by Toni Aleo
Fallon’s shoulders fell at Audrey’s beauty and her heart broke because they hadn’t talked since Audrey and Lucas had fought. She had missed her baby sister so much, and seeing her all dolled up to the nines was bittersweet. She knew Audrey was still with that douche bag but she didn’t want to argue with her, she just wanted Audrey to be happy.
“You look stunning Audrey,” Fallon gushed.
Audrey smiled as she twisted her hips, causing the dress to swoosh back and forth. “Lucas got me this dress.”
“It’s fantastic.”
Audrey blushed as a beautiful bright grin came over her face, “Thanks. Why aren’t you dressed though? Susie’s here.”
“Crap! I can’t decide on what I want to wear,” Fallon said. She pointed down at her dresses before looking back at Audrey. “I don’t know if I want to be sexy, sweet or professional.”
Audrey laughed while she moved towards the bed, looking down at the dresses. She pointed to the backless black one and shook her head. “Mom and Dad are going to be there, so that one is out.”
Fallon nodded her head as she went on to the next one. “This one is nice, but I don’t like that bow. It’s between this grey one and that grey and black one. Try them on real quick.”
Fallon nodded again, picking up the first dress and throwing it on. It was black and went to her knees. There was lace that went around her neck as a halter top, showing a lot of her back.
“What shoes?” Audrey asked with her index finger on her chin.
“These black ones,” Fallon said sliding her feel into her black suede heels that had a big black bow on the side.
“Hmm, okay next dress.”
Fallon undressed quickly and threw on the next dress. It was a light grey with a fitted skirt that went down to below her knees. It cut down low and the sleeves were made of grey lace that was designed in pretty flowers. Fallon slid her feet into her grey lace heels and when she looked up, Audrey was grinning at her.
“That’s it.”
Fallon clapped her hands together and ran to the bathroom to fix her makeup so that it matched her dress. She noticed Audrey had followed her and was leaning against the doorway as she applied her eye shadow.
“Everything okay?” Fallon found herself asking.
“Yeah.”
“How’s things with…that guy you’re seeing?”
Audrey rolled her eyes. “Everything’s fine with us.”
“Okay,” Fallon said, even though she knew Audrey was lying. Audrey shrugged her shoulders and turned to leave the room without another word. Fallon shook her head in disgust. She wanted to shake Audrey to death but knew it would do no good. The girl was in love.
After finishing the rest of her makeup, she made sure her hair was in perfect curls before leaving the bathroom and heading downstairs. Fallon reached the bottom step just as Aiden took off towards the door and threw it open. Audrey stood up from the couch, and so did Susie as Lucas came in, looking devilishly sexy. He wore an expensive, sleek-looking blue suit with a silver tie. His hair was combed over to the side, and, thankfully, he hadn’t shaved. A grin stayed on his face when he looked over at Audrey before starting towards her. Fallon watched as he reached for Audrey’s hands and squeezed them tightly before placing a kiss on her cheek.
“Well I must say Audrey, you look gorgeous,” he said with a charming smile on his face.
Audrey’s cheeks dusted a beautiful deep red before she pulled her hands from his while trying not to smile. “Whatever.”
Lucas laughed. “Come on Audrey, you still can’t be mad at me.” Audrey shrugged her shoulders. “You are too pretty to still be mad at me,” he finished and that did it. She grinned over at him and smacked him in the arm before turning to go to the kitchen.
“Dad, this is Mrs. Susie, my babysitter!” Aiden said from beside Susie. Susie smiled up at Lucas and Fallon snickered at the look of awe on Susie’s face. She had been watching Aiden since he was a baby. Whenever Audrey couldn’t keep Aiden, Susie would. She was a sweet lady in her late thirties with an infectious laugh. She was so funny and Aiden just adored her.
Lucas turned the charm way up as he shook Susie’s hand. “Nice to meet you, I’m Lucas Brooks.”
Susie giggled as her face turned bright red. Fallon couldn’t blame her. Fallon was blushing and Lucas wasn’t even turning the charm on her. “Nice to meet you too,” was all Susie got out before she started giggling like a school girl.
