by Force, Marie
“Other than Leah and Aileen, I really don’t have anyone else.”
“You do now, sweetheart. You have me and an entire family that will love and protect you always. You are not alone anymore.”
“This has to be a dream. Nothing this amazing could possibly be real.”
“It’s very real, and I’ve gone from publicly swearing I’d never get married again to needing to be married to you so badly, I can’t bear the idea of waiting even two more days to make you my wife.”
“Flynn… God. This is crazy.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes!” She laughs even as she cries. “It’s a yes.”
I pick her up again and swing her around, making her scream with laughter, which of course makes Fluff bark and snap at my legs. The sound of Natalie’s laughter is the sweetest music I’ve ever heard. I put her down, make sure she’s steady on her feet and withdraw my phone from my pocket. I keep an arm around Natalie as we start back toward the house.
“Well?” Addie says when she answers.
“Green light for ASAP.”
“Flynn… That’s fantastic. Congratulations to both of you. The soonest they could do it was Monday, so I’ll set everything up and call you tomorrow with the details.”
I know she’ll work nonstop to make it happen, but I also know she doesn’t mind. She’s a sucker for romance. “You’re the best, Addie.”
“I know! Congratulations again. I’m so excited for you.”
“Thanks. Me, too.” I stash the phone in my pocket and return my full attention to Natalie. We walk slowly, taking our time returning to the house.
“Are you happy, Nat?”
“I’m so happy. I had no idea it was possible to be this happy.”
“That’s all that matters to me. That’s all that will ever matter.” Before I marry Natalie, though, I need to talk to Hayden and quit the club. I need to deal with the playroom in the basement of my house as well, although I can do that later. It’s under lock and key, so there’s no chance she’ll discover it. There’s no place for the club and what goes on there or the playroom at home in my new life with Natalie.
Chapter 9
We return to the house to find Marlowe sitting on the back deck waiting for us. She jumps up when she sees us coming. “There you are!”
“Hey, Mo.” Flynn greets his close friend and business partner with a kiss. “What’s up?”
“I brought dinner. I’ve been thinking about you guys and wanted to check in to see how you’re doing.”
He pushes his sunglasses to the top of his head. “How’re we doing, Nat?” His eyes dance with the kind of glee I haven’t seen since before my story was made public.
I hold up my left hand so she can see the ring I still can’t believe he just put on my finger.
Marlowe lets out a scream and gets up to hug us both. “Oh my God! Flynn Godfrey is engaged! This is going to be the story of the century!”
“Shhhhh.” He’s amused by her reaction. “We’re not telling the world yet.”
“We need to have a party! Can we have a party? Please? Or do you guys want to be alone? Because if you do, I’ll invite the boys over and have a party on your behalf at my house.”
Flynn glances at me. I can tell just by looking at him that he’d rather be alone, but these are his closest friends and business partners—two of whom I haven’t met yet. “A party sounds fun.”
“Yay!” Marlowe claps her hands in delight. “I left my phone inside. I’ll go make the calls.”
When we’re alone, Flynn puts his arm around me and steals a kiss. “You’re sure this is all right?”
“It’s perfect. Look at this night and this ring and this view and my gorgeous fiancé. So much to celebrate.”
“I love to see you glowing with happiness.”
“I’m glowing because of you. Because you love me.”
“I love you so fucking much.”
“And you wonder why I’m glowing.”
We stand there like that, wrapped up in each other, until Marlowe returns. “Everyone is coming, and they’re bringing booze and more food. I love a party that comes together without me having to do anything other than decide to have it.”
Her excitement is contagious. What am I doing at Hayden Roth’s Malibu beach house about to party with Marlowe Sloane and my new fiancé, Flynn Godfrey? It’s beyond surreal, but it’s also my life now. My new life. With a pang of regret, I think of my kids in New York and hope they’re getting by without me.
“You okay, sweetheart?” he asks, tuned in to me as always.
