“Crystal,” Katrina ground out.
Mavis beamed at her as though she were a dim student who’d just had a lightbulb moment. “Excellent. Now call Les and quit. And apologize.”
“What?”
Mavis gestured casually with her fingers. “Go on. Do it now.”
Looking as if she’d just eaten a plate of shit—which, for all intents and purposes, she had—Katrina reluctantly did as Mavis instructed.
She disconnected and glanced up, an odd expression on her face. “Why do you care so much about Les’s reputation?” she asked. “What’s he to you?”
Mavis smiled and lifted her chin. “He’s the finest man I’ve ever known, the best lover I’ve ever had and he’s the man I intend to marry.”
The image of Katrina’s gaping jaw entertained her all the way to Les’s house. He was waiting at the curb for her, umbrella in hand, when she arrived.
“How?” he asked simply once they were safely inside, his face a mask of astonished disbelief and relief.
Mavis merely shrugged. “It was simple enough,” she said. “I simply explained that she wouldn’t always have nothing to lose if her secret was revealed, and that I’d wait until I was certain that she was the happiest she’d ever been in her life, and then I’d ruin it for her.”
His lips twitching, Les cocked his head in mild astonishment and poured her a glass of scotch. “A diabolical solution,” he said, seemingly impressed. “Well played. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She took a sip, hesitated, her bravado slipping. “There’s something else,” she said, heat billowing up beneath her skin as his gaze drifted boldly over her. He lifted her hand, bussed the back of it with his lips then turned it over and pressed a hot, open-mouthed kiss into the center of her palm.
Her knees quivered, the tops of her thighs quaked and burned.
Good Lord, this man...
As usual, his gaze clung to hers, showing her how she affected him, never letting her forget how much he wanted her. How on earth had she lived in town with this man the majority of her life and not realized that he was the only one for her?
He arched a brow in a silent question, encouraging her to go on.
She gestured to his back porch. “Do you mind if we go outside?” she asked. “I love the rain.”
His fingers threaded through hers, as though he was reluctant to let her go, Les nodded and opened the door. Rain hammered the porch rooftop, pounded the lush green grass and made his flowers droop. He obviously spent a great deal of time out here, she thought, noting the comfortable chairs and small table. Jasmine grew in an arbor on the end of the porch, perfuming the sweet air, and another stand of it covered a small gazebo farther into the yard. It was lovely, almost like a park.
“I like this,” she said. “It’s lovely.”
She felt his gaze slide over her face, settle on her mouth. “I know a thing or two about lovely.”
All right, Mavis thought. It’s now or never...and never wouldn’t do. “Les, I’d like to amend our agreement again, if it’s all right with you.”
He stilled, looked up at her, his expression guarded. “Amend it? How?”
She sighed softly. “I’ve decided that simply promising exclusivity isn’t going to be enough for me, after all. I know that I’m the one who approached you, then set the rules, and then changed them, and now I’m wanting to change them again—” she shrugged helplessly, looked up at him from beneath her lashes “—but the idea of you ever being with another woman, ever so much as looking at one the way you look at me, makes my mind turn black with rage,” she said, her voice cracking with anger just thinking about it. “I’m jealous by nature,” she admitted. “So...” More terrified than she’d ever been in her life, she left her chair and knelt before him, startling him, as she squeezed his hand. “I guess what I need to know is...will you marry me?”
Heat and happiness warred for room in his gaze, then he lifted her up, swept her into his arms and hauled her through the rain out to the jasmine gazebo. He carefully set her down, letting her slide along the length of his body, then laid her down in the sweet, wet grass, cocooned beneath the fragrant vines and slowly, deliberately pressed a reverent kiss against her lips while he thrillingly yanked the sash of her rain coat open.
She was naked beneath it.
“You haven’t answered me,” she said, resisting the urge to preen beneath that hot stare. He sat back on his haunches, unbuttoned his shirt in that slow but methodical way of his then opened the snap at his jeans and freed his manhood. It jutted proudly from between his thighs, huge and wonderful and hard for her.
