by Dania Voss
Luke chuckled and took the little blue velvet box out of the bag and held it in his hands. “No reason to cry, princess,” he whispered.
Luke flipped the box top open and inside was the most beautiful if not most enormous princess-cut diamond engagement ring Abbey had ever seen. The center stone had to be ten carats with ten small diamonds set down along each side of the band. Even the center stone prongs had diamonds set inside them. She assumed, knowing Luke, it was a platinum setting. It must have been the bathroom lighting, but she’d never seen anything sparkle so brightly. He wants to marry me.
“In case you were wondering and so you can brag to everyone we know, a seven-carat princess-cut center stone, two carats’ worth of round side stones and almost another carat’s worth of round stones around the center stone prongs, platinum, and all the stones are colorless and flawless. Flawless, just like you.” Luke removed the ring out of the box and took her left hand in his, his warmth enveloping her.
Abbey shook. Her heart pounded in her chest. Oh my God. This was it. Luke was proposing.
“This reboot weekend hasn’t gone exactly as I had hoped, but one thing hasn’t changed. I love you, Abbey. More than anything in this world. I always have and I know in my heart and soul I always will. You’d make me the happiest man in universe if you’d agree to be my wife.” He looked at her. Hope and expectation gleamed in those sparking blue eyes of his.
“You want to marry me?” Abbey didn’t know why she asked him that. She wanted to marry him. Had dreamed of this day since they day they met so many years ago. She was nervous, maybe a little afraid too.
Luke kissed the palm of her left hand and slid the ring onto her ring finger. Perfect fit. Of course. “Shacking up with you and having babies isn’t an option for me, princess. You’re mine. I want a ring on your finger and the paperwork to prove it. Will you marry me, baby?”
“Your ten minutes are up, asshole!” Jake pounded on the door.
“Fuck off! I’m busy! Baby? Will you?” Luke chuckled, waiting for her reply.
Abbey giggled as Jake continued pounding on her suite door. Poor guy. He’d have to wait a minute. She wrapped her arms around Luke and squeezed tight. “Yes, I’ll marry you. I love you so much. Of course I will.” Abbey felt Luke sigh in relief. Did he think she’d say no?
“Luke, I mean it! Open this door right now. I’m serious!”
Luke stood and helped Abbey off the couch. He took her by the hand and led her to the suite door. “Hold your fucking horses a minute! Here we come.”
Chapter Twelve
Luke followed his new fiancée into Jake and Cassie’s suite and clicked the door closed. That’s right, I’m locking that shit down. He intended on getting married as quickly as possible. No drawn-out engagement like his big brother Jake. Nope.
Seated around the large living room, in various chairs and couches, were the people who meant the most to him. His family. He looked around and between him and Abbey, Rocco, both sets of parents, Darren and Maureen, Leah, Heath, and the newlyweds he counted only thirteen. Grandma Ruth and Grandma Beverly were missing.
Jake paced in the center of the room. “Nice of you to fucking join us. Didn’t I tell you ten minutes, Luke?”
Shit. Jake was angry. He needed to calm him down. “Look Jake, know you’re pissed…”
Jake stopped pacing and clenched his hands. “Just shut the fuck up, will you? I’m doing the talking right now.”
Damn. Luke put his hands up in surrender. Abbey guided him to chairs closest to the suite door and they sat down.
Abbey looked around the room and frowned. “I’m sorry, Jake, but where are the grandmothers?”
Cassie urged Jake to sit down next to her so they faced everyone in the room. “They were so upset by the fucking circus after brunch, we sent them to the spa to calm down.”
Everyone startled at the pounding on the suite’s door. “Open this damn door! We know you’re all in there!” That was Grandma Ruth.
“That’s right! Did you think you could just shuffle us off? We’ve got news for you, you can’t!” And there went Grandma Beverly.
Christ, what a clusterfuck. Luke leaped up and opened the door. Both grandmothers stormed in, looking as angry as Jake.
“See, I told you Bev. They’re all here,” Grandma Ruth accused.
Jake stood up and calmly walked over to the Ruth and Beverly, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. “Ladies, why aren’t you at the spa?”
