Indelible Love Series + Entwined Bundle

by DW Cee

  “Dad,” Doug interrupted. “He’s not the future Duke of England. He’s just a duke of some area in England.”

  “Whatever the hell he is, I won’t have my daughter living so far away from me. You go declare your intentions and bring her home,” the Chief commanded.

  “So, you don’t care which man brings her home, as long as he’s successful?” Doug laughed. “Maybe Josh will bring her home. I happen to know he still has the hots for Laney.”

  “You ready to treat my baby like the princess that she is? She’s too good for the likes of you, Donovan. She’s as pure as they come—a rarity in this day and age. She’s never given her heart to anyone except you and all you’ve done is squashed her dreams.”

  Was anyone going to make this easy for me? “Yes, Chief. I will love her, take care of her, and treat her like my princess for the rest of our lives. Now do I have your permission?”

  “You do, Son. Welcome to the family.” My future family gave me a group hug.

  Next was my grovel / apology to Gram, and after listening to her berate me for almost an hour, I escaped to Jake and Emily’s.

  “Damn! I’ve never had such a difficult day as I did today. I got an earful from the entire family.”

  “Why?” Emily asked.

  “Because I’ve decided to move to London and court my future wife, princess, love of my life—feel free to choose the correct title as you see fit.”

  Emily threw herself at me to Jake’s chagrin. Jake of course came over and peeled his wife away.

  “Love, it doesn’t make me happy to see you touching any man, not even my best friend.”

  She then came back over and kissed me on the cheek. “If my husband weren’t here, I’d kiss you on both cheeks and the lips, you make me so happy.”

  “Let’s not get carried away.” My buddy was really unhappy now.

  “You all right with me going out there?” I addressed Emily. “Please tell me, give me hope, Emily. If anyone knows Delaney’s heart, it’s you. Do I have a fighting chance?”

  “I think you have better than a fighting chance. Go. Find her. Court her. Show her how much you will love her the rest of your lives!”

  “Yes Ma’am!”

  With that last bit of encouragement, I picked up and left the comforts of home to go after my princess.

  (Max) August 5, 2013 Birthday Surprises

  “You, to my left,” Jake pointed at me, “and you, to my right,” he pointed at Donovan and to our respective seats. After dropping off Jane at home, Jake took us to a swanky speakeasy bar.

  “It’s all good now, Jake. I’m not going to punch your best friend in the nose again.”

  “When the hell did that happen?”

  “Last Friday when Donovan was making the rounds getting everybody’s approval, going through his ten-steps to a better human being process.”

  Donovan busted up to the truth of my statement.

  “After I punched him, I felt much better. But I think it was this morning that made me accept him as a friend and possible future family.”

  “What happened this morning? I didn’t see any words being exchanged while I was giving my speech. You two weren’t talking in the back were you?”

  “When I saw your buddy standing in the back at a conference that he knew nothing about, at 8 o’clock in the morning when he had his own meeting to attend, I figured he couldn’t be too bad of a guy. I’m sure everything you said went right over his head, but he was there to support you. That was all right in my book.”

  Donovan gave off a stupid grin, and even as a guy, I could see why women would fawn over him. He was a damn good looking man. Not that I’d admit that to anybody else but myself.

  “When are you leaving?” I asked Donovan.

  “Tomorrow after work. Do you by chance know what time she is leaving for this summer home?”

  “I do, in fact. Michael told me that he was going to be on a hunting trip and he would be back late at night. Actually I got it wrong, they are leaving early Thursday morning. I don’t think he knows that it’s Laney’s birthday on Wednesday. Or else I can’t imagine him being away from her on her birthday if he knew.”

  “What are you going to do to stop her from going?” Jake spoke, doubtful that his best friend would be able to keep Laney away from leaving for this trip.

  “Are you actually doubting me, Best Friend? You don’t trust that I will win your cousin’s heart in the end?”

  Jake laughed as he took a sip of his bourbon. “Yeah I’m doubting you. You were stupid enough to let her go. You deserve every heartache that comes your way.”

  “Amen!” I spoke and drank my scotch to that statement.

  “Speaking of leaving,” Donovan handed me an envelope. “It’s only fitting that I give this to you on your birthday as well.”

  I opened up the envelope and found two first-class tickets to any destination of our choice. “Are these the infamous tickets that separated me from my girlfriend for the last two months? The tickets that sealed your asshole status, the tickets that brought heartache to everybody involved, and the tickets that probably pushed Laney away as well?”

