Dad has been around a lot. He actually took over my apartment and bought out the gym that Carson and Tommy work at. They are all now partners and the business is booming. My dad has really stepped up and shown me that he truly had no choice but to have my father raise me. It hurts like hell, but after experiencing my time with the Garcia brothers that I did, I understand. I would have been corrupted long before if he had kept me.
About a week ago, I found out that my mother is still alive and I have two half-brothers. After finding this out, I received a call from Lenny Garcia telling me that he sent my money back to me and was releasing my dad because my statement to him allowed him to find out that he had a son and so did his brother. Yes, both by my mother. From what I hear, they are trying to turn themselves around and do things legally. Funny how kids can change your prospective of things. They have quite a few years of making up, but what hurt me the most about all this was my mom kept them. She was good to them. I guess I was just never her cup of tea. I have no contact with my mother and wish her no ill wishes, just to keep the hell away from me. She may share my blood, but I will never be her daughter.
Though things have been amazing for us, I get paranoid with every slow moving vehicle because when the cops arrived Wendi was not in the house. No one knows how or where she went and part of me still fears she’ll come after us. I did tell Carson why she was after him and he was sick to his stomach over it, but in the end it wasn’t happening. He was mine and I was his.
So here I sit, staring at myself in the mirror contemplating what to wear. Tonight Carson was taking me to see Mary in concert. She was playing close and I really wanted to go see her. I have loved her music for a while. What was dating her brother if I didn’t play the family card every once in a while. Carson said he always went to her shows when they were close enough so it was really no drag for him to be going to this one now. Carson was going to be a great dad, if he treats our child half as well as he treats me. Sighing, I run my hand over my baby bump.
This is how Carson found me, in my bra and underwear staring at my baby bump in the mirror day dreaming of what was to come for us. I was still amazed at the feel of our baby growing. For the first time the other night, I could feel the baby kick with my hand not just the butterfly effect on the inside. I haven’t told Carson that yet. In one of the books I read, it says that often times men feel inadequate during the pregnancy process and to give them as much first time experiences as possible. So I have kept that gem to myself. I haven’t lied to him; just want him to have that joy.
“Hey,” he whispered against my ear as he wrapped his arms around me. “We are going to be late if you don’t decide what to wear soon. As sexy as you look in this, I’m not letting you out of the house like this.”
“I don’t know what to wear,” my breath catching as he trailed his lips down my neck. “If you don’t stop doing that we’ll never get out of here.” I sighed melting into him.
“Mmm, can’t think of a better excuse to stay home.” He growled into my neck before softly biting it.
“Carson…” I started to say, but his hands moved down and over my belly and just as his hand touches my stomach I felt the kick and he jumped back.
“Holy Shit! Did you feel that? What am I saying? Of course you felt that! Wow…” he stammered before placing his hand back on my stomach to feel another kick.
The smile on his face and the tears in his eyes was one I will never forget. You could just see the happiness and wonder pouring from his expression. This was why I kept it all to myself. This was worth it. His face, his joy was worth everything.
“Our baby is moving in there,” he whispered.
“I know,” I whispered back, placing my hand over his.
He leaned down and kissed me so tenderly and so passionately that my knees nearly gave out on me. When he finally broke the kiss, my breathing was labored and I had to close my eyes to the sensations this man provoked in just one kiss still overwhelmed me.
“Thank you Angel. You’ve made me the happiest man in the world.”
“You’ve done the same for me. Now I suppose I need to get ready don’t I?”
“Yes, you do. We leave in thirty minutes.”
That was all it took, my excitement to see Mary in concert took over. I had to dress up because Carson wanted to take me out for a nice supper afterwards. So after flipping through my new clothes from my dad, I found the dress I was going to wear. After all of twenty minutes, I was ready and walking out into the living room where Carson waited for me.
“Wow!” He breathed. “You are stunning.”
“You don’t look too bad yourself.”
After another amazing kiss, he was ushering me out the door. We arrived at the Civic Center that Mary was playing at fifteen minutes later and were ushered through a crowd of people wanting to talk to Carson. We were then led to a booth that was practically on top of the stage. I was just in complete awe of everything around me. I had never been to a concert before and honestly was overwhelmed with the things going on.
We were sitting there enjoying the show when Mary calls Carson on the stage. I look at him and then to his siblings with my eyebrow arched.
“Don’t worry, this is normal. Wait until you see this. It’s awesome.” Colt leans over and whispers in my ear.
I nodded my head and watched as Carson made his way on stage and the crowd was going nuts. It was probably both men and women screaming for him. I laughed to myself. He stood at the mic and said hello to everyone. He raised his hands and signaled for them to calm down. Soon everyone was quiet.
“Tonight, I decided that I would change things up a bit. Instead of my sister and I’s usual performance, I wanted to do something a little more meaningful.” He turned in the direction of the box. “Can one of you bring her down, please?”
My heart stopped as Nick took my hand and led me down on the stage. Nick kissed my cheek and headed back up to the booth. I stared at Carson in shock. He just smiled and winked at me pulling a stool over for me. As I sat down, he gave me another soul searing, knee buckling kiss.
