Lucian has told me how much Aidan cares for Cassie. It’s hard for me to imagine the other man giving up and walking away. “What was Aidan’s reaction?”
With a faint crook of his lips, Lucian says, “About what you can imagine. He doesn’t trust that Monique has Cassie’s best interests at heart. He feels like he’s abandoning her if he doesn’t try.”
“What’s your opinion?” I ask, now more than curious. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wish we could put everything to do with Cassie behind us, but it’s not that simple. Lucian is fiercely loyal to Aidan, which means Cassie will remain with us as long as she’s tied to him. I would never ask him to turn his back on his friend.
“Fuck if I know. Of course, it would be easier to give Monique what she wants and walk away. A part of me even thinks it might be for the best. Other than an absent father, Cassie doesn’t have any family that I know of. If Monique and her father care enough about her to go to all this trouble and expense, then maybe that’s what she needs. She has been Aidan’s life for so long though, and I’m not sure if he knows how to let her go. I worry about what this will do to him if he’s forced to do that against his will. He even admitted to me that he doesn’t know if it’s the love of a man for a woman he feels now or more the feelings you have for a childhood friend that you feel you failed.”
“My heart hurts for him,” I say, as a tear breaks free to run down my cheek.
Lucian pulls my hand to his mouth and presses a kiss in my palm before rubbing his cheek against it. “We are the only thing in my world right now that doesn’t appear to be unraveling. Tonight I sat at that table and watched Aidan and Max deal with demons that even I don’t fully know or understand and I thought, that was me just months ago. Living day-by-day because that was all I had. Then you came along and after giving me a good ass-kicking, you loved me.”
If it were physically possible, I’d be a puddle at his feet right now. For someone who’d once professed to be closed off to love, he was now so eloquent at expressing his feelings. I open my mouth to tell him just how much I do love him when instead I find myself blurting out, “Lucian Quinn, will you marry me?” As proposals go, it wasn’t the best. My mouth immediately falls open in alarm because I have no idea where that came from. Lucian leaps from the sofa as if his butt is on fire and promptly plows into the coffee table. He’s lying on the floor, cursing and groaning while I wonder if I’ve just ruined my life with that one out-of-nowhere question.
He shits up, holding his head, staring at me. When I don’t say anything, he asks, “Did you ask me to marry you?”
“No?” I squeak, although it comes out as more of a question than an answer. I’m beyond humiliated now and turn my head away from his penetrating gaze.
He moves until he’s pushing between my legs. “Baby, look at me,” he says quietly as I continue to stare at the wall. “How can you expect me to say yes when you refuse to make eye contact?” His voice is full of amusement as if his shock has finally worn off. Now he has my attention. I give him a bashful smile and hope he’ll put me out of my misery one way or another. Maybe I should just take it back and pretend as if it never happened. He places one of my hands on his heart. “First of all, yes a million times, I’ll marry you.” With a sexy grin in place, he continues, “Now that we have that out of the way, let me say that you’ve made me the happiest man on this Earth. I’ve been trying to figure out the perfect way to ask you and nothing I came up with seemed worthy. It was either too much, too little, and just plain fucking stupid.” He surprises me by getting to his feet and walking over to his briefcase. He pulls out what looks like a hundred pieces of paper and puts them in my lap.
“What’re these?” I ask.
Looking uncomfortable, he says, “Just look at some of them.” The first page is an article off the Internet titled, Ten Original Ways to Propose. The next is titled, How to Know That She’ll Say Yes! I am astonished to find there are probably fifty or more printouts that are all more of the same. Lucian, it seems, has been looking to Google for advice on asking me to marry him. He leaves the room while I sob and returns within moments. Dropping to his knees once again, he takes my left hand in his. “Lia Adams, love of my life, mother of my child and keeper of my heart, thank you for saving me from potentially months more of muddling through my insecurities before I asked you to be my wife. Will you please do me the honor of sharing my life, walking by my side, and being my love in this life and the next?”