He entered her in one, fierce stroke, tearing a guttural, “Yes,” from his lips. “God, yes. A thousand times yes.”
14
“I’D LIKE TO BEGIN BY thanking you all for being here today,” Carl said, standing proudly with Sally and Colin at the entrance of the newly finished gazebo.
Eli longed to grab Shelby’s hand, thread her fingers through his, but had decided that it would be better to speak with Micah’s father about his feelings for Shelby after the dedication service.
“As you all know, Sally, Colin and I all lost a beloved member of our family nearly nine months ago, our oldest son, Micah. Micah was born and raised in Willow Haven, was christened in Our Lady of the Willows Catholic church, attended school here, played football for the Bobcats and, after college, went on to serve proudly for the United States Army. We love him, we miss him, and wish to honor his memory today by dedicating this beautiful gazebo—” he gestured widely with his hand “—to him, and to all the other veterans our fair town has produced and will continue to encourage.”
A round of applause rang out and Carl waited patiently for it to subside.
“I’d like to personally thank each of you who gave your time and your talents for this endeavor, especially my son, Colin,” he said, wrapping an arm around the boy. “And to a man who isn’t my son by blood, but of the heart, Eli Weston.”
A lump swelled in Eli’s throat and he nodded his thanks at Carl.
“While Sally and I were never blessed with a daughter, we found one in Willow Haven’s own Shelby Monroe. Though she and Micah decided to honor each other truthfully by ending their engagement, to us she was a part of our family and always would be. She designed this lovely structure for our son and for that, we are eternally thankful.”
Eli felt her tremble next to him, watched her swipe a tear away from the corner of her eye.
“So, without further ado,” he said, handing the scissors over to Colin for the ribbon cutting. “To Micah Holland, our son, your friend...a hero.”
Colin’s chest puffed with pride as he turned and snipped through the pretty yellow ribbon, and a collective cry of joy and applause rang out as the local high school band struck up a tune. The group disbursed, loading plates with food that Sally and her army of local cooks had prepared. Yesterday’s rain was gone and the sun shone brightly overhead, lightening the glorious blue sky.
Both Sally and Carl found him and hugged him tight. “We’re so glad that you were here,” Sally told him. “It’s meant more than you’ll ever know.”
It had to him, as well, for different reasons. While Carl and Sally shuffled toward the food line, Eli watched Colin stalk away from the square and head toward the direction of the Catholic church.
He knew exactly where the boy was going.
Eli caught Shelby’s gaze, nodded to Colin’s retreating figure and watched as realization dawned. She gestured significantly to Eli, encouraging him to follow the boy.
Eli purposely hung back for a minute, giving him a good lead, then quietly took off after him. Predictably, he found him at the foot of Micah’s grave, part of the yellow ribbon dangling from his hand. He wiped his face with the back of his hand.
“This sucks, bro. I didn’t want a damned memorial. I want my brother back.”
His throat tight and clogged with emotion, Eli stepped out from behind a tree. “I’
d like my friend back, too, Colin, but that’s not the way it works.”
Colin turned on him, eyes hard and wet with unshed tears. “Shut up,” he shouted. “You have no right to call him a friend. I saw you!” he exploded. “I saw you with her! He trusted you!” Colin came at him, fists wailing against Eli’s middle, and Eli let him pound away. “How could you? Bros before hoes, man. I’m thirteen and even I know the code!”
Eli grabbed his arms, forced him back. “Shelby isn’t a whore, Colin. No more letters, you understand?”
He blinked. “You knew it was me?” He jerked away from him. “Did you go to the police?” he asked, his eyes widening in alarm.
“No,” he said. “I didn’t.”
Colin seemed to wilt and shook his head. “I just don’t understand,” he said. “He was your friend. He loved you. And he loved her,” he said, his voice hard.
