Happy Place

by L. P. Maxa

  Strapless, tight on top, and then it cascaded down in soft fabric from the waist. It wasn’t really white, more of an eggshell color. I was going to freeze if I went outside, but I’d loved it the second I put it on. It was so much more me than my first dress. That one was all beading and tulle, very over the top and expensive. Everything everyone expected of me.

  I lay back on my bed, groaning. Could I really do this?

  The engagement?

  The wedding?

  Declan’s hesitation?

  All of it, my fault.

  I should just grab Wyllie and run. Let Dec off the hook.

  I stood and pulled my robe tighter around me. I needed another glass of champagne. When there was a light knock on the door, I smiled. My mother, coming to make sure I was putting on my dress according to schedule. She’d tried to hire someone to help me put it on as well. Yeah, there was a person who did that, for a living. I’d laughed in her face.

  “Come in.”

  My breath caught in my throat when I saw who walked in. “What are you doing here?”

  Steven smiled, his best charming smile. “I was invited.”

  My stomach turned at the sound of his voice. “What are you doing in my room?”

  “It’s been a long time, Cassandra. I wanted to see you. See how you’ve been.” He took a step toward me. “I miss you, baby.”

  And I took a step back.

  The thought of him touching me made my skin crawl.

  “It hasn’t been nearly long enough. And I’m not your baby.” I pointed to the door. “Leave.”

  “Come on, Cassandra. My God, you look amazing. I wasn’t surprised when I got the invite to this party. Your parents always knew what was best for you. I’m even willing to tolerate that little bastard of yours. We’ll tell people he’s mine. He’s cute enough, and we’ll try to salvage that reputation of yours.”

  “Are you kidding? You’re fucking insane.” I opened my bedroom door. “Get the hell out, Steven.”

  “Cassandra, don’t be like that. I know you’ve been lonely ever since I—” He froze, his eyes on the dress hanging by my window. “Is that a wedding dress?”

  I took a deep breath. “Yes. Now get out.”

  He turned to me, hands on his hips. “And who, might I ask, is getting married?”

  I lifted my chin, trying to hold on to all the strength I possessed. “Me.”

  He chuckled. “At your parents’ little Christmas Eve party? Classy.”

  I stood taller. I wouldn’t let him intimidate me, not this time. “I’m not kidding, Steven. Leave my room, and leave this house. Now.”

  He sneered. “Who are you marrying? What poor bastard is going to be saddled with you and your illegitimate child?”

  I smiled. I was actually going to enjoy this part. “Declan. My child’s father.”

  I saw rage fill Steven’s eyes. I’d never told him who I cheated with, and he hadn’t even asked who the father was when I’d told him I was pregnant.

  “Declan. Declan’s the man you cheated on me with? The one who knocked you up? That lying bastard. Coming to my bachelor party after he… Fucking asshole.” He took a step closer. “Did everyone know? Was everyone laughing at me? You stupid whore.” He reached out and grabbed my arm, squeezing to the point of pain. Of course having people laugh behind his back would be what set him off. It was always about image with him. “Where is he?”

  I reared back and punched him with my free hand, which thankfully was my dominant hand. He shoved me against the wall and swung his arm out to backhand me.

  “Tell me where he is, you lying little bitch. Or I’ll knock you out. Again.” I’d never told anyone he’d hit me, or that he was why I’d ended up in the hospital. I’d just wanted him gone, out of my life.

  “Let me go. Or I’ll tell everyone, everything. My dad? You know he’s on the board at Parkland. One word about what you did, one word about what you’re doing now, and your career is over.”

  He reared back and slapped me across the face. “Who would believe you over me? You’re nothing. You’re nobody.” He smiled cruelly. “Just a stupid, lying little whore.” He shook me by my arm. “Now tell me where that asshole is.”

  “I’m right here, you sorry motherfucker.”

  Declan pulled Steven off me, tossed him to the ground like he weighed nothing, and climbed on top of him. Declan’s face was filled with a rage I’d never seen before, and he started swinging, punching Steven over and over.

