by Sharan Daire
His chin jutted out. “You mean you’re planning to get married again? And you want some stranger to give his name to my kids?”
I fought back the urge to plea with him to see reason. To give him the multitude of reasons it made sense for Derek and Kaleb to adopt the kids. It wasn’t like Rob had even seen them in years. He took no responsibility in raising or providing for them. He’d made that abundantly clear.
Nothing I could say would change his mind, so I only replied, “Yes.”
I forced myself to stand quietly, keeping my face as blank as possible. I concentrated on Chris’ body against mine. His heat soaking into me. His silent, constant support. I was so impressed that he hadn’t said one thing this entire time. He hadn’t made any threats since we’d come outside. He’d let Everett handle the legal side, and Derek and Kaleb take care of the kids. While he held me, protecting my back, giving me the confidence to stand in front of a former abuser without shrinking away in fear.
“And you’ll forgive the support? All of it?”
I blinked rapidly, trying to conceal my surprise. I honestly hadn’t expected him to give in so easily. Maybe the guys had been right all along. The only thing Rob had hoped to get out of this visit was a payout of some kind.
“Yes.”
Everett gave me a subtle nod of approval at my short answers.
“Got a pen?” Rob asked.
I didn’t breathe as he signed the papers and the black book Everett handed him with the deputy as a witness. Could it really be so easy? Would he really give us what we wanted without causing undue harm and stress?
I couldn’t believe it. I’d changed in the two years since he’d left, some good, some bad. I’d been world weary before I found myself broke down alongside the road in the middle of nowhere. I’d been so close to the end of the road, even though I’d fought and worked as hard as I could to keep my head afloat. I’d been slowly drowning for years.
Maybe Rob had seen some of that same hardship and grown from it. I hoped so, for his sake. Maybe he could move on now. Get a decent job now that he didn’t have to worry about his wages getting garnished. He could clean himself up. Start over.
Rob looked up from the paper and gave the pen back with an odd little smile twisting his lips. And my hopeful, benevolent thoughts crashed and burned a fiery death.
I knew that slimy smile all too well.
“Any chance you can give me a little cash to get home on? Even some gas money would help. I wasn’t sure my old car was even going to make it this far.”
“What a coincidence.” My face felt flat and stiff like a cardboard cutout. “I left Dallas with a twenty-dollar bill for gas and two kids to feed.”
Chris spoke for the first time, his tone so cold and hard that I shivered. “I’ve got something for you.”
Everett stepped closer, tucking the folder under his arm so he could wrap an arm around me, as Chris moved around me and down the stairs. Panic burst through me, wondering what he’d do. The kids weren’t here to witness any violence. Part of me hoped he would hurt Rob a little. At least wipe that smirk off his face. But with the deputy here, I didn’t want him to get into trouble, either. Would Derek be able to help him out of an assault charge? Especially if he didn’t witness it?
Casually, Chris pulled out his wallet and opened it. Rob’s greedy eyes lit up at the thick stack of bills inside. “How much do you want?”
“Whatever you can give me. I’m broke. I haven’t had a decent job in months.”
Chris drew a crisp bill out, rubbing it between his fingers. “A hundred? Is that enough for you?”
Rob’s face darkened, his chin jerking at the thick wallet. “Seems like you’ve got plenty to spare. Your friends are getting my woman and my kids. Shouldn’t I get at least a thousand?”
My stomach quivered with dread and anxious anticipation. Don’t kill him. He’s not worth it.
A thousand dollars. For his two children. Was that really all we were worth to him? I swallowed, determined not to throw up in front of him. I wouldn’t give him the pleasure of seeing me weak or sick.
“Ten it is.” Chris pulled out nine more hundred-dollar bills and pushed the wallet back into his pocket. He gave a good-ole-boy smile at the deputy. “You heard him ask for it, right?”
“Sure did, Mr. Blakely.”
Chris’ other hand whipped out in a blur and snagged the back of Rob’s nape. Effortlessly, he jerked my ex-husband’s neck back, almost dragging him up on his toes, squeezing hard enough that he yelped.
