“You’re a nice guy, Namir, and I know you mean well, but right now you have your own problems. Leave mine to me.”
Namir watched the road. “What problems do I have?”
“For starters you’re marrying a girl you barely know.”
Namir frowned. “I know enough.”
Jason gave him a knowing look. “It’s the money, isn’t it?”
“Say that again and you’ll not have a face.” Namir sighed. “No, it isn’t. I told her she could have a pre-nup.”
Jason’s eyes grew large and he swigged the little bottle in one gulp. “You’re dumber than I thought!”
Namir shook his head. “I don’t want her or anyone else to think that’s why I’m doing it.”
Jason regarded him as he opened another travel size bottle. “You actually think you love her.”
“I do.”
Jason blew air from his nose. “Wow. What’s that like?”
Namir smiled, checking the mirrors to change lanes. “Wonderful. Don’t you feel anything for Constantine?”
“Ah Constantine. Now she’s as multi-faceted as your pretty little ring. Sure I do, but there’s no real future there. I accept her for the conniving bitch that she is, and she accepts me for the lazy drunken prick that I am. It’s a good relationship, and the sex is pretty hot too.”
Namir shuddered and made a face.
“What? You’ve got to admit she’s still smoking.”
“I guess. Is that part of why you’re wife wants you out?”
“Maybe.”
Namir could tell Jason wasn’t in the mood to talk about his wife anymore. “So, Taylor tells me you’re moving into the pool house.”
“Yes.” He stared thoughtfully at the road ahead. “I will say this, you’ve brought the best out in her.”
Namir shook his head. “Nah. It was always there. No one took the time to dig it out. Or let it come out on its own.” He grinned and licked his lips. “Did you know that she has a whole library of literature hidden under her bed?”
“I didn’t even know she liked to read.”
Namir stepped into Taylor’s bedroom and watched her writing in her little journal. Her hand flew across the page at lightning speed. She help up one finger of her free hand, and lowered it slowly as the writing hand came to a stop.
“How was the city?”
“Good. When do I get to read the story?”
“When I’m done.”
“Hey, can you come downstairs?”
“That depends. Is Mother down there?”
Namir nodded.
“Then, no, I can’t.”
“Are you guys still arguing?”
“Of course. She’s just getting cabin fever because we haven’t been anywhere exotic or exciting for two months.”
“We went to Hollywood when you read for Frank Shard.” He said and toyed with a piece of her hair.
Taylor looked at him patiently. “She’s been there quite a few times.”
“Could you endure it for a few minutes?”
“Ugh.” She stood and took his hand.
When they descended the stairs, he led her into the kitchen. Greta, Jason, and a very sour looking Constantine were waiting for them.
“What’s going on?” Taylor frowned.
“They’re my witnesses. Greta?”
Greta smiled and let go of Lancelot. He had a large pink bow tied around his neck with something centered in the middle of the bow.
“Look at you!” Taylor said and crouched in front of him. She looked up at Namir as she saw the little box in the center of the bow.
He looked at her softly. “Open it.”
Taylor pulled the box free as the pink ribbon fell to the floor. Her fingers caressed the tan velvet of the outside before she opened it. She couldn’t help the gasp or the shake to her hands. “It’s beautiful.” She whispered.
“So, in front of your family, I’m officially asking. Taylor, will you marry me?”
Taylor nodded and held the box out to him. Her face hurt from the size of her smile, and the tears she was fighting. Namir slid the ring onto her ring finger and laid his forehead to hers.
“I love you.”
Greta and Jason clapped, but Constantine looked as bored as if she were in a waiting room.
“So, in one week you’ll be twenty-one!” Greta exclaimed. “What kind of cake and dinner would you like?”
“Cake and dinner?” Constantine huffed. “Why not stick an air hose up her ass? The result is going to be the same.”
“I’ve had enough of you!” Namir yelled, pointing his finger at her. “You speak to and about your daughter like she’s trash!”
Taylor placed a hand on his chest. “It’s alright. Namir.” Her voice was low and even.
“The hell it is!”
Taylor looked at her mother and shook her head. “I pity you, I really do.”
“Why?” Constantine countered.
“Because, you’re going to have a hard time finding a place to live that’s up to your standards.”
Constantine’s eyes narrowed. Her red painted lips snarled. “You wouldn’t.”
“I am, but I’ll be fair. I want you out in thirty days.”
The room was silent.
Namir’s stomach was tied in knots. He knew without a doubt that he loved and wanted to marry his beautiful Taylor, but his darkest, and possibly most unforgivable sin had yet to be revealed to her. He was going to have to explain to his fiancé that he was a Werewolf.
“Namir?” Taylor waited with one hand planted firmly on her hip. “Namir!”
Namir blinked and shook himself. “I’m sorry…my mind was elsewhere.”
“Yes, I know.”
“What were you saying?”
“My mother’s rooms…she’ll be gone soon, and I want to redecorate.” She eased into his side and patted his chest. ‘They’re going to be our rooms, and I want them to be special.”
Namir nodded, his mind still working on a plan to tell Taylor his secret without losing her. “How about I build you a bookcase for your stash of books under the bed?”
