Flawless: (Fearsome Series Book 4)

by S. A. Wolfe

  I thank her as we head back out into the sunshine.

  • • •

  A half hour later, standing on the mostly deserted beach under a brilliant sunset, Peyton and I stand in front of Alejandro and repeat the simple vows. I hold a small bouquet of wildflowers Alejandro brought for me, and Finn stands next to his father, holding the little box with my ring.

  This is not the wedding I imagined. Ever. This is more beautiful. It’s better than a church full of women in layers of makeup and hair product, concerned about their dresses; men complaining about stiff tuxes; and the general anxiety that accompanies a tightly scripted wedding service meant to entertain a hundred spectators.

  My wedding is intimate and lovely. Finn in board shorts and flip-flops, the minister in khakis and a brightly flowered pink shirt, and me and Peyton in jeans and T-shirts. No guests, no reception, just a warm breeze and fading sunlight with the ocean as our backdrop … and love. So much love that my heart feels like it could burst.

  This wedding is for the three of us, my new little family. Later, we’ll do it again in Hera at a party so our friends and family won’t nag us for a lifetime about not being witnesses to our vows.

  Finn covers his eyes when we kiss, and then I hug Finn and kiss the top of his head with the promise that I won’t do it again, certainly not in public.

  Later that night, we sit on Adirondack chairs on the hotel’s great lawn, sipping cocktails and discussing our future with the rest of our friends and family who are already planning the party they will hold at Swill to celebrate our nuptials. Finn is running around with the other cousins, chasing Dylan in the dark.

  I close my eyes and listen as Greer and Imogene talk about the invite list and the band that they want to perform at the party that has now become their party, hardly letting Jess and the other women join in. Cooper and Carson are holding a lively conversation about football and beer and anything not related to weddings and parties.

  Peyton hasn’t stopped holding my hand since we stepped off the beach as husband and wife. We keep smiling when we look at each other.

  “You know that thing you said earlier today?” he asks quietly so only I can hear him.

  “What thing? We talked about so many things today, and then we got married.” I laugh. “I still can’t believe it.”

  “You said you weren’t sure if you want to have children.”

  “Yes?” Where is he going with this?

  “Surprise.” He chuckles. “You’re a mother. It’s a boy. There, you got the same initiation as me.”

  “We’re proud parents of a nine-year-old boy,” I say.

  “Almost ten!” we say in unison, mimicking Finn’s usual retort.

  “I have to get you a wedding ring,” I say. “Would you wear one?”

  “If you want me to, I will. Whatever you want.”

  “You’ve given me everything I could ever want. You. A family. A really big family.”

  He lifts up our clasped hands and kisses the back of my hand.

  “I love you.” I lean across the wooden armrest to kiss him.

  He meets me halfway, and then we have our twenty-fourth kiss as a married couple. Yes, I’m counting.

  “I should have told you weeks ago. Months ago.” I look into his eyes. Night has descended, and his features aren’t as clear, but I can see all I need in his eyes. Those eyes.

  “Let’s make a deal not to have any regrets.” His deep voice sends shivers through me. “I love you, and we have years and years to say it every day.”

  One year later…

  Talia

  I FIND HARMONY ON the porch, settled back in one of the wooden rockers, sipping a cocktail. Over the past six months, we’ve become close. Friends. I remind her of that constantly. Renovating and restoring a large Victorian home and starting a business together could have made us mortal enemies, but it has had the opposite effect. We both found the place where we truly belong.

  “Look at those two jokers.” She points at the tractor that Peyton and Finn are riding across the field below.

  I laugh and walk over to the porch railing, leaning against a post to take in the majestic view that never gets old.

  We settled on retaining Pickwick as the name of the estate. Naturally, many people were surprised that we weren’t more inventive in the name department. Only Kimberly appreciated our attention to historical preservation for an estate that was in ruins and about to lose to bulldozers if a developer had his way.