  Jake was enjoying himself at the expense of his best friend. And his best friend was grinning, though I didn’t know why the hell he was grinning when he was the perpetrator to all that I had accused him of.

  “Yep. These are those infamous tickets. There are two tickets in there as you can see, one for Jane for her birthday and one for you for your birthday. Happy birthday and enjoy yourself at my expense.”

  “Considering what you put us through, I should ask you to provide lodging as well.”

  Both men laughed at me.

  “If that’s what it will take to clear me of my guilty conscience, I will get you the poshest lodging available wherever you decide to go.”

  “You’re in luck,” I said slapping his back. “Lodging won’t be necessary since I think I’m going to take Jane over to London so she can see the London office. We will stay with Laney and Jake’s family for a while during our time there. Thank you for the tickets.” I put out my hand and as we shook, I decided to finally let go of all anger towards Donovan.

  “If we are doing birthday presents, I have one here as well. I don’t know what’s in there, Davis, but my wife told me to give it to you as your birthday present.”

  Opening up a thin box that was beautifully wrapped, I saw that Em had created a photo album for me for my birthday. It went in chronological order for just about every year of my life starting from the day I was born to the picture of me and Jane and JR at the christening. And on the first page, there was a beautifully written letter from Emily telling me how much I meant in her and her family’s life. It obviously was nothing inappropriate, but the love behind this gift was overwhelming.

  “Your gift is starting to piss me off, Davis. Aside from the fact that it is way too sentimental for my liking, my wife must’ve spent hours getting this gift together for you. These are hours that she does not have, hours where she should be sleeping instead.”

  I ignored Jake and sent Em a text.

  Thank you for the gift. I don’t think I’ve received a better one in all my life.

  “What did you write to my wife?” Jake was trying to look over my shoulder. “And what is she doing answering you back at this hour? She should be sleeping.” I saw Jake pull out his phone.

  “Love, why are you up at this hour?” Jake’s voice went all honey on us. “You are? Babies are all down?”

  “Oh brother, he sounds like more of a chick than his wife when he’s on the phone with her.”

  I agreed with Donovan’s comment.

  “My wife wants me to tell you, ‘you’re welcome,’ and to have a good time with Jane.”

  I grinned thinking about how different my life was right now with Jane, than when it was with Emily.

  “What’s that smile for?” Jake wondered.

  “You really want to know?”

  “Yeah, because
I might have to kick your ass if it’s anything inappropriate towards my wife.”

  I grinned even more. “I was thinking how peaceful and lovely my life would be right now if I had married Em.”

  Simultaneously, I stepped away from Jake while Donovan stepped in and grabbed him. All three of us busted up laughing.

  “But,” I said loudly, “I wouldn’t change what I have right now for anything or anybody, even Em. Jane is all I need and she’s all I can handle.”

  That appeased Jake. “Your life will not be easy—ever. My sister has never been quiet about anything.”

  “I know.” I grinned like a fool in love.

  We parted much later than expected and I came home to find Jane, donned in her negligee, sans underwear, but out like a light. Carefully, I opened up her legs and returned the favor she bestowed upon me this morning. This woman was the best birthday present any man could wish for, in all his living days.

  (Max) August 26, 2013 Last(ing) Love

  “Is this the last of her stuff?” Nick complained. “Damn! Why do women have so much baggage?”

  I laughed. “Amen to that. They have way too much baggage in every sense of the word, but don’t tell your sister I said that.”

  “You sure you want to commit yourself to my sister? She can be a bit of a psycho at times. You’re going to live with that the rest of your life.”

  I laughed even harder. “But she’ll be my psycho. And I love her every which way.”

  “Shit, you are gone if you’re saying you love even the psycho side of her. Good luck, man. She’s not easy to live with.”

  “I have my ways of controlling your sister.”

  This time Nick laughed hard. “Yeah. That’s what you think. She ain’t no Emily.”

  “She’s Jane and that’s who I fell in love with. Thanks for your help, Nick.”

  “You’re welcome. See you later.”

  I looked around her new lodging and smiled when I laid out all her shoes in the small shoe closet that had her name written all over it. I’d live with her temperament, her shoe habit, her jealous nature and I’d love every minute of it. She was my life, my breath, my consummate love and we’d create a marriage like none other.

