The Careless Boyfriend

by Erika Kelly

  But no one would tell her what any of this was for.

  The fourth Etch-a-Sketch had led to the hotel. “I don’t know why I need make-up this early in the morning.” But she followed them inside, where the concierge’s expression lit up at the sight of her.

  “Good morning, Knox.” He handed her a fifth one.

  “You’re in on it, too?”

  He grinned, eyes sparkling, and returned to his desk.

  “Okay, then.” On the screen, someone had drawn a crude image of a storefront. Written across the top: Knox Holliday Atelier. “What is this?” She turned to her friends for an explanation, but they were nowhere to be found. “What’s going on?”

  To her right, guests checked into reception. Straight ahead, a grand staircase led to the second floor ballrooms. Shops and restaurants made up the left side of the building.

  Butcher paper covered the window of one of the stores. A comfortable wrought iron bench sat nestled between planters filled with brightly colored wild flowers.

  And written across the top of the black wood façade, in magenta-colored letters: Knox Holliday Atelier.

  She nearly dropped the Etch-a-Sketch.

  This store is mine? On legs as shaky as a newborn colt’s, she headed over and tried the door. It opened to a roomful of familiar—and expectant—faces. The Cooters, Zach, Amelia, Wyatt, the realtor, the hostess from Sweet Baby Jane’s…Good Lord, half the town had come to celebrate the opening of her…the breath whooshed out of her lungs.

  My atelier.

  So many people surrounded her, reaching for her hands, kissing her cheek, congratulating her. “Where’s Gray?” she kept asking. But no one gave her anything more than a secretive smile.

  Wearing a suit, Zach broke through the crowd. “What do you think?”

  “I think I’m having a crazy dream, and someone needs to give me a good hard slap to snap me out of it.”

  “Not a dream,” Zach said. “While you’ve been working on the custom gowns and launching your digital platform, the Bowie brothers built out this salon for you. Wait’ll you see the rest of it.”

  The guests blocked her view of most of the room. But what she could see—plush magenta couches facing a long glass coffee table, one whole wall of windows bringing in stunning natural light, and crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling—was absolutely stunning. The black wainscoting and the pin-striped wallpaper with a pattern of tiny magenta fleur de lis made the space elegant but whimsical. It had personality.

  Mine.

  “I think it’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me.”

  “Just wait.”

  “There’s more?” She searched faces for her fiancé. “Where’s Gray?”

  “He’s waiting for you.” With a hand on her elbow, he moved her toward the velvet-draped dressing rooms. “But, first, let’s get you dressed.”

  He brought her to a dress form. It took a moment to make sense of it, but it was the wedding gown she’d designed as a teenager. “Is this my dress?” Tears blurred her vision, until she couldn’t see it anymore. “Who made this?” Furiously, she swiped her eyes, desperate to see what was going on.

  “We did.”

  To see the sketch she’d designed as young, hopeful girl come to life…“Wait, why did you make my wedding gown?”

  “Come on,” Callie said. “How ‘bout we make sure it fits?”

  “I’m wearing it?” Wait. “Oh, my God, is that why you used me?” With her as a model, Zach had recorded the exact process of taking measurements and posted it on the website.

  He smiled. “I’m so clever, right? You didn’t suspect a thing.”

  “Make-up, bouquet, wedding gown…you guys.” She tried with all her might not to bawl like a baby. “Am I getting married?”

  “For six months, you’ve been pushing Gray to either elope or do it at the courthouse,” Callie said.

  “And he wasn’t having it,” Zach said. “So…” He gestured to the room. “He planned the wedding for you.”

  Delilah smoothed a hand on her arm. “Is this okay?”

  “It’s better than okay. It’s the most amazing thing anyone’s ever done for me.”

  “Then, let’s get you dressed,” Callie said.

  * * *

  Wearing her frothy, extravagant gown and holding her gardenia-scented bouquet, Knox stepped out into the salon.