  We started farming the land months ago, but officially opened the inn and dining room three weeks ago. The whole operation is fully staffed with a farm manager, a few farmhands to manage the horses, the goats, and the crops, and an inn manager and housekeeping and restaurant staff. I’m the CEO and run the kitchen, too, and I oversee my catering business and own staff, which was relocated out of Swill to Pickwick. Aleska is the CFO and still runs the housekeeping business, formerly under the now defunct T & A Services. Like any business venture, we hit a lot of bumps along the way, but with Aleska’s business skills and Harmony’s common sense and venture capital, we worked out all our issues in a timely manner and surprised the skeptics.

  Our living arrangements, while odd by conventional standards, have worked out brilliantly. Four homes side by side: my mother and sister, though Aleska plans on moving into the remaining vacant home within the year; Peyton and me; and Harmony and Finn. Baby runs freely among all the houses, which means we all keep shovels and garbage bags on hand for those special Baby piles that dot our yards. It’s as if Norma’s spirit is still with us, having the last laugh. And her strength and humor are present, tying us all together as one large family.

  “Do you want to give Peyton the third degree on this, or should I?” Harmony’s voice breaks my reverie.

  “They’re sure having fun. I’ll tell Peyton to lay off the tractor, and you can remind him that Finn is an impressionable boy.”

  Harmony stands up to join me. Even in casual clothes—jeans and a wrinkled linen shirt—she looks elegant. “Peyton loves being the fun dad. He thinks you and I conspire behind his back.”

  “We do.” We both laugh in that way friends develop with their own inside jokes. “How’s the drink?”

  “Excellent. Mila really excels in mixology. I like every version she’s given me with the different berries she picked. These could become our signature drink at the inn once word gets out.”

  “My mother will love hearing that from you. She’s becoming quite more comfortable with the guests. She’s starting to work the front desk so she can find reasons to leave the kitchen and socialize.”

  “That’s wonderful. She has such a gracious presence and makes everyone feel welcome.”

  “True, but she’s also bad for profits. You need to watch her. She likes to walk around with trays of champagne flutes or glasses of wine, handing them out like cheap breath mints.”

  “She may be on to something. People come here to relax, and they enjoy sitting in the lounge downstairs. That old fireplace makes it cozy. Why don’t we fill the beautiful hutch Cooper made us with bottles of wine and glasses? People can serve themselves. It won’t be the same expensive wines we sell in the restaurant. Good wines, but less expensive, and Mila can bring down a tray every afternoon with some of her homemade cookies or lemon bars. The lounge is only for guests of the inn, and they’re already paying a premium for the rooms.”

  “Adding a perk like a wine lounge and afternoon treats would be a good addition to our publicity pieces.”

  “Now you’re thinking like a businesswoman instead of a chef.” Harmony toasts me with her glass, then takes another sip. “Hmm, we’re definitely not giving these yummy things away for free, though.”

  The sound of an approaching car makes us turn toward the front of the inn. It’s Adam’s red Bugatti.

  “Adam!” I wave and step toward the front staircase of the wide porch.

  He gets out of the car with a big bouquet of flowers in his arms and bounds
up the stairs, looking energized and tan from his vacation in Thailand.

  “Just a little housewarming for the new innkeeper.” He kisses my cheek. Then his smile grows bigger when he looks over my shoulder at Harmony.

  “Innkeepers. There are two of us,” I say. “Thank you. This is huge. I’ll have my mom put them on display at the front desk.”

  He’s still staring at Harmony, and she’s staring back.

  “Wait. Have you two never met?”

  “No, I’d remember. Hello. Adam Knight.” He reaches out his hand, and Harmony takes it.

  “Harmony Davis.” She suddenly sounds coy and sweet—nothing like the Harmony I know.

  “Harmony is Finn’s mother,” I add, assuming he can do the math and figure out that she was Peyton’s high school fling.

  “It’s a pleasure,” he says. “I’m sorry I missed the opening party. I was out of the country for over a month.”

  They’re gazing at each other as if I’m not standing between them, so I slip away to give them a chance to talk and see if their meet-cute goes any further.

  I walk to the stairs and stand on the top step, watching Finn and Peyton leave the barn where the tractor is kept. They make their way up the hill toward the inn, talking and laughing. My heart swells—in a good way. They are my family. My husband and my stepson.

  “Wifey!” Peyton shouts when he sees me.

