Skyscrapers & Camelot (Renovate Book 1)

by Mindy Carter

“Liz, are you okay?” I ask, concerned.

  She looks at me and smiles. “Oh, yes. These are happy tears.” She looks down at the collage, running her hands over the pictures. “Looking at these—our life, our boys—I feel like the luckiest person on the planet.”

  She got it right; she married the love of her life, started a family, and raised two amazing men.

  I rub her back to comfort her. “You know they are lucky to have you, too.”

  Liz grabs my hand. “Aimee, you are a kind, honest, sincere woman. Your heart is so big. I knew you were special the first time I laid eyes on you. Keegan always lit up when you were near, and that was all because of you. I hope that one day you have all of this, too, and I hope you have it with my boy. You both deserve to be happy.”

  Now it’s my turn to cry.

  I turn away and wipe the few tears from my eyes. I haven’t cried this much in years, but these are good tears. Liz has given me the biggest compliment, and one of the most important. She has wished Keegan and me a future like hers, and I want nothing more.

  She stands up with the collage and looks around before walking to a small table set up near a wall and placing it down. “This is the perfect spot for this. Everyone is going to love it. Thank you so much, Aimee. This really is wonderful.”

  I look at her and smile. “You’re welcome.”

  Liz wipes her slacks with her hands covered in glitter. “The caterers will be here in about an hour, so I’m going to change and get ready.” She grabs a garment bag and heads to one of the guest rooms to change. I follow, turning into Keegan’s room and sitting on the bed before lying back and staring at the ceiling.

  My thoughts stray to the past and a boy with sea blue eyes.

  “Aimee, I’m going to build you the biggest castle when I grow up,” Keegan says.

  My eyes light up. “Really? Can it have a rose garden on top? I want it to have a rose garden on top.”

  “It can have anything you want because it will all be yours.”

  I smile at him and jump up, giving him the biggest hug. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

  “You know what else, Aimee?” he asks with a smile on his face, showing his dimples.

  “No, what?”

  He looks at me with determination. “I’m going to ask you to marry me someday, and we will live happily ever after, just wait and see.”

  That little boy has grown into the man of my dreams. He showed me when we were kids the kind of love he was capable of giving. Now I have it all. I have all of him. I can’t wait for the day that we get that happily ever after.

  I stand up and walk over to the dresser, seeing my tiara and placing it on my head. Looking at myself in the mirror, I smile. I can’t believe he gave me this. I place it back down and gather my things then head into the bathroom to take a shower.

  After I’m finished getting dressed and getting party pretty, I sit and put on the Jimmy Choos that Keegan surprised me with, loving how they look with my dress. Then I find my star necklace and fasten it around my neck. I spray some perfume on and give myself one last check in the mirror before leaving the bedroom to find Liz.

  When I enter the living room, everything has been transformed. The caterers are busy in the kitchen, setting up for the guests, and sitting with Liz is Reese, wearing a gorgeous sage shift dress. They are both laughing as I approach.

  Looking at me, they stare.

  “What? Do I look all right?” I ask, afraid at their reaction.

  “Um, yeah, you look drop dead gorgeous, and I’m totally stealing those shoes,” Reese says.

  I let out a breath, because although I’m comfortable with the two of them, I’m still nervous.

  “I was telling Reese a couple stories about Kaleb when he was younger.” I love seeing them bond together.

  “Did you tell her the one where you caught him van surfing in the center of town? That’s one of my favorites.”

  She laughs. “No, I almost forgot that one.” She turns to Reese. “I’m leaving the grocery store, and I see this idiot standing on the top of a van, hooting and hollering. Then I get a closer look, and it’s Kaleb. When he saw me, he waved. He actually waved! I followed that van until it stopped. When he got down from the top of the van, I grabbed him by the ear and pulled him to my car. He was grounded for a month.”

  We all laugh together at the story.

  Suddenly, I smell a strong perfume that makes me queasy. Liz looks at me and then behind me.

  “Mrs. James, how are you?” Gretchen plants on her fakest smile, ignoring both Reese and I.

