Is she right? I want to see everyone I know happy. Mills said it before, he feels lonely. I want him to find what I have with Grace. He and his little boy deserve it.
“He’ll meet the one when it’s time,” she assures me. “We just can’t meddle with love. I had a lot of people trying to find me someone and it wore me out.”
“You had the one right in front of you.”
She wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me hard. “I did, which is why I never felt alone until you had to stay here, and I realized I was missing something—more like someone. My other half.”
“One day, I’m going to ask you to marry me.” I release one of the crutches and snake my arm around her waist. “Where do you want to live?”
“Do we have to choose one place in particular, or can we be gypsies who travel all over the world and visit our families when we aren’t playing?”
“We can do anything you want,” I offer. “The sky is the limit.”
“I only want to be with you,” she whispers, holding me tight.
Grace’s Epilogue
Every night, we spend it practicing music—Beacon with a different instrument while I play the cello. He still can’t play guitar. Mom and I have talked about this, and we believe it’s a mental block. It’s something he has to work out on his own.
Once we’re all tired out, we get tangled in each other’s bodies and make love a couple of times before we fall asleep.
“I was thinking,” Beacon says as I rest my head on top of his chest. “We could travel around the world while I’m healing. This time will be just about visiting places, enjoying each other’s company.”
“Have you discussed your situation with the guys?”
He nods. “I told them that maybe they should look for a replacement—someone temporary. Neither one of them accepted my suggestion. Mane almost knocked me down. Fish stopped him only because I was on my crutches.”
“We’re a unit,” I remind him.
“Would you play with us?”
“I owe you a tour, but remember I’m a cello nerd who likes her stuffy fans,” I joke.
“You don’t have to stop playing because of me.”
“I wouldn’t stop playing because of anyone,” I remind him. “This break was planned a long time ago. I haven’t found any offers for next year that are good enough to take me away from you.”
He kisses my bare shoulder. “I can always carry your bags.”
“Why don’t you make love to me instead?” I ask.
It doesn’t take long to convince him. He moves on top of me and thrusts inside of me. I can’t remember what life was like before we became us. The only memory I have is of us making fascinating music.
Every morning I wake up to an empty bed. Beacon joins his brothers at the gym and then makes breakfast since it’s the only chore that doesn’t require him to be on his feet for a long time. Today, I frown when I find the crutches against the wall, the chair next to it, and Beacon nowhere around the bedroom. I dress fast and jet out of the room searching for him. He’s not in the kitchen preparing breakfast.
Grace: Where are you?
There’s no answer. I go to the barn where Leyla is feeding the animals. Mozzy looks at me curiously and continues staring at Ally. This is the first time I witness the sight of my cat hanging out with the rest of the animals.
I look toward at the lake, checking if his clothes are around. What if he drowned? My heart is beating fast when I don’t find him in the gym. I walk to the studio and my lips turn upward when I hear the sound of his guitar. It’s a prelude. The intro of a song.
She’s an electrical storm,
A force that can move oceans,
And sometimes she stands still, controlling my chaos.
She knows my soul like she knows my heart.
She’s my savior,
My reason,
My music,
And my life.
I haven’t heard him play with this much heart in a long time. I listen to the entire song and when he opens his eyes, he stares at me.
“It’s coming back.” His cheeky smile melts my heart.
“I never doubted it.”
He pushes himself up and walks toward me. No crutches, no help, no wobbling.
“How?”
“I’ve been working extra hard,” he answers. “Those times when you’re not around, I’m busting my ass. If I want to carry your luggage when you start touring, I have to be ready.”
He then pulls out something from his pocket and drops on one knee.
“Grace Aiko Bradley, my first memory is of you. Of us on your family’s playground, laughing carelessly, happy because we were in that moment sharing each other’s space. We’re not those kids, but I want us to become something similar. Two people laughing, loving, enjoying every moment. Walking through everything life throws our way.
“My therapist asked me why I thought my anger went away too easily. I told her, ‘It’s Grace. She reminds me that life is short. She’s the one who makes it magical.’ We have gone through so much more than this accident. How can I be mad, when I’m lucky to call you mine, and have your support?
“Also, how can I not ask the love of my life to share the rest of her life with me? We’re forever. An eternal song. One that will play even when we’re gone. Grace, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Yes.” I nod as I sob. This time it’s happiness. My guy evolved. He’s different and yet the same. This time, it’s us.
“I love you, Beacon Aldridge.”
“Love you more,” he insists.
“How do you know?”
“I don’t, but it’s a good challenge. I say that I do, you love me more the next day, and I up the bets.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“Ridiculously yours.”
Beacon’s Epilogue
I work at The Lodge part-time. I work the front desk along with Grace. Although I love to make Henry’s life difficult, I behave well enough. We don’t have much time left in Baker’s Creek, and I want to make this time memorable for everyone.