  Brice came running into the room and smiled as he took in the scene in front of him.

  “Brice. Do something.”

  Brice simply walked over to the two men and kicked Steven right in the balls. Then he sat calmly down on the bed.

  “Oh for fuck’s sake.” I grabbed Declan by the shoulder. “Dec, stop. He isn’t worth it.” Declan punched Steven in the kidney. “Come on, that’s enough.” Dec kept punching, this time in the ribs. “Stop!” I screamed.

  Finally, I’d gotten through. Declan climbed off Steven and took me in his arms, looking me over, checking for injuries.

  “Are you okay?”

  I winced when his hand touched my cheek. “I’m sure it looks worse than it feels. I’m fine.”

  Gingerly, Steven crawled to the bed and slowly pulled himself up then wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. “Why the hell were you hitting me? You’re the dick that fucked my fiancé.”

  Declan lunged for Steven again, but luckily Brice stepped between them. Dec stepped from behind Brice and snarled, “And you’re the asshole who almost killed my son.”

  Steven whirled on me, blood dripping from his nose. “You ran and tattled to your baby daddy? Pathetic.”

  Really? This guy beats women and I’m pathetic.

  Brice pushed Steven so hard he fell into the wall, knocking down a few pictures. “If you ever show your face around here again, I’ll kill you myself.”

  I looked at Declan. “How did you—”

  He took my hand. “Brice told me the real reason you were in the hospital. Why lie? Why protect that piece of shit?”

  I could see the confusion and hurt on his face, and tried to explain. “I just wanted it over. I had finally won. I was finally free. When I knew Wyllie was okay, I just wanted it over. No looking back.”

  I hung my head, tears streamed down my face. “God, Dec, I’m so sorry I lied.” I looked up, into his pained eyes. “Again.”

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Declan

  The sound of Cassie’s tears broke my heart. Seeing Steven’s hands on her had made me snap. I would have killed him, or at least kept going until he was unconscious. It was Cassie’s plea that pulled me back from the darkness.

  She was right. He wasn’t worth it. He wasn’t worth the possible jail time. He wasn’t worth missing one more minute of Wyllie’s life.

  Nothing was worth that. Nothing was worth being away from Cassie and Wyllie, for even a second. Not my pride. Not my ego.

  Yeah, Cassie had lied. She’d made a mistake. We all made mistakes. The greatest one I ever made? Leaving her alone in Seaside.

  I grasped her fingers. “Stop apologizing, Cassie. You did what you needed to do for you. You did what was best for you, so that you could be the best mom to our son.” And she was. She was a remarkable mother. I had so much more I wanted to say to her, apologies I wanted to make, but her mother came barging into the room.

  “What is going on? Why is Steven dripping blood all over my carpet?”

  Brice walked over to her and put his hands on her arms. “Mom, everything is fine. Steven deserved what he got.” Brice stared down at Steven crumpled on the floor. “Well, he deserves to die…but it’s all over now.”

  Mrs. Huntington looked from me to Cassie, studying her daughter for a few seconds.

  “Get Steven out of here,” I told Brice. “Use the back door. Then tell your father that he needs to have one of his surgeons investigated. Alcohol, drugs, I don’t care what you tell h
im.” Brice smiled as he shoved Steven out the door.

  Mrs. Huntington whirled around, hands on her hips. “And what is Declan doing in here? It’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding.”

  As if that was more important than what had happened with Steven. Totally Mrs. Huntington.

  “It’s okay, Cassie hasn’t put on her dress yet. No harm, no foul.” I turned to Cassie, taking her face in my hands. “Get dressed, princess, I’ll see you downstairs.” She nodded with a small smile and I kissed her forehead before leaving the room.

  ***

  After I cleaned myself up I took my place at the makeshift altar by the floor-to-ceiling windows in the formal living room. Brice was standing beside me and Wyllie was clinging to my leg. The rest of the guests were milling around, socializing and gossiping.