I’m ugly crying again, but I couldn’t care less. I nod my head while sobbing, “Yes, yes!”
He takes something from his pocket and holds it up for me to see. “This was my grandmother’s wedding ring. My mother and then my aunt kept it for me all these years in the hopes that I would find my soulmate. You’re the only woman I’ve ever given this ring to. It belonged to you from the moment we met.” I understand he’s telling me that he didn’t give it to Cassie when they were engaged. I catch my breath as the antique princess-cut diamond gleams brightly. It’s huge and must surely be worth a small fortune. It slides easily onto my ring finger as if it were made for me.
“It fits,” I gasp in delight.
“It took me two weeks to get you to stay still enough while you were sleeping to measure your finger with a piece of dental floss,” Lucian teases. “Shit, baby, you toss and turn constantly. Our bed was riddled with the stuff every morning after you’d jerk your hand and send another piece of it flying.”
“Oh, my God.” I burst out laughing. “Was that what you were doing? I thought you had taken to flossing your teeth in bed. I couldn’t figure out why I never saw you do it, but there were pieces in the bed when I went to make it.” Holding my fingers just a bit apart, I add, “I was this close to telling you to stop grossing me out with your used floss.” Staring down at the ring, I joke, “This sucker is pretty awesome, but let the record show that I asked you first. I want that documented in the family history book.” I’m giddy with happiness but with relief as well. I’d been so terrified after my abrupt proposal. I’m beyond thankful that we were both very much on the same page.
“You got it, baby,” he says easily before pulling me to my feet. “Now how about I give you something else to add to that book?” When I reach down to cup his hard length through his trousers, he shudders. “On second thought, I don’t think our kids need to know the dirty tricks their mother used on me until I agreed to marry her.”
Indignant, I huff out, “You’re so going to pay for that, Mr. Quinn.”
Leering at me, he purrs, “I fucking hope so, future Mrs. Quinn.” If I hadn’t already been turned on, then that would have done it. Mrs. Lucian Quinn—yes, please!
Chapter Seventeen
Lucian
I walk into the conference room to find Aidan and Max already there. “Sorry, I got held up by a last-minute call,” I say as I take a seat at the head of the table. Aidan smirks at me, correctly assuming it was Lia. She’s the only person that I set aside my well-organized schedule for. When she was in school during the day, with a lot of people around, I didn’t worry quite so much. Now she’s alone more, and I like to check in with her just to make sure everything’s okay. The only drawback of having something so precious in my life is the fear of losing it. I may drive her insane, but I’ll never stop taking care of her.
“How’s your beautiful girlfriend doing today?” Aidan asks while Max pretends to study his cell phone.
“Fiancée,” I automatically correct as I take a bottle of water from in front of me and open it.
Before I can take a drink, Aidan sputters, “When did I miss this? You didn’t tell me you proposed to Lia.” Turning to Max, he demands, “Did you know? Why am I the last to find out anything around here?”
“Calm down, drama queen,” I say dryly. “We haven’t told anyone yet. It just happened a few days ago.”
Max gets to his feet and extends his hand to me. “Congratulations, Luc. I’m happy for you both. Lia is a wonderful woman.”
>
Aidan, never one to be outdone, skips the handshake and pulls me to my feet and into a full-fledged hug. “Damn, that’s great, brother. She’s the top of the heap. You’re marrying up, for sure.”
“Um, thanks…I think. I appreciate the well wishes.”
“So, how did this all come about? The last time I mentioned it, you were somewhat hesitant to make that move. Hell, that hasn’t been that long ago. What changed your mind?” Aidan asks, looking curious.
I give a satisfied smile as I admit, “Lia proposed to me, and I said yes.” Maybe it’s unconventional, but I’m still thrilled that my woman loves me enough to let me know she wants me—forever. In another week, I’d have probably beaten her to it, but it means more to me than she’ll ever know that she did it first. I love her so fucking much it borders on obsession. To have her completely leave her comfort zone to do something like that blows me away.
