Accidentally On Purpose: An Accidental Marriage Boxset
Page 62
“I want you too, Davis and I want us. And I don’t want a divorce.” There, it was now, out there in the universe and Davis knew how I felt.
“Good because all the information on the paperwork was wrong, and I’m pretty sure we’d go to jail if you tried to file them.” His smile surprised a laugh out of me.
“Good to know. So you never planned to divorce me?”
“Not unless you really wanted it, but I needed you to make a choice.”
“You had it all figured out, didn’t you?” I walked around him and went to my bag, yanking clothes out of my suitcase like I was angry and searching for something.
“I was hopeful, that’s all.”
“So was I.” I found what I was looking for and turned slowly, heart in my stomach and a box in my hand. I stopped when my toes met his and grinned. “This is for you.” I held out the black velvet box and he took it, opening it so damn slow, I thought maybe I got knocked on the head, and this was all some slow motion fantasy.
“Shit, Mags.” I knew exactly what he meant. It was a black titanium steel band with one diamond in the center. “This is, incredible.” He slipped it on his finger and his gaze met mine, happy and hopeful.
“Then it’s official. You and I are married.”
“Officially,” he said, lips twitching with laughter.
“I love you, Davis.” I didn’t feel shy about saying it either because I loved him with my whole heart and I was determined to make it work.
“Good, because I love you too Magenta Sullivan-Crawford.”
I let out a shaky breath that turned into nervous laughter. “God that felt good to hear.”
“Yeah?”
“Hell yeah,” I grinned and brushed a kiss on the corner of his mouth.
“Then I’ll make sure to tell you I love you every day.” His smile was big and so bright I swear I had to shield my eyes from it. His blue eyes shimmered with love and amusement, something I hoped we never lost in our life together.
“Careful, Davis, a girl could get used to that.”
He faked an evil laugh. “It’s all part of my evil plan, Mags.”
“Evil plan?”
He nodded, blue eyes as dark as the deepest part of the ocean, and wrapped is arms around me, yanking me flush up against him. “To make you never want to leave.”
“Well I’ve got news for you Davis. I already never want to leave.” I grabbed his face and pulled him down until our lips smashed together and our mouths attacked each other, tongues tangled and teeth knocked together in our desire to come together. To be together and to get started on the rest of our lives together. “Now that we’ve got all that mushy stuff out the way, what do you say we get to the dirty stuff?”
His smile brightened, and my heart swelled ten times its normal size before his mouth came crashing down on mine, and we came together so hot and so fast we could have burned the whole hotel down.
It was a great start to a whole new life.
Epilogue
Davis ~ 1 year later
“What in the hell is the world coming to that I’m at a party with more kids than adults?”
Magenta sat in a lounge chair in the backyard of our new home, not the one beside Mason and Trish, because she insisted it was just too much closeness for her.
I watched as she pouted adorably, breasts spilling out of her tank top while she slowly rubbed her swollen belly. That’s right, she had my baby in her belly.
“Face it, babe. You’re not as young and hip as you used to be.” She glared at me and I laughed. “But you’re the hottest thing around.”
“Thank you, Davis.” She rolled her eyes but her blush gave her away. “But don’t think I didn’t just hear you call me old.”
“You’re not old, Mags. You’re just aged, like wine. Or cheese.” Nash and Zeke snickered from where they stood at the grill, and I sent them a middle finger while Magenta’s head was turned.
“Not getting any better. Honey.” She batted her eyelashes and placed her hand on my thigh. “Just quit before this baby makes me get angry with you.”
Yeah, that was something to worry about. Magenta pregnant was beautiful and curvaceous, her breasts were so big they had their own zip code, and her skin was luminous. But her mood swings and attitude? Well they were two demons who were occasionally possessed by a much bigger, angrier, meaner demon. “Don’t worry Mags, I think you’re hot as hell when you get angry.” I winked and she groaned, rolling her eyes just as Max bounded up to her.
