by C. M. Albert
A round of applause broke out around me, and I smiled out at the crowd. “Any other questions?”
“Is it true that Montague Enterprises is also funding The Stand-In, and does that make it a conflict of interest?”
“My husband is the primary CEO of The Stand-In. As you know, he created the business model with his successful previous business. I will help provide funding, access, and resources, through Montague Enterprises, with the blessing of Dex and Bianca Truitt and the board of directors. We will have transparent and frequent audits of allocations of funds. Most will be used to help support other initiatives that help this community, like the classes provided at the Jelani Okiro Arts and Cultural Center, as well as to support federal legislation that further expands rights to the LGBTQ community nationwide.
“If that’s everything, I thank you for joining us today. We’ll be cutting the ribbon on our new facility in just a moment, and I invite you join us for our celebration afterward.”
I was just about to step off the podium when a man called out from the back of the pack, “Mrs. Wright, isn’t it true that you’re only speaking up against Victor Vanderbilt in the upcoming trial because you have a vendetta to clear your husband’s name after last year’s scandal?”
A year ago, this kind of question would have intimidated me. But a year has made a big difference. Every day I drew more and more strength in myself because of the happiness I shared with Carter and our newborn son, Pennington Carter Wright.
I smiled at the crowd, not letting one man’s venom affect me. I’d experienced that enough already this past year becoming one of Montague’s youngest senior executives, and the financial executive of one of the most influential nonprofit consortiums in New York—because Montague wasn’t just about furthering its bottom line, it was about making impactful change to the communities that needed it most.
“Unfortunately, I am not allowed to discuss an open case. However, I will say that no matter the outcome of the trial, there will be no real winners here. Over twenty women have come forward with claims of sexual assault against my previous employer, Victor Vanderbilt. He’ll have his time in court to defend himself, just as I’ll have a chance to share my story. Thank you all for being here today,” I said, before exiting the stage.
Dex, Bianca, Willa, Lauren, Richard, and Carter all met me at the bottom of the podium. Carter handed Penn over to me, and I greedily snuggled him against my nose. I was met by the adorable cooing sound he was now making.
“Very well played, Mrs. Wright,” Bianca said, winking. She, too, had a new baby on her hip—their third and final, according to Dex. Keaton Dexter Truitt may’ve been a surprise, but he’d been a welcome blessing to our little extended family. And that’s what it felt like these days.
When we weren’t in New York, we were at our second home in South Carolina at The Grove. The gorgeous blue beach house that held so many good memories—and a few not so good ones—was now ours. We’d already “initiated” just about every room in the house and had already gone through my entire original “Down and Dirty” list. We were now working our way through a new one, too. Though, admittedly, Pennington made it a little harder these days. Turns out you have to be on the pill for at least thirty days for it to be effective. Who knew?
He was a blessing, though. And we were excited to have our two families grow up, side by side, in both business and love. I could see Keaton and Penn becoming fast friends one day, just as their namesakes had been. We would protect them fiercely though, just as you do with the ones you love.
We also added onto our family in another way I never expected. We were now the proud owners of a rescued Borzoi named Chewie, thanks to Forever Grey. The fluffy Russian greyhound was white with beautiful tan spots, and Jar Jar mostly loved her. They’re still feeling each other out.
At the ribbon cutting ceremony, I stood by my partner and best friend, holding his hand. Willa held Penn in her arms next to me, and Lauren and Richard stood behind us. I glanced over, smiling at Bianca. She, Dex, their girls, and Keaton joined us for the start of an exciting, brand new chapter in our lives.
I let the Truitt’s oldest daughter, Georgie, do the honors. She laughed with delight as she confidently cut the bright yellow ribbon in front of the new offices for The Stand-In. I gave her a high-five.
I couldn’t wait to rewrite history and put this new ribbon-cutting photo on our wall beside the original one at The Grove. Over the past year, Carter had quickly become the husband and father I knew he could be. There was so much more to him than the cocky, arm-candy façade he’d portrayed as Mister Stand-In. When he opened his business, and his heart, to the world by being completely transparent in the interview he did for me, he realized the freedom that came with honesty.
Though, our families did agree to keep some things personal, for the safety of Keaton and Penn. I understood now, as a parent, the lengths you would go through to protect the ones you love.
“So how does it feel?” Carter asked, swooping down and planting his lips against mine. I swooned. This never got old.
“How does what feel?”
“Standing in your power,” he said, winking. “I am so proud of you, Presley.”
“I’m pretty proud of you, too, Carter. I guess we’re gonna have to retire Miss Moneybags and Mister Stand-In, huh? Those two don’t really exist anymore, do they?”
“They’re in here somewhere,” he said, biting at my lower lip. “They just don’t run the show anymore.”
“No, I guess not.”
“Are you happy, Presley? Really happy?”
