Keeping Her

by Allie Everhart

  CONTENTS

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Chapter One - 1

  Chapter Two - 2

  Chapter Three - 3

  Chapter Four - 4

  Chapter Five - 5

  Chapter Six - 6

  Chapter Seven - 7

  Chapter Eight - 8

  Chapter Nine - 9

  Chapter Ten - 10

  Chapter Eleven - 11

  Chapter Twelve - 12

  Chapter Thirteen - 13

  Chapter Fourteen - 14

  Chapter Fifteen - 15

  Chapter Sixteen - Two Weeks Later

  Chapter Seventeen - 17

  Chapter Eighteen - One Week Later

  Chapter Nineteen - 19

  Chapter Twenty - 20

  Chapter Twenty-One - 21

  Chapter Twenty-Two - 22

  Chapter Twenty-Three - The Wedding

  Chapter Twenty-Four - 24

  Chapter Twenty-Five - 25

  Chapter Twenty-Six - The Following November

  Chapter Twenty-Seven - 27

  Chapter Twenty-Eight - August 22

  Keeping Her

  By Allie Everhart

  Keeping Her

  By Allie Everhart

  Copyright © 2015 Allie Everhart

  All rights reserved.

  Published by Waltham Publishing, LLC

  Cover Design by Sarah Hansen of Okay Creations

  This book is a work of fiction. The characters, things, and events are fictitious, and any similarities to real persons (live or dead), things, or events are coincidental and not intended by the author. Brand names of products mentioned in this book are used for reference only and the author acknowledges that any trademarks and product names are the property of their respective owners.

  The author holds exclusive rights to this work and unauthorized duplication is prohibited. No part of this book is to be reproduced in any form without written permission from the author.

  CHAPTER ONE

  1

  PEARCE

  Rachel and I just returned from Las Vegas. Royce flew us there on his private jet but we took a commercial flight home. We probably shouldn't have taken Royce's jet to Vegas. Nobody knew Rachel was on it, but if my father or one of the members ever found out, people would know Royce helped me elope and he'd be punished. I can't let that happen, which is why I played it safe and Rachel and I flew back on a regular plane.

  I need to keep Royce out of this. He came up with this plan and helped me execute it, and I don't want him to be harmed because of it. I don't want anyone suspecting he had any involvement in it. The story will be that Royce thought he and I were just having a guys' weekend in Vegas, but that I invited Rachel to meet me there without telling him.

  I've never liked Royce, but he actually did something nice for once and I need to protect him from any fallout. I'm sure he'll make me repay him someday and that's fine. After he helped me out like this, I owe him.

  "It feels like we've been gone for more than a few days," Rachel says.

  We landed in New Haven and are now on our way to Rachel's apartment. I had to hire someone to bring my car to the airport so I'd have it.

  "I wish we could've stayed longer," I say.

  "Me too."

  I glance over and see her smiling at me. She hasn't stopped smiling since the wedding. I love seeing her so happy. I wish her happiness could continue, but I know it won't. The next few weeks, or months, will be bad. My family. My so-called friends. Everyone I know will try to ruin this for us, and they'll do so by attacking Rachel. They'll berate her. Tell her she doesn't fit in my world. Try to turn her against me so she'll leave me.

  I'll do my best to shield Rachel from these things, but I can only do so much. It'll be pure hell for a while, for both of us. I've tried to warn her, but she won't truly understand what I mean until she's actually living it. Until she's actually experienced that side of my life that she hasn't yet been exposed to.

  Part of me wants to take her away from all that. Start somewhere new. Begin an entirely new life with her and leave my past life behind.

  I know I can't do that. The organization would never let me. They'd track me down and drag me back here and punish me for trying to leave. They own me. They own my life, or at least the part of it Rachel doesn't know about.

  And then there's my father. I don't even want to think what his punishment would be if I ran off with Rachel. The punishment for marrying her will be bad enough. I have no idea what he's going to do to me. I'm sure he's heard the news by now. He doesn't watch TV but I'm sure someone's told him.

