“Not once did that asshole mention he was the Hale.” He holds up his hands. “I know. I know. Business 101 preaches knowing all the details of the deal. I was happy with their bet because I was putting faith in you no matter the outcome. While I’m happy you two are in love, I still need to express my sincere apology for turning your lives upside down.”
I nod, appreciating the gesture although I don’t need it. “Did Karessa forgive you?”
Dondi’s face breaks into another teeth-baring smile. “Yes. We had a wonderful lunch.”
“Then, that’s all that matters,” I tell him honestly.
Dondi stares at me for a beat with, dare I say, pride shining in his eyes, Thank you.”
“For what.” His gratitude is confusing.
“For loving my daughter the way I knew you could.”
I feel strangely choked up. I don’t know what’s with the emotions and I don’t like it. Rising, I reach out for a parting handshake. He accepts it with a smile and claps my shoulder before disappearing. I’m glued into place, staring at the door he’d just used, trying to figure out the reason for my inner turmoil. I laugh to myself when I find it. That was the closest I’ve ever gotten to fatherly pride.
Chapter 35
Karessa
Lunch with my dad has me in such a pleasant mood, I damn near float into the office. It feels good to be in love and be on great terms with everyone. Esme is waiting for me when I arrive. We didn’t see the point of getting up early when we had nothing major to plan at the moment. Our services will be in high demand soon once the busy season arrives. We’re just enjoying coasting right now.
I find Esme at the front counter toying with a new smart watch. Electronics are not her area of expertise. I focus on her watch and notice more items from her “list.”
“A gift from Markos?” I toss it out to test the waters.
“Just because we decided to be the closest thing to friends Markos can manage, doesn’t mean he’s willing to buy me stuff.”
“Who bought it then? I know this is on your list along with that Prada clutch.” I point at the new purse on the seat next to her.
“What list?” Esme moves around the corner to look at a ribbon she has never cared about. I know this is an evasion tactic because she’s terrible at lying to me.
“Your things-I-don’t-want-to-spend-my-money-buying list!”
I have an idea who her sponsor is, but I need proof. I grab her other wrist that’s sporting a new diamond and rose gold bracelet that has little fairy charms.
“I got rid of that list,” she lies as she yanks her arm away from me.
“Is that so? Sprite?” Esme flinches at the nickname Oran gave her.
“Yes?”
I’ve got her!
“You little informant! I knew it!”
Esme shrugs since she’s caught. “You’re all happy in love, so he used the information wisely. Plus, he’s an excellent side hustle.”
“You have more than enough money to afford that stuff easily, and you have Daddy.”
“First, don’t spend your money on something you can get someone else to buy. Second, Dad’s money comes with questions and lectures. Oran pays well, promptly…” she waves the bracelet, “and with bonuses. You know how I feel. If a man wants to buy it, let him.”
“Even if he’s your sister’s husband?”
She nods while blinking her big brown eyes. “Especially my sister’s husband. It doesn’t make a dent in Mister Moneybags pocket.” She stares at the bracelet she obviously loves. “He’s like the sugar daddy I’ve never had. All the trinkets and none of the sugar. Now, what are you in the mood to eat? I’m supposed to be planning dinner, nosey.”
Laughter escapes me before I can stop it. She gets on my nerves, but I’m noticing how much the two rats have in common. It’s possible I’ve married the male version of my sister.
“I’d be set if Jagger needed my help.”
“Girl, please. Jagger has known Ainslee since she was a baby. There isn’t anything that man doesn’t know about his woman.”
Esme shrugs as she types away on the computer. “What do you want for dinner, sis?”
I shake my head at her. “No ma’am, figure it out since you know me well enough to profit.”
* * *
Unsurprisingly, I make it home before Oran. Most of my dealings don’t need an office. I think about my dad’s confession about trying to get rid of Mr. Hale. I know there are still things being skimmed over and he only presented me with the big picture. I don’t know if it’s a Founder’s table type of thing where all the facts are only privy to the top four, or if it’s a father and daughter thing. My dad despises Mr. Hale. I understand that. I’ve heard talk of him being so shady that people were happy when Oran took over. What I don’t get is the level of passivity simmering in my dad when he discusses Elmer.
