Forbidden Bad Boys (Small Town Forbidden Romance Box Set)

by Holly Jaymes

  So I dressed warmly and set out on a walk along the lake. The air was cold, but the sky was clear as the sun started to light up the lake. It was amazingly beautiful. I realized I could be perfectly content to wake up to this every day; Victoria in my arms and the beauty of Eden Lake. No wonder Tucker still had a place out here. He was a guy that could have a mansion anywhere, but he’d settled here. He’d found a woman he adored and was making a life in this small slice of paradise. I’d found a woman I adored. Would she want to make a life in a small slice of paradise with me?

  Chapter 21: Odd Man Out

  Victoria

  I rolled over and found an empty spot where Pax had been. I lifted my head and looked around the room. The house was quiet. I noticed a note on the bedside table.

  “Enjoy your rest, Sleeping Beauty. You earned it. I’m going to take a walk. How about pancakes when I get back? XO”

  I sighed, feeling so completely content. Well, mostly content. I’d botched my attempt to tell him how I was feeling. Several times the words, I love you, hung on the end of my tongue but were never uttered. I’d wanted to ask him to stay. To draw out our marriage longer. Maybe for forever. But I didn’t have the courage to be vulnerable. I couldn’t bear it if he said no. I accepted what he could give me now, for as long as he could give it.

  I got out of bed, took a quick shower, and then slipped on a pair of jeans and t-shirt. I headed out to the kitchen and smiled when I saw he’d brewed coffee. I poured myself a cup and took it to the sliding glass doors and looked out over the lake. It was going to be another clear, sunny day.

  A knock at the door interrupted my moment. I wondered if Pax accidentally locked himself out. I set my cup down on the little desk that made my makeshift office and headed to the door.

  “Lose your key-” My words abruptly stopped as I stared at Lily’s angry face.

  Her eyes narrowed into slits. “You just had to do it, didn’t you?”

  “Lily.” I swallowed hard. I stepped aside as she stormed into the cabin.

  “Is he here?”

  “He’s on a walk.” I followed her to the living area, working to get my bearings back. It was time I found out what her problem was. “I didn’t know you were back. How was the honeymoon?”

  She whirled on me. “What were you thinking, getting married in Vegas? Did you get him drunk on purpose? Seriously, Victoria, of all your stunts, I never imagined you’d dupe my brother into marrying you.”

  Growing up, I’d pulled a few stunts mostly for fun and most were to make my mother crazy. But none were really about duping people. I found my own anger. “That’s not what happened, Lily.”

  “Oh really? I know he didn’t marry you on purpose. I know this is all fake.”

  I found my coffee, wishing it was something stronger. But I worked to be relaxed and unfazed by her outburst.

  “It was an accident. We were with another couple that was getting married and she thought she saw something in me and Pax-”

  “Something? So, you were sleeping with him again? At my wedding?”

  I looked down. “No. Lily. I didn’t.”

  “You were seen kissing him.”

  I looked at her and was going to correct her in that Pax kissed me, but what was the use? “I was in Vegas for a business deal. He was there to see the same person. We all went to dinner-”

  “And ended up married, by accident?” She shook her head. “You expect me to believe that?”

  My hackles rose. “Yes, Lily I do. In the same way that I believed you weren’t sleeping with Trask Holloway. I didn’t even have to ask you about it. I just knew because you’re my friend and I know you.”

  “I know you too, Victoria. I know you set your sights on my brother ten years ago and you’ve never let go.”

  “That’s not true, but even if it was, what is your problem with my being with Pax?”

  She glared at me in a “you know why” expression, but I was stumped.

  “He’s my brother. You’re my friend. You just don’t.”

  I was beginning to wonder if I was her friend. She wasn’t being very friendly. “Based on that explanation, I should be miffed that you’ve become friends with my sister, because she’s my sister and you’re my friend.”

  “I’m not sleeping with her.”

  “So you’re against me having sex with Pax.” I sought to clarify.

