I scoffed at her insinuation that I couldn’t handle this guy. I might look like a nerd, but my black belt in multiple disciplines, as well as the numerous MMA titles I held, said otherwise.
She went on to tell me more about Aurora, and I soaked up every word. By the time Autumn was done, if I hadn’t already been head over heels for my girl, I would’ve fallen right then. She was sweet and spicy, strong and independent, while still remaining a hopeless romantic.
Then Autumn gave me the most important piece of information I needed. “If you want to win over Aurora, or even have a chance at it, you’re going to need help from her sisters.” She gave me some advice about how to accomplish that feat, and I thanked her enthusiastically before saying goodbye and hanging up.
Autumn had also mentioned that there was a wedding at the chapel tonight, and it would be over around eight. Armed with everything I’d learned, I closed up the office and ran a few errands before arriving at the chapel a half hour before Aurora would be finished for the night.
Either I had great luck, or Autumn had done me another favor—for which I would owe her more than I could ever pay back—and warned Aurora’s sisters that I was coming. They were waiting for me in the front vestibule and quietly motioned for me to follow them. We ended up in a back office that was meticulous, with everything in its place. I grinned, knowing instantly that it was Aurora’s workspace. I couldn’t fucking wait to get her messy and seduce her into giving up control.
“So,” Belle, the brunette, started. “Autumn told us you’re interested in our sister and gave you quite the recommendation.”
Yeah, I officially owed Autumn a lifetime of eternal servitude. Although the only woman I would actually be serving was my wife.
“I knew the second I saw her that we were meant for each other.”
Ariel, the slightly taller redhead, eyed me up and down. “I don’t know. No offense, but you’re kind of stuffy. I think Aurora needs someone who is her opposite. Someone who will break her out of the wall she’s built around herself. You seem a little too straight-laced and buttoned up.”
I raised a brow and cocked my head to the side. “You’re saying that if I were less clean-cut”—I used air quotes to make my point—“you’d be more likely to see me worthy of your sister?”
Ariel shrugged. “I guess you could put it that way.”
“Would the Harley in my garage convince you? Or the fact that my MMA skills mean I could kick your brother’s ass? Or how about these?” I rolled up the long sleeves of my white button-down to reveal the ink that covered every inch of my arms from elbow to wrist. They actually went to my shoulders, but the fabric wouldn’t roll up that far.
Both women gaped at me, their jaws gone slack. It was pretty funny, and I grinned, used to this reaction when people learned what was under the glasses, suit, and clean-cut appearance.
Just then, the door to the office swung open, and both girls jumped when it slammed into the wall. I pivoted to see a furious Aurora glaring at me. “What the hell are you doing here?” she snapped.
I was momentarily distracted by how fucking hot she looked, and it cost me. Her mood blackened, and she let out a little growl as she stomped around me to stand behind her desk.
My body followed her movement, turning so that I ended up facing her. I was grateful there was a chair in front of her desk and put my hands on the back and leaned in, hiding the evidence of how she was affecting me. “I’m here to convince you to have dinner with me. To let me explain some things.”
Aurora sniffed haughtily and put her hands on her hips. “I have no interest in anything you have to say to me.”
I opened my mouth to argue but was interrupted by Ariel. “Hey, sis?”
Aurora’s eyes flew to the side of the room, clearly just registering the presence of her sisters. “What?”
Ariel smiled, a little bit of evil lurking in the curve of her lips. “I double dog dare you to have dinner with Will.”
3 Aurora
I glared at Ariel, clenching my teeth to keep myself from screaming as I gritted out, “Tell me I’m imagining things, and you did not just do that!”
“Who me?” Ariel widened her eyes and pressed her hand against her chest.
“Yes, you,” I huffed, barely resisting the urge to stomp my foot in frustration.
“What? I thought I was helping!” she protested, as though she didn’t see anything wrong with how she’d just thrown me under the bus.
“Helping?” I pointed in Will’s direction. “How in the heck did you think it would be helpful to use a double dog dare for this guy’s benefit? He opened a quickie divorce office around the corner from our wedding chapel!”
Ariel gave up on the innocent act and shrugged her shoulders. “Don’t blame me. It’s all her fault”—she pointed her thumb in Belle’s direction—“since she’s the one who double dog dared me to move in with Maddox. I just wanted to get in on the action, and this seemed like the perfect chance.”
“Perfect chance?” I echoed in disbelief. “Belle double dog dared you to do something you would’ve done anyway. She just hurried the process along a little bit.”
“And your point is what exactly?” Ariel asked.
“That you’re daring me to do something I never would’ve done because I have no interest in going on a date with him!”
“I am standing right here, you know,” Will drawled dryly. I ignored him and kept on ranting. I wasn’t being one hundred percent truthful because I absolutely, positively would’ve jumped at the chance to go to dinner with Will...if he hadn’t been a
