Beautiful Illusions Duet Bundle: Eighty-One Nights and Beautiful Ever After

by Georgia Cates

  “It was my pleasure.”

  Hutch has been so good to me. Feeding and pampering me. Being there when I needed to talk. Or cry.

  Calvin stops the car in front of my building, and I stroke my thumb over the top of Hutch’s hand. I don’t want him to go to work. I want him to stay with me. “You should call the office and tell them you’re taking off the rest of the day.”

  He smiles. “That’s a very good plan. So good that I’m glad I thought of it before I left the office and told my secretary that I wouldn’t be returning today. Calvin, that means I won’t be needing you again until the morning. I’m staying at Miss Louden’s tonight.”

  “Will you need me to fetch Miss Ava Rose later this evening?”

  Hutch looks at me for the answer. “Do you want her to come here or stay with Mrs. McVey?”

  “I want her to be with us tonight.” I lower my voice. “But later.”

  He turns back to Calvin. “We’ll need you to fetch her. I’ll text when we’re ready for her to come.”

  Hutch and I were separated for more than six weeks, but we haven’t spent a night apart since we reunited. We’ve shared my bed for more than a month, and he hasn’t tried to do anything beyond holding me against him. But that’s over. My body is fully healed and we have the green light from Dr. Kimble. We both know what we’re about to do.

  Intimacy is our special time. It’s when we come together—raw, bared, exposed. We put everything else in our world aside and make that moment about the two of us.

  Once inside, Hutch wraps his arms around me from behind and holds me tightly, his nose buried in the back of my hair. “It’s been so long, mo maise.”

  Three months feels like an eternity, especially when your separation wasn’t by choice. “It’s been too long since you’ve touched me like this.”

  He kisses the side of my neck, and I instantly feel those dormant tingles coming to life again. It’s like a bundle of excitement stirring inside of me. “I want to take it slow and feel everything between us again.”

  “I want that too.”

  “Put on some mood music while I work on getting out of this suit. Play something soft and slow.”

  I made a romantic playlist before I left Hutch. I was going to play it on that last night we were together, the night our arrangement was ending, but I didn’t get the chance.

  I choose the shuffle option and the first song to play is “You are Mine” by MuteMath. I couldn’t have picked a more fitting song if I’d gone down the list and chosen it myself.

  Hutch smiles as he works on the buttons of his shirt. “You’ve always known how to choose the perfect music.”

  Maybe it’s the writer in me, but I hear a song and it always accompanies a scene playing out in my head. And I’ve watched the scene that goes with this song a million times.

  “I want to do that for you.” God, I’ve missed helping him undress.

  I unfasten the buttons of his shirt and push it from his shoulders. I flatten my palms against his upper chest, rubbing his pecs in large circular motions, while he unfastens his belt and trousers.

  Hutch has slept beside me every night for weeks. He’s held me close at night, but I’ve resisted the urge to touch him this way, knowing what it would lead to. I held back because my body wasn’t completely healed but also because my heart wasn’t either. I wasn’t ready.

  But I am now.

  He grips the hem of my dress, pulling it up and turning it into a jumble of fabric on the floor. My bra joins the growing pile of clothing, followed by my panties.

  Together we move to the bed, and he lowers his body on top of me. And I realize something: home isn’t four walls. It’s his warm skin on my skin, his rapidly beating heart pressed against mine, and his light blue eyes locked on my hazel ones.

  He kisses me softly and slowly. When he stops, his mouth is still against mine and I feel the movement of his lips. “I love you.”

  Warm liquid rolls away from the outer corners of my eyes into my hairline. “I love you too.”

  I grasp the sides of Hutch’s face and kiss his mouth. “I need us to be one. I need to feel you inside of me.”

  He nods. “I need that too.”

  Parting my legs, he nestles between them and the head of his hard cock presses against my entrance. I’m ready. He’s ready. But there’s suddenly an unvoiced question hanging in the air.

  Birth control?

