by E. L. Todd
“Just drop it,” Kelly whispered to him.
“I know that Mom would want us to be close. If she knew you turned your back on me like this, she’d be disappointed in you,” William said.
Beatrice was on the verge of tears.
I needed to intervene. “Okay, let’s get some coffee and catch up.” I pulled Beatrice into my side, keeping her safe against my chest.
William backed off. “Let’s.”
I took Beatrice with me and ordered our coffees. Then I sat beside her and kept my arm around her so she knew she wasn’t alone. William and Kelly sat on the other side of the table. Kelly had a bottle of Evian on the table.
Beatrice still hadn’t found her voice.
“Picked any baby names yet?” I asked, taking the attention away from Beatrice.
“Peter if it’s a boy,” Kelly said.
“And Grace if it’s a girl,” William said. He gave Beatrice a significant look.
I knew that was her mother’s name.
“That’s lovely, William,” Beatrice whispered.
“Kelly suggested it, actually,” William said.
Beatrice nodded, not knowing what else to say.
Kelly stared at her for a moment. “I was hoping you would be a bridesmaid, if you’re willing.”
Beatrice was caught off guard. “Oh…of course.”
I was surprised she agreed. Her father would obviously be at the wedding.
“You’re actually going to go?” William asked incredulously. “Even though Dad will be there.”
“I wouldn’t miss your wedding, William,” Beatrice said quietly.
I felt bad Beatrice was getting attacked like this. “I think you made your point, William. I know Beatrice feels terrible for not staying close with you. But you can knock it off now. She gets you’re mad. She understands.”
Beatrice gave me a grateful look.
William studied me for a moment. “Dad has nothing but nice things to say about you. And I can understand why.”
I took a deep breath and hoped her father hadn’t mentioned our meetings to William. I honestly couldn’t tell, but Beatrice knew I spoke to him a few times when I retrieved her things from her apartment. So, she might assume that’s where he got his information.
“How’s law school?” William asked.
“Good,” Beatrice said. “Stressful.”
“Law school?” Kelly asked in surprise. “Wow. That’s so cool.”
“Thanks.” Beatrice blushed lightly.
“She’s too smart for her own good.”
“And she’s dating a Preston,” William said. “She has good taste.”
“I don’t care about his money,” Beatrice snapped. “Don’t ever say that again.”
William ignored her words. “What do you do now, Conrad?”
Her brother struck me as the protective type. “I’m opening a martial arts studio with a friend, and I’ll be working for my father’s company shortly.”
He nodded. “Good. I’m glad my sister is taken care of.”
“I can take care of myself,” Beatrice snapped.
“What do you do?” I asked.
“Taking over the wine business,” he said. “Kelly will stay home with the kids.” He shot her an affectionate look.
I couldn’t imagine Beatrice being a stay at home mom. If anything, I saw me raising our kids while she worked. “Impressive.”
We made small talk about work and their winery. Beatrice seemed to loosen up as the conversation continued. I was relieved William didn’t know about my relationship with his father. If he knew, he kept it to himself.
“Wait,” Beatrice said. “How did you know I was in law school? How did you know I was even living here?”
William shrugged. “Dad told me. I already said that.”
“But how did he know?”
William turned to me.
Fuck.
“Conrad told him.”
I’d just been thrown under a bus.
Beatrice turned to me. “When did you tell him that?”
Should I lie? What should I do? She was never supposed to find out about my relationship with her father. It would be catastrophic.
“Dad made it sound like you guys meet up a lot,” William said. “Or am I wrong?”
You’ve got to be kidding me.
Beatrice turned suspicious eyes on me. “What’s he talking about, Conrad?”
“Uh…” Shit, how do I get out of this?
William’s eyes darted back and forth between us, and he seemed to understand his error. “I mean, when Dad and I meet up. Not Conrad. I misspoke.”
Beatrice ignored him. “Conrad,” she snapped. “Have you been meeting my father behind my back? Why would you do that?”
It suddenly became very tense.
“He begged me to tell him about your life. In exchange, he promised to leave you alone. I did it for you.” I sincerely hoped she wouldn’t freak out. I grabbed her arm so she wouldn’t leave.
A million emotions came into her eyes, and she seemed unable to handle all of them. She was about to explode, about to ignite in a fireworks show. “How…could…you?” She could barely contain her voice.
“Beatrice, he really cares about you—”
She slapped me hard across the face. “I trusted you.”
I took a deep breath and ignored her strike.
William and Kelly both gasped.
“You’ve been keeping tabs on me and giving all the information to my father! I hate him! I’ll never forgive him for what happened to my mother. I can’t believe you went behind my back like that!”
“I was just trying to help—”
“I can’t even look at you.” She gave me a look full of pain and betrayal. “I never should have given myself to you. That was the biggest mistake I’ll regret for the rest of my life.” Tears poured down her face.
I felt like she stabbed me through the gut with a sword.
“Hope you enjoy a relationship with my father because you don’t have one with me anymore.” She stormed off and burst through the doors, still crying.
I wanted to go after her but I couldn’t move. Everything happened so fast and I couldn’t process it. I understood why she was mad but I couldn’t believe she said that to me. I felt cold and empty, like I’d lost every ounce of blood from my body.
William stared at me, guilt etched onto every inch of his face. “I didn’t know…”
My mouth wouldn’t move and I couldn’t speak. All I’d ever done was try to make Beatrice happy. I always put her before myself. But that bit me in the ass and now I paid the price for my decision. I wanted her to have a relationship with her father, but that only made me lose her instead.
Forever With You
Book Fourteen of The Forever and Ever Series
AVAILABLE DECEMBER NOW
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading All I Want Is You. I hope you enjoyed reading Skye and Cayson’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you could leave a short review on Amazon.com, iTunes, or BarnesandNoble.com, it would help me so much! Those reviews are the best kind of support you can give an author. Thank you!
Wishing you love,
E. L. Todd
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Other Works By
E. L. Todd
Alpha Series
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Elisa
Layla
Janet
Cassie
Hawaiian Crush Series
Connected By The Sea
Breaking Through The Waves
Connected By The Tide
Taking The Plunge
Riding The Surf
Laying in the Sand
Forever and A
lways Series
Only For You
Forever and Always
Edge of Love
Force of Love
Fight For Love
Lover’s Roulette
Happily Ever After
The Wandering Caravan
Come What May
Again and Again
Lover’s Road
Meant To Be
Here and Now
Until Forever
New Beginnings
Love Conquers All
Love Hurts
The Last Time
Sweet Sins
Lost in Time
Closing Time
Southern Love
Then Came Alexandra
Then Came Indecision
Then Came Absolution
Then Came Abby
Abby’s Plight
