Love Entwined

by M. C. Decker

  Wiping a few tears from her eyes, she said, “I’ll give you two a few minutes before joining you.”

  I exited the room and walked a few feet down the hall before coming to a stop at the bridal suite. Taking a deep breath, I lightly knocked before hearing my daughter telling me to enter.

  I slowly opened the door and Ireland was correct—the vision of my daughter before me took my breath away. She was absolutely stunning, every inch the belle of the ball in her white, satin gown. The strapless bodice was lined with a sheer layer of cream lace and the skirt was puffy just as I had imagined it would be.

  “You look just like Cinderella, princess,” I said, wrapping her in my arms.

  “Thank you, Daddy,” she said, twirling around me. “And, look at my shoes, we even found glass slippers. Well they aren’t actually glass, but you know what I mean.”

  “I’m not at all surprised, Lexi. After watching Cinderella with you more times than I care to remember, I’m honestly shocked that your dress isn’t blue,” I said with a smirk.

  “I tried, but Mom told me no,” she laughed.

  “Seriously, Lex. You’re beautiful—both inside and out. It seems like my little girl grew up in just the blink of an eye—probably faster than I would’ve liked. Although I never wanted to admit it, I knew Shawn would be the one to steal you away from me. He’s a good kid, Lex. I know he’ll love and cherish you the way you deserve. And, if he doesn’t, he’ll know he has to answer to me.”

  “He will, Dad.”

  “I love you, princess,” I said, giving her a gentle kiss on the forehead.

  “I love you, too, Daddy. You’ll always be the first man I ever loved.”

  There was a knock at the door before Ireland let herself in and came toward us. “Can I join you two?” she asked.

  “Always,” I said, pulling both my wife and daughter into my arms. “My two favorite women. I love you both so much. You, Tanner, and Grant are my entire life. I can’t even begin to imagine my life without you. I remind myself every day what a lucky man I am. Trust me, I know how easy it is to lose that all in the blink of an eye.”

  I could tell Ireland was trying to contain her tears, “We love you too, Bentley. You’re the glue that keeps our family together.”

  “Are you two done? I’m not using waterproof mascara, and I don’t want to look like a linebacker before I begin my walk down the aisle,” Lexi piped up.

  “That was a mistake, Lex. If you don’t think you’re going to tear up the minute you see Shawn, then you’re delusional. I remember the moment seeing your father on our wedding day. I instantly lost it. He’s always been so handsome in a tux,” she said, picking a piece of lint from my shoulder.

  “Hate to break up this family trip down memory lane, but I don’t think we should keep my son waiting at the altar,” Katie said, barging into the room.

  “Did you forget how to knock, Katheryn?” I chortled.

  “Save it, Roberts. I’m just looking out for my son—being a good momma bear,” she said with a mock glare.

  “Can you believe our two kids are actually tying the knot?” Ireland asked.

  “Actually, yes. I mean I hate to remind you, but I’m pretty sure I actually called this while they were still cooking.”

  “Did she just refer to Shawn and me like we’re turkeys?” Lexi asked with a wide grin.

  “That she did. Are you sure you really want this one to be your mother-in-law?” I asked, gesturing toward Katie. “There’s still time to run. I parked the truck by the back door—just in case you changed your mind.”

  “I’m sure, Dad, but I love that you’re always looking out for me.”

  “Always,” I said, linking arms with my beautiful daughter—not quite ready to give her away, but knowing I didn’t really have a choice.

  Ireland

  I smiled from the side of the room with tears in my eyes, as my husband and daughter waltzed around the dance floor to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” during the traditional father/daughter dance. Their relationship was special—a bond between a father and a daughter that should and could never be broken. Ever since he first laid eyes on her, she’d had him wrapped around her tiny, little finger. In his eyes, Lexi could do no wrong. Even when she was skipping school, and sneaking out of the house to visit Shawn in the middle of the night—she could do no wrong.