Was Jake serious? Didn’t he see the grandmothers were angry at being left out of their family meeting? Even Luke understood. And rightly so. Ruth and Beverly were tough old birds. Their minds were still sharp, and they were in decent health considering their advancing age. Come on, Jake, don’t be a dick. Treat them like adults.
Both ladies pulled away from Jake. “Screw the spa. Don’t treat us like we’re frail and feeble minded. We’re an important part of this family and we should be right here along with everyone else.” Ruth nodded once and looked at Beverly who nodded back in agreement.
Jake, the dope he was, wouldn’t let it go. “But we didn’t want to upset you any more than you already were. The conversation will get heated. I guarantee it.”
Grandma Beverly waved a hand dismissively. “So what? You think we haven’t heard curse words before or used them ourselves? Shit, fuck, asshole, bitch.”
Luke couldn’t help but smile. Let him have it, Grandma Bev.
“Prick, cock, crap, balls,” Grandma Ruth added. “So enough with the shit and let’s get this meeting started.”
Jake threw his hands up in defeat. “Fine. I’m sorry for excluding you, even though I thought I was being considerate. It won’t happen again. Come on, there’s room there on the couch beside Rocco.”
Both grandmothers sat down, with Rocco on one end of the couch and Grandma Ruth on the other. “We noticed you spending time with the pretty event planner Hannah at the reception.” Grandma Beverly waggled her eyebrows at Rocco.
The big Italian Marine blushed and suddenly found the floor terribly interesting. “Jake and Cassie had us seated at the same table,” he mumbled.
“Yes, we saw that. You should ask her out on a date,” Ruth added.
Beverly shook her head. “No, it’s called hooking up now, Ruth. That’s what the young people call it.”
“Oh. Well then you two should hook up on a date.” Ruth smiled brightly at Rocco and nodded at him.
God, he loved these women. What a riot. The room laughed at poor Rocco’s expense.
“Gram, hooking up means having sex,” Jake explained with a smile on his face.
“Hannah is a lovely girl. She’s beautiful and has a nice figure. Don’t you want to have sex with her, Rocco?” Beverly asked with all seriousness.
Luke thought Rocco would pass out from embarrassment. He needed to help his buddy out. “Bev, Rocco’s bringing Hannah to Jake and Cassie’s after they get back from their honeymoon. To their wedding gift-opening party, as his date.”
Grandma Beverly patted Rocco’s leg happily. “That’s wonderful news! You can have hooking up sex with her after the party then.”
“But be safe. Use condoms. You can get them at Walmart. They’re not very expensive,” Ruth advised a beet-red Rocco.
Rocco nodded his head, looking mortified. “Yes, ma’am.”
After the laughter died down, Jake cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention. Luke wanted to start by apologizing to everyone, but his princess shook her head at him.
Jake held Cassie’s hand and looked around the room. “Now that that’s settled, we can start this family meeting or, to use Darren’s term, our family press conference.”
Luke needed to speak up. Sorry, princess. “Look Jake, I’m…”
Jake glared at Luke and put a hand up to stop him. “Can’t you just shut the fuck up for once? I’m doing the talking right now.”
Luke closed his mouth. So much for trying to apologize.
Jake continued. “T
he reason Cassie and I called this meeting or press conference is because we’re sick of all the secrets that everyone’s been keeping from us all weekend. It stops. Now.”
Cassie kissed Jake sweetly on the cheek, love radiating between the newlyweds. “We know it’s our wedding weekend and you’ve all been trying to be considerate of that. Jake and I appreciate that, we do.”
“But,” Jake cut in, “we’re not fucking children. If there is something important going on with any of you, you need to come clean right away. It doesn’t matter whatever else is going on. We’re all adults and we’ll fucking deal with it. Understood?” Jake looked around the room. Everyone nodded in agreement.
“So from now on, no more secrets. And to show you Cassie and I are serious, I’m going to start with a secret we’ve been keeping even though we’re not ready to share it for what you’ll understand are obvious reasons.” Jake kissed Cassie’s hand softly and smiled. Cassie beamed.
“Cassie and I are expecting. She’s eight weeks along,” Jake announced proudly.
The room erupted in cheers and applause. Luke held Abbey’s hand tightly. He hoped soon they’d be making the same announcement too.