As soon as he opened his mouth, Chris shoved a bill into his mouth. “One. Open up if you want the others.”
Rob yelled out something, but the money in his mouth garbled his words. Chris took the opportunity to shove another into his mouth. “Two. Three. You really do want that cash, don’t you?”
Rob flailed a moment, his frantic fists sliding off Chris’ chest and arms. He tried clawing at Chris’ fingers dug so tightly into his neck, but he might as well have tried to dislodge a crocodile. His face darkened, his eyes bulging a bit. Spittle and blood dripped down his chin. But he opened his mouth again, and Chris obliged, shoving the bills one after another into his mouth.
“One thousand dollars.” Chris slammed the heel of his hand up beneath Rob’s chin, forcing his mouth closed. “Best money I ever spent. Now get off my land. Get out of my state. Never even think of Shelby again. You’re dead to her.”
He shoved Rob away from him. Windmilling and staggering, Rob fell over the hood of his car, coughing and choking on the bills. Though he picked every single one up and kept them. He shot a glare at the deputy. “Aren’t you going to arrest him? He assaulted me!”
“He gave you exactly what you asked for.” The deputy tipped his hat at me. “Sorry to bother you, ma’am. Good evening, Mr. Blakely, Mr. Harris.”
Chris came up the step toward me, moving with a panther’s loose, easy—and deadly—grace. “Thank you for your assistance tonight, Deputy. Are you taking over as sheriff now?”
The deputy grinned as he headed to his patrol car. “Sure am. At least as interim sheriff until the next election.”
“Well, you certainly have my vote.” Chris cupped my chin, searching my face to see my reaction. If he’d gone too far—or if I was upset at what he’d done. “He won’t bother you again, babe.”
Tears burning my eyes, I threw myself up against him. I wrapped my arms around his neck, my legs around his waist. I didn’t care about the deputy. I certainly didn’t care about my ex-husband. How could I, when every impossible dream I’d ever had was right here in front of me?
Gathering me close, Chris carried me inside our house. I caught a glimpse of Rob over Chris’ shoulder before Everett shut the door after us.
Rob, staring at me, dumbfounded and dazed as if he’d never seen me before in his life.
He hadn’t. I knew that, now. He’d never seen the real me. He’d never daydreamed about our future or been proud of the woman and mother I’d become over the years. He’d had me by his side for years, seen me working day and night, raising our kids, struggling to make a life for us. And never once appreciated what he had.
Until another man carried me away.
The man who’d planned a life for someone he’d never met. Built a mansion on the slimmest chance that maybe they would someday share a life with me. Even designed an entire fashion line around the kind of woman he wanted in his life.
Chris had dreamed of me. Sharing a life with me. Sharing a life with his brothers. Long before he’d even met me.
I buried my face against his throat. “I love you.”
“I fucking love you too, babe. How are you feeling? Was that too much?”
I laughed a little, breathing in his scent. Drinking in the warmth of his skin. “I selfishly wanted to see him bleed a little more.”
He whipped around toward the door, making me gasp and clutch harder at his neck. “It’s not too late. I’ll fucking nail his hide to the wall if that’s what
you want.”
“No! I was teasing. I’m glad you made your point without getting into any trouble with the deputy.”
Chris laughed as he let me slide down his body until I stood before him. “You mean Deputy Meyers? Who just happens to be D’s cousin?”
Derek yelled from the dining room. “Billy still would have arrested your ass if you’d gone too far.”
Chris snorted. “I was perfectly calm and controlled the entire time. My only regret is he didn’t ask for more.”
Eyes wide, I laughed again. “How much would you have given him?”
I was thinking at most ten thousand. Even that sounded crazy to me. Why on earth would Chris be walking around with ten thousand in cash? In his wallet? Just on the off chance he could shove it into my ex-husband’s mouth?
Chris crossed his arms over his chest and cocked a hip against the doorframe. “How much cash do I have in the safe, Ev?”
“Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars last I looked,” Everett replied as he took his seat at the table.
