by Melissa Shaw
“Why’s that? You need more money?” It was such a mundane thing to discuss after what had just happened.
“Not quite. I’m looking for more of a personal touch with this. Some proper support, if you get my drift.”
“I – I –” She didn’t get his drift at all, but what difference did it make? As he’d said, she’d been involved ‘at the time’. Now wasn’t the same anymore, and it made the climbing need for him even worse.
Emily broke eye contact with Chase.
Night had fallen in its blanket. The forest was at peace and the car’s engine had been put out, not before it had exploded in a plume of smoke and fire. No one had been hurt in the blast, at least.
“How did you find us?” The question had appeared the minute the action had ceased.
“Your friend, Amanda I think her name was, called to tell me what was going on. She said she’d tried to call you several times but you didn’t answer your phone. She figured out where Brian would take the kids and told me instead.”
“You didn’t have to come.”
“Of course I did.” He shrugged simply. “And if you think anything else you’re out of your damn mind.”
Emily laughed, but it came out as a wheeze. “I think we both know I’m certifiable at this point.”
“Speaking of which,” Chase said, then thumbed back over his shoulder at Brian in the van. “I found out what’s happening to crazy over there.”
“What?” She bit her lip.
“They’re taking him into custody and he’ll most likely end up in a mental institution. I think he deserves worse, but what can you do, right?”
“Right,” she replied. There wasn’t much else to say.
“Oh,” he continued, “and I took the liberty of telling the cops that you had evidence which indicated Brian Ross killed my parents.”
Shock bowled her over, and she sat staring at him, speechless.
“That’s another detail Amanda imparted to me. Don’t get me wrong, I was already on my way out the door when she told me the full story. I’d come for you either way. Whether you’d killed them or not. Whether you’d betrayed me or not.”
Emily didn’t have an answer for that. Only questions
“Why?”
Chase broke out that perfect smile and love for him overwhelmed her. He stepped up and wrapped his strong arms around her, folding her into his chest. “Why do you think?”
“Tell me, please.” She desperately wanted to, no, needed to, hear it from his lips. Hope had built within her, and she was past the point of return with him.
It was Chase or bust. This was the man for her. She’d known it long ago, she’d dealt with her demons for this.
She needed him.
“Because it’s always been you, Emily. I’ve been in love with you from the first moment I saw you in that strip club.”
“When you pinched my nipple.”
His eyes glazed over, remembering it in detail, no doubt. “Those were the days.”
Emily didn’t have the strength for a playful punch, and she was tucked tight against his chest anyway. She went for a laugh, instead.
The mirth settled and permeated her soul. The darkness was a shroud, retaining the light, a mystery which would be solved when the sun rose in the morning.
“I missed you,” she whispered.
“You never lost me,” he replied, and kissed her, parting her lips to taste the sweetness of her mouth.
EPILOGUE
“You look amazing.” Amanda stood nearby, holding a bouquet of flowers. She had one hand on Becci’s shoulder and both of them smile wide.
Emily stroked the fine white fabric and admired herself in the full length mirror.
Her wedding day.
She’d never thought she’d have another chance at this. The first time, with Brian, had been a total disaster. Today she was happy.
There was a man downstairs, waiting for her, ready to profess his love in front of their friends and family. Though, that numbered few – less than thirty people.
Amanda moved forward and embraced her, eyes shining with tears. “I can’t thank you enough, Emily, you’ve changed my life. You’ve changed who I am as a person.”
“You did that on your own, Amanda, you’ve grown so much, but it’s got nothing to do with me.”
Her friend laughed out loud. “Don’t delude yourself, Em, you’re a fantastic person and you deserve everything that’s happened to you this past while. I mean, barring the whole stripper thing and vicious ex-husband.”
Emily squeezed her hand. “I’m so happy for you too.”
“Thank you,” she grinned.
“Is he waiting for you downstairs?”
“Yes,” Amanda replied, grinning with that typical ‘cat-who-got-the-cream’ expression.
“And you’re still going ahead with the plan?”
“I figure that a year is long enough to wait. I’m going to ask him before he can ask me.”
Amanda had never been forward in her life, not like this, so proposing to Joseph was a big thing for her. She’d introduced the pair of them shortly after the incident with Brian, because Amanda had needed representation to get the divorce and make the assault charges stick.
