by Tigris Eden
“How about we get you a drink?” Sawyer says with a knowing smirk on his face.
“Sounds like the perfect start to a perfect night.”
I turn and walk off with Sawyer, but not before I hear Rudy curse under his breath.
“That guy bothering you?” Sawyer asks as he leads me over to the bar.
“No, I don’t know what Rudy’s problem is.”
“Where do you know him from?”
“He works at Harry’s.”
Sawyer looks down at me, his reddish brown hair tied in a messy bun on top of his head. He can also wear the hell out of suit, he and his brother, Finn. Although, Finn keeps his hair shorter.
“He acts like he has a problem with the three of us.”
Sawyer and I make it over to the bar, where I put in my drink order. I shrug before I answer him.
“Not our problem if anyone has an issue. What we currently have works. It is what it is.”
“Yeah, but he acts like he wants to offer you forever.”
I almost spit my drink out.
“Are you mad? Rudy doesn’t want anything to do with me, not in that way. He treats me like his little sister.”
“Yeah, well, he looks at you like he wants to fuck you, and I would know because I’m always looking at you like that.”
I smirk.
“You say the sweetest things.”
Sawyer cracks a devilish grin.
“Honey, I can say a whole lot more if you’d like, but I’d rather show you.”
The three of us together is combustible on any given day, but my focus tonight is the engagement party.
“Later, I promise. Right now, I have coordinator duties.”
He tries to look put out but fails.
“How much later? I hear you girls are going to town for an impromptu bachelorette party.”
“We are. You act like we’re not sharing adjoining rooms.”
“Yeah, well, last night didn’t work out so well. Lester was posted outside your door. Doesn’t your father know you’re a grown ass woman?”
“He does, but that doesn’t mean he’s not going to be overprotective. He just worries about his girls is all.”
“Well, you’re in good hands.”
I take a sip of my drink and look out at family and friends having a good time. Anna is sitting in Jackson’s lap, and she’s glowing. Absolutely glowing. My cousin definitely picked a winner. Even if Jackson is a redeemed serial snatch and grab. He is completely in love with Anna.
“That’s good to know.” I stand up on my toes and kiss Sawyer on the lips.
My father walks by, clearing his throat. Lester Danvers, known as Tiny by his friends, is anything but tiny. My father is close to seven feet tall, and has beefy arms, and a left hook that puts its opponents to sleep every time.
“Not in front of everyone, Indi, you don’t have to eat each other out in the open. Where is that other one, Finnagan is it?”
I grab Sawyer’s shoulders to keep from falling while I throw my head back and laugh. My dad is grumpy.
“His name is Finn, Daddy.”
“I don’t care what his name is. You can’t go around dangling two men around like they’re tote bags. It’s not normal.”
“Daddy, please, I’m an adult. If you don’t have anything nice to say, please keep your comments to yourself.”
“Girl, did you forget who you’re talking to?”
Now he’s pissed.
“No, sir.”
Shit.
“Mr. Danvers, I totally respect what you’re saying,” Sawyer says, untangling my arms. “Indi, you go and see to the dinner. Your father has every right to be concerned. I’ll see you later.”
Ugh.
That he can say it with a straight face and be sincere bothers me. If I were a kettle, I’d be whistling fire at this point. I’ve already talked to both of my parents, and as my mother said, I’ve always been a bit of an oddball. I do what I want when I want. No one else has to like what I do with my body but me. Both Sawyer and Finn have been straightforward, but I’m not about to make a scene. This is Anna’s time.
“Right. Daddy, why don’t you help me with rest of the arrangements.”
My father looks over at Sawyer before looking back at me.
“Yeah, I’ll help you, Indi, but you remember your manners, girl. Keep that behind the door.
Until Her: Chapter 25
The music was loud, and they weren’t even inside. It was a street party. After the engagement dinner, Anna took off to get dressed so that she could go into the city. Jackson wasn’t going to follow her, but they’d been gone for three whole hours. Just how long is a bachelorette party anyway? You told her to live it up, doofus.