I gulped. My head spun as I watched Chris pull out my chair for me. “You… But that’s…”
“Of course that’s only the safe here in the house. I could put my hands on a million if I tapped the lodge safe.”
My legs buckled and I sat down awkwardly. A million. In cash. But surely he wouldn’t—
Chris leaned down and whispered into my ear. “I would gleefully make him eat every single bill until he shits Jeffersons the rest of his fucking life.”
23
Shelby
This was it. We were leaving to catch a plane to New York City in an hour, and I hadn’t packed a single bag. Chris wouldn’t let me. He’d said, “We have people for that.”
People. I had people.
They’d insisted I sleep in as long as possible, though knowing how important this trip was, I was up by seven. Naturally, I’d started the morning by throwing up. Which had put me back in bed another thirty minutes while Chris glared at me until I was able to eat a little toast.
“Don’t I need to—”
“No,” he retorted.
“Pack underwear?” I continued as if he hadn’t interrupted me. “Casual clothes? I get having the dresses ready to go, but I still need—”
He leaned down and pressed a hard kiss to my lips. “Babe. We got this. All we need you to do is eat and rest as much as possible.”
I sipped some peppermint tea, which helped calm my stomach down, and then he invited Sagarika and Isa in to help me get ready. They brought in clothes I’d never seen in the closet before. Lingerie by Chris, naturally. Then a long, flowy red dress that felt like a warm, cozy hug. It was a deceptively simple wrap maxi dress, but the way it fit, molding perfectly to my curves, told me it was a Blakely original. “Did you make this specifically for the trip?”
“Of course. I wanted something comfortable for traveling but would also still look appropriate for anything in New York City. Do you like it?”
I smoothed my hands over my hips, studying my reflection in the mirror. I couldn’t resist turning to the side so I could see the baby bump. My stomach was softly rounded, the same as before. A mommy tummy, but not necessarily a pregnant tummy. I couldn’t really tell if I was showing anywhere but my boobs, which seemed to get bigger every single day.
Not something that any of the guys would ever complain about.
Stepping closer, he wrapped his arms around me, his right palm sliding down over my stomach. “There’s plenty of room in the dress for expansion. It’ll look incredible on you in six months too.”
Doubtfully, I pulled at the fabric, testing how stretchy it was. “We’ll see. I got pretty big with Allie.”
He rumbled out a low growl that curled my toes and made me wonder if we had time to go back to bed for just a little while. “I can’t wait.”
Before I could turn around and invite him to flatten me beneath him on the mattress, Everett poked his head in. “The car will be here in thirty minutes.”
Isa and Sagarika immediately jumped into action, guiding me into the makeup area in the master closet. I’d never in a million years thought I’d need so many lights, brushes, and shelves of fancy products. In a matter of minutes, they had my hair tamed into loose waves down my back, with a light, soft makeup that smoothed my complexion, making it look like I was completely natural.
When I stepped back out into the main room, Carsen helped me into a pair of knee-high boots made of buttery-soft leather.
Chris looked me over, very much the fashion designer and not my fiancé. It reminded me that I really was his walking billboard for this trip. Everywhere we went, people would want to know “who” I was wearing. Even a plane ride could be a key advertising moment if the right executives were at the airport at the same time. At least on the New York side. I didn’t expect any bigwigs at the Branson Airport.
“Perfect.” Chris snagged my hand, his thumb lightly rubbing over my knuckles. “Are you sure you’re up to this?”
He was serious. Even this close to the fashion show, he’d call the whole trip off if I changed my mind. “I’m ready.”
I gave the kids hugs and kisses. “Be good, okay? If you need to call me, ask Eleanor or Renata for the phone. If I can’t answer, Kaleb will have my phone.”
I was worried Allie might cry and throw a fit, since I’d never actually left her other than for work, but she sat at the bar in the kitchen, swinging her legs while she ate cereal and watched a cartoon on a tablet. “Okay, Mommy. Will you bring us presents?”
