Love Renewed (Entwined Hearts #3)

by Maria Macdonald

  “Really?” he asks me.

  “She’s his person,” Saul relays, and I smile, saying nothing.

  “Fuck, I mean…I figured, but you never said.” Con looks back at the elevators then to me. “Has she remembered anything?” he asks and it causes my stomach to twist. I shake my head no but say nothing. They know how much I wish she could remember.

  “So what are we doing tonight?” I turn my attention to Con. As Saul’s best man I figured he has the night planned.

  “I hate to say it man, but I didn’t have a choice in tonight, shithead here decided the whole thing,” Con tells me nodding his head at Saul, who’s smirking.

  “Oh shit Saul, what did you decide?” I ask

  “Simple. We follow the girls,” he says winking.

  “Fuck. Do you want to be the only person who pre-organises their wedding in Vegas, to have the bride not turn up because you’ve been a dick?” I ask.

  Saul rubs his temples. “Have you seen the shit they’re wearing tonight?” he replies to Con and me. We both turn to look at him and I’m pretty sure we’re wearing matching expressions of confusion.

  “You guys seen Pretty Woman?” he asks looking between us.

  “No. Last time I checked I have a dick,” I reply.

  Con laughs, pointing to me. “What he said.”

  “Fuck you both.” Saul scowls. “Actually, no, this is good. We can go somewhere different from the girls tonight. We’ll go to that club we saw…Tryst, I think it was called. The girls are going to another club called XS. There, that’s decided. Now, I can’t wait for the three of them to come down in their outfits—”

  “Outfits?” Con asks, and Saul smirks.

  “Oh no,” he replies shaking his head with a smirk. “You asked for it. I figured you’d both want to be within spitting distance of your women tonight. But you’ve taken the piss out of me, so now I’m going to watch your faces when you see them, and then I’ll laugh knowing that you’ll be thinking of those damn dresses all night, not to mention the men who’ll be taking notice. And all because you were both smartarses.”

  I say nothing, wondering what the fuck they’re going to be wearing, but Con laughs at Saul.

  “I’ve seen Pea in some sexy shit over the years I’m pretty sure I can handle it cave-boy,” he mocks Saul with a play on Soph’s nickname for him and I can’t help but laugh. However, I nearly choke on my own mirth when the elevator catches my eyes. The doors open and Nova, Soph and Pea, step out. Or what looks like three very, very, fuckable hookers get out.

  Shit.

  Gulping, I look toward Con, whose eyes are wide. He looks like he’s also swallowing a boulder. Saul narrows his eyes at the girls and his jaw ticks.

  I turn to Nova, keeping my eyes on her. She’s wearing a lycra dress, but the sides are cut out and pulled together in the middle by a silver metal ring. All three of them are wearing the same. Different colours, but the same dress. Soph and Pea are wearing thigh high black fuck-me boots, but Nova—no—she likes to be different. She’s wearing a pair of high top pink converse, and fuck, if I don’t feel my dick straining against the button fly of my jeans.

  Looking back to the guys, I smirk at their faces. Con is still not looking happy, the muscle in his cheek flexing with contained frustration and Saul has changed from laughing cave-boy to fire spitting caveman. I look back at the girls who are getting closer, checking out their men and narrowing their eyes.

  It’s time to intervene before world war three begins. I get up from my seat and walk to them stopping a few strides before they arrive at our table.

  “Ladies, you look beautiful,” I tell them, my eyes catching theirs and then landing on Nova and sticking.

  “Beautiful. Hmm, not sure that’s the adjective I would have chosen,” says Nova with a wink. “Provocative, titillating, salacious, those are more appropriate. No?”

  I smile down, wrapping my arms around her, then crash my lips onto hers, not giving a fuck that I’m in a five-star hotel bar. As I pull my head back from her mouth, lean to the side and whisper in her ear, “When you’re out tonight I want you to think about my tongue, in your mouth, sucking on your breasts, and then my head buried in between your thighs, because that’s what I’ll be thinking about all night. The next night we spend together, I’m going to make that promise a reality. I know if you keep that in mind, then any guy who hits on you tonight, will see my promise in your eyes. The promise of something they can’t give you. I will always give you promises, but only ones I can fulfil.” Stepping back from her is hard. But I’m not like my little brother, I have to trust that she can take care of herself. Otherwise, being with me will never be healthy for her. I will always step in. I will always protect her. But I have to do it when it’s needed. Not by being an overbearing arsehole.

