Chapter 35 - Xavier

Xavier

I never used to like surprises. I still don’t if I’m being honest. They’re notorious for catching a person off guard and wreaking havoc. I always preferred to control situations. And then let my impulsiveness have its way.

Now?

Oh, I’m still as impulsive as fuck. That won’t ever change.

And the surprise thing?

If someone told me I’d be celebrating the 4 th of July (of all things) with my best mates and my American girlfriend at a gorgeous lakeside house in New York I would have laughed my arse off.

SURPRISE. Here I am.

In fact, once this cookout is over, I plan to grab the stunning redhead over by the water in the black two piece bathing suit and emerald green cover-up and ravage her body until she gasps my name. And then do it again.

But first, hamburgers .

“Do you even know what you’re doing?” Maxim derided Cade, watching over him like a hawk.

“I am a master griller, thank you very much,” Cade pouted. “It’s just meat patties, for fuck’s sake. And what does this even have to do with American independence?”

I grabbed an ice cube from the cooler and threw it at my friend. “Did you miss that day in school, Gallagher? Something about Thomas Jefferson and a document and some bloke named Hancock moaning about there not being any food.”

“Stop talking bollocks, Maddox,” he shouted with a smile.

“Harden the fuck up, Cade,” I retorted, lobbing another ice cube at him. It ricocheted off his arm and hit Bennet in the head.

“Would the two of you knock it off,” Bennet groused from his lounger. “I’m trying to read.”

Cade and I shared a glance. I reached for a plastic cup and filled it with ice and water. Cade ambled over to our prim and proper friend, blocking the sun as best he could with his tall, muscular frame.

“Gallagher, you’re in the way,” Bennet huffed.

“That’s the point, genius.”

I crept up behind the chair and waited for Cade’s signal. I also pleaded silently with Hannah not to say anything. She’d been sitting in the lounger next to Bennet, observing what we were up to. She grinned and shook her blonde head.

“I think the lord of the manor got too much sun. He needs to cool off,” Cade suggested.

And with those words, I dumped the cup of ice and water on Bennet’s head and hoped to Christ he wouldn’t flip out too much. Forgiveness instead of permission and all that.

“ Maddox ,” he roared, sitting up in the sharp way people do when they’re doused in something cold.

He whipped his head around and glared at me. I shrugged and feigned innocence .

“This has your name written all over it,” he grumbled.

“Maddox, one. Logan, nil,” Cade exclaimed.

Hannah reached over and stroked her boyfriend’s leg, unable to hold in her laughter. The commotion caused Noah and Tre to stop throwing around the football and stare.

Yeah, that’s right. Noah and Tre. Who’s not a jealous boyfriend anymore?

Tracey, Victoria, and Killian wandered over from where they’d been sitting by the water.

“I can’t leave you boys alone for two minutes,” Victoria scolded, looking from me to Cade. She perched her sunglasses on her head, resting her dark green gaze on me.

No matter how many times I looked at her, I always had the same reaction. Her beauty weakens me. It rocks me to my core and steals my breath.

And I let it.

I surrendered to it every time. I surrendered to her every time.

I never wanted to stop surrendering to her.

Being with her in New York for the last six weeks has been glorious. Living with her, dating her, discovering her. I’d fallen in love after only knowing her for a few days. What I felt for her now was deeper than love. More profound. More consuming.

I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe and happy. Whatever it takes, for as long as it takes.

Electricity and awareness skittered over my skin the longer I held her stare. Her eyes moved first, pausing at my mouth before admiring my bare chest, my stomach, my not-so-hidden erection protected only by these swim trunks.

“I’m just trying to make burgers for fireworks or documents or some shit like that,” Cade grinned and went back to his grilling duties with Max hot on his heels.

Bennet relaxed into the chair and continued reading. I approached Victoria and reached for her hand.

“Walk with me?” I asked.

“Sure,” she smiled.

“Don’t get engaged or anything,” Killian teased and kissed his best friend on the cheek. “I mean, get engaged but please don’t have a wedding in this heat.”

“Oh my God, Killian,” she chuckled but looked slightly panicked.

I grinned, patting him on the back when he walked past me.

“Ready?” I squeezed her hand.

“Oookayyy,” she over-enunciated the word.

“Don’t look so worried. It’s just a walk.”

I led her down to the dock and stopped, pulling her in front of me so she can lean her back into my chest. But because it’s her and because I love it when she switches shit up on me, she turned to face me, hooking her arms around my waist.

“Enjoying your first visit to Lake George?”

“I am.”

“Getting into the whole Independence Day thing yet?”

I chuckled. “Maybe.”

She leaned close and kissed along my collarbone. “You’re hot.”

“You think so?”

“No. I mean yes, but you’re, like, literally hot.” She touched my chest. “Your skin. Do you need to get out of the sun for a while?”

“Is this your way of coaxing me into the house for a birthday quickie?”

“This is my way of preventing sun stroke and a sunburn.”

My laughter tumbled out with no effort. “Ah, Tori. Concerned about the pale English guy getting too much sun?”

“Shut up.” She poked my side. “And you’re not that pale.”

“Mmhmm.” I pulled her flush to my body so I could feel her curves. “Speaking of your birthday, I actually wanted to give you one of your presents now. ”

“Oh?” Her eyes widened.

“Yes, oh ,” I teased, trying to control my wildly beating heart. “I want to thank you for these last six weeks. And for the days and moments we had together in England.”

I put my finger on her plump lips, stopping her from saying anything. I had to get this all out before I lost the ability to form sentences.

“I want…” I paused. My throat and chest started doing this weird thing. A different thing than before. Get it together, Xavier. Just say it. “Remember when you asked if I could recommend someone to fix up your cottage?”

She nodded.

“Well, I found someone.”

Her whole face lit up. “You did? That’s amazing. Who is it? Should I call them and start—”

I silenced her with a kiss. A deep, passionate kiss. I kept kissing her until she went pliant in my arms.

And then I told her.

“I’m doing it, Tori. I’m going to fix up the cottage.”

Her eyes brimmed with tears.

“Xavier,” she whispered. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything,” I breathed, nuzzling into her neck. “I want to do this for you. I want to help make what’s broken, beautiful for you again.”

He’s willing to risk everything for her…

Xavier and Victoria’s story concludes in The Penalty

Still to come in the Royals and Legends series…

The Legacy

The Elite

The Striker

The Trophy

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xo,

Lynn