Lucas smiled as he said, “So are you an all-night babysitter?”
“Lucas!” Fallon yelled. Lucas turned quickly and when their eyes met, Fallon was about to hire Susie for all night. Lucas’ eyes went dark as he slowly came towards her with a sexy grin on his mouth. Fallon slowly blinked once, bringing her bottom lip in between her teeth as he closed the distance between them and met her lips with his. Her hand came up to his cheek and welcomed the rough feeling from the hair along his jaw against her palm. She craved it, missed it even.
“They do this all the time.”
Fallon parted from Lucas with a bashful grin on her face before looking over at Aiden. “Hush, Aiden.” Aiden giggled as she looked up into Lucas’ eyes. Yeah, it was about time they had some alone time.
“Audrey?” she asked.
“I’m coming home,” Audrey said, passing by them. Fallon smiled widely up at Lucas and he returned it.
“Good,” she said before running her finger down Lucas’ bottom lip. “Is it okay if I stay the night?”
Lucas didn’t need to say anything, his eyes said it all. He slowly nodded before bringing his lips close to hers. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Chapter 34
The first thing Fallon saw when she walked into the campaign party was the close up picture of her and Lucas. Along the bottom, in the signature orange, it read:
“Rocky Top Wine is sensational, but it tastes better from her lips.”
It looked amazing, and Fallon couldn’t wait to see it hung along the walls of the arena and all through Nashville. Lucas squeezed Fallon’s hand and she glanced over to see him grinning at her. “Looks amazing babe, I’m proud of you,” he said. Tears sprang to her eyes from the overwhelming feeling of accomplishment and Lucas’ loving words. Lucas then leaned over and kissed her cheek softly before grinning down at her.
As they walked closer to the where the party was in full swing, each of the 10 pictures stood large in different spots along the outside of the party. Black and orange adorned every surface of the arena. Since it was a tie in, Grace suggested that they used black and orange. A color from each party, and Fallon couldn’t agree more. It looked a little Halloween-ish but it worked, and the way Grace had done it made it look classy. Fallon couldn’t wait to find Grace and thank her. She had done an outstanding job.
Fallon saw everyone from the company and a lot of the guys from the team. Elli had made it a mandatory party since the guys were leaving out Sunday for their first game of the playoffs against the Minnesota Wild. It was the Assassins last hurrah before things became serious. As Lucas and Fallon walked hand in hand through the party, Lucas would stop and shake hands with someone before introducing Fallon to them. Fallon did the same thing with her co-workers and it felt nice to have someone on her arm. She felt amazing and was beyond proud of herself for how the campaign had come out, but she couldn’t take full credit.
When Elli came into view, a large smile formed on Fallon’s face. The campaign would have never happened if it wasn’t for Elli, and Fallon would be eternally grateful to her. Elli looked amazing in a short burgundy Dolce & Gabbana baby-doll dress. She wore black tights and amazing sparkly silver platform heels. Her hair was in a pretty bun with a braid wrapped around the base. Shea stood beside her in a nice tailored gray suit with a burgundy tie. His hair was done nicely to the side, and Fallon couldn’t help but notice the burgundy Chuck Taylors he wore. Shea’s arm was wrapped tight around Elli’s waist, his hand resting against her swollen middle. Love radiated from them, and when
Shea leaned over to kiss Elli’s nose, Fallon melted inside.
Shea was a dream.
“I see you eyeing Adler, and I don’t like it,” Lucas whispered in her ear.
Fallon giggled as she elbowed him softly in the gut. “I am not, they’re just so in love with each other.”
Lucas nodded as he glanced over towards them. “Yeah, they are,” he said. Fallon looked up at him as he brought her hand to his lips. “I want you to meet someone before we head over there.”
Fallon smiled. “Okay.”
Lucas directed her towards a younger-looking guy that stood alone by the refreshment table. He was extremely tall and completely gorgeous. He had long blonde hair that dusted the top of his shoulders; his eyes were the brightest blue Fallon had ever seen. They were almost like ice, and when he pinned Fallon with them, she felt like he was looking into her soul. He was so sweet-looking, and man he was pretty! Lucas reached up and cupped the guy on the shoulder before grinning down at Fallon.
