by Nicole James
“Okay…I’m going to have you just listen to me for a few minutes while I talk about this, all right?”
Malee nodded.
“When we finish, you’ll be able to control the loudness with your remote control. But I don’t want it so soft that you can’t hear anything because that defeats the purpose, okay? But I also don’t want it so loud that you’re uncomfortable.”
Malee nodded again, smiling.
Her mother came over, kissed her on the forehead, and said softly, “I’ve been waiting for this day.”
Malee pointed at her mother, looking at Stacy with big eyes.
“Could you hear her?” Stacy asked.
Malee nodded, laughing.
“You said you weren’t gonna cry,” Lawan told her mother.
“Who’s talking?” Malee asked Stacy.
“That’s your sister.” Stacy then looked over at Lawan. “She heard your voice because she turned her head to look for you.”
The audiologist looked at Max. “Do you have pets? Any barking dogs?”
“No we don’t.”
Malee looked at her husband with big eyes. Then looked back at Stacy, smiling.
“Now Max, you say something. I think she heard you.”
“Hi, beautiful. Can you hear me?”
She nodded and started laughing.
He laughed back, his voice a sweet low rumble. “Malee, how does my voice sound?”
“Yours sounds loud.”
“Very low and very deep, I’m guessing,” the audiologist said. “Does he sound different from mine?”
Malee nodded, grinning. “Different.” Then she laughed.
“What do you think?” he asked.
“It’s amazing.”
Then it all overwhelmed her, and she put her face in her hands and burst into tears.
The audiologist patted her leg. “Aw, honey. That’s okay. It’s a big life-changing day today.”
Max squatted before her and pulled her hands away. “Hey, baby. Don’t cry. I’ve wanted to say this to you for a very long time. I love you, Malee.”
She nodded back, letting him know she heard, then said, “I love you, too.”
Tears streamed down her face, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Malee stood in front of the mirror at the small church. She was about to renew her vows to Max. They’d decided to do a renewal now that she had her implants and could hear Max recite his vows to her. They’d also wanted to have their families attend.
Malee had gone to her family and asked them to come. Her father had flatly refused to even speak to her, and he’d walked out of the room without a word. She didn’t know if any of her family would be able to come, but her mother, sister, and brother were very happy for her and had helped her with throwing together this event.
Lawan fussed with her hair, trying to secure the flower above her ear. Malee smiled at her in the mirror, and Lawan gave her a wink. Then her mother stepped into view, and Malee turned to see there were tears in her eyes.
“Malee, my daughter, you are so beautiful.”
“Thank you, Mama.”
Her mother pulled her in for a hug. “I wish your Aunt Ratana was here to see this.”
Malee pulled back and smiled. “I feel like she is here.”
Her mother nodded. “Yes, Malee. I do, too.”
“You better go take your seat, Mama. It’s almost time.”
“I’m so happy for you, baby. Max is a good man. He’s not what your father thought at all.”
Malee nodded. “I know, Mama. I only wish he could be happy for me.”
“I talked to him last night. I thought he was coming around. I had hoped he would show up today.”
“Me, too.”
“He’s a proud man, Malee. It’s hard for him to admit when he is wrong.”
Lawan pulled her mother’s arm. “Don’t make her cry. Her makeup is perfect. Let’s go take our seats.”
“Okay.”
Lawan gave her sister a hug. “I love you, baby sister.”
“I love you, too.”
When they left the room, Malee picked up her small bouquet and looked back in the mirror. She would walk herself down the aisle, and that would be okay, because she would be walking toward Max. She would focus on the smile on his handsome face and nothing else.
She heard the music start up.
The door behind her opened, and she saw in the reflection the man who had walked in.
She turned, stunned to see her father standing in a dark suit.
“Papa. You came.”
He nodded once. “I was wrong. It is your life to live as you decide. I want you to be happy, Malee.”
“I am happy, Father.” Then she laughed. “This is the first time I’ve heard your voice.”
And then he was across the room hugging her. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too, Papa.”
He stepped back, holding her at arm’s length, and his eyes swept down her. “You look beautiful. I hope I didn’t crush your flowers.”
She tried to laugh, wiping her happy tears away with the handkerchief she held in one hand. “You didn’t.”
He extended his elbow. “May I walk you down the aisle?”
“Are you sure?”
He nodded. “I would be honored.”
She slipped her hand into the crook of his arm.
“Okay, my baby girl. Let’s go.”
They stepped into the vestibule, and the attendant pulled the doors back to the chapel. Rory was sitting on a stool to the side of the altar, strumming a quiet melody on an acoustic guitar.
Malee grinned, hearing the musical sound. Her eyes traveled around the small chapel. Max’s family was all there. Jameson, Ava, their baby, and Liam were in the front row. Ava’s sister and some other friends were behind them, many of them tattooed men. On Malee’s side stood her mother, sister, and now, too, her brother, who must have come with her father. And then suddenly it struck her that her father must have shut down the restaurant for this—something he’d never done in his life.
She looked at him and smiled, and they began walking slowly down the aisle.