We will be back. Easton, the contractor, broke ground on what will be our Baker’s Creek house. Grace and I are keeping our engagement low-key. Only her parents, her brothers and mine know about it. Instead of the ring I gave her, she wears a diamond pendant necklace.
The secrecy is to ensure that Jerome doesn’t impose the will’s stipulations on her too. She visits her family every other week. I can’t imagine what would happen if Jerome Parrish says she can’t travel anymore.
Yesterday it was her grandfather’s birthday. I wish I had been there, but at least she celebrated with him.
As we sit at the table to have breakfast, I announce, “Jerome Parrish is in town.”
“Are you ever going to stop following the poor man?” Blaire asks.
I stare at her for a couple of beats and shrug. “I don’t know.”
Grace and I are onto him. Hadley has been helping us dig some information about his past. I can’t just stop the investigation.
“Why are you doing it?” Mills questions.
“There has to be more to why we’re here,” I explain to them.
“I want to know too,” Henry agrees.
Suddenly everyone is nodding and throwing hypothesis. My phone buzzes. It’s the alarm announcing that someone is approaching the property. I slide my finger along the screen and unlock the phone. Pulling up the app that allows me to see the cameras, I spot Jerome about to ring the intercom.
“Yo,” I greet him.
He jolts and I grin.
“I have a delivery for you and your fiancée, Beacon.”
“The letters.” Leyla and Sophia both get jittery and noisy.
I don’t see the point of getting excited when we agreed no one will open their letters until everyone gets theirs.
“It’s open.” I grunt as I open the gate so he can come inside.
I glare at everyone. “Who tol
d him we were engaged?”
“No one said anything,” Blaire assures me.
I look at the time. Grace just left Seattle. Vance is flying me to Portland to pick her up. How am I supposed to fucking fix this?
“We’re getting caught over some stupid technicality. I fucking knew it,” Henry growls and glares at me.
“No one is getting caught.” Pierce clears his throat and points at me. “Deny any allegation. You’re good at lying.”
When there’s a knock on the door, Vance is the one who opens it. Everyone still fears Vance. I guess he’s the only one who could do any damage. I’m still not ready to arm wrestle against any of my brothers, let alone punch them if they fuck with me. That’s my October goal.
“I’m here in time for breakfast,” Jerome says.
We all glare at him.
“Why is he always inviting himself to have a meal with us?” Mills grunts.
I shrug.
“Mr. Parrish,” Blaire greets him, while standing up to search for a cup and a plate, I guess. She brings back a to-go mug and grabs a muffin with a napkin. “Here. You give us the letters, and you can be on your way.”
“Where is Ms. Bradley?” He scans the room.
“Why are you asking?” I stare at him.
“She’s your fiancée. You know the rules about significant others.” He sets a letter on top of the table that has Grace’s name.
My eyes bulge at the meaning of this. William knew about her. How did he do that? Did he hire a private investigator and I didn’t notice? I’ll have Seth research since I’m not allowed to touch The Organization’s assets.
“You’re fetching for information, Parrish?” I taunt him. “That’s low, even for you.”
I push the letter. “You can drop it off to her when we make it official.”
“It seems like you two are close enough to be official,” he states, showing me the pictures posted on the Baker’s Creek social media sites.
We all laugh.
“You can’t base facts on what you see online,” Pierce claims.
Jerome shakes his head and pulls out a letter size manila envelope. “This one is for you.”
“Why does he get a big one?” Pierce argues.
We all stare at him.
Parrish grins. “I don’t know. I’m just the messenger.”
“It feels like you’re more than that,” I claim.
He grins. “And you’d be wrong,” he states and leaves the house with his coffee and muffin in hand.
“Are you going to open it?” Henry urges me.
“No, we all agreed to open them at the same time,” I remind them. I pick up the envelopes and go to my room.
I put them in the safe before leaving for Portland to pick up Grace. When we’re back, I show her the envelopes. She looks at hers and grins. “I got mail.”
“Are you going to open it?”
“No. I’m just happy because it means you really liked me.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.” She shows me her hand. She’s wearing the ring. “I love you so much that I told my family.”
“You won’t be able to go back until the end of November,” I remind her.
“They know. This family thing goes both ways, Beacon. They can visit us too. Just because we don’t live next door to them, or in the same state, it doesn’t mean they’ll forget us. If we decide that living here is best for us, then we’ll have to remember that we’re not too far away from each other.”
She’s right about family. While growing up, I was taught differently.
A family doesn’t end after the week is over, or after this crazy stipulation ends. Whatever William tried to do is insignificant compared to what’s happening to us. We’re actually connecting and becoming the Aldridge brothers.
“Thank you for being my family, my life, and for always being here for me.” I kiss her with everything I have. “I missed you.”
“I missed you more.”
Excerpts
Want to Find our more about the Aldridge Brothers?
Keep reading for a sneak peek of Loved You Once (Hayes’ story), A Moment Like You (Henry’s story), and Defying Our Forever (Pierce’s story).
