by C. J. Thomas
The cool air-conditioned air swept over my face and instantly prickled my skin. I didn’t know what was going on but something wasn’t right. “Mom, do you know where Gary is?”
She picked up her pace and didn’t respond.
“Mom, are the media here because of Gary?”
Mom briefly glanced in my direction but still didn’t say anything.
“What are they doing here? It was chaos when we arrived. I thought Dad closed it off to only a few?”
“He did.” Mom licked her lips and continued marching.
I struggled to keep up, afraid that her persistent tugging on my arm would cause me to trip. “Then what is this about?”
Mom shortened her stride, glanced around, and lowered her voice. “It’s about your father.”
My brows pinched as my gaze darted over her face. Biting my lip, I couldn’t help worry for whatever I was about to learn. Mom turned to the door and opened it. Stepping inside, Dad’s silhouette nearly filled the large windows as he stood with his back facing me. Peering out onto the lawn and garden below, Dad didn’t make any indication that he knew I was here. Afraid to announce my arrival, Mom nudged me forward. “I’ll be back soon,” she quietly said close to my ear. Then she left and my heart kicked up to a higher speed.
Fidgeting with my fingers, I looked around and realized we were alone. The past 48 hours crashed into me like a rumbling freight train. Feeling my insides begin to quiver, I wasn’t sure I had anything left to say to him.
He turned without a word and I held my breath.
Slowly, he stepped forward.
Tipping his head back, dark shadows crossed his face as he moved into the light.
My heart pounded against my chest but my feet remained glued to the floor. I couldn’t respond, couldn’t speak.
His narrow eyes were unwavering in their insistence to look at only me. His silence only added to the confusion of what could possibly be going on.
He stepped closer, the clack of his heels reverberating off the walls.
My mind spun into a tangled web of possibility.
Gary was missing. Mom was acting like nothing had changed after the conversation we’d had last night in the bathroom, and, worst of all, I didn’t have the support system by my side to keep me from falling—which I knew I would.
Dad stopped directly in front of me. His head angled from side to side before he took my face between his hands, taking my breath away.
He brushed the pad of his thumb over my lip, causing me to flinch.
His eyes softened and I started to cry.
“Sienna, I’m sorry.” His words were soft, compassionate—everything a father should be. “Mom told me everything.”
“I tried to tell you,” I cried.
He swallowed the stone in his throat. “My blinders were on. I was only seeing one thing.”
“That’s what hurts, Dad. I’m your daughter and I felt like no one was looking at me when I needed them most.” He wrapped me in his big arms and let me cry into his shoulder. “He cheated, Dad. Gary cheated. That’s why he hit me. Because I knew and I called him out on it.”
Dad palmed the back of my skull and kissed the top of my head. “I’m sorry, honey. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wanted to. But I couldn’t.” I pulled back from his grasp and looked him in his eye. “I thought you would see it and ask how it happened.”
The corners of his eyes crinkled with anguish only a father could feel. “I saw it but was afraid I’d embarrass you by mentioning it, knowing you wanted to look your best on your wedding day.”
My chin trembled. I could see the sincerity in my father’s eyes. He meant what he said. “I feel disgusted with myself, Dad.”
“Oh, honey. This isn’t your fault.”
“But it is. I waited for him during his tours to Iraq and Afghanistan. Sacrificed everything for him. And what did I get in return? This.” I pointed to my busted lip. Dad reached out for my hand and, when he took it inside of his, I said, “I can’t marry him, Dad.”
“I know.” He stroked my knuckles.
“It’s too late.” My head fell into my hand. “Everyone is here already.”
“It’s never too late.” He raised his brows. I opened my eyes and looked into his familiar eyes. A small smile tugged at his lips. “It’s no accident Gary can’t be found.”
My blood pumped hard and fast through my veins. “Dad, what did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything.” A knowing glimmer flashed over his irises.
The door opened behind us. I turned to find Mom standing there with the man I thought I would never see again. “Sienna, there is someone here who would like to see you.”
I turned to look to Dad. He nodded and smiled. “Cooper and Trevor have been instrumental in getting me to see the truth.”
I flipped my head around to Trevor who stepped into the room with his hands buried inside his slacks. “But—”
“It took a lot of courage to do what they did—especially so late at night.” He glanced over my shoulder toward the Foster brothers. “But they did the right thing.” His eyes landed on mine once again. “I was wrong about Trevor. I can understand why you’re drawn to him.”
