Reality of Love Boxed Set: Books 1-3

by Marika Ray

  “Why, thank you. And so do you. Your little baby bump is the perfect accessory for that dress.” If we weren’t in public, I would have fondled the little baby bump, probably even squatted down to talk to that little boy and tell him how much his auntie already loved him. As it was, I promised myself an extended conversation later this week when I caught Gabby sitting down at home, propping her feet up.

  Rhett nuzzled into Gabby’s neck, his arm coming around her expanding waist as it always did when the conversation turned to the baby. I had to act fast or they’d be canoodling right in front of me, to hell with prying eyes.

  I pointed over to the back corner of the restaurant. “I have a table over here reserved just for us.”

  They followed me, saying hello to those they knew mingling around the restaurant before the place officially opened. Tonight was the soft opening for Elle and Austin’s latest restaurant. Essentially a trial run where you invite all your friends and influential people in the city to try your food and hope they raved about it on social media. A make-it-or-break-it night, if you will.

  Austin and Elle would have another hit on their hands, I could just feel it. The restaurant was both warm and trendy, a tricky combination that most novice and experienced restaurateurs alike did not get correct. They were the hot couple in the business on the West Coast, the ones everyone looked to for advice. And for copying.

  The lights flickered above in their hand blown glass sconces and we all took our seats, Lily-Marie and Jameson hustling across the room as they arrived in the nick of time. With four children between the two of them, they had their hands full.

  “Oh good, I didn’t miss the food!” Lily-Marie whispered as she came around and hugged us all one-by-one before taking her seat. Jameson gave an awkward wave from his chair, declining to give out hugs like his other half. I almost laughed out loud, wondering when he’d finally act more relaxed around us. I mean, it had been eight years now we’d all been an unofficial squad doing life together.

  “Ladies and Gentlemen. Thank you all for coming this evening.” Elle’s deliciously accented voice flowed through the speakers and drew everyone’s attention. She stood at the front of the room, a flowing red and black chiffon dress draped across her gorgeous frame. You couldn’t miss the fact that she was ready to pop though her advanced pregnancy did nothing to detract from her attractiveness. The little minx had stilettos on which made my feet ache just looking at her. Elle was just one of those women who got prettier as she aged. Maybe it was the confidence she exuded from every pore. Either way, I was ridiculously proud of my sister-in-law.

  Austin shifted and took the microphone from her when she finished explaining how the evening would work with the various courses.

  “As you may know, this is the third restaurant in eight years that my wife and I have opened together. We had hoped to have it open before Elle reached her third trimester with our second child, but you know Elle.” He paused to chuckle and Elle backhanded his arm while pulling herself up even taller like the queen she was. “In all seriousness, Elle demands perfection in all she does, which you’ll taste here soon enough. But there’s one little surprise I’ve added to the evening that Elle doesn’t know about.”

  Elle spun to look at him with fire in her brown eyes. The crowd started whispering, wondering what the surprise could be. “What did you do?” Elle didn’t even need the microphone for her voice to carry to the back of the restaurant.

  Austin chuckled and pulled her into his side. “Everyone will find out during the dessert course. But for now, enjoy your evening, savor the food, and we hope to see you all back here at Carmen Flame very soon.”

  The audience applauded, and the servers hit the room to deliver the first course.

  “What do you suppose he did?” I asked our group, sipping the ice water in the crystal glasses set at each place around the table.

  “Do you think he would have changed the menu? That seems so dangerous.” Lily-Marie scrunched her nose and took a healthy sip of the red wine already on the table.

  Jameson chuckled. “Even I know to stay out of Elle’s way when it comes to food. Especially when she’s very pregnant. After eight years together, you’d think Austin would have learned that by now.”

  Gabby snorted. “I have to agree with that. I had no idea how crazy your hormones make you when you’re pregnant until I actually was. My poor Tesoro.” She made a smoochy face at Rhett and he swooped in for a quick kiss.

  Rhett’s mouth hitched to the side, and he said sheepishly. “Those hormones also make you very horny, so I won’t ever complain.”

  We all laughed and Marcos had a seat next to me finally. I gave him a look, trying to ask where he’d been without saying it out loud. He ignored me, which made me suspicious. The servers came around with our salads, so I didn’t get a chance to quiz him.

  “Oh, I remember those days fondly,” Lily-Marie said wistfully when the waiters had moved off. She bit into a piece of bread and reached for the water glass to wash it down.

  “Nuh-uh,” Jameson said, pushing her water glass out of her reach.

  “Hey!”

  “There’s something in the water around this place. Elle’s pregnant. Gabby’s pregnant. And now you’re getting all misty-eyed over pregnancy hormones. Nope. Only bottled water for you.” Jameson looked genuinely alarmed, which was hilarious coming from a real-life scientist who should know better than to believe in that old wive’s tale.

  Marcos cut me a look. I elbowed him in the ribs. Now was not the time to spill the beans about our own situation. My brother needed to be here for that. And the grand opening of their restaurant might not be the best time either.