“No shit.” Max sounds amazed, which I try not to take offense to.
“I’m in love with that girl,” Aidan deadpans. “She’s gorgeous, smart, sweet, and direct. She’s the perfect woman. You should marry her today before someone steals her away.”
“Like hell,” I snap, ready to kick the ass of any man who should dare look her way—including my friend.
“All right,” Max intercedes, “before we get carried away here, let’s get back on track. Our court date is coming up in a few days and I need to know where we stand. Aidan, what have you decided?”
Aidan, suddenly serious for the first time since I entered the room, says quietly, “I’ve decided not to contest Monique’s request for guardianship.”
His answer floors me, and I can tell Max feels similarly. Turning to him, I say firmly, “I have your back on this. Max and I will do everything in our power to see that you remain in control of Cassie’s affairs if that’s what you want.”
“That’s right, Aidan,” Max agrees. “I’ve been honest with you about the uphill climb that this could turn out to be, but please know that I’m prepared to make that without question or reservation.”
“I know I have both of your support, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that,” he begins, “but even though this is fucking hard, I think it’s the right thing. Monique and I had a talk last night and she’s promised she will do nothing to stop me from seeing Cassie whenever I want to. You know how vindictive she is. If I drag this through the court and piss her off, then she’ll want to make me pay.”
“Well, if you retain guardianship, there’s nothing she can do,” I point out.
“Yeah, but what if I don’t?” he asks and I have to agree with his logic. Monique would use her position to make his life a living hell. If she’s holding any kind of power, then you probably don’t want to piss her off. “There’s a really big chance she’s coming out of this in control of Cassie. Right now, I think I need to remain on her good side while I ponder my next step. If I see that she has Cassie’s best interests at heart, then I won’t do anything. But I’ll go after her if that changes.” Given she went after Lia at Leo’s on her graduation night, I heartily agree with Aidan here. Something is not quite right, so he is wise to use caution with her.
Max gets to his feet and checks his watch. “Well, that’s it then. I’ll wait until tomorrow to notify the judge, so, Aidan, let me know before then if you change your mind. I have a meeting with the Kenson attorney. I’ll brief you on it later, Luc.”
When the door closes behind him, I turn to my friend and ask, “Are you all right?”
“You enjoy talking about feelings a lot more since meeting Lia, you know that?” he asks, looking vastly amused.
“Fuck you,” I say, but there is no heat behind it. He’s right, of course. I was a much colder version of myself not very long ago. When he stands, then walks away with a wave, I wonder if he has any idea of the type of power he’s giving Monique. I want to believe for his sake that there is goodness inside her, but at this point, I only see her as adding to his pain. But we’re missing an angle here—I feel it in my gut.
Lia
“But don’t you want a big wedding?” Rose asks, looking perplexed. “I can handle everything for you.”
Pointing to my rounded stomach, I say, “Look at me. Do you think I want to roll down the aisle in front of a bunch of Lucian’s business associates?”
“We just wouldn’t invite them then,” she insists.
Giving an exasperated sigh, I say, “Then who would be there? I don’t have many friends. Lucian and I want to get married at his parents’ home. The pool area is beautiful and it’s enclosed so the weather wouldn’t be a factor.”
Rose takes out her iPad and looks at me expectedly. “So, when and how many people are we talking here?” When I name the date we’d decided on, she shrieks, “Shit!” Do you know how long it takes to get stuff like this organized? At this rate, we’ll end up getting your catering from the Dairy Queen.”
“I’m almost seven months pregnant, Rose. If I don’t do it soon, the baby might pop out while I’m saying my vows. Besides, Luc said that Leo would be happy to handle the food. I think he’s already talked to him about it.”
Rose sits her iPad aside and folds her arms on top of the table. “I knew you’d end up with him.”
I eye her over my caffeine-free latte, trying to decipher what she’s talking about. “Hmmm?”
