True North: A Flirt Club Duet

by Rebecca Gallo

  “This is so unfair,” I tell Ben over the phone. “It’s like they’re holding you hostage.”

  “I know. This is a tricky situation. Too many complicated deals happening all at once.”

  “But it all has a happy ending, right? Alistair is stopped, George keeps his property and your businesses don’t suffer.”

  “Well……..”

  I don’t like the sound of that. “What does that mean?”

  “I’ve had to part with a few choice flats in Battersea Reach to appease one of my investors.”

  “How is that fair?”

  “Jagger Wilkes was my first investor; I had to make him happy or risk losing him.”

  My eyes flick up to the calendar above my desk. “When do you think you’re going to come back? We only have sixty days to get married.”

  “Not that long, sweetheart! I’ll be shagging you senseless by week’s end, wait and see. Now, let’s talk about a honeymoon.”

  “A honeymoon isn’t necessary, Ben.”

  “Of course it is! And I’ve already planned it. Total secret.”

  A slow smile spreads across my lips. The idea of a secret honeymoon thrills me more than expected. “What should I pack?”

  “Absolutely nothing.”

  “So, you want everyone to see me naked?”

  “On second thought, bikinis and lingerie. Maybe a dress and one of those kaftan things. You’ll be wearing as little as possible.”

  “Is this the trip where I find out you own an overwater bungalow in Bali?”

  Ben scoffs. “Don’t be ridiculous, Milly.”

  A laugh bubbles its way to the surface followed by a sigh. “I really do love you, Ben. And I can’t wait to be your wife.”

  “That’s it. Business be damned. I’m hopping on the earliest flight back to America!”

  I don’t believe him until he calls me from the airport the next day. “This is really embarrassing but I need your address.”

  “For what?” I’m barely awake and have not been properly caffeinated. “Are you sending me something?”

  “I need to give it to the Uber driver.”

  Who needs coffee when your fiancé is waiting at the airport unexpectedly? “What? You’re actually in Boston?”

  “You didn’t believe me?”

  “No, I didn’t.”

  “Bloody hell, woman! Do you want to get married or not?”

  I give him my address and after calculating how long it will take him to arrive, I hop out of bed and take the shortest shower in history. The moment I hear his feet on the steps in the hallway outside, I race to the door and throw it open. His foot touches the landing and I launch myself at him, wrapping my arms and legs around him and peppering his cheeks with kisses until finally, I reach his lips.

  He tastes so good. Like home. Like love. Like forever. Like mine.

  His arms hold me tight as he carries me back inside. We kiss and kiss and kiss until we’re breathless. Until I taste salt because I’m crying buckets of tears.

  “I’ll never doubt you again,” I breathe out through my sniffles.

  “As much as I’d love to shag you, let’s call city hall and see if we can get married tomorrow.”

  On a Thursday morning, Ben and I travel via a sleek, black town car to Boston City Hall. Today, we’re getting married. All around us, people are commuting to work, getting ready to start their day and I’m on my way to becoming Mrs. Benjamin Waterstone.

  Despite it being almost September, the city is brutally hot. Thankfully, Ben’s light blue suit is linen and he looks so damn handsome in it. Right before we exit the car, he adjusts his polka dotted tie and winks.

  “You look absolutely stunning,” Ben says as he reaches out a hand to me. His eyes travel the length of my body and his lips form the biggest grin I’ve ever seen.

  The sheer lace tea length dress is a bit formal for a wedding at City Hall but when I saw it in the window of a bridal shop, I knew it was perfect. The straps are thin, ideal for the hot, sunny day and the skirt flares out just above my knees.

  “Thank you,” I reply quietly.

  When Ben came back from London, we called City Hall straight away to see if they had an opening the next day. Since they don’t perform wedding ceremonies on Wednesdays, we had to wait and snatched the only available appointment.

  So, here we are at 9:50 am, dressed in our wedding best, walking hand-in-hand into City Hall.

  “Are you nervous,” Ben asks as we wait.

