I wanted to be with Everett Wilder.
But it was clear that his family didn’t want me with him.
With the way his father reacted and the fact that his father wasn’t here apologizing as well spoke volumes. Lucas might be okay with everything, sort of. But his father? Not a chance. Which meant I could only assume the rest of his family felt the same way.
“Have you heard from Everett?” Lucas asked.
I shook my head and drew in a deep breath.
“Knowing him, he’s probably at his office. I could give you the address if you want it,” he said.
“With all due respect, enough addresses have been flung for one day,” I said.
All of us shared a small laugh before I heaved a heavy sigh.
“What is it?” Jessica asked.
“It’s nothing,” I said.
“I know that look,” Lucas said.
“What look?” Jessica asked.
My eyes slowly panned up to view Lucas and it was as if the two of us shared a bonding moment.
“My parents can be easily swayed, you know,” he said.
“I’m not so sure about that,” I said.
“What's going on? What are you two talking about?” Jessica asked.
“Andrea wants to be with Everett, but she doesn't think my parents will approve,” Lucas said.
“Wait, really? You want to be with Everett?” Jessica asked.
“I do. But I also know exactly what his father thinks of me now, so I’m not sure it’s a thing that can happen,” I said.
“Oh my gosh. You want to be with Everett!” she exclaimed.
“Calm down. There’s really been enough yelling in this apartment for one day,” I sighed.
“My parents are simply worried about the business and their sons,” Lucas said.
“He called me a gold-digger and accused me of forcing alcohol down Everett’s throat to get him to marry me,” I said.
“My father is operating under the assumption that this shadowy corporation or whatever will use any means necessary to take us down. For all I know, he thinks you’re part of this organization and that you're trying to divide us from the inside or something,” he said.
“Your father is a conspiracy theory nut?” I asked.
“Everyone has their quirks,” he said.
A silence fell over all of us before I drew in a deep breath.
“You think your mother hates me, too?” I asked.
Jessica and Lucas looked at one another before they held each other close.
“I think she would love you,” Lucas said.
And for some reason, the way he said it gave me hope.
TWENTY-FIVE
Andrea
My phone rang, waking me up on my beautiful Sunday morning. I drew in a slow, deep breath, and debated on whether or not to pick it up. I didn’t feel like talking with anyone. All I wanted to do was lay around, fall in and out of sleep, and get the rest I needed before my long week at work. The phone stopped ringing and I grinned, rolling over so I could go back to sleep and get some rest.
Then, the phone rang out again.
“For heaven’s sake, Jessica, if this is you, then you’re dead,” I said as I picked up the phone.
“I should probably inform Lucas that he doesn’t have much time with her, then,” Everett said.
I shot up in bed as my eyes widened.
“Everett?”
“Good morning. I take it I called at a bad time?”
“No, no, no. I just… I was just sleeping.”
“It’s almost noon.”
“It is?” I asked.
I pulled my phone away from my ear before my eyes widened.
“Yikes. It is,” I said.
“Are you feeling okay?”
“Yeah, no. I’m good.”
“I’m really not sure how to take that answer.”
I giggled and shook my head as I slid my legs off the side of my bed.
“What can I do for you?” I asked.
“What are you doing for lunch?”
“Apparently I was going to sleep right through it until you called.”
“Well, while that sounds very comfortable, I was wondering if you could meet me somewhere.”
“Um… sure. Yeah. Is everything okay? Has something happened with the lawyers?”
“Not exactly. I’ll shoot you the address. Think you could get here around one or so?”
“If I hang up this phone and take a shower right now, yes,” I said.
“Then, I’ll see you around one.”
I didn’t even get the phone call hung up before my phone buzzed in my hand. I looked down at the text message from Everett and saw nothing but an address. And I didn’t recognize it. I tried searching it online to figure out where I was headed, but the address only brought up some map of a road and some rolling hillsides.
Weird.
I cleaned myself up as quickly as I could and decided on one of my summertime dresses. I slipped into a pair of matching flip flops before I fluffed my hair out a bit, then I grabbed my sunglasses and headed for my car. I typed the address into my GPS, then sent Everett a message telling him I was on my way. Wherever I was headed, I was thirty minutes away from it.
I wondered what that man had in store for me.
After driving to the outskirts of Charleston, I hit the rolling hills I saw in the picture I found. But other than that, there was nothing. No houses. No cars. Very few trees. Just pastures of cows and horses and the smell of manure. I didn’t know of anything that was out here, honestly, outside of a few farms. I kept driving, following the directions on my phone as my curiosity piqued.
But when I finally pulled into the driveway of my final destination, my jaw dropped.
The mansion before me was massive. A beautiful plantation-style home with columns on the front porch and a wrap-around main floor balcony with rocking chairs and tables. The beautiful white home sat on a stone-laden foundation and had dark green shutters that matched the beauty of the nature surrounding the house. Blackberry bushes lines the driveway, emitting an incredible smell that followed me all the way up to the two six-car garages that sat on the property.
This had to be Everett’s parents’ house.
