Hale to Pay (Arrangement Series Book 6)

by Francesca Penn

  “Shut up. It’s like admiring art. Are you saying you haven’t checked out Esme or Karessa once?”

  “I get your point,” he admits.

  “Case closed,” I joke right before Berke reappears.

  He scoops me up and throws me over his shoulder and taps my ass a few times.

  “You did good, Bug. Real good.”

  His big ass is always manhandling me. I’m back in Wyn’s arms before I know it.

  “Really Berke? You thank her by patting her ass?” Wyn asks.

  Berke shrugs then eye fucks his new toy. “Is there any other way?”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Imala

  It’s Hale Sunday Funday - some shit Karessa came up with to force the grumps to spend time together - and Dallas is hosting. He thought it’d be the easiest time to throw a housewarming party. He got Karessa and Esme to assist since this is the first event he’ll be hosting as a Founder’s kid.

  He smiles big at Wyn and me when he swings the massive glass and iron door open.

  “Hi, Dallas,” I greet him with a side hug and a cheek kiss. “I’m loving what I’m seeing so far! Did you receive your housewarming gift? It says delivered,” I inquire as he hugs Wyn and ushers inside.

  His dimples pop and his hazel eyes shine as his smile deepens. “Yes! The grill is perfect! You guys must come over one night for a barbecue! I make a mean brisket.”

  Dallas’ mom was born and raised in Austin, Texas. She has all the southern charm including a crazy love for football. Like most of the women Elmer seduced, she was visiting the island on a vacation when she conceived Dallas. Back in Texas, she’d gone into labor at a Dallas Cowboys game.

  When things got hard, she got a student visa to have an extended stay on the island to try to get Elmer to do the right thing but Elmer had already fulfilled his obligation and married his first baby momma. Oran’s mom would give her money but after Dallas lost interest in trying to bond with the family who didn’t know he existed, they moved back to Texas when he was a pre-teen. He came back for college and stayed behind.

  “I can’t wait to try this Texas BBQ you talk about often.”

  He kisses his fingertips. “You’re gonna love it!”

  We make our rounds greeting everyone then grab some drinks to catch up with the gang outside. Oran comes to greet us. His hair is perfectly coiffed waves and his beard is cut low and trimmed. He’s wearing a quarter length sleeved soft peach shirt that leaves nothing about his muscular body to the imagination and dark jeans.

  Damn these Hale men.

  He pulls me into a hug, wrapping me in his scent then pulls back and rubs my cheek.

  “How are you today, Angel?”

  “Good! It’s been an exciting morning.”

  He smiles sweetly at me. “I heard.” He shows me his phone. “That overly excited brother of mine has the four of us and a stupid ass group chat.”

  At first glance I see a bunch of “assholes” and laughing emojis. He scrolls before I can read anything good and there are pictures of Wyn and Berke with gifts.

  “It was sweet of you to include Berke.” He smiles but I’m pretty sure low level hurt is involved. He does buy me just as much stuff as Wyn does.

  “He was shocked too. I don’t think anyone has ever given him anything just because, ya know?”

  “Yeah, I wouldn’t know what it’s like if it weren’t for my mother and Karessa.”

  “And me,” I correct him.

  “Huh?” His forehead creases with confusion.

  Reaching into my tote I pull out a shiny box and his eyes get big when he sees the embossing. Inside, nestled in luxury is the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak silver-toned watch I bought him. Oran gasps like a mistress and takes the watch out and secures it on his wrist. It sparkles in the sunlight.

  “And I made sure it costs more than the motorcycle,” I whisper to him.

  “I’m not worried about anything like that,” he dismisses my statement but his smile stretches like the Cheshire cat.

  Jagger appears and bumps Wyn with his shoulder. “Dude, every time I call my fucking best friend you’re in his office. Cousin or not that shit ain’t cute, go visit your other cousin in the same fucking building.” He grabs Dallas as he passes. “And you, I need to be in that group chat.”

  Dallas laughs. “It’s a Hale men chat, Jagger.”

  Jagger snorts. “So the fuck what? Last I checked there is a Jagger Hale. He can’t read yet so I’ll be his proxy. Fucking add me bitch.” He looks around. “Nice house by the way.”

