by Aria Ford
“No,” Jacqueline said firmly. “That’s crazy.”
“I just don’t want to keep you from your parents,” I said softly.
“You’re not,” Jacqueline insisted. “Ryan, I love you. That’s what matters.”
“I love you too,” I said.
“Listen, I’m gonna get out of here,” Bradley said.
“Sorry,” I said quickly, turning back to face him. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable or anything.”
“No,” he said, “You didn’t. Not at all. I can tell you guys need some time to talk, though. I’m happy for you. I really am. I’m just glad you both found someone who loves you. Jacqueline’s right. That’s what matters.”
“Thank you,” Jacqueline and I said together.
We stood up to say good-bye to Bradley. He hugged his sister first, wrapping her tightly in his embrace. He held onto her for a few seconds before he let go and turned to me. We looked at each other awkwardly for a few seconds, unsure of what to do. Finally, he stepped forward and pulled me to him. He slapped my back roughly, and we both laughed.
“Take care of her,” he said softly so that only I could hear him. “She’s really something special. Just make her happy, okay?”
We pulled away, and I nodded my silent promise.
EPILOGUE
Two years had passed since that fateful night at the Keeton’s home. Things between Jacqueline and I moved forward quickly and easily. We fell in love in just a matter of weeks, so after two years, I felt more connected to her than ever.
She was my best friend and my biggest supporter. No matter what happened in our lives, we stayed together, happy and in love. I couldn’t bear the thought of ever losing her. In time, I realized I couldn’t imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone else.
When I started my career as a mechanic, Jacqueline supported me endlessly. She knew it wasn’t a glamorous job, but she didn’t care. The only thing that mattered to her was my happiness. As long as I enjoyed my job, she insisted I keep it. Even though her father wholeheartedly disagreed with my choice, he kept his opinions silent. Much to my surprise, he even put me in contact with a local auto shop that was looking for a few mechanics. I started work the day of the interview, and I hadn’t left since.
The Keetons and I were doing better. Our relationship would never be the way it was before everything happened, but we were moving forward. They forgave me for all the mistakes I made, and I forgave them for kicking me out.
It wasn’t easy. It took a long time and a lot of support from both Jacqueline and Bradley, but we did it. Eventually, we were able to be together without any tension or discomfort. Family dinners no longer ended in arguments, and most of the time, I truly felt like part of the family again. Mrs. Keeton even put a photo of me and Jacqueline on display in the dining room.
It was harder for Bradley to get used to me being with his sister than he thought. At first he didn’t like to be around us. It made him nervous and uncomfortable. Slowly, things began to return to normal. He saw just how happy Jacqueline and I were to be with each other, and that, more than anything, brought him around. Our friendship remained strong throughout everything.
Despite the tension, we never gave up on each other. Bradley would always be my brother. That much I knew. And now I hoped to make that official by marrying his sister.
The day finally arrived. I climbed in my truck and drove to Jacqueline’s clinic. The office was already closed, but I knew Jacqueline would still be there for at least another hour. She never left work right away, always wanting to finish up one last thing before the day ended. As I drove through town, I pictured her face to keep myself calm. I was nervous, but when I pulled into the parking lot, I knew this was right. Today was the first day of the rest of my life. After this, nothing would ever be the same.
My heart was pounding in my chest as I made my way through Jacqueline’s waiting room. I hurried to the back, knowing I would lose my nerve if I slowed down even a little bit. My feet carried me through the back hallway toward where her office sat. Heidi, the receptionist, was gone for the day, so it was just Jacqueline in the clinic. When I reached her office, I put my hand on the doorknob and froze. I took a few deep, steadying breaths before turning the knob and stepping inside.
“Hey, you,” Jacqueline said with surprise. She jumped out of her chair and moved around her desk to place a soft kiss on my lips. I kissed her back and smiled. “What are you doing here?”
“I missed you,” I said. “I wanted to see you, and I couldn’t wait for tonight.”
She smiled. “That’s sweet.”
After two years, seeing her smile still took my breath away.
My hands were sweating, but I knew now was the perfect time. I couldn’t wait another second. The ring was burning a hole in my pocket.
“Listen,” I said softly, reaching down to hold her hands. “I’m not just here because I missed you. I did, but there’s something else.”
“Okay,” Jacqueline said slowly. “Is everything okay?”
“Everything is amazing,” I said. “More than amazing actually.”
“Then what is it?” she asked nervously.
“Jacqueline,” I said softly. “I know this whole relationship started in kind of a weird way. Your family and I are so intertwined, and it was complicated in the beginning. But then you made everything simple in the best way. I didn’t know who I was until you came back into my life. The day I saw you standing on my front porch changed everything. You woke something buried deep inside me, something I thought I lost.”
I took a deep breath and slowly pulled the ring box from my pocket. Still holding Jacqueline’s hand in mine, I got down on one knee and smiled up at her. I opened the box and let the ring sparkle in the light of her office. Her eyes widened and filled quickly with tears.
