“I don’t know how you come back from it, but I’m seven hours away from picking up Darby to take off across the country where she can make the largest announcement of her career. I’ll stand by her side, supporting her, knowing that’s where I should have been all this time.”
“What kind of announcement?”
“The kind that takes her business to a level she never dreamed of.”
“Does this have anything to do with the two-hundred-thousand-dollar approval I had to sign and the rush permits Dad is asking for?”
“We’ll see. Stephanie, Evin, and I are working on an angle.”
“Give me more.”
“You know Brasher Resorts?”
“The same Brasher that’s rumored to be putting a boutique hotel over on Atlantic?”
“Yep.”
“We’re getting involved in that?”
“There’s no we. I’m doing this on my own and hoping like fucking hell it works out.”
“I’m on your side here, Pierce. Don’t make me the enemy.”
“You made yourself the enemy to Darby. Your actions have followed her for years, and the other night, you didn’t do much to disavow your hatred for her. She lives with enough guilt and regret.”
“What the hell? How did I become the criminal? I was on your side. You were my priority.”
“I should have been fighting for her. I should have been the man she needed.”
“Why are you doing this to yourself? I understand the curiosity and even the guilt that comes with knowing the truth. But what do you think is going to happen here?”
I do another shot and then look him square in the eye, knowing I can’t make him understand, but also knowing he’s going to know where I stand. “When Darby and I return, I’m facing the biggest fight of my life. She can’t even hear about my kids without going pale and flinching in pain. Not to mention Connie. Obviously, that’s a problem.”
“It’s more than a problem. What I can’t get is why this is something you are even taking on. Everything about this reads disaster.”
I slice my eyes to him, and his hands fly up in a surrender motion. “I’m not looking for a right hook, Pierce. I’m seriously confused. Flying across the country, thinking about how to introduce her to Maya and Cole, taking on Connie… all of it seems like overkill for an old girlfriend.”
“The fact that you refer to her as an old girlfriend tells me you haven’t been listening.”
“I’ve heard every word, and my heart breaks for the two of you, but both of you have moved on. Her strolling back in town, looking like a supermodel, and setting up shop with her successful business isn’t going to erase your history.”
“Have you been talking to her?”
“No.”
“Funny because you sound exactly like her. She thinks I’m insane and the past can’t be forgotten. Her word was doomed.”
“Well, Darby was always smarter than you.”
“I didn’t move on, not in the way I should have. The situation with Connie forced my hand to accept my life was going in a different direction than I planned, but I never moved on. I had my work, my children, my family, and a few friends. You and I had our weekends to goof off, get laid, and blow off steam. But that’s all. I lived my life going through the motions. You were right; when I saw her again that morning in her bakery, it was like slicing open an old wound. Except it wasn’t only my wound. It was hearing what Connie did all those years ago to Darby. As much as I hurt, nothing could have prepared me for the agony of what she went through when Connie sent those baby announcements. Then the truth came out, and I was done.”
“What does that mean?”
“Edward Graham paid me a visit, and he knew, Miller. He knew where I stood even before I did.” I glare at my brother to bring the point home. “He said there was only one Annie for him, only one Jill for Dad, and one Darby for me. I wanted to argue he was crazy, but I couldn’t. Because it’s the truth. Three weeks after I discovered she’s back, and I’m wrapped so fucking tight around her, I can’t see straight.”
“Shit, you’re really going to try and make this work?”
“I’m going to make this work. There’s no other option. It’s how I do it is the tricky part.”
“Didn’t you say she’s not convinced there’s a future?”
“She’s definitely made it hard on me. I’m facing a few challenges.”
“The kids?” He quirks an eyebrow in question.
“I have two kids that are innocent in all this, and it’s my job to protect them and Darby while finding a way to bring everyone into the fold.”
“Maya and Cole are easy going. They’ve adjusted to their life with separated parents.”
“Yeah.” I nod, pouring another shot.
“Is there something else?”
“Darby is moving to Aspen at the end of the summer.” I take the shot, the words and the whiskey both scorching my throat.
“What the fuck?” he bites out.
“Like I said, she’s making this hard on me. It’s the reason we’re going to Aspen tomorrow. DG Creations has been acquired by Brasher Resorts. There’s a lot more there, but I don’t have enough time to get into the details tonight. I think the picture will be clear when Brasher makes their announcement.”
He stares at me in disbelief, his jaw working back and forth as this information settles. Then, a light sparks in his eyes as it dawns on him. “Son of a bitch, you’re buying the building her bakery is in, aren’t you?”
“Not just me. Evin is invested. He’s working the deal on the banking and negotiation end. If Brasher does set up a location in Charleston, that would possibly allow for her to come back. Evin’s very involved in this.”
“Dad knows?”
“Yep.”
“And y’all didn’t think to mention it to me?”
“I pulled from my equity. If it goes bust, I take the hit. Not the two of you.”
“Bullshit.”
“It’s done.”
“Evin is helping you with this? When did you two start speaking again?”
