerpt of Jasmine and Kaleb’s story, The Deceptive Warrior.

  Happy reading!

  cami@camichecketts.com

  www.camichecketts.com

  The Conflicted Warrior

  Jasmine Peters sauntered down the aisle with her arm linked through her sister’s. Bree was the most beautiful person Jasmine had ever been around—from her huge, black, curly hair to her shining deep brown eyes—she radiated light, kindness, and happiness. All that sparkle and shine seemed to be amped up today. Bree was marrying the man she loved, Ryder Quinn, a famous Titans’ football player.

  Love and marriage. Nice concepts. Happily ever after was perfect for someone like Bree. Nothing Jasmine would experience in her life. Her eyes flickered over the line of brothers next to Ryder. Five boys. Their mother was obviously a saint, or glutton for punishment; Jasmine would hold her judgment until later. She knew Griff Quinn too well, he was a former Navy SEAL who worked for her boss and savior, Sutton Smith. Griff had saved her life and was a good guy, as far as buff, military guys who lacked social skills went.

  Her gaze caught and held on the brother closest to Ryder—Kaleb Quinn. Deep blue eyes, dark hair, and that clean-shaven sculpted jaw. Yum. Famous country singer and the most beautiful man in America, in Jasmine’s opinion anyway. His songs touched her heart in ways she’d never thought possible. Not that she’d ever admit that to anyone. With her spunk and background she pretended to listen to rap.

  They reached the men, the preacher, and Ryder’s sister Navy, who stood on the other side as the second bridesmaid.

  Jasmine leaned close, smiled, and whispered to her sister’s future husband, “Be good to her or I’ll kill you in your sleep.” Even though he’d seen her best much larger men in a fight, Ryder might think it was an idol threat. Griff would probably explain to him at some point that it wasn’t.

  Ryder sort of choked and laughed at the same time. “I’ll remember that.”

  Kaleb sidled in closer as well and suddenly Jasmine was having a hard time breathing. “Who do you think you are?”

  “I’m Wonder Woman.” She gave him the smile men claimed they couldn’t resist. “And no matter how famous you are, I can kill you in your sleep too, so don’t mess with me.”

  Kaleb’s eyebrows lifted, though he looked intrigued by her. “I’d like to see you try.”

  Ooh, she liked it. She’d fallen in love with him last year through his music. It was one of those ridiculous, I’m in love with a famous guy crushes. She couldn’t let it become any more, no matter how appealing and flawless he seemed to her.

  “Kaleb,” Griff whispered harshly. “Stand down.”

  It was for the best that one of these brothers knew who she really was under this pretty face and dress.

  “At least your bro knows who he’s messing with.” Jasmine winked at Kaleb. “Sadly, fun times like killing you in your sleep might have to be put on hold until after the ceremony.” Jasmine patted his cheek in what she hoped was a condescending manner. Touching Kaleb Quinn was a rush unlike anything she’d felt before and she pulled back her hand quickly.

  Kaleb simply stared at her, a muscle working in his jaw, as if he didn’t know what to make of her or quite how to respond to her sarcasm.

  “Kaleb Quinn, you step down right now, son,” Ryder’s mama said from her front row seat, giving him a hard glare.

  Kaleb bowed his head obediently, not looking at all like the famous country singer. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Jasmine grinned at Ryder’s mama. Her initial assessment had been right. The lady was tough and could handle these five good-looking men with her eyes closed. “I like this lady.” She gave Bree a hug and stepped back.

  “Love you, sis,” Bree said.

  Jasmine’s smile deepened and she squeezed Bree’s hand quickly. Sadly she couldn’t repeat those words, not even to the sister she adored and with this entire crowd watching and waiting expectantly for her to say them. She’d loved Bree her entire life, but soft words like that simply weren’t in her vocabulary. She’d never heard those words from anyone but Bree, and stupid men who were trying to push boundaries, until she knocked them down.