  I suck in a sharp breath and think for a moment. “No, I’m not. I’m totally confident we are meant to be together. I’m ready to become your wife.”

  The City Clerk calls us and begins to perform the very simple ceremony. When it’s time for the vows, Ben holds up a hand and asks if he can say his own. The Clerk looks taken aback but finally relents after Ben agrees to pay the late fee for the next couple.

  He reaches out and takes both of my hands, his thumbs stroking the backs. His legs shake and for the first time, I see a hint of nerves.

  “Milly Elizabeth Hanson, you are my happily ever after. You are the kindest woman I know. I love your sense of adventure and your courage to try new things. I promise to be the cure to your wanderlust forever but to always give you the freedom to roam. I promise to explore the world beside you as your partner and husband. I promise to love you faithfully until the day I die. Today, I commit myself to you for all eternity.”

  As he slips the simple wedding band onto my finger, someone sniffles quietly. We both turn to catch the City Clerk wiping tears from his cheeks.

  “Do you have your own as well,” the Clerk asks.

  I don’t but I lie and say, “Yes.” Idiot. Ben’s vows were amazing and now I’m going to sound foolish.

  “Benjamin Michael Waterstone, today, I finally become your wife. It seems like I’ve waited a lifetime for this moment but in reality, it’s only been a few short months. And in that time, I’ve found my partner, my soul mate, my forever. I promise to support all of your endeavors and to be the beacon guiding you home after a long day or a difficult journey. I promise to love you unconditionally and faithfully until I take my last breath. And I promise to never take for granted the love, respect, and freedom you give to me. Today, I commit myself to you for all eternity.”

  “Copycat,” Ben whispers, causing me to giggle.

  The Clerk clears his throat, wipes away more tears and finishes the ceremony. On time.

  “Can I kiss my wife now,” Ben asks.

  “You better,” I tease.

  When we kiss as husband and wife, it feels like the first time. There are butterflies in my stomach waiting for the moment when our lips will finally connect. My nerves settle when Ben leans forward slightly, brushes his hand across my cheeks and places a soft kiss on my lips. I take a step forward and kiss him back, gripping the lapels of his jacket in my hands. I kiss him hard and deep, sealing my promises to him forever.

  “Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime, Mrs. Waterstone?”

  The sound of my new name makes me positively giddy. My heart thumps wildly in my chest. I’m Mrs. Waterstone! “Absolutely Mr. Waterstone but only if it will last forever.”

  Milly

  The Mediterranean Sea is an ideal place for a honeymoon. But if you’re my husband, cruising the Mediterranean Sea aboard a super yacht is the perfect honeymoon. Especially if your plans were delayed.

  As planned, after our wedding, I applied for my new visa and Ben paid the obscene fee to have my application expedited. We waited until I was cleared to travel before returning to London because he still had business to finish.

  The deal with Jagger Wilkes was straightforward and settled quickly. It guaranteed Jagger’s loyalty and gave Ben the reassurance he needed to continue his path to success as a restauranteur.

  Dealing with Alistair took a bit longer. Until Ben realized the only way to stop his brother was to buy George’s property himself.

  “I don’t understand. I thou
ght you wanted George to keep his home.” I needed clarification because Ben’s plan was confusing.

  “I do, and he can live there for as long as he wants. Or he can retire and move to Spain if he wants. Either way, it blocks Alistair from owning George’s land and prevents him from turning Waterstone Hall into a full-blown mini break resort!”

  Surprisingly, George was amenable to Ben’s offer and accepted it. Also, not surprisingly, Ben’s family was livid when they discovered what he’d done. Alistair came to our flat to confront Ben and there was a lot of shouting. I tried to keep track of how many times Ben said “fuck” but it became too confusing after a while.

  “You know the solution to our problem, Alistair. You’re just too big of a fucking wanker to do anything,” Ben goaded his brother. “Buy me out.”

  “You know I don’t have the fucking money to do that.”

  “Then get the fuck out of my flat and don’t fucking talk to me ever again unless it’s through my lawyer.”

  After the big blow out with Alistair, Ben’s mother called. Their conversation was more polite but ended much the same way.