It no longer made me angry to have people ask me that, maybe because for the first time, I understood what true joy felt like.
“I am,” I said, standing on my tiptoes to kiss him. “And I have a surprise for you later.”
“Oh, no,” Carter said. “The last surprise you gave me led to a surprise pregnancy.”
I laughed. “But you wouldn’t change it for the world, would you?”
“No, I wouldn’t,” he said, grinning that cocksure smile he was so famous for these days in the news. “So, what’s my surprise?”
I leaned over and whispered into his ear. His strong arm wrapped around my waist, and he grabbed a handful of my ass.
“Inside. Now,” he growled.
“Carter! We can’t leave our own party!”
“We’re not leaving,” he said. “We’re just efficiently working our way through our new D&D list.”
I giggled, grabbing my husband’s hand as we ran inside the building, found Carter’s new office, closed the blinds, and locked the doors. We could hear people on the other side of the wall mingling and laughing, music playing in the background.
But all I could see as Carter wiped the desk clean and tossed me onto the top was my man. The man who stood by and stood up for me time and time again. The man who made me a woman and a mother. And most of all, the man I would love for the rest of my life.
“I love you,” I said, quietly, holding his face in my hands.
“I love you, too, princess. Now get your ass over here,” he growled, yanking my hips to the edge of the desk as my laughter bubbled over. “Goddamn, you get even more beautiful every day.”
“Why thank you, Mr. Wright.”
“Stop talking, Mrs. Wright, or I’ll give your naughty little mouth something to silence it with.”
“Pinky promise?”
He cupped my breast, made much fuller after Penn’s arrival. His other hand traveled under my pencil skirt and found me already wet for him.
“Fuck, Presley,” he said, running his fingers up my center, “I’d pinky promise my life away in this moment for a taste of you. You ever going to wear underwear, woman?”
“I don’t plan to,” I said honestly.
“Good,” Carter said, chuckling.
We made good use of his new
desk, crossed off the first location on our new list, and might even have accidentally made Pennington a big brother.
Yeah, I couldn’t get any happier than this.
Want to keep up with all of the new releases in Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward’s Cocky Hero Club world? Make sure you sign up for the official Cocky Hero Club newsletter for all the latest on our upcoming books:
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Check out other books in the Cocky Hero Club series:
http://www.cockyheroclub.com
Other Books by C.M. Albert
Arden’s Glen Romances
Faith in Love
Proof of Love
Visions of Love
Stand-alone Romances
Last Night in Laguna
The White Room
Consumed by Love – A Written in the Stars novel
Love in LA Quartet
The Stars in Her Eyes
The Fire in His Touch (2021)
The Lies in His Head (2021)
The Songs in His Heart (2021)
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author C.M. Albert writes heartwarming romances that are “sexy and flirty, sweet and dirty!” Her writing infuses a healthy blend of humor, high-heat romance, and most of all—hope. When not writing or kid-wrangling, she’s either meditating, kayaking, reading, hugging a tree, or asleep. But first, coffee. #TonyStarkForever
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Website: colleenalbert.com
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Acknowledgments
Taps mic.
For the three people who made it this far, I lovingly want to acknowledge, thank, and send big, socially-distanced air hugs to the following people for either enriching my life, inspiring me, offering a hand, or being general, all-around bad astronauts (as my daughter would say):
My wizard editor, Erin Servais of Dot and Dash, LLC
My patient, taco-loving cover designer, Marisa Wesley of Cover Me Darling
The wickedly talented, adorable panda bear, Reggie Deanching of R + M Photography
The man who’s not just a pretty face—my inspiration for Carter Wright, Aidan Stewart
All of my naughty “Angels” in the Colleen’s Angels Readers’ Circle
My uber private Beta and ARC readers . . . You’re mine, all mine!
All the bloggers, bookstagrammers, and influencers who love on my books (I see you!)
Jackie James, my Oz and just an incredibly uplifting, kind, and positive human
The friends who keep me sane on a daily: Deena, Heather, Jacque, Jen, and Sheila
The funny, ever-growing gamer who hoards food and soda cans in his room, Evan
My creative star girl who sings and dances light everywhere she goes, Gillian
The only man I’d want to be quarantined with, my rock, my BFF, my heart, Derek
An extra special thanks to Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward not only for inspiring me with their own amazing books, but also inviting me to write in their world. I fell in love with Dex and Bianca in Mister Moneybags and knew right away that was the world I wanted to play in. Thanks to you and Brower Literary & Management for all of the opportunities you’ve created for us Cocky Hero Club authors, and for going to bat for us to get our books into as many hands as possible. I’d also like to thank Dan and Alyssa for keeping me honest and helping a girl out when I should have already known the answer.
I was able to breathe life into Presley and Carter because of you, and I am forever grateful!
