by Claire Adams
Bart.
"You pretty girls ready? My cousin is almost here." He gave us a warm smile, and I could see why Allison liked him, but if she wasn't in love...
"Yeah, we'll meet you out front. We're just having a sister pow-wow." I offered him a smile in return and waited until he left to give my sister my full attention. "You need to tell him, Allison. Maybe he's not in love, either."
"No, he is." She wiped at her tears angrily. "I know you think I've always had it so easy, but I haven't. Mom and Dad are no different with me than they are with you. I just comply because I hate strife more than anything else. I just want them to love me for being me, but they don't."
"I get that." I reached up and wiped a tear off of her cheek. "You can't go through with this."
"I have to. My whole future rides on wrapping up this last promise to them. They want me married to Bart. His family is powerful and they own half the oil fields in Texas." She rolled her eyes. "It’s complicated."
"Do you have any debt?" I ran my hands over her shoulders and squeezed softly.
"What? No, of course not." She shook her head. "I just don't want to walk out of here with nothing. I mean, like...nothing."
"You can't live like this. Marriage is forever." I moved back and tugged at the sleeve of my blue ball gown. "I feel like a frumpy Cinderella in this thing."
"You look like one. Your tits are way too big for that." She rolled her eyes and walked with me back into the house. "Mom picked them out. Ugh."
"Oh, great. You get to look like a princess and I'm stuck looking like a swollen blueberry."
"Stop it." She laughed and shook her head. "Please don't worry about me. I'll be okay. Bart's a good man."
"This conversation isn't over, Allison." I turned as we approached Bart and another guy who was a little bit bigger than him. His voice was a little too familiar. Kade Jones.
His eyes widened as he saw me. "No freaking way."
I laughed and walked toward him. "Please don't tell me that you're my blind date."
He pulled me into a hug and chuckled. "It would seem so. I guess our parents aren't too horrible from time to time."
"Wait. You guys know each other?" Bart asked as he wrapped an arm around my sister's shoulders.
"Yeah. He's the TA for one of my classes, and we've been to a few parties together." I looked up at him, realizing how incredibly handsome he was. My mom had done well this time. Too bad I was taken.
"I've been trying to get this girl's attention for a month now. She keeps trying to set me up with her damn friends," Kade laughed again and let out a long sigh. "I feel much better knowing it's you, Val. Let's get this show on the road."
Worry rushed through me as we followed my sister and her fiancé out. I reached for Kade's arm and pulled him to a stop.
"Hey. I'm with Tate. You know that, right?” I released him and took a step back. "We're just friends, me and you."
"And, I can't twist your arm for anything more?" He reached out and touched my face. "I have a lot to offer, Valentine. I think you know that."
"I know you do, but I have all that I need." I moved past him and tucked my arm into his. "Now we just need to find the right woman for you."
"Oh Lord, not this Amy stuff again." He clamped his hand over mine as I held onto his arm. "I'm interested in you, but you know that."
"I do, and if I was free, I'd return your interest, but I'm not. I'm in love with my biker boy." I got into the back of the car and was grateful that Kade got in the front with Bart and left my sister to get in the back with me.
He turned around and pinned me with a hard stare. "And, if that ever changes?"
"Then, I'll come looking for you first." I smiled and leaned back.
*
Dinner was great with Kade there, and I could so easily see myself fitting into his life, and him fitting into mine, but he wasn't Tate. Not in the slightest.
We stopped at the door, and he watched me with desire in his gaze, but I ignored it. Allison gave Bart a quick kiss and turned, jogging up the stairs and calling after me to join her.
"Night." Kade reached out and touched the side of my face. "No chance at all, right?"
"Nope. Not even a little one." I cupped his hand on the side of my face and smiled at him.
"That's a lucky guy you're with. He knows that right?" He moved closer.
I released him and pushed at his chest. "He knows. Get out of here before I have to pull out some of my self-defense moves on you."
