by Violet Paige
“Is this about Pops?” I asked carefully.
“Depends on what you mean.”
“Are you after the Dunes for revenge? Tell me that that is not what you want.” In my heart, it felt better if he was interested in the millions he could make.
“I’m not after Cole.” He hung his head.
“Then what? Why are you doing this? He’s just trying to do something good for his son. Can’t you see that?”
“His son.” He paused. “Can you imagine what my childhood was like?” His piercing eyes were sharper than usual. “I saw my dad maybe a few times a year. Maybe. And the crazy thing is, I knew where he was. I knew there was another family. I knew he was raising his parentless grandson, and I knew the grandson and I were the same age. Do you know what that does to a boy?”
I shook my head. I had known about Aiden’s existence for over a month and still hadn’t reconciled the Pops Cole told me about with the Pops who fathered Aiden. It didn’t seem like the same man could devote so much of his life to Cole, while Aiden was a secret.
“After his wife died, he could have lived with us. I know he could have. He could have moved us here. My mother would have done anything to have that happen. So would I. What boy doesn’t want to live with his father? Play catch in the yard? See him in the stands at his ballgames? Who doesn’t want that?” I saw a slight mist cover his otherwise bright eyes. “But no, Dad said he couldn’t do that to Cole. He said he had responsibilities with his business, with the island, with his grandson. He broke our hearts.”
“I don’t know what to say.” I felt terrible. “Did you ever talk to him about it?”
“Talk?” Aiden scoffed. “I never saw him.”
“Then how do you know all of this? Maybe there was more going on.”
His eyes cut through me. “My mom told me everything. I believe her.”
I had entered dangerous territory, but Aiden was the one who had brought it up. “I’m sorry you went through all of that. What about her? Where is your mother now? Maybe you could get some more answers.”
“She died right before Dad did. Her funeral was the last time I saw him. He stayed just long enough for the service and then left right after. He didn’t even stay for the church dinner.” He shook his head. “I didn’t even know he was sick. Imagine finding out your father died in a newspaper article.”
“Oh my God. I-I can’t even begin to think how you must have felt. No one should have to go through that.”
His eyes lifted toward mine. “Cole thinks he needs to hold on to this place because it’s all he has of his Pops.” He sighed. “That’s exactly why I need it gone. I don’t need reminders of my dad.”
My jaw dropped as Aiden hustled out the door and jumped over the side door of his convertible. For the first time, I knew exactly what his angle was.
The next day Cole received the manila envelope we had both been dreading. Aiden wasn’t kidding about the lawsuit. There it was in black and white.
Aiden Thomas v. Cole Thomas.
“I guess my idea didn’t work.”
I peeked around Cole’s shoulder while he read the legal documents. No amount of Dunes hospitality, shrimp dinners, or double chocolate brownies could have stopped that man.
“He was going to do it regardless of how nice you were, Kaitlyn.” Cole threw the envelope on the counter. “I’m going to have to hire a lawyer.” He hung his head. I could see that telltale vein throbbing on the side of his neck.
I didn’t want to say it, but there was always another option. “Have you thought about not fighting it?”
“What, are you crazy? Of course I’m going to fight for it.” He dug the bottom of his crutch into the floor. He was down to using only one. It was a slight improvement in his mobility. “He can’t waltz in here and take something that’s mine. This is Grayson’s birthright we’re talking about.”
My hand instinctively landed on my belly. He had no idea he was fighting for his two children yet.
“It does sound crazy, and it’s not because I think you should love this place any less, but you’re already in debt. Taking on a legal battle like this could take years even if he can’t win in the end. And there is no financial gain for you even if you do win. It could ruin you financially for the rest of your life.” I paused. “Instead, you could go back to school, finish your degree, go back to working on wind power for the island like you were going to do.”
“And what would you do? If I sell the Dunes, where does that leave you?”
I wrapped my arms around his waist, careful not to lean on his leg. “I’m here with you. Wherever that is, is where I’m going to be.”
Cole sighed. “Thank you.” He kissed the top of my forehead. “But it’s not his. Pops left it to me. He doesn’t have the right to do this—destroy our plans, take away the one inheritance I have. Who is this guy?”
“Do you want me to talk to Mary Ellen? See if she has any influence over him? He should be on his way to Chapel Hill to see her tomorrow. Maybe she can talk some sense into his thick skull.”
“I guess it wouldn’t hurt to try, but I’ve seen determined before.” He looked in my eyes. “And my son of a bitch uncle is determined.”
I didn’t think it would help anything if I told Cole what Aiden had confided in me. It would only tarnish the image he had of Pops more than before. Cole could do nothing to rewrite history. None of us could help Aiden fill in the gaps of a painful childhood.
20
Kaitlyn
I don’t know what tricks she had in the bedroom, but none of them worked as leverage where Aiden’s decision-making side was concerned. Mary Ellen called two days later to say Aiden wasn’t going to budge on the lawsuit. He wanted the Dune Scape ground into the beach and two million in his bank account.
The conversation was stilted. I wasn’t sure if it was starting to sink in that we were on opposite sides of a lawsuit, or if Mary Ellen was distracted because Aiden was spending a few days with her.