  Oran, who was taking pictures of his new watch, ignored the entire exchange and Jagger continues on to mess with Bowie and Markos Nix.

  I settle into a conversation with the girls while the men talk about whatever catches their fancy until the roar of the motorcycle announces Berke’s arrival. He appears shortly after wearing a leather jacket, white muscle shirt, black fitted jeans, and boots. His hair is slicked back now and not at all affected by the helmet he left with his bike.

  He greets a few people with tight nods before he finds me. Grabbing my hand, he pulls me aside for a private word.

  “Bug, don’t freak out. I checked in on some of my affairs and need to return to Manchester to take care of a few things.” He rubs my forehead to ease the worried crease. “It won’t be like last time.” He smirks at me to be reassuring. “I’m thinking of moving back. On my own terms of course.”

  “We’d like that. When are you leaving?”

  “Tonight or in the morning. I have to check in with a jackass, first.” He pulls me into a hug. “That bike rides like a dream. It almost made my dick hard.”

  I laugh and push at his chest. “You’re so inappropriate.”

  “And you like it.” I sigh when he kisses my forehead.

  “Oh I’m telling Wyn,” Esme teases.

  “Berke gives some of the best hugs,” I tell them. “Berke, a round of hugs and forehead kisses for the ladies.”

  “The fuck? I’m not an attraction here for women’s entertainment. Pay me first. I know my worth.” I bat my eyes at him and he frowns. “That’s cold. That’s the shit you reserve for Wyn or Oran.”

  Even with the protests, he grabs Karessa. She sighs just like I did and Oran threatened to kick his ass when Berke kissed her. Oran grabs Karessa and glares at Berke while he moves unfazed on to Esme.

  Esme giggles when he squeezes her. Wyn chuckles and wraps his arms around me but Oran still isn’t amused.

  “Esme has a fiancé now, asshole.”

  “So? I’d still fuck her,” Berke shoots back.

  “Make it good. Keep her wet and I’ll finish it up,” Delgado says. I love how he appears at the perfect times. His linen shirt is partially open and his shades make him look like sin. “Warning, fuck my fiancée and I’ll fuck yours when you get one.”

  “You’d be married by then?” Berke points out.

  Delgado just shrugs and swishes his drink around the glass . “A fuck for a fuck my friend. You’d both owe me.”

  Esme smacks her lips. “If you think…”

  Dr. Delgado puts his finger over his lips. “Shhh...It’s simple, chispa. If you cheat, I cheat. You’ll try to fight me, I’ll spank your ass, then we’ll be happy again.”

  I cover my mouth to suppress a giggle. She wanted a wild one.

  “Since you’re going to be family, maybe I should…” Karessa starts but he cuts her off too.

  “No. It was just me and you before them. Don’t let them come between us.” He flashes a megawatt smile at Sienna. “Hello, my dear. Did you make a decision or will we talk more at your appointment?”

  “I swear this dude sees all the pussy on the island,” Oran mumbles and is elbowed by Karessa.

  My snickering makes me miss Sienna’s response but Delgado is off chatting with Dallas about the house. Berke tries to walk away but I stop him.

  “Wait. Sienna was here too. She’s next.”

  Berke rolls his head back and addresses
me like she’s not there. “Fuck no. What’s her nosy ass doing here anyway?”

  “I was invited and It’s my job to ask questions, Berke,” Sienna says. Her amusement makes her dimple pop.

  “Don’t try that shit. You act friendly then you try to get in my thoughts and feelings. Nope. Pass. No hug. How does that make you feel?” he mocks her.

  “Um...like you have pent up aggression and I’m either the surrogate or…”

  He pulls her into a hug, squeezes her tight, and ends it with a forehead kiss. “Now, shut your nosy ass up.”

  Berke disappears and Sienna clears her throat, pushes her hair behind her ear, and stares down at her shoes.

  “Excuse me,” she mumbles as she wanders off.

  “That wasn’t awkward,” Karessa jokes and Oran kisses her forehead.

  “Mind your business, Trophy.”

