Nyxie looked in the mirror one last time before following the woman through Declan’s parents’ one-story ranch house. Cody was waiting for her in a chair in the den, but used his walker to climb to his feet when he saw her. He had been out of the rehab hospital for one week, the leg and arm braces gone only three days. He still had to go to therapy daily, but his recovery was remarkable so far.
When Nyxie saw him dressed in his suit and tie, tears formed in her eyes. They had come so close to losing him, and now he was going to walk her down the aisle. The hairdresser had given him an asymmetrical cut to make his hair appear as if the shorter side was intentional and not the result of half of his head being shaved after the accident. In the two months since, his hair had grown about an inch, but the scar was still mostly visible.
Knowing how far he had come since that horrible day two months earlier, a lump the size of a tumbleweed formed in her throat.
“I love you, Cody.”
“You w-want me to barf?”
Nyxie had to laugh. With all of his deficits, Cody’s personality was intact. She silently thanked God, feeling sure that if there was a God, all the prayers for Cody’s recovery were answered.
In the distance, she could hear music being played as Declan’s cousin opened one of the French doors to the back yard, and held it open as Cody made his way out and down the single small step. He stepped aside to let Nyxie come out.
“Are you ready?” Nyxie asked, shutting the door behind her. When Jesslyn reached past Nyxie, she thought she hadn’t pulled the door closed all the way, but Jesslyn picked up a cane that was leaning against the wall. She handed it to Cody and set aside his walker. He looked up at Nyxie and grinned that adorable crooked smile at her.
It was the first time she had seen him get around without the walker.
Her eyes were so filled with tears, she could barely see as the music changed to the Wedding March and they began the slow stroll down the aisle.
Nyxie could make out the white wooden chairs on both sides of the blue carpet runner—six rows, five chairs wide. Most of the 60 chairs were filled up with Declan’s friends and family. Besides the kids, she only invited her boss, Bob, whom she had known nearly her whole life, and her former teacher, Mrs. North and her husband. Nyxie had felt obligated to invite her sister, despite her trepidations. Thankfully Melinda could not get out of rehab to attend.
She looked down the aisle and spotted Declan, but with one hand holding Cody’s arm tightly in case he should stumble, and the other holding the bouquet, she could not wipe her eyes to see him clearly. She knew he was wearing a black Armani suit with a slate gray necktie because he had shown it to her for her approval. She liked it when he wore dark colors because they made the gray-green of his eyes stand out.
It had been Declan’s suggestion that they did not need attendants—she wasn’t sure if it was because he understood she had no close friends, or if he was worried that Lotus and Reina would get their feelings hurt if she’d chosen one to be the maid of honor and the other a bridesmaid.
Cody and Nyxie stopped their progress a few feet from Declan.
“Who gives this woman?” the preacher asked.
“I d-do,” Cody responded.
Declan stepped forward to shake Cody’s hand.
“Did he say, ‘I doo-dooed?’” a male voice said in a stage whisper.
Declan’s eyes raised over Cody’s head and lasered in on who said it. He was easy to find with so many angry eyes focused on him. He couldn’t believe his parents had invited five of the men who had raped Melinda as teenagers.
“You need to leave,” Declan said.
“Dude, it was just a joke.”
“It wasn’t funny. He’s a twelve-year-old. You’re supposedly a grown man. He nearly died two months ago and has busted his butt in therapy to be able to walk his sister down the aisle. How dare you ruin his moment? All five of you need to go,” he said, sweeping his pointing hand along the row of his former teammates.
The one who spoke was the last to stand, but finally they filed out of the row. The last one, Melinda’s former boyfriend, Clete, stepped forward and held out his hand to shake Declan’s. “Congratulations. Sorry about Mark, he was always a jerk.”
When Declan made no indication he intended to shake his proffered hand, he turned to leave.
“Wait,” Lotus said. “Is your name Clete?”