“Dad…”
He shook his head. “I hope you can forgive me.”
I jumped into his arms and squeezed him as hard as I could. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Releasing my hold, I said, “But what about Gary?”
Cooper stepped forward. “We’ll ensure that Gary never gets elected to any kind of office after what he pulled.”
“And I’ll make sure he never lays his hands on you ever again.” Trevor’s heated eyes locked on mine.
I turned to Dad. “But we don’t know where he is—”
“We do,” Cooper said, pulling three photographs out of his pocket.
I didn’t need to see what was in them; I didn’t care. With Trevor, Cooper and my father all in agreement, I knew that I was finally safe—free from the terror Gary brought into my life. Turning to Trevor, I asked, “You didn’t have anything to do with this, did you?”
He reached out and clamped his large hand around my wrist. “I wouldn’t dare interfere.”
Suddenly, he pulled me into his chest, causing my breath to hitch. Lowering his mouth over mine, my heart sped up and stars flashed as he kissed me. Everything inside of me let go. My knees gave and I clung on to the man my heart longed for. A loud cheer erupted and, when I opened my eyes, the room was filled with those who loved us most.
I flicked my gaze to Charlotte, Nolan, and Noah. Sophia and Monica were smiling next to them, and Cooper and my Dad stood shoulder to shoulder, smiling proudly for Trevor’s desire to claim me as his own for all to see.
When the cheers finally died down, Dad said, “Now, let’s get you dressed for a wedding.”
My heart abruptly stopped. I darted my eyes to Trevor who was quick to say, “I love you.”
I blinked and started to hyperventilate. “Are you asking me to marry you?”
He laughed. “Not quite.”
A collective gasp from the girls filled one side of the room.
Dad took me by the nape of the neck and said, “It’s all part of the plan.”
“Plan?”
Dad laughed. “We have to make it look like Gary left you at the altar.”
“Yes. I love it!” Monica shouted.
Trevor stepped forward and took me by the waist. “It will work, baby. This will all be over soon.”
“Let’s do it,” I said.
40
Sienna
One month later…
Stepping off the elevator, my heart raced.
I passed under the Foster Enterprises logo and headed toward reception.
Julia lifted her head and greeted me with a smile.
I held my finger to my pursed lips and gestured for her to be quiet. Her eyes sparkled like stars as she nodded enthusiastically. I wanted my visit to be a
surprise. Trevor and I had been waiting for this day for what felt like forever. Now that it was here, I couldn’t wait to fall into his loving embrace.
Tiptoeing down the hall, it didn’t take long to find his office. Peeking around the corner, his head was down as he worked. I stepped inside as quiet as possible and gently closed the door. The latch clicked loud enough to get him to lift his head.
I bit my lip and lowered my gaze.
He leaned back in his leather chair and I watched his lust-filled eyes hood.
Swaying my hips as I walked, I seductively made my way to him. Taking him at the shoulders, I tossed one leg over his thighs and straddled him in his chair.
An approving groan vibrated up his chest as his hands squeezed their way up my soft thighs.
Taking his shaven face between my hands, I lowered my mouth over his. His tongue darted into my mouth, causing me to whimper softly. Deepening our kiss, his tongue swirled over mine. Heat bloomed across my chest and my hips began to rock over his manhood.
I loved him more than words could express. We could finally make our relationship public.
I nipped at his lip before pulling back. “Hope I’m not interrupting anything important.”
“Nothing is as important as you,” he murmured.
I brushed my lips against his and sucked his tongue deeper into my mouth. His greedy hands grabbed my ass and rocked me over his hardness.
Trevor had found his groove working at his father’s company, finding purpose in a supportive environment surrounded by family. We had been secretly seeing each other each night since Gary left me at the altar, the plan my father and Cooper devised going off without a hitch. And, thanks to the Fosters’ private investigator, we later learned Gary had been seeing his ex for much longer than we’d originally thought.
Instead of focusing on me, the media destroyed Gary with stories that would have ruined anybody’s reputation. Though I wouldn’t wish that kind of scrutiny on anybody, Gary deserved what he got. And, just in case Gary decided to try to flip the script back on me, my father and Cooper had their PR teams waiting with stories to be released—both good for me and bad for Gary—to control the narrative in our favor. There was no way he was winning this one. There were too many powerhouse players and he didn’t have the capital to compete.
