by Violet Paige
“You don’t get to decide what I need. I decide what I need.” Her soft brown eyes were blazing. “I decided I needed you.” She held up her left hand. “Remember this deal we have? ‘Til death do us part?”
I closed my eyes. “It’s because of that. Because I love you. I see it right in front of us.”
“Today sucked,” she whispered. “But it sucked a little less because of you, Jer. Because you were there with me. There’s no one inside who could do what you did for me. I know that, because they were all I had when I went through this before. And I never felt better. I never let it go. I would have stayed home with gallons of ice cream.” She stepped toward me. “You do something they can’t do. You push me when I need to be pushed. You make me laugh. You do the things only a husband can do.”
“I was never supposed to be a husband.”
“I’m your wife, Jer. Yours.” She touched my arm. “I need you.”
There was so much fucking good in her. So much innocence. So much ambition to do the right thing. She was a product of this house. Of this family.
It hurt under my ribs. The thought of leaving her. It was as if someone had shoved a knife in my lungs. I couldn’t bear the thought of taking a step off this porch and telling Evie goodbye. It’s what I should have done. It’s what a good man would have done.
He would have walked away before he corrupted her anymore. Before he pulled her into the dark shadows that were behind every Hartwell curtain.
The door opened and the kids ran onto the porch. “Uncle Jeremy, it’s time for dinner.” Their munchkin voices rang as they erupted in giggles.
Evie looked at me. “Well?”
I pulled her against my chest, crushing her with a rough kiss. I drank from her lips like they were my last sips of water. Like I was a dying man, fulfilling his final wish. Like she was a life raft that could save me. She purred as my hands covered her body.
The kids started squawking, “K-I-S-S-I-N-G.”
I wanted to tell them to go back inside. I needed time with my wife. I needed to drown out the noise and the doubts. I did that best buried inside her. My cock throbbed for her.
“Jer,” she whispered, feeling how hard I was.
“Shit.” I pressed my forehead to hers. “I need you too. Now.”
She shook her head. “No way. We are going inside to eat the most amazing lasagna you’ve ever had and then we are going to beat my sister and her husband at trivia. And then, when we get back to the townhouse, if we have any energy left…” She turned to see that the children were out of ear’s distance. “…you can fuck me.”
“Damn.”
She tugged on my hand. “Let’s go. They’re waiting.”
I wasn’t ready yet. I grabbed her waist. “I’ll never leave you, Evie. I was just thinking out loud.”
“I know that.” She smiled. “We both have demons to face. But swear to me, no more talk about doing this on our own. You made me believe we’re a team.”
“We are.” I kissed her temple before we walked inside. “We are.”
13
Evie
I looked at myself in the mirror one last time before my father came to walk me inside the main dining room. It wasn’t like the dress I wore at the Magnolia Inn. It wasn’t a full bridal gown, but it was a designer I fell in love with in New York. I felt like a bride, even without the bouquet and the bridesmaids, or the layers of tulle. It was fitted all the way to my heels.
Dad knocked on the door. “Evelyn?”
“Yep. I’m ready.” I touched up my lipgloss and swung the door open.
It seemed less scary to do things this way. I wasn’t a bundle of nerves like my sister was on her wedding day. People should skip the scary ceremony part and jump straight to the reception from now on.
Dad held his arm for me. I wanted to walk into the room with Jer, but this entire weekend was about the Rossi family. I had to take the opportunities to mend fences where I could.
If he wanted to walk his daughter in, I’d let him.
Bella’s was closed for the night. The staff had converted the restaurant into our reception venue. I remembered a wedding here once when I was ten. I had watched the bride and groom from the kitchen window.
We didn’t have to introduce an entire wedding party. This was the only piece of the night that held any pomp and circumstance. As soon as we rounded the corner, I could hear the guests clap. I saw Jeremy standing near my mom.
He smiled as we approached. There was no minister. No Justice of the Peace. It was a simple transfer as Dad handed me off to my husband. Jeremy kissed my cheek.