“What did he do?” I ask myself.
“I don’t know. Tell me who, and maybe I know.”
My belongings fly out of my hand as a male voice I’m not used to hearing startles me. My breathing is ragged when I turn on Caerwyn and lean against the door.
“Caerwyn! Don’t sneak up on black people! You could have died.”
His chuckle is seductive, although he’s not trying. Must be a Hale trait that somehow skipped Elmer. The rest of the men, including Caerwyn’s dad, have it. He’s tall like Oran but a little less bulky. His hair is a rich brown, and his eyes are blue? Green? Blue-green?
Wait a minute! Maybe… nah.
“I’m glad to have survived, but I’ll notate that tidbit. Thanks for the heads up.”
Caerwyn bends in his expensive charcoal suit and begins collecting the items I dropped.
“Thank you. What brings you by?” I ask while attempting to unlock the door again.
He rises to all six plus feet with all the things I was struggling to carry balanced on one toned arm.
“You.”
He is stating a fact with no intent lying under his tone. Must be a lawyer thing.
“Well, I’m kinda married to your cousin, and he doesn’t seem like the type to share,” I joke as I let him inside before me.
Caerwyn flashes one of those smiles that’d guarantee the loss of a woman’s clothes. That’s always been his thing. The panty dropping smile is premium icing on a super likeable guy. Now, that super nice guy is encased in a very attractive package.
“It’s okay, cousin-in-law. I’m terrible at sharing.” We settle in the kitchen, and he takes a seat across the land from me. “Luckily, I’m only here to hire you.”
Oran’s heavy footsteps thud in the hallway until he appears from the direction we just came. His steel eyes jump from one of us to the other as if he had a notion we were fucking.
The moment I turn to look up at him, Oran has me in a kiss that would have me allowing him to do dirty things to me in front of his cousin. We were jet-lagged and thrown off from the time zones and passed out until it was time for Oran to leave for work. We haven’t made love in our home yet, but our week long sextfest was everything I needed until this kiss.
He pulls away, leaving me aroused and frustrated as he goes for the handshake, but Caerwyn hugs him instead.
“You don’t have to mark your territory with me, Oran.”
I roll my eyes as Oran laughs.
“Is there a business issue, Wyn?”
Oran told me he’d bought his cousin back to the island to take over the role as the head lawyer on his legal team because he didn’t trust Elmer’s law team to buy him coffee.
He studies Oran for a moment before responding. “Damn, I’ve been gone too long. You know I’d visit outside of business reasons, right?”
Oran shakes his head like he’s trying to reprogram himself. “Yes. Sorry if that sounded cold. I’m not used to visitors.”
Caerwyn flashes those pearly whites again. “Get used to it, but I’m here to hire Karessa. So, a little business is mixed in with this visit.”
&nb
sp; “What can I do for you, counselor?” I’m cheesing from ear to ear because I’ve always wanted to say that to a lawyer.
Oran snorts but accepts the drink I pass to him, then Caerwyn.
“My thirty-fourth birthday party needs a planner. I choose a much simpler route but my uncle,” I don’t miss how loosely he uses the title. “says that a Hale returning to the island’s party should be an affair. I don’t have time for any kind of affair. So…” He pulls a paper and a card. “A check for double your fee since it’s a sizable party and you only have a little over a month to plan it. And my card for the expenses. If you agree, I’ll add you as an approved user in the morning.”
“Wow, that’s a lot of trust you’ve just thrown at me.”
He floats his gaze over to his cousin. “If Oran trusts and loves you then so do I, but not romantically.”
“I’m touched.”
“You will be later,” Oran promises.
I continue as if Oran didn’t just arouse me. “Any preferences or things you hate and want me to avoid?”
