by Layla Hagen
Your Forever Love
Eric & Pippa ~ The Bennett Family, Book 3
Layla Hagen
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Your Forever Love
Copyright © 2016 Layla Hagen
Your Forever Love
Copyright ©2016 Layla Hagen
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Chapter One
Eric
“Dad, can I meet Pippa now?”
Watching as my daughter runs her little fingers through her wavy blonde hair, I smile at her squirming in her seat. When I told Julie we would attend Sebastian Bennett’s wedding, she announced she wants her hair styled in waves, not a braid, because the latter is for little girls, and she just turned twelve. She’s growing up too fast.
“Not yet. She’s busy right now.” I suspect Pippa will be busy for the rest of the party since it’s her brother’s wedding.
Julie hero-worships Pippa Bennett—or more accurately, her designs. My daughter loves to draw, and lately, she’s taken to drawing jewelry, which isn’t such a surprise since I sell jewelry for a living. Callahan’s Finest, of which I am the CEO, is the largest chain of high-end jewelry shops on the East Coast and has been for three generations. We work closely with Bennett Enterprises, and I admire the Bennett family. They started from nothing. Sebastian created Bennett Enterprises less than fifteen years ago, and it grew to be one of the most prestigious producers in the jewelry market. It takes a lot of determination and hard work to make that happen in such a short time.
Julie fell in love with their designs a while ago and insists on meeting the designer in person. If I am honest, I’m looking forward to meeting Pippa Bennett as well.
“This is a beautiful wedding,” Julie comments, her eyes scanning the ballroom, and resting on the bride and groom’s table. “Was your wedding to Mom this beautiful?”
Wham. Her words stab me, causing old wounds to resurface.
“Yeah, it was.”
My life changed at twenty-one when Sarah told me she was pregnant. At that age, a kid was the last thing on my mind, but I wasn’t about to leave the woman I loved to deal with the responsibility alone. Sarah and I got married. Julie stole my heart from the moment she was born. I held her in my arms, and I knew my life would change.
My life changed again five years ago when an accident killed Sarah and left Julie with a limp and a dependence on an inhaler.
“Hey!” I elbow Julie playfully, deciding it’s time to cheer her up. “Do you want to do a movie marathon tomorrow?”
“Yeah. But you can’t fall asleep again, Dad.”
“I can’t make you any promises.”
Julie loves movie marathons. She also likes watching the same movies over and over again, hence why I sometimes fall asleep.
“I will draw you a mustache with a permanent marker if you fall asleep,” she threatens, barely withholding a grin. “Then you’ll have to go to your office like that.”
That’s a thought. That would severely undermine my reputation as a business shark.
“I’d like to see you try.”
Julie lets out a giggle, which turns into laughter. Her laugh is always contagious, so before long, I can’t keep a straight face either. I love this little girl to pieces, and I would do anything to make her happy.
“Ooooh, look.” Julie claps her hands excitedly. “The first dance.”
I smile at my daughter, ruffling her hair, which garners me a frown from her.
“Let’s watch it,” I say. “Then we can go find Pippa Bennett.”
***
Pippa
I love weddings. I love everything about them, from the vows to the dancing to the cake. Oh, the cake. I have a slight cake addiction, and I’m not doing a great job battling it. I really should, though. One of the downsides of being over thirty is that my metabolism no longer keeps up with my appetite.
My oldest brother and his bride are on the dance floor, and their happiness is contagious. My other seven siblings and my parents are scattered throughout the room, entertaining the guests. The ballroom is glamorous with a high ceiling spanning above us, and crystal chandeliers hanging from it. The place is vast, enough to house four hundred guests. The chairs are covered with elegant satin, and tiny twinkle lights adorn some of the tables. It looks like a fairy tale.
“Congratulating yourself on your matchmaking skills, Pippa?” my brother Max asks, appearing by my side.
“You have to admit, I’m great at it, little brother,” I reply. I can’t take full credit for my eldest brother being married, but I did give him a nudge in the right direction. “Why, are you looking to employ my matchmaking services? I’m warning you, I’m expensive. My payment is a lot of brotherly love and attention.”
Max has been working out of our London office over the past few years, and I’ve missed him terribly. But now he’s back, and I intend to take advantage of that.
“I can get my own date, no need for help.”
“Yeah, that’s what Sebastian and Logan said too.” I wink at him, but Max merely shakes his head. Behind him, I spot Christopher. They are identical twins, and today they are particularly hard to tell apart because even their tuxedos and bow ties are identical. Luckily, Max has slightly longer hair that falls into his eyes. Still, I’m tempted to glue tiny, colorful dots on their clothes, as I did when we were kids because it was easier to tell them apart.
“You should get yourself a date,” Max suggests.
I sigh. “Tried it once after the divorce. Didn’t end well. I’m much better at finding dates for other people.”
