Kitchen Promises (Riverside Trilogy, #3) (The Riverside Trilogy)

by Brooke Cumberland

  “One for you and me, one for my sons, and the other for my daughters. Three makes us whole. One whole family.”

  “It’s…stunning. I don’t even know what to say.”

  “Well…just say ‘I do’ and I’ll die a happy man.”

  I reached up, locked my arms around his neck, and pulled his lips to mine. “Anchor…I promise…and I do.”

  “Then that’s all I ever need to hear for the rest of my life.”

  Drake walked down the aisle with both his parents. I kissed my dad’s cheek as he greeted me at the beginning of the aisle. Blakely and Colin grabbed the kids and sat them down in the front row.

  “I can’t believe you guys are here,” I whispered to my dad.

  “You think I’d miss my baby girl’s big day?” He smiled, but I could see the happy tears forming.

  It almost didn’t feel real. Everything was just too perfect.

  “Are you ready?” he asked. Everyone took their seats as a new song started playing.

  My dad escorted me down the aisle, where he gave me away to Drake. He never looked better. His smile, his tux—he was stunning.

  It was dark out, but the lights filled the rink just enough. It wasn’t until I walked with Drake up to the arches that I saw Michael standing in front.

  I looked at Michael, confused. “You got ordained?”

  “You really think I’d let anyone else marry you?” He cocked his hip and winked.

  “I can’t believe you guys did this.”

  “Oh, trust me, honey. If Drake would’ve let me, I’d gone all out. But the guy gave me a week’s notice.”

  I looked Drake in the eyes. “I think it’s absolutely perfect.”

  -----<>-----

  18

  Drake

  Molly was stunning. She glowed every time she smiled up at me, promising me her vows. I couldn’t believe I was finally getting to marry the girl of my dreams, the mother of my children, my soul mate. She was the one constant in my life that kept me going, that gave me a reason to want to live, and the first person I ever saw a future with, and now here we were, building our futures together.

  As per my usual, I surprised Molly with a honeymoon trip a few months later. I knew she wouldn’t be ready to leave the twins, so I waited until they were six months old before suggesting we take a trip just the two of us.

  We spent ten days and nine nights in Ireland. It was a place she mentioned to me once, so I knew it would be something the both of us would enjoy.

  “Oh it feels good to be home!” she called out as soon as I set the suitcases down in the foyer. “I had an amazing time, though.” She wrapped her arms around me, molding our bodies together. She lifted her head up, making her mouth just within reach.

  “Didn’t your body get enough exercise during the honeymoon?” I grinned, remembering how much time we stayed inside.

  “I only wanted a kiss,” she pleaded, batting her eyelashes at me.

  “That’s what you always say. Then seconds later, you’re tackling me on the bed, undressing me.”

  “Funny. I remember a very different story happening. Yes, in fact, I remember…the shower…the rocking chair…the closet door…inside the closet…”

  “Okay, okay I get it.” I smirked.

  “Mommy!” Stella screeched and jumped into her arms. “I missed you!”

  “I missed you too, sweetie!” She knelt down and hugged her back. “Were you a good girl?”

  She stayed silent and crinkled her nose. “Yes.”

  “I bet,” Molly snorted.

  We left Stella and the twins with Michael and our new live-in nanny, Shirley. She’s been with us since the twins were two months old. I went back to work full time, Michael went back to writing, and when school let out for summer break, Stella and Liam were home, which meant Molly needed help—lots of help.

  Molly and I rolled the rest of our luggage in. We were both excited to see River and Miracle. I knew Molly hated being away that long, but also knew we needed alone time together, too.

  “Welcome home, Mr. and Mrs. Stagliano,” Shirley greeted us as we entered the living room. It had been months since we were married, and I was still getting used to the sound of Mr. and Mrs. Stagliano. But I loved it.

  “Thank you!” Molly smiled. She spotted the twins in their bouncer seats and rushed over to them. “Oh my god! They grew like an inch!” She grabbed Miracle out of hers and held her up, getting a good look at her.