  I feel Rachel squeeze my hand. "Pearce. Are you awake over there?"

  "Yes." I smile at her, then focus back on the road. "I'm just tired from the trip. It was a long flight."

  "I think our lack of sleep the last couple nights might've had something to do with why you're so tired."

  "I think you're right." My mood lifts for a moment as I think back to last weekend. Rachel and I never left the hotel room. And she's correct when she said we didn't sleep much. Our time was spent in bed, but not sleeping.

  It was pure heaven. And now we're heading to hell.

  "I can't believe that's the first time you've ever flown commercial," she says.

  I merge into the turn lane. "We've always had the jet, so there was no need for me to fly commercial. Besides, my father wouldn't be caught dead on a regular plane. He thinks it's beneath him."

  "Has your mother ever been on one?"

  "Yes. Before they were married, my mother travelled a lot. Her family also had a jet, but if it wasn't available she'd fly commercial. First class, of course."

  "First class was incredible," Rachel says with a happy sigh. "I never thought I'd fly first class."

  "Well, that's all you'll be flying now. Or we'll take the private jet."

  "I don't know, Pearce. I don't feel safe on those tiny planes. You saw how nervous I was on Royce's plane."

  I rub her hand. "I thought you were nervous because of the wedding, not the plane."

  She shifts in her seat, turning toward me. "I wasn't nervous at all about the wedding. I was surprised by your proposal, but once the shock wore off and you explained why we needed to elope, I was all in."

  "So you don't regret it?"

  "Pearce." I look over and see her smile is gone. "Of course I don't regret it. Don't even say that. I love you, and I'm ready to start our life together." She pauses. "Are you having regrets?"

  "Absolutely not." I bring her hand to my mouth and kiss it. "Marrying you is the best decision I've ever made."

  Her smile returns. "Mine was calling your number."

  "My number?" I turn onto her street, stopping as the light at the intersection turns red. "What do you mean?"

  "Back in September, after you gave me your business card, I almost didn't call you."

  I glance at her. "After a week had passed, I assumed you never would."

  "You were waiting for me to call?"

  "Waiting and hoping. I barely got any work done that week. I couldn't stop thinking about you. I wanted to see you again, but I didn't have your phone number." The light turns green and I continue toward Rachel's apartment building. "So what made you decide to call?"

  "Shelby talked me into it. I didn't think you'd ever agree to go out with me, but she said I should at least ask. And good thing she did or I may have never called you."

  It's ironic that Shelby is the one who talked Rachel into calling me, given how much Shelby tried to keep me away from her. But if Shelby had known it was me Rachel was calling, she would've told Rachel not to do it. She would've talked her out of it.

  We're parked now and Rachel takes her seat belt off. "It's strange that I'm not going to li
ve here anymore."

  "It's not strange. It's good," I say, just as two men walk by on the sidewalk. They look like they just got out of prison. "You'll finally be out of this neighborhood."

  I step out of the car and the two men turn back, eyeing my Mercedes. I stare at them, and when they notice me doing so, they glance away. I go around and open Rachel's door and help her out.

  "I'll hire movers to get the rest of your things," I tell Rachel as I take her hand and we walk to her building. "I don't want you coming back here." I keep my eyes on those two men, who keep glancing back at my car.

  "I don't need movers." She unlocks the door to her building and we go inside. "I don't have much stuff. It won't take me long to pack everything and load it into my car. And I'm not packing everything yet. I'll still be coming back here during the day between classes."

  We're walking up the stairs and I stop her. "Rachel, if you need a place to go between classes, I'll get you a different place. A safer place."

  She laughs. "Pearce, you're being crazy. I'm not renting a place for a month just so I can use it for a few hours."

  We continue up the stairs. "Did you see those two men out there? I don't trust them and I don't want you around them."