“I’m only myself when I’m with you,” I said simply. “Jacqueline, you make me a better man. Without you, I don’t know what my life would be, and I never want to find out. I love you more than I ever knew possible. You’re everything to me: my love, my soulmate, my best friend. Now the only thing left is … my wife.”
Jacqueline’s eyes were brimming, and at my last word, the tears spilled over. She cried earnestly, tears flowing freely down her cheeks.
“Jacqueline, will you marry me?”
I waited while Jacqueline wrapped her mind around everything. This was a huge surprise, just like I wanted. When she could finally speak, she nodded and pulled me to my feet.
“Yes,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around me. “A thousand times, yes.”
We kissed, and everything else melted away. I didn’t think about anything or anyone else. The only thing that was real to me was Jacqueline. Her lips, her body, and her amazing spirit. She’d just agreed to be my wife, and I couldn’t think of a happier moment in my life.
When we broke apart, I slid the diamond ring on her finger, and she stared at in awe. Her eyes were still red from crying, but the smile on her face was brighter than I’d ever seen it.
“Are you happy?” I whispered.
“Happier than I ever thought I could be,” she said with a nod.
We kissed again, and then she broke away, just to stare at her new ring. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from it. I laughed and lifted her chin, so she would meet my gaze.
“I love you,” I said.
“I love you too,” she said. “Do you think my parents will be okay with this? I know things are better between you and them now, but still.”
“Come with me,” I said, grinning with excitement.
Jacqueline frowned, but let me lead her out of her office and down the hall. We stepped into the waiting room and were met with a thunderous round of applause. Jacqueline’s parents, Bradley, and her best friend, Nicole, were standing in the middle of the room. They were all grinning broadly and clapping their hands together again and again.
I looked at Jacqueline to see her face light up even more. She ran fo
rward into her mother’s arms, hugging her tightly and then pulling away to show her the ring. Everyone was so happy for us.
“Glad she said ‘yes,’” Bradley joked. “I was worried there for a second.”
“Shut up,” I said with a laugh.
“I’m happy for you,” Mr. Keeton said, extending his hand to me. We shook, and then he pulled me in for a hug. When Jacqueline moved over to show Nicole the ring, Mrs. Keeton turned to me. She smiled and kissed my cheek, silently expressing her joy.
Things between me and the Keetons were better than ever. I still couldn’t bring myself to call them Mom and Dad, not after everything we went through, but we were close. They approved of me for their daughter, and they were even gracious enough to help me pick out her engagement ring. I knew we still had some progress to make, but I was happy to have them there to celebrate with us.
Jacqueline came over to me, wrapping her arms around my waist and standing on her tiptoes to kiss me. The smile never left her face. I stared at her, immediately getting lost in the green of her eyes. It was so easy to forget that anyone else was in the room. When Bradley cleared his throat loudly, both Jacqueline and I jumped.
“Let’s go celebrate,” Bradley suggested. “Everyone in?”
“Hell yes!” Nicole exclaimed.
“Of course,” Mrs. Keeton said.
We all left the clinic, finally together, the way we were always meant to be.
THE SECRET: A SECRET BABY ROMANCE
Prologue
She smiled at me and then sat down slowly on my lap. Not with her legs to one side, the way you might expect. With her crotch pressed to mine, knees spread far apart. I almost lost control of myself. She was leaning against me, her body thrusting against mine as my cock throbbed and ached and longed for her. But then something changed.
As she nestled there and pressed her round, firm breasts against me, pushing through the Tommy Hilfiger cotton shirt and warming me, I realized something.
I don’t want to do this anymore.
The pink lights, the girls, the makeup. The coldness lurking in the back of her eyes as I kissed her, even as she feigned longing. They all made me feel, well, like a user. And like I was being used.
It was as if the light switched on in my head somewhere or like my life came into focus. To put it bluntly, I felt like shit. I had been living the playboy dream for the last year or two, and it was starting to lose its glamor.
I moved my head to the side, trying to tactfully disengage myself from her earnest but insincere attentions. Looked round.
“Hey! West! Another drink?” A voice called out somewhere beside my left ear. I turned slowly to locate the speaker. Man, I was drunk. Located the speaker. My friend Alex. My so-called friend. I cleared my throat to reply.
“Okay.”
The girls here are discreet as well as stunning. She seemed to sense I wasn’t going that way tonight and slipped quietly off my lap. I would normally have gone all the way and beyond with her—she made me feel incredible, and I wished I could do the same. But not tonight.
I stood up and walked away with all the dignity I could gather—I can be awfully dignified when I’m drunk. I joined Alex.
“You okay?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Just stressed.”
“Stressed? Here? In this place?” Alex laughed. “You’re kidding me.”