  She moved over next to Navy and focused on the beautiful ceremony. Kaleb kept catching her eye and giving her these conflicted glares. If she was reading it right he was intrigued, attracted, and annoyed by her. Perfect. Let him be as frustrated by her as she was by him. Dang man had no right making her feel something with his music. She didn’t have head space for things like emotion and sap.

  Risking it All

  Avalyn Shaman exited her room at the beautiful Cancun resort and took the stairs six flights down. She couldn’t wait to float in one of the infinity pools overlooking the beach. This five-star resort had so many pools she’d lost track. She’d arrived a day early for Creed Hawk and Kiera Richins’s wedding. The three of them had been friends since childhood.

  She adored the entire Hawk family, with the exception of the youngest brother, Bridger. He was a cocky extreme athlete who thought the women of the world were created to decorate his muscular arms. Bridger was two years younger than her and lived to torment her—teasing her whenever he saw her, lodging himself in her brain the rest of the time. It aggravated her to no end that she had dreams about him on a regular basis, and even during the day she couldn’t get his handsome face out of her mind.

  No, thank you, brain. Please choose again.

  She exited the elevator and walked along the covered path toward the closest section of pools. A large man stepped in her path. Avalyn skidded to a halt to avoid running into him, then made the mistake of looking past the muscular body to the man’s face. Tanned skin, dark hair, deep brown eyes, the perfectly trimmed facial hair, and a permanent smirk on those intriguing lips. Bridger Hawk. Her heart rate picked up without her permission.

  His dark eyes lit up, sparkling at her. “Ava Baby!” He wrapped his lean arms around her and lifted her off the ground, squeezing her tight against his bare chest in one of his famous bear hugs. She’d had her share of these hugs since childhood, but she could never stop her body from reacting. Her body was trembling
and warm all over. She was an accomplished, self-made woman. Why did she have to react like a teenager every time she saw this beautiful man?

  “Bridger,” she sort of moaned out. No! Oh, no. She couldn’t reveal how much he affected her; he’d laugh himself to sleep at night. He was a world-renowned extreme athlete who took nothing seriously, and she was a world-renowned philanthropist, author, and speaker. They had nothing in common, and she needed to stay far away from him.

  He set her on her feet but kept her tight in his embrace. Avalyn’s hands went to his chest to steady herself. Big mistake. The smooth skin and hard muscle there made her stomach fill with heat and desire that she had to squelch … and quick. She’d allowed him to kiss her once in high school. The beautiful connection had messed with her mind for years, especially since he’d kissed Kelly Turner the next day at lunch in front of the entire school and broken Avalyn’s heart. She couldn’t go back to those immature and stupid longings. She was way past all of that, way past Bridger Hawk. She just needed her heart to catch up with her brain.

  He stared down at her with that trademark smirk on his lips. “Ava. I hoped you’d be here.”

  “Why?” What was wrong with her? Why was she reduced to these one-word answers? She needed to demand he release her, and she needed to take her hands off his chest pronto. She felt like she was in a cloud with him staring at her like she was his prize for winning the international surf competition.

  Bridger simply smiled, bowed his head, and claimed her lips with his. Avalyn’s body shoved her logical mind to the side as those perfect lips she’d had dream after dream about worked their brain-deceiving magic on her. She stood on tiptoes and pressed herself tighter against him, her hands sliding up his chest and around his neck. She wanted him closer, she wanted him to never stop kissing her, she wanted him …

  No! This was Bridger Hawk. Heartbreaker extraordinaire. The world expert on claiming hearts and then shattering them.

  Avalyn yanked herself away from him. Bridger unfortunately didn’t release his grip on her waist, and instead of his trademark smirk, he was pulling in quick breaths and staring at her like his mind was as cloudy as hers was.

  “Avalyn,” he murmured, his gaze full of wonder and desire. Then he pulled her in again, and heaven help her, she didn’t put up an ounce of resistance. Truth be known, she urged him closer. His mouth was full and warm and his muscular frame surrounded her. She couldn’t escape, and she didn’t want to. The kiss took on a life of its own, and Avalyn had no choice but to surrender to the desire she’d always had to be in Bridger’s arms, to kiss him, to know she was the only woman in the world for him.