  Finn charges up the stairs with a quick hi.

  “Give these flowers to Mila, please!” I say as he tries to rush by me. I thrust the bouquet in front of his face, and he grabs them as he makes a beeline for the kitchen, knowing my mother, his only grandmother, and her gentleman suitor, Gavin, will have fresh cookies ready for him.

  “You have flour on your face.” Peyton puts his hands on my waist. The sun glints off his wedding ring as he reaches to brush the flour from my cheek.

  “Figures Harmony wouldn’t tell me.”

  “And you smell like butter. And this floor-length apron is oh so sexy.”

  “Don’t get too excited there, horny boy. Check out Harmony’s new friend.”

  Peyton looks past me and frowns. “Knight.”

  “Be nice and don’t screw this up for her. Those two were starstruck when I introduced them.”

  “Really?”

  “Yep. Can you imagine if they start dating? What if he starts spending some nights at her place? All of us in our own little cul-de-sac of Dynasty meets Desperate Housewives.”

  “Please, don’t give me those images. I can’t think about that now. I’ve been waiting all day to take you up to the Hera Suite so I can have my way with you.” He fiddles with my wedding ring dangling on a delicate platinum chain at my throat. It’s the safest place to keep it while I cook.

  “I’m helping with the family dinner tonight. Everyone is coming. I’m setting up the tables outside by the new hedges we put in. Stop pretending that you don’t remember. Besides, all rooms are booked, including the Hera Suite. It’s the most popular room. A Mr. Edward Van Hulane booked it for tonight.”

  A deep belly laugh rumbles through Peyton. “It’s Edward Van Halen. Of course, you didn’t get that one. You know Chopin and The Beatles, but you’ve never heard of Eddie Van Halen.”

  “You know this man?”

  “I am this man. I booked and paid for the room tonight. For us. Finn is going home with Harmony after the dinner, and I want my wife to take a night off.”

  “You did this? But I have to help my mom in the kitchen, and I have to help set and serve. We have a lot of people coming. Imogene and Cooper and their three kids, Greer and her kids, Jess and—”

  “I know who’s coming. Aleska and I went over the list. She’ll be here soon to help your mom cook. She enlisted Imogene and Lauren to help serve. And I got Cooper and the other guys committed to helping with the cleanup. Dishes and all.”

  “If you say so, Eddie. I’m impressed with your plotting and scheming.”

  “Thank you. Now how about a quickie before the dinner?”

  “Oops, can’t. Look who’s here.”

  More cars arrive. Aleska’s in our new catering van, Kim and Bash have a carload of book boxes for our library room, and behind them are Cooper and Imogene and their three foster children—all siblings, all girls under the age of ten. Harmony told her to arrive early so she could teach Imogene how to care for the girls’ hair, all of whom have afros. Harmony plans to instruct Imogene on the proper hair products to use.

  Bash and Kim approach, both carrying a heavy box.

  “Peyton, you wanna grab one of these boxes?” Bash asks.

  “Oh, you can call him Mr. Van Halen,” I say.

  Bash laughs. Of course, he’s in on Peyton’s ruse.

  “You should be carrying all those boxes for Kim,” Peyton tells Bash.

  “He’s been so helpful,” Kim adds, giving Bash an adoring look.

  “Great. Who’s running the kitchen at Swill?” Peyton puts his arm around me.

  “Our excellent kitchen staff, Mr. Van Halen. Thanks for asking.” Bash shakes his head as he and Kim pass us and head into the inn.

  “Why do they get to go into the library? My mother told me yesterday no one was allowed in there until the new stain on the end tables dries.”

  Peyton chuckles. “You fall for everything.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I’m here! I’m here!” Aleska grouses as she jogs up the stairs. “Thanks for calling and texting me every thirty minutes, Peyton! So happy I can help you two celebrate your monthly anniversary again! Every fudging month!” She doesn’t wait for a response, and Peyton just smiles smugly as Aleska storms into the inn.

  “This time it’s officially our one-year anniversary!” Peyton yells after my sister.

  “Looks like you’ve been planning this for a while,” I say. “You’re going to owe your sister-in-law big time.”