  The chatter between our group takes about twenty minutes to die down. Then the girls all look to each other before Soph announces that they’re going. We say goodbye. As they leave, I grab Nova and pull her to me.

  “I promise you that I belong to you. Always have. And will forever.”

  She opens and closes her mouth until Soph comes back and grabs her arm pulling her away from me. She turns her head at the last minute and I smile. She rewards me by kissing the palm of her hand and blowing it to me. I shake my head and chuckle.

  “Isss not like that, I jus wanna see shes allkay,” Saul slurs.

  “Allkay?” Con mouths.

  “I think he means okay,” I answer and Saul jumps back in.

  “Yezz, daz what I say, allkay…she could be wiff a drunk dick.”

  I raise my eyebrow at him. “The only drunk dick she’s gonna get stuck with anytime in the near future is you little brother,” I tell him with a grin.

  Saul mutters to himself and I chuckle. We’ve been at this club for three hours and he’s had six beers, all followed each time by two chasers, and on top of that he’s now moved onto tequila.

  “Fuck man,” Con says rubbing the back of his head. “Maybe we should get him back. I mean shit, what if he’s not okay to get hitched tomorrow?”

  “He’ll be fine. Remember they’re not getting married until tomorrow evening. If he isn’t okay by then…well, I’d deny that he’s my brother, because fuck…my genes are stronger than that,” I say with a chuckle. Both Con and I have had a lot to drink, but we’ve not been stupid enough to chase them with shots or to drink tequila. Con has to be alert for baby Eleanor tonight because knowing Soph, she has probably gotten Pea drunk. The thought does send a stab of panic through me, worrying that all three of them may be drunk, maybe getting themselves into precarious situations. Shit. Now I’m worrying like a little prick.

  “Hey.” The feminine voice comes from my right so I look over. The blonde standing next to me is gorgeous. Long hair, slightly curly. Big bronze coloured eyes. Pouty lips and a killer body. I smile because I’m not rude. This would have been the sort of woman I’d have hooked up with before Nova. I know I could have her on a plate. Her friends stand to one side. I can see them eyeing up Con, not quite as forward as she is, therefore not willing to make a move to him. It’s pretty obvious Saul’s out of the running for them now, as he’s sitting at the bar with his head on the counter, mumbling incoherently.

  “Hi,” I answer, saying no more.

  “You in Vegas for fun?” she asks, the tone in her voice confirms what I already knew.

  “Yeah. My brother’s stag,” I reply nodding toward Saul, who I’m pretty sure is now dribbling.

  She giggles and then places her hand on my right bicep. A very obvious move on her part. “He looks like he’s having fun. I love your accent. British accents are the best!”

  I take a step away from her arm, letting it drop, her eyes narrow before she quickly allows the look to pass. “I’m sure we could have more fun together, my girls over there…” She points to her friends at the bar. The redhead is now nearer to Con, who’s shooting off ‘leave me the hell alone’ vibes. “We could all hang out a b
it. The brunette, Lacey, has just split from her boyfriend, so Aubrey—that’s the redhead—and me, I’m Sasha by the way, we thought it would be good to take her to Vegas for a break.”

  “It sounds great, but I’m afraid I have a girlfriend,” I say and her eyes flash with resolve, she’s ready to fight to get me into bed. It makes her seem desperate, there are a ton of men who’d gladly take care of her needs, but some women become more determined to get you into bed when you say that you’re taken, like a challenge. I’ve used the excuse before, of course, back then I was lying. But I’ve said it before to get a woman to back off. Ended up fucking her, then her friend the night after.

  I’m too old for this shit.

  “What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her,” she tells me seductively.

  “Yeah, but what she does know might hurt you, especially if that girlfriend punches you repeatedly in the face,” Nova announces stepping in front of me. I can’t help but smirk at my little firecracker. I move my hands and place them on her shoulders, feeling her tension.