A year had passed since Brian’s arrest and Amanda’s nose had healed admirable. There was a tiny crook in it, but the imperfection added to her friend’s beauty. She’d let her hair grow out to its natural brown.
Brian was locked up tight and wouldn’t go anywhere soon. Along with the assault and attempted murder, he’d racked up a count of perjury and a two extra manslaughter charges. Emily’s name was totally clear.
They’d locked up her ex-husband in a psychiatric ward. She didn’t know what was going on there and didn’t want to, but they’d splashed it all over the news.
Brian had been close to senator, and a few steps from running for president. They liked to keep tabs on him – it made for good news. The last she’d seen, he’d been in for counselling but they’d made no progress.
Apparently he thought he was entitled to freedom.
Emily shook thoughts of him from her mind. He had no control over her or her family anymore.
“I love you, mommy,” Becci said, and Emily dropped down and hugged her daughter tight.
“I love you too.”
“Are you ready? They’re going to start soon.” Amanda gestured to the door.
“I’ve never been more ready in my life.” Emily led the way, out of the upstairs bedroom of the house by the beach, the one they’d bough together to get away from the city, and glided downstairs.
She was on cloud nine today. This was what love was, this was what her future would be. The halls of their home were decorated in Arum lilies, the bridesmaids – Amanda and Becci – wore pale cream dresses of lace.
Emily’s open-backed wedding dress was the star, but she’d made sure the girls looked perfect as well. She wanted to complement those around her. They’d played such a major role in helping her reach this day.
She walked to the back door and inhaled.
There he was, standing at the end of the long alleyway in front of the open ocean. There was a trellis arch over his head, and the priest stood beside him, waiting. Jared was his best man, looking dashing in a plan black suit and tie with a lily pinned to his lapel.
In the months since they’d moved in together, Chase and the kids had formed an amazing bond. Jared was his best friend.
The two men she was most proud of stood before her. She could barely contain her happiness. She dabbed at her eyes. Thank God she’d worn waterproof mascara – today was bound to be full of tears, but the best kind.
The string quartet struck a note, and the Wedding March began. Amanda walked past her and out, closely followed by Becci.
This was it. Her day. The start of the rest of her life.
Emily walked down the aisle, gaze glued to Chase. He smiled, then blinked, then smiled again. There was so much emotion in him, that it flow
ed over and filled her up to capacity.
She wanted to run, not walk. So she did.
Emily dashed down the aisle towards him and he opened his arms wide. She run into them and he lifted her up, swinging her around, laughing softly. He set her down gently, and stared into her eyes.
“I love you, Emily McDonald,” he murmured, and she beamed up at him.
Chase lowered his lips to hers and kissed her, before the ‘I do’s’ or vows, before the rings or anything else.
But the truth was, they were already married.
They’d been married to each other since the very beginning, set on the path to free each other.
“Please,” she said, “call me Mrs. Newman.”
The small group of people applauded them, whooping and cheering, but it blurred to white noise.
They were lost in each other, in another time and place, joined forever in eternity.
Frozen in their love.
Emily placed her hand on his chest. “Forever.”
Chase warmed the spot over her heart with his palm.
“Forever.”
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Also by Melissa Shaw
Brave
Puppy Love
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I Need Your Help!
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About the Author
Melissa Shaw lives in the land of Prince Hamlet in a gorgeous suburb of Copenhagen, and uses the surrounds to craft romances which touch on the truth behind humanity. She likes strong female characters, flawed men, and strong bourbon. When she’s not hunched over her laptop, she’s wandering the streets searching for inspiration or sipping coffee at the local shop. Mostly she’s just writing. That’s what she does best.
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A SNEAK PEEK AT BRAVE
Here is a sneak peek at the first chapter of my romantic suspense serial Brave.
Real estate agent Chloe Sheldon has a secret. On the run from a painful and abusive past, she has stayed away from love and focused on making the most of her new life, tucking the darkness away. But her new boss Jonathan Maynard seems like everything she ever wanted in a man: intoxicating and brimming with charm, reminding her there is more to life than fear. In spite of everything, Chloe feels a strong attraction and a desire for something more.
As Chloe tries to let go of her worries, she sees cause for both hope and caution. Getting to know Jonathan on a deeper level shows he has a darker side of his own--enough to make her question if he can be trusted as anything but a colleague, if even that. And the untimely arrival of a person she has tried to forget, stalking her every move, proves that the nightmares of her own past aren't ready to let go of her yet.