  “Don’t worry. I know how to get back in her good graces. A superior gift is in the works.”

  “Well, I’m a mess. Not about to sneak upstairs with you. And look at our mangy dog. Someone has to clean him before dinner.” I point at Baby, who is galloping in from who knows where after chasing who knows what. He’s panting with his tongue hanging out, and the fur on his chest is matted with sweat and drool.

  “Oh, for Christ’s sake. Please tell me someone is doing a tick check on that beast before he comes back to the house.”

  Baby paws Peyton’s foot, and when he doesn’t get the human hugs he relishes, he takes off down the veranda toward Harmony and Adam.

  “I hope Gavin will hose him down. He loves Baby,” I say. “Finish what you were saying before Aleska interrupted us.”

  He smirks. “What’s that?”

  “Stop it. Yesterday my mother told me to stay out of the library, and you just said I fall for everything. What did you mean?”

  Peyton sighs, a sly smile blooming. “I have something for you. For our anniversary. I wanted to give it to you a year ago, when I thought you’d never speak to me again.”

  “After The Kitchen Incident?”

  He chuckles because I always use The Kitchen Incident as a marker of our time together, the before TKI and the after TKI. It’s become legendary, thanks to Imogene’s colorful storytelling.

  “Yes, after the incident, there was something I wanted to do for you. I didn’t have the knowledge I needed, and I didn’t have a location.”

  “This sounds very mysterious. Did you put something in the library for me? A gift? Is that why my mother locked it and hid the key?”

  He nods. “She’s helping me.”

  “Then how are Kim and Bash getting in there?” I ask, already leaving the veranda and heading inside.

  He grasps my hand and takes the lead down the long hallway that crosses the inn and ends at the library door. “I have a key,” he says, pulling it out of his pocket.

  When we reach the library door, Kimberly’s book boxes are stacked by the door. Peyton unties my apron,
slips it over my head, and tosses it onto the boxes.

  “I hope you like it,” he says, unlocking the door.

  I walk in ahead of him. It’s a beautiful room, painstakingly restored woodwork, a floor of wide pine planks, floor-to-ceiling bookcases, and large, French doors that provide plenty of natural light. Kimberly helped us acquire used and new books for the shelves, but little furniture has been put in the room because Aleska and my mother said it was on order and delayed.

  There’s still no new furniture; however, across the room is the most dazzling grand piano I have ever seen. I walk slowly toward this thing of beauty.

  With the exception of Adam’s piano, I haven’t had music in my life for years. The old upright we used to have was downright shabby, but I still played it until my fingers and hands ached and the instrument needed to be tuned. The absence of a piano and being unable to play every day has left a void in my life.

  I touch the glossy, ebony surface with a fingertip and turn to Peyton, who’s watching me intently. “How did you do this?”

  “They parked the truck out on the side lawn and brought it in through the French doors.”

  “I figured out why my mother kept me in the kitchen for five hours today. I get that. I mean, how did you buy this? Did you buy it? Are we renting it? Can people rent Bösendorfers? This must be worth at least fifty thousand.”

  Peyton blinks.

  “A hundred thousand?” I ask, alarmed.

  “The cost isn’t important. I can afford it. We can afford it. Sit down.”

  I slide onto the bench, and Peyton sits next to me. My fingers are dying to play the gleaming keys, but I hesitate. “How did you do this, Peyton?”

  “When I saw you play Adam’s piano, you looked so natural at that keyboard. I’m not an expert, but I know talent when I see it. I wanted to get you a piano to pay you back for the kitchen—”

  “The Kitchen Incident.” I nod, and he chuckles.

  “Yes, that. So, I called a guy who’s an expert. I thought he’d tell me to invest in a Steinway. It’s the only name I recognize other than Yamaha. He and I talked for a while.” Peyton speaks in a soft, gentle manner, telling his story slowly. “I told him that you’re a professional chef, and you’re going to start another business soon, but playing the piano is part of who you are. You need the music, the piano, the same way other people need their TVs or cars. He gave me good advice because he has a natural talent like you. He helped with the research, and when I settled on this one, I said maybe some time he could come hear my incredible wife play.”