Taylor smiled and stood on tiptoe to kiss his nose. “I would love that!”
Namir nodded absently. Taylor looked at him and decided to let him be. She knew something was bothering him, but didn’t want to push. The thought that it was cold feet made her even more determined to not push.
Greta walked into the kitchen with the angriest expression Taylor had ever seen.
“That woman! That woman does not have a mind like a steel trap, but she has a mouth like one!”
Taylor and Namir exchanged a look, and Taylor giggled. “What did she do now?”
“She honestly thinks I’m for sale!” She picked up a dish towel and began wiping the already spotless counter. Lancelot bounced around her feet hoping for a treat.
Taylor sat at the table with Namir. “You work for me, Greta, don’t worry about it.”
“When is she leaving?”
“I’m sure she’ll stay the full month.”
Greta shook her head, and tossed the dish towel in the sink. “You were generous. You should have given her a week!”
Jason walked in yawning and scratching his stomach. He tossed a handful of mail onto the kitchen table. “There you go, Super Star, make sense of your bills.”
Taylor thumbed through the envelopes. “I’ll take care of them when I go upstairs.” She pulled a long pink envelope from the stack. It was type addressed to her with a return address in the city. She couldn’t place the address. As the others talked, she opened the envelope and pulled out a piece of pink construction paper creased three times to fit. The paper had images cut from magazines. There was an image of a dead dog. A bald mannequin that had a red sharpie mark across its neck. The final and most bizarre one was an image of a meat packaging plant. Huge slabs of beef hung from hooks. The handwritten message at the bottom read: “Figure out the puzzle, bitch, and you’ll get what you deserve.”
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br /> “Namir?” Taylor said quietly.
“What is it?” His smiling face turned from Greta and Jason. The smile dissolved as he took the paper from her hands.
“What is that?” Jason asked, and circled the table to see it. “My God.” He whispered.
Detective Roberts slid the letter and envelope into a plastic bag. “This really makes little sense.”
“Tell me about it.”
“The address is coming back as an empty nightclub in Soho. It was this little cellar place.”
“Cellar place?” Namir asked.
“A lot of buildings in the city have multi functions. Some have things in what once was a basement of the building. This place used to be called Underground.” He sighed. “Not terribly imaginative.
Greta squeezed Taylor’s hand and stood. “Detective Roberts, would you like some tea, or soda?”
“No, Mam.” He smiled. “I need to get back to the station.” He looked at Taylor with pity. Her pretty face was pale and haunted. “Have you heard from the supposed half-brother?”
“Not for several days. I think Namir may have taken care of it.”
Detective Roberts nodded. “Good. For now at least it’s a good thing.” He smiled broadly at Namir. “I understand congratulations are in order!”
Namir looked at Taylor. She shrugged.
“Congratulations?”
“On the wedding?” He asked doubtfully.
“How did that leak out?” All eyes turned to Jason.
He was scrutinizing his fingernails, as if they were the most important things in the world to him. He finally looked up. “What?”
“Did you leak it?” Taylor demanded.
“Well, sweetheart, you’re giving up modeling, but the public still loves you! You’ve got to stay in the public eye.”
Taylor slapped her hand to her forehead. “Jason!”
Namir glared at him for a moment before turning his attention back to the detective. “Will this complicate the investigation?”
“I don’t think so.” He turned his attention to Jason. “But for future reference, please keep as much of her life as private as possible.”
Jason moved his head up and down like a penitent school boy, and crossed his index finger over his heart. “Can I still stay in the pool house, Taylor?”
Taylor rolled her eyes.
“You have an interesting situation here, Taylor.” Detective Roberts chuckled.
“Yeah, tell me about it.”
He said his goodbyes and left. Taylor had to wonder how long it would be before he was back.
Greta came to the front steps and stood beside Namir as he watched the repairs being made to the front gate. She didn’t have a hard time picturing him in a military uniform the way he was standing with his muscular arms crossed and the flat top he insisted on wearing for a hair style. His eyes had a natural steely look.
“I’m glad the repairs are finally being made.”
“Yeah, me too.”
Greta gave him a sidelong look. “What’s troubling you, Namir?”
“It’s that obvious?”
“Yes.”
He sighed and allowed his arms to fall to his sides. “You love Taylor.”
“I do.”
“So do I, but I have…I have something that she needs to know, and I don’t think she’s going to understand.”
Greta kept her eyes on the crew working at the end of the driveway. “I doubt anything will change her mind about you, unless it’s another wife hiding in the closet.”
Namir’s sad face gave a half smile. “No hidden wives, I assure you.”
“You know, Taylor has a great love for fairy tales. She positively adores all things like that.”
Namir turned his head. Greta wasn’t looking at him, but he felt like she was pulling layers away from him. He was suddenly the onion shedding skin. “Why are you telling me this?”
She turned her patient face to him. “Because Taylor will love you no matter what. I see that. She’ll embrace for better and for worse without qualm. Even if that worse has something to do with a full moon.”
“Oh the full moon is…” He stopped and swallowed. She had lured him in and he had taken the bait. “The full moon is just a myth really.” He finished quietly. “How did you know?”
