by KaLyn Cooper
Lilly needed coffee.
Josh had given her quite a workout the night before. They’d arrived back home in the wee hours after the women had crashed the bachelor party at Kuk’s night club. She’d rolled over and returned to sleep after Jack had come looking for his friend, way too early, for their morning run and swim.
She refused to hide their relationship since the night she’d told Josh she loved him. She didn’t care what her older brother thought. Levi was one step above a man whore, but it was his life. She’d made her own mistakes. Josh and Jack had words about their relationship and everything seemed to be fine now between the two men.
Her mother was another story. The older woman, who had never really dated in all the years since their father had passed away—although she and the family attorney occasionally attended social functions together—had disapproved of Josh spending the entire night in Lilly’s room. She claimed it was a bad influence on the young minds of her grandchildren. Yeah, like Jillian and Jack living together in the pool house for five months, unmarried, scarred the morality of Addison and Lilly’s boys.
No. She loved Josh, and he loved her. For now, that was enough.
Lilly meandered over to the breakfast bar and filled her plate with eggs, toast, a slice of ham, and grabbed a glass of juice before taking her place at the large family table in the corner. The tantalizing aroma coming from the spices in the egg mixture, which oozed cheddar cheese, caused her mouth to water as she dug in. All too soon her boys would be down bouncing with excitement for the wedding.
Jillian sat across from her and a few chairs down playing with her oatmeal. “You okay?” Last night’s bachelorette party had included a champagne limousine trip through several bars in Cancun, an all-male review, and more alcohol than Lilly had consumed since her college years. It had been fantastic. They had shown Jillian the female love of good friends who drank too much, laughed too loud, and hugged often. All the things her sister-in-law had missed out on most of her life. But Lilly didn’t think Jillian had over indulged. Fact was, she hadn’t seemed drunk at all when they’d entered Mayan Nites around one o’clock in the morning.
“My stomach is a little...jittery.” Jillian stirred some brown sugar into her oatmeal. “I thought this might help settle it but—” She jumped up from the table holding her stomach. Backing away, with pleading eyes she begged, “Could you watch Addi?”
“Go,” Mother Girard waved her off. “I’ve got her.” She set down her breakfast down next to her granddaughter who didn’t seem to care her mother had left. The darling little girl continued to stuff slices of fruit into her mouth.
Jillian dashed across the quad, dodging workers bringing chairs and tables into the area.
“That’s to be expected on her wedding day.” Mother Girard slid part of her own pancake onto Addi’s tray.
Lilly wondered if there wasn’t more to it.
“It’s going to be a busy day.” Mother’s gaze swept the buzzing quad. “We have an hour before we leave for the resort spa. Why don’t you try to rest? You’re still not back to full strength yet. I’ll take care of getting the boys’ breakfast and seeing to them for you.”
Her mother was the greatest. She had always been able to read Lilly’s needs and offer assistance. This morning, it was appreciated more than usual. “I think I’ll do that, if you’re sure you don’t mind.”
“I love my grandsons,” the older Girard woman declared. “With this Chinese deal flapping in the wind, I’m not sure how much time I’ll get to see them in the coming months.”
As though by some internal radar, Lilly’s gaze was drawn to the far side of the quad toward the beach. A wet Josh emerged on the path, Jack beside him, deep in conversation.
Josh had obviously just showered the sand and sea off his magnificent body. Water droplets clung to his dark, slightly graying chest hair and sparkled in the sunlight. Swim trunks riding low on narrow hips exposed that delicious V Lilly had licked last night before following the thin trail of hair with her tongue to his cock. She licked her lips remembering the taste of him as she’d taken him into her mouth and brought him to the edge. Then she’d mounted him like a stallion and ridden them both over the top.
She sighed.
“I like Joshua.”
Her mother’s confession snapped Lilly’s attention away from the men walking toward them.
Lilly smiled. “So do I. Matter of fact, I love him.”
“I know.” Mona smiled as the men offered to help the workers with the equipment. “Your father would have liked him, too.”
