Watching Ebru walk toward me in a beautiful white dress with lace over it, I couldn’t wait for us to be in the same shoes as my brother and Luke. Fuck yeah, I was looking forward to a miniature us slapping me across the face or pulling my hair out in clumps. The best part of life was about to start now. Shit, I hope I didn’t start crying.
Ebru
Well, I’d done it. I’d married the unicorn whisperer. I was now Mrs. Magical Horn. I’d even promised faithfully in my vows to discuss things with him first before resorting to holding a pillow over his face.
I would have been happy going to Vegas, but his family had stepped in and put their foot down on that before planning some outrageous national holiday style wedding. Cole had known immediately that I didn’t want it, without me even saying anything in case I offended his family, and I’d had a wedding today that I never knew I wanted, but now I couldn’t imagine not having. Being so close to my sister, being able to give her the title Maid of Honor and giving her my flowers afterward had made it almost as beautiful as it would have been if she had actually been there herself. Next to where I’d been standing in front of the Pastor was a large photograph of her with a smaller bouquet attached to it. When I’d seen it, I’d had to do everything that I could to not cry. I’d married the most amazing man in the world, and now I had a happiness that I would never have imagined that I’d ever have.
I had finally gotten to sit down and rest my feet. Wear these stilts they said, they’re comfy shoes they said; all lies. I felt like I’d walked barefoot across the desert.
There had been a lot of chatter about Brett and his girlfriend Sabine, and I looked up to watch how he was with her. I hadn’t had a lot of contact with Brett, he was always away or brooding in the corner of the room, but I’d heard how bad his reputation was with women and I just couldn’t apply it to the sight in front of me. Sabine had been around us whenever Brett was home now. He refused to travel back without her apparently, and he was one of the most tactile men that I’d ever seen in my life. Cole had said he’d never seen him hold a woman’s hand ever, never seen him look after someone; basically, the Brett now was not the Brett that everyone was used to.
I’d been helping out with Sabine’s recovery because she’d had a lot of damage to her right leg and her recovery was taking a long time. It wasn’t until recently that she’d started walking without a pronounced limp and the pain was finally settling down. I still didn’t want her to do too much on it, she was a runner who was used to going out every day, and that wasn’t going to be happening for a while. Thankfully Brett paid attention to her exercises and what she wasn’t to do, so I didn’t have any worries about her even trying it.
I saw Coleman walk over to where Brett was sitting and lean down and whisper something to him. When Brett got up and followed him out of the room, I looked around worried that something had happened, but all of the other security seemed to be calm and relaxed. Amy was standing talking and laughing with some of the guests, but I’d seen her and Coleman watching each other when the other one wasn’t looking, and I couldn’t understand what the problem between them was.
I was snapped out of my thoughts by my husband walking up to me.
“Dance with me Mrs.Townsend,” he held his hand out, and we went onto the dance floor. He’d decided that he got to choose the song that we’d have our first dance to, and as God Only Knows started playing, I face planted in his chest.
“If I end up looking like Marilyn Manson for the photos that people are taking of us right now because you made me cry, I’ll kill you.” Looking up at his grinning face, it hit me. I had my forever.
Brett
I didn’t want to leave Sabine behind for too long. My family loved her, and I knew this, but I worried about her.
“Something was stuck to the fence of the ranch,” Coleman said grimly as he pulled a baggie with a piece of paper inside it out of his pocket and passed it to me.
I looked down at it, and when I read it, I saw fucking red.
Sabine, Sabine, Brett Townsend’s little Queen.
The tower must topple,
The Queen will fall,
And will the King still be standing after it all?
“What the fuck?” I did my best not to yell and attract the attention of everyone celebrating my brother and Ebru’s wedding.
“I’ve told Jansen at the FBI, but Brett…I think you need to cut her free.”
It took everything in me not to punch the shit out of him for even suggesting it. “Not happening,” I was firm on that. It wasn’t happening ever. “Pass that over to Jansen and fucking find that son of a bitch. He knows too much, so someone around here is passing it back to him. Find out fucking who.”
“Brett, she’s in danger just being associated with you.” I knew that he was talking sense, but I wasn’t going to end things with Sabine. I couldn’t!
“I’m not discussing this anymore. Find him.”
Walking back into the party, I made my way through the people dancing, pulled Sabine out of her chair and led her to the dance floor. I’d never felt like this about anyone, how could I not want to hold onto her? I just hoped that we found the fucker responsible before he hurt her; I’d die before that happened, though.
The End
Bonus Scene
The night of Cole’s Bachelor Party
Maya
Tony and I sat back in our recliners, popped the foot rest and got comfy while we looked at each other with crazy grins on our faces. Ebru was working late tonight and Colette had Crystal so I was free to enjoy this.
Just as Tony opened his mouth to say something, Ren walked through the front door not looking happy.
"Why are you here? I was looking for you!"
I motioned him over with one finger and whispered, "Sit, you'll love it," as Tony started snorting beside me.