“I didn’t, but I suspected.” She winked. “Maybe my family has a secret or two themselves.” Her face sobered in an instant. “You must tell her before the wedding.”
“I know.”
Greta touched his arm lightly. “I know she’ll understand, but the longer you wait the harder it will be for her.”
Taylor wound a piece of hair around her finger as she read Frank Shard’s script. It had seemed cheesy and a waste of time at first, but the more she read the more she liked it. He had turned the classic fairytale into the horror story that it should have been all along.
“Hey.”
“Hey, yourself.” Taylor said and stretched, laying the script on her desk. “Is it safe now? Have the big bad workers left yet?” She said teasingly.
“Yes, they’ve gone.”
“Good. I need to bring the pool guy in to close the pool for winter.”
Namir nodded. “It’s a little too cold to swim now anyway.” He took her hand and pulled her up. “I’ll call him, if you give me the number.”
“Actually,” She said and opened a drawer to her desk. “I’ve compiled a list of names and phone numbers for you. Some you already have.”
Namir scanned the list. He was impressed with her recent attempts at organization of her own life, and the way she was taking charge. He knew, without a doubt, that he would be a real partner with her.
“Wow, this is good, Taylor. You thought of everything.”
“Thanks.” Taylor was pleased that he noticed her efforts.
“Listen, tomorrow is supposed to be a nice day, and I wanted to take a drive.” He pulled her to him and took a moment to breathe in her heady aroma. “Besides, I know Greta will want the house empty to prepare for your birthday.”
“Where are we going?”
“I thought a nice picnic somewhere quiet.”
“Sounds very romantic.” Taylor beamed.
Let’s hope when you see my other half, you’ll still think it romantic.
Harrison stood in the airport terminal with a feeling of dread washing over him. She was coming here. The woman was actually going to walk through the gate at any moment.
People began coming through the long hallway. There were old people, young people, a woman with a baby, then there she was.
Odessa Badon walked with a kind of grace that most people envied and desired, but couldn’t quite manage to duplicate. Perhaps it was her blood, perhaps she would have been this way even if she wasn’t one of the dark Fey. Either way, she glided towards Harrison with head held high and back straight. She stood at an impressive 5’10”. Her black hair was piled onto the top of her head and her nearly black eyes glistened. She was a true mulatto, with just a hint of color to her skin that was hard to place. Her full lips curved into a smile.
Pity her smile never reaches her eyes.
“Harrison.”
“Hello, Mom.” He said and kissed her cheek.
“Where are we staying?”
“I rented a two bedroom house right on the water for a couple of weeks.”
“Very nice. I didn’t want the hotel you were in.” She readjusted the cream wrap on her shoulders and swept it across her body to the opposite shoulder. “Did you purchase a car?”
“Yes, Mama, I did.”
“So, when do we see the great Taylor?”
“I really don’t know.”
She stopped walking and the stream of people still behind simply adjusted their flow around them, like they were the river’s water and Odessa and Harrison were the river rock.
“Why don’t you know?”
“I explained to you that this was difficult.”
Her eyes narrowed. “
I’ve heard that things are difficult for over twenty years. First from your father and now from you.”
“I’m not trying to be difficult.”
“Well, you are!” She snapped. A security guard looked at her hard as he was walking by, and slowed his steps.
“Keep walking. There’s nothing here for you.” She spoke in a dreamlike voice. The security guard’s face went blank and he quickened his steps.
Harrison frowned. “Please don’t do that stuff on unsuspecting people.”
“Are they ever suspecting?” She said dryly and began walking again.
No, they certainly aren’t. Harrison thought glumly.
“I was thinking that it’s time to get my driver’s license.”
“I agree.” Namir said, and took his hand off of the steering wheel to hold her hand. “I’ll give you lessons.”
Namir drove to a small campground and parked under a sprawling oak that was beginning to show its fall splendor. He took a deep breath and got out of the car.
“Wow, this place is nice!”
“Yeah, I looked it up online.”
“I wish we could have brought Lancelot.”
Namir took the picnic basket out of the trunk and tucked the blanket under his arm. “Maybe we can next time. Let’s walk a little way, ok?”
Taylor followed him through a sparse tree line and into an open field. She stopped several times thinking they were at a perfect spot, but Namir silently kept moving towards the denser tree line across the field. He didn’t stop until they were within the shade of the trees.
“You don’t want to sit in the sunshine?”
“No, not right now.”
Taylor took the blanket and spread it over the carpet of pine needles. She sat down with her legs crossed and began pulling things out of the basket.
Namir laid his hand over hers. “Wait on the food for a little bit. I need to tell you something.”
Taylor frowned. “I knew something was wrong. You don’t want to get married now, do you?”
“What? No! That’s not it. I need to tell you, and show you, something important.” Namir took a deep breath. God, please let her understand. “My parents had a unique marriage. My father had a special gift…a gift that he passed on to me.”
BAD BOY ROMANCE: DIESEL: Contemporary Bad Boy Biker MC Romance (Box Set) (New Adult Sports Romance Short Stories Boxset) Page 47
