Accidentally Met Him (Accidental Marriage Box Set)

by Lauren Wood

  He was being rather stern, and I could tell that it was only going to get worse if she didn't spill it. I wanted to know just as much, so I found myself at the edge of my chair waiting. It was the first time that I’d heard her speak in a couple of months and I wanted to know what was going on in her head. I was still shocked about this whole thing, so I wanted to know why she was so quick to leave now.

  “Your honor, I would rather not discuss this in open court.”

  “Well Miss, if you want a few minutes to talk to your lawyer, you are going to have to give me reason.”

  She smiled at the judge, but I could see it was forced. Candy was never too good at hiding her true emotions. Something was bothering her and even now, as mad as I was about it all, I hated to see her so upset. I still had one hell of a soft spot for Candy.

  “It would seem that whatever was filed on my behalf, included things that I did not agree to. The papers that I was under the impression were going to be filed, had nothing to do with many of the circumstances mentioned here. I'm just a little confused what happened, and I would like my lawyer to tell me what changed and why he did so.”

  She was measuring her words and I wished that she would be plainer. It was a little too ambiguous, and it made me hope that she had nothing to do with any of it. It was of course what I wanted to believe, but I had learned a long time ago that believing and actuality were two very different things.

  “What circumstances or measure in the filing did you not agree to?”

  “Pretty much all of it, except the divorce.”

  The judge was a little shocked and I was as well. Candy was making it like she didn't even know that the papers were asking for all of my money, or at least most of it.

  “So, you're trying to tell me that you are not asking for alimony, property, money, and child support payments, as well as insurance for your unborn child?”

  She was about to say something when her mother tugged on her sleeve and bent over to talk to her in her ear. I don't know what it was that she was saying to her, but whatever it was, Candy wasn't too happy about it.

  Candy pulled away and held herself rigid in front of the judge.

  “Yes Sir, that is what I'm trying to tell you. I just wanted to divorce him.”

  “Are you pregnant Miss?”

  That was a question that I wanted answered and I think there were a few people in the room that were very interested in her answer as well. She looked over at me for a moment and then put her head down. I didn’t take that as a good sign. Finally, she nodded her head.

  “I'm sorry Miss Canton, but you’re going to have to say it audibly so that the transcriptions can hear you.”

  “Yes Sir, I am pregnant.”

  The judge sat back in his chair and I could tell that he was at his curious as he was confused. I had to think that there were very few women that would argue against trying to get so much money. I had always known that Candy was different than all the rest, and I was mad at myself for the fact that I’d ever thought differently. I didn't have to look behind me to see that Ralph with smiling, telling me with his eyes that he had told me so. I had to give it to him, he was right.

  “So, you are pregnant with his child and you don't want any of his money?”

  “I also had a fiancé at the time Sir, so I can't really say if it is his or not. It is a 50/50 chance.”

  The judge said that the proceedings were going to have to stop. Candy was the one that was surprised now, and she wanted to know why.

  “Well Miss Canton, there is no way that I can let the two of you divorce, when you are pregnant with a child that will possibly be his. I can see now why you want to take this outside and not have this on public record, but I have to tell you that we are going to have to push this date back a little longer. How far along are you?”

  “I don't even know yet. I just took a test the other day, three days ago I think, and I haven't been able to get in to see the doctor. I've been really busy.”

  “Will you be able to tell who it is when you get a date?”

  Candy said that she wasn't sure, and I didn't like the idea that me and Jax were so close together, but it was better to know now where I stood.

  “Either way Miss Canton, we're not going to be able to proceed with the divorce until you have had the child and DNA test has been done. It is just the way it is done here Miss and I hope that you understand. I would also suggest that you get better representation.”

  The judge was actually being really nice to her and I was thankful for that. I had come in here, wanting to hate Candy, but at the end of the day it was impossible. There was nothing in this world that I wanted to do or say that would hurt her. The idea that she was pregnant with my child, just made that feeling a whole lot stronger. I didn't want anything to ever happen to her. I wanted to protect her.

  Judge Callaway looked over at me and apologized for the push back.

  “I am fine with a little bit more time with my wife. I never wanted this divorce to begin with.”

  Candy had only looked at me the once when she was talking earlier, but after I told the judge that, she looked over at me again, a little confused. She hadn’t seen that one coming.

  The judge seemed happy with the turn of events and told us that hopefully he wouldn't see us again.

  “I have seen a lot of couples come in and out of this room, but I have never seen a couple that was as civil to each other. Maybe there is hope for you yet, I have seen stranger things in this courtroom, and I wish you the best of luck.”

  I smiled and nodded, not saying much of anything. The last ten minutes had pushed my brain to the limit and I was still trying to process it all. It seemed like every time I thought I knew what the hell was going on, a rug was pulled out from underneath me and I was left bewildered. This time, this run in with Candy was no different. She left me broken in her wake.