  When the first strains of Tim McGraw’s My Best Friend started playing, she could no longer hold back the tears. As she moved toward the center of the room, the crowd parted to reveal a row of chairs facing…a white, wooden wedding arbor. Wrapped in lace, it was adorned with white, pink, and magenta zinnias.

  And standing there, waiting, was Gray in a sleek black tuxedo.

  The tremble began deep inside her. Because she understood all at once that her morning kiss was also her I do.

  His brothers stood beside him, all three of them dashing and imposing in their tuxes. The guests took their seats, chairs scraping on the wood floor, amidst the low hum of conversation.

  But Knox only had eyes for her man. That look of love, like she was his gift, the source of his joy, made her heart flutter out of control.

  Because she would be blessed with that expression for the rest of her life.

  Little Ruby came crashing from behind, ramming into her. “Sowwy.” She peered up at Knox with an earnest expression. “I gots fowers.” She held up a basket of magenta rose petals, before breaking away to do her job.

  The three year old stomped down the aisle, carefully dropping them one at a time. The guests watched her with gentle smiles, some placing a hand over their hearts at all the cuteness, and some with actual tears.

  But the stuffed chicken under her arm made it difficult to toss flower petals, so Ruby wound up tripping. The adults seated closest to her lurched forward, everyone ready to come to her rescue, but everyone froze because Ruby only had eyes for Will. Splayed out on the shiny wood floor, she watched her half-brother with a question in her eyes

  Will smiled, but the intensity in his gaze radiated confidence, encouragement. You can do this, little one.

  Everyone waited to find out whether Ruby would burst into tears. But, no, the little girl got back up. “I okay, Wheel.”

  A titter of laughter broke out, but Ruby was too busy picking up the spilled petals to notice. Once she finished her task, Will scooped her up and pressed a dozen kisses all over her chubby cheeks, before setting her down. Giggling she ran to Marcella, the Bowie’s house manager, who was the ceremony’s officiant. The older woman leaned down and pointed to Uncle Lachlan, their dad’s tall, lean, and bearded brother. The man got up and in two long strides, whisked the little girl into his arms and plopped her into his lap.

  “Okay, here we go.” Before heading down the aisle, Callie pressed a kiss to Knox’s cheek, leaving her awash in her subtle but elegant fragrance.

  “You look gorgeous, and I’m so happy for you.” Delilah gave her a big hug before making her way down.

  Fin and Will watched their women with pure adoration in their eyes.

  And then it was Knox’s turn to make the walk down the aisle to her groom.

  A breeze ruffled the feathers of her dress, making her turn to find her mom racing in the door, hair windblown, cheeks ruddy. Dressed in holey jeans, black patent leather Dr. Marten’s boots, and a peasant blouse, she hustled over to Knox. “Hey, hon.”

  Tucking an arm under hers, her mom leaned in. “Got the car idling, full tank of gas. Just say the word.”

  She couldn’t help laughing. “Mom, seriously, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” And then, together, they headed down the aisle to her groom.

  Knox handed off her bouquet to Callie, her mom took her seat, and Marcella gave her a beaming smile.

  And then she was standing beside Gray Bowie, the love of her life. Her heart and soul.

  He brushed a kiss across her cheek. “Took you long enough.”

  “Too long.” She placed her pal
m on his chest. “But my heart’s been here the whole time.”

  “Friends, family,” Marcella began. “We are gathered here to witness the commitment shared today between Gray Bowie and Knox Holliday.” With glittering eyes, she looked from one to the other. “Today signifies the creation of a new home and a new family for you both. May you be fulfilled by each other’s love and friendship. May you be overjoyed by the life you will create together. Remember that in every marriage, there are good times and bad, times of joy and times of sorrow. Marriage is a journey, an adventure filled with excitement enhanced by the love, trust, dedication, and faith you share in one another.”

  Reaching for her hand, Gray kissed her palm and mouthed, I love you.

  “Gray and Knox,” Marcella said. “Will you promise to care for each other in the joys and sorrows of life, come what may, and to share the responsibility for growth and enrichment of your life together?”