  Mikonos appears looking surly as usual, he looks around unimpressed and grunts when Dallas welcomes him. I assume he’s here because his brother and Ainslee are here. I doubt he was invited by Dallas. Even if he were, he wouldn’t accept. Berke reappears and Mikonos tilts his head.

  “Where are the rest of them?” he asks Berke.

  “The rest of who?”

  “The Village People,” he responds and pulls at Berke’s leather jacket. “Do YMCA first.”

  “Why? Is it your favorite, asshole? Does it bring back memories of your first time?”

  “So you fantasize about my first time, do you? Let’s get Sienna to explore that.”

  Everyone else has moved on but I still stand there sipping my wine and watching them bicker. Just then Sienna passes to catch up with the crowd. She waves at them and Berke snorts.

  “You want to fuck her so bad,” Mikonos goads him.

  “Shut up. I’m not thinking about her nosy ass.”

  “I’ll fuck her then.”

  “You wouldn’t.”

  Mikonos tilts his head. “I hope you’re not about to threaten me. No. I want you to do it.”

  “Is that what turns you on you sick fuck? You wouldn’t fuck Sienna because you’d have to put your phone down to do it.”

  Mikonos nods and shakes his head. “I saw the motorcycle Imala got you. She should have gotten the red one that was next to it. That one was nice.”

  How in the hell did he know a red one was next to it?

  “She’s nosy as hell, too.” He turns his clear green eyes to me for probably the first time ever. He has to look down because he’s so fucking big. “May we help you, Imala?”

  “Leave her alone,” Berke says and pulls him toward the door. “Are you ready for the flight?”

  Flight? Mikonos is going.

  A bolder person would have followed but one look from Mikonos and I’m good. I head towards the party while wondering what affairs Berke has in Manchester.

  Caerwyn

  Dallas the country boy wants us to stay through dinner and make smores on the firepit. Berke and Mikonos disappeared to do God knows what, one of Delgado’s patients went into labor, Jagger and Ainslee had to go get the twins, and Sienna had a date. Xerxes is with the LeClaires and has plenty of milk according to Oran.

  Karessa comes out of the house and thanks Dallas for allowing her to use one of his rooms to pump.

  “No problem, sis,” he chirps happily.

  Okay, I can see how my constant smiling was tiring to Oran. Since he found out that we didn’t know who he was and have now accepted him, Dallas is one happy bastard. I’m assuming this is his normal disposition.

  “Dig in guys! I have everything you need to make a kick ass roasted marshmallow treat!” He looks around at us, with content hazel eyes. “Only thing that would have made today better is if Berke and Marin were here for us to take a family photo at the firepit.”

  “Who’s Marin?” I ask as I tick off people in my head.

  Dallas looks at me like I’ve committed some kind of sin. “Your future cousin-in-law, Dr. Delgado.”

  “Ugh. Don’t remind me,” Esme complains.

  “Heh? I’m so used to calling him Delgado,” I admit.

  Imala is in my lap putting something sticky and rich together. She squeezes the graham crackers together and has to stretch her mouth to fit all the sugary nonsense inside. She giggles when marshmallow sticks to her nose. I can’t take my eyes off her because she looks so happy and carefree. No school work. No pregnancy concerns. No fear. And no being pulled into eight different directions. She is in the moment and enjoying life. Her joy bounces off her and lifts me as well. I love her so much that her happiness brings me satisfaction.

  A year ago, everything was so divided. I was in the states, Oran was practically a recluse who only had time for Jagger and an occasional call from me, we didn’t know Dallas existed, and Berke was a lost cause. Now, all of that seems like a bad dream. Oran laughs with a brother he didn’t know he had after trying a ridiculous dessert that was shoved into his mouth by a wife I thought he’d ever have, and the big grump is happy. I’m happy. Berke is his version of happy. And Dallas is happy.

  Funny enough our wives were the glue we needed to get the Hale men back in order. Imala squeals when I pull her back. I dip her and grab her face to suck the sticky substance off. That one taste turns into a lingering kiss. She softens in my arms and pulls my face closer to deepen the kiss. Forgetting everyone else, I slide my tongue into her mouth. She tastes like everything sweet: chocolate, marshmallow, caramel, cinnamon, and her. Shit. I’m back in the lustful space I keep falling into when she’s in my arms.

