Affinity: A Salvation Society Novel

by Harlow Layne

  I could only nod in response as I tried to choke down all the emotions bubbling up inside of me. I was overwhelmed with my love for both Jenner and Paul, the terror of what almost happened, and the adrenaline coursing through my veins and now crashing.

  I pulled back to look up at him with blurry eyes. “It was her.”

  His voice was soft as he asked, “What was her, baby girl?”

  “She admitted the whole thing. She was trying to get you back, and it didn’t matter how many times I told her you’d never take her back.”

  “Never in a million years, honey. You’re the only woman I want.” He leaned down until we were eye to eye. Using his thumbs, he wiped the tears from underneath my eyes and smiled. “Now tell me, what did she do?”

  “Poppy . . . she was the one who drugged us in Vegas. You gave me your drink, and when that didn’t work, she drugged your next drink and tried to get rid of me. I don’t know how she had planned to get you back after that, but we foiled whatever else she was scheming. It was her who ran me off the road. Who knows what else she would have done once she got me out of the picture?”

  Crushing me to his chest with his mouth brushing against the shell of my ear, Jenner spoke with conviction. “We’ll never have to find out.”

  I only hoped he was right.

  “Is she okay?” a deep voice asked from behind me.

  Throwing myself at my brother, I engulfed him in the biggest hug I’d ever given him. The moment I collided with him, I started to sob. “I thought I was going to lose you.”

  “Are you sure she’s okay?” Paul asked. One hand rubbed down my back as the other cradled my head.

  “She’s just upset. She thought there was a possibility you might get hurt.”

  Sliding his hands to my shoulders, Paul pulled me away and looked down at me. “I can’t believe you have such little faith in me.”

  “It’s only because I love you so much and couldn’t stand the thought of anything happening to you.”

  His entire face softened at my words. “I love you too, kiddo. I couldn’t let that crazy bitch hurt you.”

  “I’ll never be able to repay you for keeping her safe,” Jenner said from behind me. He placed a warm hand to the small of my back and started to rub soothing circles with his thumb.

  “Just make my sister happy. That’s all the payment I need.” He reached a hand over me, and I heard some clapping noise.

  I’m sure the money Jenner had been paying him since I got out of the hospital didn’t hurt either. I was shocked to learn Paul’s price to be a bodyguard. Jenner wouldn’t hear of taking the family discount Paul had offered either. I was sure Paul would end up finding a hefty amount deposited in his account when he next checked.

  “What do you say we get out of here?”

  Both Paul and Jenner started to head to their respective cars, and I stood there frozen, not knowing who to ride with. I wanted to be with them both and didn’t know how to decide.

  They both stopped in their tracks when they saw me standing in the same place where they’d left me.

  “Abbi, are you ready to go?” Paul asked, his mouth turned down.

  “Yes, but I’m scared something else might happen to you guys. I want to be in both cars.” Even to my own ears, it sounded a little crazy. I was sure I was going to lose it in the not too distant future.

  “Nothing’s going to happen now. You’re safe, and we’re safe.” Jenner moved to my side once again and took my hands in his.

  Paul eyed our joined hands. “How about I leave my car here, and Jenner can bring me back to it later?”

  “We can do whatever makes you feel better.” Jenner squeezed one hand, letting me know he was with me.

  They were both here and safe, and no one would ever take them away from me.

  Epilogue

  Abbi

  2 Years Later

  “Jenner’s going to die when he sees you.” Alex beamed through the mirror from behind me. She looked beautiful in her black off the shoulder dress.

  “He really is,” Catherine agreed. “I have to say I never thought I’d find myself here after our encounter in Vegas.”

  My hands glided over my veil as I let it fall down my back before I turned away from the mirror and looked at Alex and Catherine. “I didn’t see myself here either. At the time, I wasn’t sure who was going to beat who to file divorce papers. Never did I think I’d fall in love with my celebrity crush. Hell, I never thought I’d have the chance to meet him, let alone drunkenly marry him after only knowing him a few hours.”