“But what about the honeymoon? Should you still go? Is it safe?” Monica Jayne looked tearful and panicked, obviously concerned for Cassie and the baby.
“It’s perfectly safe. Cassie and the baby are both doing fine. We’ll be careful. Our plan was to relax and unwind anyway,” Jake assured her. “I’m asking all of you not to say anything until Cassie’s safely past the first trimester though. Just in case.”
“And Luke, don’t go prepay a Harvard degree for the baby. I mean it.”
That was it. Luke was done. Abbey squeezed his hand, probably hoping it would calm him down, but it wouldn’t work this time.
“You know what, Jake? Fuck you. Since we’re all supposed to air our grievances and come clean, I have something to say too. I’m so sick and tired of getting shit whenever I want to buy something for you. You didn’t give Darren a hard time when he hired Hailey’s Events to plan your wedding. So don’t give me one when I block and pay for some hotel suites, or snag you a few bottles of Utopias or pay for brunch.”
“I think I speak for everyone in the room, other than Darren, when I say we don’t want to take advantage, Luke,” Heath began. “You’re family, we don’t care you have money. Hell, Jake and I have known you since you were two—long before you became a professional athlete and multi-millionaire or billionaire.”
Jake nodded at Heath and turned to Luke. “Heath’s right. Regardless of the money, we’re family. You’re too generous, man. You don’t need to buy us so much. We’ll love you anyway, asshole.”
Luke rolled his eyes. They didn’t get it. He’d have to make them all understand “See? I don’t think I’ve done enough. All my millions as Heath put it, what good are they if I can’t fucking share them with all of you? What I’ve spent is a drop in the bucket and I could do so much more and I’d still have enough to last ten lifetimes.”
“None of us feel comfortable asking for things, Luke. We’re all working. We’re all supporting ourselves. No one wants a handout. Don’t you get that?” Jake frowned, looking conflicted.
Luke shook his head. “That’s just it. None of you ask. I offer, happily. And I know if the situation were reversed and one of you had this kind of money, you’d do the same thing and you all know it.”
Darren nodded his support and Luke he was grateful. His uncle was the most generous man he knew. Not only financially either. Luke’s stomach twisted as the thought of losing him. The world would be a lesser place without Darren Stryker in it. He wondered if Darren would “come clean” and share his diagnosis with everyone in the room. Luke hoped so. He didn’t like keeping secrets as much as Jake was making issue with it at the moment.
“Speaking as someone who has even more money than my boy here,” Darren began, “what you might perceive as overly generous or charity, we see differently. The money provides options. It’s supposed to help make our lives easier. And it’s given out of love, not charity. Never. So can you all see yourselves relaxing your position on this for us? Please?”
Luke couldn’t have said it any better. Everything he’d ever done and would ever do for the people in the room—all of it—came from a place of love. “I’d like to add one thing to what Darren, Dad, said. When we offer or get you something, we don’t expect you to kiss our asses. Don’t fuss, don’t cuss me out, just say thanks. Can everyone agree to that, at least?”
Luke held his breath, waiting for everyone’s response. He had a few ideas he wanted to share right now, if everyone could agree to relax on the gift-giving shit. He looked around the room, and everyone reluctantly nodded their agreement. Darren winked Luke’s way.
Thanks, Dad.
Luke rubbed his hands together conspiratorially. Jake and Rocco groaned. Too bad, guys. “First, Rocco, dude, it’s time for a new truck. Your Silverado is what, nearly twenty years old? And you bought it used. Time for an upgrade. You’ve honorably served this country and you deserve something better to drive.” Luke saw Rocco open his mouth to object and Luke raised a brow. “How about Wednesday we go get you a new Silverado 3500HD?”
“Oh Rocco, that’s wonderful! Get a black truck, they’re very manly looking,” Grandma Beverly said, clapping.
“And you need those steps on the side to help shorter people get in, like Bev and me. Oh, and Hannah too,” Grandma Ruth added.
The big Italian blushed and nodded at Beverly and Ruth. “They’re called running boards. And yes, I’ll make sure to get them. But Luke, the 1500 is what I had my eye on.”
Luke would make sure Rocco’s 1500 had all the bells and whistles. Hell, by the time he finished with the dealership, they’d probably throw in an Impala at no extra cost. Luke was pleased Rocco agreed to let him help him out with a new ride. “All right, a fully loaded 1500 it is. What do you say?”
