Happy Place

by L. P. Maxa

  “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes? Get over here and give me a hug, Bad Girl.”

  Internally I cringed at the nickname. I may or may not have been going through a small rebellious phase when he and I were together. Call it a last-ditch effort on my part to be my own person. The next guy I dated after Evan was Steven, the fiancé from hell. “Do you work here?”

  “I run this bar. When I talked to Brice he never once mentioned that I would be working with his sister.” Evan enveloped me in a hug, picking me up off my feet and spinning me around. “Are you getting married? Tell me it isn’t so.”

  I could see Declan shooting daggers at Evan’s back. This was going to be fun. When he finally put me down, I took a small step back, closer to Declan. “I am getting married. This is my fiancé Declan.” I put my hand on Dec’s back and pushed him forward. “Dec, this is Evan. He and I go waaay back.”

  Declan’s smile was tight-lipped and forced. “So I heard.” He leaned down next to my ear and whispered, “Bad Girl.” He stepped up to Evan and held out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, man. Thanks for helping us out with this whole signature cocktail thing.”

  Evan’s smile was real. He was always a really happy, fun guy. Lots. Of. Fun. “Hey, no problem. Although I have to say, I’m bummed Cassie is getting married.” He laughed. Declan didn’t. “She was the one that got away.”

  I should’ve had a drink before we came to the bar. “So how does this work?” I sat down at a barstool and Evan headed back behind the bar.

  Declan came and joined me, placing his hand possessively on my upper thigh. The look he sent Evan was not friendly, to say the least.

  Evan just kept smiling. If Declan thought he would be able to intimidate this guy, he had another thing coming. “Well, to start, what kind of liquor do you like?” Evan winked at Dec. “If I remember correctly, Cassie was always a big fan of tequila.”

  Oh holy balls.

  Declan sat up straighter and placed his arm along the back of my chair. “Cassie did love her tequila. But you know, ever since she had our son, she really doesn’t drink much anymore.”

  Evan slapped the bar. “Cassie. You have a baby? That’s amazing. I’m so happy for you. I love kids.”

  You couldn’t help but like the guy. He was just so damn upbeat all the time. “Yes, we have a little boy, he’s one and a half.” I sent Declan a withering look. “And I do still like tequila.” Hell, we had conceived Wyllie after a night of tequila. It was fitting.

  Evan nodded. “Okay. Let’s see, when are you getting married?”

  Dec finally smiled. Well, it wasn’t a real smile, but still, it was progress. “On Friday actually. It’s a surprise wedding ceremony.”

  “Getting married on Christmas Eve? Got it. Where do y’all live? Still in Dallas?”

  I shook my head. “No we live in Seaside, Florida.”

  Evan winked at me this time. “So you’re always running around in one of your skimpy bikinis? No wonder you ended up pregnant.”

  Declan squeezed my thigh and shot me a what-the-fuck look.

  Evan turned toward the back of the bar to the shelves full of liquor and started pulling things down while he talked. “So a wedding in the dead of winter, and you two live by the beach. I’m thinking a twist on a margarita, but we make it red…” Evan mixed things, shook things, and then poured with a flourish. He had a Tom-Cruise-in-the-movie-Cocktail thing going on. Watching those fantastic arms work was giving me vivid flashbacks. “Give this a try.”

  The drink was a nice light red color, perfect for Christmas. I’d seen him use tequila as the liquor. I picked up my glass and took a sip. “This is perfect, Evan.” I turned to Declan. “What do you think, babe?” I took another sip.

  There, that was a real smile. All I needed to do to get him to stop being an ass was call him babe? Dec took a drink and nodded. “It’s good. Light, sweet but not too sweet. I like it.”

  I took another larger sip. It really was delicious.

  Evan slapped the bar again. “Really? Got it on the first shot? Usually brides stay here for hours making me mix up new drinks.”

  I chuckled then sipped. “They probably just enjoy watching you make them.” Evan beamed at me and Declan’s smile disappeared. Oops, maybe I should stop taking sips.

  Evan winked again. “You know, now that you mention it, only a few of my brides bring their grooms along.”

