His eyes lit up, and he grinned. “Wow.”
“Does it feel good?” I asked.
“Slide me inside and find out.”
“Thought you wanted to fuck me over the arm of the couch?”
“Change of plans. You’re gonna ride me.”
Without another word, I rose up, took the base of him and lowered myself on top. The vibration from the ring met my clit, and I moaned, closing my eyes.
“Wow is right,” I breathed.
“Ride me, baby,” he groaned.
And, I did until we both came and our bodies were slick with sweat. So maybe Easton was going to love all my new goodies in the black bags.
As we lay on the couch, catching our breaths, me on top of him still, I asked, “What did you guys do tonight if you didn’t go to a strip club?”
“We—played pool.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Easton
“Don’t you think I’m too old to be a flower girl?” Cheyenne asked, slurping spaghetti into her mouth.
We were sitting around our dining room table, eating dinner. Brooke was asking Cheyenne if she wanted to go dress shopping for our wedding.
“You’re gonna be more than a flower girl,” I countered. “You’ll have the rings too.”
She scrunched her nose. “That’s a boy’s job.”
“Anyone can do it, Peanut. We want you to be our only little special person.” I looked to Brooke and she smiled. I knew she agreed with me.
“It will be fun. You’ll get to throw the petals on the ground as you walk toward your daddy, then give him the pretty rings so he can slip it on my finger.” Brooke looked toward Cheyenne and smiled brightly.
“It’s either that or you sit with Grandma,” Easton said, “and you don’t get to be a part of our special day.”
Cheyenne looked at me and glared. Then she turned back to Brooke and then back at me. “Fine. But I get to wear makeup like Brooke.”
I sucked in a breath, the thought of Cheyenne growing up and wearing makeup. It was too much. She was only eleven.
“Lip gloss only,” Brooke countered.
“But—”
Brooke shook her head slightly. “No buts. You’re too beautiful to wear makeup, sweetie.”
“You wear makeup.”
My woman chuckled. “Only when I have to. Taking the time to put it on sucks.”
Cheyenne stared at her as though she was thinking about if Brooke wore makeup every day. She didn’t, and she didn’t need to wear it either. She was beautiful just the way she was.
“Fine,” Cheyenne groaned. “I want to wear at least lipstick.”
For the love of God.
Brooke turned toward me. I wanted to object. Tell Cheyenne she wasn’t allowed to wear makeup until she was eighteen. Hell, I wanted to lock her in her room until she was eighteen because she was growing up too fast and before I knew it, she’d be a teenager.
I nodded slowly at Brooke, slightly telling her it was okay. It really wasn’t, but it was only one day. A special day.
“Deal,” Brooke said. “I’ll even have the hair people do your hair.”
Cheyenne’s face brightened as she smiled. “Okay.”
I pointed my fork at Cheyenne. “You only get to wear lipstick because it’s a special day, Peanut. After that, you wear only Chapstick until you’re eighteen.”
Brooke stifled a laugh.
“Daddy!”
I shook my head. “You heard me.”
“You’re so unfair,” she whined and crossed her arms over her chest.
Today was the day.
Today I was making Brooke my wife.
And I was nervous as all get out.
When I’d married Dana, I was cocky. We were one of the first in our class to get hitched. But back then, we didn’t know what it entailed. We only knew we were of legal age and we could do it. Since I chose to not go to college, I figured I’d make my choice worth it and get hitched. The only thing worth getting married so young was getting Cheyenne out of the deal.
It still hurts my heart how everything turned out in the end. When I was getting divorced, I was no longer in love with Dana, but every day I wish she were still here for Cheyenne. I was certain Dana looked down on Cheyenne, watching her grow up to be just like her.
“Who would have ever thought we’d be here again?”
I looked toward Avery from the reflection of the mirror as we both straightened our ties. Gary was out checking to see if any guests were arriving yet.
“Ma.” I chuckled.
He laughed in return. “If she only knew all the tail you used to get, she’d probably have thought it was hopeless.”
I groaned. “I thought I was hopeless. Fuck—I never thought I’d be with one woman for the rest of my life.” I didn’t even think I would be monogamous when I was married to Dana. And I sure as shit wasn’t.
“Feels good, huh?” Avery smirked.
I finished with my teal tie and turned to sit in one of the worn brown leather chairs in the Groom’s Room. “Let’s not start your hopeless romantic bullshit today.”
He followed and sat in the chair next to me. “Whatever. You just better not fuck it up this time.”
I rolled my eyes. “Do you think you could have stayed married to Dana?” I asked.
Avery grabbed the bottle of whiskey and poured us each two fingers. “I would never have cheated on her to begin with.”
“I’m not going to cheat on Brooke. This is different.” I took a swallow of the amber liquid.
He held my gaze for a few beats. “I know it is.”
“Good. Can we drop it now? It’s my fucking wedding day.” I glared at him. I didn’t want to be grilled. I wanted to marry the love of my life.
He cracked a smile. “Yeah. Let’s go get you hitched.”
I couldn’t breathe.
The glow around Brooke as she walked down the white linen covered aisle, took my breath away.
She was beautiful.
She was stunning.