Her eyes traveled over Mrs. Larsen standing in a pretty dress. Little Ben was there, too, smiling proudly in his new suit as he stood next to Max as his best man.
Her eyes moved to her husband. He looked so handsome, standing there with his hands clasped in front of him, his feet spread. His eyes had widened for a split second at the sight of Malee’s father walking her in, but his face broke in a broad smile at the sight of her.
They held eye contact as she walked toward him, and somehow it felt like she was floating down the aisle to him and to a life filled with love and happiness.
EPILOGUE
Maxwell—
I lay on my side on the blanket spread out over the grass. With my head in my hand, I looked down at my sleeping wife and drew a piece of straw grass across her face.
She cracked open an eye and smiled, batting it away with her hand.
I chuckled, then leaned down and kissed her. “You were sleeping.”
“I was just resting my eyes.”
I twisted my head to look out over the view from our spot. “I’m glad Mrs. Larsen could watch Ben and let us have some time alone today. It’s a special day.”
She giggled. “Max, are you saying you actually remembered?”
“Of course I remembered.” I nodded toward the tree. “One year ago today I brought you up here and told you I loved you.”
“And I said it back.”
I grinned and dipped my head to brush my lips over hers. “And you said it back.”
She tilted her head back to look over at the tree. “And you carved our initials in a heart.”
I grinned. “Hey, I’m a romantic guy.”
“Yes, you are.” She cupped my bearded face in her hands. “You’ve done a lot of romantic things for me, all the letters you wrote…�
�� Suddenly she sat up, her mouth falling open.
“Baby, what’s wrong?”
Instead of answering, she scrambled to her feet and dashed over to the tree. She dug around, pushing piles of leaves to the side until she came up with a tin box, which she clutched to her chest and carried back over to me.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“I’d forgotten about it. I carried it up here the day my aunt died. When my sister texted me, I left it by the tree where I’d set it down.”
I frowned. “You were up here that day?”
She nodded.
“Why?”
“I came here to think.”
“About what?”
“About you. About how much I loved you. I’d planned to go to you that day and tell you how wrong I was and ask for forgiveness and another chance. But then…”
“You got that text.”
She nodded. “Yes. And everything changed.”
My eyes fell to the box. “What’s in it?”
Malee looked down at it, stroking her hand over it lovingly. “Your letters.”
I grinned. “Really? Let me see.”
She sat down next to me and opened the rusted box. “It’s been up here so long. But look, they’re okay.”
I watched her lift the stack and then I held my hand out. “I’ll bet there’s something you never noticed.”
She frowned at me as she passed me the stack. “What?”
I took them and fanned them out across the blanket. “Look at the first letter of each one.”
She looked down.
“What does it spell?”
Her eyes moved across them and her mouth dropped open.
“What does it say, Malee?”
In a soft voice she read the words out loud. “Marry me.”
“You were it for me. I knew it from the very first note I wrote you.”
She looked into my eyes and then lunged across the space dividing us to wrap her arms around my neck and kiss me.
When she pulled back, she looked up at me with sparkling eyes. “I love you, Max.”
“I love you, too, babe.”
Her eyes moved to the letters scattered on the blanket now. “You’re not the only one with a secret.”
My brows shot up. “Oh, yeah? You write some cryptic message in your letters, too?”
“Nope. Even better.”
“What, baby doll?”
“I’m pregnant.”
My smile disappeared, and I stared at her in shock. “Are you serious right now?”
She laughed. “I’m serious.”
I threw my head back and shouted to the heavens, “Whoo-hoo!” Then I grabbed her and rolled her to the blanket, crushing all the notes under us. I looked down at her, grinning, and brushed the hair back from her face, searching her eyes. Then my gaze dropped to her stomach, and I smoothed my palm lovingly over her belly.
“I take it you’re happy?” she whispered.
“Hell yes, I’m happy. A baby. You’re sure?” I grinned down at her as she nodded, then I added, “I ever tell you that twins run in my family?”
Her mouth dropped open, and her eyes got big.
I chuckled. I should tell her I was joking, but the look on her face was priceless. God, how I loved this woman. I dipped my head and kissed her again. I’ll tell her tomorrow. Maybe.
Liam
Brothers Ink #3
CHAPTER ONE
Liam stood at the Brothers Ink booth at the tattoo expo in LA. He couldn’t take his eyes off the gorgeous tattoo model doing a photo shoot for the crowd. She was on a raised dais on a mock bed with a white fur throw under her. It was the perfect backdrop for the colorful ink that covered her sexy body. As the videographer filmed her, the feed was thrown up on a giant screen, like they do behind bands at concerts. She rolled around on the fur, and the entire event space had a perfect view. Her textbook pin-up vibe called out to every man in the room.
She was on her back; her bare legs extended in the air, crossed at the ankles, sexy platform shoes with sexier still straps wrapped around her smooth skin.
Her lips were painted bright red, her hair tied up in a fifties style bandana, ah la Rosie the Riveter, and she wore a fifties style two-piece bathing suit.