“That’s right,” Eli said. “And I’m not going to pretend that what you saw between me and Shelby meant nothing, because it did. We all loved each other, Colin, which I know is confusing for you because it’s been confusing for us, as well. But what you have to realize is that Shelby didn’t break things off with Micah because of me. She did it because she knew that she didn’t care for Micah as much as he cared for her. She didn’t want to marry him knowing that the affection was unbalanced between them.”
“She broke his heart.”
Eli hesitated, winced. “She bruised it, but he knew how she really felt, and he loved her enough to let her go, because he cared enough for her that he wanted her to be happy.” He paused. “And if Micah could do that, don’t you think you should be able to?”
He might as well be talking to himself, Eli thought, the truth crashing into him. Micah would have wanted her to be happy and, ultimately, he wouldn’t have given a damn where that happiness came from.
Colin twisted the ribbon around his fingers, then looked up. “Do you really think that’s what he’d want?”
“I know that’s what he wanted,” Carl said from directly behind them.
Startled, both Eli and Colin turned around.
“Because he told me so,” Carl finished. He laid a hand on his son’s shoulder. “Listen, Colin, I know this is difficult to understand—there are things that just simply aren’t going to make sense until you’re older—but Micah told me years ago that if anything ever happened to him, to give his blessing, and mine,” he added significantly, “to Shelby and Eli.” A faint smile tugged at his lips and his gaze lingered on Micah’s headstone. “He said he was too selfish to get out of the way on his own, but if providence intervened, to make sure that they stopped denying each other.” Carl glanced at Eli. “Why do you think Sally and I have been pushing you two together all week, why we insisted that you come here? We’re honoring our son’s wishes,” he said, his voice thick. “And ensuring that the pair of you stay in the family.”
Overwhelmed with emotion, his eyes burning, Eli walked over and wrapped his arms around Carl, who hugged him back just as tightly. “He wanted you to be happy, too,” Carl said. “My son was a good man.”
“He was,” Eli told him. “The best.”
Carl drew back, looked at him, unspoken gratitude in his kind eyes. “Thank you for being there for him,” he said. “What happened in Mosul...” He shook his head. “That was bad business, a load no man should ever have to carry. Pregnant women, dead babies...”
Eli stilled, a question forming. Did he know, then? But how could he know?
Carl slung his arm around Colin’s shoulder. “Come on, son. We’ve got a lot of food to eat.” He glanced at Eli. “And you should probably find Shelby, shouldn’t you? Don’t you have something to ask her?”
* * *
MAVIS STROLLED UP, her fingers threaded with Les Hastings. “Where’s Eli?” she asked, glancing around.
“He’s gone to speak with Colin,” Shelby told her. “My letter writer,” she added significantly.
Mavis’s eyes rounded right along with her lips. “Oh. Oh. Right.”
“I’m sure Eli will sort it out.”
“I’m sure he will, too,” she agreed. “By the way, I’m giving notice.”
Stunned, Shelby felt her jaw drop. “What?”
“Oh, I’m not quitting,” Mavis quickly assured her. “I meant for the apartment. I’m moving out.”
Shelby didn’t understand. “Moving out? Moving where?”
“1230 Windmere Street,” she said.
Windmere Street? But that’s where... She gasped, a smile sliding over her lips. She glanced at Les, who looked more than a little thrilled with the idea. “You’re moving in with Les?”
She nodded, pleased. That was a big step for Mavis, who’d always insisted that cohabitation had nothing to offer other than additional dirty laundry and more food preparation. That her friend was willing to do it for Les meant that she was genuinely smitten with him.
“Yes, I am,” she said. “But not until after we’re married. He’s a gentleman, after all, and is determined that we do things properly.” She frowned thoughtfully. “Though I should probably add that I proposed to him and insisted that I make an honest man out of him.”
“M-married?” Shelby repeated faintly. “Mavis you’re going to give me heart failure,” she admonished, laughing delightedly. “When are you getting married?”
“A week from Sunday. I’ll need a dress. I was hoping you’d—”
Shelby squealed and threw her arms around her. “Of course! Congratulations!” Excited, she hugged Les, as well, startling a chuckle out of him.