Loved You Once
Blaire
The Aldridge brothers are like a force of nature. They’re like volcanic lightning, fire tornados, bismuth crystals, nacreous clouds, or typhoons echoing through lost caverns. They’re passionate and chaotic. They carry the strength and wisdom of redwood forests and the pride and anger of minor gods. Am I giving them too much credit by painting them to be larger than life?
…Perhaps.
It’s all about perspective. Some people compare them to a nuclear meltdown.
To say they’re interesting is an understatement. The Aldridge brothers are handsome, arrogant, and sinful.
Henry, the hotel mogul, is callous.
Hayes, the doctor, is handsome, nerdy, and detached.
Pierce, the lawyer, is an unrelenting know-it-all.
Mills, the hockey player, is reckless.
Vance, the former Delta Force member, is impulsive.
Beacon, the heartthrob musician, is rebellious.
Make sure to add as fuck to each of them. They all have an alpha side that’s infuriating,
I haven’t heard from them since their brother, Carter, died. Until their father died two weeks ago and they came barging back into my life. Am I ready to face my past?
I don’t know. All I care about is what I’ll get at the end of this deal. This will be like walking through a rose field under a volcanic eruption. Once I cross the bridge into their world, there’s no going back.
A Moment Like You
My name is Sophia Catarina Aragon and I am the executive assistant of the man who happens to be the runner upper to take over hell.
Where is hell? Surprisingly it’s not in some mystical place down under. Hell is better known as Baker’s Creek. A small town in Oregon just a couple of hours east from Mt. Hood.
Why is it hell?
Well, that’s where the Aldridge family settled back in the 1800s. They’ve always been successful in their careers. However, their personal life is a mess. They are damned to live a loveless, angry life. The story of this family is fascinating. There are only six Aldridges left. Anyone would think that they’re fighting to inherit the power, but actually, they’re trying to survive living together.
Let me bring you up to date, in case you haven’t heard about the Aldridge curse, Satan, William T. Aldridge, and his spawns. Are you ready?
Thirty-some years ago, the philanderer, William, spread his seed around the country. The cheating bastard had two kids with his wife and five out of wedlock. Pretty standard for a misogynistic asshole who thought owned the world. His wife dumped him—he neglected his seven children and lived alone until the day he died.
That should be the end of the story. Unfortunately for me, it’s in fact the beginning.
So the old man dies alone since he never cared about his children. He leaves a will and with it, he screws his six children (Carter, son number seven, died twelve years ago).
Now, his offsprings have to stay in hell (Baker’s Creek) for the next eighteen months. Sounds easy to do but believe me, living among each other is a sentence of its own.
Why am I involved?
Pure unadulterated bad luck. I’m pretty sure I walked under too many ladders. Maybe I broke mirrors. I wander along all the black cats in New York City… or I was born unlucky.
What can I tell you about these men? Not much since I’m getting to know them too. All I know is that they are Trouble!
Don’t let their hotness fool you. Let me introduce you to them:
Hayes, the yummy doctor (and my best friend’s fiancé).
Pierce, the hot lawyer (and my other best friend’s estranged husband).
Mills, the hockey player who I’d like to have on a penalty box.
Vance, the broody smolderin
g special forces.
Beacon, the heartthrob musician.
And I save the worst for last, Henry Lloyd Merkel Aldridge. The owner of Merkel Hotels and Spas. He also happens to be my boss. If Lucifer had a twin, Henry would be him.
All of them are hot. I’m pretty sure they were forged by a deity and given to their mothers as a gift for enduring William and a punishment to the rest of us—humans. They are not easy to handle.
The Aldridge brothers should all come with warnings like, dangerous, explosive, poisonous...Too hot to handle, radioactive men, or addictive.
Do not approach.
They are so beautiful, you can’t stay away from them and when you’re close, you can’t get away. I’ve been working on figuring out how to get rid of one and suddenly I find myself with five more.
Defying Our Forever
We are taught at an early age that love stories should be long. In most cases, they are eternal. They should always contain a happily ever after. But sometimes love isn’t endless. The stories are shorter than we believed they were going to be. There’s a period mid-sentence and not a semi-colon. When you turn the page, the end appears instead of the next chapter.
Sometimes, we have to accept it and leave when there’s nothing moving forward.
My story is quite complicated. From beginning to end it has been out of the ordinary, and there were moments where it could qualify as extraordinary. I still remember how we first met. Everything was passion, wild adventures, and ferocious love.
But somewhere along the way we lost that. I felt searing pain when the period appeared mid-sentence in our relationship. It nearly killed me. It definitely broke my heart.
Leaving was never out of the question. I just had to delay long enough to jump into the next chapter of my life.
The problem with stalling is that sometimes we’re so distracted trying to plan our next move that we find ourselves tangled in a much bigger problem than what we had at the beginning.
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