  Luckily, our daughter had grown up and had become a beautiful, successful young woman. I still thought she was rushing into marriage a bit too soon, but I knew in my heart that she belonged with Shawn. Thinking back on it, if my life hadn’t thrown me the curve ball that it had, I probably would’ve married Bentley barely out of high school myself.

  “Should we go show them up?” Grant asked, approaching me from behind.

  “I’m not sure who’d be more upset, your sister or your father. They both like being the center of attention,” I said, giving him a big grin. “But, you don’t have to ask me twice.”

  “That’s what I like to hear. Let’s show ‘em what we got, Mom,” he said, linking his elbow with mine as he escorted me to the dance floor.

  We swayed around the room for several minutes before Grant dipped and twirled me, just as we’d practiced in the middle of the living room all those years earlier when he’d barely reached my waist.

  I saw Bentley approach Grant from behind and tap on his shoulder. “May I cut in?” he asked.

  “That’s up to Mom,” he said, grinning at me.

  “Well, I suppose I could be persuaded to dance with you, Sir,” I said, as Bentley reached for my hand.

  “That’s good because I can be very persuasive,” he said, placing his hands on my hips as we began to move as one to the rhythm of the music.

  “Better not let my husband see us. He can be the rather jealous type,” I whispered in his ear.

  “I can’t say as I blame him. Every man in this room has his eyes locked on you.”

  “Well the only set of eyes I care about are yours,” I said, placing a gentle kiss on his lips.

  We swayed across the dance floor for several minutes, both lost in each other, until a tap on my shoulder interrupted our dance.

  “Aren’t they just beautiful,” Katie said, pointing toward Lexi and Shawn who were now showing off their skills on the dance floor. The lessons they’d taken before the wedding had really paid off. They did look so graceful out there as if they were just floating together as one.

  “They are perfect,” I said. “I think we all did a good job.”

  As if right on cue, Greg walked up carrying a silver tray with four flutes filled with only the best champagne.

  “I figured we all deserved this after putting up with those two for twenty years,” he chortled.

  “To us,” I said, taking a glass and clinking it against the others.

  “And to Bentley for not killing my son,” Katie added with a laugh.

  “There’s still time,” Bentley said with a grin.

  “What are you all laughing about,” Lexi asked as they’d come over to join us.

  “Just talking about what beautiful grandbabies you’re going to give us,” Katie lied.

  “Mom, please don’t start in on that already,” Shawn pleaded.

  “Shawn, have I ever told you what a smart young man you’ve become,” Bentley said.

  “Oh my god, Dad. It’s my wedding day. You promised you wouldn’t embarrass me,” Lexi added.

  “I don’t recall any such agreement, Lex,” Bentley shrugged.

  “Just let it go, Lex. You know he won’t admit it,” I laughed.

  “You’re right. But, we came over here because he wanted to thank you both for letting us use the cabin in Tennessee for our honeymoon. We both have so many memories down there and we know you all do too.”

  “That we do,” Bentley said, pulling me in closer to him. “So many memories have been created within those four walls. I know your grandma and grandpa would want you both to use the cabin and enjoy it.”

&nb
sp; “I wish they could be with us today. I really miss them,” Lexi said, sadness in her voice.

  “Me too, princess. Me too,” Bentley said, pulling Lexi into our embrace. The three of us hugged and shed a few tears before letting our daughter go.

  “Thank you,” I said, putting my head on Bentley’s chest as we continued to sway to the music.

  “You’re welcome, but I have no idea why you’re thanking me,” he admitted.

  “Thank you for giving me my children, my family—a home. You reminded me that I didn’t need to go through life alone—that I didn’t need to constantly live in fear of loss. You never let me forget that our love has always entwined us,” I said, reaching up to capture his lips with my own. “I love you, James Bentley Roberts. Never forget how much I love you.”

  “I could never forget you. You’re a part of me, Shamrock. Even if my memory should ever again fail me—in my heart, I will always love and remember you.”

  First and foremost, I want to thank my readers—you amaze me every single day. Without you, I wouldn’t have continued on this writing journey. Your daily messages are the highlight of many of my days. The friendships I have made with many of you, I know will last a lifetime. For that I’m truly grateful. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, there are so many wonderful books to choose from and I’m truly honored that you took the time to read mine. Thank you for the bottom of my heart!