Walking away he went to a piano that had been pulled on stage. I turned and looked back at the box where his whole family sat and they all just smiled at me. Carson’s voice brought my head back around.
He started singing, “Nothing in the world has made me feel the way you do. Nothing has ever mattered more than you. Nothing could fill my soul the way you have. Yesterday nothing was there and today nothing fades away. You stole my heart and made it whole. Nothing lives no more in me. The day I met you, you brought me everything.”
He continued to sing the most breathtaking song I have ever heard. Tears fell down my cheeks and suddenly the packed stadium vanished and it was just me and Carson. He sang pouring his heart out to me. I had no idea that he was this good. Maybe it was just because of the love he was pouring into the song, but it was the best song I had ever heard.
The song ends and he walks around the piano and in front of me. He pulls me up to stand with him. Kissing me and wiping my tears away, he starts talking to me.
“The day we met was explosive in more ways than one. I fought for you and what I thought was there. What I didn’t expect to find was a love I cannot describe and a heart so full of happiness and love it could burst. Then I hear the words that caused my heart to overflow. Two words that changed my life forever…I’m pregnant. It was two of the best words you have ever said to me, outside of I love you. Before I met you, my days ran together and nothing separated one day from the next. Since you have been in my life, each day has meaning and a purpose. Angel, please,” he lowers down on one knee, “Will you answer one more question for me? Will you marry me?” He opened the box, but honestly, I couldn’t take my eyes off his face.
He had a tear falling down his cheek and a nervous smile on his face. When I finally broke from his face and looked down at the box he held in his hands my heart stopped at the beauty of the ring. It was then I noticed his hands were
shaking and it dawned on me I hadn’t answered. Looking back up into his eyes, they took my breath away.
“Is this for real?” I breathed, my hands shaking.
He laughs. “Yes Angel, it’s real. You’ve said the best two and three word phrases to me. Can I have the one word that would set this all over the edge?”
I beamed at him, “I love you so much. Yes, yes, I’ll marry you!”
He was off his knee and wrapping his arms around me in no time flat. He spun me in a circle and kissed my lips passionately before finally sliding the ring on my finger. Mary came up and hugged me with tears in her eyes as well.
“Congratulations! I am so glad to have you as a sister,” she whispered in my ear.
The audience was cheering until I heard the bang. My eyes immediately snapped to Carson, who was bending down collecting me in his arms rushing me off the stage. Shaking so bad that my teeth were chattering, I tried to check Carson but he kept such a tight hold on me that I couldn’t check him.
Mary stood next to us huddled under Carson’s other arm. Everything happened so fast I hadn’t realized he had grabbed his sister too. An eerie silence took over the stadium. Then a laugh filled the silence, not happy laughter either.
“Carson, I told you we’d meet again,” came the voice that still haunted my dreams.
Carson spun around, letting go of both me and Mary, storming out onto the stage. I tried to run after him, but two bodyguards held me back.
Carson stood there staring Wendi in the eyes. “You ruined what was supposed to be an amazing night…again!” He hissed.
“You’re with the wrong girl. All of this could have been avoided if you would just come to me.”
“Why, so you can kill me and take my money?”
“Oh the little bitch told you, did she?”
She made a move to come toward me and suddenly Carson popped his elbow into the back of her neck and when she fell to the floor, then he kneeled between her shoulder blades. Holding her there until security came and cuffed her and hauled her off to jail. The stadium cheered. I ran out on the stage and into his arms.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Angel. Are you okay?” He asked, concerned as he rubbed his hand over my baby bump.
“I am now,” he wrapped his arms tightly around me. “And this night wasn’t ruined Carson. Nothing could ruin this night. Not even her.”
“I love you,” he whispered.
“I love you more.” I said before kissing him back.
“Well, that was one hell of a way to close the tour, huh folks? I’d like to extend my congratulations to the newest member of our family and my brother. Thank you everyone for being here tonight to share that with us. Have a great night and thank you for your support and love. Smooches everyone.” Mary stated closing the show and the lights in the stadium brightened and we all headed back stage.
Everyone was giving me hugs and welcoming me to the family. I felt like a hot potato being passed around from one person to the next.
“I knew you were going to be great for my son. Thank you Colleen for helping my son and,” Jane ran her hand over my stomach and I felt my baby kick, “for my first grandbaby.” She kissed my cheek with tears in her eyes and walked over to her husband.
“Hey newest sis!”
I turned to find Jackson smiling at me. Walking over I hugged him. “Thank you so much Jackson.”
He smiled down sadly, “No need to thank me.”
“You know I’m here if you need to talk?”
“I know,” he kissed my forehead. “I know.”
He walked away and congratulated Carson with a big hug. I just stood back and watched everyone laughing and talking. This was a family; my family. How had I ever gotten so lucky? I don’t think I will ever know, but I wasn’t letting any of it go for the life of me. Watching everyone joking and laughing was so peaceful. Until I saw Mary.
