“Do it!” I gasp, squeezing him. We’ve just started it, and I love the feeling as Hayden shudders before his eyes roll up and he comes deep inside me. The sensation pushes me over and I come again, biting my lip hard as I tremble and squeeze him, not wanting a single drop of his precious seed to escape me. Sure, I might be on the pill still, but it doesn’t really matter. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
I collapse onto Hayden’s chest, letting him wrap his arms around me and hold me close as our hearts slow down. After a few minutes, I kiss his chest, looking up at him. “Are you sure we’re doing the right thing? I’m scared they’re gonna trick us somehow.”
Hayden strokes my back, kissing the top of my head before replying, “I know, babe, and maybe someone will try to trick us. I mean, it’s been four months and the press is still hounding us. The best way to get everyone off our backs is to do one special interview, answer their questions, and then tell them to leave us alone. We can do this . . . together. No tricks, just answer and get it over with, and then we can get on with our lives.”
He’s right, and I know it. I’m just nervous and don’t trust Meredith or anyone from the media. The way the producers and some of the media tried to drag us through the mud was really shitty in the aftermath of the reunion show, and I’ve been called a wishy-washy slut on the cover of more tabloids than I can count. For a while, I had to stop shopping at one of my favorite local stores because of the number of magazines with my name and face plastered on the front of them.
But the fans have been great, mostly telling me that I should’ve picked Hayden all along and blasting the production for playing favorites for ratings. Still, the Season Two premiere numbers don’t lie, and all of those same fans telling me they hate how I got played are totally watching.
Yeah, Season Two . . . a full season pickup this time, although not with Hayden. And not with Lee either, which apparently pissed him off enough to post a rant on his YouTube channel that went viral. He went full nutso as he tried to play the jilted lover, but most folks now see him as the conniving player who almost manipulated his way to a win. The last time I cared to check, he’d lost half of his Instagram followers, and most of those who left seem to enjoy flaming the hell out of anything he posts.
The Season Two Match is actually Cody, and I wish him well. Maybe he’ll find someone. I just hope he’s careful. That big body with all those muscles and Southern drawl is one thing, but I got the feeling, watching the premiere episode, that there are more than a few gold diggers in the bunch.
With a sigh and crossed fingers, we get up and get ready, arriving at the studio just a few minutes before call time. McKayla and Brad are there to do my hair and makeup. I’d planned to just use the studio team, but Brad had acted completely offended that I would dare let someone else touch my face, telling me that they’d be here with bells on . . . quite possibly, literally, knowing him.
The first thing McKayla does when she sees me is give me a big hug, squeezing me so tightly I think my damn ribs are going to crack. “Damn, girl, we do still talk on the phone, you know. I ain’t a stranger!”
“Yeah, well, I haven’t seen you in months and you’re the most normal friend I have. Brad doesn’t count.”
I laugh, giving Brad a hug too. “You behaving yourself?”
Brad laughs, giving me a kiss on each cheek. “Now you know better than that.”
“I guess I should know that,” I tease back, sitting down.
“All right, my little chickadee . . . time to make you fabulous!” McKayla says with a grin, grabbing her tools. As they work their magic, we catch up, with me telling them about how I returned home and to my nanny gig. The kids didn’t see the show, but I had some interesting conversations with my bosses. Mindy especially wanted all the dirty details . . . and I do mean dirty.
“I really didn’t know that she had such a naughty streak to her!” I remark, making Brad chuckle. “What?”
“Honey, I hate to tell you, but me and Mindy’s sister Roxy go waaaaay back. I know all about Mindy’s naughty side. Next time you see her, ask her if she’s taken any dogs for walks on the beach recently.”
I raise an eyebrow at the mysterious comment, but I just wave it off. I probably don’t even want to know what that means. “Anyway, I took the opportunity, and the little bit of money I’ve made from the show, to return to school. It’s a few nights per week, but I’m making great grades and should graduate with my teaching degree in less than two years since my previous classes counted. It’s weird being the oldest in the class and having some level of recognition. Although with Season Two premiering, the other students have finally stopped asking me questions about the show.”