  “Mum, there’s only one solution and unfortunately, Alistair doesn’t have the money to buy my half of the estate. So, until that happens, kindly leave me and Milly the fuck alone.” There was a slight pause before Ben said, “Please give dad my love. Bye.”

  When the phone call ended, I flopped across the sofa and sighed dramatically. “Can we please just go on our honeymoon already? I have a suitcase full of nothing packed!”

  Honestly, it didn’t even feel like we were even married. Once we returned to London, we lived separate lives for a few weeks while Ben handled business. The only indication we were newlyweds was the sex. So much dirty, delicious sex. It was like we were both insatiable teenagers. But I wanted my husband all to myself for a while; I hated sharing him with lawyers and investor meetings.

  “We’re leaving tomorrow,” Ben informed me matter-of-factly.

  This super yacht Ben chartered is massive. It’s shiny and sleek but since we came aboard, I haven’t seen much of it. My only priorities including sleeping, eating the fresh, delicious Italian food, and sunbathing on the upper deck.

  “That bikini is obscene,” Ben drools. “I love it.”

  I adjust the tiny emerald green cups of the top a bit and recline further in my lounger. “Just following your orders, Mr. Waterstone.”

  Ben leans down and kisses me thoroughly. His finger trails down my chest, in between my breasts, and catches on the fabric of my bikini. He tugs it down until the strings around my neck have no choice but to loosen. Ben pulls the scrap of fabric away from my body and tosses it to the ground.

  “That’s much better,” he says with a devilish smile. My hands fly up to cover myself but he stops me. “We’re in the middle of the Mediterranean and the crew have been ordered to disappear. No one will see you.”

  This is one of the reasons I love Ben. He pushes my boundaries but ensures my safety.

  He arranges himself on the lounger next to mine. His well-muscled body and tattoos are on full display. My mouth waters at the sinful things his navy-blue swimsuit is doing for his lower half.

  “Do you want a glass of champagne?” He offers.

  “No thank you.”

  “Hmm. You haven’t had a drop of alcohol in weeks. And you’ve suddenly gone vegetarian. Any particular reason?”

  I turn my head and lower my sunglasses. I’ve been hiding a secret and it seems my husband is finally starting to take notice. “You might say I’m up the duff.”

  Ben bolts out of his lounger. “Up the duff? Are you serious?”

  I bite down on my lower lip and nod my head. “Absolutely. The doctor confirmed it right before we left.”

  He kneels down beside me and presses his hand to my belly. His smile fills his entire face as he looks up at me. “You’re going to be a mum and I’m going to be a dad.” His hand ruffles his hair. “When are you due?”

  “Sometime in June.”

  “A little Junebug. Aces.”

  I reach out and stroke the back of my fingers along his cheek. “Are you really happy about this?”

  “Milly, I’m fucking over the moon!” He stretches his body over me and presses his lips firmly against mine. “Thank you, sweetheart, for giving me everything I could possibly ever want. You’ve made me the happiest man in the world.”

  When I arrived in London, I was filled with an insatiable wanderlust because my life didn’t have direction. I was like a compass spinning out of control. But Ben is my true north; no matter how far I roam, he will always be there to guide me back.

  Ben

  “I can’t believe we’re parents,” I say, marveling at the mewling bundle in my arms. Our little Junebug finally arrived and she is perfect. Oh god, I have a daughter. I’m going to have to beat the blokes away from my little princess!

  “You’re a dad,” Milly says, smiling up at me from the bed. She looks exhausted but radiant.

  “And you’re a mum.” I sit down on the edge of our bed, holding our still nameless daughter. “What are we going to call this sweet little girl?”

  Milly sits up and peers down at the baby. “How about Rosie?”

  Our little girl thrusts a tiny fist in the air and coos. “I think she approves. Welcome to the world, Rosie Lee Waterstone.”

  “Lee?” Milly looks up at me with curious eyes. Oh no, I’ve done it. I’ve gone rogue and given our baby a middle name without consulting Milly. A smile spreads across Milly’s lips as she looks down at our baby. “Rosie Lee. I love it.”