“When I told him I love his sister and will do anything to get her back to Charleston. Like I mentioned, Stephanie, Evin, and I are working on an angle. Those two had already started talking before I was in the mix.”
“I can’t believe you and Evin Graham are going to be business partners.”
“It’s more than that. He knows that one day we’re going to be family. You probably need to get used to that idea.”
He blows out a breath, jerking his head a few times. “This is unbelievable.”
“Miller, I’m not the only one that didn’t move on. Darby may have a successful business, good friends, and her family, but that is it. From what I’ve been told, the only man in her life that’s been around is Stephanie’s assistant, who’s openly gay and in a committed relationship. She never had another boyfriend or another lover.”
“No shit? Twelve years?”
“No shit. She’s always been mine.”
“Damn.” He takes another swig out of his bottle, looking ahead and squinting his eyes like he does when deep in thought. I watch as the realization sets in his mind as his body relaxes. “You got room for another member of your crew?”
“Why don’t you try to make things right with Darby first?”
“Let’s hope she’s as forgiving to me as she was with you.”
“Forgiving? If you think that, then you’re dead wrong. I have a long way to go.”
“Must have made some headway if you’re traveling with her tomorrow. Any advice?”
“Nope, you’re on your own. My form of persuasion comes with benefits.”
He drops his head and rakes his hands through his hair. “Please, God, let us all work through this mess before you knock her up again.” His tone is serious, but the twitch of his lips gives him away.
Usually, this would piss me off, but tonight, I find it hilarious. I throw my head back in laughter and
hear him doing the same.
“The thought may have crossed my mind, but she’s got too much at stake right now. Don’t think Stephanie didn’t say the same thing.”
“I can’t wait to meet Stephanie.”
“She’s different, but her priority is Darby, and that’s what counts.”
He chuckles again and pins with me with a look that grows serious. “I’m sorry, Pierce, for the role I played and for not encouraging you to go after her. I’m rooting for you this time.”
“Good, man, because I’m going to need all the help I can get. Connie’s up to something.”
“Want to talk about it?”
I pour another round in my glass, knowing I’m going to need it to get through this story. “She’s mad, she’s unpredictable, and she threatened to ruin me. Then, in the next sentence, she told me she thinks it’s best for Maya and Cole if we combine our households and give them a chance at a stable home life with both parents. She wants to move in.”
His back goes straight, and a low whistle fills the air. “You’ve got to be shitting me.”
“Nope, that’s why this trip is important. At this point, she has no idea I’m going with Darby, but it’s not going to be a secret for long. Connie’s bound to do something drastic, and I have to be prepared.”
“We got this, Pierce. She’s not going to ruin this for you again.”
The look of fierce determination on Miller’s face gives me hope that he’s right.
Chapter 16
Darby
Strong arms circle my waist and twirl me around. Before I can make a sound, Pierce’s mouth crushes mine. One hand tangles in my hair, slanting my head to deepen the kiss. I sink into him, using his body as my anchor, and give in to his silent demand. All thoughts and reasoning disappear, and the world around us drifts away.
At this moment, I’m floating on a cloud of bliss, and being wrapped in his arms is exactly where I’m supposed to be. When I woke this morning, a wave of anxiety and uncertainty hit hard. I wondered again if I was making the right decision and if my small business was ready for this step. He took one look at me, folded his body around mine, and held tight. The safety and security of his embrace was all it took for my nerves to instantly relax.
The day turned into a whirlwind of introductions and meetings, and through it all, he’s stayed close, never far from my side. A few minutes ago, I stood next to the CEO and CMO as they announced our partnership to bring DG Creations to the flagship Brasher Resort. It was an intimate announcement, highlighting my business connections and clients over the years. I had read through what Stephanie, Mom, and the Brasher PR team had put together, but this was the first time Pierce had heard. Personally, I thought it was embellished and could have been summed up with a few sentences. Mom didn’t agree, so while I listened to the exaggerated tale of my success, Pierce stepped behind me, slid his hands on my hips, and held on. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught him staring at me, his blue eyes glowing with encouragement and pride.
I know I’m in trouble and going down a dangerous path, but with his lips on mine, nothing seems to matter. His tongue sweeps through my mouth, and faintly, I hear the familiar click of a cell phone, bringing me out of my haze. I break away and look to my side, gasping at the man aiming his cell phone a few feet away. Pierce lets out a rough growl and tightens his hold protectively at the same time I squeal, “Scottie!”
I try to wiggle free, but he only lets me go when Stephanie pops out from a column and whisper-yells, “Surprise,” throwing her arms out.
I rush to them, pulling them from both sides until we’re all locked together. “You guys came.” Overwhelming emotions clog my throat.
“Of course, we came. This is the most excitement our office has ever had. You think I’m going to miss it?” Scottie leans back and cups my cheek. “You looked fabulous up there.”
A blush creeps up my cheeks, and I pop a quick kiss on his lips in appreciation. There’s a deep rumble behind us, and I turn to face a less than amused Pierce eyeing me.
“Did you know they were coming?”
“I knew about Stephanie.”
“This is great.” I release them, taking a step back and hitting the hard body. “Pierce, this is the one and only, Scottie.”