  Shit.

  My body has healed. I could get pregnant again if we don’t use a condom, but I can’t bring myself to tell him to stop. I don’t want him to stop.

  It may be irresponsible but he is what I need. This is what I need. And I think he needs it too.

  “I don’t have condoms.”

  “I’ll pull out,” he whispers against my mouth.

  I kiss Hutch’s mouth and lift my hips, coaxing the crown of his erection into me. It’s all the invitation he needs because he pushes the remaining length inside of me until he can go no deeper.

  And we are one again.

  Our bodies join together and I experience peace for the first time in months. I tune out the grief and sadness and only feel the love between us. He’s the calm to the storm that has been raging out of control inside of me.

  I am so in love with this amazing man.

  He moves in and out of me slowly, and tingly waves of sensation toss and turn deep within my pelvis. A storm of moans, groans, and panted breathing brews beneath my surface.

  Bending my legs, I bring them up and wrap them around his hips. I dig my heels into his ass, making each thrust a little deeper than the one before.

  His breath increases and he suddenly pulls out of me. Warm gushes of liquid splash against my stomach and oddly, I find it satisfying.

  With his forehead pressed against mine, Hutch’s warm breath is rapid on my mouth. I can’t resist stretching up to kiss him. “I love you.”

  “I love you too, lass. And I’m never going to let you get away from me again.”

  “No worries. I’m never leaving you again.”

  We make up for lost time, spending the rest of the day making love. When night comes, Ava Rose sleeps between us and I feel complete. I wasn’t sure that I’d ever be able to feel this way again.

  But I’m afraid. There’s someone out there who wants to take this happiness away from me. From us.

  Please, fate. I’m happy. Don’t be cruel and ruin this for me.

  I want my beautiful ever after.

  48

  Maxwell Hutcheson

  “Mr. Hutcheson?”

  “That’s me.”

  “Mr. Kincade will see you now.”

  Alex Kincade is a reputable, highly sought-after solicitor specializing in family law. Unfortunately, that means that I had to wait weeks for an appointment with him. But I’m confident that he’s worth the wait. He’s from Glasgow and not in the pocket of Thomas Lochridge.

  “What can I do for you, Mr. Hutcheson?”

  I start at the beginning and he listens intently, taking notes and occasionally asking me to clarify details about my former in-laws.

  “That is one hell of a story you have there.”

  “Don’t I know.”

  “How serious is your relationship with Miss Louden?”

  “I’m going to marry her.” If she’ll have me. And if she’s brave enough to take on all of the shite that comes along with being married to me.

  “From what I’m able to gather, your late wife’s family is going to bring Miss Louden’s integrity into question. They’re going to portray her as a prostitute with loose morals whom you hired for sex.”

  Of course, they will. Those are the kinds of bastards they are. “But that’s not at all who Lou is. I’m the only client she ever had.”

  For fuck’s sake, Lou held on to her virginity until she was twenty-two. She’d only had sex with one other man before me. She’s the opposite of a whore.

  Blair is married to another man and tried to suck my cock. Sh
e’s attempting to blackmail me into marrying her. Her morals are the ones that should be in question.

  “The sooner you’re able to establish Miss Louden’s character as a loyal wife and loving stepmother, the better. You should marry her quietly, as soon as possible, and work on establishing a good reputation for her through family, friends, and your staff. You’ll only have until your former in-laws discover the marriage to do so.”

  I’ve been dreading this meeting because I had expected to be advised to wait on marrying Lou, not encouraged to move forward with her.

  “I like your way of thinking.”

  “Marry your lass and sit tight. Your former in-laws will make a legal move at some point, but go about your life and enjoy your time with your new bride until they do. When it happens, all you have to do is reach out, and I’ll be ready to take them on.”

  It feels as though a weight has been lifted from my heart and soul. I didn’t realize the amount of stress I was under until some of it was relieved by this meeting with Alex Kincade.

  And the plus? I get to propose to and marry Lou sooner rather than later.