Trevor’s hand reached from behind and pushed against my heated mound. “It’s been a month.”
“Yes it has.” His sensual lips brushed over mine.
My nipples tightened as desire flooded my body. “I thought we could celebrate.”
He stroked my cleft, gliding his finger over the thin fabric of my underwear. “And how would you like to celebrate?”
“I thought maybe we could start here with a quickie, then take it back to your place.”
Trevor threaded his fingers through my thick locks and pulled my lips back over his. Our tongues thrust with passion and my body was on fire.
This wouldn’t be our first time having sex since we’d become official. But Trevor took his time working me into his bed during the days that followed. Though our first encounter remained a secret to nearly everyone, I appreciated his disciplined approach to properly seducing me. It proved to be explosive, but, more importantly, it showed me just how serious he was about making this work.
“I better clear off my desk,” he said.
My heartrate increased as the thought of him taking me on his desk filled my head with desire. Trevor was my everything. The man of my dreams. The prince who’d swept me off my feet and invited me to live in his castle.
This was only the beginning.
Suddenly, the office door swung open and Noah barged in. “Oh, shit. Sorry.” He quickly covered his eyes.
Trevor removed his hand from under my dress and gripped my waist. He continued kissing me like his brother hadn’t walked in on us. Then he pulled back and glared at his brother. “I’m busy here.”
“Next time, lock the door.” Noah’s eyes flicked to me. “Hey, Sienna.”
I turned my head and glanced over my shoulder. “Hey, Noah.”
Evan marched in next, quick to realize what we were doing. “Giddy up, cowboy.”
I buried my red face in Trevor’s shoulder, giggling. Sliding off Trevor’s lap, I pulled the hem of my dress down my leg and tried my best to act like I wasn’t about to fuck my man on his office desk.
Trevor scooted forward to hide his erection. “How did it go?”
“It’s a done deal,” Evan said. “I’m officially the new owner of a beautiful Colorado ranch.”
“Congratulations,” I said, just as Trevor’s desk phone started ringing.
Trevor was quick to answer. Evan’s face beamed as he told me more about his ranch and the work he was ready to begin. When Trevor ended his call, he hung up and said, “Noah that was Julie. You have a guest on their way. I told them to come to my office.”
Noah’s brows slanted as he bounced his gaze around the room. “Hmm… I wasn’t expecting—”
A beautiful brunette with curly hair stepped forward and lightly knocked on the door.
Noah’s eyes rounded with surprise. It didn’t take me long to notice the way he was looking at her. They stared into each other’s eyes, neither knowing what to say. Then Noah said, “Becca, what are you doing here?”
Her eyes flickered to Evan. Trevor and I silently stared, wondering what the hell was going on.
“Can I speak with you alone?” she said.
Trevor stood and laced his fingers through mine. “You can use my office. I’m done for the day.” He leaned in and kissed my temple. As the three of us were leaving, I heard her tell Noah, “Noah, I’m pregnant.”
Continue the series by reading Twice the Love. Click here and start reading today!
Afterword
Please consider leaving a review for Accidentally in Love on Amazon. Even a few words would be appreciated. Your words are my inspiration. Thank you for reading. If it were not for you, I wouldn’t be able to share the stories swirling between my ears.
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Also by CJ Thomas
City by the Bay series
Ruin Me
Promise Me
Save Me
Take Me
Control Me
Tempt Me
Hollywood Dreams series
Big Willy Box Set
Beyond Tonight Box Set
On My Knees Box Set
Capture Me
Heat
Hard
A Kelly Black Affair
Black Desire
Black Demands
Black Obsession
Black Regrets
Black Promises
High Stakes Billionaires
This is Love
Acknowledgment
I want to thank all of my readers for being supportive with each new story I write. It’s because of you and your willingness to WANT to read my stories that make this all possible. Mwah!
I also want to thank my editor, LNS, for bringing my stories to life and constantly providing constructive advice on how to improve my craft. The same goes to my street team and beta readers, for without you, I’m not sure I would have the confidence to continue living inside my characters’ heads day after day.
And last but not least, my family for giving me the love and inspiration to keep writing.
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