Of course it helped that Taylen had spent the night and was sitting beside her. I gave Allie another kiss on the top of her head. “Lots of presents. Do you have anything specific in mind?”
“Candy. And unicorns!”
I walked over to Liam, who was curled up on the sectional reading one of his new books. “What about you? Is there anything specific you’d like other than more books? Maybe a football jersey?”
He made a face of disgust that made Derek chuckle. “Not from any New York team, Mom. Will you be going through Kansas City?”
“I don’t think so, but I’ll see what I can do.”
Looking elegant in an old-fashioned dressing gown, Eleanor kissed me on both cheeks. “Have a wonderful time, and don’t worry a second about us. We’re going to have the time of our lives.”
Hesitantly, I looked over at Renata. “Thank you, again.”
She stepped closer and kissed my cheek, the same as Eleanor. “It’s our pleasure. I adore having young’uns around.”
Her gaze locked with mine, reminding me of the strange look she’d given me when we first met. Maybe she hadn’t instantly disliked me or seen right through me to all the hurt and obstacles I’d overcome. Maybe, instead, she’d suspected with some grandmotherly second sense…
She nodded to her herself, one corner of her mouth curling up. “The more the merrier, I always say.”
“How…” I whispered, trying not to glance over at Kaleb or Derek. I knew they wouldn’t have told her without my permission. We weren’t telling anyone. Not yet. Especially not with Angela’s high-risk pregnancy.
“I have my ways,” Renata replied smugly. “Y’all have a safe trip and don’t worry about a thing.”
Derek took my hand as we headed to the door. “I swear we didn’t say a word.”
“I know. Will she tell anyone else?”
“Nope. She won’t want to spoil our news, and she’ll act surprised and thrilled when we do make the announcement.”
“Whew. I guess that weird feeling I got when I met her wasn’t instant dislike after all.”
Kaleb choked back a laugh as he opened the door of a shiny black limousine. “Oh, you’d know right away if Mama disliked you. She’d say ‘bless your heart’ a lot.”
I stared at the two cars. “Whoa. I’ve never been in a limo. Why all the razzle-dazzle now?”
Chris took my other hand and helped me into the closest car, while the makeup team climbed in
to the second. “That’s exactly why. You’re going to get the fucking fairytale.”
The guys filed in, Chris and Everett on either side of me, with the twins across from me. It was nice being able to see or touch them all rather than having to yell over the seat.
“Chris is even going to dress up,” Everett added. “At least for the show itself. I couldn’t convince him to put a suit on for the plane ride.”
Everett always looked fantastic in tailored, expensive suits. Derek and Kaleb had dressed more like the bodyguard photoshoot in stunning head-to-toe black. Chris still wore his basic faded jeans, but he’d switched out the T-shirt for a black shirt with a button-down collar.
“You all look so nice. It’s going to be hard to keep my hands off you.”
Chris threw his arm around my shoulders, pulling me in close. “Which is exactly why we’re taking a private jet.”
CHRIS
I despised pretentious shit. Dinner parties, limousines, diamonds, and champagne had been my parents’ world. All they’d ever cared about was keeping up appearances. My father’s goal was to get richer, so he could always one-up his other rich buddies.
He’d never done anything philanthropic for the community—unless he could slap Blakely all over a building or in the press. I’d done my best to wipe away all memories of him. I refused to attend the charity events, though I sent hefty checks anonymously. I sold all his gaudy buildings and shady shell companies. I gave away all his Rolexes and Rolls and an entire fucking store of Armani suits.
That was one reason I’d gone into the military. I wore the same gear that every other soldier did. In that regard, I was the same.
But for once, I was fucking glad I had a fortune. So I could blow every single dollar on dazzling Shelby with the trip of a lifetime. If she’d never even sat in a limo before, then the rest of the trip was going to blow her fucking mind.
Kaleb kept her fluted glass filled with sparkling juice on the short drive to the private airfield. Her eyes rounded at the sight of the jet, especially the luxurious interior with swiveling comfortable leather chairs. Another team of people took over pampering her, offering her croissants and fancy egg bites once we were in the air.