Jackson had even knocked on Pearl’s door to see if Anna was with her mother.
“Oh darlin’, the island is in her blood, you’ll be lucky if she comes back before dawn. They’ll be all right, they are having their fun. Don’t worry, she’ll be ready for your day.”
He would have gone back to their room if all Pearl had said were true, that they were out dancing. But what the hell did she mean she had the island in her blood? Once the others got wind of what he was doing, they were all on board, too, but for different reasons.
“Ass.” Was all Dorian had said.
“You’re dumb,” Catch said, shouldering past his brother with a grunt.
“What?”
“What do you mean what?” Catch asked his brother.
“Yeah, what? I’m young, virile, and my dick swings twice as far as yours. I’m allowed to indulge. I haven’t gotten laid in months.”
“And this is my fault how?”
Dorian didn’t say anything; instead, he shook his head as if he didn’t need to respond to his older brother. The only person who wasn’t down for their excursion was Ryland. He stayed behind. Which was normal.
The streets were crowded with people dancing, and the music was loud and packed with tons of bass. Jackson couldn’t see the girls. Hadn’t had a chance to see what Anna had worn before she left because Lola had sequestered her away in her room where they all got ready.
“Bear, what was Anna wearing when they left?”
“Hell, I was in the other room. I wasn’t allowed anywhere near the women.”
“What you mean to say is that Lola would bitch slap you if you told us what they were wearing.”
Bear grinned before saying, “That, too.”
“Man, you’re so whipped.”
“You hear me complaining?” Bear said.
“Well. you should be,” Dorian said, walking ahead of them. “Your woman is scary. I tried to get another biscuit and she damn near burned the flesh from my skin with just her look.”
“That’s my wife, you can’t have her,” Bear said, chuckling.
“I can’t hear myself think over all this music,” Treat said.
The crowd was loosening up, and there seemed to be a gathering of some sort, cheering on a group.
Please don’t be our girls, Jackson thought to himself.
But it was their girls, and what they were doing should be outlawed in the presence of others. And what the hell was his Anna even wearing? Even his sister was partaking in dance, and he never knew she had it in her. Apparently, neither did her husband.
“What the fuck?” Treat said.
They all stopped on the edge of the crowd, watching as Anna, Joey, and the others danced. It wasn’t a regular ‘bust a move,’ but a sensual dance that involved a lot of hip movement.
“What are they doing?” Jackson asked no one in particular.
It was Finn who answered.
“I think this is what’s called dropping it like it’s hot, only they are seriously dropping it.”
“Hey,” Treat said in warning.
“What? They are. The ones out there are half naked, shaking their asses, and doing a great job of it. I’m down with that. All of that,” Finn said, spotting Indi. She was dancing next to Anna, who
had a wide smile on her face. She was in a white dress with no shoulders that fell down past her knees, only the way she was moving, the hem of the dress was riding dangerously high. Next to them were two males, who were dancing just as provocatively, only Anna kept her partner at arm’s-length. Indi, not so much. Chantelle may as well have been having sex, and well, Lola was just Lola. There was nothing you could do to help her. She wasn’t exactly all up on her partner—but damn near close.
“That don’t bother you, Bear?”
Bear looked to Jackson.
“What? Lola dancing? Hell no, she’s coming home to me, and she already knows what would happen to that poor sap sucka if I were to pop up. She may be crazy, but she ain’t that crazy.”
“I had no idea my wife could move like that,” Treat said dazedly. His eyes were glazed over, and Jackson wish he hadn’t looked at the other man because he knew what he was thinking, and he’d rather not have seen that look. Especially since that look was for his sister.
“Well, I don’t want to know about it.”
A woman in the crowd tugged on Jackson’s hand, and he looked over to see a pretty woman smiling demurely at him.
“You wanna dance?”