“Yeah, I’m great.” I’m better than I’ve been in eight long years.
“Hey, Mo, what’d you make for dinner?”
“Enchiladas, baby! Is there anything else?”
Flynn laughs. “Marlowe can’t cook anything other than Mexican. We think she might’ve been kidnapped from a Mexican family at some point.”
“What can I say? I’ve got tamales in my blood. Margaritas for everyone, coming right up!” She goes back inside to make the drinks.
Flynn’s phone rings, and when he checks it, he grimaces. “I’ve got to take this.”
“I’ll go help Marlowe.” I start to walk away, but he brings me back for a kiss.
“I’m good now. You can go.”
He makes me light-headed with the way he loves me. It’s all-consuming and overwhelming in the best possible way. Inside, I find Marlowe in the kitchen running the blender as she mixes the drinks.
“Anything I can do to help?”
“Crack open that bottle of tequila.”
“Got it.” I twist the top off the bottle and hand it to her. “Hey, Marlowe?”
“What’s up?”
“Can you recommend a good doctor here? A female preferably.”
“Are you sick?”
“I’m fine. I just need, you know…” I realize I’m about to share something rather personal with a superstar I haven’t known that long. But I like her, and I’d like to think of her as a friend. “Birth control.”
“Ahhh. Gotcha. I have the best doctor ever.” She pulls out her phone, and before I can say a word, she’s making a call, explaining who I am and what I need and setting me up with an appointment at seven thirty Monday morning—all of this while continuing to run the blender.
I’m slightly astonished by her multitasking capabilities and absolutely terrified about that appointment.
Marlowe ends the call and returns her focus to the blender, adding more tequila until she’s satisfied. “Doctor Breslow will see you at seven thirty before they open to other patients. That’ll get you in and out before anyone else is there. You’ll love her.”
“It must be nice to make a call on a Saturday night and get an appointment first thing on a Monday morning.”
“Celebrity does have its perks,” she says with a wink. “Breslow’s admin is a fan, and I get her tickets to premieres and stuff. We take care of each other.”
“Thank you.”
“Sure thing. Breslow will fix you right up.” She pours a margarita, takes a sip and declares it perfect so she pours one for me and then writes down the doctor’s address for me.
“I’ve never had a margarita.” The second the words are out of my mouth, I feel like an unsophisticated hick next to her.
“Well, you’ve been missing out. Give it a try.”
I love that she doesn’t blink an eye at my confession. I take a sip of the tart drink. “Mmm, that’s so good.”
“Right? Just go easy. You know what they say about tequila…”
“What’s that?”
“Makes you take your clothes off, not that Flynn would object.”
“Object to what?” he asks when he joins us and accepts the drink Marlowe hands him.
“Natalie finding out about the power of tequila.”
“You’re right.” He winks at me. “I won’t object.”
The doorbell rings, and Marlowe runs to get it.
&nb
sp; Flynn notices the slip of paper in my hand. “What’s that?”
“Marlowe got me an appointment with her doctor for Monday morning at seven thirty. Is that doable?”
“Sure, I don’t have anything until the foundation meeting at nine.”
“I’m kind of scared. Will you come with me?”
He puts his arm around me and kisses my forehead. “Of course I will, sweetheart.”
I immediately feel less anxious about it, knowing he’ll be there to hold my hand.
Marlowe returns with two incredibly handsome men, both of them carrying twelve-packs of beer and bottles of wine that they stash on the counter.
Flynn greets them both with bro hugs. “Jasper, Kristian, I want you to meet Natalie.”
Jasper is tall and blond with a lean, muscular build. He hugs me like we’re old friends. “Natalie,” he says in the crisp British accent Flynn warned me about. “It’s a pleasure to meet the woman who’s finally brought our boy up to snuff.”
I wave a hand in front of my face in deference to the accent, and Flynn rolls his eyes.
“Nice to meet you, too, Jasper. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“What’s he said about me?” Kristian asks. He’s got dark hair and piercing blue eyes.