  Esme clears her throat and I look up to find Oran and Karessa also enjoying their own firelit kiss while Dallas tries to ignore us and keep the conversation going with just her. Dallas pats the open seat next to him to invite her over so she’s not sitting off to the side by herself. She takes the invitation and joins him.

  “Have you made one of these before?” he asks while he grabs the materials.

  He talks her through making her own dessert while distracting her for us. She may pretend to be annoyed by Delgado but I know if we pressed she’d admit she misses him. I pull away, right Imala, then throw a marshmallow at Oran to bring him back to the present. Dallas' good natured-ness has done its job and Esme is giggling in no time.

  We fall back into comfortable conversation with all six of us participating. Oran laughs as he tells a childhood story about the time he and I tried to sneak out and steal the yacht when Imala looks up at me.

  “Are you happy?” she asks.

  I look in her eyes and tell the truth. “Yes. Happier than I ever thought I’d be.”

  Epilogue

  Imala

  I’m perched on the edge of my seat waiting for the computer to boot up. The bar results are in and I’ve been dying on the inside to get my answer. I don’t know why it matters so much. I have no desire to practice. I’ll be too busy at the bank to be a lawyer. Yet my palms sweat and my stomach is in knots like the results will make or break my future.

  The screen comes to life and I log in. Wyn is on the way home, he wants to be with me when I review them. I chew my bottom lip and my knee bounces with angst. I get up and start pacing. Heavy footsteps announce Wyn’s arrival. I know it’s him because Berke is still in Manchester. A few days turned into weeks but he sends texts as updates.

  “I’m here. I’m here!” Wyn calls out before he comes into view.

  Fuck. He’s wearing suspenders.

  I ignore how sexy he looks dressed up. I was at the bank before he’d awakened so I didn’t see him get dressed this morning. When I force my eyes to his, there is a hint of awareness, but it’s overshadowed by anticipation. Then it hits me. I want to pass for the same reason I decided to take the bar: I want my husband to be proud of me.

  “You do it. I can’t look,” I admit.

  Wyn passes the computer and scoops me into his arms. He smells so good; I close my eyes and breathe him in. His warm lips find mine and I relax in his arms.

  “I have faith in you, Imal
a.” He puts me down and grabs my hand. “Now come show me I’m right.” He sits in the chair and pulls me into his lap. “Log in. Let’s see.”

  I wipe my palms on my skirt and sign into my computer. My fingers aren’t steady as I navigate to the site. I curse when I type my password in twice. Wyn rubs my shoulders and I take a deep breath to try again.

  The results pop up and I lean into the screen. I push my glasses up my nose, blink a few times, and look again.

  “I passed?” I say with disbelief. The information sinks in more and I feel a buzz of excitement. “I passed!” I jump up and clap. “I did it!”

  I turn to face Wyn and he’s leaning back in his chair. His huge smile displays all his teeth. He stands, grabs my hip, and pulls me flush against him and rests his forehead against mine.

  “My butterfly. Congratulations. Imala Hale Esquire.”

  Ugh! He’s so sexy and I see the pride I wanted.

  My excitement is now mixed with lust. Lust-citement? I initiate the kiss. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I try my best to climb his body. Wyn smiles between kisses but grabs my ass to give me a lift. I wrap my legs around his waist and grind against him.

  “Baby. We need to celebrate and tell the others,” he protests.

  “We are. Right here and now on this desk.”

  He smiles when my ass touches the cold wood. “Dirty girl.”

  I tug at his suspenders, letting them pop. “It’s your fault for wearing these and being damn sexy. Celebrate with me, Wyn.”

  He sucks on my bottom lip then pulls away. Stepping back, he rips off my panties, then pushes up my skirt.

  “Okay. My tongue should take a victory lap.”

  “Huh?” He drops to his knees. The warm slide of his tongue along my slit makes me shudder. “Oh that. Yeah. Keep doing that.”

  I return home the next morning humming because not only did I check on the dance studio, I actually had time to do two of the dance classes. A warm shower calls my name but I’m damn happy. I saw the McLaren outside so I know Wyn is home, but we do live in a mansion so there’s that.