“No, but thank you. I’m here with someone.”
She pouted but bounced off into the crowd.
“Dude, you could have so danced with her,” Dorian said.
“Shut up, Dorian, I’m getting married day after tomorrow, I don’t need to dance with her.”
Jackson made his way to the other side of the crowd. He didn’t want to disturb Anna, but he definitely wanted to watch her. He’d never seen her like this. Her hair wild around her face, her skin glistening as she moved with the music. She looked happy, and he was content to watch. The music changed to something more mainstream. Jackson knew this song and smiled as Lola threw her hands up in the air and started to scream.
“Aaaaah, shit y’all! This is my motherfucking jam!”
India joined in, and soon, so did the others; even his sister was out there holding her own. Her hands raised above her head as she jumped up and down. They were going to be so tired when they finally got home.
“I’m glad you found her, man.” Jackson turned to Catch, who’d made the comment.
“Thanks. Me, too.”
“Keep a watch on her and give her anything she wants.”
“Anything?”
“Hell yeah, whatever she wants, you give it to her. A woman like Anna doesn’t give her love freely. She gave that to you, man. Stuck by you when shit got real. Most women would have taken off after almost being killed. You have a fighter, someone who’s willing to stand by your side no matter what.”
“Full of wisdom tonight I see?”
“Whatever, man.” Catch flagged down a waitress. “Two Coronas.”
The waitress scrambled to put in their order. People were all around them, crowding them in, and Jackson was glad he was able to find a good spot to watch the future Mrs. Storme dance.
“You’re right, Catch.”
“About what?”
“Anna. I didn’t realize it until much later, but she’s been around from the beginning. I feel like I wasted so much time.”
“Everything happens for a reason. Now that you have her, don’t let her go, and take care of her. Make her feel like a goddess. Treat her like one, too.”
Jackson knew Catch was speaking from experience. He’d been married once and had lost his wife and newborns in the same day. Jackson hoped to never have to deal with that type of loss.
“You can have that again to.”
Catch’s head swung toward Jackson.
“Had it, lost it, can’t get it back.”
“Oh my God. Best. Idea. Ever,” Chantelle says as we lay face down on the lounge tables that are lined up next to each other. We’re in the spa, and she’s right, it’s a great idea. Last night was crazy. I didn’t get in until close to six in the morning. Jackson didn’t even mind I was out so late, and it was largely due to him being out that late, as well. He’s still sleeping. Passed out on the bed. Today is spa day for the bridal party.
“I meant to tell you, Corrine and Vivian are both flying in tomorrow,” India says.
The room goes quiet except for the music playing softly in the background.
“Your tense, madam, please release,” the woman working on my back says.
No shit.
But who can relax, knowing evil one and two are going to show up and try and ruin my wedding. I know it.
“No, it’s okay, Anna. Jackson spoke to both my mother and Vivian. They promised to be on their best behavior,” Joey says.
“It’s not okay, Joey, and for you to think it is, well…that just speaks volumes.”
I’m pissed. And for a split second, I want to scream and rant and throw a bitch tantrum.
Those two women have had it out for me since day one.
“Anna, Jackson will handle everything, just worry about looking amazing tomorrow,” my cousin, India, says.
“Well, are there any more surprises? William Cavanaugh showing up to piss me and my momma off?” I ask sharply.
“No, no more surprises.”
“Glad to hear it.”
I sit up and pull my towel around me and tie it at my breasts.
“I’m going to go and sit in the sauna for a while. I need to come to terms with this new information. Don’t follow me, just leave me be.”
“Can I come, Mommy?” Ava asks.
She’s so sweet, and I’d love to have her with me, but a sauna is no place for a child.
“Stay and help Auntie Joey with Xavier. Okay, Ladybug.”
“Okay, Mommy.”
I want to confront Jackson, ask him why he failed to tell me that Corrine and Vivian are going to be at my wedding.
“Open the door, Jackson! Get up.”