  The house was decorated to perfection, like always. There was garland draped on everything and a massive decorated pine tree in every room. Only this year, there were red and white roses too. On the stairs, on the mantel, on all the end tables and credenzas.

  I waited patiently while the wedding march started to play, and I grinned when I heard a murmur go through the crowd. My heart was beating out of my chest and my hands still itched to be around Steven’s throat. That asshole had almost cost me the two most precious things in my life.

  A man walked up and stood next to me, Bible in hand. I did a double take before leaning over to Brice and whispered, “Dude, what the hell is Reverend Nowlin doing here? I thought you hired an actor?”

  Brice rolled his eyes. “Don’t say ‘hell’ and ‘Reverend’ in the same sentence. What’s wrong with you? And I know I let all the cussing go when it was about that douche bag Steven. But you owe five dollars to the jar.”

  The guests let out a collective gasp, which had to mean Cassie was coming down the stairs.

  “What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with you? I can’t lie to Reverend Nowlin. I’ve known him my whole life.”

  “So don’t lie.” Brice winked then stood straight and tall.

  That conniving jackass.

  “Brice. What about the documents you had forged?” I was afraid to hear his answer. “The ones I signed yesterday?”

  “You mean to apply for your marriage license?”

  I took a deep breath. “Yes.”

  He shrugged. “Not so forged.”

  Why did I expect anything else? Brice had been pulling the strings with this fake marriage from the get-go.

  I had two options here: Freak out, and keep acting like an indecisive asshole. Or. Man up. Marry the love of my life—for real—and live happily ever after.

  The crowd separated and I finally got to see Cassie in her dress. She looked breathtaking. Classically beautiful. I was the luckiest man alive. Well, Wyllie and I. My eyes filled with tears when Cassie’s dad patted me on the back and placed her hand in mine.

  Option two it was.

  Cassie smiled then leaned down and gave Wyllie a peck on the cheek. When she straightened, her eyes went to Reverend Nowlin and got as big as saucers. She looked at me then back at him. I winked.

  And then got down on one knee.

  What better time to propose to your fake fiancée than at the altar of your real wedding?

  “I love you, Cassie. I’ve loved you my whole damn life. I can’t imagine a world where you aren’t in it. Where I can’t see you and Wyllie every day. I wasn’t there in the beginning, but I want to be there every day from now on. Until the end.

  “Will you marry me?”

  With tears in her yes, she cleared her throat and said, “Yes. A million times yes.”

  Brice leaned forward and whispered in my ear, “Proposal or not, five bucks to the jar.”

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Cassie

  We were married. Not fake married, but for real married.

  After all the congratulations, and the champagne, and the fireworks, and the dancing, Declan and I snuck away to the Ritz for a super-short honeymoon. Another surprise from Brice. We planned on being back at my parents’ house before Wyllie woke up in the morning. It was Christmas after all.

  On the coffee table a note and a beautiful vase of roses were waiting for us when we walked in.

  Dec—

  I told you that I’d make it up to you.

  Love you both, Brice

  I turned to Declan. “What does that mean?”

  He smiled and slid his arms around my waist as he kissed my neck. “It means that everything that crazy nut-job did, he did because he loves us.”

  I smiled. “Of course he does.”

  I turned in Dec’s arms, letting my head fall back so he could kiss me more. It had been days since I’d felt his lips on my skin. “I never stopped wanting you. Telling you no, sleeping next to you but not touching you? Was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.”

  Declan reached behind me and slid the zipper of my dress down, slowly. “Really? Because you seemed one hundred percent unaffected by it.”

  I shimmied out of my dress, standing before him in cream-colored lace. “I had to. I couldn’t let you know that one kiss, one light touch would have made me give in.” I started unbuttoning his white shirt. “You seemed somewhat unaffected as well.”

  He chuckled and unbuckled his black belt. “Princess, I jacked off in the shower. Every morning.” Then he unsnapped his pants. “I couldn’t walk around the house with a raging hard-on like some horny teenager.”