“Tate Odder, this is my girlfriend, Fallon Parker. Fallon this is Tate, he’s our new goalie. He doesn’t speak a lick of English, but he’s a good kid.”
Tate reached his hand out, taking Fallon’s before bringing it to his lips and kissing the back of her hand. “Nice, to, meet you,” he said before flashing her a killer smile. Fallon noticed that he had a gap between his two front teeth and her heart stopped.
He was a doll baby!
“Oh aren’t you too cute for words! I could just pinch your cheeks! It’s so nice to meet you too,” Fallon gushed. Tate grinned down at her while Lucas glared over at her. Fallon giggled before reaching up and pinching his cheek, she had to! He was a sweetie! “How old are you?” she asked, since he looked like he was 10.
“Twenty.”
“Aww, you’re a baby! Lucas you need to keep an eye on him, he is just so sweet.”
The grin remained on Tate’s face as Lucas shook his head. “I’ll catch up with you later Tate, come on Fal,” Lucas said pulling her away, “Thank God, he doesn’t know much English. Damn Fal, you just emasculated him!”
“I did not!” Fallon denied as she looked over at him. “He’s a doll baby, so sweet.”
“Gosh, he’s a man, treat him like one,” Lucas said with a shake of his head.
“Well excuse me,” Fallon laughed as they made their way to Elli and Shea, “I thought he was cute.”
“You treated him the way you treat Aiden. He’s a man, not a boy.”
“Whatever,” Fallon laughed. She didn’t think she was that bad and if she was, she would apologize later. She couldn’t help herself though, he was such a sweetie. He looked like one of those guys you have to love and take care of. Maybe it was her momma bear ways but Tate was just too sweet.
When they reached Elli and Shea, a large smile formed on Fallon’s face before she wrapped Elli up in a hug.
“Hey girl!” Elli gushed as they parted. “Pictures look awesome, huh?”
“Amazing! I love it,” Fallon gushed. “Hey Shea.”
“Hey, you look beautiful,” he said with a grin as Elli leaned over, kissing Lucas’ cheek.
“Thanks,” Fallon said sweetly.
“Elli, you look beautiful,” Lucas said with a grin just for the team owner. Fallon noticed the way Shea’s chest puffed out as he glared over at Lucas, but Lucas didn’t seem to care. If she was him, she would care. Shea was scary.
Elli smiled, running her hands down her belly. “Thanks, but one day, I will wear a dress like Fallon’s. Until then I will be wearing these kinds of dresses.”
Fallon laughed as Shea smiled lovely down at Elli. “I love your dress.”
“Yeah but I bet you like the purple Gucci dress I have at home that I’ve wore once, more,” Elli said with a pointed look. “I’ll never get into that dress again, Shea, if I keep having babies!”
Shea shook his head. “I don’t care. I love you just the way you are.”
A quiet, heated moment passed between them and Fallon felt like she was interrupting a private moment when she said, “You know Elli, you never did tell me what you’re naming this one. I had to find out from Lucas that you were having a girl!”
Elli blushed, tearing her gaze away from Shea and smiling over at Fallon. “Sorry about that, I was trying to keep it a surprise, but Shea’s got a big mouth,” she said with a grin for Shea. “We’re naming her Posey Rose.”
Fallon blinked twice and told herself not to laugh. It was their child and if that was what they wanted to name her, more power to them. Even if it was the ugliest name Fallon had ever heard.
“Posey Rose?” Lucas asked.
Fallon elbowed him in the gut, causing Lucas to let out an oomph as Elli said, “Yup. Shea got to name Shelli Grace so I get to name this one, and I love oldie type names, and Posey is just gorgeous. So Posey Rose is it, and then we are done. Right Shea?” Elli looked up at Shea and he nodded quickly. Elli looked over at them with a grin and Fallon noticed that Shea was shaking his head. When he put up two fingers and mouthed ‘more’, Fallon couldn’t hold in her laughter and almost fell over from laughing so hard.
“What?” Elli asked. She looked up at Shea, catching him with the two fingers up and she smacked him in the chest. “I ain’t having anymore! I’m done!”
