Until the Stars Fall (Just the Way You Are Book 1)

by Abigail Kade

  Rhett leaned down to the now silent Remy, whispered into his ear and gave him a huge hug. For a minute, Remy hung onto his twin for dear life. The front door opened again announcing the rest of the family was arriving and the moment was over. Rhett let go of Remy with one more quick squeeze and went back into the kitchen, leaving Remy to jump up and greet the new arrivals to see if they needed any help. Now that the storm had blown over, they acted like it had never happened at all.

  Neither one acknowledged the profound moment I had just witnessed. It hadn’t even fazed them, but I couldn’t help noticing what Rhett had told Remy was almost the same as what Lachlan had told me all those weeks ago. We were all looking for our forever. We just needed to recognize it when it came along. On the tail end of that thought, I caught a glimpse of Ladd in the next room saying hello to Taylor and getting hugged by Helen and Lillian when I had an epiphany. Ladd was my one. It was early and new, but he was what I’d been looking for. I was going to fight tooth and nail to make it work.

  When Lillian saw me, she made a beeline over and reached up to hug me around my waist. “Connor, it’s so good to finally meet you. I wanted to catch you the other night, but it was so busy. I wanted to see if you’d be interested in making a mold for my collection. With your”—she eyed me up and down with a smirk—“size, I’m sure you would make a fabulous tablet holder.” I almost choked on my own spit and looked for help from Ladd. There was no help there though because he was giggling like a loon. I looked past him and saw Remy and a newly arrived Taylor standing there smothering their own laughter at my expense. Just fucking great!

  “Um, I’m not sure I could make a tablet holder actually.”

  Her face fell, and she looked so embarrassed all of a sudden. “Oh, my, I’m so sorry, Connor. I just assumed, sweetie. Not everyone lives up to expectations. I get it. You could make a lovely phone holder.” I heard the barks of laughter coming from Remy and Taylor and began to protest again.

  “No, I don’t think I’d make a very good phone holder either.”

  How the hell did I get into this situation?

  Lillian swallowed visibly and gave Ladd a sad look “Oh dear, then maybe I could make a business card holder. I could make the Petit Dick Stands just for you, honey!” She gave me a sympathetic pat on my arm. What the fucking hell!

  I turned as red as Ladd and couldn’t look her in the eyes. At this point, Ladd sat down and put his head between his knees, and I caught sight of Taylor and Remy leaning all over each other so they wouldn’t fall down. When he finally got himself together, Ladd stood back up and put his arm around my waist.

  “Oh, no, Aunt Lillian, Connor is definitely a tablet, maybe even a flat screen TV stand, so no worries on that front. I just don’t think he’d feel comfortable having his junk on display in your front window. To be honest, you might cause a riot on Main Street, so maybe you’re better off without him.”

  Lillian gave me another head to toe sweep and then jumped at Ladd and gave him a huge hug. “Oh, God, I was so worried. I’m so happy for you, Ladd. You hit the cock jackpot, sweetie!”

  Dear God, what is it with this fucking family? First profound truths about love and life now congratulations on cock sizes. I’d dropped into the twilight zone of families.

  The hug was finally broken up by James yelling from the kitchen.

  “I’m sorry Gwen couldn’t come tonight but, no, really, Aunt Helen, I have everything under control. Just go relax, and I’ll let you know when everything is ready.”

  “Whoops, that’s my cue to get my ass in gear.” Lillian let go of Ladd and swooped into the kitchen yelling, “Helen, don’t you dare touch anything in that kitchen. You know what happened last time you helped with the rice, we had to eat the gumbo without it, and that’s a travesty I will not have at Connor’s first family dinner.”

  Remy and Taylor followed after her, presumably to watch the show that was about to happen in the kitchen between the sisters. And just like that, we were finally alone. I pulled Ladd into a quick kiss, and just as we were moving apart, a text notification sounded, and I cringed. With Ladd looking on intently, I pulled out my phone and checked the message. Just as I thought, it was yet another from Troy. He wasn’t giving up, and I needed to end this. It was bothering me, but I also knew it was really bothering Ladd. I didn’t need my ex causing problems with my current relationship.