  I followed and did the same with River. “We were only gone a week,” I reminded her, smirking.

  “I know, but look at them. They got so big!” She squeezed her in her arms and kissed her chubby cheeks. She leaned over and kissed River’s cheeks, too. We were ecstatic to be home.

  “They were very good,” Shirley stated. “They are sleeping through the night now.”

  “What?” Molly gasped. “How did you do that?”

  “Dry butts and full tummies.” She smiled.

  “Yeah, you’re never leaving,” Molly quipped.

  “Okay, time to unpack,” Shirley announced.

  “Oh no, that’s okay. I can do it,” I interrupted.

  “No, I insist.” She smiled, grabbing the luggage’s handles and rolled them to the staircase.

  “I love her!” Molly whispered.

  We settled in for the night, snuggling and eating popcorn on the sofa. Stella was squeezed in between Molly and I, while we each held a baby. It was picture perfect. Unfortunately, Liam wouldn’t be back until the weekend, but I was enjoying this moment

  Once the movie was over, we sent Stella to bed for the night. Molly nursed both babies and rocked them to sleep. It was surreal. The whole thing. This was my life.

  “Ready for bed?” I whispered, wrapping my arms around her waist. She was standing in the doorway of the nursery, looking in. Both babies were sound asleep in their cribs.

  “Yeah,” she breathed out slowly. “I just can’t believe how fast they’re growing up.” She spun around and locked her arms around my neck. “Being home with them every day, you’d think it would feel like it slowed down. But it doesn’t. It’s too fast,” she whined.

  “Well, they have to grow up sometime,” I mused. They were only half a year old, but I knew Molly was cherishing every moment she had with them. Considering they were both premature and hospitalized for a month, she had every right to be overbearing.

  “C’mon. Time for bed.” I grabbed her hand and lead her into our room.

  I watched as she walked in front of me, slowly stripping her clothes off. I don’t care what she said—pregnancy was good to her. She was curvy in all the right places. She got her figure back. I don’t care what she said. To me, she was sexier than ever.

  I kicked my shows off and unbuckled my belt, letting my briefs and pants fall to the ground. She spun around just in time to see me throwing my shirt off over my head.

  Her eyebrows rose. “Sleeping naked are we?”

  “Naked, yes. Sleeping, no.”

  She slowly swayed her body as she walked toward me only wearing her pearls. “Are you trying to seduce me with your naked body?” She couldn’t even keep from grinning as she roamed her eyes up and down my body.

  “You’d be much more convincing that you’re being seduced if you hadn’t just checked me out.”

  “Well, as your wife, I am allowed to check you out,” she fired back.

  “And as your husband, I am allowed to let you.” I swooped her up, letting her legs wrap around my waist. I pressed my lips against hers, tasting her sweetness against mine.

  I walked forward until my knees hit the bed. I lay her down as we both fell to the mattress. My mouth wandered down her jawline and landed on her neck, suckling and nipping as she fidgeted underneath me. I reached and grabbed her hands in mine, forcing them above her head. I held them with one hand as the other made its way down her side, brushing lightly as I lightly tickled her.

  “No moving,” I ordered. It wasn’t like before when she w
as pregnant and I had to be careful not to let her be too active, rather now I just wanted to take control and pleasure her.

  Her legs hung off the bed just enough so I could stand up and reach behind her knees, wrapping them back around my waist. She arched her hips up, begging for it. I lightly thumbed circles in between her thighs, just close enough to where she wanted me, but not enough to give in to what she wanted.

  “Baby…” she said in a warning tone, “…don’t torture me.”

  “Would I torture you?”

  “Sexually, yes,” she breathed out, barely able to take it anymore.

  Her hand escaped my hold with just enough time to press me into her. “Oh god,” she moaned.

  “No, no, no…” I put her hand up back. “You aren’t playing by the rules.”

  “And what are you going to do about it?” she shot back.

  “I guess I’ll have to punish you,” I growled. I pressed firmly inside without warning, making her gasp.

  “Yes, yes, please punish me,” she moaned. I smirked knowing this was exactly the kind of punishment she desired.

