Broken Vows (Domestic Discipline Romance)

by Mariella Starr

  "Ma'am, I'm used to this weather…"

  "Enough with the Canadian Mountie Dudley Do-Right crap! You helped me, now get your ass in here and get dry," Mila snapped.

  Kevin Carter's head snapped around at the cheeky blonde. What the heck, he was freezing his butt off because his clothes were soaking wet. He closed the truck door and followed her into the guesthouse. He had worked for Mr. Bentley in the past, and now silently admired the recent renovations although they hadn't been done by his company. In fact, he recognized the workmanship of his top competitor.

  The blonde-haired woman handed him a set of gray sweats and pointed down a hallway. "The bathroom is on the left. Do you drink coffee?" she demanded.

  "Yeah, the stronger, the better, but I don't want to get you into trouble with your husband."

  "The sweats belong to my brother-in-law. I don't have a husband, Mr. Carter. He died seven months ago in Iraq."

  "It's just Kevin, ma'am, and I'm truly sorry. You have my condolences," he said politely. "Coffee isn't a good idea this late in your pregnancy. You should drink herbal tea."

  Mila shook her head as the bossy man moved down the hall. She made a pot of coffee for four cups and turned on the flame under the teakettle. She searched the cabinets for the herbal tea she knew Jenny kept. Everyone seemed to know the 'do's and don'ts' of pregnancy better than she did, then again, she had never been pregnant before.

  Kevin came out of the bathroom and opened the folding doors hiding a new top-of-the-line washer and dryer.

  "Been here before?" Mila asked.

  "Yep, I installed the previous set of these." Kevin threw his wet clothing in the washer, pouring in detergent, and turning on the machine.

  Mila nodded. "Someone trained you well, Kevin Carter."

  "Six older sisters along with my momma," Kevin said with a grin. "In my generation, I had fourteen girl cousins and only three boy cousins, we were shy on males. This generation is the opposite. I have six married sisters, twenty nephews, and only three nieces."

  "That's a lot of family," Mila laughed,

  "It gets loud and rowdy at family dinners," he agreed. "When are you expecting Mr. Grayson to return?"

  "It's Josh, I'm Mila, and his wife is Jenny and my sister. We don't stand on ceremony, which I believe is a hallmark of western hospitality," Mila said, pouring him a tall mug of coffee and directing him to the kitchen counter stools.

  Kevin grabbed a stool, carried it around the small island, set it down, and with a quick lift sat Mila on it. "You need to get off your feet," Kevin said firmly as he walked around to the opposite side of the island and plopped himself on a stool across from her. "How about telling me how a pretty lady like you landed in Durango."

  Mila stared at the man across from her exuding confidence and masculinity. He was bossy as hell but also gorgeous with longish dark-blond hair flopping over his ears and neck in an endearing manner. He was tanned and muscular, with blue eyes presently looking straight at her with a keen interest.

  She swallowed, this could not be happening. She was fat and pregnant, probably looking her worst. He had to be crazy, or else he had a kinky fetish for pregnant women.

  * * *

  Josh rapidly completed his own errands at the hardware store. Selecting Mila's paints took longer. Jenny stayed in the vehicle to contain and entertain the kids. Then they found the craft store where Jenny disappeared inside. By now, Emmie was bored and Adam sleepy. After thirty minutes, Josh strapped on his daddy carrier, put the sleeping Adam into it, and took Emmie by the hand.

  "You promised," Jenny exclaimed when she saw him coming down the aisle.

  "I am not hurrying you," Josh protested. "I just wanted to let you know I brought the kids in to visit the local art gallery on the other side of the building. Take your time."

  Josh went to the separate part of the building housing a gallery of all kinds of art from paintings and pottery to woodcrafts. All the merchandise was handmade with the majority fabric oriented. Crocheted and knitted pieces covered tables along with smaller pieces he thought might be tatting. Larger pieces, quilts and wall hangings, hung high on the walls where he pointed them out to Emmie.

  "Beautiful aren't they," a woman said from behind him.

  "They are, but I prefer my wife's pieces," Josh said honestly.