Clete turned around and eyed the girl. There was no sign of recognition in his countenance. “Yeah, how did you know?”
“My mom showed me your picture. Are you my dad?”
“No,” he said, and turned to follow the others to the side gate. He took two steps further before turning back. “Who is your mother?” he asked, looking back to the front row where Lotus had been sitting with Reina and Kylie.
“Melinda Carmichael,” Declan supplied. “He’s not your father, Lotus. But when the adoption goes through, I’ll be your stepfather. You don’t need another father.”
The man took a long look at Lotus before turning and leaving. Declan watched until the men had gone through the side gate before turning back to Nyxie and Cody.
“Cody, what he said, tells more about what kind of person he is, than it does about you,” Nyxie was saying softly to Cody who was now sitting on the aisle seat of the front row. “I am so proud of you. Every person here, who knows you’ve been through, knows you’ve got the heart of a lion.”
The boy sniffled. “He had the mouth of one.”
“No, he doesn’t,” Declan said. “He’s got the mouth of a baboon.”
Cody chuckled through his tears. “He’s an asshole.”
Although it was his automatic response to give Nyxie a look to ask if she allowed him to speak like that, he did not voice it aloud.
“He’s gone. They’re all gone,” Declan said quietly, leaning closer to the boy. “It’s a good thing you’re so tough, Cody. I know you’re too strong to let idiots like that hurt your feelings.”
Cody sniffled and straightened his posture slightly. Nyxie had noticed Cody gradually warming to Declan. At first, he’d seemed almost leery of Declan. Who could blame him? He had awakened from his coma, and his sister suddenly had a man in her life. He quickly recognized that Declan was not like their father. Nyxie had worried that he might feel jealous of the time and attention she gave Declan, but quickly realized Cody thrived on the attention Declan gave him. When he was still in the hospital, Declan made an effort to go up to see Cody when Nyxie wasn’t there. He’d leave for work early so he could visit Cody before he clocked in. He might bring him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or a BMX magazine. He downloaded games on Cody’s phone and put in his credit card info so Cody could buy music. And when Cody needed motivation for his therapy, Declan was there to provide it.
So, when Declan said Cody was tough, he listened and tried to live up to his brother-in-law’s opinion.
“Are we good?” Declan asked, and Cody nodded his head. “Shake my hand, so I can marry your sister.”
“Again,” Cody said, placing his small hand in Declan’s large one.
“The first one barely counted since you weren’t there.”
Cody’s crooked smile beamed at him.
Declan turned to Nyxie. Seeing her eyes filled with tears, made his heart lurch in that way that was reserved only for her. His body had an immediate reaction to her vulnerability. He took her into his embrace and they stayed like that at the makeshift altar.
“We’re ready,” he said to the minister.
Nyxie moved to step back, but when she realized that Declan was not going to release her, she asked the preacher, “Is this okay?”
“It’s our wedding. We can do whatever we want.”
Nyxie looked to the clergymen for confirmation. He nodded and began the ceremony.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the joining of Declan Scott Stryker and Onyx Ebony Carmichael,” the preacher began. “Marriage is an institution….”
> Nyxie felt so nervous, she barely heard the man. She looked up at Declan, trying to find her center strength. The movement of her head caught his attention and he looked down at her. Seeing her pale expression, he smiled reassuringly. The pressure on her back increased and he rotated his hips slightly, making her aware of his desire for her. If he had hoped to distract her, it worked, but it also distracted Declan.
“The rings?” the preacher said, and Declan realized he had asked for it a moment earlier.
Declan reached his right hand into his pocket and pulled out her wedding ring and slipped it onto her thin finger. When he had taken it from her that morning, it was the first time she had removed it since putting it on. He placed her hand on his chest over his heart and held it there.
“With this ring, I thee wed,” Declan said, without prompting from the minister. “With my body, I will worship you. With all my worldly goods, I endow you. I pledge my fidelity, and my love. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward, till death do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance, I give you my pledge.”