  Liz looks at her firmly, almost in a standoff. “I’m perfect, having a wonderful time with my two favorite girls,” she answers.

  I’m now curious if I will have an ally who dislikes this woman as much as I do.

  Gretchen looks less than happy at the moment.

  “Well I’m going to put my things in Keegan’s bedroom,” she says, looking at me.

  Gretchen walks away and leaves the room. I let out a long breath, realizing both Reese and Liz are looking at me with worry.

  “Don’t look at me like that. I’m fine, and we are all going to have fun tonight, you hear me?”

  Liz stands up. “You, my dear, are so much more than that woman. The moment Keegan introduced me to her years ago, I knew she was trouble, the worst kind of woman.” She stops herself, though she’s said enough for me to understand she, indeed, does hold some bad feelings.

  Reese stands up, holding a hand to her mouth and running toward the bathroom. Crap, this isn’t good. I chase after her and find her kneeling next to the toilet, puking her guts up. After she’s finished, I give her a wet washcloth.

  “This has never happened this late in the day. I’m so embarrassed.” Reese stands up and starts to cry.

  I grab her, pulling her in for a hug. “You’re pregnant; these things are normal. Like they say, it means everything is good with your little alien.”

  We link our arms together and stroll out of the bathroom, passing Keegan’s bedroom where Gretchen is standing in the doorway, staring at us with contempt. I have the strong urge to walk up to her and slap the look right off her face.

  As we make our way into the living room, we find Liz greeting a few guests that have arrived. She calls both Reese and I over, and standing there is a tall, lean, and devastatingly handsome man, wearing a pair of black-rimmed glasses who looks familiar. He is holding hands with a beautiful, dark-haired woman who is smiling up at him.

  As we reach Liz, she grabs my hand. “Aimee, you remember my nephew Henry?”

  That’s why he looks familiar. Henry, Keegan’s cousin, looks very different. As with all the James men, he has the crystal blue eyes that pull you in, but his smile is what I recall the most.

  “Of course I do.” I hold out my hand, smiling.

  Henry takes the hand I offer and shakes it. “It’s been a long time, Aimee. This is my girlfriend, Kate.”

  I offer my hand to Kate, as well, and she smiles at me.

  “Aimee is my cousin Keegan’s girlfriend. We have known each other since we were kids. Aimee here was the girl next door or, really, the girl who lived across the street.”

  Kate observes me. “Your dress is stunning, and I love your shoes. Are those Jimmy Choos?”

  I like her already. “Yes. And I love your dress, too.” Kate is wearing a champagne colored panel dress that is paired with a gold belt.

  Kate smiles. “Thank you.”

  Reese holds out her hand to Kate. “I would have to agree with Aimee on the dress. I’m Reese, Kaleb’s girlfriend.”

  While we chat, we are offered flutes of champagne, but both Reese and I decline, deciding to go with sparkling water, instead.

  Talking with Kate, we find out we all went to NYU at the same time. We are getting along great and have a lot in common, too. We make plans to meet for coffee in Brooklyn Heights where she lives.

  As more people arrive and we mingle, I become more comfortable, like this
life belongs to me.

  I catch Gretchen out of the corner of my eye, staring with the same look of contempt from before. I hope she knows I’m not going anywhere, so she can shoot a million daggers with her eyes at me until she’s blind, for all I care. I spot Keegan walking toward me with a smile, but out of nowhere, Gretchen grabs him and gives him an enormous hug, pressing her breasts against him. I’m not a fool, right? This is totally inappropriate, right?

  I turn around and make myself busy by picking up a few empty drinks. I hate just standing around, doing nothing, and I’m especially antsy after that scene.

  As I’m turning around, I’m startled to see Keegan standing right in front of me. “What are you doing?” he asks me, irritated.

  Why is he irritated? I’m the one who should be irritated with him and that harlot he calls his assistant. Assistant harlot is what she is, and that’s a compliment compared to how I really feel at the moment.

  “Nothing,” I answer firmly.