“I think so,” Lilly admitted.
Levi darted out of his room and made a straight line for Jack just as he and Josh approached the breakfast bar. “Jack, I really think you should reconsider this.” He shook the papers in Jack’s face.
With a wave of his hand, Jack pushed the papers aside and picked up a plate. “No fucking way. I’m not signing a pre-nup, and I won’t ask Jillian to sign one either.”
“Pre-nup?” Lilly jumped up and faced off with her older brother. “Who wrote this up for you?” She grabbed the documents and turned to Jack. “It wasn’t me. I refused to do it when he asked me months ago.”
“Thanks, sis.” Jack kissed her forehead.
“I know you love Jillian.” She turned back to Levi. “And she isn’t marrying him for his money. They’re in love. Can’t you tell that?” Lilly swatted her brother with the sheaf of papers then shoved them into his hand.
She turned to Jack. “As an attorney, I should advise you to protect your assets and sign the prenuptial agreement, but as your sister, don’t you dare. Jillian is the best thing to happen to you.”
“I agree.” Jack looked around. “Speaking of her, where is that gorgeous woman who will soon be my wife?”
“She wasn’t feeling well,” Lilly informed him. “She has an upset stomach.”
The corner of Jack’s mouth twitched then kicked up a fraction. He glanced sideways at Josh who was pouring maple syrup over his pancakes.
Josh winked and gave her brother a knowing smile.
Oh, my God. She’d been around these two men enough lately to read that silent communication. Lilly wanted to hug and congratulate her brother if what she was thinking was true. But it was his and Jillian’s secret. Kind of. It seemed as though Jack had told Josh. Maybe she could get it out of her man later.
When the men were seated at the table, the legal papers placed boldly beside Levi, Jack nodded to them. “Maybe you should keep those for your future wife, should you ever decide to settle down and quit doing every blonde who passes within ten feet of you.” He stared at his older brother while he chewed. After he swallowed, he jabbed, “Not every woman out there is a gold digger like Melissa.”
Levi’s eyes filled with hate as he glared at Jack. Lilly wondered who this woman was. She’d never heard of her. Levi had never been serious about a woman as far as she knew.
“Melissa is not open for discussion,” Levi spat out. “And it’s none of your damned business, but when I do decide it’s time to settle down and take a wife, she will sign a prenuptial agreement when she accepts my engagement ring, long before we walk down the aisle.”
Josh whispered into Lilly’s ear, “If you want, I’ll sign a pre-nup. I don’t want your money.” He chuckled then licked her ear. “I just want your body.” He kissed her temple. “And your heart.”
She turned her head to face him. “I love you.” She laid her lips on his, not caring her whole family watched. Loud enough they all heard she added, “There is no need for a prenuptial agreement. I haven’t agreed to marry you.”
The look in Josh’s eyes didn’t bode well for her. She’d pay for that little jab.
“I haven’t asked.” He stared back with promise in those deep blue eyes. Promise for what she wasn’t sure.
Lilly’s phone rang. Thank God for the interruption. She was afraid where that whole exchange was going. As she looked at the caller ID, she wasn’t sure if sh
e should be pleased or pissed. “I have to take this. It’s Bright.”
She rose and Josh started to get up. She held her hand on his shoulder and told him, “It’s okay. I’ve got this. Finish your breakfast.”
As she walked toward her bedroom, she answered the call. She’d decided to go with pissed. “It’s about time you called.” She glanced back toward the table where all eyes followed her. Josh smiled and nodded once. His confidence gave her the boost she needed.
“We’ve been on our honeymoon,” her ex defended with animosity in his voice.
“That’s no excuse,” she chastised. “Your son was kidnapped. Three days ago!” Lilly knew she was shouting into the phone and didn’t care. He deserved to be yelled at.
“Yes. I heard,” Bright snapped back. “I’ve told you for years what a dangerous place Mexico is, and I’ve tried to convince you to not expose those boys to that environment.”
