Men In Control (Smith Brothers Complete Series)
Page 24
“Brad?” I ask confused as I step into his office which looks different. “What’s going on?”
Soft music plays. Daydreams About Night Things by Roy Milsap, which reminds me of when we first started opening up to one another. When I first realized that my feelings were real. Red roses sit on the edge of his desk, right where we first had sex… a secret that should have been just for us, but unfortunately a few people found out about. Not that I’m bothered anymore. The lighting is dimmed, everything looks oddly beautiful. The whole setting is strangely romantic, which is a bit too much for a typical Friday afternoon at work.
“Tami Johnson.” I spin rapidly as I hear him calling my name. “You’re here. At last. Back from lunch.”
“Brad, what is happening here? This is all…?” I don’t know how to finish that sentence.
He silently drops to one knee and pulls something from his pocket. A little blue box. My brain takes a couple of moments to catch up, to work on what’s going on here, and as soon as it does, I’m stunned. There was me worrying that this commitment might freak him out, that having a baby might be a bit much, and here he is planning to commit himself to me fully in every single way.
The timing couldn’t be more perfect. I almost fall apart at the seams already.
“Angelo told me that you were perfect for me,” he starts, his voice already thick with emotion. “He tried to help me see that there is someone out there for me, I just needed to open up and see it. I resisted at first, you know I did. I gave myself all kinds of excuses of why it wouldn’t work, but then when I nearly lost you, I realized that you’re all I want. Even if people might not see us as the best match, we know that we are.”
Shit, tears are running down my cheeks already. I’m an emotional mess. At least I can blame the hormones though. How am I supposed to take all of this on board with a baby in my belly and not cry?
“Tami, you are the light of my life. Ever since you became a part of me and shook everything up, making me much less selfless and less of a workaholic as well…”
I have to laugh at this one. He says it like it’s easy, but we both know how hard it’s been for him to let go even the tiniest bit. But he’s done it for me because he seems to think that I’m worth it. He’s taken a small step back from his work to make time for me, and in my opinion he’s a better happier man for it.
“Well, it might only have been a short love affair, but when you know, you know, and with you I know. Every time I look at you, I see our future. The wonderful life that we’re going to have together, and I want it to start officially today. I want you to be all mine forever. I want the world to know how much we love one another.” As he sobs, so do I. We’re a damn crazy mess together and it’s lovely. “So, will you make me the happiest man alive and agree to be my wife? I would absolutely love to call you Mrs. Smith.”
Mrs. Smith. Wow, I love the sound of that. This is my fairy tale coming true right before my eyes. I don’t know what I did to get so lucky, but I’m so damn happy about it. The hard road has all been totally worth it.
“Oh my God, Brad, are you sure?” I gush, clapping my hands to my mouth as I do. I don’t know why, but I feel like I need to check first. “Do you really want to marry me?”
“How can you even ask that? Of course I want to marry you. You must know how much I love you by now.”
I join him on the floor, getting to my knees as well, and there’s a moment where his eyes fill with sheer terror. He’s utterly petrified that I’m going to say no, which was never my intention at all.
“Oh no, don’t worry, I just have something to share with you as well.” I take his free hand in mine and squeeze it reassuringly. “I just found out that I’m having a baby, Brad. That we are having a baby. Isn’t that amazing?”
“Oh my God, really?” He pulls me to him for a hug. “A child? A family of our own? Are you serious? That’s all I’ve ever wanted, and with you… well, it just feels perfect. All of it. It’s going to be perfect.”
“I will be your wife,” I whisper gently in to his ear. “I would love nothing more.”
He slides the ring on my finger, happiness shining in his gaze. I can’t believe I ever thought that Brad was grumpy, talk about judging a book before looking inside. Now, I know that he’s the warmest man around. A caring person who hasn’t ever thought of himself. He tries, bless him, but I know it’s difficult for him, which is why he’s perfect for me. I love him and no one will ever get in the way of us again.
“All mine.” Tears form in the corners of his eyes. “You’re all mine forever.”
I take his hand and press it to my belly, allowing him to feel the life form growing there. The shared bond between me and him that will last forever. I never would have thought that my perfect job would have also led me to the perfect man… but life is funny like that. Everything has somehow worked out.
I wrap my hands possessively around the back of Brad’s neck and drag him to me. I want to kiss him to finally seal the deal. But before that happens, he groans loudly, sounding in pain. Like a horrid realization has hit him.
“What’s going on?” I hope he doesn’t regret asking already. My heart leaps up into my throat, panic sets in.
“You’ve met Angelo.” I narrow my eyes in confusion. “And the rest of my brothers. You know better than anyone that I’m never going to hear the end of this. You know what? I might take the ring back and call the whole thing off. The ribbing will be too much. I don’t know if I can handle it.”
“No way!” I snatch the ring box off him and take the gorgeous diamond out. As I slip it onto my finger, a part of me feels whole. “You don’t get to take it back now! It’s tough, you’ll just have to take all the ribbing.”