“I bet,” McKayla says. “By the way, I’ve got some news too. Well, we both do.” She looks at Brad as they grab hands.
I laugh, holding up my hands “Please don’t tell me you’ve fallen in love, because I’m not sure that’s how this works. Although you would be the two most fabulous brides I’ve ever seen.”
Brad grins and gives me a wink. “Oh, hell no, I am never marrying this salacious slut. No, girl, McKayla’s my bitch and all, but she’s not exactly sporting the right parts for me, if you know what I mean.”
McKayla laughs and pats Brad on the butt. “Yeah, I think we get what you mean. You’re not very subtle at all. But no . . . that’s not what I was gonna say.”
McKayla takes a big breath, then gushes out, “We’re leaving the show. Brad and I, we’re opening our own studio, be our own bosses and all. Some weddings, some contracts for fashion week or photo shoots, regular clientele of bottle blondes, and whoever else rolls in the door. Just striking out on our own.” She smiles warmly at Brad. “Figured there was nobody else in the world I wanted to throw insults at all day.”
I grin, getting out of my chair to hug them both again. “That’s awesome! I’m so happy for you!” We hug as I thank them again for everything they did. “You know, I never really thanked you two lunatics for helping Hayden and me sneak around, holding me when I broke down, and helping me get back up again. I really hope you know that I love you both.”
“Right back atcha, chica,” McKayla says.
Chapter 28
Hayden
Emily and I sit down across the interviewer, the audience still applauding like crazy. The second episode of Matchmaker: Season Two just finished showing, and we’re live in the studio. I know Emily’s a little nervous, but that’s okay. I saw Meredith as I walked onto set. As long as she’s getting ratings ,she’s not upset, and from what I’ve seen after two episodes, Cody’s gonna do just fine. If anything, the scenes of his workout routine are probably going to be a hit with the ladies.
“Well, guys, it’s so good to see you again,” the host says, giving us a warm smile. “Last time you were here, you certainly surprised me.”
“WE LOVE YOU GUYS!”
The host chuckles as Emily blushes and I grin. “Seems you have some fans.”
We just smile. I mean, honestly, what do you say to that? The interview starts, with the host asking all the same questions about the Matchmaker show, and we recap the same answers we’ve always given. Maybe they’re just doing it for the people who missed the first season—“Out now on streaming services!” the host reminds everyone—but in some ways, it feels like they’re trying to catch us messing up. But our story is simply the truth. We fell in love in the midst of craziness, even with people engaged in heartless manipulation all around us.
“I know that the situation isn’t quite what the show started off as,” Emily says, downplaying that a bit now because the show doesn’t want us to ruin the next season. Honestly, we just want them to stop calling us, so it’s fine. “But I don’t think it has anything to do with the show itself. I bet that Cody is going to have a great chance to find a beautiful young woman who’s going to become to him what Hayden means to me.”
“Speaking of becoming, what have you two been up to individually? Now, Hayden, I kn
ow you like to focus on Emily, but what about you? What have you been up to?”
I reach out and take Emily’s hand. “Well, I was invited to Paris Fashion Week. We Skyped every night, but it was fun. Mostly, just me exhausted from the stress of backstage and her yawning from a full day with the kids and class notes.” The audience chuckles. “But really, it’s the best time of my life.”
Emily grins. She knows that I’ve adjusted just fine to being a ‘small town’ sort of guy. “He’s doing New York week too, and it’s this summer, so I’ll get to go with him. It’ll be fun to sit in the audience and watch him. Show them your Zoolander Blue Steel look . . .”
I can’t help it, I laugh and then give a serious look at the camera. It was a total joke, growing from a night playing poker, but I can see some of the ladies give their approval. Even the host melodramatically fans herself. They don’t know the half of it though. That’s just my ‘working’ face. I much prefer the personal photos, the ones we’ve snapped around town when I’m able to visit Emily and live with her, the ones where we go out to dinner or play with the kids as she takes care of them. Relaxing, I lean back, giving Emily’s hand a squeeze. “Yeah, and while I’m in New York, I’ve got a big campaign to shoot for Diesel Jeans and then we’ll see from there.”