  Catherine tilted her head to the side and frowned. “We all know you weren’t drunk but drugged. I’m not sure what Poppy had planned, but I’m glad it was you who intercepted that first drink. Otherwise, I have a feeling Jenner wouldn’t be where he is today.”

  If Jenner hadn’t gotten the part in the Hans Schroeber movie, he would have continued with his reckless playboy ways until the only parts he would have gotten were bad made-for-TV movies. If that.

  I liked to think that I had something to do with his turnaround, but he wasn’t as far gone as most thought. The good friend who always listened and cared about the people close to him was just underneath the surface, begging to come out. If I hadn’t come along, I was sure Alex would have set him straight, eventually.

  “I’m glad Poppy’ll be in prison for the next twenty years, and we don’t have to worry about her anymore. I can’t believe she admitted everything.” Alex shook her head.

  “She only did it because she somehow thought she would get away with killing me.”

  “That’s what drugs will do to you. Now let’s not speak of such things on your happy day. We’re in a beautiful location, you’re renewing your vows to the man of your dreams, and you’re going to spend the next month island hopping. You’ll come back looking beautiful as ever just in time to walk the red carpet and make everyone jealous of your glow.”

  “Glow?” Catherine perked up. “What glow? Are you . . . ?”

  “Shh,” I glared at Alex for spilling the beans. If she hadn’t found the positive pregnancy test in the trash as she helped me get ready, I wouldn’t have let on until Jenner knew. “I haven’t told Jenner yet. I wanted it to be a surprise.”

  “I hope you plan to tell him tonight because he’s going to find it suspicious when you’re toasting with water instead of champagne.” Catherine gave me a knowing look.

  She was right. Jenner wouldn’t miss that I was toasting with something non-alcoholic.

  “I’m waiting until after the ceremony, but I plan to tell him before the reception. I hope he’s happy about the news,” I mumbled quietly, letting them know my fear.

  Alex pulled me into a side hug. “He’s going to be ecstatic, and I know he’s going to be the best dad. You have nothing to be worried about. You’ve seen how great he is with Mason.”

  Tears filled my eyes, and I fanned my face, hoping I could keep them at bay and not ruin my makeup. “I know he is. I can’t wait to see him hold our baby. The only thing I’m worried about is I know he’ll want to move away from LA to raise our child.”

  Alex’s blue eyes lit up as she jumped and clapped in place. “Does that mean what I think it does?”

  “There’s a very good possibility we’ll be moving to Fairlane. Although if it was up to me, I would choose someplace warmer to live in the winter.”

  Alex scoffed. “Don’t listen to Gabi. She loves it there, and if it wasn’t for wintertime, she’d only have nice things to say about it.”

  “I knew that’s why she jumped on my invitation for a destination wedding in Bali.”

  The three of us laughed.

  Putting some last-minute touches on her makeup, Alex looked at us through the mirror. “We did kind of make a pact to leave Missouri behind in the winter and vacation someplace tropical after Holden and Prue’s wedding. It’s kind of becoming a theme with us.”

  “Maybe the next wedding will be Gabi and Jax’s.”

 
Alex let out a sigh. “If they ever get married. I swear they’ve been engaged forever. They always say they don’t have a date set yet.”

  “Maybe they don’t want to impose on someone else’s special time,” Catherine said in a way that made it seem like she knew something we didn’t. “Now that everyone is married off, it can be their turn.”

  A soft knock on the door had us turning in anticipation. The little old woman, Bayu, who ran the wedding events at the resort where we were staying, peeked her head inside. The moment she locked eyes on me, a sweet grandmotherly smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “We’re ready for you.”

  My entire being became hot, and I swear I started to sweat in places I’d never sweated before.

  “Why am I nervous all of a sudden?” I wiped my clammy hands down the sides of my dress.

  Taking my hands in hers, Catherine waited until I looked up at her. “I think everyone gets nervous even when they have no reason to. I was nervous, and I’m sure Alex was as well.”