  To my beta readers: Kelly Williams (#JasonsLover), Katie Monson (#BusDriver), Jillian Toth, Julie Monaco (#JuicyJDavis), Susan Rayner, and Aubrea Ziegelgruber (#SisterWife)—thank you for helping me dig deeper and making Love Entwined a much more polished story. You answered my unending questions and in the process have become six of my dearest friends. Thank you and I love you all more than you will ever know!

  To my Nachos: Gia Riley and Mandi Beck—thank you for keeping me grounded during this process and for really just being you. I would be lost in this world without you. You’ve become two of my very best friends. Thank you for your support, ideas and friendship.

  To Kylie and staff at Give Me Books—thank you for helping me with the behind-the-scenes work with my cover reveal and release blitz. You have no idea how much your support means to me.

  To all of the amazing ladies who worked to beautify Love Entwined: my fabulous cover designer, Kari Ayasha at Cover to Cover Designs, for always taking my visions and turning them into realities; Lauren Perry of Perrywinkle Photography for the beautiful cover photo—you truly are such a talent; and Christine Borgford of Perfectly Publishable for the stunning inside formatting—thank you!

  To some of the most incredible indie authors I’ve met during this journey. Riley Mackenzie, Tori Madison, BL Berry, Isabelle Richards, J.D. Hollyfield, Tia Louise, Stephanie Rose, Adriana Locke, RE Hunter, Kennedy Ryan, and the Indie Chicks Rock clan. Thank you for your stories, advice and friendship. There aren’t enough words to express my appreciation. Love you all!

  To the bloggers who have shared in the cover reveal, reviewed and promoted Love Entwined—none of this would be possible without your constant hard work and dedication. Your support humbles me on a daily basis—thank you!

  Christina Rhoads, thank you for being you. Thank you for loving my stories and my characters more than I think I even do at times. Thank you for reminding me why I do what I do. I could go on and on, but just know you are a special person and deserve the very best out of life. I heart you, Lady!

  My husband, Brian, for his support during my writing journey. For listening to me whine and giving me advice when it’s needed. Thank you and I love you!

  To my dad—thank you and your librarian ways for showing me at a young age that books could be pretty cool. You’ve always supported my ideas, some crazier than others, and I’ll be forever grateful. I love you!

  Please feel free to join my Facebook group, M.C. Decker’s Books, to talk about Love Entwined as well as the books in the Unspoken Series.

  Also, enjoy the playlist I created for Love Entwined.

  M.C. Decker is the author of the Unspoken Series and the newly released standalone novel, Love Entwined. She lives in a suburb of Flint, Michigan with her husband, Brian, and spoiled-rotten Siamese cat, Simon. For the last decade, she has worked as a journalist for several community newspapers in Michigan. She enjoys all things ’80s and ’90s pop culture: movies, boy bands, music and especially the color, hot pink. She also strictly lives by the motto, “Life is better in flip flops,” and is a diehard Detroit Tigers fan.

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  OTHER BOOKS:

  Unwritten

  Unscripted

  The Unwritten Duet Box Set

  Unwrapped

  Turn the page to read an excerpt from Unwritten

  UNWRITTEN

  October 2011

  There was a limousine waiting for me when I exited the terminal at Dulles International Airport, just a little after daybreak. I’d only ridden in a limo once before and it had been with him. I never imagined a potential employer going to such extremes for an interviewee. First, I received first-class boarding passes and now a stretch Hummer with my very own driver. This was certainly a few hundred steps above my current, small-town, reporting gig.

  Even while riding in the lap of luxury, I couldn’t shake the butterflies fighting in my stomach, or the incredibly sweaty palms that I kept wiping on my navy, pinstriped, pencil skirt. Thankfully, I decided to forgo breakfast before catching the red-eye out of Detroit. That would’ve made the butterfly situation a whole lot worse.