  "Is she a quilter?"

  "A textile artist. Not that these aren't beautiful, they are. However, the patterns appear repetitive to me. My wife's work is more free flowing and imaginative."

  "I would like to see some of her work," the woman said.

  Josh pulled his phone from his pocket and showed the woman a series of photos he'd taken of Jenny's work, which the woman regarded with genuine interest.

  "I would like to meet your wife. I am Julia Scarlett, and this is my store and gallery. I represent all the artists displayed here, most of whom are local, a few are from surrounding states."

  "Josh Grayson." Josh stuffed his phone back in his pocket and stuck out his hand. "My wife, Jenny Grayson, is the artist. She is in the other room picking out supplies. I will introduce you if you have the time."

  "I would love to meet her," Julia exclaimed. "Lead on."

  They had to search several aisles but soon found Jenny loading a cart with yarn.

  "Jen," he called.

  Jenny whirled around. "Josh, I saw this yarn and could instantly picture in my mind exactly what I want to do with it. I need leather, this yarn, and fabric I can use to create the effect of feathers."

  "Whoa, honey," said Josh smiling. "This is someone you should meet, Julia Scarlett. She owns this store and represents the artists in the gallery next door."

  "You have beautiful fabrics and yarn!" Jenny exclaimed, trying to refocus. She put down the skein of yarn to offer her hand. "I'm sorry, I get carried away."

  "As do most artists," Julia said with a laugh. "You are Jennifer Marsden. I have one of your pieces hanging in my home, which I bought from a gallery in New York City." She looked at both of them. "Are you visiting or have you moved to Colorado?"

  "We live here now, about twenty miles outside of town," Jenny said looking pleased.

  "Good, you are a local now. You must join the Arts Council of Durango," Julia exclaimed. "We would welcome an artist of your caliber. It would be a personal coup for me. Many of our artists are also members of the Denver Art Society. We may live in a small town, but it does not mean we aren't connected to the art world at large. I would love to see your new work, possibly even display a few pieces here. Let me get you my card and information. If you are interested, contact me when you are ready."

  "Thank you," Jenny exclaimed. "I do have one question."

  "Ask away," Julia Scarlett said.

  Jenny held out the skein of yarn, "Do you have more of this?"

  The woman laughed. "If we don't, I can have it here in two days, three at the most. When you have time, come in and I will show you my catalogs. I am sure you will find many interesting things you can use."

  "Thank you," Jenny exclaimed again.

  "I will go check on this yarn and get you my information," Julia said.

  "Oh my God," Jenny exclaimed hugging Josh. "I can't believe it. How did she know?"

  "I think she was trying to sell me something, and then I showed her photographs of your pieces," Josh explained.

  "You have pictures?" Jenny demanded.

  "Yes, on my phone. Jen, I keep telling you how proud I am of your talent and your art. I keep photos to show others."

  "I haven't created anything for several years," Jenny sighed. "Can we afford these materials?"

  "Yes, we can," said Josh quietly. "Buy what you need. If Julia is an example of how people remember your art, you cannot afford not to be creating again. This is our new start, Jen. Not only me, you too."

  * * *

  Josh laughed as he looked across the front seat of the Land Rover towards his wife.

  "What?" Jenny demanded.

  "If you weren't belted in,
you would be floating a foot above the seat," he teased.

  "I would," Jenny admitted with a happy smile. "That meeting was incredible. I know she is only local, but it is so gratifying when someone appreciates your creations. It's as if something has broken free inside me. I can visualize what I want to do. It's a great feeling."

  "Yeah, I remember the feeling," Josh said. She reached over to grasp his hand.

  "You will feel it again. You are too good an architect for your talent to be ignored."

  "I do feel it," Josh admitted. "Working on this project, restoring the property to its original roots, is renewing me. It's not the same as starting from a fresh concept, but it is a good feeling."

  * * *

  By the time Josh and Jenny returned home, it was late afternoon. He noticed the beat-up pickup with the large black-and-white dog sitting in the truck bed. Jenny took the children to the guesthouse while Josh began unloading their mounds of purchases. Mila and a man came out of her quarters.