  I breathe a sigh of relief.

  Milly leans against the bed, closes her eyes and drifts off to sleep. I slip into the armchair next to the bed, still cuddling my baby against my chest. I rock her gently and reflect on the last few months.

  So many changes in such a short amount of time. Instead of reinvesting the money Jagger Wilkes paid for the Battersea Reach properties, I bought a large family home close to Holland Park. There’s room for little Rosie Lee to play and enough bedrooms to hopefully expand our family.

  I settle Rosie in the bassinet next to Milly’s bed. Both of my girls are sound asleep and I’ve got a quick errand to run.

  I slip out of the room and head out to meet my dad. He called last week letting me know he had something for me.

  He’s sitting at a table in a coffee shop just around the corner from the hospital. He looks nervous, drumming his fingers on the side of his cup, his eyes darting around the space until he spots me.

  “Ben!” He waves and stands up, as if I couldn’t see him. I walk swiftly toward him and he reaches out a hand. Instead of shaking it, I hug him tightly. “Congratulations, my boy!”

  “Thanks Dad,” I say, sitting down. I pull out my mobile and open up the pictures. He swipes through the photos; I can’t help but beam with pride. “We named her Rosie Lee.”

  “A beautiful name for such a beautiful little bairn. Well done, son.”

  “I’m sorry to be so quick but I don’t want to leave Milly and Rosie for long. You said you had something to give me?”

  He nods his head. “Yep.” He reaches into the pocket of his jacket and pulls out a faded blue velvet ring box. “Thought you should have this.”

  He pushes it across the table and I open it. My Nan’s ring sparkles up at me. “How did you get this? Alistair gave it to Vanessa.”

  “And she gave it back when their engagement ended.” He sits back in his seat and takes a sip of his coffee. “Oh, don’t look so surprised, Ben! Their engagement was strictly a business deal and once Alistair couldn’t hold up his end of the bargain, Vanessa and her father backed out. Victor wasn’t too chuffed about losing out on such a prime deal.”

  “I couldn’t very well let them kick George out of his home.”

  My dad holds up a hand. “I know son, ya done good. Your mum’s been a bit mardy since this all happened, but maybe sweet little Rosie Lee will change her mind.”
<
br />   My mother has always been a hard woman to please but I promise to bring Milly and Rosie out to Waterstone Hall as soon as they’re up to traveling. I pocket the ring box and thank my father with another hug before heading back to the hospital.

  Milly is sitting up in bed with Rosie latched onto her nipple. The content smile on my wife’s lips melts my heart.

  “Hey,” Milly says quietly when she notices me. “Our little Junebug can be quite demanding when she’s hungry.”

  “So can her mum,” I tease. I place a soft kiss on the top of Milly’s head and lightly stroke Rosie’s soft, dark hair. “I had to pop out for a moment.”

  “Everything okay?”

  “Everything’s perfect.” Milly finishes feeding Rosie and then it’s my turn for Daddy snuggles. “I got you something.”

  “Ben, you didn’t need to do that,” she insists.

  “I think you lot call it a ‘push present’.” I cradle Rosie in one arm while I reach into my pocket and take out the ring box. “I’ve wanted to give this to you for a while.”

  Her fingers tremble as she opens it. She covers her mouth as tears trail down her cheeks. The Marquise-shaped diamond twinkles up at her. “Ben, is this your Nan’s ring?”

  “Yep. My dad gave it to me a bit ago. He’s chuffed to bits to be a granddad.” I shift Rosie in my arms as I place her back in her tiny bed. “Sorry little lass but I’ve got to kiss your mum now.”

  I turn back to Milly who’s still staring at the ring. When I sit down on the edge of the bed, Milly swipes at her tears. “Thank you, Ben. You’ve given me such an amazing life.”

  “And to think it all started with a scam.” Leaning forward, I press my lips against hers. We’ve shared many kisses but this one feels special. This kiss is full of hope and joy. “Now, when can we get started on baby number two?”