I desperately try to think of something. “The Lamborghini.”
“Yeah.” He laughs as he hugs me. “He hates it.”
“I don’t think he said ‘hate.’”
“Yes, I did,” Flynn says. “Now get your hands off my fiancée.”
“Your what?” Jasper and Kristian say in stereo.
“You heard him right, boys,” Marlowe says. “Pigs are now flying in hell!”
“I’m sorry,” Jasper says, staggering dramatically. “I need a moment.”
“Shut the fuck up,” Flynn says, laughing as he gives his friend a playful shove.
The doorbell rings again, and Marlowe returns with yet another stunningly gorgeous man. This one has chestnut brown hair and golden eyes. He’s dressed in a dark suit that fits his muscular frame like it was cut just for him. It probably was.
“Emmett!” Jasper cries. “You aren’t going to believe it. Our boy Flynn is engaged!”
Emmett stops short on his way into the kitchen. “What’d you say? He’s what?”
“Show him, Natalie,” Kristian says.
I hold up the ring for Emmett to see.
He takes a close look at the ring, then at Flynn and then at the ring again.
“Get the poor guy a drink, Mo,” Jasper says. “He’s been shocked speechless.”
“You’re seriously engaged,” Emmett says.
“As serious as it gets. Emmett, meet my fiancée, Natalie Bryant. Natalie, our chief counsel, Emmett Burke.”
He shakes my hand. “So nice to meet you.”
“You, too. Thanks for all your help this week.”
“Believe me, I’ve enjoyed sticking it to that bastard David Rogers. We’ve made his life a living hell, and we’re just getting started.”
“Thank you.”
Addie arrives with Flynn’s sister Ellie, and then Hayden comes in a short time later, bearing grocery bags and another twelve-pack of beer.
“You let a guy borrow your beach house and how does he thank you? By throwing a rager.”
“You’re lucky we decided to invite you.” Flynn gives Hayden one of those side-handed handshakes guys do these days.
“There’s big news afoot,” Jasper says.
Hayden cracks open a beer and drinks half of it. “What’s that?”
“Our boy Flynn? Engaged.”
Hayden chokes on the beer, coughing profusely while Jasper laughs and pounds on his back.
I have no idea how to take Hayden’s reaction. Once the coughing stops, he stares at Flynn for a long, uncomfortably quiet moment.
“Well,” he finally says, “it appears congratulations are in order.”
“Thanks,” Flynn says tightly. I can tell he’s less than pleased with his best friend’s reaction.
Like the first time I met him, I can’t help but notice that Hayden is incredibly handsome in a rugged sort of way. I muster the courage to speak directly to him. “Hayden, I wanted to thank you for your support on Twitter this week. It meant a lot to me.”
“Sure. We’re all on your side in this thing. I still can’t believe it happened.”
“Neither can we, but the outpouring of support has made it more bearable.”
“Glad to hear that.”
“How’d the interview with Carolyn go?” Kristian asks.
“It was good,” Flynn replies. “Natalie is a natural, and Carolyn asked all the right questions. We’re hoping it’ll put an end to the insanity.”
Hayden laughs at that.
“What’s so funny?” Flynn asks.
“Wait till they hear you’re engaged. You haven’t seen insanity yet.”
“They aren’t going to hear that.”
“What do you mean?”
“We’re getting married Monday night in Vegas. By the time they hear about it, it’ll be a done deal.”
The announcement is met with stunned silence.
“Monday,” Marlowe says after at least a minute has passed. “That’s like two days from now.”
“Yep.”
“What’s the rush?” Hayden asks.
I can feel the tension coming off Flynn in waves. “No rush. It’s just what we want.” He puts his arm around me. “Where are those enchiladas, Mo? I’m starving.”
With that, he sends the message that he’s done talking about our plans.