She was gorgeous.
She was breathtaking.
We were getting married on a rooftop in Tribeca that had a three-hundred and sixty degree view of the city. You could see the Hudson River, the Empire State Building, Soho and downtown Manhattan as you walked around the sides of the roof.
Cheyenne had walked down the aisle, tossing red rose petals as she went. When she got to where I was standing, she handed Avery the rings.
“Good job, baby girl.” I smiled, and she looked up at me, a grin plastered on her face.
“You look nice, Daddy.”
A lump formed in my throat as it hit me that she was allowing me to marry again. She was involved in the wedding and accepting that Brooke was going to be her step-mother. When I introduced Cheyenne to Brooke the first time before Chey’s softball game, I’d wanted her to approve of Brooke. When she said she was okay with Brooke moving in with us, it was a check on the approval list. And yet another check when she told me that the halo ring I’d picked out was perfect. But now—now, I was officially marrying the woman who had helped me become a better father for my baby girl, and my Peanut was happy for us.
Brooke was officially one-hundred percent approved.
“Thanks, Peanut,” I replied quickly so no one knew I was having a moment. “You’re very beautiful in your teal dress.”
Cheyenne had smiled and stepped to the opposite side from where I stood. Then I watched Gary escort Bailee down the aisle then Nicole by Avery. I waited what felt like hours until the strings of a guitar began to strum from the speakers behind me. I looked straight down the aisle, looking past all of our close family and friends that sat in rows in front of me, searching for my girl. I was only looking for her. Only wanted to see her. The moment Colbie Caillat began to sing the first words of her song Magic, Brooke stepped out and onto the white runner that was covered with the red petals, and our eyes locked.
That was when I lost my ability to breathe.
> I only saw her face. I felt as though I was living in a dream, and Colbie was narrating how I felt. The song was perfect. Just like the woman who chose to walk down the aisle to the song.
Brooke’s gaze slid to her left, and she stopped walking. She literally stopped walking. I sucked in my breath, wondering if she’d changed her mind.
I heard Bailee mummer, “Shit.”
I looked at her and mouthed, “What?”
Bailee mouthed back, “Our mother.”
My heart sank to the pit of my stomach. I had no idea she was here. I’d been greeting guests as they arrived and she must have slipped in when I took my place underneath the floral arbour.
“You didn’t tell me you showed Brooke’s mom to a seat,” I hissed at Avery under my breath.
“I …” he stammered, “I don’t think I did. I’ve never met her.”
I assumed my guys were actually greeting the guests and not just showing random people to seats. If it were me, I’d introduce myself and ask how they knew the bride or groom. Maybe it was Gary who showed her a seat.
I cocked my head, trying to get a better look of the woman who enjoyed cock more than caring for her own daughters. Then my heart fell to my feet. I once cared more about pussy than my own daughter.
“I didn’t even know Brooke’s mom was coming,” Avery continued in a whisper.
I didn’t either. She didn’t RSVP.
Brooke stood still as she had a stare down with her mother. I was about to go to her to be her back-up, but then she closed her eyes, took a deep breath and turned her attention back to me. I gave a tight smile that was laced with worry. She smiled back and started to walk again.
I could breathe again.
The moment Brooke was within reaching distance of me, I clasped my hand in hers. She handed her bouquet of red roses to Nicole, and we turned and faced each other, both hands locking together in front of us.
“You okay?” I asked.
She nodded. “Just shocked.”
I was too, but I didn’t say it. “Don’t let her ruin your day, baby. It’s only you and me.”
“I won’t.”
I had so many thoughts running through my head, and I could only imagine what Brooke was thinking. I only hoped she stuck to her word and wouldn’t let her mother fuck this day up.
“Are we ready to begin?” the minister asked in a low voice so we could only hear.
I waited for Brooke to respond. “Yeah.”
I nodded my approval.
Words were being spoken, but I couldn’t hear what was being said. The minister had briefly given us a rundown of what he would say when we had our pre-wedding meeting with him. We wanted short and sweet and to the point. My focus was on Brooke and how our day was finally here.
The minister said my name and I realized it was my turn to speak, so I looked deep in Brooke’s eyes. “The moment I saw your emerald eyes looking up at me, I knew you’d rock my world. There was something about your sailor’s mouth that spoke to me. You came into my life when I was lost and broken, and I was hiding how I truly felt. On the outside, I looked as though I had it all figured out. On the inside, I was like a fish gasping for air. Then you started to make me feel again. And it was because you came in and loved my little girl and me.
“I never thought I would find someone that would love my daughter as though she were her own. I know we’ve had a crazy ride in a short amount of time, and if I could, I would change what you went through. Life can throw us curve ball after curve ball because no matter what, I’ll be there to pick up the pieces. We haven’t had the easiest ride, but one thing’s for certain. I will never stop loving you.”
I reached out and ran a finger under Brooke’s eye, catching a lone tear. She smiled at me, and my heart clenched in my chest. I fucking loved her.
The minister waited a moment, and then let her know it was time for her to give her vows. She looked up at the blue sky as though she was gaining the ability to speak. Finally, her head tilted back down to look at me.