  I pushed his pants down his toned legs. His breathing was erratic, and my heart was beating out of my chest.

  I’d given him time and he’d given me space.

  And now neither of us needed anything but one another.

  Declan captured my face in his hands and dragged me to him. His mouth on mine was hungry and searching. He kissed me like a man granted water after a year in the desert.

  His hands left my face and trailed down my body. He unhooked my bra and ripped my panties. I moaned his name. He picked me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist. He felt so good against my core.

  “Dec, please, I need you inside me.”

  He sat down on the bed and lay back. I got on my knees above him, positioning his cock at my entrance. “Now, Cassie,” he commanded. I sank down, inch by inch.

  “Oh God…” He filled me so completely, in the most amazing way. Nothing ever felt as good as this.

  “Ride me, princess.” He kept his hands on my ass, fueling my motion, making me give him everything I had. I threw my head back, so close to the edge, then ran my hands down his chest, leaving red lines from my nails. “Fuck, Cassie.”

  I rode him harder. I was so close. “Oh God, don’t stop.”

  “It’s all you, baby. Keep going.” He gripped my ass harder. Lifting me up and pounding into me. After all this time, I needed him like this. Wild and out of control. I needed to feel how much he wanted me. “Oh fuck, Cassie. More.”

  I braced myself and took everything he gave me. Our abandon sending us over the edge together.

  Together, where we’d be from now on.

  Epilogue

  Declan

  One year later

  I threw open the front door and called out for my wife. “Cassie.”

  “Dec.”

  “Cass?”

  “Declan.”

  I rounded the corner and came to halt. My adorably pregnant—seemed the pill didn’t really work for us—perfect wife was standing in the kitchen with her hands on her hips, looking pissed.

  “There you are.”

  “There I am? No. There you are.” I was equally as pissed. “Where is Wyllie?”

  She poked me in the chest. “He’s napping. Which is a good thing because I’m about to kick your ass.”

  My eyes got wide. “Kick my ass? Your brother knocked up my best employee.”

  Cassie shook her head. “Oh no you don’t. Your asshole bestie knocked up my only friend.”

  We stood there, staring at each other, bo
th pissed at a bad situation. But neither really mad at the other. Cassie started to smile, which caused me to start laughing. “Brice is a moron.”

  She shrugged. “He’s a moron who’s in love, and terrified.”

  I pulled her into my arms, kissing her sweet lips. “He helped us when we were too stupid to see what was right in front of our faces.”

  Cassie snorted. “You mean when you were too stupid?”

  I nodded. “Yes, princess, when I was too stupid.” I took a step back. “So what do you think?”

  She smiled. “I think payback’s a bitch.”

  Brice’s story is coming soon!

  Good Times will be available 2017.

  In the meantime, here is a little sneak peek:

  “Mr. Huntington, so glad you could join us this evening.”

  “Hollie, baby, please don’t call me Mr. Huntington.” I hated to be called Mr. Huntington. That was my dad, not me. And Hollie damn well knew it.

  “Brice, douche bag. Don’t call me Hollie.” She walked by him, then, over her shoulder said, “Or baby.”

  I smiled as I followed her down the long wood hallway, watching her perfect little ass in her tight black pencil skirt. I’d known Holland since her first day working at Cueva. This was my best friend’s flagship location. I’d been in here more times then I’d been in my own house.

  “Feisty today, Hollie baby?”

  “Actually, Brice, I am in a fantastic mood. Would you like to know why?”

  I smirked. “Of course.”

  She sat me at my usual spot, next to a bay window in a large brown leather chair with a small mahogany table next to it.

  “I got a promotion. Do you know what that means?”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Yes, Hollie, I know what getting a promotion means.”

  She chuckled. “I don’t think you do.” She poured me two fingers of Chivas. “Declan gave me many new duties, including the power to fire any and all women on staff who decide that sleeping with you is a good idea.” She clasped her hands behind her back and threw me a wicked smile.