“Hi Magenta.”
“Hey Max. How’s it going, little man?”
His chest puffed out at her words. “Good. Want to see my comic book?”
“Damn right I do!”
“Mags watch your mouth,” Maddie called out from a blanket in the middle of the yard where she was surrounded by babies. As in more than one baby. In the past year Vivi had given birth to one child and she already carried another while Maddie had a five month old in her arms. Trish had given us our first niece, and now carried a nephew. Yep, there were a lot of kids around.
Magenta rolled her eyes but sent out an obligatory, “Sorry, Mads!” She turned back to Max with a wink and leaned in to whisper, “Hell yeah I want to see it, go get it.”
He took off and she smiled after him. That was the look right there, the one that made me fall in love with her all over again. She looked at Max with love shining in her eyes, like she gave a damn about the kid. “You’re so good with him.”
“He’s amazing. If I had the talent that he does when I was that age, I’d be Picasso by now but with more symmetry.”
Vivi strolled up and snorted. “Yeah because you need a higher profile.”
“Hey, none of that was on me. Who knew a pregnant woman tattooing another when her water broke would go viral?” She sat there innocently as if that was the entire story.
“It was Tara Meacham, the biggest singer in the whole world. Of course the story went viral,” Vivi exclaimed. The photos of the tattoo, of Magenta helping Tara breathe and remain calm, of her wearing a pair of Ink Spot sweats, a marketing idea Trish had insisted on, which meant Mason had allowed it to happen.
“I was just helping out a client.” And that was another thing I loved about my tough wife, she just did what she thought was right, and didn’t worry about credit or praise. “Anyway, I’m hoping that goodwill is paid forward when I’m ready to push out this giant monster baby.”
“Giant monster baby?” Nash’s laugh grew louder as he dropped a glass pitcher of tea and glasses on the table in front of us. “That’s strange talk for a mother to be.”
Magenta shrugged. “I already love my baby the same way I love his daddy, but just like his daddy, this guy is coming out of me six feet tall and at least one-fifty.”
“Oh, come on,” Maddie laughed, called by the ice cold liquid on the table. “Fifteen pounds at the most,” she snickered and took her seat. “Max was seven, and that felt like torture.”
“Okay! Okay, no more of that talk, or I’m going to sneak into your house and put gang tattoos on yours and Zeke’s faces while you sleep.”
Did I mention that she was worried about giving birth? Not just a little first time mom jitters, no, full on close to panic attack worried. Terrified would be more accurate.
“Okay Mags, settle down. No one’s getting face tattooed against their will.”
She pouted and accepted the glass I slid to her. “Fine, but no more talk of giving birth. We already have classes that talk about it nonstop.”
“It’s not that bad,” I insisted because it was fun when I got to attend, and listening to her sarcastic complaints never failed to crack me up.
“That’s because you get to stare at my boobs and rub my back, cooing soft words into my ear. That’s what go me into this situation in the first place.” She rubbed her belly in slow, soothing circles, something she did with growing frequency as her belly grew with our child. “So Maddie, do you need another whale model for your maternity l
ine?”
“Not if you call yourself or the other models whales, Mags. That might hurt their feelings.” To capitalize on Belle Musique’s recent baby boom, Maddie had decided to expand her business to include maternity wear.
“Not more than it’ll hurt their backs. And feet. Oh and bladders too.”
“Ew, Aunt Magenta. Don’t talk about your bladder with kids around. It’s gross.” Norah stopped in front of Mags and rubbed her belly. “Plus the baby can hear you.”
“Good, I don’t ever want the kid to think it was easy getting into this world. But fine, Norah, no more bladder talk.”
“Well,” she began nervously and nibbled her bottom lip. “How does it feel to be pregnant?”
“Except the bladder, stuff?” Norah nodded and all the adults laughed. “It feels amazing and weird to have a person growing and moving inside of you, but also very powerful to think this is how we’ve been doing it for millions of years.”