I’m fucking furious at Hayden. I don’t expect him to jump for joy over my announcement, but I certainly didn’t expect him to question me that way in front of Natalie. Hours later, I’m still fuming. I’m with the guys outside on the deck, playing poker and enjoying some Cuban cigars Kristian brought. The girls are inside laughing and talking and drinking. I’ve been keeping an eye on Natalie, and she seems to be enjoying herself with my friends and my sister.
“I’m out,” Emmett says, folding.
Jasper tosses his cards on the table. “Me, too.”
Kristian follows suit. “Me, three.”
It’s down to Hayden and me. I glare at him, letting my fury drive my desire to not only beat him at poker but to have it out with him before this night is over. He studies his cards for a long time before he drops them on the table. “Fold.”
“Seriously?” Though he’s handed me an easy victory, it’s all I can do not to leap across the table and go for his throat.
He shrugs. “My heart’s not in it.” Then, in a low tone, he says, “What the fuck are you doing, Flynn?”
“What am I doing? I thought I was playing poker.”
“You know what I’m talking about. You’re getting married? To a girl you met two weeks ago? Who knows nothing about your true lifestyle?”
“Shut the fuck up, Hayden. It’s none of your fucking business what I do.”
“Oh, is that how it is now? I see.”
“You don’t see anything.”
“I see you about to make a massive mistake, and you don’t want to hear it from anyone.”
“You’re right. I don’t.” It’s all I can do to remain in my seat and not act on my earlier urge to jump over the table and beat the shit out of him.
Emmett clears his throat.
“You got something to say?” I ask him.
“Just wondering… And don’t get pissed at me, too… But have you considered a prenup?”
“No, I have not considered a prenup. I love her. She loves me. This isn’t about money.”
“Flynn…” The single word from Jasper is full of something I don’t want to hear.
“You’re really prepared to give her half of what you’ve worked so hard for when this goes bad?” Hayden asks.
“When it goes bad? Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence. I really appreciate it.”
“You know he’s only looking out for you,
” Kristian says quietly. “All of us are.”
“I don’t need him to look out for me. I don’t need any of you to do that. I guess it was too much to hope for a little support from my closest friends.”
“That’s incredibly unfair,” Hayden says. “We’ve always got your back. You know that. But when you turn your back on everything you are and everything you believe in for a woman, you’ll have to pardon us if we call foul on that.”
“I haven’t done that,” I say, even if Hayden’s words score a direct hit to my deepest worries where Natalie and I are concerned.
“Have you told her about Club Quantum?” Hayden asks.
I glance toward the house, where I can see Natalie with Marlowe, Addie and Ellie. “No need to. I’m quitting the club.”
The announcement is met with dead silence.
“I gotta go,” Hayden says as he gets up from the table.
“You’ve been drinking, dude,” Kristian says. “You should crash here.”
“I’m not crashing here.”
“Then come to my place, but don’t drive back to town.”
“Fine, but I want to go. Now. Oh, and Flynn, any time you want to come back to work, I could sure use some help on that film we’re supposed to be finishing.”
“Next week,” I reply tersely.
“Great.”
Jasper stands. “I drove Kris, so I guess I’m going, too. Good time tonight, everyone. Flynn, congratulations. I’m happy for you both.”
“Thanks.”
Hayden heads into the house without another word to me.
The three of them take their leave, but Emmett remains. The dustup with Hayden has left me unsettled, not that I’m entirely surprised by his reaction. He’s been wary of my relationship with Natalie since the first minute I met her.
“You know he’s just looking out for you,” Emmett says after a long silence.
“I wish he was a little less concerned.”
“Unfortunately, we all remember the aftermath of your divorce a little too well.”
“This is different, Emmett. I already love Natalie more than I ever loved Val. It’s nothing like that.”
“Nothing?” Emmett asks, his brow raised in query. “The thing that caused you problems with Val is not something you can turn on and off like a switch. It’s who you are. Who we are. You’ve tried to live outside the lifestyle before with disastrous results for you and for Val. None of us want to see you there again.”