They shake hands, and Scottie openly checks Pierce out. “I understand the picture clearly now. No one else stood a chance. That kiss was scorching hot, and it was in public. No telling what’s happening when there’s not an audience. I’d save myself for that, too.”
Stephanie bursts into laughter while my face flames. Pierce chuckles, dropping his hand and kissing my temple. “I see what you were talking about now, babe. They are exactly alike.”
“Inappropriate?”
“I like to refer to it as direct,” Stephanie says.
Scottie swipes his screen and holds his phone for me to see the picture of Pierce and me he took a few minutes ago. He’s right; it was hot. But even more than that, we look like a perfect fit and a couple in love.
“I’d like a copy of that,” Pierce speaks up.
“While you two exchange numbers and pictures, I’m going to steal Darby for a few minutes,” Stephanie announces.
Pierce kisses me again, this time lowering his lips to my ear. “Don’t take long.”
I nod and follow Stephanie to the bar set up for this reception. Once we have a glass of wine, we step to a corner with a wide view of the room. “Thank you for coming,” I tell her.
“We literally just made it in time for the announcement. How’d the day go?”
I give her the run-down, pointing out some of the men and women I’ve met and their roles. She listens intently, asking a few questions. My phone vibrates in my clutch, and I hand her my glass to take the call.
“I’m glad you followed my advice and went with the black dress. It shows much better than that god-awful grey suit.”
“Hi, Mom.” I roll my eyes.
“I wasn’t sure you could pull off those shoes, but they work, too.”
“Glad you approve. I take it the video is on the website?”
“Yes, uploaded a few minutes ago. Your dad and I have been waiting anxiously.”
“Isn’t Dad at work?”
“I came down to the office. We streamed it for everyone to see. It was quite exciting.”
“Of course, you did.”
“Evin did the same thing at his office.”
“Y’all are ridiculous.”
“Well, I’d hate for all that work we put into cleaning you up to go to waste with a bad outfit.”
“Seriously, Mom, how’d it look? Did I do okay?”
There are a few seconds of quiet before I hear a sniff and little cough. “You did perfectly, Darby. We are proud of you.” At the crack in her voice, a lump forms in my throat.
“Mom.” I turn partially to the wall to hide the tears springing to my eyes. “Thank you.”
There’s a shuffle, and then my dad is on the line. “Darby, your mama got something in her eye.”
“I know the feeling,” I say softly.
“You looked good up there.”
“Thanks.”
“You know what else looked good?”
“What?” I have a feeling I know where this is going.
“Pierce Kendrick standing at your back, watching you like there was no one else in the room.”
“We’re not going there, Dad.”
“He told me you were resistant.”
“I’m not resistant; I’m realistic. Can we put this conversation on hold, or maybe drop it altogether?”
“Sure.” He chuckles. “We’ll put it on hold. Did Stephanie get there?”
“Yes.” I glance up at her grinning. “She and Scottie are here.”
The sound of a small click signals he’s getting another call. “That’s Evin calling on my phone. Your mom will call you later.”
“Okay, love you.”
“You too.”
“How are Annie and
Edward?” Stephanie asks when I drop the phone back in my purse and take my drink.
“Great. Mom’s relieved I didn’t embarrass her with my outfit, and Dad focused on Pierce and the fact he was with me.”
“Hmmm, you do look fantastic, but I have to admit, Pierce had his own audience.”
“He does look handsome.” My gaze drifts to where he’s standing with Scottie, his hands in his pockets, casually rocking on his feet. The black suit and open-neck blue shirt tailor to his frame. When he walked out of the closet this morning, my mouth went dry at the sight.
“Yeah, handsome. That’s exactly what every female in this room was thinking.” She snorts.
A spike of jealousy hits me, and I sip the wine to avoid commenting but take the chance of roaming my eyes around the room. There are a few women openly ogling him.
“How long are you staying?” I bring my attention back to her.
“We’re here for the rest of the trip. Annie sent me the agenda, and I’m attending your meetings in an official capacity. Tonight, we’re celebrating. Scottie made reservations at a place he says is the hottest place to be seen in Aspen.”
“How would he know that? Has he ever been to Aspen?”
“No, but he’s spent countless hours researching online and scouring social media this last week. I’m pretty sure he did some shameless name-dropping to get us a reservation.”
I giggle, wondering what we’ll be walking into tonight. With Scottie, there is no telling. I start to say something about his eclectic preferences when her eyes dart over my shoulder, her mouth forming a firm line. I follow her line of sight to watch Pierce as he looks down at his phone and brings it to his ear. I don’t have to question who’s calling because he lifts his face, and the fury in his eyes tells it all.
His gaze locks with mine, and there’s a second of warmth between us before his expression turns to stone. He jerks his chin to Scottie and stalks out of the room. Stephanie steps in close right as Scottie rushes to my side, wrapping an arm around my waist and urging me to lean into him.
“It’s Connie,” I rasp.
“Most likely,” Stephanie agrees.
Pierced Hearts (Southern Charmers Book 1) Page 16