The host turns to Emily. “And you? So you’re back to being a nanny?”
Emily shakes her head. “No, not exactly. The couple I work for, Mindy and Oliver, have practically made me part of their family. So I still look after their adorable children when they need me. Fewer hours than before, but it lets me complete my schooling, hopefully ready to teach in a couple of years when the kids are old enough to not really need me anymore. But they’ll always be my heart.”
“How about wedding bells and children of your own? Is that on the horizon at all?” the host asks, but before I can answer, Emily speaks up.
“It’s still a little early for that. I need to finish school first for sure.” Emily laughs, and I know she’s trying to put the host off politely, but she’s on my side. I pulled Meredith aside earlier today. I think it’ll get me off Meredith’s kill list, not that I really care.
I play along. “Yeah, maybe some day, like maybe . . .” I rise off the couch, dropping to one knee and holding out a ring. “Emily, no tricks, no surprises. Just you and me against the world. I love you. Through it all, that’s always been true. I love you and I want to spend forever with you. Will you be my wife?”
The collective gasp from the audience almost sucks the air out of the room, and I know at least a million people are wondering if I’ve lost my damn mind. I mean, after all, the last time Emily was proposed to on live TV, things went . . . strangely.
I don’t have a single doubt, though, as Emily looks in my eyes. “Hayden, um, for real? Yes, yes! Of course I’ll marry you!”
The audience erupts with applause, rising to give us a standing ovation as we hug and kiss. After a moment, the host interrupts. “So does that mean we’ll have a Matchmaker wedding special after all?”
I don’t even look at the host, shaking my head as I look into my fiancé’s eyes. “Absolutely not. This is all you get. Our wedding day is for us, family, and friends—no one else.”
With another kiss overtaking us both, the host calls for a commercial break. Finally.
Chapter 29
Emily
I feel nervous as we wait by the limo—a gift from Oliver—for Hayden’s parents to arrive here at the airport. “When are they supposed to land?” I ask for what’s probably the five hundredth time. “Is their flight late?”
Hayden, who’s been the world’s best fiancé this whole time, grins. “No, they’re not late. Their Delta flight is supposed to have landed just five minutes ago. You know it takes a while to de-plane.”
I sigh, rubbing at my arms. Since our very public and very unexpected engagement moment, I haven’t really talked with Hayden’s mom and dad, who’ve tried to give their son the space needed to do what needs done without being overbearing. “Hayden, are you sure that—”
“Stop,” Hayden says, coming close and giving me a hug. “You’re freaking out. Don’t. You’ve talked to Mom and Dad over Skype a few times now. Besides, they don’t allow torches and pitchforks on airplanes anymore.”
“Very funny,” I growl, punching him lightly in the ribs.
Hayden clutches at his side, moaning. “Starting the abuse early, I see. Oh, if I only knew about this dark side to you—”
“That he totally deserves,” a gruff voice says behind us. “Why did you say yes to this ugly asshole anyway?”
I turn, seeing Hayden’s dad, a bit taken aback at the comment. It’s always seemed to me that Hayden’s had a good relationship his parents. My fears evaporate in an instant, though, when I see Hayden embrace his dad, who I have to say for a man his age is still remarkably handsome. Hayden’s mom embraces me, giving me a kiss on the cheek. “Welcome to the family, Emily.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Bishop,” I say, earning a tut from her.
“You know better than that. It’s Vanessa,” she says, correcting me. “I have to ask, though . . . a limo? Really?”
“When you’re the nanny for a multi-millionaire, you sometimes get the good stuff.” I laugh as the driver comes around and helps Vanessa and Mr. Bishop with their bags. We get in, and Hayden’s dad leans back, impressed.
“Well, Hayden, you certainly picked the right girl,” Gene, Hayden’s father, says. “How in the hell did you manage to pull that one off?”