  Troy: I’m so sorry, I cheated on you, Connor! I know you’re mad. I miss you! Just the thought of you still makes me smile. I think I still love you!

  “It’s him again, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah, he just won’t give up.”

  I gave my phone to him and let him read it.

  “What do I reply?” I asked him. Ladd seemed to have a clearer head where this situation was concerned. He didn’t have any history of over thinking things where Troy was concerned.

  Ladd stared at the screen for a full minute in thought, then began typing.

  Connor: This is Connor’s new man. Connor spent six months after you left him praying to receive this message. Then he spent the next three months trying to accept the fact that it would never happen. The last month and a half, Connor has spent dating to finally get over you. And it’s worked! We’re together now, and it’s too little, too late. Lose Connor’s number and never contact him again. You told him he wasn’t enough for you. Now, you’ll never be enough for him!

  After reading his message, I was overwhelmed with emotion. This gorgeous man was putting a claim on me. I wasn’t sure I deserved him, but I wanted him. I had the impulse to tell him I loved him right there in his family’s dining room. I wasn’t sure when I had fallen for him so completely, but I felt the truth to my soul. I held back again though. He’d think I was crazy. So instead of yelling my devotion to the rooftops, I scooped my man into a huge bear hug and kissed the hell out of him. We were both smiling when we pulled apart as we rested our foreheads together and just breathed each other in. It was a perfect moment until we heard a shriek from the kitchen.

  “Freaking hell, sister, I told you that pan was hot. Did you listen? Noooooo. Now you’re gonna have to tell Gwen why your right hand is out of commission for the next few days and you can’t finger…” All we heard after that was muffled noises—Lillian presumably—and uncontrollable laughter—Taylor and Remy…and probably James and Rhett, too. This family was nuts, but I really, really liked them.

  After all of the drama in the kitchen, I was happy to find out the dinner was fucking amazing. I’d never had gumbo so good, and the crazy company was even better. But as we were serving up the apple cobbler Remy had brought, my phone dinged again. I immediately went still, and so did Ladd. Everyone at the table noticed our sudden silence, but I had to see what the message was this time. I pulled out the phone and read.

  Troy: I don’t know what game you’re playing, Connor, but it’s not funny! It’s just sad that you would pretend to have a new man when I know you’re all alone and just too proud to admit it. Just give in and admit you want me back and save us both the drama your little hissy fit is causing! I’m taking matters into my own hands since you can’t admit the truth!

  “That little shit! I don’t know what I ever saw in his pampered prissy ass. All he wants is someone to take care of him. He wants a sugar daddy, not a relationship. The hell if I’d ever want someone like him again after finding the perfect man in you.” I reached over and grabbed Ladd’s hand temporarily forgetting where we were and the company present.

  “Oh Lord, that’s so sweet, Connor. I knew you’d be perfect for our Ladd.” Aunt Helen said with her hand over her mouth, blinking back her tears. Then Lillian got up out of her seat and came over to give me a peck on the cheek.

  “You’re a good boy, Connor. We’re lucky to have you, too.”

  I hadn’t actually realized I’d said all that out loud until their reactions. Looking over at Ladd, I watched as the smile on his face lit his eyes like diamonds, and I was lost in them for at least a minute with
the goofiest grin on my face. I came back to the present when James asked what the text had said. I felt no problem explaining the situation to them all at that point. Hell, maybe one of them would have an idea to help.

  As I was finishing my explanation, my phone rang. Glancing down, I saw my mother was calling me, so I answered immediately. Maeve Douglas hated talking on the phone except for business and never called her kids unless it was an emergency. She was strictly a text or email woman.

  “Mom, what’s wrong?”

  You could hear a pin drop in the dining room, every person at the table going silent at my tone.

  “Connor Michael McDaniel, ye tell me right now, are ye datin’ anyone right now?”

  Okay, what the hell is going on now?

  “Actually Mom, I am dating someone right now.” I smiled at Ladd and reached out to squeeze his hand. “But why are you calling me about that and how the hell did you find out?”