I believe in love. I truly do. But maybe I’m not destined to find my happily ever after. Maybe I already blew my chance. I was the first in my family to marry, almost five years ago, and that proved to be a mistake. Now I’m divorced.
The thought of being alone for the rest of my days leaves a dull ache in my chest. Watching Ava and Sebastian on the dance floor only intensifies that ache. I want someone to look at me as if I’m his whole world. Is that too much to ask?
Max pulls me into a hug, whispering, “You’ll find someone, but you need to get back in the dating game. If you do it more often, you’ll get better at it.”
Drawing in a deep breath, I bite the inside of my cheek. The truth is I don’t want to ‘get back in the dating game.’ For one, I’m not ready to open myself up again. More importantly, I clearly can’t trust my own judgment when it comes to men.
“By the way, I want to introduce you to someone,” Max says.
I chuckle. “Really? You want to become my matchmaking assistant?”
“I meant a business partner, Eric Callahan.”
“The CEO of Callahan’s Finest?” I ask in surprise.
“Yeah.”
Callahan’s Finest are among our biggest distribution partners on the East Coast. Max has known Eric Callahan since college. Sebastian and Logan met him over the years, but I never got the chance.
“Isn’t Callahan based in Boston? What is he doing here?”
“Callahan is looking to expand their chain of shops on the West Coast, so Eric will be here for a
bout three months, overseeing the expansion.”
“Got it.”
“Anyway, he’s here with his daughter, who is a great fan of yours. She can’t wait to meet you. She’s an aspiring designer.”
“Let’s go to their table.”
“No need. They’re on their way here.” Max points to the other side of the room.
The girl catches my eye first. She has light blonde hair that falls in beautiful waves and walks with a pronounced limp. She wears a delicate pink chiffon dress, which bounces with every step she takes. What surprises me most about her, though, is that she appears to be eleven or twelve.
“I imagined his daughter to be younger,” I murmur.
“He had her when he was twenty or something. His wife died a few years ago,” Max explains.
“That’s sad.”
As they come closer, I hear the girl whisper, “Is that her, Dad?”
That’s when I focus on the person next to her. I nearly do a double take when I take a closer look at her dad. Holy smokes and fires. This man is… perfection. He has deep brown hair and striking blue eyes. He’s also muscular and tall—I’m talking at least six feet. His arms are strong enough that I imagine he could carry anything in them without effort… including me. Where did that thought come from? I haven’t even met the man. Everything about him screams sexy, even the way he walks, as if he owns the place. He carries himself with a self-confidence that oozes raw power and masculinity.
“Eric,” Max says. “This is my sister, Pippa.” Someone calls Max’s name, and my brother adopts an apologetic expression. “Have to go.”
After Max leaves, the girl steps closer to her dad, as if wishing to hide behind him. Her father caresses her cheek, as though she’s a delicate flower and the slightest wind could sweep her away. They are adorable.
Deciding to put her at ease, I hold out my hand to her. “What’s your name? My brother told me you’re an aspiring designer.”
“Julie.”
“Hi, Julie.” I shake her little hand, feeling calluses on her fingers. Turning her hand palm up, I inspect the hardened skin—unmistakable signs of having held a pencil for hours at a time. “You have designer’s hands. I have calluses too.”
Julie’s eyes widen as if she can’t quite believe it. “But don’t you have computer programs for designing?” she asks.
“Yeah, but I like sketching by hand better.”
“Love your designs,” Julie whispers to me, as if it’s a great secret. “I am going to take a design course while Dad and I are here.”
“Summer school?” I whip my head in Eric’s direction, and he nods. His blue eyes rest on my face for a beat too long, and my skin heats from the intensity. Holy hell.
“I start in two weeks. It’s a great program—specifically for jewelry design.” Julie smooths her hands down her dress, adding in a small voice, “I hope I’ll be good enough.”
My heart stings as I watch Julie fret over this.
“Are you practicing every day?” I ask her.
“Yes, I have some assignments I have to complete before starting summer school. I hope I’ll do them right.”
“I have an idea. Why don’t you come to my office every day before summer school kicks off, and I can teach you some techniques? That way, you’ll be in top shape when you start the course.”
“That’s not—” Eric begins.
At the same time, Julie exclaims, “I’d love that.”
She claps her hands, grinning from ear to ear, looking up at her father. “Dad, can I go?”
I suspect Eric wants to say no, but I can practically see his determination melt the longer he looks at Julie. If I’m honest, I’m melting too. I’m certain Eric is the kind of man who gets others to do exactly what he wants. Seeing him unable to resist his daughter’s charm is adorable.
“I’ll consider it.”
“You are the best dad in the world. Thank you.”
“Why don’t you go back to our table, and I’ll sort out the details with Pippa?” Eric tells his daughter.
Julie nods, politely shaking my hand again before leaving. Eric follows Julie with his gaze until she’s seated at the table, then turns his attention to me.
“Thank you for offering to help her….”