“I hate Orange,” Caerwyn tells me but shoots a teasing look at Oran.
“Don’t play with me in my house.” Oran’s tone is amusement laced with a warning.
“I could be late to the party but Oran is very close to Orange? Was that on purpose?” I don’t know why I’d failed to ask him that before.
“Knowing my mother, probably. She loved bright, happy colors. She said my name means light. She also said the color orange represents enthusiasm, happiness, creativity, determination, and success,” he rubs his beard as he thinks. “I think Oran being close to Orange was just a bonus. But, just like her, the color is part of me at this point.”
“Wow. That’s all I needed to confirm.”
We both look at Caerwyn, confused by his statement.
“What did you need to confirm?”
“When I heard about the wedding, I knew Elmer had something to do with it. You two didn’t look happy at the ceremony. Now that I know you are, I need not be mad at Elmer or look for loopholes to ‘free’ you two.” His use of quotation marks pulls his shirt taut and reminds me that Caerwyn grew up spectacularly. “But I know you only talk about your mother to only your most trusted people.”
I know he loves me; he tells me almost daily, but knowing what it means to hear Oran talk about his mother makes me a little emotional. Oran pulls me in for a tight hug and rests his chin on top of my head.
“I appreciate that, Wyn. There’s a lot to be mad at my dad about, but my marriage isn’t one of them.”
Caerwyn polishes off his drink. “I’m thrilled about that. You both deserve it.”
He pulls us into a group hug that sandwiches me between the two giants. His scent is heavenly, and just when I thought a girl could get used to this, he steps back and grabs his keys.
“I’ll leave you love birds to it. Karessa, draw up a plan or proposal - however you do it - and we’ll review…” he looks at his calendar. “How’s this coming Monday?”
“Perfect.”
His light eyes shine with kindness as he refocuses on Oran. “Don’t think you’re off the hook. We will hang out soon.”
Oran grunts his version of being delighted as he locks the door behind his cousin. I’m almost to our room when Oran returns, grabs me from behind, and pushes me against the wall.
“Shit, I thought he’d never leave,” he complains with his lips near my neck.
“He was only here for ten minutes,” I counter while my blood rushes to all my arousal points.
“Too fucking long when I’m trying to fuck,” his excited breathing makes him sound breathless.
Oran tears at my clothes but gives up and goes for my panties instead. I fumble with his belt until he pushes my hands out of the way. His zipper shred echoes in the hallway. Gripping his biceps, my knees dig into his sides as he lifts me with a rough grab of my ass.
“FUCK!” he growls once he slams into me with enough vigor to knock a picture off the wall. “I’ve missed you, my love,” he confesses like we’ve been separated for months.
Oran has always had the power to consume my body, but the love that radiates from within the core of who he is consumes my soul. My speechless. I can only clutch him and let my body do the talking.
“It’s your turn to promise me something,” he says between kisses. He drops his forehead to mine. He stops thrusting and holds me close, my walls still pulsate around him.
“What?” Cupping his face, I trace his lips and beard with my thumb until he kisses my palm. When our eyes meet again, I feel like he’s looking through me to my very essence.
“Don’t leave me.”
His plea breaks my heart, and I give him the truth as I know it.
“Never.”
Oran braces his forearm on the wall, grinding into me without breaking eye contact. He’s branding himself into my being so I’ll never forget where I belong. Our joint release doesn’t end our visual connection. Oran keeps going even after he’s expelled all he had to give.
“Get dressed,” he tells me, although he hasn’t moved or disconnected. “We’re supposed to go on a date.”
“Do you want to go out?”
Oran gives me a few sweet kisses then walks us towards our bedroom.
“All I want is to stay buried in your pussy, but that’s not practical.”
He drops me on the bed to remind me that an asshole also lives in his body.