"Yeah, cause that makes me want to leave," he laughed.
"Night, Kade. See you tomorrow at the wedding." I turned and jogged up the stairs feeling good. I dropped down on my sister's bed and let out a long, girly sigh. "That was fun."
"You seemed to really enjoy Kade. Why are you so dead set on being with this other guy? Because it pisses Mom and Dad off?" She moved up beside me and propped her head up on her hand.
"No." I looked over at her. "Because I like him a lot. I want him in my future."
"Really? Maybe you should borrow my dress and get married tomorrow. That would be a win-win, for me and you." She tried to smile, but her expression saddened. "I want to love someone like that."
"Like what?" I reached over and brushed her hair back from her face.
"In a way that I didn't care about what it meant to be together or what it cost. That strong bond between two people that nothing could break, least of all the pressure of their parents." She rolled onto her back. "I don't know if I can do this tomorrow."
"Then don't." I moved onto my side. "You'll miss out on the greatest adventure you could ever have."
"Fending off Mom and Dad?" She smirked.
"No, silly. Being in love."
Chapter 29
Tate
I'm not sure I could have been any more nervous about going out to meet up with Val at her parents’ place. I was a grown man, and yet felt like a wayward teenage kid as Sam and I walked through the department store at the mall.
"Dude, I can't thank you enough for saying you'd go with me out there today. I honestly feel like I'm going to barf." I reached for a white button down shirt and held it up to my chest. "Yeah? No?"
"No worries, man. You know that I'd never leave you out to dry. Besides, I almost want to see if these rich bastards are going to act like trash in front of their wedding guests. I can't imagine that Val's father is going to be able to hold back his anger at seeing you."
"Yeah, you're not helping, at all." I put the shirt back on the rack and growled before tugging at my hair. "Maybe I should just tell her that I can't make it."
"Tate, you know she needs you out there. Stop acting like that. We need to get your clothes and get over to the Gamma house soon, though. We have about two hours before we need to be in our seats at the wedding. Hurry up." He leaned against a rack of jackets and gave me a look.
"Alright, well help me find something. I've never worn one of these monkey suits before." I checked the price tag and almost passed out. "What the fuck? This is insane. I'm not spending that much on an outfit I'm going to wear once."
"You'll wear it a lot more than you think you will." He pulled out his wallet as I lifted my hand.
"No, I'm paying for whatever we end up getting." I shook my head and moved away from him.
"Fine, but my mother sent this hundred dollar gift card to this place. She got it at Christmas from my grandma and doesn't want it. They won't give her anything but store credit, which does no one any good, right?" He laughed and moved up beside me, pressing the card to my chest. "Take it. I have plenty of suits."
"Alright, fine, but tell her that I said thanks. I'll come over and tell her myself soon." I found a black suit that didn't look too terribly bad. "What about this one?"
"They're all the same. Just get one, try it on, and let's get the fuck out of here." He picked up a dark gray shirt and handed it to me. "This would look good, and that black tie over there."
"Shouldn't I wear white?" I walked over to the
tie rack and grabbed the tie as a stiff-looking guy glanced up from the register and gave us a look of open annoyance.
"Can I help you two?" His voice was almost as condescending as his glare.
"Nope. We're just looking, but when we start buying, you can take our money. That sound good?" I lifted my eyebrow and tilted my head just a little.
The guy swallowed hard and glanced back down, mumbling his agreement.
"How do you do that?" Sam whispered as we walked to the dressing room.
"Do what?" I walked into the hallway, trying to ignore the anger that fluttered in my chest over the clerk's attitude.
"Make other guys almost shit themselves."
"It's the tats," I called behind me before walking into a dressing room. "You should get some."
"Fuck, no."
I laughed and tried on the suit, liking it quite a bit. I walked out and Sam glanced up and gave me two thumbs up.
"You riding with us over to the wedding or taking your bike?" He stood after I changed back into my jeans and sweater.