What? Where to begin with that statement.
“Those boys?” Her voice had raised an octave and several decibels. Now she was furious. “Those boys are your children. And Preston had been kidnapped to distract my family from the illegal smuggling of human beings onto the cruise ship we’re buying next week. It would have happened whether we were in Mexico, or Barbados, or even Miami.” At least that’s what her cousin Ed had explained after interrogating her son’s captors. They’d been prepared to sell her precious boy into the sex trade on the say so of Yitzak Reisman, the slimy fuckhead. Thank God that man would do time in a Mexican prison for human trafficking, even though he’d given up the names and information about his Los Zetas connections. If he lived to trial it would be a miracle. You don’t cross Mexican cartels.
Lilly wasn’t going to let up on Bright. “And exposing our children to their Mayan roots, allowing them to play with their Mexican cousins is supposed to be a bad thing? No. They love visiting here, spending time with family. That’s something you aren’t very good at, is it Brighton?”
She took a quick breath and dove in, head first, “You couldn’t find time to call your son after his kidnapping because you were too busy fucking his new stepmother? Orgasms were more important than comforting your seven-year-old son?”
The gasp at the other end of the phone made her smile.
“Yes, I guess it was and always has been.”
He’d rarely there when the boys needed a man to comfort them so she had added that responsibility to her list of parental jobs, allowing Bright to get away with not helping.
“As a cheating spouse, I don’t think I like the immoral influence you could have over the boys, so I’ll be renegotiating the visitation clause in our agreement.”
“What’s gotten into you?” her ex accused.
“Me. The real me.” Lilly was on a roll. “I’m shoving you out of my system every chance I get and replacing your acidic words with self-confidence. I can’t believe I let you change me into the woman you wanted me to be.” She inhaled and gathered her emotions, then admitted, “For the longest time, I was upset that I’d disappointed you to where you found what you needed in another woman. You made me feel like a failure as a wife.” Lilly’s fist went to her hip. “I have a newsflash for you, Brighton Carlisle. You failed as a husband and as a father. I didn’t need changing. I’m proud of who and what I am, and I don’t care to ever see you again. But those little boys love their father and miss you, yet you haven’t found time to see them in weeks.” In truth, his time with the boys had diminished progressively since she’d caught him cheating.
“I’ve been busy. Planning this last minute wedding, my insane surgery schedule, obstetric visits with Annabelle—she’s having a very difficult pregnancy carrying our daughter.”
The baby punch once again hit Lilly in the gut. A small “ugh” escaped before she could clamp her jaw tight. She couldn’t allow mind, or heart, to go there. He had other children and would have even more. What mattered was she was not going to allow him to treat their children as callously as he had those from his first marriage.
“You’ll hear from my attorney. You will either start seeing the boys on a regular basis and spend quality time with them, or I’ll get full custody, and you’ll become little more than their sperm donor.” She glanced over at Josh who was out of hearing distance but watched her like a hawk, ready to swoop in and save her. “There are real men out there who know how to care for a wife and children. I deserve that.”
“I have to go, Lilly.”
She heard a tiny, whiny voice in the background.
Brighton said, “We’ll talk about this when we’re both back in Chicago.”
There he went again, ordering her around. He was headed out of this conversation. “Don’t you want to talk with Preston? You never even asked how he’s doing.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t have time right now.”
She heard his name being called in the background in that girlish, high-pitched whimper.
“Besides, I’m sure if the boy wasn’t well, you’d take care of it.”
Of course Lilly would take care of her boys. She had always been the one seeing to their every need. She glanced over to the table where her boys had descended from their rooms upstairs. Josh was preparing their plates and they were laughing, all three of them. It felt like her heart would burst it was so full of love.
“Lilly.”
At the sound of her name, she stared at the phone in her hand. Was Brighton still there? “Yes, what is it?”