Mary was in the corner arguing with some guy. He shot something back at her and I recognized the look on her face. Without thinking I walked up to them. Grabbing Mary by the arm, I pulled her into a hug. She was shaking.
“Thank you so much for everything,” I said loud enough for the guy to hear me then whispered. “Follow me please.”
We walked a few feet away and I could feel the guy’s eyes burning into us. There was definitely something going on here. As a member of the family, I was going to protect them.
“What’s going on?”
“Don’t worry Colleen. I’ll be okay. Normal day for me.” She smiled, but I could tell it was forced.
“I’m always here for you. You can talk to me anytime and it will stay between us. I promise.”
“I know sweetie, I know. I’m okay though. How’s my niece or nephew doing?” She said changing the subject.
And I let her. “Great. Definite mover,” I laughed.
“You going to tell us yet?” She asked for the millionth time since we found out.
“Nope, going to make you all suffer a little bit longer,” I laughed at the glare on her face.
The night just continued to get better and for the first time in my life, I relaxed and enjoyed it. There was no more need to look over my shoulder or stand on my own. The fight was no longer there and now I stand here engaged and pregnant and the future never looking brighter. As I lay here cuddled in the arms of the man that changed everything for me, the only thought in my head was…
“I love you more than yesterday, but not as much as I will love you tomorrow.”
“Ditto my love, ditto.” He breathed before turning my head and kissing me passionately.
Preview
Family Ties
Book 3 in the Hidden Secrets series
Everyone has secrets… How far would you go to keep yours hidden?
In front of the camera and on the stage, Mary has it all. She has fame, success, and anything she could ever ask for. But when the cameras are off and no one is around, the story is completely different. Fear, pain, nightmares were all things that Mary refused to let take hold of her.
When Tobey meets Mary he couldn’t deny the pull between them. But, he has his own dark secrets. Secrets that could destroy someone’s life forever.
Life has a way of showing us that what we have in mind for ourselves isn’t what is meant for us. Will Tobey and Mary find happiness with each other? Or will their secrets destroy them before they can even explore the option?
Acknowledgements
This journey has been such and amazing experience for me. I have learned so much, but nothing has been more important than finding belief in myself. Belief that if I work hard enough anything is possible. This lesson was not an easy one for me to learn, but the people that I have come across along the way have been such amazing support that it became easier. I want to take this time to thank a few of them. They deserve to be acknowledged.
First, I want to start off with my girls Kayla, Kristy, Leanne, Renee, and Mechelle. The endless support and help with making my books polished has been amazing, but it is your friendship and our endless conversations, full of laughter, that have meant the most to me. If I could say one thing to each one of you that you remember it would be this:
We all fight our own demons and struggle down our own paths, but with amazing people to light the way makes even the darkest days seem bright.
Thank you so much ladies, truly from the bottom of my heart, you guys are aces in my book!
To Vicky, oh girl what can I say to you that I have already said a million and one times? You have been walking right along side me from the very beginning. Our endless chats about books and book boyfriends to your encouraging words with each of my books. I can tell you right now that Jake will not be enough thanks for everything you’ve done for me, but I think he’ll keep you occupied enough. HA!! I love you girlie!
To Kylie and Ashley, oh Lord what dare you say to to two crazy chicks? How about I lubbers you both so much! Yeah I think that’s a safe topic. Haha. You girls
are like the best friends that a girl could ask for! You’ll be forever in my heart and I will always be there for you!
To Allison, Man girl what can I say… You are one of the best freaking people I have ever met. I’m so grateful to call you a friend. Our conversations cover such random topics, but we bonded over books and you entered my heart because of the amazing person you are. Don’t change. I’m always here no matter what. <3 Hugs! <3
To Shannon, we’ve been walking the same path, but at different times, always seeming to miss each other. Behind you, you leave a trail, a brightness, from your beautiful heart and loving personality. From the moment I met you til now, you have made an imprint on my life and on my heart that will forever remain. I don’t know what I can say to show you how much you mean, but from every text or message…the light you give grows brighter. I love you girl! *psst* Jack’s waiting…hehehe
To Kaylie, My dear sweet, loveable Kaylie. You are just…simply…I’m at a loss for words. You’re friendship has been a guiding light as I weaved my way through my path and there is no way I can thank you for that. The strength you carry about you day in and day out is astounding and even more inspiring. Girl you are one top top cool chick! I love ya! Here’s to more time with laughs and inspiration.
To Jennifer, Shawna, Kia, Amber, Kerry, Jamie, (crap I know I’m forgetting someone), you girls are simply amazing. Each of you sprout wings and share you beautiful personalities with the world on a daily basis. Don’t let anything dim your lights. You are ALL in my heart and I’ll always be here when you need me and even when you don’t. <3 you all bunches!
To the Beta Ladies, you girls are one hell of an amazing group of women. Each of you so unique and talented, I’m winded by your support and guidance. I wouldn’t be here without each of you. So from my heart to all of you, Thank you so much!
Fantasy Attraction (Hidden Secrets) Page 30