Audacious Fiancé: A Hero Club Novel

by Liz Lovelock

  My insides twist with excitement. Nathan makes me so happy. The only other person who’d made me feel this way was Kane.

  Urgh, why am I even thinking about him? Seeing him must have rattled me more than I thought. Nathan is miles better than Kane

  “Wait, you can’t go until you tell me what you have to talk to me about.” She wriggles back in her seat getting comfortable, after topping up her drink.

  I swallow. “Well, on my flight today, I ran into my college ex, Kane.”

  Her eyes pop open wide. I’d once told her a little about him and how he’d left me. I didn’t tell her the rest of the story, though.

  “Wow, how did that go?” Leaning over, she picks up her blender and tops up my glass that sits empty.

  I lift it to my lips and take a sip. “It brought back a tsunami of memories and emotions I’d stuffed into a box and locked. He busted that wide open today, and I hardly even spoke to him. I saw him and pretty much ran away. Cammie was hitting on him until she saw my reaction to him. I’ve never seen her change her attitude toward a guy that quick”

  Her mouth hangs open.

  I continue. “I told him to leave me alone, and that’s pretty much it. I avoided him at all costs after that.”

  “How long has it been since you last saw him?”

  Her question throws me for a moment. “Honestly, it’s been so long, I can’t recall. Years. College. Which was close to seven or so years ago. Just laying eyes on him made me go like jelly. My body felt like it was a trembling mess. It literally vibrated. I’m not sure if it was anger or simply shock at seeing him.” I clear the lump from my throat.

  My friend watches me, her eyes gentle and caring. Adele reaches out and takes my hand. “Girl, it was his loss. You’ve moved on, and now you’re gonna get married. Eekkk.” She squeezes.

  “You’re right, but all those memories. It brought all the pain I’d had right back to the surface. But you’re right, things in my life are so much better now.”

  “Jo, it was the first time and in passing. New York is big, and so is the rest of the world. I’m sure it’s a one-off. Look at how long it took for you both to cross paths . . . years. Next time you see him, you’ll have an engagement or even a wedding ring sitting pretty on your left hand . . . hell, even possibly a baby or two. Look forward to the future and forget the past. Nothing good sits in the past . . . only bad memories.”

  Her words hit me hard. I thought Kane was my future at one time. Instead, I received a swift blow to the stomach as he ended things. I shake my head slightly to get rid of my thoughts. “You’re right. Look forward to the future.” As I say it, I’m not sure I’m convinced.

  “We’ll have a wedding to plan soon, so you better get home and see your man.” She winks.

  I nod and put my glass to my lips and tip back the remaining red drink. “Oh, how is your brother doing? Wasn’t he supposed to come visit you soon?”

  “Yeah, later next week he’s flying in with Aubrey, and they’re bringing their pet goat with them.”

  “A pet goat?” I ask, unable to hide the shock. “In all the years I’ve known you, you never mentioned a goat.”

  Adele laughs. “Yes, a goat. I’m sure I’d have mentioned it. Did I tell you it’s a fainting goat?”

  I jerk back. “Are you playing around with me. A fainting goat? I mean, shouldn’t a goat live on a farm?”

  She shrugs. “They found her in the street and took her in. Her name is Esmerelda Snowflake, but everyone calls her Pixy.”

  I blanch. “Wow, okay. This is news to me. I look forward to meeting . . . Pixy.” This is going to be interesting. I stand and straighten my work uniform. “I’d better go.” I grab my phone from my bag at the door and order myself an Uber.

  Fifteen minutes later, I say goodbye to my friend and head home to see, possibly, my future husband. An overwhelming excitement ripples through me.

  Chapter Four

  Jolene

  “I’m home,” I announce as I drop my keys in the bowl on the little white wooden hallway table. “Nathan? Are you here?” I glance at the wall clock. It’s after five. He should be home by now.

  Our apartment is a two-bedroom—much bigger than Adele’s. A crisp white paint covers our walls lined with vibrant-colored professional paintings. Of course, I didn’t put in for those. They’re all types of things Nathan enjoys, and who am I to stop him from doing things that make him happy?