  I thrust harder and harder inside her, not giving up when she screamed out in remorse. She wiggled against my hand, wanting out, making me pin her down even harder.

  “This is your punishment, baby. How do you like it?”

  “I want it. Harder.”

  I grinned as I gave it to her harder. I let go of her hands and gripped her hips, synchronizing them with mine as I pulsated into her hard and firm.

  “Have you learned your lesson, Mrs. Stagliano?” I asked in a calm tone, still thrusting inside her deep and hard.

  “Oh my god…yes…yes I have,” she barely breathed out, clenching both hands into the sheets. Her head fell back as she screamed out my name, but instead of slowing down for her to enjoy her orgasm, I went faster and deeper. “Oh god, Drake…I’ll be good. I promise,” she moaned, her head still arched as her body met with mine.

  “Oh yes, baby? Will you be a good girl from now on?”

  “Yes!” she screamed out. “Good but naughty,” she added.

  “That’s what I like to hear, sweetheart.” I slowed my pace as she rose to another orgasm, letting it draw out this time. I released inside her, milking my own orgasm.

  Watching Molly unravel underneath me was enough to make me come over and over. She was sexiest person ever. Even flushed with sweat and heat, she was sexy.

  I lay on top of her as we both panted. I kissed her lips gently, spreading them open with my tongue. “I will never get tired of this.”

  “Me either,” she breathed out. “Never.”

  * * *

  Things soon returned to normal once we got home from our honeymoon. I went back to work while Molly stayed home with the kids and Shirley. Michael’s career lifted off the past few months and was gone most days doing interviews or attending fashion shows.

  “Mr. Stagliano, line one,” my assistant, Carla, called.

  I grabbed the phone and pressed one. “This is Drake.”

  “Mr. Stagliano, this is Madden.” I instantly sat up, fidgeting as I heard his growling tone.

  I cleared my throat. “Mr. Madden, how can I help you?”

  “We need to discuss our little arrangement. I did your favor. Now you owe me.”

  “Of course.”

  “Don’t you want to know what happened to your little favor?”

  I thought about that night in Canada when I felt our lives were threatened by Denny. Unable to do anything because I didn’t know the extent of what he could really do, I turned to Mr. Madden for help.

  “Well…you told me he was taken care of. That pretty much summed it up for me.” I didn’t wanna hear the words, then it’d be too real as to what actually happened.

  “Fair enough,” he stated. “He definitely won’t be bothering you ever again.”

  “Great.”

  “Now for my favor. This is what I need.”

  He continued telling me exactly what had to be done. It wasn’t going to be easy. This was something Molly knew nothing about, and although we vowed and promised no more secrets, this was one thing Molly didn’t want to know about.

  I hadn’t told anyone about Denny. Not even Stanley. As far as he knew, Denny/Dan quit. Stopped showing up for work and ignoring all his calls—he eventually emptied his office out and hired someone new.

  Mr. Madden wasn’t a man you pissed off. I had money and power; however, he had contacts. Many horrifying contacts. When I first spoke to him, my entire body quivered. Most men didn’t intimidate me, hell, I was supposed to intimidate them, but Mr. Madden was different. He was fierce to a completely new level.

  I met him when I was looking for men to be on my legal and security team. That was just the thing about having money, we didn’t have to do the dirty work—we hired men to do it for us. As awful as that sounded, it was true. It was a world I didn’t want to introduce to Molly anyway, it was better for her to be unaware of it completely.

  -----<>-----

  Molly

  Deciding to leave the Riverside for good was a hard decision, but it was more important for me to be home right now. I was blessed in that I didn’t need to work for financial reasons, allowing me to be home with the twins and Stella.

  We started a daily schedule—feedings, changings, and playtime. Stella loved helping out, always offering her assistance. I was actually going to be sad when she had to go back to school, although we had Shirley with us, it was amazing to watch Stella interact with them.

  “Hi, baby River,” she cooed as he swung quietly in his swing. “Hi, baby Miracle.” She would just watch them swing, making sure they were happy and entertained.