“I sense a but coming.” I smile, folding my arms over my chest.
Eric returns the smile and shrugs. “No offense, but I don’t allow my daughter to spend time with people I don’t know.”
“Of course you don’t, but you’ve met my brothers. You know me by extension. As to me, what you see is what you get.”
“Who knows what you might be hiding under that pretty smile and elegant dress.”
His gaze travels down my body with amusement, as if looking for any secrets. Yet somewhere along the way, the amusement turns to heat. He zeroes in on my hips, and I swear his nostrils flare. When he looks back up, surprise flickers in his eyes as if he’s taken aback by his own reaction to me.
“It’ll boost her confidence if I show her a few tricks,” I say.
“Are you sure it’s okay if Julie comes to your office?” he asks.
Is it my imagination, or is his voice a notch huskier? Imagination or not, it sends tendrils of warmth down my spine.
“It’ll be my pleasure. I love children. I can’t wait for Sebastian and Ava to give me some nieces and nephews. I will spoil them rotten.”
He laughs softly at my words. The sound fills me with joy. “You are the first person to find it perfectly acceptable to spoil kids. Everyone else is up my ass for doing so with Julie.” He accompanies the last word with a wink. “I can’t help spoiling her.”
“As you should. You’ll bring her to my office, then. It’s settled. She said she has two weeks until summer school starts. I can teach her a lot in that time.”
“You’re stubborn,” he remarks. There is a spark of a challenge in his tone, which riles me up.
“You have no idea.” God, his eyes are too blue, and his lips too full. The combo should be illegal. Eric Callahan is six feet of sexiness.
“All right. Enjoy your brother’s wedding now. I’ll call you tomorrow, and we can talk about the details.”
“You don’t have my number.”
“I’m a resourceful man.” He gives me a crooked smile before taking off.
***
The wedding goes on without a hitch. The dance floor is full all the time, and the whole room buzzes with life thanks to the permanent chatter and laughter of the guests. I leave the dance floor when I can’t feel my feet anymore, slumping in my seat and kicking off my shoes under the table. My sister Alice drops in the seat next to me a couple of minutes later, panting.
“The band is incredible,” she says, fanning her heated cheeks. A waiter asks if there is anything he can do for us, and we both order a cocktail. After he leaves, Alice chuckles while glancing at my bare feet, then follows my lead and kicks off her shoes. Thank God we’re alone at our table.
The waiter returns with the cocktails, and Alice smiles smugly as we clink our glasses. Uh-oh. That smile means trouble.
“Spill the beans,” she says.
I sip from my glass, taking my time before answering. “What are you talking about?”
“What’s up with you and Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome?” Alice presses.
“His daughter is an aspiring designer. I talked to him about meeting with her to teach her some stuff. Nothing else.” I try to downplay the meeting even though my skin still simmers from the way he looked at me.
She leans in to me, dropping her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “So, why did he give you a hot look?”
“Alice! I’m not sure it was a hot look.”
“It was. I was across the dance floor, and even I could feel the heat.”
Sighing, I lean forward, pulling the platter of sweets from the center of the table toward us. This conversation requires sugar.
“I asked Max about him. Did you know they call him ‘the shark�
� in business circles?” Alice says, flashing her teeth.
“Yeah.”
“He’s the perfect candidate to help you with the cobweb situation down there.” Alice announces this with such conviction you’d think she has research-backed data to support this statement.
“Stop using the word ‘cobweb,’” I hiss.
“You used it first.”
“I won’t make that mistake again.” Many moons ago, over too many cocktails, I admitted to Alice that I hadn’t gotten laid in a while, and if that didn’t change soon, I would have to start checking for cobwebs.
“He’s perfect for the job. You’re not ready for a relationship, and he’s only here for a few months. You can just enjoy each other. He’s single and hot.”
Suspicion gnaws at me. I recognize this type of meddling; I did exactly this to Sebastian and Logan, my second eldest brother, back when they were still single. But Alice always kept away from my matchmaking activities. Is she now taking a page from my own playbook?
I had great plans for Alice tonight. Recently, I discovered she has had a crush on one of Sebastian’s childhood friends for years, and he was going to attend the wedding, so I had the perfect opportunity to give them a nudge. Alas, he regretfully informed us that he couldn’t participate two days ago. He received a job offer outside the country right before the wedding and had to start immediately. He’ll be gone for months, maybe even a year.
“Sorry to break up your party, ladies, but I have a phone number to ask for,” a male voice says from behind us. Alice and I turn in our seats at the same time. My breath stops as my gaze meet Eric’s. He’s standing not one foot in front of us, a mischievous glint playing in his blue eyes. I shift uncomfortably in my seat.
“I’ll leave you two,” Alice says, putting her shoes back on and then graciously disappearing.
“I’m surprised you’re straight-up asking for my number. You said you’re a resourceful man.”
“I am, and this is the best use of my resources right now.”