Sitting on the edge of my recliner, Ren went to reply when the most high pitched and the longest honest to god scream I'd ever heard came from upstairs. Tony and I burst into the kind of laughter that can end up messy and in need of a change of clothing as Ren belted up the stairs. Two seconds later his roars of laughter joined the screaming still going on. I was seriously struggling to breathe by this point I was laughing so hard. We heard footsteps coming unsteadily down the stairs, but it was Ren not the unicorn king who was getting the revenge that he was long due.
"Y...you...." Ren held onto the side of the door as he laughed and wiped the tears from his face. "You...put...c-clowns....every-everywhere," he gasped in between laughs. Indeed we had: bedding, hanging from the ceiling, posters and the best part- Bruce the huge stuffed clown sitting on his bed.
Before I could answer him, the bedding passing the living room window caught all our attentions. It was followed by shredded papers, smaller clowns and their strings and then poor Bruce still smiling making us laugh impossibly harder.
"I peed, I peed!" Tony squealed, holding himself between the legs and doing the pee pee dance.
The screaming had stopped by now and I was trying to talk but when you're laughing so hard that very little air is going in, talking just isn't possible.
Just as I took a deep breath, a high pitched scream followed by the sound of running and a door slamming upstairs sounded. Guess he'd found Coco the toilet seat.
"They were everywhere..." Cole whispered at the table, staring into space with his hands shaking.
"It's ok baby," Colette said rubbing his shoulders and laughing silently behind him. "They're gone, it's all gone."
"I peed. I peed my pants," he continued whispering and shuddering. Tears were streaming down Colette's face and periodically she'd let out a gasp as she tried to catch her breath. "I...I...I think I sharted," he continued, making Jack stand up suddenly, his chair screeching across the floor as he ran to the other room and burst out laughing loudly.
That'll teach him for signing me up to ‘big Bertha's bitch prison pen pal service’. Those women we
re scary and tenacious as hell! Forty-nine emails later and I was considering changing my name in case they hunted me down. The things they said they wanted to do to me.... Shuddering I looked back at Cole and then down at my watch. Maybe the clown stripagram waiting for him at the bar tonight was overkill, but he'd enclosed photos of me in those letters of interest he'd sent out to them. It was his bachelor party too, and who wouldn't want to see a 350 pound male clown wearing a unicorn horn strip up close and personal?
Acknowledgments
I always feel like I’m giving an Oscar acceptance speech when I write these. But here goes:
To my family - I actually have the best family in the world. There isn’t a day that goes by that you don’t show your support and give me advice as well as making me laugh when it got hard to write scenes in this book. I love you all xox
The following ladies I love hugely and would be lost without. We’re part of a 50k group and without them, I’m not sure that I would have made the last two deadlines. They hold a special place in my heart.
To Sonya (and Muggleberry Finn) - I seriously couldn’t have done this without you both. Sonya - I’m gonna repeat what I said in MTF in my dedication. You’re my best friend and I love our shenanigans and the mischief we get up to daily. You’re my #HLM4L, and I so get full time custody of you no arguments! Thank you for letting me bounce ideas off you, for creating the most perfect cover in the history of books, for holding my hand and for just being you. Thank you also for making this book even more special and beautiful by collaborating on it with me. I had a blast and honestly can’t wait until we do the full one. xox
Muggleberry - Thank you for saving the world along with the rest of the Autobots, and for being my new big brother! I totally get custody though, just sayin’ xox
To Eve Montelibano - You’re awesome, seriously like the definition of awesome. I know that you loved Cole from day one, and we were worried how I could show that he wasn’t the clown people thought, so fingers crossed I got it right. Thank you for supporting me and spending time helping me with this book. It means everything to me. You’re amazing and I love you hugely. xox
#CMMFS - Thank you for answering my questions, supporting me, making me laugh, putting up with me and for just making this an easier project all round. I love you to pieces but damn woman you’re a bad influence. The amount of trouble that you get us into…hehehe! Thank you for being the awesome that is our #CMMFS. I only have two words for you - Beijing Beef, Beijing Beef, Beijing Beef, Beijing Beef, Beijing Beef xox
Krystal - Thank you for putting up with my questions and for supporting me. In fact, thank you for supporting me since I started this venture. You’re a one of a kind with one of the most beautiful hearts that I’ve ever known, and I honestly feel so lucky to be able to call you my friend. xox
Elena - Thank you for literally everything. Keeping me sane, making me laugh, supporting me, for setting up the 50k group to begin with, for helping me and for just being the beautiful that is you. You’re a one in a billion honey and I love you to pieces xox
Sassy Pants - Every week you come up with a beautiful teaser that is the definition of perfect for me. You’ve supported me throughout this book and also helped me work out how to go around walls when I’ve hit them. When I was upset during scenes you picked me up too. I love our laughs and I love being Original Gangster’s with you, aiiiiiiiit! Love you Sassy McNugget xox
Jane - Thank you for being my beta, for catching my last minute billion editing issues, for listening to me when I got stuck, for making me laugh and for supporting me. I love you and Cole does too, I’m sure of it ;-). xox
Anne-Marie - Your support means everything to me, so thank you for always giving it and for beta reading Cole for me. How you fit it in with the kids, I don’t know, but it means the world to me. xox
Rhonda & Kathleen - You guys are amazing. Your belief in me and your support means the world to me and it helped me get to the end of this book too. I love you both and thank you xox
Jen - Thank you for encouraging and supporting me from day one. We’ve been through a lot together and come out of it stronger, but I genuinely couldn’t have done this without you! Thank you for being an amazing friend and for believing in me. Love you and the kids to pieces xox
Reggie – Thank you for taking the most perfect picture ever (and obviously BT too), for all of your support and for being #TRFD. #WeggieWocks! #RplusM4L
To my beautiful Doctor CJ - you make me laugh, you keep me on the right track, you send me *cough* inspiration and you’re such a beautiful person and amazing friend. Thank you for making me laugh and for encouraging me and I’m so damn proud of you! xox
Emily & Shawn - Thank you for being my besties and for pushing me forward and for everything else that you do for me. I’d be lost without you guys xox
To my boys- Revenge is mine!