Chapter 36
Karessa
I can understand why Oran wanted to go out. While our wedding was less tumultuous than Jagger and Ainslee, the people of the island have never seen the Hales out together. We had yet to make an appearance as a married couple. Like a dumbass, I’d posted a picture of Oran and me dressed up outside the house with #datenight. Paparazzi were everywhere a Founder’s kid would frequent. I planned to avoid it and go somewhere else because I know Oran is not used to being in the center of it all. Instead, he parked his car, got out, opened my door, pulled me out, and kissed me like we were at home. He even smirked/scowled for a few pictures before he told them to get the hell out of his face.
Our island has strict laws that keep the paps in place. Therefore, we have the most considerate set of paparazzi of any country. If we tell them to go away. Especially as one of the Founding families, they have no choice. They work fast if my phone blowing up during dinner is any indication.
I turn it off, Oran doesn’t have social media, and focused on my husband. I’m still amazed at our progress. We’re out, holding hands, and laughing together for the world to see, and Oran never looked more relaxed. I’d bucked my eyes in surprise when he ordered dessert. He’s beyond comfortable and is in no hurry to leave.
I’ve also learned another benefit of sex, Oran didn’t ban my body contouring dress that stops mid thigh and gives me more than moderate cleavage. Instead, he passes me looks that convey all his dirty thoughts.
“I’m surprised you want dessert,” I tease him in a way that lets me know I’m buzzed.
“I don’t,” he begins, then leans in closer. “The kind I like isn’t legal to eat in public.”
My body tingles like we didn’t almost miss our reservation for that very reason.
“Why did you order it?” I whisper, more than ready to leave.
His gray irises darken with desire as he surveys my body. “I need time. If I get up, I’ll give the restaurant a show. Check your phone.”
Oran: You look delicious in that dress.
Oran: I almost saw your nipple when you reached for the bread. Now, I just want to suck it.
Oran: I should’ve had a chef come to the house. The only thing I want to eat is your pussy.
Oran: You’re going to cum so hard when we get home.
“This is why!” I wave it at him. “You’ve been texting me during dinner.”
Oran’s smirk is predatory, “It’s your fault.”
We’re locked in a stare down until the dessert is placed between u
s. The server, a young blonde woman who looks to be in her early twenties, blushes again for at least the tenth time tonight as she addresses him.
“Do you need anything else, Mr. Hale?”
I giggle inwardly because she’s not being disrespectful to me; she’s just star-struck. Oran is not used to admirers and doesn’t even notice the poor girl with the fluttering heart. I understand all too well because that was me.
“No, thank you.” He glances at her name tag. “Summer. Just the check, please.”
She floats away like he proposed and I cannot hold in my giggle any longer.
“What?” He asks around a bite of his apple crisp.
“Tell me what you remember about Summer?”
He furrows his brows while he thinks. “Female, server, and blonde.”
“So it wasn’t just me.”
“What wasn’t?”
“That girl looks ready to tattoo your name on her ass and you didn’t even notice her.”
“I think this is the first time a wife chastises her husband for not noticing another woman.”
“I’m not chastising you, just giving you an example of how you ignored me most of my life.”
“Well, I see you now, and I plan on seeing all of you in about an hour. Imma fuck that dress off of you.”
Summer damn near drops the bill jacket as she catches the last part of Oran’s statement. Her cheeks flush crimson, and she tries to retreat. Oran grabs her wrist to stop her. The way her eyes focus on his hand touching her wrist makes me wonder how long she’ll wait before she washes it.
“Summer, you have the most interesting shade of green eyes. Thank you for your amazing service. I’ll tell my friends.” He gives her a hundred-dollar bill. “Make sure you buy yourself something pretty. Good night.”
He drops the money for the bill in the jacket and promptly stands and grabs my wrist. Oran guides us out of the restaurant and gives me apple caramel flavored kisses once we’re outside.
“Happy now?” His hands rub my back and he holds me close. “Do you think she feels seen enough for you now?”
“You’re so damn charming,” I respond with my snark on blast.
Hale on Earth (Arrangement Series Book 2) Page 17