“You look gorgeous.”
“Thanks.” I blushed.
I had spent the day trying to forget about the conversation we had on my parents’ porch last night. I got it. He was spooked. He was damaged. He was questioning everything around him. His family. Mine. But the one thing I wasn’t going to let him question was us. I dared him to try to pull that shit on me again. We were both wounded for different reasons and the only way to get through life, was together. I needed him in my corner and he had me in his.
“Do we have to dance now or something?” he whispered in my ear. Everyone was watching us.
“No. We can mingle and say hi. I’ll introduce you to the rest of the Rossi family.”
“Or we could skip that and I could take you to the basement. I know the best damn couch in this place,” he taunted. “It would be so easy to bend you over in that dress,” he growled.
My cheeks had to be a dark crimson by now. I shivered at his words.
By the time we got home last night it was after midnight. I didn’t know there was such a thing as falling asleep without having sex with Jer. The emotional roller coaster got the better of us.
Before we had morning coffee Frannie was on my doorstep, whisking me away for more girl time. I’d spent another day without my husband. I didn’t like the separation that Newton Hills caused. It was the first time I wanted to get back to New York. In New York we could be together all the time.
“I wish,” I whispered.
He threaded his fingers through mine. “Just say the word and I’ll barricade the cellar.”
I giggled. “I bet you would.” My panties were wet thinking about it. My core ached to have him inside me again.
“What’s so funny?” Frannie popped up next to us.
“Where’s Marcus?” I asked.
“He was paged. Some kid shoved a penny up his nose.”
Jeremy made a face. “They do that?”
“That’s nothing. Last week he had a call because a kid tried to put a pet goldfish in his sister’s ear and the mom was convinced she was going to have an ear infection.”
“I think I need a drink.” Jeremy pointed at me. “I’m guessing white wine with that dress.”
“Yes. Please.” I smiled, watching my sexy husband disappear to the bar.
“You shouldn’t be drinking, you know.” Frannie leaned in.
I threw her a warning glare. “Stop it. I already told you.” I didn’t want to share yesterday’s disappointment with her. With Jeremy in the picture, it changed how I looked at the process. It was our journey now. He was my partner in everything that happened.
“I know. I know. I’m only saying if you want to get pregnant, maybe cut out all the alcohol and caffeine. Start treating your body like it is pregnant.”
I stared at her. “I live for caffeine.”
“I know you do. It’s just a suggestion. I read a study in one of Marcus’s medical journals. Women who pretend they are pregnant are more likely to get pregnant.”
“Or be committed for being insane.”
“No. Just clean eating. Vitamins. Walks every day. Plenty of water. Do some yoga.”
“I’m healthy.” I defended myself.
She sighed. “You never asked me what I did for my three pregnancies. I’m telling you. I changed my lifestyle.”
Jeremy returned with a large glass of white wine. I too
k it, stared at my sister, and began to gulp.
She groaned. “Fine, don’t take my advice. But when he wants babies, don’t say I didn’t try to help.” She stormed off in her blue sparkly cocktail dress.
“What the hell was that about?” Jeremy watched Frannie.
I exhaled. “As usual my sister was trying to tell me what to do. She thinks I should give up alcohol and caffeine so I can get pregnant.”
“Really?” He sipped a glass of bourbon.
“Can you believe that? She has three kids. I know. We all know.”
“Let’s do it. Let’s try that.”
I blinked. “What?”
“I’ll do it with you. We used to do this in pre-season training. Cold turkey. Cut everything out. Nothing processed. No sugar.”
“That sounds terrible.”
“Oh it’s fucking awful.”
“Then why would we ever want to do that?”
“To have our baby.”
“Not tonight,” I warned. “I want this wine and all the wine I can handle.”
He chuckled. “Not tonight. I think there’s an expensive Malbec calling our name. But tomorrow?” He waggled his eyebrows.