  “Well, this is a party, and I told you we have people to take care of these things.” He steps closer, placing a soft kiss on my cheek. Normally, I would love it, but Gretchen has rubbed herself on him, and I can smell her perfume.

  He loses his smile. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, why?” I lie because I don’t want her to get the best of me.

  He grabs my hands and pulls them to my mouth. “I’ve missed you, but where’s my smile?”

  When I fake a smile, he grabs me and hauls me off into the closest room, which is his office. Then he closes the door and pushes me against the wall, kissing me hard and long, running his hands up and down my body. Now I can hardly think straight. Damn you, Keegan James and your mind-altering kisses.

  He releases my lips, stepping back to look at me. Removing his jacket, he drapes it on a chair. “You look really beautiful. No, that’s not good enough. You look like a goddess. I couldn’t go another second without touching you.” He kisses me again, making me forget everything except him.

  I smile and feel the heat in my cheeks.

  “We match?” I say, noticing he is wearing a black dress shirt and grey silk tie.

  He laughs. “I suppose we do, and we didn’t even call each other to see what we were wearing.”

  “Hardy-har-har. You slay me, Keegan James.”

  He flashes me that panty-melting smile, and I go to him, hugging this man I love. He has literally turned my frown upside down. I don’t even care right now that I smell like slut since Gretchen’s scent has rubbed off on me.

  “My dad should be getting here soon, so we should probably get out of here.”

  We soon return to the living room, hand in hand, awaiting the arrival of the special guest and the start of the real fun for the evening.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  To say the guest of honor is surprised is an understatement. When Mr. James and Kaleb enter the room, he looks ecstatic. He had no idea what his family had planned. Everyone shouts, “Surprise,” and he immediately points a finger at his wife.

  Liz smiles and walks over to him, planting a big kiss on his lips. Everyone then gathers around him, wishing him a happy birthday.

  When it is my turn, he picks me up and swings me around.

  “I’m so happy you're back, Aimee. We have missed you something fierce,” he tells me. It is the best greeting I have ever received. Seeing him happy is absolutely wonderful.

  As we are getting reacquainted, we are interrupted.

  “Happy birthday, Mr. James.” Gretchen steps in front of me, and I back away. He looks at her and smiles. “You don’t look half your age,” she says, placing a hand on his arm.

  “Gretchen, you are way too kind.”

  “I call them as I see them, and you are a very handsome man.” She runs her fingernail down the front of his shirt.

  Holy shit, what is wrong with this woman? I want to grab her by the hair and throw her out. She’s being completely inappropriate.

  I bump into someone behind me.

  “I’m so sorry,” I say. When I turn around, I see that I have bumped into Liz, and she is looking past pissed.

  While she moves around me, I am sure she’s going to do what I was just thinking to Gretchen. She stands next to her husband and links her arm with his. Then she stares at Gretchen who must get the clue because she turns around.

  As she’s walking away, she flashes me an evil smile. I didn’t think I could dislike her more than I already have, but this woman is the devil in high heels. I wouldn’t be surprised if she sprouts horns right about now.

  I shake my head in disbelief then locate Keegan and Kaleb together. I sidle up to him, grabbing his hand. He looks down at me, smiling, and kisses the side of my head.

  Someone I have never seen approaches, and Keegan introduces me to him as his girlfriend, which makes me all warm and tingly inside. The man shakes my hand, and I find out his name is Neil, an old college friend of Keegan’s. I have never met any friends of Keegan’s and am interested to get to know him, if only to get some dirt on my boyfriend.

  Keegan smiles down at me, tucking a stray hair behind my ear. I’m instantly feeling comforted by just being near him. He’s always had this effect on me. I wonder, if I’m away from him too long, would I go through withdrawals? He’s like a drug that I’m addicted to, but in a good way.

  A few moments later, Reese approaches us with Liam in tow. He must have just arrived, because I didn’t see him earlier. He greets me in a warm embrace.

  “Aimee, you look beautiful, but you always do,” he compliments.

  Keegan hasn’t let go of my hand, his grip like a vice.