  “Stella, you want to do something special today? Just you and me?” I asked, knowing it had been awhile since it was just the two of us.

  “River and Miracle can’t go?” she asked with sadness.

  “Well, they’ll stay with Shirley today. It’s too hot for them to be out. Plus, I thought you and I could have a mommy-daughter date. What do you think?”

  “Okay, mommy.” She smiled.

  I let Shirley know we were leaving and headed out with Stella. Mid-summer in Chicago could be brutal. Mostly humid with a little heat. Luckily, once we got out of downtown Chicago, you could actually feel the breeze.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “I thought we could take a boat ride today and maybe head out to Navy Pier.”

  “Awesome. I love Navy Pier.” She glowed.

  Spending the day with Stella was fabulous. It was great to reconnect with her after spending so much attention on the new babies. It was great that she wanted to be so involved, but she also needed my full, undivided attention.

  “Mommy, are there sharks out here?” she asked, clenching to my arm as the boat took off.

  “Of course not, sweetie. Don’t worry. You’re safe with me.” I hugged her, letting her get close. It was a beautiful summer afternoon.

  We rode through the water, watching the scenery and enjoying the day. Stella laughed and giggled every time the boat splashed up at her.

  “Honey, I have to use the bathroom. You gotta come with me.” I grabbed her hand, but she pulled back.

  “Mommy, I don’t want to. Can’t I stay? Please?” she pleaded with her eyes.

  I hesitated, knowing she was often just as clumsy as I was. “Fine, I’ll be right back. Don’t move! You understand?”

  “I won’t, mommy.”

  I raced down the dock to where the bathrooms were. Great, a line. I shifted from foot to foot, impatiently waiting. I didn’t want to leave Stella up there too long.

  I finally made it back, relived to see Stella sitting exactly where I left her. As I approached her, I noticed a man sitting next to her that wasn’t there before.

  And then my breathing stopped.

  Denny.

  Denny was sitting right next to my child. And knowing Stella, she was blabbing away to him. Shit. I know we had the no
talking to strangers talk a while ago.

  How? How the fuck was this possible?

  I wanted to react. Scream. But I had to play it cool. There were too many people on here. If I created a scene, they’d all think I was the crazy one, when in reality, Denny was crazier than shit.

  “Stella, come here,” I ordered, a foot behind her. She was facing the water, hardly noticing I had returned. “Stella,” I said firmer.

  She finally turned around, almost annoyed that I had interrupted her. “I said come here.” My face was cold and demanding.

  “But I’m looking out into the water, mommy. He—,” she pointed her finger toward Denny. “—said if I lean far over, I can see the fish!”

  I bet he did, motherfucker.

  “Stop, now. Get your ass over here!” I yelled louder. I barely recognized my own tone, but I was freaking out, and I was out of options at this point. I was afraid if I grabbed her, it’d make even a worse scene that I abused my child or something.

  “Fine,” she grumbled. She hopped off the bench and over to me. I reached out to her and clenched her tightly against me. “What did I say about talking to strangers?” I asked through gritted teeth. I wanted to yell and scold her, but I refrained. I knew it would only scare her, and I couldn’t have her crying right now.

  “Sorry, Mommy.” She lowered her head in defeat.

  I pulled her chin back up, making her look at me. “It’s okay, sweetie. But you cannot talk to that man, you hear me?”

  “Yes.”

  Denny hadn’t turned around yet, but I knew he heard the whole thing. I reached for my cell in my pocket, except it wasn’t there. Then I remembered I put it in my purse before we loaded the boat—the purse that was now sitting under Stella’s seat.

  Shit.

  Trying not to panic, I slowly walked over to her seat and bent down, attempting to grab my purse. I reached for it and grabbed the handle, pulling it toward me, right before Denny turned around with a grin.

  “Looking for this?” He held up my phone in his hands, smiling.

  Fuck.

  “Give it back. Now. It’s mine.”

  “You really shouldn’t leave your phone unattended.” He smirked, latching his fingers around my phone.