The brothers will only tease him for a while. Brad will survive it. I’m not worried about it.
“I suppose it’ll be worth it,” he laughs. “If I get to have you at the end.”
Finally, he grabs me, and we seal our love with the kiss, heading straight towards our happy ever after together. Not only do I have the man, I have the baby as well. I have it all.
Epilogue
Brad
One Year Later
“Hello, my little baby girl.” I stare down at Lola with my heart swelling with love. “How are you feeling, sweetie? I hope that you’re going to be a good girl for us today because it’s a big one, isn’t it? The day your mommy and daddy finally get married.” God, I love saying those words aloud. It feels like I have been waiting forever for this moment. “So, do you think maybe you could not make a scene until afterwards?”
I chuckle to myself, knowing full well that she can’t understand me. But I keep on talking to her like she’s my friend anyway. One day, my daughter will be, and I honestly can’t wait until then.
“I have wanted to marry your wonderful mother for a very long time,” I tell Lola. “But she made me wait until she had you because she wanted you to be here. She wanted you in all the pictures. And I do too actually. I think it’s going to be lovely to have your gorgeous little face in all the pictures. As long as you aren’t crying… which will work as long as you aren’t hungry or tired, grumpy or needing a diaper change…”
I chuckle to myself again. She’s a little diva, but I adore her for it. Being a father is amazing. Everything that I could have wanted and more. Hard, obviously, but I wasn’t expecting it to be the easiest thing in the world. It’s certainly the most rewarding though. There isn’t anything like it in the world.
Tami has become a brilliant mother as well, not that I had any doubts she would. I think she was afraid that she would struggle more than me because I basically brought up my brothers, but I wasn’t frightened for her and she has proven me right. She’s a natural. Like she was always meant to be Lola’s mother.
“Hey, buddy.” Angelo pokes his head around the door to my bedroom and smiles at me. “Best man number one here. I just about managed to ditch the other four for a moment to see how you are doing.”
“I’m good, Angelo,” I reply happily. “Great, actually. I’m excited to get married.”
“I know. This has been a long time coming, hasn’t it? With you and Tami. We’re all glad that you finally made it to this point after all this time. You’re finally locking her down.”
I toss my head back and laugh. “It doesn’t feel like locking her down though. It feels like we’re finally going to be free. We spent a lot of our relationship trapped and suffocated by other people. Not anymore though.”
“No, that’s right. Not anymore.” Angelo grin. “You know, I just saw Ruby and she said that she thinks Tami will be ready soon which means that it’s almost wedding time.”
I peer out of the window and in to the back garden to see all the people who have come to see the happiest day of my life. It isn’t many, we didn’t want to make it a massive thing, just the ones who are important. The ones who we love in our home. Perfect for me and Tami. She did as I suggested at first and moved in to the family home as a test to see if we could make things work living together without putting too much pressure on us, and it clicked. It was the perfect set up, so we haven’t ever moved on. I think eventually it’s where we will end up living alone and where we will raise our family, which will definitely get bigger as time goes on.
“Mom and Dad would be extra proud of you today,” Angelo tells me. “If they are up there somewhere looking down on you, then they are very happy. Happy to see what an incredible father you are, what a great husband you are, brother too… I bet they wish that they could be here with you.”
I wish that too, but this right now is what life has handed me and I can’t complain. I have had things taken away from me, but I’ve also had a lot handed to me. A family of my own, the love of my life and a child.
“I think I’m ready to go outside now,” I tell Angelo with a smile. “I’m ready to be a husband. Tami’s husband.”
He keeps Lola with him, and she remains in his arms even as we walk to the front of the aisle that my brothers have helped the wedding planner set up on my behalf. All my brothers are my best men, of course. I couldn’t have it any other way than with them around me, supporting me through everything.
“You good?” Wesley whispers to me while patting me on the shoulder. I nod.
“You look awesome,” Nelson pipes up. “That suit is a good one.”
“Thanks, Nelson. I bet I don’t look as good as the bride though.”
“I saw her,” Alex jumps in. “And that wedding dress looks incredible on her.”
My whole body heats up with excitement. I just know that she will look amazing in white. I haven’t heard any details about the dress, she has chosen to keep it secret, but I can’t wait. Then again, to me, she looks wonderful no matter what. Even after three days of no sleep, no showering, and no hair brushing… which is a common sight with a little baby in our lives now. She is always perfect to me.
“You better get ready,” Oliver informs me while pointing down the aisle. I follow his eye line and my heart nearly stops beating as I realize what’s happening. “It looks like she might be on her way.”
I step away from my brothers and hold my breath while I wait for the inevitable to happen. Ruby is in sight now in a purple bridesmaid dress and Chelsea is by her side. They both look incredibly pleased with themselves which can only mean one thing. They have done a phenomenal job with my wife to be.
Soon, I try to calm myself down as I bounce from foot to foot. I will get to see her soon.