Nyxie had to take a small step back to reach into the maxi dress’s pocket and retrieved his ring. It hung up slightly on his knuckle and he had to push it the rest of the way on. In imitation of the way he had held her hand over his heart, she opened his hand and pressed his palm over her collarbone, his long fingers touching her throat.
“With this ring…” Nyxie stopped and cleared her throat. “With this ring, I thee wed. With my body, I will worship you. With all my worldly goods, I endow you.” She stopped again and nearly giggled at how ludicrous that statement sounded in light of his millions. “I pledge you my fidelity, my trust and my love, to have and to hold, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honor, cherish, and obey, from this day forward, until death do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance, I give you my pledge.”
Nyxie was sure Declan could feel her heart pounding. She could tell by his expression that he understood that by letting him touch her throat, she was giving him her complete trust.
“You may kiss the bride.”
Declan ran his hand up her neck, his long fingertips weaving into her hair behind her ear and his thumb resting on her pulse point. His head lowered to hers. “I love you,” he whispered just before his lips met hers.
Nyxie tried to ignore the feel of his thumb resting in the hollow of her neck. Her heart was racing. She swallowed compulsively. She was about to shove him away when he removed it.
Only then did she become aware of the feel of his kiss. An involuntary moan escaped her lips as he fisted her hair. How could having her hair pulled make her sex clench and her nipples tighten into hard buds?
He released her hair as he pulled back. Her eyes fluttered open to find him looking intensely at her. Both of them were trying to get their heavy breathing slowed.
“What God has brought together, let no man tear asunder,” the preacher announced. “Ladies and gentlemen, may I present Declan and Nyxie Stryker.”
“Are you all right?” he whispered into her ear. “I thought you were inviting me to touch your neck.”
“I was. I thought I was ready.”
He kissed her again, briefly, before extending his arm and beginning their walk back down the short aisle. Nyxie’s eyes first fell on her kids sitting in the front row. They all looked happy, but across the aisle sat his parents. Roy looked disgusted and had his arms crossed over his barrel chest and Dorothea had tears in her eyes above tightly pursed lips. Nyxie looked away, unable to do anything to make his parents like her.
Junior Vaughn was there. She hadn’t expected him to be invited. He was just one more person who thought Declan was a fool for marrying her. And worse, in the months since she had agreed to remain Declan’s wife, they had bargained with her new lawyer a nuptial agreement in which Declan made numerous concessions with which his lawyer did not agree.
When they reached the back, the seats quickly emptied and everyone lined up to greet the newlyweds.
Declan made sure she was on his left side so he could keep his arm around her as they shook hands because he understood her discomfiture in social situations.
~*~
“Do you think I should ask your mom if she wants some help?” Nyxie asked after everyone had greeted them.
“It’s our wedding, I forbid you from lifting a finger.”
“But….” Nyxie sighed.
“What the…?”
Nyxie followed Declan’s gaze and found Clete had returned. “Go find Emily and hang out with her, while I go see what he wants.”
Declan hated to leave her alone when his parents were so close, but he refused to let Clete’s presence go unchallenged.
“I asked you to leave nicely,” he said as he neared his former teammate.
“Dude, that little girl dropped a bombshell on me that she might be my daughter, and then you want me to leave? I don’t want to ruin your reception; I just want to talk to Melinda. Is she here? I don’t recognize her.”
“Melinda is in rehab. We are adopting Lotus and her sister.”
“Rehab? Like drug rehab?”
“Yeah, can you blame her for turning to drugs after what you and your friends did to her?”
“Not me. I had nothing to do with it,” he said, holding his hands up in a halting gesture.
“That’s not what I hear. You lured her to the party—you got her shit-faced.”