“That sounds cool!” Her eyes went wide when Magenta grabbed Norah’s hand and set it on her belly just as the baby began to kick. It was a hell of a feeling and I understood that gasp well. It was awe and shock. “Oh my god, he’s moving! I can feel him moving, Dad!”
“That right there is how I feel every day, kiddo.”
Norah was all smiles as she whipped her ever present notebook from her back pocket and began to jot down notes. “That is so cool, Aunt Mags. Thanks!”
Days like this, warm and sunny and filled with our family and friends, were just about perfect to me. Even Aunt Mae sat on the blanket surrounded by the babies and their sweet, smell good chubby little bodies. If someone had told me before moving here that I’d meet the woman I would spend my life with and have a baby, I would have laughed.
Loud and hard.
But this strange little southern town had turned my whole life upside down in the best possible way. And it was all down to the woman smiling at me like I was some kind of hero. Her now blue hair was a shock against her pale skin but she’d never looked more gorgeous to me.
“Hey Nash, these chairs are great. Can I place an order for a set of four?”
His eyes went wide. “In addition to the rocking chair and stool you already ordered?”
“Yep.”
“I’ll add it to the queue.” It was a long queue these days, thanks to the odd influx of celebrities into Belle Musique who were bowled over by his handcrafted furniture.
“Thanks, man. You’re the best.”
Nash grinned because that was just Magenta. Tough as hell, but sweet as pie. And she was all mine. “I try my best, Mags.”
“Trust me, we all know. Vivi isn’t exactly known for her ability to keep her mouth shut.” She rubbed her belly again but the look on her face held more pain than discomfort. “Everyone got enough food?”
Vivi frowned. “We’ve barely touched the food.”
My wife nodded and immediately I noticed that something was wrong. “Babe?”
“Too bad Vivi, because my water just broke.”
Chaos broke out all around us, but Magenta was as calm as could be, the eye of the storm. Perfect serenity. “I love you,” she mouthed and I smiled back.
“Love you too.”
And then she let out a blood curdling scream that would have stopped my heart if my feet hadn’t been leaping over the table to get to my wife.
This was my crazy life.
Our crazy life, and it was perfect.
THE END.
If you enjoyed Accidentally Wifed, Dear Reader, then check out Vivi & Nash’s story in Accidentally Hitched, and Mason & Trish’s romance in Accidentally Bound.
You can read a preview from Vivi & Nash next!
Preview: His Takeover
Poppy
“You won’t even believe it, girl, he took me to a speakeasy! A speakeasy!” My grandma Maple’s laugh trilled, echoing against the lush flowers, plants and herbs before bouncing off the small garden near the shed. “I haven’t been to one of those since I was your age!”
Yeah, in case you’re wondering, my grandma has a better social life than I do. “And did it stand against the test of time?” I bit into my turkey and avocado sandwich and sipping my spiked lemonade, courtesy of, you guessed it, good ol’ grandma.
“It did. Of course, ours were much cooler but these new ones are dark and smoky, the drinks are strong and most of all, you feel like James Bond trying to get in! Ted was as shocked as I was and he found the place.” Ted was Maple’s newest love du jour, but I have a feeling he’ll be around longer than the others. “I even let him stay a while.”
My brows rose. “Well I guess he is more than a silver stud.” That was her term for the men in her age group who were hot to look at but had nothing between the ears, according to her.
“So far, he is. If he plays his cards right, he’ll stay the whole night next time.” She spoke confidently, fluffing her grey curls primly.
I laughed and took another sip, enjoying this late lunch with Maple. I had just finished up a big design project for an indie band so I planned to enjoy the next couple days for myself. Technically I worked as a freelance graphic designer, but calling my work freelance would be a disservice. I did jobs for everything from small boutique bakeries to album covers and websites for the latest celebrity du jour. “Ted is a lucky man, Grandma.”
She laughed and took a long gulp of her own lemonade. “I tell him that every chance I get.”