I immediately braced. Why in the world would he want me to meet him here? I parked my car between the two detached garages, but before I could open my door I felt it swing open beside me. I looked up and saw Everett smiling at me, with his beautiful blue eyes and his glistening blonde hair shimmering in the sunlight. He towered over my car with a sparkle in his eye, and when he offered me his hand I took it as quickly as I could.
And the electricity that surged up my arm was undeniable.
“Where am I?” I asked.
“My parents’ house,” Everett said.
“This isn’t a house.”
“Okay. My parents’ estate.”
“That’s a little more like it,” I said, grinning.
“Thank you for coming.”
“Of course. But, why am I here?”
“Mostly for an apology. But also, so I can meet you.”
I heard a lovely voice hit my ears with the perfect southern lilt to it. I dropped Everett’s hand quickly and turned around, watching as a very petite woman strolled my way. She wore heels like they were naturally attached to the ends of her legs and she had this beautiful head full of shining blonde hair. Her eyes were a dazzling blue. And a pair of eyes I recognized.
Everett definitely had his mother’s eyes.
“I’m Ruby, and the incredibly rude man you’ve already met who is standing on the porch is Kane, my husband.”
“Andrea. It’s nice to meet you,” I said.
“Oh, I know who you are. And it’s so nice to finally meet the woman making my son so very happy.”
My eyebrows hiked up onto my head as Everett’s hand came down onto the small of my back.
“We haven’t had a chance to talk yet, Mom,” he said.
> “Oh, then I think I just spoiled something. No matter. Come inside. Let’s get you some tea, some lunch, and then we can talk,” Ruby said.
His mother took my arm and linked it with hers before we started into the house. We walked up the beautiful stone pathway that led to their porch, and I glanced over at Everett’s father before we walked in. He looked positively ashamed of himself, and he should have been. His son had the gall to stop by my place yesterday and apologize, but I hadn’t heard a damn thing from him. Ruby led me into the house and I gawked at the expanse of it all as we walked through the grand foyer. Two staircases lined the side of the entrance room, heading up to the second floor. And dangling from the ceiling was a beautiful silver-and-crystal chandelier.
“Your home is amazing,” I said.
“You’re too kind, Andrea. It took us years to build it, but it’s the home of my dreams.”
“You mean the home of you and your husband’s dreams?” I asked.
“Until he apologizes to you for the absolute donkey he made out of himself, he doesn’t get dreams.”
I pursed my lips and cleared my throat to keep from laughing.
“Here, have a seat. Our chef is almost done with lunch,” she said.
“I’ve got that,” Everett said.
His mother relinquished me and I watched as Everett pulled out my seat. I sat down and thanked him and was relieved when he took the seat next to me. I eyed him carefully, trying to communicate all of my confusion and awe and shock in a small glance toward him. But all he did was offer me a gentle smile. And his hand.
Which I gladly took without a second thought.
“I hope that soup and sandwiches are okay for lunch. Our chef makes the best tomato basil soup. And his garlic toast has to be eaten as if it were a soup spoon. Promise me you’ll try it,” Ruby said.
She sat in front of me and Everett’s father promptly took a seat next to her.
“I promise,” I said.
“Wonderful.”
She turned her gaze over to her husband and things got very awkward in an instant. I peered over at Everett as his thumb stroked my hand, seemingly trying to calm me down. But I didn’t need to be calmed down. I needed to know what the hell was going on.
I felt like I had stepped into the Twilight Zone.
“Kane, you better start with that apology,” Ruby said curtly.
“Mrs. Wilder, it’s—”
But Everett’s mother held her hand up to me before shooting her husband a stern glance.
“Kane?” she asked.
“Andrea, I can’t even begin to express to you how sorry I am for the way I acted,” he said solemnly.
My eyes flickered over to Everett as he gripped my hand tightly.
“What I said to you in your own home? It wasn’t right. Not by a long shot. You obviously make Everett very happy, and from the little bit he’s told me about you, it seems as if you’re an incredibly strong and hardworking young woman.”
“I appreciate that,” I said.
“I should have never called you a gold-digger. I can’t stand the fact that I considered it for even a second. I should know Everett better than that, and I should have taken the time to get to know you better than that. I know nothing about you except for what Everett used in our argument to defend you, and that's not fair to anyone. Especially you.”
“Mr. Wilder, I really appreciate your apology,” I said.
“Will you accept it?”
My eyes darted over to Ruby and she shrugged her shoulders.
“I’d make him grovel a little more, but that’s up to you,” she said.
All of us shared a little laugh before my eyes fell back onto Everett’s father.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Anything,” he said.
“When you stormed into my apartment, what was your purpose?” I asked.
Kane furrowed his brow before he cocked his head to the side.
“I’m not sure I understand,” he said.
“When you came to my apartment and barged into my home after Everett opened the door, what was running through your mind?” I asked.
“That’s actually a very good question,” Ruby said as she turned toward him.
“Was your intent to completely decimate a young woman in the only place she feels safe?” I asked.