  Speaking of my brother, Austin and Elle finally made their way over to our table by the time our salads have been cleared and a delicious soup was making my mouth water.

  “We’re here. Sorry for taking so long to make the rounds.” Elle sank into a chair and gave a full body sigh. “Oh, that feels good.”

  “Are your shoes already off?” I asked her, one eyebrow raised.

  “Of course they are, darling. I’d strip off this bra if I could too.” Elle picked up a spoon and blew on the soup.

  Jameson turned bright red over the mention of Elle’s bra, which made us all laugh and Lily-Marie snuggle up to him even more. She found his awkwardness adorable which just went to show there was someone for everyone in this world. I glanced over at Marcos. He caught my eye and smiled back, pausing to take my hand and squeeze it tight under the table.

  I didn’t know how I got so lucky with Marcos. He swooped back into my life when I least expected it--or wanted it--and didn’t let me go until I faced what we felt for each other. We grew up together, him being Austin’s best friend, but it wasn’t until he left town at eighteen that I realized my feelings for him had changed. Thank God he walked away from me back then. As a sixteen-year-old, I wasn’t ready for the serious relationship that we had now.

  “What are you two smiling about over there?” Austin growled from the other side of the table.

  I rolled my eyes, but kept Marcos’ hand on my leg. “Nothing you need to concern yourself with, big brother.”

  Austin narrowed his eyes, but kept eating. While he accepted we were together, I didn’t think he fully approved. Marcos sighed beside me, only loud enough that I would hear. Austin’s disapproval hurt his feelings. Made him feel not good enough for me which was so far from the truth it was laughable. We had every intention of being together forever and when the timing was right, we’d do the responsible thing and get married.

  Lily-Marie cleared her throat and lobbed a comment to Elle and Austin for distraction, making me even more grateful for her. “We were just talking about pregnancy hormones. Jameson here seems to think there might be something in your water what with you and Gabby being pregnant.”

  Austin laughed and then sobered instantly, looking down at my water glass and seeing it was half empty. He jumped up out of his chair, the legs scooting
back silently on the plank wood flooring, thank goodness.

  “Don’t drink that water, Abilene!” He thundered, pointing to the offending glass.

  Heads started turning, and I shook my head slowly. The protective big brother thing was over the top. Out of control. I needed to stop this freight train before it kept right on steam rolling over Marcos and me.

  “Too late, big bro,” I said calmly. Marcos put his arm around me, ever the united front, he and I. This wasn’t the way I envisioned telling our family and friends we were pregnant, but there it was. Our secret, out there for everyone to react to as they chose.

  My ladies at the table all gasped, knowing exactly my meaning. Austin stood there dumbfounded, which would have made me laugh under different circumstances. As it was, my heart lodged itself in my throat. Elle tugged on his T-shirt, the one that said “I don’t know who Carmen is, but she’s flaming hot!”

  “Darling, why don’t you have a seat?”

  Austin’s jaw dropped open. Then he snapped his mouth shut and his eyes seemed to come alive with fire spitting out of them. Forget Carmen. Austin was the one flaming now.

  I had to give him credit. He moved around the table faster than any of us anticipated, lunging for Marcos and pulling him out of his chair by the front of his shirt. Marcos didn’t defend himself. He never would against Austin. He loved Austin too much as his brother from another mother, and he loved me too much. Marcos was in an impossible situation.

  The ladies were all gasping again, me included, wondering how I could put a stop to all this craziness. The restaurant had gone dead silent, and I knew we were just a moment or two away from public disaster because of my bullheaded brother.

  “Austin! Stop. Look at me.” I stood up too, trying to wedge myself between the two men locked in a glaring contest. I knew Marcos didn’t need my help defending himself, but I couldn’t let the two most important men in my life come to blows in the middle of Elle’s restaurant opening.

  “Stay out of their way, honey.” Gabby tried to pull me back, but I wasn’t having it. I pushed between them enough to get in Austin’s face.

  “Seriously, Austin? Mom would be ashamed of you,” I spat at him, my heart wrenching in my chest.

  That got his attention. He didn’t let go of Marcos’ shirt, but he did look over at me, the lines around his eyes reminding me the grief of her loss cut him just as deeply as it did me.

  “What?”

  Tears filled my eyes. “I love Marcos. With every fiber of my being. And he loves me back. Our love for each other made another little human who will hopefully call you Uncle if you play your cards right. Which is why I gotta tell you, you’re acting like an ass. I’m not a little girl who needs protecting anymore. I’m a grown woman who’s making a life with the man I’ve chosen. Don’t mess that up.” I was begging now, needing him to finally hear me.

  He let go of Marcos’ shirt inch by inch before stepping back, his gaze darting between me and Marcos. The sounds of diners going back to their meals hit my ears, but I knew we weren’t out of the danger zone quite yet. I knew all too well that sometimes life dealt you blows you never saw coming.

  “It’s true? You’re having a baby?” he asked me, looking far older than normal, not one smile on his face or twinkle in his eye.