  The blonde, what was her name…Sarah? Saffron? Fuck…Sasha that’s it. She looks Nova up and down and I can see Pea and Soph pulling the boys away, trying to get them out of the club and I know why. ‘Cause shit’s about to kick off and we need to get away before someone ends up in trouble, that’s the last thing we need with the wedding tomorrow.

  “I didn’t realise your taste was whore, sorry, if I’d have known I would have dressed appropriately,” Sasha says and before I have a chance to do anything, Nova moves at lightning speed and punches the blonde square in the cheek. I hear the crack and know that she’s going to have a shiner tomorrow. I watch almost in slow motion as Sasha stumbles backward clutching her face, tears stinging her eyes. Nova tries to move forward again, I grip her, spinning her body to face me and before she realises what’s happening I lift her up, throwing her over my shoulder, fireman style and run, literally run out of the club. Once outside I can’t see the other four anywhere, but I can hear the bouncers coming so I sprint down the street with Nova still over my shoulder.

  “Seriously, I can run big guy,” she tells me with a slight slur. I don’t say anything, but when I think we’re no longer being followed, I slow down to a walk, still not dropping her down. Nova reaches down and grabs my bum cheeks in her hands.

  “Mmm…you have a tight ass, big guy.” I smile but say nothing. She continues to squeeze my arse, massaging my cheeks and it’s kind of uncomfortable while I’m trying to walk. I smack her arse.

  “Yum, I bet you love slapping my butt, huh?” she says still rubbing her hands over my cheeks.

  “Are you gonna stop grabbing at me?” I ask.

  “Nah uh,” she answers like a child and I can feel her shaking her head no.

  “Come on funny lady, I need to get you back to the room so I can rescue Soph from a very drunk Saul, and she can get some beauty sleep before her wedding day,” I say smacking her arse lightly again.

  “Why didn’t you marry Soph?” she asks and my body jolts.

  “Why would I?” I reply, my voice tight.

  “I know you dated, it’s not a secret between our group and it shouldn’t be either. It’s just she’s so beautiful and funny and feisty, and I don’t know why you wouldn’t have wanted more than a relationship with her,” she mumbles.

  “We never had a relationship. We were dating, I’ll give you that, but that’s all it was,” I answer hoping that’s the end of it.

  Of course, it isn’t.

  Firstly this is Nova so she will ask whatever she wants, and secondly she’s drunk, so it’s like Nova in stereo. “But dating or not, I still don’t get why you wouldn’t make it more?” she asks me.

  “Because she wasn’t you,” I snap. “Because she wasn’t you,” I repeat in a whisper this time.

  Nothing more is said although Nova still continues to squeeze my bum and randomly giggle as we make our way back to the hotel. When we arrive, I call her name but quickly realise she’s asleep. Making my way through the hotel, the night receptionist eyes me quizzically when I tell her that the woman over my shoulder fell asleep. But then she quickly laughs and nods as Nova proceeds to snore, loud enough to wake the whole hotel. When I arrive at our room, I move to the bedroom and place her on the bed, pulling off her dress and shoes. I tuck her in and sit on the edge. She shuffles in her sleep, laying on her side in the foetal position. Stroking her hair behind her ear, I sit and watch her. She’s like a dream come to life for me. A second chance at the me that I lost all those years ago.

  “I love you,” I whisper. Then leave to sort out my brother so his bride can have a peaceful night.

  Oh, shit me…no…this can’t be me. I haven’t done this for years. I pry one eye open. Oh Lord deliver me from this white light currently blinding me, it’s trying to kill me. Ugh!

  I hear the bedroom door thunder open and manage to put my finger over my mouth, but as soon as I make a “shh” sound, it feels like I have a thousand belly dancers jiggling their bits in my head.

  An earthquake type rumble comes from my side. I open one eye slightly and see Dane laughing at me. I wish I could junk punch him a few times. I’m not sure I could move anything at the moment, though.

  “You need to have some water Nova and Advil. I got some for you. If you sit up I’ll help you take it,” he tells me. Does he think I’m a fucking contortionist? ‘Cause right now that is the only way my head is moving from this pillow. I don’t want to speak, so I give him a dirty look out of my one open eye. Which seems to make him laugh more. Realising this is a losing battle, I apprehensively reach my arm out to him. Dane seems to work out what I want when he holds me with one hand and slips the other around my back, easing me into a sitting position. Gently he releases my arm and grabs the Advil placing two on my outstretched tongue. Even that feels like fucking sandpaper in my mouth. Leaning back he clasps the bottle of water and brings the open top to my mouth, helping me drink it like a baby.