  "Josh, I'd like you to meet Kevin Carter," Mila said. "He's a carpenter and…"

  "I can take it from here, Mila," Kevin said.

  She gave him a sidelong glance, grabbed several bags of groceries, and stalked to the guesthouse.

  The men silently watched her leave.

  "Kevin Carter," he repeated, sticking out his hand which Josh shook. "I heard in town you were looking for a carpenter. I'm your man. My father did most of the finishing work on this place eighteen years ago. This job set the benchmark and level of excellence my Dad expected from my work."

  "I was told a man named Vitti did the iron work," Josh said.

  "Carlos Vitti subcontracted the ironwork through my Dad. He was a great artisan, he died about three years back. His son, Tony, has the business now, he is as good as his father."

  "Did you do the millwork in the library?" Josh asked.

  "No, that was George Carter, my Dad. He is a master carpenter. I worked side-by-side with him and learned nearly everything I know from the experience. Even when I was a kid, Dad didn't cut me any slack until I went away to college. I learned a lot in college and got a degree in structural engineering. However, I learned more from my father, especially about the skills and finesse of carpentry."

  "You sound very proud of your father," Josh said, realizing this man spoke from the heart.

  Kevin nodded his head. "I am. He is a good man, the best Dad, the best at whatever he did. He is retired now. Unfortunately, arthritis has set in his hands and joints. He dabbles in projects now and then and comes into my shop to harass me. I would get a recommendation from him, but you might think he was biased. He isn't. If I didn't work to his standards, he would come into my shop and kick my ass."

  "Your Dad sounds a lot like mine," Josh said grinning. "You probably are the man I'm looking for to do the detail work."

  "Here, let me help you get this stuff in the house. Then if you want to talk, we will."

  * * *

  "Who's the guy?" Jenny asked as soon as her sister came inside.

  "A carpenter. He and his father built much of the interior in the main house. He heard Josh was looking for the original tradesmen and came by to talk. He also helped fix a pipe leak at my place and we talked about the changes I want to make there," Mila said.

  "He's cute," Jenny said with a sly smile.

  "I'm pregnant," countered Mila, "Thirty-weeks pregnant!"

  "I wasn't suggesting you jump him."

  "He is bossy and overbearing," Mila complained. When her sister went through to the small pantry, she mumbled, "He's damn good looking, too!"

  * * *

  Josh and Kevin unloaded the supplies. Josh grabbed two cans of paint and walked to Mila's quarters. Kevin followed with four more cans, which they stacked inside her front door.

  Josh stopped and thoughtfully observed the stacked paint cans. "This may not be a good idea. We should probably take these to my house. I don't want my sister-in-law trying to paint these rooms by herself, and it might be a couple of days before I can start the job. She has a tendency to think she can still do this kind of thing."

  "I noticed," Kevin said.

  "Hi," Mila said, coming in through her door, bending over to check the little dots of paint on the labels against her sample strips. "These look perfect."

  "Mila, I don't want you starting this job unless Jen or I am here to do most of the work," Josh said sternly.

  Mila straightened and looked her brother-in-law square in the eye. "I have already had more than my quota of bossy men today. Out, both of you!"

  "She's a little prickly today," Josh said as they stepped outside and she firmly closed the door on them. "Let's go to my office. You said you have a website?"

  "Yeah, her being prickly is probably my fault," Kevin Carter admitted with a grin.

  Chapter 7

  Jenny pulled on her snow boots and parka and checked on everyone. Adam slept in his playpen, Emmie was sound asleep on the loveseat, and Mila was nearly asleep on her sofa watching TV. If either of her children awakened, her sister would hear them.

  She walked across the clearing, still awestruck with the ever-changing picture-perfect view on the mountain where they had lived for the last few months. The lake was frozen, not solid, but enough to sustain the previous night's snow covering everything. Jenny was in a reflective mood and the scenery complemented it.