  Chapter 30

  Candy

  I couldn't believe what he had just told the judge. I couldn't believe what my mother had done. It was one hell of a day, and it was only ten o'clock. I left the courtroom, not sure what to do and certainly not sure what to say. I apparently had six months or so to figure out what was going on.

  My mom tried to stop me in the hallway and I shook the grip that she had on my arm.

  “I am really not in the mood to talk. I can't believe you did this. Do you know how embarrassed I am? This was low, even for you mom.”

  “I was only doing this to help you Candy. You have to know that's true.”

  I told her that I didn't know if it was true at all. She was only out for herself, and now that she couldn't pull a man in to make enough money or get a lover that would pay her off like a mistress, so she was trying to get me to do it for her. I wasn't going to be the one anymore.

  “I don't care about money mom, I never have. It is always been you. You didn't do this for me, you do this for you and I don’t want to play this game anymore.”

  She tried to stop me again out on the steps and tell me that I was wrong, but I was done talking to her. I was done listening and at the moment, I was done with her being my mom all together. I never been so humiliated in my life and I wasn't sure where to go from here.

  Before she could get me, all worked up, I told her that I was going to go.

  “But I gave you a ride here Candy. Don’t be silly.”

  “Yeah, I know. but I think I will get a cab or something. I don't really feel like riding with you right now. The plan that you and the lawyer cooked up was really something. I think you out did yourself this time.

  By the look on her face, it was clear that she finally understood what I was talking about. It was ridiculous what she had done, and I don't know if I was ever going to be able to forgive her. Part of me wondered if I had been waiting all this time for her to do something this stupid, so I would never have to see her again. Now I had the best excuse ever.

  I was just getting over the fact that she had walked away, and I was able
to breathe again, when I saw Colt walking towards me. He looked so damn good and immediately my heart started racing in my chest. I was nervous, scared, so many other things, but more than anything, I just missed the sight of him and it was really good to see him now.

  “Well that was unexpected.”

  “What, the fact that I wanted to take all your money or that we can't get divorced?”

  He chuckled at me and told me a little bit of both.

  “Yeah, sadly this happens more than you would think. I would like to say that this is the first time that my mom has tried to take over my life, but it isn't.”

  “So, you don't want my money?”

  I shook my head that I didn't. I had told him that I'd never really worried about money. I always had enough, for what I needed and that was all that mattered.

  “So, what happened?”

  “My mom and my lawyer tried to get what I deserve apparently. Though I am sure that they would have gotten their fair share as well.”

  I used air quotes to tell him that I was not of the same ideas as them. I didn't want to divide with his money, and I certainly didn't earn any of it.

  “So, you're pregnant?”

  “Yeah.”

  “When were you going to tell me?”

  “I don't know Colt. You don't know how many times I've tried to call you.”

  “I can take a guess because I didn't change my number like you did.”

  “I didn't change my number. I don't know what happened. I just know that all the sudden it was disconnected and now I have a different number.”

  He didn't believe me and it, bothered me because I was still trying to figure out what happened. It was a company that I had used for many years and they had never dropped the ball so badly before. Even they we're trying to figure out why my number had been disconnected and changed. I was going to be getting a call back from them shortly with the answer.

  “Well, at least you couldn’t avoid me here. I wish you would've told me Candy. I didn’t like finding out from my lawyer that you were pregnant. I would have rather heard it from you.”

  “I'm sorry Colt. I didn't really think about how it's going to affect everybody else. I knew was that I needed some time to wrap my brain around it. I haven't really thought about kids, not really. I thought about starting a family, but it certainly wasn't going to be like this. I had never in million years imagined that I would be talking to my child's father in the courtroom, with no end in sight.”

  “So, what are we going to do Candy? It looks like we're going to be married for several more months.”

  “We have a married for years colt, I don't think that really matters, does it?”

  “It always matters to me.”

  He always had the right things to say and I just kind of shook my head. I wasn’t sure what to say back. I wanted to tell him that if I had mattered so much, he would not let me go, but I knew that was too confusing. He let me go because he didn't want to be one of those guys, but it made me feel like I wasn't worth fighting for.

  “Well, I am sure you got to get back home Colt. I know that you are busy there. I want to make sure you know that I will never ask you for any money. If you are the father, which I hope you are, I hope that you can put this ugliness between us behind you, so that you can love our kid the way that he deserves to be loved.

  “It’s a boy?”

  “I think so.”

  “We have a lot to talk about Candy. I’m not going anywhere until we figure this out. I’m not going to let this go on. You can’t keep running away.”

  I was running away. I knew that, but I didn’t think that I had much of a choice. I wanted everything to be peaceful and I was so embarrassed by what my mother and lawyer had done, that I didn’t even want to face him. I didn’t think I was going to be able to in a month, certainly not today.

  “I just need some time to think Colt.”

  “You’ve had enough time.”