  “Are you using him?”

  I gaped. “What?”

  “Oh please. Your social influence has grown by over a million since you ‘accidentally’ married Pax. I bet your sales are through the roof. And that deal with Lisbeth, how convenient to have Pax around to make it work.”

  I staggered back, staring at her and wondering what had happened to my friend. This wasn’t the woman I’d spent the last decade laughing and shopping and confiding with.

  “I notice you’re not denying it.”

  “I’m shocked at what you’re accusing me of. What is wrong with you?”

  She flinched, the first sign that maybe she knew she was off her rocker. Maybe it was hormones from the baby.

  “What are you doing here, Lily?” I whipped around to Pax’s voice. Where’d he come from?

  “I want to know what’s going on,” she demanded.

  “First, who I sleep with is none of your business. Second, it was all an accident.”

  My gut clenched to hear him say that because it was reminiscent of six years ago, when he told her I was a mistake. But I’d told her the marriage was an accident, so he was supporting my story. Finally, he was on my side.

  “How do you accidentally get married, Pax? Even in Vegas you need to get a license. All that wake up married is for romcoms, not real life,” she said, then turned to me. “Did you get Lisbeth to help? The two of you cooked up a scheme to get her deal and your deal as well?”

  “You’re being ridiculous.” I looked to both of them, but Pax’s expression wasn’t supportive of me. His brows knitted as if he was considering her accusation.

  “Last night, you tried to get me to stay to draw out this fake marriage. Was that for your business?” His tone was flat.

  “No.” I looked between them both, wondering what had happened to the two people, outside of my family, that I loved the most. “You know that’s not true.” I forced myself to think. It was time for me to stop being reactive and start asserting myself.

  I pointed at Pax. “I had no idea that you were going to be in Vegas. But you knew I would be because I told you when YOU kissed me by the lake. You’re the one that invited yourself to my dinner with Lisbeth. It was Dane who told you to babysit her-”

  “You didn’t talk her out of the marriage,” he said.

  “Neither did you!” I couldn’t believe what was happening.

  “What was the meeting with your marketing guy about? Were you finding a way to use this marriage?” Pax stepped further in the room, but not toward me.

  “Oh come on Pax, this fake marriage was YOUR idea. Your record label didn’t want to ruin your image. You were using me, remember?” I turned to Lily. “You know, I expected this from him. He did this same thing six years ago when you got all uppity. It was why I tried to avoid him at your wedding. It’s why I didn’t tell you anything when he played Victoria’s song...that’s right, my song, the one he wrote for me six years ago, while you walked up the aisle.”

  Her eyes shot to Pax. “Is that true?”

  His jaw clenched.

  “But you, Lily. You’ve had no better friend than me. Who stuck up for you when that whole thing with Trask happened? Who drove freaking hours and hours to bring you a pregnancy test? Who is prepared to punch any journalist in the face who asks if your baby is Trask’s when they find out Wyatt was shooting blanks.”

  She jerked. “You wouldn’t.”

  “That’s the point, Lily! I wouldn’t because I know you and I know it’s not true. All this time, I thought we were friends. I thought you wore my makeup to support me. But it was all fake. You�
�re not my friend.”

  I shook my head expecting her to respond. She didn’t look as confident in her assertions as before, but she didn’t take it back either.

  “There is something really wrong with you two. Maybe it’s a twin thing or something. But if this is what happens when you two are together, heaven help Wyatt if Pax sticks around.” I grabbed my purse.

  “Where are you going?” Pax asked.

  “Away from here. I’m done. Today we start the drift apart phase of our marriage.” I headed to the door.

  I hurried to my car. Thankfully, Lily’s wasn’t blocking my way. Chances were, I’d have rammed it if it was.

  I turned the key and roared out of Pine Rest as fast as I could. Tears made it hard to concentrate. I knew I wouldn’t be able to make it back to Los Angeles. So, I went to the one place I knew, without a doubt, I could safely fall.