I whined. “No coffee? There’s no way. I love coffee. I write with coffee. How can I think? How will I function?”
“One cup. We’ll start there.”
This was going to suck. I gulped the wine. “Oh, there’s Kelsey and Megan.” I saw my friends coming toward us with their husbands.
“Jeremy Hartwell,” Kelsey gushed.
“It’s been a while,” he answered, shaking the husbands’ hands. “Thanks for coming.”
“It was so good to see Evie yesterday at the luncheon. And now the party.” Kelsey looked at us. “This is awesome. Your parents are such great hosts. I can’t wait to try all the food.”
“Thank you.” I waited for Megan to say something.
“I think we’ll stop by the bar.” It was the only thing that came out of her mouth.
I didn’t have time to wallow. My aunts attacked us before I could catch my breath. They pinched Jeremy’s cheeks and squeezed him like he was a marshmallow. They had decided to ignore the fact that he was the town’s only celebrity. Tonight, he was the cutest new member of the Rossi clan.
We moved through the guests, stopping to talk to neighbors and friends. Jeremy had an incredible memory. For someone who hadn’t lived in Newton Hills in years, he didn’t forget anyone’s names or faces. He was like a walking yearbook.
We paused, gearing up for another table when I saw his eyes move to the front door. The light in his expression was snuffed out. The smile was gone. The shimmer in his blue eyes. All of it was instantly dark.
“Jer?” I followed his gaze.
“What is she doing here?” he asked.
I didn’t set the guest list. I didn’t plan the party. It never occurred to me who my mother and Frannie would include. I had asked Jeremy if he wanted to invite anyone and he was adamant that he didn’t need any names on the list. I never felt the need to get involved, but that was a mistake.
I felt him stiffen next to me. I prayed under my breath that our beautiful reception wouldn’t become another victim of the Hartwell family feud. Because there was nothing I could do now. I wasn’t going to make a scene. I wasn’t going to threaten her.
I couldn’t humiliate my mother-in-law.
Sylvia Hartwell stood in the doorway as if she owned the place.
14
Jeremy
I clenched my jaw. What the fuck did my mother think she was doing? I started toward her, but Evie’s hand slid against my palm.
“Don’t,” she whispered. “Ignore her. Don’t play into whatever this is.”
I looked at my wife. She was the complete opposite of the woman who raised me. She was also right. My mother wasn’t here to bestow her blessings on our marriage. She was here to sow chaos and upheaval. Walking out of here as if she had thrown a match on gasoline would make her sleep better tonight. I couldn’t give her that kind of satisfaction.
I wouldn’t let her ruin this for the Rossis. I had no doubt they had good intentions when they asked her to attend, but they didn’t know that woman like I did.
I tugged Evie’s hand. “I think it’s time we finally have our first dance.”
She nodded. “I’d love to.”
I twirled my gorgeous wife on the dancefloor. The tables that were usually in the middle of Bella’s dining room had been cleared out of the restaurant. There was plenty of space to dance on the hardwood floor.
I held Evie’s body next to mine as we moved to the music.
“Did we dance at prom?” I asked.
“You know very well you never asked me to dance with you.”
“I should have asked you. Prom night would have been fun.”
She giggled. “I graduated high school a virgin, you jerk.”
I spun her out and brought her back to my chest. “Don’t say things like that,” I warned. “It makes me want to christen other virgin parts of your body.”
The embarrassment was all over her face. I pulled her hand to my heart and rocked slower.
“Jer.” She bit her lower lip.
“Come on, it’s keeping me distracted from the grenade that just walked in here. Play along, Evie. Talk dirty to me so I forget what’s at the door.”
She nodded. “Ok. I want to help you. I’ll distract you however you want. You do like your games.”
“If they involve what we’re talking about, I fucking love them.” I nipped at her ear. I had to be careful or I was going to put on display just how hard she made me. I couldn’t tame my cock like this. Not with the idea of taking Evie’s sweet rosebud tonight.