“I inherited my good looks and common sense from Mom and made sure to use as little of your DNA as possible,” Hayden shoots back, Vanessa rolling her eyes. “Other than your hard head.”
His mom leans over, whispering in my ear. “These two have been tossing insults back and forth ever since Hayden here first picked up a baseball.”
“Is that so? Well, Hayden, I have to say, I’m damn proud of you, Son. I have to admit, for a while there, I thought you’d end up with some inch-deep airhead who thinks slumming it is wearing only hundred-dollar shoes. So glad you caught this one here instead.” He gestures to me with a tilt of his chin.
“Uh, excuse me?” I ask, raising an eyebrow. “I’m the one who stood up on live TV and told him I loved him when he was still being an ass to me. Pretty sure you should be proud of me.”
Gene laughs, glancing at his son. “You’d better stay on your toes, Son. I was gonna tell her that if she ever needed help kicking your ass to give me a call. But I think she’s got that handled already.”
“Which reminds me,” Vanessa says, “what happened to that plan you told us when you came home all heartbroken about telling Emily how you felt on the reunion show?”
“What can I say?” Hayden says, shrugging in an embarrassed way. “I didn’t have a chance. I was going to, but Emily went into epic fire-breathing mode, and it worked out in the end for everyone. Like Tim Gunn says, make it work.”
The church is perfect. Again, Oliver and Mindy went out of their way to give me what’s perhaps the most epic wedding gift ever. I mean, who else has a chart topping singer perform at their reception? Sure, it’s Mindy’s sister, but it’s also the one and only Roxy, and I’m just hoping I don’t get too star-struck when I meet her.
“You ready?” Mindy asks me. She’s serving as the matron of honor for my wedding, and maybe some folks would think it’s weird to have your boss stand up with you, but we’re basically family at this point and I’m damn proud to have her stand with me. I feel and look like a princess since McKayla and Brad flew in to do my hair and makeup—and be in the wedding party too.
“Totally,” I reply, not nervous at all. This is Hayden, and there’s nothing I want more in the world than to walk down the aisle and join the man of my dreams in matrimony. “When it was time for you and Oliver, did you have any doubts?”
Mindy chuckles, shaking her head. “Not a single one. Just a hint. When the doors open and you see him, don’t go running down the aisle. You
’d just have the kids chasing after you, and the photographer would probably shit himself.”
I chuckle, nodding. “Okay, okay, I’ll be all sweet and classical walking down the aisle. I’ll save the running for the honeymoon.”
The music starts, my father walking me down the aisle before joining Mom, who’s sitting in the front row with a good pile of tissues already crumpled up beside her. The ceremony starts, and I have a hard time taking my eyes off Hayden, who’s the most handsome man in the entire world in his tuxedo. I’m sure I mumble my way through my vows, barely focusing until it’s time for the rings. Watching the simple platinum band slip onto my finger and then putting its partner on Hayden’s, everything feels surreal. It doesn’t really set in until our kiss. Like every kiss with Hayden, it’s intense, but there’s an added element to this one that sears it into my mind and soul. We’re interrupted by the minister, who coughs lightly when I realize we’ve gone from a simple ‘wedding kiss’ to full-on snogging.
“Sorry,” I say, earning a small laugh from the guests. Leah, Mindy’s daughter, is blushing while Mindy’s giving me a big thumbs-up. In the back, I see McKayla holding up both hands, her version of saying it was a perfect ten.
Retreating from the church, we’re in the limo heading for the reception when Hayden turns and kisses me again. “You look amazing.”
“You have no idea how sexy you look in that,” I reply, reaching down and cupping his cock through his pants. “What do you say we skip the reception and steer this thing right to the airport?”
“Yeah, right,” Hayden jokes, pulling me into his lap and lifting the poufy skirt and helping me straddle him. “We’re going to the resort Oliver owns with his brother, remember? We skip the reception, and we’re going to have that whole damn crew knocking down our door twelve hours after we get there.”
Matchmaker Page 19