Everett gripped my hand tighter than anyone ever had before and I watched heavy guilt wash over Kane’s face.
“No,” he said.
“Was it to make a fool out of me?” I asked.
“No.”
“Was it to make me cry, Mr. Wilder?”
I watched Ruby chew on the inside of her cheek as she shook her head at her husband.
“No, Miss Andrea. It wasn’t. But I’m so sorry I did that to you. I’m so sorry I—”
“Was it to protect your son?” I asked.
I looked over at Everett and locked my eyes with him.
“Was it to protect your family?” I asked.
“With every fiber of my being,” Kane said.
I nodded and grinned before I panned my gaze back to Kane.
“Then how can I not forgive you? Family is the most important, above all else. I’ll never be able to fault a parent whose only want is to defend their children,” I said.
I watched Kane breathe a sigh of relief as a smile grew on Ruby’s lips.
“I like her,” she said.
“Lucas and I figured you would, Mom,” Everett said.
“You forgive me,” Kane said.
“I do,” I said.
“And now that we have that settled, I want to answer the other question running through Andrea’s mind,” Everett said.
I shared one last moment with Everett’s father before I snapped my head over to him.
“What is all this about?” I asked.
I watched as he scooted his chair closer to me, then took both of my hands within his.
“Andrea, I have no intentions of following up with the lawyers,” he said.
“What?” I asked.
“Unless you want me to.”
“What?”
“I want to be with you, Andrea. And to me, there’s no point in getting a divorce of any sort when I can see myself with you.”
“What!?” I squeaked.
Everett’s parents chuckled and it caught my attention.
“So, you guys…?” I asked.
“We know,” Ruby said.
“Everett walked us through everything that happened in Vegas last night,” Kane said.
“Well, everything I can remember from what we pieced together,” Everett said, chuckling.
I smiled as my eyes locked with his again and I felt a happiness unlike none other trickle throughout my limbs.
“You don’t want a divorce?” I asked.
“No. I don’t. In fact, there’s actually something I’d like to ask you,” Everett said.
He scooted his chair as close as he could get before his forehead connected with mine.
“Andrea Faith, would you let me take you out on a date?” he asked.
I giggled and nodded as I drew in a deep breath through my nose.
“I would love nothing more,” I said.
Everett captured my lips in a kiss, moving so I bent back in my chair. His arm snaked around my waist and his free hand cupped my cheek while our tongues met in heated delight. I was over the moon. Tears of happiness stung my eyes. I knew I’d fallen in love with Everett the morning I woke up with him in my bed in my apartment. I knew I wanted to experience that over and over again with him. And knowing he felt the same way made my heart soar.
“Next time, warn a woman,” I said as he pulled his lips back.
Ruby giggled at us as a smile crossed Everett’s cheeks.
“How does dinner and a movie tomorrow night sound?” he asked.
“Honestly? This week is pretty rough for me. I might not be available until Friday night,” I said.
“What if I br
ought the dinner and a movie to you?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve cooked for me, but I haven’t cooked for you yet,” he said.
“Oh, you should make her your gumbo with that rosemary-butter rice,” Ruby said.
“Sweetheart, I’m sure he’s got it,” Kane said.
“It was only a suggestion,” she said.
I giggled and shook my head as Everett smiled broadly at me.
“I suppose if you brought it to me, then I could find a day this week to try and get out of work earlier than usual,” I said.
“How does Wednesday night sound, then?”
He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear before pressing a kiss to my cheek.
“Sounds perfect,” I said.
TWENTY-SIX
Everett
I told Andrea to leave a key for me underneath her apartment mat and that I would be at her place around four to start cooking dinner. And I was ecstatic. I took the day off and spent it shopping and preparing, making sure I had all the ingredients and things I needed in order to make this a perfect evening for her. When I talked with her, she sounded exhausted. Kids yelled in the background. The air conditioning still on the fritz at the youth center. Her computer continuously stalling out. She deserved to come home to something nice.
So, I made sure to do it up right.
I laid out all of the ingredients for my gumbo and got to cooking, and when everything was incorporated into the pot, I started on the rice. Shrimp and chicken made their way into the dish, and while all of that was simmering, I set up the television. Andrea’s wasn’t worth a damn, which wouldn’t be suitable for us to watch a movie or two on after dinner. I switched her small television out with a flat screen I’d purchased for her, then hooked up a small DVD player so we could watch whatever movie she picked out. For dessert, I had ice cream with all sorts of toppings she could choose from, and all I had to do was wait for her to get home.
So, I decided to bide my time and do a few things for her.
I started a load of laundry and put up her clean dishes. I swept up her laminate floors and vacuumed her carpet. I did a little cleaning of her bathroom, but it didn’t need much. Just a swipe of a cloth over the surfaces that were used more than others. I got everything set up on her kitchen table before I poured us each a tall, cold glass of sweet tea. And just as I set the pitcher down onto the kitchen counter, the front door opened.
Accidentally Wild: An Accidental Marriage Romance (The Wilder Brothers Book 2) Page 21