"My bike. I'd almost feel naked without it." I shrugged and put the clothes on the counter. "Besides, I need to make a good first impression, right?"
He chuckled. "And, what message are you hoping to make by riding your bike up to their fancy house with all their friends around?"
I glanced over at him. "The one that says, 'fuck you,’ big and loud. The bastard threatened me and my mother. Just me being there is enough to tell him Val's mine. Period."
"Okay." Sam lifted his hands in the air as if surrendering and backed up a little. "I should call ahead and tell them that Billy Bad Assis headed their way."
I laughed. "Keep it up, funny boy, and I'll tell the pretty girl whose panties you're trying to get into that you sleep with the closet light on."
"She already knows." He poked my side. "She sleeps with it on, too. Ask me how I know."
"Oh Lord." I rolled my eyes, paid for my stuff and walked out next to my best friend as he dove into every intimate detail of having slept with Lucinda. Some part of me wanted to shut him up, but I couldn't. He felt like he'd found his match in life. I understood his excitement all too well.
*
I changed at home and walked into the living room about thirty minutes before I needed to get on the road.
My mom glanced up from the couch where she was reading and smiled.
"Wow. Don't you look incredible?" She got up and fixed the collar of my shirt before brushing her hands down the front of my chest. "You're going to be okay, right? They're not going to hurt you?”
"Mom. They're rich people with a chip on their shoulders, not axe murderers." I smirked and pulled her in to a hug. "I love you. Don't wait up."
"Okay, but please text me and let me know how you're doing throughout the night. I know you're a grown-ass man and all, but please...or have Val do it. She won't mind." She touched the side of my face. "I love you, too. Be safe."
"Will do. Lock up and don't answer the door." I walked to the door and glanced back at her. "See you tomorrow."
"Get out of here and stop stalling." She dropped back down on the couch, and I left her cuddled up with her book as I jogged through the freezing cold. It seemed like winter was never going to relent.
Val's sister had to have an indoor wedding. There was no way anyone would be able to stand out in the cold for more than a few minutes without having icy fingers and toes.
I started the bike and pulled on my helmet, suddenly worrying about my own extremities. I tugged a pair of gloves from my pocket and zipped up my jacket before taking off to Val's parents’ place. I had the address on my phone, but I'd seen the beautiful mansion a few times on some of my long rides through the city and surrounding countryside.
There was a comfort in knowing that Sam and Val's closest friends would be out at the wedding before me. It was like being welcomed into a crowd of people that I sort of already knew without having to stand alone and pray for the night to be over.
I drove a little slower than I normally would, but I couldn't help it. Trepidation sat heavy on me as I pulled up and parked my bike beside a large line of overpriced cars. I locked it down and glanced up to see Val's father standing on the front porch, staring at me with malice on his face.
"Fuck," I mumbled under my breath and pulled my helmet off. "Time to get this shit over with."
I walked toward him with my chin held high and my eyes locked onto his. "Mr. Scott."
"Tate. I'm a little surprised to see you here today, and yet I realize that men like yourself cling tightly to any hope for a better day tomorrow than you've had today. You're not getting a penny of my money. Not a dime." He shrugged and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Why in the world would you think I want your money? I've never had money. I wouldn't know what to do with it in the first place." I smirked and moved past him into the house.
That went much better than I thought it would.
I heard Valentine laughing before I laid eyes on her, but when I did, my heart almost stopped in my chest. Her dress shimmered slightly and fit her beautifully. She was in the middle of her friends, and one of them must have alerted her to my presence, because she turned around.
"Damn," I mumbled and let my eyes run down the length of her. The dress was tight around her narrow waist and accentuated her breasts beautifully – almost too much.
"Tate." She walked toward me and reached for me.
"Hi, baby." I slid my arms around her and pulled her in for a quick kiss. "Your dad was waiting for me at the door, but hopefully that was the only run-in we have to have tonight."