  I giggled. I giggled?

  Declan stood and took my hand. “Well, thanks, man. It was nice meeting you, and this really is the perfect drink.”

  Evan came around the bar and shook Declan’s free hand. “Hey, no problem, glad I could help.” He turned to me and hugged me tight. “And it was so good to see you, Bad Girl. You’re still as stunning as ever, Cassie. Congrats on the baby and the wedding.”

  I hugged him back, and God help me, I giggled again. “Bye, Evan, thank you so much for this.”

  Declan pulled me toward the exit. I sent Evan a silent “I’m sorry.” He just winked.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Declan

  I opened the car door for Cassie, and after she was safely inside, I shut it a little harder than necessary. I climbed in, started the car and put it in drive. I needed to get away from that bar or I was going to go back in there and whale on that guy.

  “So, you knew him?”

  Cassie nodded. “Yeah, yes, I uh, I’ve known Evan for, I know Evan.”

  Normally I would find it adorable that she was tripping over her words. Right now? Not so much. “You guys dated?”

  “Uh, yeah. Yeah, we dated.” Cassie was staring out the window, down at her hands, anywhere but at me.

  I stayed silent the rest of the way home. So now it was the bartender, the lawyer, and the environmentalist. It wasn’t Cassie’s fault that yet another man who wanted her was shoved in my face.

  Nope, that was all Brice’s fault.

  ***

  I walked through the front door, not bothering to hold it open for Cassie. “Brice.”

  “In the kitchen, man.”

  I stormed into the kitchen and found Brice with his head in the fridge. “Is Wyllie here?”

  “No, he’s with our moms at the park. Hey, are there any cookies left?”

  Good. No Wyllie. Now I could kick his uncle’s ass. I grabbed him by the back of the shirt and dragged him out of the fridge. “Great, because I need to talk to you. What the fuck were you thinking?”

  Brice held his hands up, trying to placate me. “Whoa, five dollars to the swear jar. And what are you talking about?”

  I had a feeling I had crazy eyes and sounded nuts, but I was pissed. “Evan.”

  “Yeah, Evan, he’s a friend of mine. And he’s a bartender. Did he do a bad job? Did he mix a bad drink?” Brice chuckled. “Nah, he can’t mix a bad drink. He runs the Dragonfly.”

  “No, he didn’t mix a bad drink. He and Cassie dated.” I slammed my hand on the island, startling Cassie, who’d just walked in. She went across the room to stand next to her brother.

  Brice rolled his eyes. “What? Cassie never dated Evan.”

  Cassie held up her hand. “Uh, yeah, I did.”

  Brice put his hand on her shoulder. “Aw, sweetheart. Breakfast doesn’t count as a date.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest, puffing it up for effect. “Oh, okay, great. So you never actually dated him. You just fucked him for a while.”

  “Five dollars in the swear jar.”

  “Shut up, Brice.” I looked at Cassie, waiting for her to tell me I was wrong. She didn’t say anything. I knew I should just drop it. But I was too irritated, with both of them. “Cassie, have you dated every man in the greater Dallas area?”

  Cassie’s eyes got real big, “Me? Seriously? You FUCKED ALL OF EUROPE.”

  I took a deep breath and was about to say something I’d regret. Brice knew me well enough to see it coming.

  “Okay, the both of you need to calm down. Cassie, you need to put two-fifty in each jar
, okay? You know it’s the right thing to do.” He turned to me. “And why are you so angry? It’s just a fake wedding, right? She isn’t really your fiancée.”

  I whirled on my friend. “You don’t understand why I’m angry? You’re meddling. You need to stop. You’ve got to back off.” And who gives a fuck if she was really my fiancée? She was my, well, my Cassie and I didn’t need ex-boyfriends hitting on her.

  Brice looked indignant. “I am not meddling.”