I couldn’t help but smile at her confident words. Maple was the best person I knew, loud and colorful, strong and independent. She raised me to be the same, from the time the police dropped me off at her place when I was just four years old. “Ted’s a keeper,” I told her.
“We’ll see. Meanwhile, let’s talk about you. You need to get out there and put that body to use before it shrivels up and falls off.”
“Grandma, seriously? I’d think after all your experience you’d know it doesn’t work like that.”
Maple snorted. “You should listen to me. Believe me. I’m older and wiser.” She tapped one long red nail on the wooden table between us. “I’ll set you up with someone. My poker buddies all have single sons, nephews and daughters, if that’s your thing.”
“You know damn well they aren’t my thing,” I told her, earning one of her loud guffaws. “How about we go see an all nude version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream?”
“That sounds delightful! Just tell me these are all young folks because I don’t need to see saggy tits and balls for three hours,” she grumbled, finishing her lemonade and topping us both off.
I enjoyed these afternoons with Maple. She was getting older even though she’d never admit it, and we had the perfect living arrangement, thanks to her foresight. About a year after the plane crash that killed my parents, Maple took the insurance money and bought a duplex in a nice residential neighborhood in the heart of Portland. She rented one side out and we lived in the other, until I finished college. With a proud smile she handed me the deed and said the unit next door was finally empty.
We’ve been neighbors ever since. “It’s a mixed bag, Maple, depending on the role.”
“I guess that’s all right, then. Plenty of time for pre-show cocktails.” My grandma, always worried about the important things.
A knock sounded on the fence that led to the backyard, startling us both. “I’m looking for Poppy Masters,” a deep, very masculine voice called out.
“You selling something?”
“No,” he said, voice clearly amused.
“Then it’s open.”
The wooden door swung open and a tall well-built man in a blue suit, complete with a vest and everything, walked through. He held a soft leather bag as his lean legs carried him up the stairs. “Hello, I am Anderson Hargrave, attorney for the estate of Arden Masters.”
“Arden! What’s that old coot want?” She rolled her eyes but smiled affectionately at the mention of her brother. Older by nearly twenty years, they’d never been close.
“No one told me,” Maple grumbled.
“I’m Poppy and this is Maple, Arden’s kid sister.” His skin paled, but only slightly.
“Poppy Masters, according to Mr. Arden Masters’ wishes, you are the sole beneficiary of Out & About Apparel. You may do with it what you wish, but only after running it for twelve months.” He kept talking, about money and a home in Aspen and a bunch of other details I zoned out on because, what the hell had just happened? “Do you have any questions?”
Only about a million, but the most pressing popped out first. “Why me?”
He smiled, and damn, but he was a good looking guy. Not that I was in the market for any kind of guy, but I could enjoy the view. “You are the youngest Master among Arden’s children as well as his nieces and nephews, unmarried and with a skillset Out & About Apparel could use.”
I blinked. “Seriously?” He nodded. “Well then I suppose you should have a seat and tell me everything.”
Blake
“I can deliver what you want, Mr. Sayers. For a small favor in return.” Victoria Sanchez sat on the other side of my large oak desk, perched on the edge of the leather chair in her pink and grey suit, looking every bit the socialite she was.
But the fact was, I wanted Out & About Apparel and she could help me get it. But favors had a way of coming back to bite you in the ass and I only allowed that in the bedroom. “I wonder how small this favor is, that you’re willing to sell your shares of a highly profitable company to get it.”
She smiled, her recent Botox injections making her look shocked rather than youthful. “Well you are offering more than they are worth at the moment.”
And if I didn’t get all the shares I needed for a takeover soon, I would end up paying more than the shares were worth. Despite the fact that this long lost heiress didn’t know a damn thing about outdoor sports or apparel, somehow they’d bounced back from the past few quarters. They were still lower than Out & About usually did, but still number one in Oregon and throughout the Northwest. “At the moment,” I repeated firmly.