“So if I did agree to this. To losing the last strand of my virginity. Hypothetically. Only hypothetically. You think I’m ready for it?”
My lungs were almost crushed from the question. My one hand strayed below her waist, coasting over her round ass. “Yes. You’re definitely ready back here.” I moved my hand before anyone saw me. Luckily, the dance floor was more crowded once we had started dancing.
“Ready for all of it?” she teased, sucking her lip against her teeth. “Every inch?”
This game was fucking hot, but it was also dangerous. My cock was another pulse away from being at full attention.
“Do you want the full ride?” I taunted.
Her eyes locked on mine. “Yes,” she whispered.
I wanted to throw her over my shoulder and storm down the cellar steps. We could fuck each other senseless. We could fuck until her dress was tattered. Fuck until tomorrow. Until the jet was ready to take off.
“You are killing me.” I dug my fingers into her hips. “Do you feel how hard I am?”
Her innocent eyes widened. “That’s for me?”
“You realize when we get out of here tonight I’m going to fuck you like it’s our wedding night. You remember our wedding night, don’t you?”
She gulped. “I do.”
This wasn’t like the last time I was in Bella’s. I couldn’t pay the band to stop playing or bribe the guests to leave with a wad of cash. We couldn’t shut the place down and find solace in each other’s bodies. We had to be a respectable pair of newlyweds. For Evie, I’d attempt patience.
I had to wait for everyone to leave before I could take my bride home.
The song ended and the crowd dispersed while a new set of dancers walked onto the floor.
I looked over, noticing Mrs. Rossi speaking to my mother. I hated to think of the web of lies being spun over there.
“I think I need to step in.” I motioned to Evie. “Maybe I can convince her to leave.”
“I’m going with you.” She was on my heels. “I don’t want it to get ugly, Jer.”
“Mother, what brings you to this part of town?” I greeted her, letting Mrs. Rossi finish her conversation before she walked to another guest.
“I’d never miss my only son’s wedding reception.�
�� She held her pearls and looked around. “It isn’t where I would have held it, but—”
“Shut up.” I dared her to say something nasty about Bella’s.
Evie wiggled closer to me. “Hi, Mrs. Hartwell.”
“Evelyn is it?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I should congratulate you on joining the family. Being a Hartwell is prestigious in Newton Hills. Our family name means something here.”
“Mother, stop it. Evie’s parents are trying to do something nice for her. For us.”
Her eyes landed on Evie’s flat belly. “No babies, yet?”
If she had been a man, she’d be flat on her back by now after I pummeled her with my fist, but I’d never hit her, no matter how vicious she was.
“Jeremy and I are looking forward to starting a family soon.” Evie’s voice was sugary sweet. “But we’ve been trying to come up with grandparent names. What do you think? Should the kids call you Nana? Or would you like something more downhome and fitting with our little town? MeeMaw? You could definitely pull off MeeMaw. Let’s call that a decision made.”
Mrs. Rossi returned. “Did I hear talk about grandchildren? You know that’s my favorite topic. What did I miss?”
Evie smiled at her mother. “Mom, we were saying one day. One day, we’ll have kids. No announcements tonight.”
“It’s never too soon to have a family. Don’t you agree Sylvia? Grandchildren are the best. Marco and I have so much fun spoiling them. I bet they would love visiting you at the Hartwell House.”
It took a lot to shut my mother up. Somehow the Rossi women had managed to do it. I was impressed. Who knew babies scared the hell out of her? She had a lot of reasons to fear my heir, but this exchange highlighted more than a financial loss. There was something wrong with her. I’d known it my entire life. Could it be she truly despised children?
“Lucinda, it was kind of you to invite me. I think I’ll tell Marco goodnight and head out.”
“But you just got here,” Mrs. Rossi protested.
She shook her head. “It looks like the dancing has begun and I’m short a partner. I don’t think I could sit like a wallflower or dance. Either case would be unpleasant.”