  I made it to the condo complex and staggered up the stairs. I was weeping as I knocked on the door.

  “Victoria?” Allie said when she opened the door. “Oh god, what’s wrong?” She reached out and pulled me in, holding me close. She led me to the couch, and sat with me, rocking me without saying anything. It was exactly what I needed to get myself regrouped.

  Finally, I pulled away and sagged back on the couch.

  “I’ve got vodka.”

  It was early, but what the hell. “That would be nice.”

  She left and came back with a glass that had a double shot. She had orange juice in her glass. “I’ll share my OJ with you if you want, or you can have it straight.”

  “Straight is fine.” Maybe it would burn away the feelings of betrayal.

  She sat next to me again. “I’m going to guess something happened with Pax. Or maybe Lily? Wyatt called last night so I know they’re back.”

  “She showed up this morning.” I looked at Allie. “Did you know Lily thought I was using her?”

  “What? No. How?”

  “For my business. She accused me of that and said that’s what I was doing with Pax. Maybe she’s possessed or something because I didn't recognize her at all.”

  “She says you used her and him? Really?”

  I nodded.

  “But this marriage thing was for him. To protect his reputation,” she said.

  “Yep.”

  “Surely he explained that.”

  I shook my head, unable to verbalize as tears threatened again.

  “No? What did he do?” Allie reached over and rubbed my back.

  “First he said it was a mistake, then he asked me if what Lily was implying was true. I mean, I have seen my social following and sales grow, but-”

  “I can’t believe them.” Allie sat back next to me. “What is their problem? You’ve been so good to them and they treat you like this?” She turned her head to me. “I’m so sorry, Victoria.”

  I leaned over and dropped my head on her shoulder.

  “What are you going to do?” she asked.

  “I’m going home when I feel I can make the drive.”

  She tugged me close. “You’ll stay here tonight. Josh is working anyway. You can help me look at baby stuff online.”

  I wiped my face, glad I hadn’t put on makeup that would have been running all over.

  “I bet Mom and Dad have a good lawyer to refer to you.” Allie patted my shoulder.

  I tipped my head up to her. “For what?”

  “A divorce of course. This marriage wasn’t really fake. Not like my fake fiancé fiasco. You’re legally married to him.” She frowned. “Do you have a prenup? He can’t come after your business, can he?”

  I laughed, now glad I’d been so angry at his insisting on a prenup that I had one of my own made up. “No. We both signed one.” I huffed out a breath. “I can’t divorce him.”

  “What? Why not?”

  “It will hurt his reputation-”

  “Fuck his reputation, Victoria. Really? How can you still want to help him?”

  I sank back and wailed, “Because I love him.”

  She was quiet for a minute and then hugged me. “He doesn’t deserve you, honey. Neither of them do.”

  She was right, but until I could push away the pain and let myself be fueled by anger, there was nothing I could do but grieve.

  Chapter 22: The Worst Day Of My Life

  Pax

  I’d come back from my walk, ready to lay it all out on the line. I was going to tell Victoria that I loved her. I was going to ask her to work out a way we could continue this relationship someway, somehow. Together, we could develop a plan to deal with Lily.

  When I got back, I noticed a car parked in front of the cabin. I went to it and with dread, realized it was Lily. I snuck into the front door, wanting to hear what was going on before I revealed myself.

  “Are you using him?” Lily asked Victoria.

  I stood just in the foyer, hidden from the living room as I listened. I knew by Lily’s tone that it wasn’t going well, and my instinct was to step in, but I waited.

  “What?” Victoria asked, her tone was surprised.

  “Oh please. Your social influence has grown by over a million since you ‘accidentally’ married Pax. I bet your sales are through the roof. And that deal with Lisbeth, how convenient to have Pax around to make it work.”

  I frowned. What did Lily mean by having me around to make the Lisbeth deal work? Victoria was working on that before me. Then again, she’d asked me about Dane’s influence. Had she been working me to make sure Dane wouldn’t hurt her deal?