I sighed. “Alex, I have a lot to think about.” That was true. I did. My dad—owner of West Incorporated—was increasingly relying on me. I didn’t know if I could do what he needed. That was probably what drove me here in the first place. The pressure and the mistrust in myself to meet it. But now…
Now I’ve been doing this for too long. I’m twenty-nine, and I’m a responsible adult. I’ve been with too many women in clubs like this, had too many evenings blurred by imported vodka and fancy cocktails. I want something different. I want to find love.
Yeah, I was drunk. And when I’m drunk, I tend to think these things. My dad would tell me it was all nonsense. Women will only want me for my money and my car, and I should use them—they would for sure be using me. Dad was full of bright ideas like that.
But now, tonight, I didn’t want to believe it anymore. I was ready for something new.
CHAPTER ONE
Jackie
“I sometimes wonder why I do this to myself.”
I sighed. It was cold outside—late winter, early spring. I shivered and ducked into the warmth of the kitchen.
“Dad?”
No answer. I sighed. I hadn’t expected one. I hoped he was sober.
I do love Dad, and I can even understand why he does this. I just wish he wouldn’t sometimes.
My dad drinks. A lot. He lived here for the last ten years—since he and Mom split when I was in my late teens. Now I’m in my mid-twenties, and he is still drinking. Still holding down a job, though, which is something that makes me happy. He works for an old friend at the local garage.
“Jackie?” he called back.
Whew. He’s awake. Sounds sober too. Great!
“Dad?”
“There you are. I thought I heard someone come in. You cold?”
I nodded, rubbing my hands down my arms for warmth. “You have a fire in there?”
“I do,” he commented. “Nice and warm.”
“Good.”
I came to join him in the small sitting room, where there was, indeed, a fire burning. Knelt down and held my hands to the orange flames. When I looked up, my dad was watching me. Sometimes I wonder why I do this to myself. When I saw the look of tenderness in his eyes as he looked at me kneeling there, I knew.
I love him and he loves me. That’s all there is to it.
“How was your day?” he asked gently.
“Good,” I said, nodding. Well, it was okay. My job is tough, but it’s not too bad. And it is the first step on a ladder I want to climb.
I finished college five years ago, where I majored in child psychology. Now, I work as the psychologist at the reformatory. It’s a really demanding job, but I enjoy it. And it doesn’t have to be where I stop, careerwise.
I’d love my own practice one day. I just can’t open it here, in the small town where I was raised, since there isn’t an opening for another psychologist here: we already have two and they suit the community’s needs. And until Dad gets back on his feet, here is where I have to stay.
So, until then, I’m stuck.
“How was your day?” I ask. I look at him closely while he answers. He’s a bit gray and tired looking, and his hand shakes a little. I don’t think it’s the drink—I think he’s hungry.
“Dad?” I ask. “Did you eat lunch at work?”
“There were a lot of cars in the garage today,” he sidesteps. “I spent lots of time looking over this one Toyota…”
“Dad,” I interrupt. “Answer me. Did you eat?”
“Jackie…” he sighs and pulls a face at me.
“Okay. I know what that means. No. Well, I’m making dinner then.”
“Jackie,” he protests weakly. I ignore it.
“Dad, you should start being more responsible. You really should eat. Three meals a day. Doctor’s orders.”
“Oh, you know what I think about that…”
“Yes, I know what you said the doctor should go and do. But I don’t think he can. He might have read a lot about anatomy, but some things are anatomically impossible.”
He chuckled. I heard him as I made dinner. Good. I was glad to have cheered him up. I sometimes think that if he was more cheerful he wouldn’t have to escape his life the way he does.
Later, as we sat and ate together—I join him when I visit to make sure he finishes everything—he reached out and touched my wrist. I looked into those rheumy blue eyes and smiled. He’s still stunning—at least I think so. His hair was white and his face thinner than it should be, his eyes bloodshot. He had the thickened veins and the swollen eyes and face of someone who drinks far too much most of the time, bu
t I could still see the hawkish, handsome man I have called father all my life. And I loved him.
“What?”
“Jackie,” he sighed. “You don’t have to do this.”
“No,” I agreed. “I want to.”
When his eyes looked back into mine I could see the depth of emotion. I wish I couldn’t—seeing him sad makes me sad too.
“I wish I could do more, you know.”
“We all do what we can,” I said softly.
I meant it. I believe that. No one does anything besides what they know how to do at the time. Sometimes our skills sets are just a bit small. His skills set consisted of hiding most of what he felt under anger or under booze. I was just grateful I’d learned other ways to handle how I felt.
He sighed. “I wish I could do more.”
“I know,” I said gently. “I also wish I could.”
I left shortly afterward, my heart heavy. At least I had made sure he ate.
I drove home into the darkness of a winter sky, the wind cold beyond the confines of my car. I stopped outside the apartment block where I rented—in a nice area of the town—and slipped out, folding my coat around me tight as I went. Inside, I took it off and, shivering, turned on the heat.