There was no way things could ever be normal as long as our boyfriends were suing each other. This sucked.
For the next few days, at least, I knew Aiden was far from the Dunes and Cole.
I tried to put all of it in the back of my head as I climbed the steps to Sasha’s aunt’s house. Today was the last of her bridal showers. I clutched a white box in my hand, topped with a white tulle bow. I had gone with something on the registry. There was a reason she and Cal had chosen the cream china and the colorful accent pieces. I opted for an oval blue platter I thought they could use for entertaining.
I rang the doorbell.
“Come on in, the party’s in here.” A young girl let me in. I wondered if she was one of Sasha’s cousins. I heard there were a lot of them.
I dropped my gift on the table before entering the room. With only one week until the wedding, everyone was in good spirits. Sasha was surrounded by women, but when she saw me walk in, she waved me over.
“Kaitlyn, come meet everybody.”
I hugged her and smiled at the circle of women. This was a traditional shower. The women ranged in age from twenty to eighty. I wasn’t sure I had seen so many sets of pearls in one room. My neck felt a little bare. I was wearing a sundress with a sweater. It was flowy enough I had room to breathe.
“This is my Aunt Chrissy, Aunt Shannon, Aunt Lacy, and Aunt Sarah.”
I smiled at all the women, trying not to be overwhelmed by Sasha’s family numbers. “Nice to meet everyone.”
Sasha hopped up from the circle. “Tara and Mindy won’t be here until Thursday. I need a non-relative friend right now.” She ushered me into the kitchen.
“What’s going on? Are you ok?” I noticed she suddenly looked pale. Her cheeks matched the white roses on the wrist corsage she wore.
She shook her head. “I’m freaking out.” I saw little beads of perspiration dot the top of her forehead.
“Ok, why don’t you sit down?” I pulled a chair out from the kitchen table. “What’s
wrong?” I grabbed a paper cup on the counter and poured lemonade into it before shoving it into her hand.
Sasha was visibly shaken. “All of this. It’s too much.” She looked at the kitchen door separating us from the rest of the party. After a few seconds, she took a sip.
“There are a lot of people out there. Maybe you just need a break.” I couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to have everyone fussing over me like that. I was already feeling claustrophobic and I was just a bridesmaid.
“I’m starting to think I can’t go through with it.”
My jaw dropped. “But, you love Cal. He loves you.” Was I possibly witnessing a runaway bride moment?
Her Duness covered her face and she let out a whine. “It’s not him. It’s the wedding. I thought if I rushed it, I could skip all this stuff. There wouldn’t be enough time for showers, parties, and a big reception. All I want is to be married to him. A courthouse ceremony would be fine with me. Or maybe a little destination wedding in Jamaica with ten people. That I think I could handle.”
Sasha had grown up with a mother as a wedding planner. Her weekends had been full of brides, wedding cakes, champagne toasts, and bouquet tosses. She was such a hopeless romantic I had assumed she wanted all those things. I never stopped to ask her. Apparently, no one else had either.
“Have you talked to Cal about how you’re feeling? He’s always good at getting you to smile.”
“He says I just have pre-wedding jitters. I’m supposed to be the older, mature one in this relationship.” She managed a giggle. “He’s the one acting all mature and seasoned about the wedding. He seems completely fine.”
I pulled my phone from my purse.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Getting a mature and seasoned groom over here.” I waited for him to answer. “Hey, Cal. Do you know where Sasha’s aunt lives? Ok. Head on over, but come to the kitchen door and don’t let the fifty women out front see you.”
I hung up and looked at my miserable friend. “He said he’ll be here in five minutes.”
“You didn’t have to do that.” I thought I already saw the color coming back to her cheeks.
“Yes, I did. Sometimes the only thing that can make you feel better and reassure you everything is ok is a pair of strong arms.”
“Speaking from experience?” She smiled.
I laughed. “Totally. Now, I’ll go out, mingle for a few minutes, and tell them you’re in the bathroom or something. Why don’t you wait on the kitchen porch for your man?” I motioned to the door.
She hugged me through a sniffle. “When I get through this, I’m giving you the award for best bridesmaid.”
“I don’t need that. I only want you and Cal to get married. Courthouse, beach, church, Jamaica. I don’t care—as long as you are happy and get to wear that awesome dress.”
She walked on to the porch and I guarded the door. She needed Cal more than anything right now.
And why couldn’t I take my own advice? I’d been carrying this secret around on my own. Terrified. Worried. And sick and exhausted.
If I kept waiting for the perfect time to fall in my lap it would be when I was in labor. So what if there were wedding parties? Who cared if my best friend was in town? What difference did it make if Cole was on crutches and Grayson had an earache? Was I really going to let Aiden’s decisions dictate our lives?
This was our life. This was our messy complicated beautiful life. I fell in love with Cole ten years ago because he was gorgeous and sexy. Strong and charming. He could handle anything.
I knew this pregnancy wasn’t planned. But I also knew he loved me. Loved me enough to stand up to my family. Enough to ask me to move in with him. Enough to share his son with me and be a family.
I smiled when Cal ran up the stairs and hugged Sasha. I looked for my purse. I couldn’t wait any longer.