  Marriage isn’t an in-depth conversation that we’ve ever had, but I know that she wants a husband and children. I just hope that she wants it with me.

  A month from now is the earliest that we can be married. I need to propose as soon as possible so we can notify the registrar and fill out the appropriate forms.

  All I need now is a ring and a plan.

  “The weather is beautiful today. Perfect for a day trip to Stirling.”

  A castle tour. A diamond ring in my pocket. A well-rehearsed speech in my head. But my favorite part? Lou has no idea that I’m going to propose to her when we reach the high point of the perimeter where you look out over the Trossachs.

  “How in the world have you not been to see Stirling Castle?”

  “My dad and Heidi didn’t have interest in taking me anywhere. After I was on my own, there was no time for things like this. I had to work all of the time or the bills wouldn’t get paid.”

  Lou’s life shouldn’t have been so hard. But those days are over. She’s going to be mine to take care of forever.

  We arrive at Stirling Castle and Lou’s entire mood changes. Her eyes fill with intrigue. “Think about it, Hutch. All of the people throughout history who have traveled this stone path by foot or horse or carriage. Kings, queens, peasants. Some of them probably our ancestors.”

  “Aye. It’s a definite possibility.”

  Lou stops and looks at me for a moment. “Is everything all right?”

  I’m nervous as fuck and she’s picking up on it. “I’m good. Why do you ask?”

  “You seem distracted or something.”

  “It’s been a long time since I’ve been here. I’m just taking it all in again.”

  Lou slips her hand in mine as we approach the entrance. “I’m sure there are at least a dozen other things you’d rather be doing today. Thank you for taking one of your days off to spend it doing something I love.”

  “There is nothing I’d rather be doing today more than being here with you.” She doesn’t know it yet but this is going to be one of the most memorable days of our life.

  “Come on, Hutch. You wouldn’t rather be watching rugby or football?” One of her brows lifts. “Be honest.”

  “I don’t care what I’m doing as long as it’s with you.”

  “That’s very sweet but don’t worry. We don’t always have to do what I like. I’m happy to do sports stuff or whatever with you.”

  “I know. I’m not worried.”

  We go through the arched entrance and take a left into the Queen Anne Gardens. I’ve always thought that the area was wee and unimpressive for a castle of Stirling’s size, hence the reason I’m not proposing to Lou there.

  She stops and looks at everything. Every. Thing. At this rate, the castle is going to shut down before we make it to the spot where I want to propose.

  “Oh look. There’s the chapel. And I hear music.” She grabs my hand and tugs. “Let’s go in and listen for a minute.”

  We work our way toward the back of the chapel and find an open area to stand and listen to the children performing orchestra music.

  “That is unbelievable. I can’t believe children are playing that music.”

  The song they’re playing ends and a wee lassie, not a day over six, steps forward. A few notes fill the chapel, and I recognize the song she’s going to sing.

  “‘Hallelujah.’ I love that song.”

  The lyrics of the song flow from the wee girl’s mouth and chills form over my entire body. She sounds like an angel from heaven.

  Lou is standing in front of me and reaches for my hand, intertwining her fingers with mine, and brings our clasped hands to rest over her heart.

  The song ends and Lou looks at me over her shoulder, wiping away a tear on her cheek. “That was beautiful.”

  “Aye, it was.”

  We move through the crowd and leave the chapel, continuing our tour. And finally, we approach the perimeter where you look out over the Trossachs.

  “This is amazing.”

  “It is, but it’s nothing compared to you.”

  A powerful gust of wind blows, and I wrap my arms around Lou from behind. I squeeze her tightly and gather my courage. And every word that I’ve rehearsed in my head for the last two days has vanished from my brain. I guess I’m winging this.

  “Before I met you, I thought I had everything. I believed that money and success equated to happiness, but what I really had was nothing. I was empty inside, so empty that I couldn’t even love the precious wee lassie that had been sent into my life. But you changed everything for me. Life as I knew it ended, and you showed me what true happiness is. You are my world, Lou. My everything. And I don’t want to ever be parted from you again.”