  “I will,” Gray said.

  She couldn’t keep her body from trembling, her heart from thundering. “Yes,” Knox said. “I will.”

  “Our groom has a thing or two to say to you,” Marcella said. “Gray?”

  He turned to face his bride, clasping her hands. “Knox, people have always liked to joke about my lack of commitment, but that’s because they didn’t know I was committed to you. It happened the second I first saw you in Mrs. Flint’s kindergarten class. My heart recognized you, and I just knew. You used to talk about me finding my passion, but that’s because you didn’t know that you were my passion. Always have been, always will be.” He shrugged, as if he’d just accepted the way he was wired long ago. “I love you. I promise that I’ll always make your tea, hold your hand, and give you a good morning kiss. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you, so you can skip all the sickness and in health crap, because I’m thoroughly devoted to you, my heart.”

  “That’s my boy.” Marcella cupped his cheek. “I’m so proud of you.” And then she turned to Knox. “I know we’re springing this on you, so I’ll just go through the questions. Do you—”

  “No, I want to say something.” Her heart was so full it hurt. “I love you, Gray. There isn’t anything I cherish more than that commitment you’ve given me throughout my entire life. It’s made me strong, confident, and deeply, profoundly, content. I vow to wake up every morning and ask myself what I can do to make your day better, to hold your hand every chance I get, and to sit down with you for dinner every night so I can find out how your day went. I love you with my whole heart, soul, mind, and body.”

  “Now can I have my good morning kiss?” Gray asked the officiant.

  “Hang on,” Marcella said on a laugh. “The rings.”

  Will dug into his suit coat pocket and pulled out a rose gold band. Gray lifted her hand and slid it on her finger. “With this ring, I finally get the girl.”

  Callie handed the simple gold band to Knox. “With this ring, my life is finally complete.”

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” Marcella said. “May I present to you, Gray Bowie and Knox Holliday, husband and wife.”

  Gray wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her up against him, not wasting a single second before possessing her mouth with a searing kiss. Her body went hot; her heart jubilant. She flung her arms around his neck, unable to keep from smiling.

  While their friends clapped, she tucked her face into his neck. “You’re amazing. I can’t believe you did all this.”

  “Better than eloping or the courthouse?”

  “A thousand, billion times better.”

  Delilah tapped her shoulder. “Come on, you two. My pastry chef made you the world’s best cake. Let’s get slicing.”

  As they made their way through the crowd, everyone stopping to hug and congratulate them, Knox had never felt so full. Of love and happiness, of the absolute rightness of her life.

  Just as they reached the table with a stunning four-tiered white cake with wild flowers cascading down it, the door opened, and the hotel manager poked his head in. “Brodie?”

  “Yeah, man, what’s up?” Her brother-in-law broke from the crowd.

  “The princess of St. Christophe is here.”

  They all turned to check out the lobby, where black-suited security detail surrounded a blonde-haired bombshell in stilettos and enormous sunglasses.

  “And she’s demanding to speak with you.”

  Thank you for reading THE CARELESS BOYFRIEND! It’s the third book in The Bad Boyfriend series:

  * * *

  THE WORLD’S WORST BOYFRIEND

  THE HEARTLESS BOYFRIEND

  THE CARELESS BOYFRIEND

  THE THOUGHTLESS BOYFRIEND

  * * *

  Have you read the Rock Star Romance series? Come meet the sexy rockers of Blue Fire:

  * * *

  YOU REALLY GOT ME

  I WANT YOU TO WANT ME

  TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT

  MORE THAN A FEELING

  * * *

  And Erika Kelly’s super passionate Wild Love series:

  * * *

  MINE FOR NOW

  MINE FOR THE WEEK

  MINE FOREVER

  * * *

  Look for THE THOUGHTLESS BOYFRIEND coming October 2019! Sign up for my newsletter to find out when it goes up for preorder and come hang out with me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, and Pinterest or in my private reader group.

  The Heartless Boyfriend

  Here’s an excerpt from THE HEARTLESS BOYFRIEND, the second book in The Bad Boyfriend series, out now!