  Large windows frame one side of the apartment, with a large television hanging from the wall and a glass-top coffee table near the black leather couch.

  It’s our place.

  My heart warms when I step into our living area. I can’t wait to marry this man.

  Although he could have easily bought me a piece of jewelry and not a ring. It’s very rare for him to bring up marriage. Dread begins to burn the happiness I had swimming inside me.

  Something clatters to the floor in the bathroom. Whipping around toward the sound, I call again, “Nathan?”

  Why isn’t he answering me? Unease burrows into my stomach.

  Taking a step toward the bathroom, something catches my eye. On our dark-stained table sits a white piece of paper. I curiously make my way to it, and my stomach drops to the ground and through the other three floors beneath me. Where did he get this? With trembling fingers, I pick up one of my mother’s assisted living bills. I’d not told Nathan because I didn’t want him to think that I was only with him because of his money. I love him, not his cash.

  I take off to the bathroom. When I come around the corner, I’m rooted to the spot. Nathan stands there, a small black bag in his hand. The one he uses when he travels for work.

  “Do you have to go away?” My words almost sound like a squeak as they try to work their way over the golf-ball lump in my throat. I attempt to clear it away.

  Nathan pauses, his light brown hair a tangled mess compared to its usual pristine styling without a hair out of place. He’s not in his work clothes. Instead, he’s in a navy-blue long-sleeve shirt and beige slacks which hang on his hips and fit his ass perfectly. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  I hang my head and fidget with my intertwined fingers. “This is about my mother.”

  I glance up as he frowns and continues to throw things from the cabinet into the travel bag. All his toiletries lay in there already. Panic seizes my chest.

  “I didn’t tell you because I thought you’d think I was with you for the wrong reason, and that’s so far from the truth. I pay for everything she needs from what I earn.”

  “Why didn’t you trust me enough to tell me?” He sighs. His shoulders sag.

  “I was going to tell you. I was trying to find the right time to do it. Whenever it comes to money, your family is ready to hang me out to dry as a gold digger, and that’s not true.” I raise my voice. Tears sting my eyes.

  Nathan’s large frame storms past me. “Look, Jolene, if you can’t trust me, then why are we even together?”

  “Please, can we talk about it. I’m sorry. I thought I was doing the right thing.” My throat tightens.

  “This is something massive to be kept secret. If you couldn’t tell me about one of the biggest things in your life, then I’m not sure what I’m doing here.” He shrugs, then continues, “I’m leaving. I can’t marry someone who can’t be honest with me.” He tears shreds off my heart.

  I meet his heated gaze. “Do you love me?” I’m afraid to hear the answer, but I need to know. Was this whole relationship nothing?

  “I thought I did. There’s no love if there is no trust.” He shoves his bag into a suitcase I hadn’t even noticed was sitting under the kitchen countertop. He has clothes, shoes, and a mix of bibs and bobs that he owns.

  Then I catch a glimpse of it. The Tiffany & Co. bag. I can’t seem to move my eyes from it.

  Nathan reaches in and grabs it and hands it to me. “I have no use for this anymore. You can have it as a reminder of what you lost. Plus, I’m not even sure I was ready for that
kind of commitment. I was only doing it to appease you.”

  How heartless can men be?

  He may as well have taken a knife from the block on the countertop and plunged it directly into my chest. Surely that would feel better than the pain searing through me like a hot iron rod. It’s a slow burn tearing me apart from the inside out.

  As he turns, I catch his familiar scent, the same masculine one that has become so familiar to me. When I smell it, I know I’m safe. Now it’s going to be a constant reminder of this pain.

  I watch in horror as he shuts and zips up his suitcase.

  “Please don’t leave,” I beg. My cheeks are damp, and I don’t care. I came home thinking I was going to be proposed to, and now I feel like I’m having a flash of déjà vu. Why on the day when I ran into Kane, did my world flip upside down? I’m about to be alone once again.

  Nathan’s shoulders sag. “I’ll be back for the rest of the stuff another day.”