* * * *
BRAVE, EPISODE ONE - THE COLOR OF RAGE
CHAPTER ONE
Red. Favorite color—red. The color of passion. The color of intensity. The color of danger. The color of rage. The color of blood.
“Chloe. Hey, Chloe. Oh, Chlooooeeee, yoo-hoo…”
Chloe started, blinked, and came back to the present. A bemused co-worker stood beside her, tapping her manicured fingers on the desk. “Oh—uh—hi. Sorry, Paula. Guess I was daydreaming.”
“Yeah, it happens…about a million miles away. Some new guy in your life, huh?” Paula, the office’s general assistant and gofer, flashed a conspiratorial smile and leaned her hip against the sleek blue desk’s rounded corner. “You must’ve had a great weekend.”
“It was okay. Went by too fast, though.” Then again, what weekend didn’t?
Chloe straightened in her ergonomic chair and brushed back a strand of wavy dark hair. Business-like – that was the ticket. Remaining professional and all that. Whatever got Paula to butt out. “Can I help you with anything?”
Paula clicked her tongue and nodded. “Dennis is looking for the Group Sales Review on Rental Properties, something about a meeting scheduled for Friday?”
Easily done. The file stood in its wire holder, next to the computer screen; Chloe had stored it there after finishing her report – efficient as always.
“Tell him I’ll stop by later this afternoon, okay? I need to check his travel plans for the Marketing Conference in August.”
Another nod from Paula, who slipped away without protesting the tactful dismissal.
Then again, Chloe was the epitome of tactful. She had been since she’d started work at the office. With fifty other drones in residence, keeping her head low was pretty easy.
Alone again in her tidy office, Chloe glanced at the stress ball tucked away near her reference books. It had been passed on to her by her predecessor, with much laughter and joking from the staff. Red. Favorite color—red. The color of…
She gave it a stray pat and offered silent thanks: she wouldn’t need that today. Everything was on track today – she eyed the clock on the wall and licked her lips.
Glenn Watkins, the portly, balding Vice President of Merchandising, Marketing, and Sales, stuck his head inside the door. “How are we doing with that Corporate Responsibility Report?”
“I’ve looked it over,” Chloe pointed to a stack of clear binders on the credenza, “and had my secretary make copies. All set whenever you’re ready.”
“Thanks, kiddo. I owe you one.” Glenn, ever on the go, scooped up the binders and dashed out, fat rolls jiggling under his sweat stained cotton shirt. How he managed to maintain his weight was another question entirely – he was an energizer bunny. An energizer hippo?
She shook her head at herself and focused on the work instead.
Chloe toiled steadily, wading through the papers on her desk, answering correspondence, taking phone calls, putting out whatever small fires flared up – thankfully there weren’t that many. Two hours passed without incident.
This done and completed and put aside; that considered but temporarily delayed. Sticky notes littered the desk. They were her secret addiction – she loved tearing them off and slapping them on pages with no small deal of machismo.
It was her small concession: there were only work-related items on the desk. Nothing which hinted at her personality, her truth (other than the hidden stress ball): no framed photos, no meaningful knickknacks, no vase of fresh flowers or holders for scented candles. She considered the desk.
The office could’ve fallen straight out of an architectural magazine. She let out a long sigh.
It wasn’t that she didn’t have any passions, simply that she couldn’t afford to show them off. She didn’t want any hints of who she really was, on the inside, in person, all of that, coming out. Chloe had slipped into obscurity like a duck into water.
She powered down her computer at 5:00, and arranged tomorrow’s work into neat stacks. Then she swiped her handbag off the floor and tucked it over her shoulder.
“Hi, Chloe.” Jonathan Maynard, the boss of her boss moved into the room, blocking her path to freedom.
Shit. She saved the lustrous leather tote before it fell. “Uh—hello.”
She’d had a crush on this guy for ages. Crush. For God’s sake, what was she, seventeen? Puppy love or infatuation, maybe… He was handsome, debonair even and he breathed the rarefied air of Pinnacle’s Upper Stratosphere.
Out. Of. Her. League.
He smiled down at her, leveling her with those slightly crooked teeth – they made him even more attractive. When a man was a little flawed, it just made him special – she’d never liked Abercrombie Fitch dudes.