Grandma Beverly patted Rocco’s leg and nodded in encouragement.
“Thank you. I can’t wait,” Rocco said with a nod of his head.
Excellent. One down. One to go. Luke looked over at Jake and Cassie. Cassie glanced back at him curiously. Jake just frowned and cursed under his breath. Tough shit, big brother.
“As far as prepaying for a Harvard degree, baby Tyler might want to go to Yale or Princeton,” Luke said.
“Damn it, Luke,” Jake exclaimed and ran a hand through his hair.
Luke pressed on. “But we’re arguing about something that’s years away. And if I want to pay for the baby’s college education, I will. And like you just agreed to with everyone else, you’re just going to let me and say thank you. And on graduation day, I’ll be sitting right next to you during the ceremony, proud as hell.”
Jake blew out a breath and Cassie looked at her new husband with love and encouragement. “Fine. But you’re right, it’s a long way off. We can discuss it, not argue about it then, agreed?” Jake sighed in relief.
Luke nodded. He had Jake right where he wanted him. “Agreed. Right now, though, the more pressing issue is little baby Tyler. So I want to buy you and Cassie a house.”
Cassie squeaked and her eyes widened.
“Fuck, Luke, really? A house? You want to buy us a fucking house? Just like that?” Jake looked distraught but Luke was sure he could convince him without much arguing.
“Just hear me out. Your two-bedroom condo will work for a little while, but you’ll need more space soon. So why not let me buy you a place here in Elmhurst where you’re already living, before the baby comes? It’ll be a lot less stressful for all of you. Think of it as a belated wedding gift or a pre-baby shower gift?” Luke turned to Darren for support. His dad smiled back at him encouragingly. Abbey held his hand tight and her eyes glistened with tears.
“You could use Mr. Gleason to find you someplace nice in town. We met him last night after the reception,” Abbey suggested. “Luke, do you still have his business card?”
> “If Alfred Gleason is working for you, you’ll be in good hands,” Jake’s father said.
Luke retrieved Alfred Gleason’s business card from his wallet and held it up. “What do you say, Jake? You’ve said you’d just say thank you, remember?”
Cassie gently kissed Jake and gave him a reassuring smile. “It’ll be all right, you know? And Luke’s right, we’ll need the extra space soon. We all agreed to be gracious with Luke and Darren’s generosity, babe.”
Luke sensed the moment Jake relented. He knew his big brother, though. Luke understood Jake’s reluctance. “Buying you this house does not mean I don’t think you can take care of your family. I’m trying to help make things a little easier for you, that’s all. Like you’d do for me, right?”
That did it. Luke knew Jake was on board.
Jake nodded and Cassie beamed. “Yes, and thank you. But a regular house, nothing crazy. Three or four bedrooms, two and half bathrooms, a nice backyard for kids to play in. That kind of a house. Agreed?”
Yes! “Agreed.” Luke made a quick call to Alfred Gleason while the family discussed what Cassie and Jake should look for in their new home. Gleason agreed to find a regular house for Jake and Cassie in Elmhurst and something that Jake would probably consider crazy in a nearby gated community for him and Abbey. Luke was offering all cash purchases and picking up the seller’s moving expenses to speed up the process.
With all of that settled, it appeared Jake was back on the war path. Here we go.
“Now, back to the secrets. Don’t think a new truck and a house will distract me from the real reason we’re here.” Jake turned his attention to Abbey. “Office Supply Galaxy laid you off? You were the only person who supported your system. What the hell is that?”
Abbey stiffened beside Luke. He held her hand and waited for her to organize her thoughts.
“Apparently, there was a reduction in force of about fifty people. I suspect that my former manager Tim Webber, who is relatively new at OSG, wanted to get rid of me so he could bring over someone he worked with at his previous company. He had already brought two of his people over. He needed my headcount to be available to bring over his third. Being the asshole he is, when the system went down during the wedding, he called me, expecting me to fix the issue, even though I didn’t work there anymore. As you now know from Tom Murphy, the Support Desk Manager, I ignored their calls for help. I was told my skill set wasn’t needed any more—so fuck them.”