Clete’s neck and ears turned red. “I couldn’t stop them. I didn’t know how. I loved Melinda. We’d been seeing each other for a couple of months, but I was ashamed to admit it, so we kept it quiet. There was an abandoned house where we used to meet and hang out. My brother, Rowdy, followed me there and caught us. He talked me into taking her to the party. I think someone slipped something into her beer. She only had one or two before she passed out. I didn’t know how to stop them.”
“You should have called the police.”
“On my own brother? On my friends?”
“They were raping the girl you supposedly loved.”
“I was a fourteen-year-old kid.”
“So was she.”
Clete’s guilt and distress showed clearly on his rugged face. His eyebrows had drawn together and he looked as if he was fighting his emotions as he pulled his full lips between his teeth. His eyes closed as his head pivoted to the side as if he didn’t want Declan to see him fighting his emotions.
“Any one of them could be that girl’s father,” Declan said flatly.
“Unless she was already pregnant. We had been having sex almost from the start. She had been acting weird, but she wouldn’t say what was wrong,” Clete said, his eyes looking past Declan. “She looks like Melinda.”
“Leave the girl alone. She doesn’t need to know you. You lost your opportunity to be her father when you stood by and let your brother and friends rape her mother.”
“But if I’m her father….”
“Don’t even think about getting into the middle of the adoption. I will destroy you.”
Clete took a step back. “No, I just want to… I just want to know. I want a paternity test.”
“Over my dead body.”
Running his hands through his hair, the man’s frustration showed clearly on his face. “Melinda told her, I’m her father. She has a right to know me if I’m her dad. Hell, I have the right to get to know her. I don’t even know her name.”
“Lotus.”
“Lotus,” he repeated as if trying out the name.
Declan stared at him stony-faced, so he couldn’t help but be surprised when the smaller man changed the subject.
“So, you married her sister, huh? Were you and Onyx together in school?”
Declan shook his head. “She was too young.”
Clete smiled. “But you liked her?”
A half-smile played on Declan’s lips. “From the fir
st time I saw her,” he admitted.
Chapter 29
Nyxie watched Declan long enough to be assured his confrontation with Clete was not going to be violent, before she sought out Emily.
“Are you having fun?” Nyxie asked, not really knowing what to say, but no longer feeling that awkwardness she felt around strangers.
“Don’t you know any single men?” Emily asked, looking around.
Nyxie shrugged. “His parents sent out the invitations. I only invited my boss and Cody’s English teacher.”
“So, his parents are the ones who invited the moron who ruined your ceremony?”
“Yeah,” she said, visually searching for Cody. He was sitting with Mrs. North at a table next to the swimming pool. She suspected they had invited Declan’s former classmates for the sole purpose of dredging up her past and embarrassing her. Did they expect Melinda to come? Did they want to see what would happen when she saw them? Would they have blamed her family for ruining the service? It wouldn’t have surprised her to find out they hoped to prove her family was trash by putting in place the tinder for a big fight.
“Is that his mother coming this way?” Emily asked.
Nyxie followed her gaze and saw Dorothea walking straight for them. “Oh, fuck me,” Nyxie said under her breath. Her neck pivoted to where she had last seen Declan and found him still engaged with Clete. “Please, don’t leave me alone with her.”
Nyxie resisted the urge to reach out and grab Emily’s hand to keep her from leaving.
“Mrs. Stryker,” Nyxie said, forcing a smile to her lips. “Thank you for letting us use your backyard. Everything was beautiful. I can’t believe what you accomplished in such a short time. Thank you.”
“It was rather fun organizing it—much like being in charge of the troops again.”
“We really appreciate it.” Nyxie tried to make her voice sound cheery to match her fake smile. She would just pretend the woman was an odious customer she hoped to get a tip out of.
“Well, Declan is our only child. We would do anything for him.”
Silently Nyxie added the words but not for me. Yes, she had noticed the unspoken jab, but she would pretend she had not.
The Love He Craves (The Love She Craves: Selling Her Soul to Declan Book 2) Page 27