"Doubtful, but I'm glad to see you alive and not bloody." She nipped at my lips before rubbing her nose by mine. "You look so good."
"Me? Naw. You look incredible. Tell me that we can have some fun later in that dress. It's not rented, is it?" I raised my eyebrows and worked hard to keep my hands on her waist. I wanted to touch every part of her and crawl up under her dress to see what color her panties were.
She laughed. "It's mine. We can do anything you want to do. There's a cabin about ten minutes north of here on my father's extended property. I went up there this morning and got it ready for us. Don’t tell anyone, though… My parents would die if they knew we were using it."
"Oh, yeah? I like it already." I stiffened as someone behind me cleared their throat.
"Valentine, did you want to introduce me to your friend? The two of you seem to be quite close, seeing that you're pawing at each other in the middle of my living room in front of everyone." Her mother was an older version of Val and honestly stunning. The tight expression on her face and pinched sides of her pretty green eyes made her less than she could have been, but I could see the resemblance.
"Of course. Mom, this is my boyfriend Tate." She slid her hand down my back. "Baby, this is my mother."
"Hi, Mrs. Scott. It's nice to meet you." I didn't extend my hand because the woman had yet to look at me. I wasn't there, but it didn't matter. Val and her mother were in the middle of some serious shit, and I was only going to be support. I only prayed that they wouldn't have a huge blown-up and ruin some part of her sister's wedding.
"What about Kade Jones? Your date with him last night wasn't what you expected it to be?" Her mother tilted her head a little and lifted her eyebrows.
Every muscle in my body stiffened at her words.
Val seemed to notice as she moved closer to me.
"It wasn't a date, Mother. You tried to set me up with him, but we simply talked about Tate all night long." Val shrugged. "I told him that I was in love. I'm not interested in anything or anyone but the man next to me."
"I don't approve." Her mother took a step toward us aggressively as her voice rose.
"And, I don't give a fuck." Val moved in front of me, her shoulders square and voice low and ominous.
"Hey," I moved in between them, forcing Val's mother to look up at me. "We can have this nasty conversation later. Today is all about
Val's sister, right?"
Her mother's lip lifted in a grimace before she grunted and turned, leaving us to stand there with all eyes on us.
I turned around and pulled Val into a hug, kissing her several times to try and remind her that everything was fine.
"I didn't go out with Kade. I would never do that to you." She touched the side of my face as tears filled her pretty green eyes.
"I know that, baby. I trust you. Completely." I touched the side of her face and wiped at her tears. "No crying, okay?"
"Okay." She let out a sigh and pressed her fingers to her eyes. "I just hate her so damn much."
"I know, but after tonight, we can leave this place and never come back." I glanced up the stairs behind her to see a girl who I assumed was her sister. "I think your sister wants you."
She turned and looked up at the pretty brunette bombshell with panic in her eyes who mouthed, “get up here.”
"I'll be right back. Stay with Sam and our friends." She kissed me quickly. "Don't let my parents get you alone. They might try and eat you alive."
"Stop worrying, silly." I laughed and moved into a group of familiar faces.
Chapter 30
Val
"I can't do this." My sister was pacing the floor as I walked into her bedroom.
The rest of the guests were waiting on the back patio where my dad had rented large heaters that were affixed to the underside of the roof. It would be an outdoor wedding in the middle of the winter because my sister wanted it.
"What?" I closed the door behind me and turned to face her. The last thing she'd said the night before as she drifted off to sleep was that she did care about Bart and wanted to see if they could make things work. Now, she was freaking out.
"I can't do this." She turned toward me and stopped. "I'm not going through with it. Sneak me out of here. Now."
"Allison. Let me just go down there and tell Dad that you're not coming. I'll figure out what to say, but-"
"No!" She moved toward me, and I almost flinched. Her eyes were wide with something like terror and I felt a chill run through me. My poor sister was cracking.