  “I notice you’re not denying it,” Lily said.

  “I’m shocked at what you’re accusing me of. What is wrong with you?”

  I couldn’t hold back anymore. I had to find out what Lily knew and if I’d fallen for a woman who was using me.

  I stepped from the foyer into the living area. “What are you doing here, Lily?”

  “I want to know what’s going on,” she demanded.

  I wasn’t sure about Victoria anymore, but I also didn’t like Lily thinking she had any say in my life. “First, who I sleep with is none of your business. Second, it was all an accident.”

  “How do you accidentally get married, Pax? Even in Vegas you need to get a license. All that wake up married is for romcoms, not real life,” she said. “Did you get Lisbeth to help? The two of you cook up a scheme to get her deal and your deal as well?”

  “You’re being ridiculous.” Victoria said, looking from her to me.

  I felt like I’d been hit in the chest with a sledgehammer. I couldn’t say that Victoria had set out to arrange this marriage, although maybe she did. She was a shrewd businesswoman. But if not then, she surely would have seen the opportunity open up during the night with Lisbeth and Ethan. How else could a license have been obtained? It seemed impossible Lisbeth could have done it on her own. Had Victoria been part of the plan?

  Several thoughts collided about her behavior of late. “Last night, you tried to get me to stay. To draw out this fake marriage. Was that for your business?”

  “No.” Victoria kept looking from me to Lily, like we’d lost our minds. “You know that’s not true.” She pointed at me. “I had no idea that you were going to be in Vegas. But you knew I would be because I told you when YOU kissed me by the lake. You’re the one that invited yourself to my dinner with Lisbeth. It was Dane who told you to babysit her-”

  “You didn’t talk her out of the marriage,” I said.

  “Neither did you!” she shouted.

  “What was the meeting with your marketing guy about? Were you finding a way to use this marriage?”

  “Oh come on Pax, this fake marriage was YOUR idea. Your record label didn’t want to ruin your image. You were using me, remember?”

  My gut began to roil as uncertainty about what I was doing set in.

  Victoria turned to Lily. “You know, I expected this from him. He did this same thing six years ago when you got all uppity. It was why I tried to avoid him at your wedding. It’s wh
y I didn’t tell you anything when he played Victoria’s song...that’s right, my song, the one he wrote for me six years ago, while you walked up the aisle.”

  Lily’s gaze shot to me. “Is that true?”

  Ah fuck.

  “But you, Lily. You’ve had no better friend than me. Who stuck up for you when that whole thing with Trask happened? Who drove freaking hours and hours to bring you a pregnancy test? Who is prepared to punch any journalist in the face who asks if your baby is Trask’s when they find out Wyatt thought he was shooting blanks.”

  Jesus, was that a possibility?

  Lily jerked, and panic came to her face. “You wouldn’t.”

  “That’s the point, Lily! I wouldn’t because I know you and I know it’s not true. All this time, I thought we were friends. I thought you wore my makeup to support me. But it was all fake. You’re not my friend.” Victoria shook her head, and I could see in her eyes that she was done with us. “There is something really wrong with you two. Maybe it’s a twin thing or something. But if this is what happens when you two are together, that you fuck over other people around you, heaven help Wyatt if Pax sticks around.” She grabbed her purse.

  “Where are you going?” I asked. This was a shitstorm, I was pretty sure when it was done, Lily and I were going to come out smelling bad.

  “Away from here. I’m done. Today we start the drift apart phase of our marriage.” She rushed out the door, leaving me alone with Lily.

  I looked over at Lily.

  She shook her head. “I told you, Pax.” But I could see she was unsettled too.

  It was still early, but I needed a drink. I got a glass and reached for the nearest bottle of liquor.

  “What did you tell me, Lily? I don’t remember you saying your best friend in the world wanted to dupe me into marriage to help her business.” What the hell had I been thinking to accuse her of that?

  She sighed. “I told you both not to get involved.”