  It was check-in time for the weekly call to her mother. She only made the calls out of a sense of duty. It was still difficult to talk to Denise as she continued harping on how Josh was ruining Jenny's life. She was livid because Jenny wouldn't give her a contact phone number or address. Jenny had sadly realized the only happy times in her life were when she did not live near her parents, particularly her mother. Jenny didn't dare tell her mother anything.

  Everything was going well in Jenny's life. She and Josh were again best friends, married partners, and enthusiastic lovers. She had her sister back in her life. Emmie was talking enough for them to consider enrolling her in school after the Christmas break. She had met with Julia Scarlett and now pieces of her art from the walls of the guesthouse hung in Julia's Gallery. Every afternoon, Mila watched the children while Jenny worked in her studio. She had three art projects ongoing and more planned. Often in the late evening, Mila would come over after Adam and Emmie were asleep. Jenny would return to her studio and work until she and Josh called it quits for the night.

  She felt a little guilty imposing on Mila so much, but her sister waved off her concerns. She reminded Jenny she wasn't paying rent, and besides, their flat screen was bigger and better than the old TV in her place.

  The team of three had grown to a team of four. Josh had visited Wood Works and come back from Kevin Carter's business excited to begin working with him. Kevin moved an entire shop into the kitchen of the main house bringing along a full complement of power tools, table saws, and miscellaneous other machinery. It was not as if he could damage anything since they planned to gut and renovate the entire kitchen. He was there every day as their on-site carpenter consulting with Josh on each renovation step.

  Where Kevin went, Buddy followed. The mixed-breed rescue dog was actually a Labradinger, a hybrid of Labrador retriever and Springer Spaniel. He epitomized the best of the two breeds, the soft, silky black-and-white fur, and long ears of a Spaniel, with the head and attentive eyes of a Labrador. Gentle, intelligent, loving, and outgoing, Buddy stuck his nose in everything and shared sloppy kisses equally with all the members of his newly extended pack.

  Kevin had become a friend to Josh, an enthusiastic fan of Jenny's artwork, and an energetic playmate for her two children, as was Buddy. Several evenings a week, he even joined them at their dinner table. However, Kevin seemed to be an annoyance for Mila. She tried to avoid him, although she was not overtly rude.

  Everything was going so well except Jenny felt compelled to make her dutiful weekly phone call. It was those time bombs in her head. Jenny took a deep breath, dialed, and silently prayed
her mother was not home so she could leave a message.

  "Hello, Denise Marsden speaking."!

  Crap, she was home! "Hi, Mom," Jenny reluctantly responded.

  Twenty minutes later, she still struggled to end the call. "Mom, my phone is dying!" she interrupted.

  "You can't spare a few minutes to talk with your own mother who misses you so terribly! Well, far be it for me to interfere with your precious life," Denise screeched.

  "Mom, this isn't a land line. You are breaking up, and my phone is going dead!" Jenny repeated. "I'll say goodbye before I lose all power. I'm glad you are well. So are we, and so are your grandchildren, although you haven't bothered to ask." She disconnected the call not feeling the least bit guilty. Well, perhaps a teensy bit for the snarky remark at the end. Her phone was eighty-two percent charged. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes again to calm herself. Suddenly, her phone flew out of her hand as she felt a sudden jolt and sting in her left arm.

  She bent down to grab her phone and realized the sting was now pain and it burned. Her entire arm felt strangely numb and painful at the same time. She dropped to her knees, stuffing her phone in her pocket and pulling off her right glove. She stuck her hand inside her coat to rub her arm and gasped as her fingers met something warm and sticky… blood. Ignoring her instant dizziness, she yanked out her blood-covered hand and got to her feet unsteadily. She ran across the clearing as fast as she could go in the snow.

  When she neared the house, she instinctively turned to the guesthouse before changing direction and going instead to the side kitchen door of the main house. If Mila or Emmie saw her bloodied, they would both be terrified.

  Kevin heard the door slam behind him and absentmindedly looked over his shoulder. He flipped a switch to shut off the noise of his saw.

  "Do you need some…" his voice trailed off as he saw Jenny holding out a hand covered in blood. "What the… Josh!"

  Kevin was helping Jenny out of her coat when Josh appeared. "What happened?" he demanded.