  I counted on my fingers. “You brought up custody of Wyllie. You brought up Jason. You set us up with Evan. And you’re the reason that ring is on Cassie’s finger.” Cassie took a sharp breath. Shit. I couldn’t believe I said that. I hadn’t even meant it. Brice was just making me so damn mad. And I was tired of feeling like I could lose her at any second. “Cassie, I’m so sorry, I didn’t—”

  She cut me off. “You’re wrong, Dec. Brice isn’t the reason this ring is on my finger, I am. I lied to you, I delivered the biggest shock of your life, and I told a lie to some horrible catty people just to save face. I’m the reason this ring is on my finger. You’re just doing me a favor. But don’t worry, it’ll be over soon.”

  She turned and walked out of the room. I rested my arms on the island and hung my head. What just happened? Had I ruined everything that might have been? All because I’m a stubborn hothead?

  Brice let out a long sigh. “Go after her, Dec.”

  “She won’t talk to me.” I knew Cassie well enough to know what I’d just said would cause her to shut down.

  “Well, then she’ll listen.”

  I looked up at Brice. “I don’t know what to say.”

  He shook his head sadly. “She’s the best damn thing that’s ever happened to you, Declan. And you are about two seconds away from losing her.”

  ***

  Cassie ignored me the rest of the evening. Wyllie came home with our moms not long after Cassie had walked out of the kitchen. The minute Gigi handed him over, Cassie busied herself with him for the rest of the night. Making him dinner, feeding him, bathing him…she didn’t want anyone’s help. And when she went upstairs to put him to sleep, she stayed there.

  Brice didn’t really have much to say either. He was still pissed that I hurt his baby sister. He made me pay up to the swear jar, but then ignored me. When I went upstairs later, I hoped Cassie was in our bed. I wanted to talk to her, to apologize. But she had Wyllie in bed next to her.

  Smart girl.

  I showered and crawled into bed next to my son.

  And his mother.

  My family.

  Sleeping next to them like this, hearing them both breathing; knowing that at this moment, they were both safe, was the best feeling in the world.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Cassie

  Wyllie woke up early. Quickly, I took him out of bed and down to the living room. I didn’t want to wake up Declan. Mainly because I just wasn’t ready to face him. His comments last night cut me like a knife. I felt stupid and sad and alone. I felt exactly like I feared I would feel when it came to Declan.

  There was no doubt that he loved Wyllie with everything he had. He would be an amazing father. But that was it. He didn’t want to be with me, let alone be my husband. And I couldn’t really blame him.

  “Cassandra, darling, what are you two doing up so early?” My mother breezed into the room and turned on a lamp.

  Wyllie and I were watching cartoons; the glow from the television and the twelve-foot Christmas tree were the only light in the room. “Wild Man was awake and I didn’t want him to wake Dec.” I smoothed Wyllie’s crazy bedhead then smiled as I messed it back up. “Why are you up?”

  “I couldn’t sleep. I am just so excited about your wedding. Do you realize tomorrow you’re marrying Declan? It’s just so wonderful. It’s wonderful for the two of you, and it’s wonderful for Wyllie.”

  Great. Just twist the knife why don’t you. “Is there a lot to do today? Do you need my help with anything?”

  “No, darling, everything is taken care of. Oddly enough, your brother has been extremely helpful.” She sat down on the couch and Wyllie climbed into her lap.

  “Thank you, Mom, so much for doing all of this. We’re really lucky to have you.” I leaned my head on her shoulder.

  “You’re welcome, darling. I’m just happy you finally found the person that makes you happy.”

  I sat up and looked at her. “Why did you want me to marry Steven? If you knew he never really made me happy? Why push it?”

  She shrugged. “Children don’t come with handbooks, Cassandra. I did the best I could, and when it came to a few things…I missed the mark.” She kissed Wyllie’s cheek loudly. “Steven seemed okay. He was successful, came from a good family, and he adored you. And he wanted to take care of you. I thought that’s what you needed.”

  I lay down and put my head on her free leg. “I didn’t need him to take care of me. I needed to know I could take care of myself.”

  “And now you do.” She smoothed my hair back. “Dad and I are so proud of you, Cassandra. So extremely proud of the woman you’ve become, of the mother you are.”

  I smiled. “Thank you, Mom.”

  “Aside from the lying, of course.”

  I snorted. “Of course.”