I think I had found my perfect time.
21
Cole
“How was the shower?” I lifted my head from the computer when Kaitlyn walked in.
“Umm… it was interesting. A little overwhelming.” She slumped into an open kitchen chair.
I didn’t know what went on at those things.
“What are you working on?” she asked.
“Legal research for the Dunes. Thought I should read up on what’s involved for someone to contest a will.”
“Doesn’t sound very fun.”
“No, it’s not, but I need to know what I’m up against before I hire an attorney.” I scribbled a few notes on a notepad.
“Don’t you know anyone you could ask for advice before you have to hire someone?”
“I’d rather not get my friends involved. This is going to be brutal.” Everything about this situation was fucked up.
“Is Grayson napping?” she asked.
“Mmm-hmm.” I scrolled through the website.
“Maybe we could have a few minutes then.”
I looked at her. She was fidgeting with the hem of her dress.
“What’s going on? Did something happen at the party?” I closed the laptop and faced Kaitlyn.
I didn’t know if I had ever seen her look more worried. And we’d been through a hell of a lot in the past few months.
“I kept thinking there would be some perfect time to talk about it,” she started.
“Perfect time for what?”
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Cole, I’m pregnant.”
“Pregnant.” I looked at her and pushed off the chair. I stood over her.
She nodded. Her eyes filled with tears. “We’re going to have a baby.”
Everything froze. The world stopped. I didn’t care about the lawsuit or my leg. Or the dozen other things that had wedged themselves into our life. All I heard was that word: pregnant.
“Kaitlyn,” I whispered.
“Please don’t be upset,” she pleaded. “I’m so sorry.”
I blinked. “I’m not upset. God no.”
I cupped her face and kissed her with everything I had. My baby was growing inside her. I loved her. My tongue moved quickly as I sucked at the corners of her soft lips.
She broke away, fighting for a breath. “You’re happy about it?”
I laughed. “Hell yes, I’m happy.” My hands moved over her full breasts. No wonder they had been driving me crazy lately. “You’re carrying my child.”
She leapt from the chair. I felt the tears on her cheeks. “Oh my God. I was so worried. And I wanted to tell you, but Mary Ellen was here, and then Aiden and the lawsuit and then Grayson was sick and every time was the wrong time. And I wanted it to be perfect. I wanted to buy some cute little rubber duck or wrap up the pregnancy test in a fancy box.”
I circled my arms around her waist. “You’ve known how long?” I eyed her sternly.
She stepped back. “A few weeks.”
“Kaitlyn,” I growled.
“I know. I know. I’m sorry. I swore to you my birth control wouldn’t fail us. And I know Grayson wasn’t planned.” She looked toward the floor as a tear slid on her cheek. “I didn’t know if we were strong enough for this. I don’t want you to think I’m another Amber.”
God, her words hurt me.
“Baby. I love you.” I tilted her chin upward. “And no, we didn’t plan this. But this is our baby.” I ran my palms to her stomach. “Our baby.”
She nodded and smiled. “It is.”
“And your brother is going to fucking kill me.”
She giggled. “He is.”
I kissed her again. This time more tenderly.
“I have a confession too.”
Her eyes opened. “What is it?”
I reached for the zipper on the back of her dress and slid it to ass, pushing the sleeves over her shoulders.
“I wanted this.” I eyed her hungrily as she stepped out of the dress.
I grabbed her by the hand and led her to the bedroom where I could lock the door in case Grayson woke up early from
his nap.
“What do you mean?”
I unclasped her bra and sucked one tit into my mouth. She moaned wildly.
“Every time I fuck you, all I can imagine is my baby growing inside you. Maybe I’m the one to blame after all.” I winked.
She gasped. “You’re serious?”
Her tits were so fucking perfect like this. I should have seen it. I should have known her body was changing in front of me. She was slightly rounder. Fuller. And her boobs were something out of damn porn movie.
I nodded, laying her on the bed. I dragged her panties over her ankles. “Every time I come inside you, I want this.” I positioned my finger at her clit and drew a line to her pussy. She hissed.
“You don’t mean that.”
I leaned over her ripe body. Full of life. “I mean every word. I didn’t know it would be now, but I wanted my baby here.” I kissed her stomach. “And as hard as I fucked you, you had to know it too.”
She sighed as her head nodded. “Yes. I wanted it.”
I grinned. “You are so fucking sexy.” I pushed her leg to the side as I settled between her thighs.
I wanted to know everything about her body this way. I licked her clit and she moaned, yanking the back of my head.
“Cole,” she groaned.
I pumped a finger inside her.
“Please fuck me.”
I looked in her eyes and kissed her slick heat as I shoved the jeans off my legs and pulled my cock into the air.
I pushed the thick head to her pussy and inched my way inside.
“Oh Cole,” she moaned.
It had to be intense for her. It was more than I’d ever felt on my dick before. My fingers threaded against her palms as I slid all the way inside her tight pussy. I thought I owned her, but right now I felt as if this girl had every hold on me there was. My cock. My thoughts. And my heart.
“I love you. I love our baby,” I growled, pumping inside her with full long strokes.