  “Nathan, please.” My voice shakes. Dropping the little bag, I follow him as he wheels his two large gray cases to the door. “Don’t leave. Can we work this out, please?”

  “I’m sorry, Jo. It’s broken. Trust is a hard thing to earn back.”

  “Are you kidding me? After all this time together, you’re willing to walk away so easily without a discussion.”

  Nathan quickly shuts the door and turns toward me. His face softens. “There’s nothing more to talk about. I’ve made up my mind.”

  “So, one minute you’re planning to marry me, and the next, you can give up on us so easily.” I sigh, then say. “Just get out of my apartment, and before you leave, drop your key into the dish.” I point to where my set sits.

  He laughs, and it’s not a funny one but more threatening. “My name is on this place. I’d love to see you try and afford this on your own as well as pay your mentally ill mother’s bills.”

  “Don’t mention my mother. Get out, and don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way.” I huff, folding my arms across my chest.

  Nathan’s head drops and shakes. He shoves his hand into his pants pocket, and the jingle of his keys follows as he pulls them out. He removes the apartment key and drops it into the bowl. His eyes meet mine. “I’m sorry that you hid things from me and ruined what we had. This is all on you.”

  My mouth falls open. I stomp up to him and point my finger in his face. “This is on you . . . you’re the one who’s walking away. Not me. You’re pathetic, and I’m sorry I wasted three years on you.”

  He rolls his eyes. Actually, rolls his eyes. Fury burns deep within me. I shove him hard in the chest. “Get out,” I grit between my teeth, then turn and walk away.

  I race for my bag and pull out my phone.

  Me: I need you. Come over.

  Adele: I’m on my way.

  Chapter Five

  Kane

  I glance around my father’s office: a large area with a dark mahogany desk sitting in front of a large window. Beautiful artwork of airplanes fills the walls. One won’t find photos of family in this room. This man has been all business since Mom walked out on him two years’ ago. He does, however, want to retire, and that’s when the business will rest heavily on my shoulders.

  My father built up a private airline business. His pilots fly the rich and famous all over the world. And that’s my job. I’m a pilot.

  “Another hostess has left.” My father’s low grumble alerts me to his entry.

  Whipping around, I smile. “Good evening, Father. Nice to see you, too.”

  Keith Taylor isn’t a man for small talk. He drops his heavy body into the chair behind the desk. He stares at me through glasses, and his constant frown is plastered on his features. “Stop with the jokes. You’ve lost this company more hostesses in the last twelve months than we have, well . . . ever. I’m considering firing you, Kane. If you want to keep your position in the company as next in line to take over, you need to show me you’ve changed.”

  I open my mouth to argue.

  His large hand with stubby fingers raises and stops me. “Don’t. As I said, I’m considering firing you. I won’t if, and only if, you can change. I’m tired, Kane, and I need you to grow the hell up and take over. How can I let a man-child take over a multimillion-dollar company? I can’t.”

  His words sting. He’s right, though. But I can’t help that the ladies are naturally attracted to this greatness.

  “I’m sorry, Father.” And I genuinely am.

  Father clears his throat, then continues. “I’m giving you one more chance.” He rubs his chin, a pondering look in his eyes. “If, and only if, you can find yourself a woman and settle down, will I hand over the company to you. When you show me you’ve changed, then perhaps it’ll change my mind. You have twelve months.” He cocks a brow, and my stomach twists.

  Settle down.

  With one woman.

  That’s never been who I am. The longest relationship I had was with Jolene, and I even screwed that up. And what a stupid decision that was. She really was the best thing to happen to me.

  “Did you hear me?” My father slaps his hand on the desk, grabbing my attention.

  I shake my head slightly. “Uh . . . yeah, I heard you. So, I only have one year to find a wife, pretty much?”

  Father shrugs. “A wife, fiancée, or girlfriend. I need to see that you can be in a stable relationship, although if you were to marry said girl, you’d need to get a prenuptial agreement drawn up. I can’t risk my family legacy getting busted up.” His words drop like venom. It’s clear he isn’t too fond of women, given that Mom took quite a bit from him. My mother is a smart lawyer. I guess he picked the wrong wife.

