“Your sisters, at one point or another, all tried to talk me into reaching out to you, going to see you, but you were engaged. I wasn’t going to make a choice for you or take yours away. I needed you to figure out what you wanted and then follow through with it. Can I ask you a question . . .” he nods yes. “Would you have married her?”
“Honestly, probably. I just took the blame for all the lies she told. I wasn’t going to fail another person like I did you. I know she wasn’t you, I didn’t love her, and she knew that.” It hurt for him to say that, but I want honesty and that is what he gave me. “I may have married her, but I would have still loved you.”
“Okay. I think I am done sharing, there will be plenty of time to learn about our time apart, but I wanted the big stuff out of the way.”
“How did you know what Tara did?”
Oh, gosh. I had forgotten to tell him that. I explain about Timothy and my mom, and he holds me close as I grieve for her again. Then I tell him about my freak out and confession to Timothy and the evidence he brought me. “Remind me to thank him someday, but also to remind him you are spoken for.”
“He knows, he has always known I wasn’t available.” I kiss him. He deepens it but still doesn’t move to lay us back on the couch. He is still holding something back. “I am not going to break, I am fine,” I whisper against his lips.
“Are you sure?” My nod is enough because he picks me up and carries me to my room and makes love to me. The passion he ignites in my body, his touch and words turn me on so much. After, as he held me, I had no memories nagging me, no feelings of anxiety, just peacefulness and calm. He never let go of me all night long.
Chapter 33
Dustin
I held her all night, and I am not sure I slept that much. I was afraid I was going to wake up and she would be gone. I won’t admit that to her, I am done punishing her for what she needed to do, and I will eventually get over it as long as she stays by my side. My phone has been ringing for hours, and I had to silence it because she is sleeping so soundly. Not once did she wake up with the God awful night terrors she was plagued with, although she did warn me that they weren’t gone completely and probably never would be. I am relieved for her, but if she had them every night I would still lie next to her and hold her.
I stare at her and drink in the features that were once a distant memory. I want to wake her up and ravage her again. Just remembering how she let go and enjoyed herself last night with no remorse afterwards; I do believe she went to sleep with a smile on her face. That is my mission every night, I want her to fall asleep smiling and wake up elated to start a new day with me. I know I have to deal with the Tara situation, but I refuse to leave her side until she wakes up. I want to be the first person she sees, and I want her to want this forever. I promised her that once, and this time I am going to follow through.
I text Brielle and make sure Tara is off the property, and then I ask her to get a crew immediately and trash everything in my trailer except my clothes. I don’t want her to wonder about any surface of that place being tainted by Tara. Teryn starts to stir in my arms, and I kiss her forehead. She blinks her eyes a few times and smiles at me. “Good morning.”
“Yes, it is a good morning.”
“I could get used to waking up in your arms.”
“You are going to have to, this is your new routine.”
“Oh, is it? Well one thing you need to know is that my routine also includes coffee before I can do anything.”
I wrinkle up my nose. “Yuck. When did you start drinking that?”
“Since it gets colder than all get out in Wisconsin and after intense therapy sessions my night terrors were rampant, so caffeine got me through the day.”
“Your wish is my command once you teach me how to make it.”
“Oh, silly, it is so simple. Turn it on, wait for the red light to go off, pop a k-cup in that bitch, and brew my coffee.”
“Bitch? So you like cussing now?”
“I fucking love it.” I laugh when I hear her giggle, well that and that word coming out of her sweet mouth.
“Let’s get married,” I blurt out.
“Uh, weren’t you already supposed to do that tomorrow?”
“Ha-ha funny girl. I mean it, let’s do it.”
“Dustin, we are forever, but we don’t have to pledge that right now. We need time to be together where we are in a relationship as equals. I want to prove to you what I can bring to the table, and I want you to feel secure that you don’t have to support me every step of the way. There will be times when each of us stumble and fall, but we need to help the other up and move on.”