  “I was a riot of emotions. All I knew was I desperately wanted to marry Luke. You have nothing to worry about. Besides, you’re already married.” Alex laughed.

  “I know.” I let out a nervous laugh. “But this is the one I’m always going to remember. Today’s special. We’re pledging ourselves in front of our friends and family.”

  Shaking out my hands, Catherine nodded at me, letting me know I had this. “Let’s go make this day even more special so you can go on your honeymoon with that handsome husband of yours and tell him he’s going to be a daddy.”

  Alex handed me my bouquet as they silently slipped out the door and went to sit with their husbands and family.

  Squaring my shoulders, I patted my hair and headed for the door, ready to move on to the next step in my life. Holding the train of my dress, I walked slowly toward my brother, who was waiting to walk me down the aisle. The second I stepped around the corner, and our eyes met, both our eyes filled with tears. Paul pulled me into a bear hug and rocked me back and forth as if he was letting me go for the rest of his life.

  “You’re still my brother, and I love you, dearly. I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without you, and you’ll always be in my life,” I whispered into his ear.

  He nodded, and when he pulled away, I watched as he swallowed down his emotions. “You’ve never looked more beautiful, Abbicakes. I’m honored to walk you down the aisle to the man who I know will make you happy for the rest of your life.”

  “Don’t make me cry and ruin my makeup.” I swatted his arm and then swiped at the wetness under my eye.

  Paul slipped a piece of cloth in my hand, and when I looked down, it was one of Dad’s old handkerchiefs. It had been so long since I saw one. My dad always had one in his pocket in case my mom needed one, and after they died, I hadn’t thought much about the little pieces of fabric until today.

  “I thought I said not to make me cry,” I whispered as I tried to keep myself together.

  Earlier in the day, Paul had sent a small package to the room I was getting ready in. Inside was a pair of light blue pearl earrings my mother used to wear. Now because of my sweet brother, I had both my parents there with me.

  “Some days are meant for crying, and today is one of those days.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead as he spoke. “I love you, Abbi. I’m glad you found a love like Mom and Dad had.”

  “I love you too, you know? Not a day goes by that I don’t think about all you gave up when you took care of me after Mom and Dad died. And I know you’ll find love one day. You just have to be open to it, and it will bite you in the ass when you’re least expecting it.”

  He looked down at me with all the love in the world in his eyes. It was hard to believe he’d been so intolerable when he came to see me after my wreck two years ago.

  “I hope you’re right. I think I’m ready to put down roots somewhere.” Paul smiled down at me and put out his arm for me to take.

  Looping my arm in his, he guided me down the stairs and down a path that led to a glass walkway over the pool. The entire area looked out over the water with the feeling as if we were getting married out on the sea.

  I couldn’t tear my eyes away from my husband as I walked past all of our friends and family. The smile on his face and the sheen in his eyes was worth everything we’d been through to make it to this day in our lives.

  Paul whispered something to Jenner that had him crack a smile and nod in agreement. With one last kiss to my forehead from my brother, I stood before Jenner in the happiest moment so far in our lives.

  Taking my hands in his, Jenner smiled down at me. His deep brown eyes sparkled with happiness and love. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. The moment I saw you, you took my breath away.”

  Emotion stung the back of my eyes, and I tried to choke it down. What was with everyone trying to make me cry today? “You’re going to make me ruin my makeup, and then I’ll be ugly for pictures.”

  Running his hand up my arm, he cupped my cheek and rubbed his thumb under my eye, catching an escaped tear. “You couldn’t be ugly a day in your life.”

  Excited whispers were in the background, but I couldn’t take my eyes from the man in front of me. My once reckless Hollywood bad boy stood in front of me in a white linen shirt and pants. His feet were bare, and I’d never seen anything sexier in my life.

  “I know that look, and you’re going to have to wait until later. Right now, we need to pledge our undying love to each other for everyone to hear.”