But I can’t stand still as every passing second feels like a torturous hour. It’s only been twenty four hours since I last saw her, but since we spend so much time together that has felt like forever. I wish she wouldn’t make it harder by being so slow now. I can hardly contain myself.
Then she appears, and the whole world stops spinning as I drink every inch of her in. That gorgeous long blonde hair of hers curled into waves and cascading around her shoulders, her stunning eyes shining for me, a sleek white gown which shows off all her curves in an elegant, yet sexy way… wow she looks perfect.
This is why she is the one for me, I think happily to myself. This is why Angelo was right.
The teasing never bothered me, not really. I’m happy to swallow my pride and admit that I should have listened to my brother before because the prize I get to have is more than worth it. The woman who is walking closer to me with her eyes fixed on mine, my happy ever after is worth everything.
I love her, I remind myself, as if I could ever forget. I love her so much, and now she will be my wife…
“Well, hello there, Mrs. Smith,” I declare in a teasing tone of voice as I spin her around the temporary dance floor set up in our garden for our first dance as husband and wife. “I have waited for a long time to call you that.”
“I remember where you first said Mrs. Smith to me,” she replies wistfully. “When you first proposed, and I liked it right away. I like the way that it makes me feel like I really do belong to you. Mrs. Smith. Your wife.”
“Oh, you do,” I growl while dipping her low. I bring my lips almost to hers, but I don’t kiss her. Not right away. There is something that I need to say first. “You’re all mine, and don’t you ever forget it.”
“I am.” She nods. “And that makes me so happy I could cry. So, you don’t need to worry. I won’t forget it.”
“I love you,” I reply, a little softer this time. “More than anything in the world.”
“Not more than Lola though. You dote on that girl. I thought you were wrapped around my finger until she came along. Now, I’m playing second fiddle to my daughter… not that I can blame you. She is adorable.”
“Does that mean you love me too… in a roundabout way?”
“Oh, as if that’s something you didn’t know already. Of course I love you, Mr. Smith. My husband.”
I cave and kiss her then, the world melting around us in to nothingness. I love how in all the chaos of our lives, me and Tami can still sneak off to this little private bubble of our own. We can simply block everyone else out as if they don’t exist. It’s wonderful and makes everything so much easier to deal with.
I have no doubt in my mind, and I never will about this woman. She is the one that I was waiting for all this time, even when I didn’t realize it. It might have taken my thirty five years, but finally I have it all.
Tempt Me Forever
Blurb
Being with him would wreck havoc!
Angelo is filthy rich.
Always suited.
And stares at me with his piercing blue eyes all the damn time.
He’s everything I need.
And I want him in my bed.
But he’s also taken.
His girlfriend is a cheating piece of sh*t.
Angelo deserves better.
But I’m not the right woman for him.
“A rock band drummer dating a billionaire!”
That in itself sounds like a joke.
And also like an unattainable fantasy.
In this life,
We’re not supposed to be together.
But as luck would have it..
Our two worlds collide.
It causes an explosion… and a ton of drama.
And now, he’s down on one knee.
Do you think I should say yes?
Prologue
Angelo
I can’t believe this. My feet pace up and down outside Mandy’s apartment as I wait for her to arrive home from work. With every passing second, the irritation circling through me grows and grows until it’s completely out of control. I feel like I’m losing my mind. I absolutely can’t believe this. It can’t be true. It just can’t.
Ever since I got that devastating message on my phone while at work, it changed everything for me and I have been
a complete mess. I don’t even know how to process it. Mandy and myself, we have been together for years now. We are in love; we’re heading towards a happy ever after. She can’t be cheating on me. She just can’t be.
But the text message from an anonymous number says different. ‘Mandy is cheating on you. Here is some proof. Just thought you should know’. With a picture that shows two people kissing furiously like there is no tomorrow. Mandy and someone else. Mandy with a man who definitely isn’t me. What the fuck is going on?
“Angelo?” All of a sudden, Mandy’s sugary sweet voice darts through my body. “What are you doing here? Have you come to give me a surprise or something? Aww, that’s so sweet… it seems that you can take a hint.”
As she circles her arms around my neck to hug and kiss me, I snatch away, sickened by her. Right now, the last few years mean nothing. It’s all just vanished into nothingness. All I can see is that picture.
“Oh, babe, what’s going on?” she groans, tossing her head back so her long blonde hair flies behind her.
“You got my message asking you to come and meet me, didn’t you?” I spit back, unable to keep the rage inside. Or maybe it isn’t rage, this is all just hurt. “You know that I got a message about you cheating…”
Her expression falters, but only for a second. She gathers herself back up in an instant. But that’s something she’s good at. It helps her in her pharmaceutical sales job to remain composed at all times. I just never thought that I would be the one having to look at that mask. Yet here it is, staring right back at me.
“Oh, honey, I thought that was just a joke. You know that I would never do anything like that to you.”
I narrow my eyes and stare directly at her, trying to work out what’s going on behind her eyes where the truth lies. “But I got a message. And a picture too. Why would someone do that to us?”