“So I had all this stuff memorized, important stuff I wanted to say, but now as I look at you, I can’t think of any of it because I just want to tell you over and over how much I love you. You once told me that I had you from hello. The funny thing is, you had me before we even knew each other. I’m a true believer that things happen for a reason and, like you, I was living my life like a fish gasping for air. I wasn’t happy—until you. You’ve taken care of me, and that’s what I was looking for. To be cared for, cherished—loved.
“You could have your pick of anyone, and yet you somehow chose me. Even when I was broken, when life threw that curve ball at me, you stuck by me. You stepped up and held my hand through the worst time of my life, and it was then that I knew I would never stop loving you. Thank you for trusting me enough to love your daughter. And thank you for trusting me enough to love you.”
I didn’t wait for the minister to continue. I pulled her to me and wrapped her in my arms. If I had to guess, I’d say there wasn’t a single dry eye on the roof top.
Because, as it was, I was barely holding on myself.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Brooke
When you’re getting married, you send out invitations with an RSVP card because you want to know who will be attending your wedding. One of those invitations was sent to my mother. It was an olive branch—a test. However, she didn’t RSVP, and I thought she wasn’t coming.
Until I saw her.
I was on cloud nine the moment I woke up on my wedding day. My girls and I had a late breakfast, Cheyenne included. Afterward, the make-up and hair stylists came to my suite in the hotel. They styled us, pretended to put foundation on Cheyenne, and then I dressed in my once in a lifetime perfect wedding dress, the one that was backless with spaghetti straps and made out of lace and tulle that I never wanted to take off.
Cheyenne’s dress was teal because I wanted teal to play a factor in our day. When Easton and I shared our first kiss—that ended with me questioning everything—I was wearing a teal satin dress. Even though the kiss didn’t turn out as we’d both hoped, getting married on the anniversary of that night was almost like a new beginning.
It was the start of forever.
We took a few pictures as we got ready and then after all the finishing touches were on. Everything was going smoothly and as planned. I wasn’t stressed, and I wasn’t worried something would go wrong—like someone falling on the cake. I was ready. So fucking ready.
I chose to walk down the aisle to a song I’d heard on a whim. It reminded me of how I felt for Easton. I needed him. I needed his touch and the way he looked at me. The way he’d wake me up with a kiss when I would fall asleep on the couch watching TV. And all I saw when I looked into his handsome face was my future.
Everything was perfect.
Until I saw the woman who gave birth to me.
I was walking by myself, trying to contain my own happy tears. I was walking alone because I didn’t have a father to give me away. I wouldn’t know him even if he stood next to me as we waited for coffee at Starbucks. Sometimes I wondered if he knew about me. I’d probably never know.
As I walked in a slow pace, my focus was on Easton and how he looked in his tuxedo. I hadn’t seen him dressed up since the last night of our cruise, and it instantly sent a spark all the way to my core. Then that fire was doused, and I lost all train of thought because I saw me standing to the side of where I was walking.
It wasn’t me, though. It was my mother. Even though I hadn’t seen her in some time, I knew I looked like her. We both had long brown hair, though hers was turning grey. We both had green eyes though hers viewed values different from me. And we were the same height. On the outside, we looked like mother and daughter.
On the inside, we were nothing alike.
I wanted to go up to her and ask her why she was here. Instead, I turned back to Easton and fell in love with him more. I expected for him to ask if I was all right because I’d stopped in
the middle of the aisle. Not only did he ask if I was okay, but he reached for me and held my hands. His touch instantly calmed me. He didn’t let go until after I spoke my vow to him. Then he’d pulled me into his arms and squeezed so tight I couldn’t breathe.
“You may now kiss the bride.”
Easton pulled back at the words the minister said and grabbed my face, kissing the ever-loving shit out of me. Clapping and cheers could be heard on the rooftop, but I drowned everything out except for the way it felt to officially be Mrs. Easton Crawford.
Avery cleared his throat causing Easton to pull away from me. We both smiled and then turned to face our family and friends. We walked down the white carpet, and I glanced at my mother as we passed. She was crying, a bright smile on her face. I’d never knew her to have any emotions other than greed and lust.
Easton leaned down and kissed my lips softly once we passed the final rows of chairs. “Are you okay?” he whispered.
I smiled up at him. “I’m perfect. How could I not—”
“I’m not talking about us, baby.”
As we were turning a corner into the building where we were going to meet the photographer for pictures, I looked over my shoulder in the direction of the Chiavari chairs that were decorated with teal ribbon around the backs where my mother stood. She smiled and I didn’t. Then a wall blocked my view, and I felt as though I was in the clear. At least for a little bit while the wedding party took pictures.
We stopped, and I leaned against the back of a high chair. I peered up at my husband. “She came,” I breathed.
He nodded and wrapped his arms around my neck. “She came,” he repeated.
I closed my eyes for a few moments as I gathered my thoughts. “I have to—”
“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. It’s your day.”
I looked up into his azure eyes. “It’s our day. And yes, I have to speak with her. Even if it’s to tell her thank you for coming and nothing else.”
Never Stop (The Halo Series Book 3) Page 16