Books available and coming soon from other authors
A STELLAR AFFAIR (A Hollywood Bad Boy Romance) by Eve Montelibano
More Than Anything, by S Van Horne
Written in History (Book Four in the Wolfe Creek Series) by C.M. Steele
Hell by Elena M. Reyes
Owned by Dominic KL Donn
Silence by Jaye Cox
A STELLAR AFFAIR By Eve Montelibano
(A Hollywood Bad Boy Romance)
Excerpt
She wished he’d left, but he stood up from the armchair near the bed when Ava came out of the bathroom. She’d dressed up for the day. At least he’d put his clothes on, too.
In broad daylight and after a bath, she felt like her old self. Her walls were closing around her fast, locking up, keeping him away. It didn’t feel right.
“Ava…”
She avoided looking at the rumpled bed, the evidence of their wild night together. She had to wash the comforter in the bathroom to remove the stains, lest her staff doing the laundry would accidentally see it. “I thought you’d left.”
“Av, tell me it’s not what I think.”
He'd figured it out, she could tell. The insult hit her where it hurt, too. He was disappointed to be the one who popped her over-talked-about cherry. “I don’t want you to think anything. In fact, I want you to forget whatever happened last night and this morning.”
“Forget? I shot my load so many times inside you I’d lost count. I can’t just forget!” he said testily.
“Don’t be crude!” she hissed. She was at the edge of her mettle this morning, her emotions raw and frayed from the enormity of what she had done.
He combed his fingers through his hair, looking mightily unsettled. “Tell me you’re on the pill, at least?”
She couldn’t lie about that.
He groaned and gave out a short, mocking laugh, shaking his head. “Oh man, of course, you’re not. You were a fucking virgin.” He put his hands on his hips and looked up at the ceiling, sighing deeply. “I probably deposited a gallon of cum inside you last night.”
Her head felt like exploding from humiliation.
“You could have at least given me a heads up it was your first time.”
She exploded. “You didn’t exactly bring a condom on your way to town! And neither did you on your return trips either! And isn’t it your job to tell whether you’re fucking a virgin or what?”
He went crimson in the face. “I…I did notice something wasn’t the usual—”
“Oh, shut up! Will you just leave?”
“What was I supposed to think? You were giving it to me like a pro I presumed it was just a while since you last got laid and when I was finally inside you, I just lost it! I couldn’t think of anything else but come—”
“Stop it!” she shrieked at him. “God, you’re so vulgar!”
He smirked. “Vulgar? We’ve done stuff beyond vulgar, sweetheart. I’ve rimmed your rosebud, and you liked it.”
She made a feral sound deep in her throat and pointed to the door. “Get out!”
&n
bsp; He covered his face with his palms and groaned. “Fuck.”
She couldn’t stand the look of regret on his face or the anxiety he must be feeling at the possibility that he’d gotten her pregnant. She couldn’t begin to comprehend such possibility either.
Shit, what a disaster! This was not in her game plan. The gravity of what she had done started to beat on her conscience in full force, and she just wanted to put distance between them so she could think and regroup.
“Look, what happened was a…a mistake. A huge mistake, okay? We were both drinking and—”
“We weren’t drinking this morning.”
No rational explanation could validate that. Careless once can be excused. Careless twice?
Silence consumed the panic rising within them.
“Look, let’s not make mountains out of molehills,” she offered in a conciliatory tone.
But he won’t let up on the subject. “Is your period regular?”
She wanted to push him out the door but reckoned he had the right to know and she could respect the fact that he cared to know. Other men would have been out the door than discuss this scary subject after a night of reckless abandon. “Yes. Sometimes it changes dates due to my heavy workload, but it’s usually regular.”
“Are you fertile this week?”
She made a mental calculation. Fear gripped her for real now. She was smack-dab into her fertile week. “I could be…” her voice trailed off.
He sighed deeply again. His obvious disappointment was hurting her big time. It wasn’t like he’d be saddled by a baby IF she was indeed pregnant. She can take care of herself, thank you, and her child, too! “It’s unlikely,” she said to pacify him. “Don’t worry.”
Until Forever (Providence Series Book 3) Page 24