  I nodded.

  Marcos tugged his shirt down, finally speaking. “I had a surprise planned for tonight, but considering the turn of events, I think it’s better to do this now.”

  He turned his back to Austin and got down on one knee in front of me. My hand flew to my mouth, and the tears were back. The lump in my throat was for a different reason entirely.

  “Abilene Cox, you started out as the little sister I never had. It was only when we were apart and becoming adults that I realized what all you meant to me. You’re my sunshine every morning, the fireflies that dance at night, the music that brings a chill to your skin with its beauty. Your beauty goes so deep, I can’t help but stare at you when you’re not looking, trying to figure out how the universe made such an amazing woman. And especially how I got so lucky to be by your side. I can promise you I’ll spend the rest of my life giving you all the love and laughter you deserve. Will you marry me, Abi?”

  The first sound out of my mouth was a gulping sob, but then I was able to say the one word that meant everything. “Yes!”

  I tackled him, his face smooshed between my rapidly growing pregnancy boobs. Tears streamed down my face and I couldn’t imagine ever being happier than I was at that exact moment. I pulled back to kiss Marcos, not even caring that the entire restaurant was applauding, having been witness to our intimate moment. Marcos slipped a ring on my finger that caught the light of every sconce in the restaurant. He stood and swooped me into a Hollywood-worthy kiss, then set me on my feet with a protective hand over my as-of-yet flat belly.

  Elle, Lily-Marie, and Gabby were all dabbing at their eyes with their cloth napkins. The men had big grins on their faces with high fives for Marcos. Someone shifted next to me and I realized Austin was staring us down.

  Marcos and I turned toward him, bracing for another outburst.

  “Austin.” Elle jumped out of her chair faster than I would have anticipated a very pregnant woman to move.

  I waved her off. “It’s okay, Elle.” We’d already ruined her opening, I didn’t need her defending Marcos and me.

  Austin grabbed my hand and held it, his eyes suspiciously wet. “I--” He cleared his throat and tried again. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for being overly protective. I’m sorry for not trusting you and your choices. I just...I remember your face when I picked you up from that foster home and told you the court had finally given me custody. You were broken, Abi.” Austin’s voice cracked and more tears slid down my face remembering that horrible time in my life. “I just want the best for you and sometimes that comes out wrong.”

  Austin turned to Marcos. “And I owe you an apology too. You’re more than my best friend, you’re my brother. And if you keep making my sister happy like I’ve seen here tonight, you have my approval whether you need it or not. I love you, man.”

  Marcos let me go long enough to hug Austin, the back slapping making me smile through my tears. Gabby was right. These pregnancy hormones were causing my eyes to leak like a fire hose.

  “That was beautiful. I’m so glad to hear about your baby, Abi and Marcos.” Elle nodded regally at us where she still stood. “I hate to interrupt this moment, but I’m afraid I need to leave.”

  “Why?” Austin screwed his face up, thoroughly confused. Then he looked past Elle’s shoulder. “Oh, wait! Your dessert surprise is here.”

  The waiters descended and delivered a huge pyramid of mini white powdered donuts. One tuxedoed waiter flicked something and held it to the donuts, setting the whole tower ablaze.

  “Get it? Your beloved powdered donuts. On fire. At Carmen Flame.” He had an expectant smile on his face, waiting for Elle to see the brilliance behind his surprise.

  Elle’s face relaxed and her full red lips pulled into a smile a cover model would be jealous of. “I love it. But I still must leave. My water broke.”

  Everyone jumped up at that, mayhem descending on everyone in the vicinity.

  “When? Are you sure? Why didn’t you say something?” Austin danced around Elle like he was afraid to touch her.

  She shrugged. “I didn’t want to interrupt the proposal. It was so romantic.” She gave me a wink and a thumbs up.

  I started laughing. Elle was fierce, man. So blase about going into labor at one’s own restaurant grand opening. She walked to the front of the restaurant in her bare feet while Lil-Marie went to grab her packed and ready overnight bag in the back of the kitchen. Austin held her arm like she needed help when she in fact and most certainly did not. Elle grabbed the microphone one last time.

  “Little did you know we’d have some dinner theatre at the opening tonight.” The room full of VIPs laughed while Austin and I cringed. “While I hate to leave a p
arty so early, it seems this baby of mine wants to join the world, so we’re off to the hospital. Please enjoy your evening and save some of those powdered donuts for me!”

  Austin pulled her out the door and to his waiting car at the valet. The rest of us followed suit, zooming down to the hospital, Lily-Marie and Jameson making a pit stop to pick up their pack of kiddos first. The oldest three were babysitting Rosemary, Austin and Elle’s daughter, who turned four last week.

  Marcos and I paced the waiting room for the first hour, then had a seat with Gabby and Rhett to talk all about baby stuff. Gabby had some great advice and even some baby name ideas we mulled over in our heads. I finally got my turn with Rosemary, kissing her curls and soaking in that toddler smell. She babbled about things that either didn’t make sense or made way too much sense and blew my mind.