  "What men? I don't know who you're talking about."

  "They walked by when we got here. They kept looking back at us. They looked like criminals."

  "You shouldn't make judgments about people based on how they look. And you usually don't, which is one of the many reasons I love you." She stops briefly to kiss me.

  Her refusal to see people for what they are is extremely frustrating. She only wants to see the good in people, refusing to believe that anyone is truly bad. She thinks bad people just need to be given a chance and they'll suddenly turn good. She doesn't realize that some people are just plain bad and always will be. There's no hope for them. They have no desire to change. I know this because I know people who truly are bad. My father, for one.

  When we get to the door of Rachel's apartment, Shelby's door swings open and she bursts into the hall. "Rachel, where have you been? I haven't seen you for days and I was getting worried."

  "I was with Pearce." She motions to me with her left hand.

  Shelby grabs Rachel's hand, looking at her ring. "Oh my God! Did you get engaged?"

  Rachel pauses like she forgot the fake story for a moment. But then she remembers and smiles. "Yes! Pearce and I are engaged."

  "Congratulations!" Shelby hugs her, and as she does, she scowls at me and mouths the words 'What the fuck?'

  I knew she'd be angry. But I told Shelby I wanted a future with Rachel so she shouldn't be surprised. And Shelby knows how much Rachel and I love each other, so she needs to stop interfering and focus on her own life.

  When the two of them break apart, Shelby extends her hand to me. "Congratulations, Pearce."

  I shake her hand. "Thank you."

  This is awkward. It's the first time the three of us have been together since Rachel found out I slept with Shelby.

  Rachel glances between Shelby and me. I step closer to Rachel and put my arm around her and kiss the top of her head. I don't want Rachel even thinking I have any kind of feelings for Shelby. Maybe she isn't thinking that, but even so, I want to make it very clear to Rachel that she is the only woman for me.

  Rachel looks up at me and smiles, then looks back at Shelby. "So how's your dad?"

  "He's doing better. I mean, he's not getting better. He's still terminal, but this new medication he's on is helping with the pain."

  "So that doctor was able to help? What was his name again?"

  "Logan," she says. "Well, Dr. Cunningham. I call him Logan." She blushes a little. Why is she blushing? "Anyway, he's really smart and seems to know what he's doing."

  "Is he still in town?" I ask her.

  "No, but he's coming back in a few days to check on my dad. He said he'll probably come check on him twice a week."

  Twice a week? I assumed Logan would just give her father some pills and that would be it. I didn't think he'd continue to make home visits.

  "You'll have to let me know when he's here again," I say. "I'd like to meet him for coffee and catch up. I haven't seen him in years."

  "You could come by the house next time he's here."

  "I don't want to disturb your family. Your father needs his rest."

  "Actually, my dad was wondering if you'd stop by so he could thank you for introducing us to Logan. I mean, Dr. Cunningham."

  I can't be going to Shelby's house. That would be overstepping boundaries. We can't have outside contact with the associates, although I've already broken that rule several times.

  "Tell your father it's not necessary. There's no need to thank me. I was happy to help."

  "He really wants to meet you," Shelby says. "My mom does too."

  "You should go," Rachel says to me. "I'll go with you." She looks at Shelby. "If that's okay."

  "Yeah, that'd be great. My mom keeps saying she wants to meet you. I told her I have this weird friend who hugs everyone she meets." Shelby smiles. "Maybe you guys could stop by next weekend, after all the holiday stuff is over. By the way, what are you doing for Thanksgiving?"

  Rachel looks at me. "We're going to my parents' house."

  "I bet you've never been to Indiana," Shelby says to me.

  "No. I never have." I smile at Rachel. "I'm looking forward to it."

  I told Rachel I'd go to Indiana with her for Thanksgiving, but I'm not sure if I can. I need to deal with my parents first. They'll be furious when they find out I got married, so I may have to stay here and deal with the fallout rather than go to Indiana with Rachel. But for now, I'm planning on going.

