The Garden Sanctuary: A Private Perimeter Breached
[Jay's POV]
The afternoon sun was draped over the Watson estate like a golden veil. After the morning's kitchen chaos and the relentless teasing of Keigan, I had managed to escape to my favorite spot—the Glass Pavilion in the center of the rose garden. It was the one place where the "Glow" felt most natural, surrounded by the scent of blooming jasmine and the quiet hum of the fountains.
But I wasn't alone. I was never alone anymore.
Keifer was behind me, his presence a constant, grounding force. He hadn't let me more than three feet away from him all day. As I stood looking out at the lilies, I felt his chest press against my back, his hands sliding up from my waist to rest over my heart.
"Status check, Weify," he whispered, his voice vibrating through my spine. "You've been quiet for three minutes. That's a 100% deviation from the morning's energy."
I leaned my head back against his shoulder, closing my eyes. "I'm just breathing, Keif. For the first time in a week, the air doesn't feel like it's full of lies. I'm just... enjoying the silence."
"The silence is good," he murmured, turning me around in his arms. His blue eyes were darker today, filled with an intensity that made my knees feel like they were running on a low-battery alert. "But I prefer the sound of your heart beating next to mine."
The Romance: [Keifer's POV]
The garden was quiet, the perimeter was supposedly clear, and for the first time since I'd regained my memory, I felt like I didn't have to share her with the rest of the world. I reached out, my thumb tracing the curve of her jaw, memorizing the texture of her skin all over again.
"You're glowing," I rasped.
"It's just the sun, Hubby," she whispered, her hands tangling in my shirt.
"No. It's you."
I leaned in, my focus narrowing down to 1,000% on her lips. I wanted to drown out the last seven days. I wanted to overwrite every "File" of pain with this moment. I kissed her—softly at first, then with a deep, possessive hunger that made the rest of the world vanish. My hands slid into her hair, holding her as if she were the only thing keeping the earth on its axis.
The "Glow" was blinding. The connection was 100% synced.
And then, the frequency was shattered.
The Intrusion: [Jay's POV]
CRUNCH.
The sound of boots on gravel was followed by a very loud, very intentional stage-whisper.
"See? I told you! They're at it again. It's like they're trying to win an award for 'Most PDA in a Botanical Setting'."
I froze, pulling back from the kiss with a gasp. Keifer didn't move an inch, his jaw tightening as he let out a low, dangerous growl.
Bridget and Keiran were standing at the entrance of the pavilion. Bridget had her sunglasses pushed up on her head, looking completely unbothered, while Keiran was holding a bag of chips, munching loudly.
"Seriously?" Keifer snapped, his eyes flashing toward his brother. "Is there a single sector of this estate that isn't under surveillance?"
"Technically, the garden is a public zone," Keiran said, pointing a chip at us. "And Pappa sent me to find you because the 'Rina Situation' with Keigan has escalated. He's currently hiding in the server room and refusing to come out."
"And I'm just here to make sure you two don't accidentally start a forest fire with all this... heat," Bridget added, leaning against a white pillar. "Honestly, Keifer, you're like a teenager. We give you ten minutes of privacy and you're already trying to fuse souls."
The Teasing Protocol: [Keifer's POV]
I kept my arm firmly around Jay's waist, pulling her flush against my side. I wasn't letting go, no matter how much they mocked the "System."
"Keiran," I said, my voice dropping to that lethal CEO tone. "If you don't turn around and walk back to the house in three seconds, I am personally going to delete your access to the car collection for a month."
Keiran's eyes went wide. He stopped mid-crunch. "A month? That's a 1,000% overreaction for a little brotherly concern!"
"And Bridget," I turned my gaze to her. "Don't you have a 'Perimeter' to sweep? Somewhere far away? Like... the other side of the city?"
Bridget laughed, completely unfazed by my glare. She walked over and poked Jay in the shoulder. "He's grumpy when he's interrupted, isn't he? Come on, Jay. Let the 'Grumph-Master' go deal with Keigan. We have more important things to do. Like choosing a dress for the Re-wedding party."
"A dress?" I interrupted. "She's not going anywhere."
"Oh, she is," Bridget winked, grabbing Jay's hand and playfully tugging her away from me. "You've had her all morning. Shared access, Keifer. Remember? The family needs the Empress."
[Jay's POV]
I looked back at Keifer, who looked like a lion whose favorite toy had just been snatched away. I couldn't help it—I burst out laughing.
"I'll be back in an hour, Hubby," I called out as Bridget and Keiran started ushering me toward the house. "Go help Keigan! He's probably having a 'Logic Error' over Rina!"
Keifer stood in the middle of the pavilion, his hands in his pockets, looking absolutely defeated by the chaos of his own family.
"I'm installing locks on the garden gates tomorrow!" he shouted after us.
"We have bolt cutters, Big Bro!" Keiran yelled back, still eating his chips.
As we walked away, I felt the "Glow" warming my chest. The romance was interrupted, yes—but for the first time, it didn't matter. The Watsons were back, the teasing was loud, and my Hubby was finally, shamelessly mine.