“One more thing.” There was always one more thing with Bright. She was sure she wasn’t going to like this. “I know you agree, we need to keep this civilized. I plan on introducing Annabelle to our friends at the opera fundraiser in two weeks.” The charity event she had chaired for the past three years. Damn him. “I don’t want you to feel awkward coming alone so you might consider—”
“What makes you think I’m coming alone?” She stared at Josh and knew how he’d look in a double breasted tuxedo. Firm. Fit. Fantastic.
“Well, you’ve attended the last several—”
She cut him off again. “By choice. We’ll see you there but don’t bother stopping by the head table to say hello. As event chairwoman, I’ll be too busy to introduce you.” She smiled at Josh and hoped he didn’t have plans that night. “I’ve got to run. Today is Jack’s wedding day, and the boys are the ring bearers. Perhaps you’ll see the pictures of them in the Tribune society section.” She’d see that there were at least two. One that included her with Josh. It was time he entered her world.
* * * *
Massaged, buffed, and polished, Lilly sat with the other bridesmaids around the living room in the pool house sipping champagne in lightweight robes while Maranda and her team ran through the final details with Jillian.
“You remember Kenderly, don’t you?” Maranda asked. “She has overseen the ceremony arrangements on the beach.”
“Everything looks beautiful.” Jillian smiled and sipped her ginger ale.
“Thank you, ma’am.” Kenderly nodded and referred to her clipboard. “We’ve added a few extra seats to every row in case your guests want a space between parties. The speakers are hidden in the greenery and flowers. I personally tested it so everyone should hear each word. The arbor is decorated as designed.” She glanced at Therese and mouthed thank you, then continued, “The ushers will fill the seats from the front to the back, not separating for the standard bride’s side versus groom’s side. Any empty chairs as the ceremony starts will be slipped away and added if late comers arrive. Mr....I mean Captain Madden is all set and it should progress as smoothly as the rehearsal last night.”
Captain Madden. Lilly had forgotten her lover was a high-ranking naval officer. She’d see him and all Jack’s men in their military brass in an hour. Jack had profusely protested since he was no longer on active duty. But Maranda and her crew had convinced Jillian that the pictures would be beautiful and serving his country had been so much a part of Jack’s life, he should be proud to be marrie
d in uniform. He had succumbed to his fiancée’s wishes in the end.
Annette was talking about the reception when Lilly tuned into her surroundings.
“We have adjusted for the addition of...Stacie McCoy placing her with Jeff Lennon as his plus one. We’ve made provisions for Craig Michaelson’s leg cast since he’d been shot.” Annette visibly shivered. “I can’t imagine.”
“We’re just glad the doctor released him so he could still be in the wedding,” Jillian grimaced. “Wheel chair and all.”
Voices at the door drew everyone’s attention. “Oh, wonderful. Right on time,” Maranda announced. “Ladies, all the dresses have arrived.” She twisted her head and looked past the three women laden with dresses. “And the flowers are here.”
“Bridesmaids, I’m Jamie. Please follow me.”
Lilly rose and brought up the rear of the line as they headed to the back bedrooms to change. It only took her a minute to slip into the strapless dress that started as dark blue at the heart-shaped neckline and lightened to powder blue where it touched the floor. A quick zip up the back to hold everything in place and she was done. She stepped into her flat silver sandals and decided to check on her boys, who she’d left in the capable hands of Tracy. That poor woman had the responsibility of wrangling the children into tiny tuxedos over in Josh’s room.
She crossed the quad where Therese was putting the final touches on the reception tables scattered around the pool.
Lilly knocked on the sliding glass doors but doubted anyone heard so she slid it open a few inches and yelled through the crack. “Everyone decent?”
Josh’s deep voice answered, “Do I have to be?”
Lilly couldn’t hold back the smile as she stepped into typical boy chaos.
Josh stood next to his bed in white pants and a white t-shirt. A long-sleeved white jacket lay unwrinkled on the bed. The sitting area side of the room was another story. Small boy clothes covered most surfaces and her youngest son stood in tantrum mode. Preston was putting on a crisp shirt complaining it was scratchy.