  Mom screeched into the phone in a tone of voice I’d never heard from her before. “Fer fuck’s sake, Connor, what is wrong wit ye? I thought ye were finally over that asshole Troy, an now he calls me and tells me ye’re back together with him?” Oh, holy shit! What the fuck was Troy thinking? He called my mother to tell her we were together again? Why was he doing this?

  “Mom, listen…”

  “No, you listen to me, sweetheart, I love ye with all me heart, but I will not let ye do this again. You are too special to put up with this douche-nugget’s shite ever again. I’ll force yer ass back to Scotland before I’ll watch ye go through heartache that profound again.”

  Mom was a fierce mama bear, and I had no doubt she would do everything in her power to protect me, even from myself if necessary. Thankfully, she had this situation way the fuck wrong.

  “Mom, I don’t know what the hell Troy is up to, but he lied to you. Now, I’m going to put you on speaker in just a second so watch your language.” I pushed the button for speaker, but evidently, she wasn’t quite ready for company.

  “Fer fuck’s sake, Connor, I’m not a kid, I’m a lady, and I always watch me fuckin language.” Jesus! I blushed and glanced around the table to see shock, humor, and appreciation—Remy of course—on everyone’s faces.

  “Uh, Mom, I’m at my boyfriend’s house for family dinner, and I’d like to introduce you. Ladd Eldridge, meet my mom, Maeve Douglas.”

  Ladd, God love him, took everything in stride. “Mrs. Douglas, it’s so nice to speak to you again. I don’t know if you remember me, but we spoke a few weeks ago when you sent the key to the Mason building to me.”

  Mom, for once in her life seemed speechless. Then she finally became irate. “Connor, yer new boyfriend is Ladd Eldridge, the architect working on the bar with you?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” I said sheepishly.

  “You mean to tell me Troy called me, lied to me and made me make a complete twat of meself in front of your new boyfriend and his, I presume, whole family?”

  “Uh…” I flinched. “Yes, ma’am, that seems to be the case.”

  “Oh, fuckin kill me now.” Pause. “Shite, I’m still on speaker, aren’t I?”

  “Um, yes, ma’am.”

  Then I heard a whispered, “For fuck’s sake, get your shite together woman.”

  Then louder, “Uh, sorry about that. Um, hello, Ladd, I’m so sorry for my behavior. I just couldn’t let it go when I thought Troy had his hooks back into Connor. I’m so sorry to have ruined your dinner. Sorry, everyone!”

  There was a chorus of it’s fine and no worries from around the table assuring Mom no harm had been done. Then Ladd added, “Believe me, Mrs. Douglas, I understand. I would be livid if that piece of shit got anywhere near Connor again. He didn’t realize what he had, and now he’s all mine.”

  “Oh, Connor, he’s a keeper, sweetheart.” She raised her voice like we weren’t all in the same room, “I love you already, Ladd. We have to get together soon.”

  I rolled my eyes. “All right, Mom, we’re still having dinner, so I’m letting you go now.” I was about to grab the phone off the table when Helen snatched it up and took it off speaker while lifting it to her ear.

  “Hi, Maeve, it’s Helen Eldridge. Yes, it’s been awhile, I know. So good to talk to you again.” There was a pause, then Helen laughed and got up from the table to walk into the kitchen followed by Lillian, “Yes, he’s my nephew actually. I know, I can’t believe it either. They are so cute together. You won’t believe how sweet. Now, we need to figure out something for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I have a few ideas…” And they were gone.

  God help us all with those three making plans.

  I looked around the table, and my thoughts were plastered all over everyone else’s faces, too. They all looked scared or mildly horrified at what the plans for the holidays might entail. I snuck a glance at Ladd, and he was staring at me, his eyebrows were pulled together and his jaw tight. He cut his eyes across the table and got into a staring contest with Rhett, then he switched to Remy, all of them concentrating and fiercely serious now. Ladd nodded, then Rhett and Remy nodded at the same time like they had all decided on something, except they had never said a word.

  Maybe that psychic thing wasn’t just a twin thing.

  James clapped his hands and said, “Seems we have a situation to take care of so let’s finish up dinner and the dishes so we can get this show on the road.”