  She continued to run her fingers through my hair. “Why did you do it, darling? Why didn’t you tell us that Declan was Wyllie’s father?”

  “Fear.” I sat back up and pulled my son close to my chest. “I was afraid what would happen if he came back, afraid what would happen if he didn’t. Afraid to lose myself again.” I rested my cheek on top of Wyllie’s head. “I know now that I made a mistake. I knew it the first time Declan held Wyllie. But there is no going back. I can’t change what I did. I can’t give Declan back the time he lost.”

  “Well, since he proposed, I’m guessing he forgives you.” My mom smiled.

  I tried to mirror her happiness.

  I was sure I fell flat.

  Chapter Thirty

  Declan

  Woke up alone. Again. At least this time I knew I had it coming. I showered and got dressed for the day in my work clothes. I figured if I had to sit around the house all day and think about how much Cassie hated me, I’d go mad. I hadn’t yet gone to check on my clubs here in Dallas. Might as well get some work done. Work that I’d straight up been neglecting since the moment I saw Cassie at the airport.

  When I got downstairs I found Brice on the back patio, chipping golf balls into the fountain. Like father, like son. “Hey, douche, where are your sister and my son?” And like his father, he’d maneuvered a heater to stand directly beside him. It had to be close to freezing outside, there were icicles forming on the stone fountain.

  Brice glanced at me before looking back down at the ball. “Mom forced Cassie to go to the spa to get ready for y’all’s big day tomorrow. And Wyllie is with our fathers at the zoo. I swear that kid has a busier social calendar than I do.” He swung again and missed the fountain by four feet.

  “Okay, well, I’m heading out to check on the clubs. I’ll be back in time for dinner. Call me if the grandpas need any help with Wyllie.” Brice saluted me and went back to his backyard golf game.

  Did that guy ever work? Brice was a successful marketing genius. His company flew him all over the world pitching and closing deals. He was pretty high up on the corporate ladder and a smooth talker. It wouldn’t surprise me if he took off the whole month of December just for the fun of it.

  ***

  I owned two clubs in the area: one in Fort Worth at the Stockyards and one in downtown Dallas. I decided to head out to Fort Worth and then swing by the other one on my way back to Cassie’s parents’ house.

  My club, Cueva, was my life’s work. I’d started my first one in downtown Dallas right out of college. The concept came from watching my dad and his work associates close deals in our den over scotch and cigars. My clubs were like closing deals at home, but better because there were beauti
ful girls to wait on you and a staff to clean up after you left.

  My clients? Extremely powerful and wealthy men. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a sexist. If a company wanted to rent a room and have all their staff, females included, that was fine by me. But, like it or not, most big companies were still run by men, so they were the people making the deals. If a woman CEO wanted in, I’d have no problem with that.

  Cueva had been a huge success right off the bat, just as I had suspected. The Fort Worth club was running like clockwork; I didn’t feel the need to stay there long. The downtown location was my favorite, my little oasis in the heart of Uptown. I walked in and instantly felt at ease.

  “Declan?”

  I smiled. “There’s my best employee.” I grabbed the petite blonde as she threw herself at me. “Holland, it’s so good to see you. How have you been? How’s my club?” Holland had been working at Cueva since she was in college; almost six years now. The clients loved her. She was witty and beautiful and she didn’t put up with any of their shit, no matter who they were. She’d started here as a waitress and then quickly moved up the ranks after she’d gotten her degree. I paid her more than I paid all my club supervisors because she’d earned it and because I didn’t want to ever lose her. This place wouldn’t be the same without her.

  “I’m great, thank you for asking. And your club is running like a well-oiled machine. Just like it always has.” Holland looked back down at the computer in front of her. “What have you been doing? I thought you’d come to check on us long before now.”

  “Well, I ran into Cassie Huntington at the airport and—”

  Holland looked up, beaming. “Did you meet Wylder? Isn’t he the cutest baby in the world?”

  “You’ve met Wyllie?”

  “Oh yeah, dozens of times.” She gave a little shrug, “Cassie was home visiting a few months after he was born and we ran into each other at the mall. We got to talking, ended up having lunch. We usually get together when she’s in town.”