Rolling over, Jackson groaned and debated whether or not he was going to actually answer the door.
“Why are you trying to wake me up, Joey, we didn’t get in ‘til damn near seven this morning.”
“It’s late afternoon, Jackson, and we have a big issue.”
“What?”
“Anna’s pissed.”
Okay.
“Well, what the hell happened?”
“She knows about Vivian and Corrine.”
SHIT.
He knew she was going to be pissed, but he was hoping he could warm her up to the idea. Then you should have talked to her first, instead of allowing your mother and baby-momma to show up.
FUCK.
He was in deep shit, and he knew it.
“Where is she?”
“That’s the issue. She said she was going to the sauna, and she just up and disappeared. We’ve looked everywhere for her.”
This was not good at all.
It was bad.
Very bad.
“All right, I’m getting up, give me five minutes. You tell Treat?”
“Yeah, they’ve all been looking for her, and so far, we got nothing.”
Fuck.
When Anna got pissed, she got pissed. She never did anything in half measures, if she was going to punch you, she followed through. He knew she wouldn’t call off the wedding. At least, he hoped she wouldn’t. It wouldn’t matter anyway. Annabelle Macon-soon-to-be-Storme—as of tomorrow afternoon—was going to marry him whether she liked it or not. He just needed to calm her down, see where her head was at, and explain where his head was. Corrine, after all, was his mother. He loved her, even though she made it very hard to like her as a person most times.
Jackson pulled on some shorts and a button-up shirt and slid into his sandals before opening the door to a very emotionally distraught Joey.
“Calm down, I’ll find her. You go and help the others. Does Bertrand know we’re looking for Anna?”
“Yeah, he has some of the staff out looking, as well.”
“What was she wearing when she left the salon?”
“A towel.
”
“Anna had better not be walking around in only a towel.”
She hadn’t come in. That Jackson knew, anyway. He’d been asleep, but he wasn’t that asleep. Where the hell could she be?
“Jackson, I seriously doubt Anna is out and about in a towel. Let’s just find her and hope she’s willing to at least hear your reasoning. I can understand Mom, but Vivian has no reason to be here. She’s waiting to ruin this for you and Anna. I don’t care if she is Ava’s mother.”
“Vivian needs help, she’s not well. Mom is the one looking out for her, although why, I have no clue. That woman doesn’t have a nurturing bone in her body.”
“She did with me.”
Jackson could understand. Corrine was good with Joey, and he often wondered if the reason Corrine treated him so poorly was that he looked like his father.
“She wasn’t with me, even after I moved you both back to the house. I pay her bills, allow her to live in comfort, and she still acts like she can say and do whatever she wants. I just don’t want to be that son, the one who’s spiteful or acts a certain way. But our mom can be a major bitch when she wants to.”
Joey didn’t get to see the side of Corinne Jackson was privy to. Their mother was sweet with Joey, loving even. Jackson was lucky if he got a hug, and when he did, it was usually because she was putting on a show for her friends.
“Where do you think Anna’s gone off to?” His sister was really worried. Jackson was, too, but there weren’t too many places she could go. Jackson pulled his sister into a tight hug and promised everything was going to be all right.
“Why don’t you and Treat go and see about arranging transportation for Corrine and Vivian. I want them as far away from my and Anna’s room as possible. And remind them both that they don’t even have room for one fuck up. Not even half a fuck up, because if they say or do anything to ruin this for Anna, Mom and Vivian will be out on their asses. I’m not playing around, sis.”
“Okay, Jackson, I’ll remind our mother. You go and find your bride-to-be.”
Until Her: Chapter 26
It didn’t take Jackson long to find Anna. She was inside the gazebo that overlooked the ocean. And she wasn’t in a towel. Thank God for small favors. She wore one of his t-shirts that fell down to her knees, and every time the wind blew, it would puff out the shirt like a balloon, showing the jean shorts underneath. She wasn’t doing anything except standing.