  Shelby looks at us both. "Did you guys go out of town? Is that why you haven't been around?"

  "We were in Las Vegas for—" Rachel stops before she says any more.

  We weren't going to tell people we went to Vegas because if we did, they'd assume we got married, and that needs to remain a secret, at least to people like Shelby. We'll tell our families, and when we do, my father will tell the organization, but other people can't know.

  "We just went for the weekend." Rachel opens her door. "I need to use the bathroom. I'll be right back."

  She goes in her apartment, and when the door shuts, Shelby glares at me and whispers, "You MARRIED her?"

  "We're not married," I say casually. "We're engaged."

  "Don't lie to me, Pearce." She's still whispering. "I know you married her. Why else would you go to Vegas?"

  "There was no other way," I say quietly. "You know the rules."

  "Are you saying they can't do anything now that you two are married?"

  "I don't know, but you need to stay the hell out of it. You need to go along with the engagement story and you need to act happy about it. If you don't, she'll assume your negative attitude means there's something going on between us. She's still upset about finding your earring. She says she's over it, but I know she's not. So you need to stop being so angry and be happy for us."

  Shelby glances at Rachel's door, then back at me. "You love her, right?"

  "More than anything."

  "And you'll protect her?"

  "With my life."

  "You'll make her happy?"

  "I'll spend the rest of my days trying."

  She sighs and rolls her eyes. "Fine. Then I guess you kinda, sorta have my blessing. Not completely, but maybe if you give her a baby someday, I'll give you the rest of it. If she can't have one, then adopt one. She really wants a baby."

  I half smile. "I'll see what I can do."

  The baby issue is one Rachel and I haven't yet discussed, but Shelby's right. More than anything, Rachel wants a child someday. But she's been told she can't have one. And I don't want children. I would make a terrible father, and if I ever had children, they'd be forced into my world. They'd be part of the organization and I won't let that happen.

  I thought Shelby knew this, but apparently she
doesn't, or she doesn't fully understand the rules, because if she did, she wouldn't be telling me to have a child with Rachel.

  Rachel appears again. "Pearce, we should probably start packing."

  "You're moving?" Shelby asks her.

  "Now that we're engaged, I decided to move into Pearce's loft."

  "It'll be easier that way," I say, giving Shelby a look, reminding her not to interfere.

  She gets my look and smiles at Rachel. "I'll miss you, but I totally understand. You need to be with your fiancé."

  Rachel hugs her. "We'll still be friends. I'll call you every day, and we'll meet for lunch or go out for coffee, okay?"

  "Yeah." Shelby opens her door. "I need to go, but I'll talk to guys later. If I don't see you again this week, have a nice Thanksgiving."

  "You too," Rachel says.

  Shelby goes into her apartment and Rachel and I go into hers. As she's walking to the kitchen, I grab her from behind and wrap my arms around her.

  "Pearce." She's laughing. "What are you doing?"

  "I was stuck on that plane for hours." I trail kisses down her neck. "I finally have you alone."

  She turns around, smiling. "We don't have time for that. I have to pack and then I need to study."

  "You can do that later," I say, kissing her. Just the feel of her lips immediately turns me on. We spent the past two days doing it, but somehow it wasn't enough. I press myself against her. "I want to be with my wife."

  She smiles even more. "Okay, but we have to be quick."

  "Don't rush me," I say, my lips brushing against her ear. "I don't like being rushed." I place my hands around her waist and slowly lift her sweater up and over her head. It's a light blue cashmere sweater that my personal shopper picked out. Rachel would have a fit if she knew how much it cost, but she needs to get over it. She needs to get used to the fact that money is no longer a concern.

  Even if my father disowns me, I still have my trust fund, and it contains more money than we'll ever need. When I turned 21, I was given full access to it. The money is officially mine and my father can't touch it. And now it's Rachel's money as well and she can spend it as she chooses.