  Cleanup took less than thirty minutes, then Helen and Lillian left after they finally gave me back my phone. I didn’t ask what plans had been made if any. Like a good son, I’d just wait until my mom told me where to be and when.

  With the aunts gone, that left the brothers, Taylor, and James with mischievous—evil in Remy’s case—smiles all looking at me. Dear God what were they going to do now?

  Chapter Fourteen

  Remy, Rhett, Uncle James, Taylor, Connor and I retired to the living room to lounge around and discuss options to help Connor get rid of Troy. I had no problem showing my affection for Connor and snuggled into his side on the sofa. He pulled me close and gave me a small kiss on my head before we got down to business.

  Troy was causing problems for some unknown reason, and he needed to go the fuck away, forever. I wasn’t really worried about him, but the specter of him was putting a shadow over this new happiness we were building. I could tell this really bothered Connor. He wanted to move forward, but this crap was pulling him backward.

  Connor told us everything he could about Troy including his social media accounts which were easy to find. Uncle James pulled them up and Troy even still had pictures of the two of them together on his pages and his relationship status as serious. The guy was either crazy or delusional. Connor told us that Troy’s father was a State Senator in Georgia, and a Republican no less, and gave us all ideas how to get Troy to cooperate. Connor also mentioned Troy was biding his time until his twenty-eighth birthday to finally get his trust fund from his grandparents that was worth at least seven figures. That made both Remy and Rhett sit up and after another of their non-talking twin-speak silent conversations, they said they had an idea and would take care of everything. The guys had friends that did research for them for the firm, so they were on their phones as soon as they had a plan. Uncle James put in a call to Patrick Parsons his PI friend, too, to cover all the bases.

  I didn’t ask any questions. I knew they would take care of it if they said they would. Rhett said he had some research to do, and that we’d all reconvene back at the house when he had his end worked out. He told Connor to send Troy an apologetic text saying he needed a little time to think it through, but that he did miss him and he just needed time to work some things out first. Connor agreed and then we all went our separate ways.

  When we walked out on the front porch, I saw it had started pouring down rain. Connor looked down at my shiny loafers, then stepped down a few steps and turned his back to me. “Hop up, Ladd, I don’t want you to get mud on your loafers. It won’t matter with my boots, and I can run a little fas
ter so we won’t get as wet.” God this man! Just when I didn’t think he could get any sweeter.

  I jumped up, and Connor reached back to grab my ass in both of his huge paws. Once I was settled securely and had thrown my arms around his neck, Connor ran down the steps and jogged across the yard to the carriage house with me bouncing behind him and unable to contain my giggles. He slid me down once we reached the porch, giving my ass a little squeeze before finally letting go. He sat down on the top step and removed his muddy boots and socks before coming inside after me.

  “Leave them outside tonight, and we’ll clean them up in the morning, Conn.”

  “Sure, that’s fine, I’m going to head into the shower to get this mud off. And look at you.” He ran his hand through my wet hair slicking it back. The feeling of his fingers grazing my scalp gave me a little shiver down my spine. “You’re shaking, babe. I like you wet, but not cold. Come on, and I’ll get you all clean before I get you dirty again.” He scooped me up and threw me over his shoulder this time.

  “Put me down!” I protested, but I really loved the view of his ass I was getting from this vantage point. My protest was weak at best. We made it to the bathroom where we did manage to get clean and warm before heading naked into the bedroom. I moved to get on the bed, but Connor caught me up short with a hand on my waist.

  “Come here,” he whispered as I was pulled into a soft kiss. There was no hurry, no urgency. There was just the slow sensual glide of our lips sipping and tasting as we rocked back and forth in a dance I didn’t have a name for but knew was uniquely us. Connor held me close, but never too tight, gently pulling me with him to the bed. This time when he picked me up, he cradled me gently and then placed me on the bed and followed me down to kiss me deeply. He memorized every curve and dip of my body with his rough hands, gliding across my over sensitive skin. He was making love to me with nothing more than his lips and hands. What we had done last night had been wild, fast and hard. This was tender, sensual and soft, but it wasn’t any less powerful. If anything this was even more. This slow dance that we were learning and performing together was the other part of who we were becoming, both hard and soft melting into one beautifully blended perfection.