  Under the bright blue umbrella on the patio table, the little girl bounced a huge stuffed chicken in her lap. Her tumble of brown curls fluttered in the soft June breeze. Beside her, Marcella, their long-time house manager, read something on the screen of her laptop while talking on her cell phone…

  …ordering a stroller.

  Will Bowie couldn’t wrap his head around it. That kid? That two-year-old? She might be theirs.

  She was theirs. Look at her. A shaft of sunlight gleamed on her hair, revealing bronze and gold strands tangled among the brown—exactly like Will and his brothers. And those blue eyes?

  They’re mine.

  But she wasn’t his. He knew that for sure. So, whose was she?

  In a few minutes, their lawyer would walk in the door with the birth certificate they’d subpoenaed from the hospital. But it wouldn’t matter what name was on that document—all their lives would change.

  Because they’d handle it as a family. The four of them would raise her together.

  “It’s not complicated.” From her throne on the leather club chair, his mom sounded exasperated. “Which one of you slept with Christy Leigh?”

  Their mother had flown out to Calamity for the opening of his brother’s resort. As luck would have it, she’d also gotten hit with the whammy of finding out she was a grandmother. Maybe.

  Probably.

  Had it been a boy, she wouldn’t have cared. She’d only kept popping out babies in the hopes of scoring a girl. She’d washed her hands of the whole mess after the fourth son.

  She wouldn’t stay involved, though. The type of mother who could walk out on her own children—ages six, seven, nine, and eleven—wouldn’t hang around to raise this feisty little girl. He’d give his mom a week before she hightailed it back to Manhattan.

  “Well, it obviously wasn’t me.” His youngest brother, Fin, had only ever been with one woman—his childhood sweetheart.

  “Obviously.” Brodie laughed.

  “But, seriously, man,” Gray said. “You’ve never been the least bit curious what it’d be like with someone else?”

  “No.” Fin’s response was so immediate, so frank, that everyone stared at him.

  Anyway, that left the three of them.

  Two. Will had never slept with Christy Leigh.

  “Well, I don’t even know who she is,” Gray said.

  “You say that like it eliminates you.” Brodie, the brother closest in age to Will, gr
inned.

  Gray seemed the most likely to have fathered a kid he didn’t know about. He led a nomadic life, chasing the biggest waves and fiercest snow storms. With his easy-going nature, he found fun everywhere he landed.

  “You make an excellent point.” Gray gave him a lazy look. “Nevertheless, the kid’s twenty-seven months, which means she was conceived exactly three years ago. I’m in Bali every June, big brother. I couldn’t have knocked Christy up.”

  The attention turned to the last remaining brother.

  “Don’t look at me.” Brodie raised both hands. “I live in Utah.”

  All three brothers gave him a look that said, So? Brodie spent more time at home in Wyoming than in his office. In fact, he’d spent the past year turning the ghost town on their property into a high-end resort that opened to the public next week. So, yeah, he’d spent a lot of time in Calamity.

  “She doesn’t have to be one of ours.” Fin pointed out the obvious. “The baby book says she’s a Bowie, but there are other Bowies out there.”

  “In Calamity, there’s only us and Uncle Lachlan.” Brodie shook his head. “And there’s no way Ruby’s mom slept with an old man rocking a pompadour.”

  Two days ago, right in the middle of Fin’s twenty-fourth birthday party, a woman had shown up at the house with Ruby Leigh in tow. Apparently, the little girl’s mom had left her with a babysitter for a long weekend in Big Sky and never come home.

  Brutal car accident on the Gallatin Road. Damn.

  Thanks to Wyoming’s Kinship Placement program, they’d allowed Ruby to stay with the only babysitter she’d ever known until they found a forever home for her. But when the sitter had gone to Ruby’s house to pick up some clothes and toys, she’d found a baby book.

  So, they knew everything about her firsts—first smile, first time she’d rolled over, and the first time she’d walked—and they knew a Bowie had fathered her.