“Why can’t we do that married?”
“Uh, because I have a job here. We need to figure out how this works, are we going to date, and are you going back to school . . . see all the important life things we didn’t discuss last night.”
I jump out of bed. “Where are you going?”
“Coffee for my beauty so I can have her in a good mood and talk her into doing all those things together, but as husband and wife.” She just rolls her eyes, but I don’t want to wait. I want her by my side willingly and legally. I don’t know how to get her to understand that.
I bring her nasty ass coffee to her, and she is now sitting up in bed. “My phone has been blowing up all morning. Everyone is dying for you to come over so they can hog you.”
“Okay, we have all weekend . . . and every one after that,” she tells me sweetly.
“Don’t you mean every day after that? I am not a weekend type of guy, Teryn.”
“What do you suggest?”
“You marrying me, us building a house on my property, you getting pregnant and staying that way for as long as you want, happily ever after, oh and dinner on the table for your man when he gets home from work.”
“And what job is that, Mr. Parker?”
“I start the police academy in two weeks.” I realize I didn’t tell her any of this. “When I was in California, I was confused about what I wanted, but the draw of being a police officer wouldn’t leave me. I made the decision, and here we are.”
“You make it sound so easy,” she sighs at me.
“That is because it is. Do you love me?” She nods her head. “Do you ever plan on leaving me again?” She shakes her head no. “Then what is the problem?”
She shrugs. “Isn’t it kind of fast?”
“Why does it have a time frame? I can’t put into words why it is so important to me, but I want you legally bound to me. Maybe I am insecure, or maybe I am just selfish. I promise to take you on dates, and we will do everything dating couples do, but we will be married. Say yes, Teryn. Please.”
“Yes.”
I jump on the bed, and her coffee goes everywhere. “Guess we will have to get you out of these clothes.” I smirk at her.
“I guess so.”
We make it to Addison’s house much later, and I walk in the door and announce, “The wedding is on.” I watch them all stare at me like I have lost my mind, and then the anger and words start flying, so I pull Teryn to my side. “It is just happening with the right girl this time.” And the cheers and tears start.
I told her on the way over that I had the trailer cleaned out, and we made the decision for the next two weeks we will stay at her condo during the week. It is an easier commute for her to work, and then when I start the academy we will stay full time at the trailer until we build, and she will cut back to part time.
“Addison, can we get the name of the architect you all used?” She nods at me and tells Tyler to handle it.
She grabs my girl’s hand and hauls her away from me. “Where the hell are you taking her?” I snarl. She laughs at me and looks at Cambree.
“Did you think for one second about what we have to do for this wedding tomorrow? She needs a dress, shoes; we have to get food and drinks.”
“Uh, don’t we own a bar and restaurant and shouldn’t it all be taken care of from before?�
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Cambree starts laughing and Brielle actually has tears running down her face from laughing so hard. Addison is the only one with a straight face, “Do you really think we lifted a finger for that wedding? Y’all were going to eat mud pies and drink pool water. Not a fucking thing was ordered or planned.”
I stare at her in disbelief. “Are you kidding?”
“Nope, not even kind of. Gotta go, your girl has to pick out what she wants for her wedding.”
I watch as they pull her out the door, and the smile on her face makes me thank God my sisters were bitches. “You know they were lying . . . even if they didn’t approve of your bride they wouldn’t do that to you. They wanted Teryn to pick out her own stuff, make the choices, but they knew she wouldn’t if there was already stuff in place. Count your blessings, brother.” Mitch claps my shoulder, and I count my blessings.
My phone still hasn’t quit ringing, and I look down to see Tara calling. All fucking day. I step outside and answer it.
“It is about time you picked up the phone for your fiancé.” Is this girl that delusional? I thought I made myself pretty clear last night.