  I look over at him in reassurance. “Keegan, this is Liam, Reese’s older brother.”

  I watch as these two stare at one another. Keegan’s jaw ticks, and for a minute. I’m worried. This is the first time I have seen him act this way. He has no reason to be jealous. My relationship with Liam is strictly platonic.

  Liam extends his hand. “Thanks for having me. This is a great place you have.”

  Keegan straightens his back and offers his hand. “Thank you. Soon, it will be Aimee’s, too.”

  He did not just say that!

  Reese looks at me and whispers a “What the hell?” I’m a little embarrassed by this pissing contest. This is not like either of them.

  “Keegan, can I talk to you?” says a mean voice.

  He turns around, looking at Gretchen. Seriously, what does she want with him now, and where did she come from?

  He kisses me on the cheek. “I’ll be back.” He walks away, following Gretchen.

  Once Keegan is out of earshot, Reese speaks up.

  “Liam, what the hell?”

  He looks at her. “What do you mean, ‘what the hell’? Her boyfriend just left with another woman.” He looks at me. “You cannot be seriously thinking of moving in with him?” He’s upset and I get it—he’s being protective—but this isn’t any of his business.

  “Liam, that woman works for him,” Reese points out.

  I go to walk away from him, but he grabs my arm. “Aimee, you didn’t answer the question.”

  I know he isn’t going to let this go, so I answer. “Yes, he asked me to move in with him, and I agreed. Liam, this is none of your business, so let it go.”

  He keeps ahold of my arm. “What about my sister? What is she going to do? You’re her roommate, and she’s not going to be able to afford to live alone.”

  He’s really mad, and his grip on me is starting to hurt.

  Reese places a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Liam, she’s right. It’s none of your business, so let this go.”

  Liam looks around, realizing people are staring, and let’s go. Then he steps closer, whispering in my ear, “I don’t even know you anymore, Aimee. The woman I left wouldn’t have done this to her best friend.” He looks at me with hate in his eyes.

  The tears start to flow from my eyes. I’m ashamed and embarrassed all at the same time.

 
Reese grabs him. “Liam, stop it, now. You ruin everything. I’m pregnant. Kaleb and I are having a baby. I’m not going to be alone, okay?”

  The cats out of the bag, and I have just ruined this moment for her. I feel sick to my stomach.

  Liam turns his head toward Reese, his eyes no longer fixed on me.

  “Reese, did I hear you right? You’re pregnant again?”

  “Yes, asshole, I am. We were going to tell everyone tonight, but your display of jealousy over your ex-girlfriend has ruined it all, so thanks for that.” She starts to cry, and Liam pulls her into a hug.

  “Reese, God, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it.”

  I take the opportunity to flee from them since neither is paying attention to me anymore. I head toward Keegan’s bedroom, but I catch Keegan and Gretchen sitting on the bed in a tight embrace. I back away, right into someone. I must watch where I’m going.

  “Easy, Aimee.” Kaleb grabs me, steadying me. His smile falls when I turn around, and he looks at me with concern. “What’s wrong? What happened?” he asks.

  When I grab on to him for dear life and cry into his chest, he ushers me into a room and holds me, rubbing my back. I’m not sure how long I cry, but I feel like I’m falling into a black hole.

  I open my eyes and lift my head up. Looking at my surroundings, I see we are in Keegan’s office.

  Kaleb looks down at me. “What did my stupid brother do now?”

  I laugh, even though it’s not at all funny, because that’s one of the reasons I’m such a mess right now.

  I smile at him and he smiles back. He still looks concerned about me, so I lie. “I’m fine, just being a girl and all.”

  I can tell by the look he gives me that he in no way believes me.

  “Can I get you anything? Chocolate or a strong shot of tequila?”

  “Thank you. I’m really fine.” I have stopped crying and controlled my breathing.

  “Are you sure? This is a one-time opportunity. I can get you anything you want.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me.

  “Actually, would you mind grabbing my purse from Keegan’s room and getting me a glass of water?” My nausea has turned into a full on migraine. I have aspirin in my purse, but there is no way I’m going near that room.