  There was my possessive man.

  Leaning forward, I whispered for only him to hear. “You love it, don’t you?”

  “I do.” He smirked.

  As the sun started to set over the Bali Sea, turning the sky into beautiful shades of pinks and purples, Jenner and I stood before God and everyone who mattered to us, and declared our love for each other. It was short and sweet and straight from the heart. We didn’t need an officiant. We let our souls do the talking, and when we were through, all the guys yelled ‘kiss the bride’ in unison.

  Jenner didn’t waste a moment. He dipped me in a dramatic kiss that I felt all the way to my toes. I gripped the back of his neck as he deepened the kiss and let him devour me the way I’d been dying for him to since he left me in bed this morning to go fishing with all the guys.

  We stood to the sound of raucous applause. As we walked down the glass aisle, our guests released lanterns into the air filling the night sky with little bursts of orange. We all stood and watched as they drifted further and further away with the warm night breeze.

  Bayu was waiting for us at the outdoor reception area where a tent covered a dance floor, DJ area, and a long table. Fairy lights covered the top of the tent, along the poles holding it up, and down the center of the table, making the area magical.

  We all sat down at the table with Jenner and me at the head of it. I looked down the table to see all of our friends with their drinks in their hands. When I imagined my wedding day, I always thought Sophie would have been by my side as my maid of honor. It was sad she was no longer my friend, but I learned the hard way that once you earned an ounce of fame, you figured out who your real friends were, and sadly Sophie wasn’t one of them. The people before us were our friends and now our family. Something both Jenner and I were grateful to have.

  As our dinner was served, Alex stood up and clinked her knife to her glass. She beamed at us from where she stood four seats down. “When I first met you, Abbi, I knew you were perfect for Jenner. The only problem was he didn’t know it. It didn’t take long for you to work your charm on him and for Jenner to pull his head out of his ass. Not only did you make him remember the man he is, but you became one of my good friends. I’m so glad you came into all our lives.”

  She stepped forward and caught Jenner’s hand in hers. “While I don’t love the circumstances of our bonding, I wouldn’t change a thing because it means I got you as a friend for life. I’m glad you found your happy because I c
an’t think of a man who deserves it more.” Wiping a tear from under her eye, Alex leaned in to hug Jenner before she came over and wrapped me in a hug.

  “I want to thank every single one of you for joining us today and helping to make our day special. You’re our family, and we’re blessed to have you. Now I’m going to take my beautiful wife back to our bungalow and ravage her for the rest of the night. Enjoy the free food and drinks!” Jenner waved as he started to drag me away.

  We were met with lots of laughter as I blushed. I couldn’t even look at my brother. Still, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Even though it was a vow renewal, it was, in essence, our first wedding night since we couldn’t remember the actual first one. As we walked to our bungalow, we kissed and stumbled our way there, unable to keep our hands to ourselves. The moment we reached our bungalow, Jenner started to lower the zipper of my dress while simultaneously trying to open the door.

  “It was torture trying to keep my hands off you. You’ve never looked more beautiful than you do tonight,” he murmured as he kissed up the back of my neck.

  I turned in his arms, bring my hands to feather through his hair that he’d grown out for the part of Victor in Hans Schroeber’s latest film and had decided to keep it.

  “Thank you for giving me this beautiful day and an amazing life.” I lifted up on my toes and licked along the seam of his lips.

  His hot breath skated down the column of my neck. “You don’t have to thank me. It should be me thanking you for giving me back my life. Making me realize I needed to take control and not let the past rule me.”

  Once he finally got the door open, Jenner led us back to our bedroom to find the room lit with candles and rose petals strewn around the room.

  “I can’t believe you did this. It’s so romantic,” I gushed, spinning around to take it all in again.

  “I can be romantic. I picked this resort and every place on our itinerary for our honeymoon. Wait until you see what I have in store for you,” he said as he stalked toward me. The heat in his eyes nearly set my skin aflame.