“Lucian. The first time I saw you two together, it was like witnessing a real-life fairy tale. He was so protective and possessive of you. That night we all had dinner together at Leo’s, I watched him watch you. He kept staring as if he couldn’t believe you were real. Then you would smile shyly at him and his eyes would go so soft and gentle. He might not have been able to admit it, but he loved you.”
“I loved him, too,” I admit. “The feelings were so overwhelming that they’d terrified me, but I couldn’t fight it. He was beautifully proud, but so broken inside. Just like me. He’s fixed parts of me that I didn’t think could ever be healed and I believe I have done the same for him.” I don’t tell her that I consider one of my greatest accomplishments to be that he rarely has nightmares anymore. They had become worse for a while after he’d stopped using cocaine, but now they rarely occur, and even then, never to the level they used to. I know he still struggles to handle extreme stress without his old crutch, but even with the Monique situation, his eyes are clear and his resolve stronger than ever. He occasionally smokes, but he hates it so much that I don’t see that becoming a regular occurrence.
“Let’s change the subject before I dwell on the fact I’m a lonely spinster,” she jokes. “So, have you given Lee an answer yet about his business proposition?”
Unable to hold back my grin, I bounce excitedly in my chair. “We talked a few days ago. I’m going to do it.”
“Holy early delivery. Stop jumping up and down,” she says, looking alarmed. “If that sucker flies out of Lucian’s box, I’m running the other way. I love you, girl, but friendship only goes so far.”
I look around me in confusion, thinking Lucian must be somewhere near. “If what comes out of his box?”
Rose pats my hand cooing, “Ohhh, you’re having a blonde moment. That’s so sweet.” Carefully enunciating each word she says slowly, “Well, you see, if your baby…comes out of your vagina, which I’ve nicknamed Lucian’s box since he owns that thing, then I’m going to leave you here alone. But, since you’re my BFF, I’ll call 911 on my way out. Got it?”
“Ah.” I grin. “I’m all clear now. Thanks for the detailed explanation.” Winking at her, I add, “And if you’d experienced the Lucian Quinn treatment, you’d be happy to dedicate your body parts to him.”
“Honey, I’d do it now, although I want it to be known for the record that I stopped masturbating to him the moment you two got serious.”
“Er…thanks.” I blink. “Was that right about the time you developed a thing for Max?”
“Have no idea what you’re talking about,” she singsongs before saying, �
��Now tell me about the new job thingie. When do you plan to start?”
“Lucian and I have discussed it and if all is well, I’ll start part-time when the baby is a couple of months old. Lee is insistent upon having a full nursery in my office there so the baby can come with me as often as I like.”
Looking genuinely happy, Rose says, “Lia, that’s wonderful. It’s perfect and I’m thrilled for you. You’ve worked your ass off to get to where you are and no one deserves this more.”
Feeling the usual round of tears not far off, I choke out, “Thank you; that means a lot to me. I just…don’t want to feel like I’m taking the easy way out. You know, letting Lee find me a job when I could do it on my own.”
“Now, you just stop right there,” she says sternly. “You’ve never taken the easy way out in your whole life. And I’ve heard enough about Lee Jacks to know that he doesn’t give free rides. He may be sentimental enough to want to do this with you, but if he didn’t think you were capable, he wouldn’t have made this kind of offer. Anyone who talks to you for a few moments can see how intelligent you are and Lee is far from stupid. He knows damn well you won’t rest until you’ve helped him make the company a success.”
“I love you,” I sob. She gives me a smile that looks a bit watery too before stuffing a wad of napkins in my hand.
“Here, clean yourself up. I’ll go get you another cinnamon twist, how does that sound?”
“Can I get extra icing on it?” I ask, knowing that I sound like a child asking for sprinkles. But the baby needs some sugar right now…who am I to deny her?
Rose throws her shoulders back and straightens her cardigan. “Damn straight you can, even if I have to resort to extreme measures to make it happen.”
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