“My fiancé is with my sisters right now, planning our wedding. I made myself clear to you last night. We are done. You lied and manipulated me into a situation I never wanted with you. You made up a story about being raped and abused, Tara. That is fucking sick and beyond demented. There are actual abuse victims out there, and to think I was going to sacrifice my life to be with you, disgusts me. I will not repeat myself again. We are through. I don’t love you, I never did, and truth is I kind of hate you.”
“All I wanted was you, Dustin. Why can’t you forgive me?” Her tears won’t work anymore.
“All you want is the lifestyle, Tara. Go find another schmuk to manipulate because I am not that man.” I hang up and pray she gets the message this time.
Hours later the girls come walking in the door, arms full, and looking exhausted. “Teryn is staying at my house tonight,” Brielle announces.
“Bullshit,” I deadpan right back at her.
Teryn speaks up, “Brielle, I know you are keeping with tradition, but we are so unconventional, and I don’t want to be away from him. I know tomorrow I get him forever, but one night away from him is one too many.”
I walk towards her, and once I reach her, I tilt her chin up and look in her eyes, “I love you, forever.” She melts into me. I ask Max and Kayleigh to take her to my place because I want to speak to my siblings alone. Tyler and Colby get kid duty.
“What’s up?” Mitch asks.
“Thank you. For so many things, but right now thank you for being happy for me, for accepting this marriage so quickly, for knowing when I was making a mistake but letting me figure it out. But mostly, for loving Teryn as much as I do and making her feel comfortable with all that is happening. I was told earlier to count my blessings, and I do. You are all at the top of the list; right after Teryn and my dick.” I smile at them.
They all hug me, but Mitch pulls me to the side. “Dustin, I may have known about you for years, and followed your accomplishments and failures, but this last year being able to take a place in your life has been a dream come true. I love all of you the same, but you and Cambree are special to me. I got to watch you both grow into the adults you are now, and in this moment I couldn’t be more proud of you. You have taken some licks these past few years, struggled with some decisions, and fallen down on your face a time or two, but you picked yourself up, and when your future confronted you last night, you went after it and captured it with both hands. Don’t ever let go.” I just nod at him. I am too choked up to answer him. “See you tomorrow.”
Knowing when I walk in the door in a few moments Teryn will be there makes me pick up the pace. This may be sudden, but I was told by a wise man once, “It doesn’t matter what others think of you or think they know about you, what matters is the truth. Others don’t have to live your life, or follow the same path. You determine where you walk and who is by your side, and once you get a good woman, you never let her go.” That’s what I am doing, Granddad. I love you.
Chapter 34
Teryn
How in less than twenty-four hours did my whole world turn upside down, but yet still feel right side up? I don’t doubt what I agreed to do. I would do anything for Dustin Logan Parker. As long as he is by my side, I will trust every decision we make, no hesitation or regrets. His family is on board and over the moon about it. I want to make sure he isn’t pressured or having second thoughts. I never want him to have regrets about when or where we pledge our love.
He walks in looking relaxed and at peace. “Hey there, what has you so calm?”
“Knowing that tonight is the last night you won’t be my wife. Tomorrow I make my dreams come true, and there is no greater feeling than that.”
“Here I was worried you were having second thoughts,” I tell him, embarrassed by my thoughts.
“Hey, none of that. You are entitled to feel overwhelmed and unsure. Tell me what I can do. Are you having second thoughts?”
“Not at all, I just want you to be sure. You have been through hell and back in less than twenty-four hours, and I want you to be sure.”
“Teryn, I am surer of you than I am of my next breath. I didn’t go through hell in the last twenty-four hours. I walked out of hell and captured the girl who has had my heart for almost two years. I can feel it beat in my chest without feeling the pain it used to bring. So the hell I was in without you turned to pure fucking bliss with you.”
That, ladies and gentlemen, is the reason I am marrying this man. Well, that and his amazing abs, chest, arms, legs, eyes, smile, and huge loving heart. Also his eyes, they see right through me, and a year ago, when we were plagued with so many doubts, he was somehow sure we would end up here, even if he let himself forget it for a little while. He once believed in us enough it scared me, and now I believe in us enough not to be scared of what comes next. I once said he is my past, present, and future, and I will add now, he is my forever.