  No! She wasn’t the one for him. She was one of thousands of women he kissed while thousands more waited for their chance to have the superstar give them one glance, smile, or touch.

  She wrenched her mouth free and slapped him hard across the jaw.

  Bridger’s eyes widened and he finally released her. They were both breathing heavily as they stood in the shaded walkway and stared at each other.

  “Hi, Ava Baby,” he murmured as if they’d just run into each other. His eyes slid over her floral one-piece swimsuit that was underneath her lacy cover-up. “You look … amazing.”

  “What are you doing?” she demanded, folding her arms across her chest. He acted like she hadn’t even slapped him. Like they hadn’t even kissed. Dang him! Didn’t those kisses mean anything to him? She knew they didn’t, and the pain deepened. “You don’t just kiss someone hello like that.”

  “I’ve been dreaming of doing that for years.” His smirk reappeared briefly, and then his eyes went soft and warm as they studied hers. “I just had no idea it would feel like that. Just like in high school … only …” His voice trailed off.

  “Only what?” Be strong. He’s a player. He’s not your type. He’ll break your heart all over again. Oh, have mercy. Why does he have to look at me like that?

  Bridger took a step closer, his large form overshadowing her. She glanced up to meet his gaze so she wouldn’t focus on his beautifully formed chest. “Your kiss is like heaven,” he murmured. He reached up and cupped her cheek with his palm, leaning down like he was going to kiss her again.

  Avalyn’s heart was thumping so high and fast she could hardly breathe, let alone speak. She had to be strong, though, or she would regret it forever. Bridger Hawk was not the man for her, no way, no how. “Do you want me to slap you again?”

  The smolder in his dark eyes made her knees gooey. “For sure, if it means I can kiss you first.”

  Find Risking it All on Amazon.

  Also by Cami Checketts

  Hawk Brothers Romance

  The Determined Groom

  The Stealth Warrior

  Her Billionaire Boss Fake Fiance

  Risking it All

  Navy Seal Romance

  The Protective Warrior

  The Captivating Warrior

  The Stealth Warrior

  Texas Titan Romance

  The Fearless Groom

  The Trustworthy Groom

  The Beastly Groom

  The Irresistible Groom

  The Determined Groom

  Billionaire Beach Romance

  Caribbean Rescue

  Cozumel Escape

  Cancun Getaway

  Trusting the Billionaire

  How to Kiss a Billionaire

  Onboard for Love

  Shadows in the Curtain

  Billionaire Bride Pact Romance

  The Resilient One

  The Feisty One

  The Independent One

  The Protective One

  The Faithful One

  The Daring One

  Park City Firefighter Romance

  Rescued by Love

  Reluctant Rescue

  Stone Cold Sparks

  Snowed-In for Christmas

  Echo Ridge Romance

  Christmas Makeover

  Last of the Gentlemen

  My Best Man’s Wedding

  Change of Plans

  Counterfeit Date

  Snow Valley

  Full Court Devotion: Christmas in Snow Valley

  A Touch of Love: Summer in Snow Valley

  Running from the Cowboy: Spring in Snow Valley

  Light in Your Eyes: Winter in Snow Valley

  Romancing the Singer: Return to Snow Valley

  Fighting for Love: Return to Snow Valley

  Other Books by Cami

  Seeking Mr. Debonair: Jane Austen Pact

  Seeking Mr. Dependable: Jane Austen Pact

  Pass Interference: A Last Play Romance

  Saving Sycamore Bay

  How to Design Love

  Oh, Come On, Be Faithful

  Protect This

  Blog This

  Redeem This

  The Broken Path

  Dead Running

  Dying to Run

  Fourth of July

  Love & Loss

  Love & Lies

  Cami’s Collections

  Cami’s Military Collection

  Billionaire Beach Romance Collection

  Billionaire Bride Pact Collection

  Billionaire Romance Sampler

  Echo Ridge Romance Collection

  Texas Titans Romance Collection

  Snow Valley Collection

  Christmas Romance Collection