  I chuckle inwardly. “You can’t be serious?” I stand straighter and eye him skeptically.

  “I’m as serious as a heart attack. Sort yourself out. Stop putting our business in jeopardy of a lawsuit because you can’t keep it in your pants.”

  I swipe my hand over my worn-out face. This isn’t what I expected when I got his call to come see him. “So, I just have to be in a stable relationship?”

  “Yep.” He accentuates the pop of the P. “Also, while I have you here, I want you to know I’ve taken the liberty of hiring a new pilot and hostess for the flights you’re working. Have you heard of Carter Clynes?”

  Heard of him? Damn, he used to enjoy the ladies like I do. I had heard he was in a relationship. Perhaps there’s hope for me yet—I just haven’t met the right girl. “Yeah, I’ve heard of him. Good guy.”

  “Good. Now get out of my office and fix your problems because if I hear we’ve lost another lady because of you, you’ll be the suspended one or the unemployed one.”

  I take my cue to leave, and I get the hell out of there.

  After pulling my phone from my pocket, I hit the speed dial for my best friend, Crew. He’s always got my back, and I’m sure if we put our heads together, we can come up with something to get this mess sorted. Perhaps he knows a girl I haven’t met.

  “What’s up, man?” he answers.

  “Hey, I need your help. I’m coming to you. Let’s go eat.”

  “Sure. See you soon.”

  We end the call as I step out onto the busy streets of downtown New York. An image of Jojo flashes in my head. Her pink lips were teasing me so bad today. I watched her like a hawk. Every time she spoke, smiled, or laughed, it was a tug on my heart. I wonder where she is staying in this big city. A thought strikes me like lightning. What if she is the answer to all my problems?

  Chapter Six

  Jolene

  “I mean, how could he do this to me?” I sob into a tissue. Adele passes me another one. After Nathan left, I collapsed on the spot I’d messaged Adele from. Any fight I had flew out the window. I wish it had been Nathan who’d flown out the damn window. See you in hell, buddy.

  Adele’s arm wraps around my crumbled mess of a body. “He’s not worth it. I never had a good feeling about him.”

  I turn toward her, a bewildered look
plastered on my face. “Well, why didn’t you share your concerns?”

  “Don’t bark at me. I’m your friend. I’m here for you. Now get your ass up and go shower because we’re going out.”

  Adele climbs off the floorboards and stares down at me. I’m broken. The ache in my chest from the heaving crying I’ve been doing tells me so. My eyes burn, and I’m sure I look like I’ve had an allergic reaction to something, they’re that puffy. “Sorry,” I mutter, dropping my head to my hands and twisting a tissue in my lap. I don’t want to get up. I don’t know how I’m going to keep moving forward. “Do you want to move in with me?” I blurt out. I can’t afford this place on my own—Nathan knew it, but I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of admitting it to his face.

  Adele scoffs, a look of bewilderment crosses her features. She holds my gaze, her eyes soft but questioning. “That’s a loaded question. How about I give you an answer tomorrow after we’ve had a drunken night of fun? I was feeling pretty tipsy with those margaritas I had with you earlier, and now I’ve completely sobered. That issue needs to be rectified immediately.” She purses her lips and holds her hand out to me.

  I look at it like it’s going to shock me if I touch it. “I don’t want to go out.” Another grumble. I’m sure making myself drunkenly numb to the fact that Nathan has severed my heart into chop suey isn’t going to help. He would probably serve it back to me, just to cause more hurt. “He left because I didn’t tell him about my mother.”

  Her face softens. She crouches on her heels and takes my hands in hers. More tears slide down my cheeks.

  “Honey, a man who isn’t a family man is not someone you want to build a life with. Yes, you wasted three years on him, but you can sit here and wallow, or you can get the hell up and prove to him that nothing will knock you on your ass. You’re the toughest chick I know. And yes, you’re hurting. Let’s drink tonight and hurt tomorrow because then tomorrow, we’ll actually be hurting.” She laughs softly.