  “You are my everything too. I want to be with you always.”

  I release my hold on Lou and reach into the pocket of my jacket, taking out the black velvet box. She turns around, I think to kiss me, and her eyes widen when she sees me drop to one knee.

  “You’re already mine in all ways but one. It’s time to make it official. I want to give you my name. And when you’re ready, I want to give you babies. As many babies as you want.”

  I crack open the ring box, and I can’t recall ever seeing a bigger smile on her face.

  “I love you, Caitriona Brooke Louden. My bonnie Lou. Will you marry me?”

  She nods and a tear falls down one of her cheeks. “Yes. A million, billion, trillion times yes.”

  I slide the ring on her finger and it’s a perfect fit. “Mrs. Cait Hutcheson. It sounds good but you’ll always be Lou to me.”

  “I know. Hearing you call me Cait would just be all wrong.”

  I stand and she jumps into my arms, wrapping her body around mine.

  “I love you.” Kiss on my right cheek.

  “I love you.” Kiss on my left cheek.

  “I love you.” Long, hard kiss against my mouth.

  Our foreheads are pressed together. “I’m so happy, Hutch. I can’t wait to be your wife.”

  “If we leave now we can make it to the registrar’s office before they close and notify them of our intent.”

  “Wow. Someone is in a hurry.”

  I don’t want to cast a shadow on Lou’s happiness, but I have to tell her what Alex Kincade has advised me to do. “I am in a hurry, and that’s something that we have to talk about.”

  “I don’t like the sound of that.”

  She’s going to like what I have to say even less. “I had a consultation with a family law solicitor a few days ago about Ava Rose’s custody. He predicts that the Lochridges will use your character as a weapon for winning custody of Ava Rose. They’ll say that you’re not fit to be around her because of your former employment as an escort.”

  “They’re going to portray me as a whore.”

  “You and I know the truth, but it’s also true th
at you worked at Inamorata. They’ll use that information against you. Against us.”

  “Oh God, Hutch. I’m so sorry.”

  “I’m not sorry. If you hadn’t taken a job with Cora, I wouldn’t have met you.”

  “I don’t want my past to be used as a means to take Ava Rose from you. I can’t live with that.”

  “I told Mr. Kincade about my intentions to marry you. He advised me to wed you as soon as possible and to do it quietly without tipping off the Lochridges. He believes that it is in the best interest of our case to make you my wife and work on establishing a reputable name for you.”

  The happiness in Lou’s eyes is replaced by something else. Sadness? Shame? “That makes me sound like a horrible person.”

  “You and I know who you are, but the Lochridges are going to make you out to be someone you’re not. They will portray you to be a woman who took money in exchange for sex.”

  “Maybe only once and only with you, but I am a woman who took money for sex.”

  “They can never know about that. They’ll use it against us.”

  “We’re going to lie about our agreement?”

  “If we need to.” I bring her hand up and study the ring on her finger. “We love each other. You’re going to be my wife. That’s the only truth they need to know.”

  “You know they won’t let that be the end of it.”

  Lou hasn’t had an easy life. And losing our child cut her to the bone. The thought of being the person who introduces more pain and hardships into her life kills me.

  “Marrying me means that there will be many difficulties introduced into your life. As much as I hate it, my problems with the Lochridges will become your problems. Being my wife won’t be easy. I can promise you that much. I love you, fuck, I love you, but I understand if all of this is too much for you to take on after everything you’ve been through.”

  “I’m not afraid of difficult times. I’m pretty accustomed to them actually. And I’m not scared of the Lochridges. There’s nothing they can do to keep me from becoming your wife.”

  “My wee fighter.”

  “You don’t know the half of it. I retreated and let Blair have her way because I didn’t want to cause trouble for you. But that woman doesn’t know me. She has no idea how hard I’ll fight for those I love.”