  “More,” he rumbles when I stop drinking and I finally open my other eye just to shoot him daggers. He smirks but doesn’t move the bottle. I roll my eyes.

  Oh, Satan’s asshole, what fresh hell is this?

  Why the fuck did I roll my eyes?

  Douchebag. Ugh. Okay, just breathe.

  After a moment composing myself I drink more water. With Dr-fucking-Dane satisfied he lays me back down so I can pull the covers over my head and burrow. Hopefully, I’ll feel more human and less drunken whore-tits when I wake back up.

  “How is she?” Soph asks frowning.

  I take a seat on the sofa opposite her. “She’ll be fine by tonight.”

  “I hope so. I want her to be a bridesmaid. I didn’t tell her…do you think I should have?” she asks.

  “Since when are you so indecisive and worried Tink?” I question watching her bite at her fingers. “Stop biting your fingers, if you break a nail you’ll go all female crazy bitch,” I say and she laughs.

  “Sorry. It’s just Pea and I talked about surprising her when we got over here. I didn’t think it was right that your person, and one of our family members, wasn’t involved in our day. We have no guests remember? And I don’t count Eric and Rich as they will be standing with Saul and me and looking after Eleanor. I didn’t want Nova sitting on her own.” I feel my heart swell, yet again, for this amazing woman in front of me.

  “My brother is a lucky fuck,” I tell her with a smirk.

  She nods. “Yep, you both are.”

  “Ain’t that the truth,” I reply looking back toward the bedroom.

  “How are things going with the two of you?”

  “Well, I told her I loved her last night.” Her eyes widen at my omission. “She was asleep,” I add.

  “You know you only earn brownie points if you tell her when she’s awake, right?” she mocks.

  “Yeah. The truth Tink is that I’ve never stopped loving her. So telling Nova comes easily to me. But I can’t risk scaring her off. She’s not ther
e yet, and honestly, I think it’ll be a while until she is. You have to remember to her this is a new relationship, so it’s natural that she will take a normal amount of time to fall in love with me. If she could remember it might be different, but for now,” I shrug my shoulders, “I’ll do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes.”

  Soph gets up from her seat and comes to sit next to me. She’s in her PJ’s as it’s only just after nine in the morning. I wanted to check on Nova, and Soph was already awake as I could hear gentle movement in the room. She pulls her legs up, resting her heels on the edge of the sofa. Wrapping her arms around her shins she lays her cheek on her knees so she’s facing me.

  “She’s the lucky one really. To have someone who will go to the ends of the earth for her. Someone who would die for her. Someone who has already decided if it’s not her, then it’s nobody.” I flinch at her words and turn away, looking out the window instead. I clamp my teeth down and grind them, trying to ease the tension I feel. “There’s nothing wrong with what you feel, what you would do. Anything that’s real is worth fighting for. Because without it…well, you’re nothing. Just an empty shell.” She sighs and I look back to her. Soph sits silently for a few minutes before she whispers, “I just want you to know Dane. As we sit here, alone. I want you to know that you’re worth it. That you’re worth it too. Don’t sell yourself short, don’t give up on yourself. I can see you, I have seen you. When you don’t know, maybe even little glimpses that nobody else has. The little moments that you don’t like people to see. And Dane, whatever it is that you think of yourself…and I know it’s not good…whatever it is, you’re wrong. I can see. I see you and you’re beautiful, inside and out. And I love you, Dane. We’re all lucky to have you in our lives. And to be clear. Crystal clear. We would die for you, each one of us would die for you too.”

  Nodding I get up. I can’t speak. I feel my head throbbing with contained emotion. I’ve been stripped bare by Tink. I need to get to the gym. Or shoot something. No gym, definitely the gym. I lean down and kiss her cheek, squeezing her shoulder. She pats my hand and I make a quick exit. Scared shitless that the ones I care for the most are starting to pick me apart, starting to see beneath my surface.