“Thank you,” he said.
Mavis’s eyes rounded. “Oh, did you hear the news?”
“There’s more?”
“Yes, Katrina Nolan has decided to leave town. She has a feeling her options will be better in a bigger city.”
Hmm. That was good news. She saw Mavis’s hand at work there and nodded at her, acknowledging her job well done. “I’m sure...someone, somewhere...will be sorry to see her go.”
Mavis glanced past her shoulder and she nodded. “I know someone who’s going to be sorry to see him go.” She leaned in. “A word of advice—don’t let him.” And with that parting comment, the pair of them turned and strolled away.
Anticipation making her nerves jump, Shelby pivoted to find Eli swiftly approaching. “Hey,” he said, smiling down at her. “Is there somewhere we can go talk?”
Shelby nodded. “My shop? I’m technically closed, so we should have some privacy.”
His fingers at the small of her back, Eli followed her across the street to the door. Her hands shaking so hard she could barely insert the key in the lock, she eventually managed to let them in.
“Let’s go back here,” she said. “I’ve got a little break room.”
While she’d always been good at reading him, she couldn’t draw anything from his expression, his tone, and it was making her crazy. She’d seen Carl head toward the cemetery, as well, and knew that Eli had to have spoken to him. And without Carl’s approval...
Shelby would like to think that he would be willing to risk the Hollands’ regard for her, but she just didn’t know. And she wasn’t even certain she could ask it of him, knowing that, like her, he had no other family.
The minute they were through the door, she turned around and looked at him. “Well? What happened? With Colin and with Carl?”
Eli released a breath. “Colin did see us the night of the anniversary party,” he told her. “He was understandably confused and upset and gave me the ‘bros before hoes’ speech.”
Shelby felt her eyebrows wing up her forehead. “What? I—”
His lips quirked and he stepped forward, taking her hand. “He realizes that you’re not a whore and, more importantly, he realizes that Micah loved you so much that he’d want you to be happy, regardless of who you were happy with.” He expelled a pent-up breath, his golden gaze deepening with emotion. “And it turns out...he wanted that person to be me.”
Shel
by sank onto the couch, her legs unwilling to support her. “What?”
“He told Carl,” Eli said, sitting beside her. He laid their joined hands on his knee, absently stroked her fingers. “That’s why they’ve been pushing us together this week. Because Micah knew, Shelby—he knew—and he told his dad that he was too selfish to give you up on his own, but if anything ever happened to him, to make sure that we were together, that we had his blessing.” He cleared his throat. “Their blessing.”
Numb with shock, her stomach quivering, Shelby felt her eyes fill with tears. “Micah,” she breathed. “Only Micah.”
He squeezed her hand. “And I’m glad that we’ve got his blessing, that we have the Hollands’, but it wouldn’t have changed anything if we hadn’t.” His gaze tangled with hers. “I love you, Shelby.” He gave a helpless little laugh. “I’ve loved you for years. You’re my It Girl, too.”
Bubbles of happiness fizzed through her, emotion overwhelmed her. “Your it girl, too?” she asked, confused.
Eli grinned. “That what Micah used to call you. He said that once he met you, that was it.” He lifted a shoulder. “I know exactly what he meant, because the same thing happened to me. You smiled and...that was it.”
Shelby rested her head against his. “What are we going to do, Eli? I don’t want you to go.”
“And I don’t want to go, but I have to,” he said, her heart squeezing at his words. “But I’ll be back in three months, when my contract is up, and I want to marry you in that gazebo you designed and I helped build for our friend. Will you do that, Shelby? Can you wait three more months?”
Shelby wrapped her arms around his neck, joy whipping through her, the promise of a future she never imagined she’d have suddenly lying out before her.
“I’d wait three more years if you asked it of me,” she said.
“So that’s a yes. Yes to marriage. Yes, to the gazebo.”
She nodded. “It is,” she breathed against his lips, then sealed the promise with a kiss.
Epilogue
The Rule-Breaker Page 14