Lucas pulled Fallon away, both of them laughing as Mr. and Mrs. Adler had it out by the cocktail table. Lucas wrapped Fallon up in his arms and kissed her neck as they stopped in front of the large portrait of them kissing in the vineyards.
“Shea’s going to keep her pregnant for the next five years,” Lucas said against her neck.
Fallon giggled. “You’re probably right.”
“He’s a lucky man.”
Fallon nodded. “He sure is.”
Lucas bit softly at her ear, causing Fallon’s eyes to slowly shut. As he ran his tongue down her lobe and along her neck, she let out a breathy sigh, wishing they were anywhere but at the party. “So am I,” he whispered in her ear. “God, I want you so bad.”
Fallon took in a shuddering breath. “You have no idea how much I wish we were anywhere but here.”
Lucas took in a jagged breath before biting down softly on her neck. “Wanna leave?”
Fallon was about to say yes, but before she could, she heard “Fallon?”
Fallon opened her eyes and looked over to where her mother and father stood, eying her and Lucas. Lucas took a step back before reaching out for William’s hand. After shaking hand with him, Lucas kissed Nora on her cheek and complimented her flashy red dress. Nora had come dressed to impress and Fallon figured she must have visited Dr. Swartz in the last few days. Nora didn’t look a day over 30 and her lips were too big to be real. Beside her, William stood tall and dashing in his black suit with orange tie. He leaned awkwardly over to Fallon, kissing her cheek before Nora did the same.
“Well darlin’ don’t you look stunning. I love this dress,” Nora gushed, running her hand down the lace of the bodice.
“Thanks Momma, I love yours too.”
Nora gave her a sweet grin as William eyed Lucas. Fallon glanced over at Lucas, wondering what William was looking at, just as Lucas cleared his throat. “I’m going to go visit with coach.”
“Why?” Fallon asked, begging him with her eyes not to leave.
“Because he is my coach,” Lucas said with a tight smile. “Visit with your mom and dad. I’ll be back in a few.”
“Actually Lucas, Nora hasn’t met Bacter yet. Why don’t you take her with you,” William suggested.
“Oh yes! I’ve heard so much about him,” Nora said, locking arms with Lucas. Fallon continued to beg Lucas with her eyes not to leave, but he gave her a small smile before shrugging his shoulders and walking away. Fallon felt as if she was having a panic attack as she watched Lucas and Nora walk away. Why on earth would Lucas leave her? He knew she had daddy issues! If Fallon wasn’t so damn horny, she would be rethinking going home with him.
“Fallon Ryane, everything looks amazing in here,
” William said, looking up at the picture in front of them. Fallon glanced up and nodded even though he wasn’t looking at her.
“Thank you. Grace Justice is the party planner.”
“I know that, but that’s not what I mean. I mean about the campaign. It looks amazing,” he said. Fallon glanced over him, her breathing picking up as she looked at his profile. “I was wrong for doubting you. You knew what you were doing, and I’m sorry for what I said.”
Fallon couldn’t breathe; she couldn’t even form words as she looked up at the man that she had been starving for love from. Was this the moment he would say he was proud of her? Would he take her into his arms and tell her he loved her? Fallon watched as he took in a deep breath and looked over at her. “Since you have the capital for the cellar, I’m approving you to go with it. Let’s hope you don’t mess it up since it is a lot of money. Good job though, Fallon. You sure are a beautiful woman.”
Fallon’s heart shattered into a billion pieces as she watched her father walk away without even a second glance back at her. He had approved her dream, but he couldn’t even tell her he loved her, or that he was proud of her?
So much for hoping for the impossible.
Lucas could tell by the look on Fallon’s face that the encounter with William wasn’t a good one. As William talked to Fallon, she looked as if she was hanging on his every word, waiting for that moment when he would tell her he was proud of her. When William walked away, Lucas knew he didn’t say it because of the way Fallon’s shoulders sagged and by the way she turned slowly to look back up at the portrait of them. Lucas excused himself and went towards her. He wrapped her up from behind, and when she saw it was him, she relaxed against his chest, leaning her head against his.