Brady felt like he was in some sort of happy fog throughout the wedding party. There were toasts and razzing by his teammates, and he ate the delicious food without really appreciating it. His mind was tangled up with Hailey’s hand brushing his, so many opportunities to touch and hold her. Quite often, she gave him curious and, dare he hope, interested glances. This whole thing was backwards. He knew it wasn’t real, but he was definitely interested in his wife and getting to know her better. If that tantalizing kiss and the way she teased him after was any indication of how she could affect him, he was in huge danger of falling for Hailey.

After the dinner, he and Hailey were ushered into their first dance as husband and wife. Husband and wife. The words kept hammering in his brain. He wondered if he would have a chance to get to know his feisty wife. He had to keep reminding himself of the objective of their marriage, but the lines were really fuzzy as he took his beautiful bride in his arms and waltzed her around the temporary dance floor. What was happening to him?

Hailey glanced up at him innocently, and he couldn’t think of a thing to say to her. Since his stalker had started sending him daily notes two years ago, Brady hadn’t dated much. He didn’t want to bring a woman into the mess his life had become. What if he’d just put this perfect woman in danger?

“So I think it’s only fair we get the lines drawn right now,” Hailey said, still smiling sweetly at him.

“Lines?” Brady’s eyebrows lifted. “What lines?”

“The lines you aren’t going to cross.” She winked sassily.

Brady threw back his head and laughed. He liked her. “Hmm. I’m pretty sure I just got permission from the preacher to cross any line I want.”

Her beautiful mouth drew in a thin line, and she stiffened in his arms. “Don’t plan on it, Mr. Giles. Unless you want to wake up missing a limb.”

Violent and cute? Yep, she was the perfect wife for a football player, especially a defender. This was the third time a member of the Knight family had threatened him with dismemberment. It made him smile. He’d grown up with a lot of brothers. The threats made him feel right at home.

“Okay, okay,” he said. “I like my limbs. What lines do you want drawn?”

“I was going to say no touching, but I don’t want to be illogical about it as we’ll have to act married. I think hugging and holding hands is fine, but no kissing or anything more will be the safest plan.”

No kissing? Safest? What had he gotten himself into? Had he been the only one who felt that incredible zing when they’d kissed over the altar? “How about a deal?”

She tilted her head and considered him. “I’m listening.”

“You can kiss me any time you want to.”

She smiled and shook her head. “That’s pretty safe because I’ll never kiss you. I don’t date football players.”

He grinned. “I’ve heard that one. And I will kiss you when you ask me to.”

“Also not happening. So we’re good?”

It didn’t feel good. The thought of not kissing her again stabbed at his abdomen like an ice pick, but he wanted her to feel comfortable and know she could trust him. “If it will make you happy, we’ll embark on our no kissing pact. At least until you ask or initiate.” He winked.

She gave him a mischievous smile then they got split apart to dance with their parents and other people. Brady talked with his mom about his nieces and nephews, but he couldn’t keep his eyes from straying back to his bride. He wanted her in his arms again. At least, she hadn’t said no touching. What would happen when they were on their honeymoon? Was she going to let him hold her and snuggle at night? Probably not. He needed to stop thinking about that kind of thing, unless he wanted to wake up missing a limb. He smiled to himself.

The dancing continued, but Brady found himself next to Hailey in a sort of receiving line. He didn’t know most of the people, but they were all hugging and gushing over Hailey. Not that he blamed them. He’d hug and gush too if she would let him.

When William Fonnesbeck was next in line, Brady’s neck tightened. He forced himself to shake the man’s hand, wondering who invited this loser. Maybe it was good he was here and could see for himself that he’d better stay far away from Hailey.

“Congratulations. You are one lucky man.” William’s eyes trailed over Hailey, and Brady’s grip on the man’s hand tightened.

“Thank you,” Brady said. “It’s fabulous to know that no man but me will ever touch my wife.”

William pulled his hand free and stared haughtily at him. “Keep hoping for that.”

The idiot tried to move past him to Hailey, but Brady grabbed his arm and whipped the VP back to face him. He’d deal with a lot more than a suspension if it meant protecting Hailey. “There’s no hope about it. I don’t even want you looking at her, do you understand?” He said the last three words very slowly as if William was an imbecile.

“Brady,” Hailey whispered, squeezing his arm.

He realized Hailey was trying to warn him to calm down, but her eyes didn’t match her voice. Her eyes glowed up at him like he was her protector. He tried to send the message back that if any man hurt or scared her, Brady would destroy them and keep her safe.

She smiled at him. “He’s not worth messing up your handsome self in this tux.” She winked.

Brady grinned and released William, pulling his new wife close and giving William a challenging glare as he savored the feel of her body close to his.

William sneered at him. “I’d be very careful if I were you, Mr. Giles. You have more questionable hits than any player I’ve ever seen.”

Brady’s lips tightened. He would’ve shown William a questionable hit if Hailey wasn’t tucked against his chest.

“Brady doesn’t do questionable hits,” Hailey said. “He hits clean and hard. Everybody in the league knows it.”

“So sweet, the little bride defending her man.” William pointed a finger at Brady. It gave him a little pleasure to see the finger was shaking. “It’s going to be fun to see all the fines and suspensions that are going to be coming at you and the Titans. Your new father-in-law is going to regret signing you, and you’re going to regret marrying the spoiled princess.” He glared at both of them and whirled, stomping away.

Hailey leaned against Brady. He bent down and whispered in her ear, “It’s okay. Don’t listen to anything he said. He’s an idiot.”

“Did we just make things worse for you and the team?” she asked, looking up at him, her blue eyes so entrancing he almost kissed her before he remembered he’d promised not to.

Brady didn’t have an answer to her question, but he thought she was even more beautiful when she’d stood up for him and said he hit clean and hard. It was a huge ego boost that she’d paid attention to his playing even when he hadn’t been on her team.

The next people in line moved in for hugs and congratulations. Brady tried to force the ugly scene with William out of his head. There was nothing he could do about it but worry, and worrying wasn’t his style.