  He wasn’t listening to me and I wasn’t sure what to say to him. I hadn’t had enough time for any of this. I was still trying to get used to the idea of being pregnant. Now I was pregnant, married still and my mother had betrayed me, again. I definitely needed time.

  I started to argue with Colt and he told me that he wasn’t going to hear it.

  “I’ve given you enough time Candy. It’s time that we had this talk. You can’t run from me anymore.”

  Chapter 31

  Colt

  “I’m not running from you Colt. I just don’t want to do this. If you haven’t noticed, I’ve had a hectic day.”

  “Me too. I found out that my wife was pregnant, and I was going to be a dad.”

  She started to bring up the fact that it could be Jax’s and I told her that I didn’t want to hear it.

  “The baby is mine, end of discussion.”

  “Well, if that is it, then I think I’m going to go.”

  I stopped her with a light hand on her arm.

  “We are going to the hotel or your place. That is the only place you are going, and we are going together. You’re my wife.”

  “So, that doesn’t mean I’m your property.”

  “No, but it means that you’re mine. I don’t want to be apart anymore. I didn’t want to believe that you would do that to me, and you didn’t. We need to stop letting everyone else get in the middle of us. When it is just me and you, everything gets worked out.”

  “That’s because we haven’t been around each other that much. When we are alone, all we do is have sex Colt.”

  “I didn’t say that it was a science.”

  “Really Colt, is that all you think about?”

  “I don’t know. Give me a few years with as much as I want and I’m sure I will think of something else.”

  “You’re a mess.”

  I agreed and tried to pull her in for a kiss. It was a strange place to be doing that, the steps of the courthouse. It was even weirder if I thought about the fact that we had came there to get divorced. Everything had changed so quickly.

  I pulled back from her and cursed.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “I forgot that Ralph was here. I completely forgot and left him back there. I will be right back. Don’t leave because I know where you live.”

  I kissed her again and checked behind me after a moment to make sure that she wasn’t leaving. I don’t know when that feeling was going to stop, but it was still there. I didn’t want to look behind me and see that she was gone. I didn’t want to have to look, but I was going to have to for a while.

  Ralph was smiling at me and he of course went right into how he had told me so. I wasn’t usually too keen on hearing that, especially from Ralph, but I did like the fact that he was right. He’d known her better than me in that instance. I should have known that she wasn’t going to do that to me. Candy wasn’t that way.

  “So, you two are going to work things out?”

  I agreed.

  “Good. I like you better with her around. Before you were a whore, and after Candy, you were too sappy. It was hard to watch. She is what you need.”

  “I didn’t think that I needed anything.”

  “Now you know.”

  “Yeah.”

  “And you’re going to be a father?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well I am going to go see my family for a couple of days. Call me when you’re ready to go back. Make sure you get her on the plane with you.”

  “That is the plan.”

  “Just remember, you are wrong, ninety percent of the time.”

  Before I would have protested that fact, but I was starting to wonder if he was right. I had certainly been wrong about a lot of things when it came to Candy. I wasn't going to make that mistake again.

  I gave him a hug, because Ralph had always been so much more than my butler. He was the voice in my head half the time and I wish I would have listened to him before. I would've saved myself a lot of grief.

  ...
>
  When I got back to the stats, there was a moment that I didn't see her standing there because someone was in front of her and I panicked. I don't know why, but I was just waiting for her to run away again. I had to think that I might feel this way for a while, every time I woke up. Ralph was right though, I needed to get her on the plane with me.

  “Let’s go to my place. It’s small, not as grand as your place, but it is a lot cozier than a hotel.”

  I didn't care where the hell we went to, as long as she was next to me. I let her drive, because it is been so long since I had driven, and it gave me time to take her in. It felt like it had been forever since I had seen her face.

  “Why are you staring at me?”

  “Because I can.”

  She slapped my shoulder and told me that it was making it hard for her to drive.

  “I can always get you a driver.”

  “This town isn't made to have a driver, Colt. This isn't Las Vegas.”

  “Who says you have to stay here?”

  “This is where my life is.”

  “Your life is with me Candy.”

  “What about my family?”

  “I think would be good for you to take a little time away from your family. don't you?”

  I might have pushed it a little bit with that last comment because she gave me a dirty look, but then she relented and told me that she did want to get away from her mom for a while. I didn't blame her. I knew all too well the pressures of family, but I was in a point of my life that I didn't have to worry about it as much anymore. To me, Candy needed to get away, or she was never going to get the freedom that she needed.

  “Are you talking about me moving to Las Vegas?”

  “I am talking about my wife coming home.”

  Before I would've been worried about saying such a thing, but I had so many other things to worry about now. I wasn't going to let another moment go by without my true thoughts being known. I had done that before and I wasn't going to do that again.

  From the look on her face, it seemed like Candy was over that part of being upset. She smiled at me in the most perfect way and I couldn't help the contagious gesture.