“It’s where their wretched mother and her family is from. Apparently, my dear brothers are Irish mafia royalty, cousins of the big man in charge over in Ireland. Their uncle is the kingpin in Boston.”
“Holy shit.” I thought I’d heard it all when it came to the mystery and suspense that comes with this family, but it appears not.
“It looks like we’ll be paying a visit to our uncle sooner than I thought.” Logan announces.
“We leaving in the morning?” Christian asks.
Logan nods, “Yes, seven sharp. Don’t be late.”
“Is that really a smart idea? I mean, couldn’t it be a trap or something?” I ask.
Logan smirks, “You’re starting to think like a Steele now, Lacey. It very well could be, but if it is we’ll be prepared. God forbid our plane goes up in smoke or the plan doesn’t go the way it’s supposed to, Madigan officially has a share of Steele Enterprises and our shares revert to our wives. Jordan’s share on the other hand will revert to our sister since he’s unmarried.”
I really didn’t need to know that much information, but alright. Gee, I hope it didn’t look like I was digging. “I don’t want to be.”
“Huh?” Logan asks, not understanding what Jordan means.
“I want to marry you, Lacey. This might seem fast but I know what I want and I think you do too. We’ve spent all these years apart and I don’t want to keep doing this same dance. Finally, we found our way back to the other and I’m going to be selfish. I don’t want to ever let you go. I want to put a rock on that finger.”
The room grows silent as what Jordan just said fully sinks in.
“Jordan . . . this is crazy.” I mumble.
Madigan takes a step closer to Christian and Logan who hold their sister’s hand and watch us in awe. “I know, and I’m crazy for you so why the fuck not? I don’t want to waste anymore time, Lace. Hell, and no offense Madigan but I really don’t want my share to go to you if I meet my maker. I’d want it to go to the one woman I’ve loved for years, ensuring she’s being taken care of and overseeing what I’d want. What do you say, Lace? Will you be the woman forever by my side?”
Every overwhelming feeling I have comes rushing to the surface. I can’t even bring a single thought to my head. I open my mouth but no words come out. I know everyone in this room is waiting on an answer from me. “I . . .”
Chapter Nineteen
In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years
~ Abraham Lincoln
Jordan
She stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. I won’t tell her this right now but it’s entirely possible I have. I’ve lived an interesting life to say the least and during that time I’ve rarely followed the rules. However in those rare cases it has been boring, dull at best. I think we’ve established I’m not the type of man who does well following orders or the idealisms that society has panned out for me.
“I . . . can’t believe you’re asking me that question right now. Was I hearing things or did you insinuate the plane could go down tomorrow morning and then just ask me if I’m spending forever by your side?”
Shit. Her response makes me realize how contradicting that sounded. “Ignore what I just said except for the question. Its simple. You either want to be by my side or you don’t. Though, if I’m being honest, I’d like to think you can’t live without me.”
Lacey chuckles lowly, looking a bit irritated with me for a second. “Jordan. You’re the most cocky, pretentious, audacious man I’ve ever met. Yet even with those flaws I accept them as part of the man I love. Yes, I’ll marry you.” She runs into my arms like a woman straight out of a rom-com, wraps her legs around my waist and I kiss the daylights out of her. There’s a small cheer of applause from our family behind us. For a few minutes we stand here looking into one another’s eyes, holding each other closely.
Logan clears his throat which causes us to break apart and look at him. “Since our flight’s taking off in the morning I’m assuming you two have quite a bit of work to do to prepare.”
“Fuck, you’re right.” I respond.
Lacey cocks a brow and I can tell the realization of what she’s just agreed to hits her. “We’re getting married tonight?! What in the world?! There’s no way?! There’s no freaking way we can get married tonight! We don’t even have a marriage license.”
“Don’t worry about that. I can get one within the hour. I have a few friends who are district judges for the county. I’ll make a call and get it delivered.” Logan tells her.
“And who will marry us? We don’t have anyone who’s ordained.” Lacey counters back.