“You may rethink that when I tell you I told the minister today we aren’t doing traditional vows, but our own.”
“Can we compromise? It is important to me to have traditional vows, but I also want to incorporate our own vows.”
“God, I am so sorry, Dustin. I made that huge decision without you. What was I thinking?”
“Stop it! You didn’t do anything that can’t be changed, and this way we both get what we want. Nothing is too big to fix, nothing.”
I nod my head at him, and ask, “Why is it so important for you to have traditional vows?”
“I know you weren’t around when Brielle and Colby got married, but she did traditional vows, Addy and Tyler did their own, Cambree and Max did a mixture, and I want that, too. My grandparents did traditional vows, but mixing it up brings both aspects in, my grandparents who did such an amazing job with us, and then Addy and Brielle who took over.”
Will he always keep getting better? This larger than life man loves me and wants to marry me. “I love you.”
“Good, because you are marrying me tomorrow.”
There is absolutely no furniture in his trailer, it is stripped bare, so we make a pallet on blankets he got from Addison and Brielle and fall asleep entwined in each other.
Waking up in the morning knowing in a few short hours I will be a wife, a partner for life, allows me to skip my coffee. I kiss him good-bye and tell him I will see him at the altar and make my way to Cambree’s. We have to get ready here because Max won’t allow her to carry her make-up over to Brielle’s because she is pregnant. I find it cute, she finds it exasperating, but secretly she loves it.
I walk in and am bombarded with questions. Holy hell, let a woman catch her breath.
Cambree asks, “Are you going to go through with it?”
Addison is talking over her, “How do you want your hair?”
Brielle yells, “Don’t let her do your make-up”
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bsp; Kayleigh can barely be heard, “Are you nervous?”
I start laughing, and tell them, “Slow your roll. I am going through with it, I don’t care about my hair, I am not asking about why Addison can’t do my make-up, but whatever, and I am not nervous. Excited, overwhelmed, anxious, and so fucking happy I could scream, but definitely not nervous.”
Cambree hollers, “Hell!” and Max crashes through the door. “What is wrong, Camy?” She just gave him a heart attack, and I don’t know why.
“Teryn said the f bomb, and she didn’t even flinch.”
“Damn it, Cambree Baird, when this wedding is over I am going to cuff you to the bed, and you are not leaving it until you have my child. You scared the shit out of me yelling.”
“Cuffing me to the bed isn’t punishment, you moron. I don’t have to cook or clean, and you can take advantage of me when you want.” He shakes his head and walks back out of the door. I am so going to embrace the crazy.
They work their magic on me, and I don’t recognize myself. The glow I have is not from make-up, I am sure. One thing Dustin and I decided last night was that we were getting married at the lake. It was important for him to have his past and present solidify his future, and I couldn’t have agreed more. And nobody would walk me down the aisle, he was coming by and picking me up, and we would start this journey in our life together. Everyone has left, and I am waiting on him to get here. I am nervous to see what his reaction will be. Nothing about us is formal, so I just have on a champagne-colored dress that hits me right above my knees with an overlay of light pink lace. It is fitted, and it leaves my shoulder bare with tiny straps holding it up.
He walks in and stops. “Beautiful. I don’t think I will forget this moment as long as I live.” He takes my breath away with his love and adoration for me. Not that he looks too shabby himself. In white shorts that show off his tan muscular legs and a crisp blue shirt that sets his eyes ablaze, he is absolutely gorgeous.
“I never want to forget a moment of this day,” I tell him. He holds out his hand, and I take hold of it preparing to never let go. He kisses me gently, and I swear I will never get tired of the way he sets my nerve endings on fire and gives me butterflies in my stomach.
Parker Sibling Series Box Set Page 69