The cameraman filmed from over her head, and she tilted her head back to look at him, her teeth coming out to nibble at her bottom lip. She rolled to her stomach arching her ass into the air with her arms stretched like a cat.
Jesus Christ, the woman was sex on a stick. Every man in the place probably had a hard-on for her.
She was selling a pin-up calendar at the event, and they were going fast, even at thirty bucks a pop. Liam could see why. He couldn’t tear his eyes from her. What he wouldn’t give to run his hands over her skin and trace every tattoo she had with his tongue. Hell, he’d even settle for putting some ink of his own on her gorgeous body.
“She’s hot, isn’t she?”
Liam glanced over at his brother, Rory. “Hot as hell.” His eyes turned back to the screen. “I’d love to lay ink on her, wouldn’t you?”
“Hell, yeah. Why don’t you go ask her? It’d be an icebreaker, anyway, even if she weren’t interested in more ink.”
Liam drained the last of the bottle of water in his hand and tossed it in the trash. “I’m going to take a walk around the hall… check out our competition. You got the booth covered?”
“Yeah, man, go on. But remember I’ve got to catch a flight for that gig tonight in Seattle, so we need to tear down the booth as soon as the expo closes.”
“I’ll be back by then.”
Liam strolled around the exhibit hall, greeting old friends in the business he’d known for years and shooting the shit. He also took the time to say hello to many newcomers and check out their artistry. He believed in being supportive and welcoming with a mentoring spirit, as long as the artists and shops followed good industry practices. Over the years, he’d seen many players come and go in this business, some whose flame of fame would flare up brightly only to burn out within a few years because they didn’t maintain those industry standards. It was truly a tough business to succeed in, especially long-term.
He was thankful every day for the success Brothers Ink had attained, and he knew most of the credit went to his older brother, Jameson. He’d started the business as a way to support his three younger brothers after their parents were killed in a car accident. Liam would be forever grateful that Jameson had stepped up to the task, rather than let them all be split apart into different foster homes.
Not only had Jameson taken care of them, he’d given them all a profession, and it was one Liam loved. He was in his element here at the expo. He loved meeting the fans and rubbing elbows with his contemporaries. To some extent, it was like a reunion for him.
“Hey, Liam, how are you man?” An artist with a long braid stepped around to take his hand and pull him in for a backslapping hug.
“Carter,” Liam returned the embrace. “How’re things in Vegas?”
“Great. When are you going to make the trip? I’ll show you the town.”
“The Vegas Strip isn’t really my thing. I’m more of the outdoors kind.”
“You gonna be at the Miami show in the fall?”
“I don’t know. Jameson makes all the arrangements; I just show up.”
Carter laughed. “I hear ya, man.”
“I’ve got to get back to the booth. We need to start tearing down soon. Rory’s got a flight he needs to catch.”
“Where’s he off to?”
“Seattle. His band, Convicted Chrome, is playing tonight.”
“How’s that going for him?”
“They’re good. Have you seen ‘em play yet?”
“Haven’t had a chance. They got anything on the radio yet?”
“Nah, they’re still waiting for their big break. Take it easy, man!”
“You, too.” After making his way back around, he returned to the booth. Rory was taking a phot
o with a couple of giggling girls, his long dark hair standing out between the two blondes pressed to his sides.
Liam began breaking down the booth while Rory took pictures and signed autographs. Some even knew him from Convicted Chrome. Liam gave him the time and took down the shop’s standing banner and stowed it in its bag.
“Did you go talk to her?”
Liam looked up to see Rory now standing at the table alone. “Who?”
Rory huffed out a laugh. “The tattoo model, that’s who. Moron.”
“Nah.”
“Afraid you’d get shot down?”
“Fuck off.”
A female artist from another booth approached the table. “Rory, can I get a selfie with you?”
“Sure, Vonda.” He leaned across the table, tucked his long hair behind one ear and smiled his megawatt smile, pressing his cheek to hers. She pulled back, and he lifted his chin. “Text me a copy, babe.”
She waved goodbye and walked off.
Liam shook his head.
“What?” Rory asked.
“You draw ‘em like flies.”
“I can’t help it. I got all the good looks in the family.”
Liam chuckled and shoved the last of their gear in a duffle bag. “Tell Jameson’s legions of followers that one.”
Rory rolled his eyes then nodded toward the end of the hall. “They’re packing up. She’ll be gone soon.”
“I realize that.”
“For once in your life, brother, take a damn risk.”
“What are you talking about? I take risks all the damn time. I went with you just last spring to climb Medicine Man. Got all the way to the top, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, I guess Medicine Man is a good climb for a beginner like you,” Rory teased.
“Fuck off.”
“I’m not talking about rock climbing, dumbass, I’m talking about taking an emotional risk.”
“What the fuck is an emotional risk?”
“You always settle for the ones that come on to you instead of going after the ones you’re really interested in.” He lifted his chin toward the end of the hall. “Like Velvet Jones.”
“I don’t do that.”
“Yeah, you do, bro. All the time. Opportunity’s staring you in the face, but if I know you, you’re too afraid you’ll get burned.”