This time Christian is the one who speaks up, “Actually, yours truly has been ordained for quite some time. I’d be more than happy to marry you both.”
“Seriously?” Lacey mutters, completely in shock. I almost want to laugh at her but I know this is a bit much.
Madigan claps her hands, demanding everyone’s attention on her. “Alright, alright! How about this? You guys worry about the legal shit, get yourselves in suits and all that stuff. Lacey and I need to head upstairs to take a look at the abundance of dresses designers had sent when Brook, Selena and I got married. Lord knows we probably have about forty dresses up in that one back bedroom. Christian, go get your wife. Logan, make sure Brooklyn gets some flowers and spruces this place up a bit.”
“Oh, no we’re not having it here.” Logan informs Madigan.
“Well brother if you’re not having it here you’d better have another venue for me last minute. Please tell me you have something I can work with.”
Logan nods, “Yes. Actually, I do. Steele Enterprises just purchased the hotel chain Valor. There hasn’t been a public announcement yet but I just went down to our hotel in Atlanta this evening and met with the staff there. Let me make a few calls. I’m sure we can use one of the ballrooms. While I’m thinking of it, an hour would be a mediocre wedding. If you give me two and a half, I can help make this wedding one you both deserve.” He looks to my bride-to-be for approval and Lacey nods.
Logan rushes out of sight and Christian follows suit. “Alright, Jordan you’d better get going and do something.” Madigan barks an order at me.
“Yes, I’ll go grab the two most important things, Esme and rings.” Lacey seems to be a bit shocked but doesn’t say a word as I rush out of Logan’s house and get in my sportscar. I back out of his driveway like someone who stars in Fast and the Furious, slamming my foot down on the pedal as I exit his community and drive the thirty minutes over to Esme’s house. The woman is either going to kill me or congratulate me and I’m not quite sure which.
I pull into the driveway of her small, quaint home. Through the bay window in her living room I can see her walk up to the door, obviously surprised from my unexpected arrival. I exit my car and walk up to the door just as she’s opening it. “Jordan, is everything alright?”
“Yes. Um, it’s actually more than alright. Esme, I need to tell you something and I believe it would be best if we go inside before I tell you.”
She scrunches up her nose in curiosity and holds the door open for me as I enter. “I hate it when you boys beat around the bush. Now that I’m sitting down how about you tell me what it is that’s going on?”
I nod, “Yes. I . . .” There has never been one instance where I haven’t been able to properly form the words I’m about to say. If anything I’m the smooth talker of the family. Logan and Christian are good, but they aren’t as experienced as I am. “I asked Lacey to marry me tonight, Esme. She and I have been in a relationship for a bit,” Okay, so a bit is a drastic understatement but we’ve had a connection for too many years to count. “I know this must be a shock, but—”
“Shock? I heard the rumors in the office about you both years ago! I didn’t want either of my girls to be dating gringos, but at least you’re one who is polished. Lacey didn’t make the same mistakes as Francesca.”
“Uh, well we wer
en’t dating when the rumors were circulating but I suppose it doesn’t matter now. And Nolan was doing well before he passed. Try to remember the man was doing everything he could to prove himself to you before he died.”
“Now you sound like Roy. He said the same thing to me at Nolan and Francesca’s funeral.”
“I was in the office with my father when Nolan came in. Dad was proud of him for trying to better their lives. I know you didn’t approve of him because he was a gringo, the same way I am and how you always wanted a Latino man for your girls, but fate brought the two of us together. I only hope I can make Lacey half as happy as Nolan made her mother.”
“You may not like this, but you are more like your father than any of your siblings, Jordan. You have his business sense, heart and his dark side. When he left the other business to Logan, I knew he made a mistake. You should’ve been the one to have it, not him. Logan doesn’t even like that side of the business; he loathes it more than anything.”
“Don’t say anything to him, but I’m going to approach him very soon about handing the reins over to me. Like you said, he doesn’t enjoy that side and I don’t mind it. It’s in our blood so one of us has to keep our father’s legacy going.”