  I fell in love with this girl during the course of a four-hour sushi dinner and over the course of our courtship, didn’t take charge of our relationship and guide it in the right path. I harbored grudges, kept the pain to myself, and thought that being selfless manifested the ultimate love for Jane. That was also how I almost lost this precious girl.

  Our nine months of courtship wasn’t easy. It started with an all-out argument on our first date, to copious misunderstandings concerning Joyce and Hannah, to the total disaster with Donovan. That one was not easy to bounce back from, but here we are, engaged to be married. I wait laughing, in anticipation of Donovan’s comeuppance. I need not seek any retribution as Laney will be my avenger and kick his ass to the curb—many times over—before accepting him. In all ways, Laney stood out as the strongest of the Reid women. A soft-spoken tigress, lioness, a liligress,—a girl who accomplished much without any fanfare. She would show Donovan how much work it required to truly love and be loved. Yeah, I can’t wait to watch it all from the sideline!

  But in the meanwhile, my soon to be wife and I would have many more arguments before and after the wedding, but I’d be sure to resolve those arguments before the sun goes down. If I learned anything in the past nine months, I learned I needed to act swiftly and correctly and to always show my lady that I love her unconditionally.

  Jane Sydney Reid, soon to be Davis,—I love her...I cherish her...and I’ll hold on tight because I can’t live without this precious gem.

  ENTWINED

  By

  DW CEE

  Copyright © 2012 by DW CEE

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be copied, reproduced, transmitted or downloaded, whether electronic or mechanical, without the written consent of the author.

  This story is a work of fiction. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Smashwords Edition

  To my 2DGCs

  Mommy loves you infinitely!

  OLIVIA 2010

  “Olivia!” Shocked would be an understatement for what I felt right then watching Jamie approach me. “Oh my gosh! What are you doing here? I mean, it’s great to see you again.” He grabbed me, hugged me, and wouldn’t let go. I felt like I was breathing again for the first time in many years. “God, I’ve missed you,” he breathed, still holding onto me.

  It had been a long and hard six years without him. Last we saw each other, he asked me to leave his life once and for all and never to contact him again. I choked at this memory and worked to control thinking about that night. All those times I needed him while raising Ollie. All those days I missed being loved by him. I shook my head and rid myself of these thoughts. After all, I should consider him no different than any other acquaintance – except for the fact that Oliver bound us for life.

  My heart pained at his release. “Hello?” Jamie waved his hand over my face. “Are you there?”

  “Sorry. I’m surprised to see you again. How are you? What brings you to New York and Central Park of all places?”

  “I was going to ask you the same thing. I’ve been so stressed out with work, with it being tax season and all, I’ve been running during my lunch breaks.”

  “Are you here on business?”

  “No. I live in Manhattan now. I moved a few years ago.”

  Here he was, in a neighboring state, and we run into each other at the park of all places with Ollie just a few steps away.

  “What are you doing at a kiddie play area and in New York of all places?”

  “I live in Jersey. We moved here five years ago.”

  Jamie’s face looked like I just solved a riddle for him. “So that’s where you went. I went looking for you at your house after we last spoke and I couldn’t find you. Did you come here to be near your mom?”

  “Yes.” My voice struggled to find a monotone. I wanted to hide my true feelings of love, desire and yearning, even now, so many years later. “It was nice seeing you again, Jamie but I have to go.” I wanted to get away before he saw Ollie. Though I wasn’t as anxious as I thought I would be, I wasn’t ready for him to meet our son.

  “Wait!” Do you have a number or an email address? Can I contact you?” There was some desperation in his voice – maybe that was more my wishful thinking.

  I probably gave a half smile wondering why he wanted my info. He was happily married with at least a couple of kids by now. His first child would be just a month or two younger than our Ollie. I didn’t need to complicate his life with our presence.

  “I don’t think that would be a good idea. I really have to go.” Walking away, my heart broke as he let me get away from him again so easily. Deep down, I wanted him to beg me for a number. It wasn’t right of me to desire a married man. My pace hastened.

  “Mommy.” Ollie called me over. “Can you push me on the swing?”

  “Sure. Let’s go.”

  I picked up our son and plopped him on the swing and pushed him gently.

  “Mommy, that’s not high enough!” Ollie yelled. “Higher… Faster!” he yelled even louder.

  I did as I was told and my son’s cackles of delight echoed through the park. I kept my head down not looking back at where I was just a minute ago. He had most likely left. There was no need to check. Jamie was not mine anymore. He had made himself clear the last time we spoke.