  I could do this. I should have researched the editor, Davis, a bit more. Why didn’t I think of doing it two days earlier? Where was the brown paper bag when you needed it? They were always so readily available to the broken heroines in the kinky romance novels that I enjoyed reading.

  After what seemed to be a short drive, the limo began to slow down in front of a large building with oversized, tinted glass windows. Both an American flag and the flag of Washington D.C. flanked the entrance of my destination, the home of the Washington Post. Before the car came to a stop, I wiped my sweaty palms one final time, pulled my compact from my purse, applied a light pink lip gloss and took a deep breath. Showtime!

  My driver came around and escorted me from the car. For that I was thankful, as I’m not sure my nervous, wobbly legs could have survived my new ankle-strap, cream leather Louboutins that I purchased just for this interview. Sure, they may have cost me half an entire paycheck, but I wanted to look the part of an up-and-coming Washington reporter. My new shoes paired nicely with the vintage Valentino suit jacket that I found on clearance at my favorite consignment store and with my favorite go-to, pencil skirt.

  I made my way up the front stairs, opened the heavy doors and headed toward the receptionist’s desk. There sat a young blonde with what appeared to be a fake rack and an even faker tan.

  “Hi, I’m Brooke … Brooke Anderson. I’m here for an interview with Mr. Davis.”

  The much-too-perky female handed me a visitor’s badge and directed me to the twelfth floor where I was to ask for Mr. Davis’s secretary, Caroline. I waited at the elevators for what seemed like an eternity before the doors opened and a group of people pressed forward.

  A few suits exited the elevator on the sixth floor before the doors, pinging open on the twelfth floor, snapped me out of my nervous trance. I straightened my skirt and began to exit the elevator when I collided with all solid muscle and six feet three inches of him. And, that smell – why did this man smell so familiar? … I hadn’t smelled that perfect scent since … it’s then that I looked up and was greeted by those teal eyes. I’d never forget those eyes – those eyes that I never believed I would gaze into again. It was immediate déjà vu. I’d met him like this once before, only eleven years earlier. I had been a young and naïve student with so much to learn about life, love and
heartache. I felt my heart begin to race and I feared that it might actually leap from my chest.

  I thought it was too late for us. I thought our story had already been written. …

  PART ONE:

  September 2000

  I remember the first time I saw him, stepping off the elevator, on my way to journalism class, chatting with my best friend Cassidy and not paying too much attention; that’s when I collided with all six feet three inches of all solid-man muscle. Against my tiny, five feet three inch frame, it felt like I had hit a solid brick wall.

  Standing against his chest, I couldn’t help but breathe in his intoxicating scent – a mix between Giorgio Armani’s Acqua Di Gio and Irish Spring Body Wash. What can I say? I know my fragrances. I worked at a drugstore the previous summer and all my male friends from high school wanted my advice on the cologne that would be sure to “get them laid.” I would always tell them Acqua Di Gio. After all, it was almost a sure thing. In fact, just this man’s heady scent alone was making my lady parts pool with desire.

  I remember peeling myself back and looking up into his striking, tealish blue eyes which reminded me of the deepest depths of the ocean. Those eyes alone stopped me dead in my tracks. And, let’s not forget his perfectly chiseled jaw and Hollywood smile and that shaggy, messed-up, yet perfectly styled, chocolate brown hair. He was my ideal man … until he opened his mouth.

  “Hey, can you watch where you’re going? You’re going to make me late for my class.”

  “Ugh, underclassmen, never paying attention,” he continued under his breath.

  I stood just inches away from him, utterly speechless. I wasn’t sure if it was because of my awe over his perfect male beauty, or because he was such a dickface. Probably a combination of both, I would guess.

  “Wow, you don’t have to be a complete jackass,” Cassidy yelled back in my defense.

  I made a mental note to thank her later before finally talking, “Shhh, Cass, it’s not worth it. He’s not worth it.”

  Well, so much for that. Dream over and let the nightmare begin! I went from feeling an instant, butterflies-in-my-tummy attraction to an instant sense of dreaded annoyance. To make matters worse – much worse – I followed him right into room 208 and straight into my Journalism 101 course.