Esme breaks out into laughter, “It’s more than the fact it’s your father’s business. You love the danger, suspense and mystery boy. Just don’t let any of it get you killed, especially if you’re so set on marrying my granddaughter. I give you my approval and most well of wishes. So, when is the big day?”
“Tonight,”
“Tonight?!” Esme dramatically puts a hand over her chest.
“Yes, so go get changed into one of your nicest dresses while I call up a friend who owns a jewelry store. We have to go grab the rings after you’re ready.”
“Dios Mio, you Steele men!” Esme grumbles, walking down her hallway and out of my sight.
Chapter Twenty
“Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience.”
~ Paulo Coelho
Lacey
Madigan whisked me away up Logan and Brooklyn’s grand stairwell and took me down the hallway until we reached the last room on the left. It’s an extra bedroom that has essentially been turned into the most glamourous closet I’ve ever seen in my life.
It’s obvious Brooklyn had this thing designed to be the best of the best. The only thing that marks this closet different than the rest I’ve seen is the fact I only see long evening gowns in here. One part of the closet is pure white, bits of blush colors and even a couple champagne. Everything is here, whether its princess, mermaid, pantsuit, ballgown, sheath, and A-line not to mention the others as well.
“How do you have this many wedding dresses?” I ask Madigan who’s standing beside me with the biggest grin I’ve ever seen from her.
“Designers were sending us dresses when we got married. We each probably got fifteen dresses sent to us. The hope was we’d choose one of the dresses and give a lot of publicity to whomever we chose. They were sent as gifts to us so between Brooklyn, Selena and I we compiled them here. We’re going to auction them off at a charity event in a couple of months. In the meantime, scan through the dresses and see whatever calls out to you.”
“Okay, I’ve got everything handled at the ballroom. My team is working on it. Now you need to tell me what your dream wedding makeup is, love.” Brooklyn clearly states busting into the room. She came in so suddenly I almost screamed.
“I just want to keep it as natural as possible, with maybe cat eyeliner and a nude lip.” I reply, still a bit in shock this is even happening. I have to admit, I’ve always been one of those women who had the perfect idea of what she wanted for her wedding day. Only I didn’t imagine it would be so spontaneous.
“I can work with that, now go look through the dresses while I get some of my new palettes. You don’t mind if I take pictures of you after I’m done, right? I may intend on uploading it to Instagram to tease followers tomorrow. Pre-order goes up for the collection tomorrow evening so it might bring up a big amount of hype.”
What does it matter? I really need to get used to this sort of thing because the Steeles will use any advantage they can when it comes to marketing. Not that it’s bad because it isn’t. It’s smart, one of the most successful things to do if you ask me. “Sure, just no posting tonight if possible. I want to keep this under the radar.”
“Oh we get that. We’ll do everything we can to ensure no paparazzi surprises us all by showing up outside of Valor trying to sneak some pictures.”
“Thank you,” I reply, approaching the one part of the closet adorned with wedding gowns. I see everything from the softest silk, to rhinestones galore. There are dresses made up of thicker materials while some are thin. Some have halter tops made of lace while others are strapless with small touches of sparkles.
Although its as if none of the other dresses exist when my eyes land on a light see through fabric with embellishments on it. Its long sleeve, deep A-line dress with a belt made of gems in the middle, just above the belly button. The same gems span across the thin fabric and as I touch the lightweight material, I notice it’s see through. While it’s bunched up you can’t tell that though, so I pull the material to the right and finally see a nude sort of mini dress underneath, covering up anything important.
It’s beautiful, sexy and unique. “Wow. That’s a showstopper.” Madigan comments with her approval.
“Yes, it is.” I nod, pulling the hanger down.
Madigan urges me to try the dress on while Brooklyn is still gathering everything she needs to make sure I’m as beautiful as a Disney princess tonight, so I do. I strip out of the clothes I’m in and put on the dress that fits me like a glove. It kind of makes me feel like a princess already. Almost like a Cinderella moment.
