My Unexpected Vow: California Billionaires Book 2 by Harlow James (children's ebooks free online TXT) 📗

Chapter 11

Hayes

“Did you know your sister snores?” I reach up to adjust the bowtie secured around my neck while admiring myself in the mirror. Damn, I make a tux look good.

“Excuse me?”

Twisting my head to my left, I find Wes staring at me, his face full of confusion. “The woman snores. Loudly.”

“And how do you know she snores, Hayes?” He lifts one brow as the corner of his mouth follows suit.

“She, uh… fell asleep on the couch the other night,” I lie, but only halfway, because the truth is we fell asleep together, her wrapped in my arms the entire time. When we woke up to the sound of my alarm going off on my phone, I was more than confused about where I was, until I realized I was still holding her and the events of the night before came rushing back.

Sometime in the middle of the night we shifted onto our sides, but I kept my arm draped around her body, pulling her close to me by her waist. I never understood the power of spooning until I woke up with Waverly as the little spoon on my couch. And holding her as we slept brought me a sense of peace that has only added to these growing feelings that have been slowly developing since she moved in with me, exacerbated by her kiss and now the added experience of sleeping next to her.

That night was the first glimpse of true vulnerability I’ve seen from her, and I hated that her normal shine had been dimmed by her interview. I wanted her to know how I see her, and that whatever that bitch said to her was wrong. Watching her cry cut me deep and holding her to soothe her sadness was an instinct that barreled through me with alarming force. I didn’t plan for us to fall asleep together, although it was the best night of sleep I’ve had in a while. And I’m taken aback by how much I’m craving it again. But Wes doesn’t necessarily need to know that.

“Well, most people snore. I’m sure it’s not the only fault she has.”

I shake my head slowly as the tailor moves around me, checking a few measurements on my jacket. Wes, Silas, and I are currently getting fitted for our tuxes for Wes’s wedding, which is a little over three months away at this point. The light grey fabric will look good on all three of us, but I can’t help but feel I just might outshine the groom.

Silas comes from around the corner, adjusting the sleeves of his jacket as he takes his spot on the pedestal next to Wes and me. Three separate tailors work around us as we hold our conversation. “I grew up with three sisters. Believe me, women can snore worse than men sometimes.”

“Shayla only snores when she’s super tired,” Wes adds.

“Well, Waverly had a pretty shitty day and took down some whiskey before she passed out, so I’m sure that added to it.”

“What happened?” Wes stares at himself in the mirror but flicks his eyes over to me as he asks.

“She had an interview with GBC Interiors, but the woman was a bitch.” I briefly summarize what she told me about the woman’s blatant disrespect toward her, and I swear I see Wes’s neck turn red as his jaw clenches.

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

“That’s rather shitty,” Silas agrees.

“Yeah. So we binged some pizza and whiskey and then watched a comedy special to make her feel better.”

Wes and Silas share a look. Silas shakes his head and smirks at me in the mirror.

“What?”

“That was awfully thoughtful of you, Hayes.”

“What was I supposed to do? Let her be miserable and allow her to stew on what that woman said to the point that she started to believe it?” I scowl at him. “Fuck that. Waverly is far too talented to let that woman bring her down. I was just being her friend.”

“Yeah, friend.”

“Is she doing better?” Wes interjects, once again concerned for his sister. “She never called and told me about this.”

“Can you blame her? She doesn’t want you to give her a job out of obligation or feel sorry for her. Hell, it took dinner, booze, and a show to get her to talk to me.”

Silas purses his lips. “But is that what you did?”

The tailor sticks a pin in my coat and then directs me to take it off. Sliding my arms out of the sleeves, I gently hand the article of clothing over and then turn back to face my friends. “What? Hire her because she’s my wife?”

“Yeah? I mean, does she feel like you’re helping her too because of your situation?”

I contemplate his questions before landing on my answer. “No, I don’t think so. I told her that the reason I hired her is because she was right for the job. You guys should have seen how passionate she was when she showed me her design for the club.” A smile builds on my lips, and as soon as Wes and Silas catch it, I force it back down. “She took the initiative and put up a better design than the person I hired initially from a firm I use out of habit. She earned it.”

“Don’t hurt her, Hayes.”

“How can I hurt her? I’m just trying to support her.”

Wes nods and then puts his hand on my shoulder. “I know you are. You’re doing what I asked you to do—you’re taking this situation seriously and supporting my sister, better than I honestly thought you would. But you don’t even see what’s happening here, do you?”

“See what?”

“You’re acting an awful like a real husband,” Silas says, stepping around Wes so they’re both in front of me now.

“I am not.” Liar, liar, pants on fire, Hayes.

Silas quirks his brow. “It’s one thing that you two are letting this drag out because you’re both benefitting from the situation and also avoiding