The door opens up suddenly and instead of it just being Brooklyn on the other side Selena is there with her. She has a bag in hand and I instantly know what she’s going to help me with. My hair. One of the things I love the most about this family is how everyone is willing to drop whatever they’re doing to help the other.
Selena comes up to me just like a hair stylist would and fluffs her fingertips through my hair. “Alright, what’re you thinking we do with this?”
“I’m thinking of wavy and simple.”
“The simplicity bride,” Brooklyn jokes, opening a palette of eyeshadow she already goes to town, telling me to close my eyelids and allow the girls to do whatever they have planned. Selena puts a comb through my hair and pins up sections as she curls, allowing one section at a time to drop while she continues to work on my hair. After she’s done her curling, she brushes through it again, puts some spray on and hands me her phone with the camera facing the front so I can look.
I’m amazed at what both the ladies have done in such a short amount of time. It’s no wonder they married Steele men. They’re just as extraordinary as their husbands are.
Chapter Twenty-One
Kill painful memories by creating better ones
~ R. H. Sin
Jordan
Esme and I had a hell of a time picking out the proper ring for Lace. I looked at everything but nothing spoke to me. It was either too gaudy, too delicate or too much stone. That last bit may sound a tad over the top but I know Lace and I know how she won’t wear something as extravagant as Kim Kardashian-West does. Kanye really out did himself with that diamond. I bet they had to go down into the depths of the earth just to find it.
I arrive at the hotel and must have the timing of a devil. Esme and I run smack dab into the ladies in the lobby. When Lacey turns around its like I’m an eighth grader who has a crush on my hot babysitter. She’s gorgeous, taking the breath right out of me.
Her long hair goes down in loose waves that make me think she’s been on a sandy beach somewhere. Her makeup is sexy yet natural, accentuating her beautiful eyes and lips. But that’s not the best part. The dress is something I want to rip straight off her right now. It takes eve
rything within me not to slam her up against the wall and fuck the daylights out of her. Or I could have her kneel before me on those precious knees of hers and fuck her mouth with my cock, unleashing my load down her throat.
“Jordan, are you alright?” Lacey asks me with a slight giggle.
“Yeah I’m fine.” I reply.
“I think you got a bit of drool on the floor there,” Madigan teases.
“Lacey, dios mio! Can you believe this day is here?! I didn’t have any clue it would come so soon. Come, come. Let’s get in the elevator so you and I can have one last private conversation before you get married.” Esme rushes over to her granddaughter, takes her hand and heads toward the elevator.
While Esme doesn’t realize it, she left me to fend for myself with the sharks. She has no idea what callous beasts my sister and sisters-in-law can be. “Where are the guys?” I ask the girls.
“Upstairs. Logan wanted to get up there and ensure everything was properly done.” Brooklyn states, starting to imitate my brothers voice. It’s pretty good which causes me to laugh at her silliness.
“And Christian?”
Selena instantly laughs, “He went to see what was at the bar.”
“Of course he did. Well, how about we get up there ladies?”
“Let’s go,” They agree and we walk down to where the elevators are. We stand and wait for the next elevator to get down to the lobby and once it does we enter. I’ve barely selected the floor for the ballroom where we’re having the wedding is on before Madigan gets nosey.
“So, do you have the ring?”
I huff, digging the box out from my pocket and open it so the girls can see what it is I decided on. In unison they all awe. I settled on a rose gold and opted for opal versus a diamond. Opal is Lacey’s favorite gemstone. Only I spruced up the ring a bit. It’s in a vintage setting with small diamonds circling it, making it seem like one of those old-fashioned hand mirrors the ladies used in the Victorian era. However, I wanted it to seem even more regal. My friend who owns the store told me he had two bands that he could solder to the ring to make it even more grand, but in a subtle way. I opted to do it, because the diamonds on the wedding bands make them appear like small tiaras.
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