I looked at Bree as someone I couldn’t and shouldn’t have, because in my head we came from different worlds because our families were different.
That hasn’t changed, and it’s the line that continues to keep itself between us.
The only difference now is I can’t get her out of my head. I can’t forget the way we were that night.
“Logan, whatever my reasoning it doesn’t change the craziness. Bree and I got married in Vegas. It’s not real and we can’t stay married. Which means I’m not going to get my family business anytime soon.” I dip my head and shake it. “The universe hates me. I see my grandfather in less than three hours’ time and I don’t know what I’m going to say to him. What the hell am I seriously going to do?”
He sighs and smiles. “Well, the old Ethan would flip a coin and go with whatever the coin told him to do.”
I laugh. I put that coin away the day I graduated high school. I used to get myself in all kinds of trouble living life like that.
It told me to steal the cash machine and run Pastor Baker’s car into the lake. It told me to set Farmer Tanner’s chickens free and flood the school. At least my childhood and adolescent years weren’t boring, but damn.
“Logan, I’m not sure what’s the wisest thing to do.”
He reaches into his pocket and tosses me a quarter. I catch it and smile.
“The point is, take a risk and do something you wouldn’t normally do.”
“But what’s the question? What am I asking myself? It needs to be something objective with an either or choice.”
“Only you can come up with that.”
“You sound like you’re training to be a Jedi.”
“Well, if you have any better ideas, feel free.”
I don’t.
My grandfather beams at me when I walk into his office at Crystal Resort.
My nerves spike and the knots in my stomach tighten with anxiety. I’ve never seen him look so proud of me.
He gets up from behind his desk and makes his way to me to give me a hearty hug and a slap on the back.
The smile that follows is one I don’t deserve.
“Son, I am so proud of you,” he says when we sit.
“Thank you.”
“I swear though, Miranda looks an awful lot like that muffin girl you used to tease when you were little. That Bree Dawson.”
I laugh off key. “Because um…she… is.”
He raises his brows and blinks a few times. “Okay, there’s a lot I’m dying to know but now there’s even more. Care to explain? It’s not like you’ve been an open book over the years and I tried not to pry.”
I bite down hard on my back teeth scanning through my thoughts. In my line of work I hear all sorts of stories and I can’t summon one of them or string a few together to give him an answer to save myself.
He stares at me expectantly and something comes to mind. The truth mixed with a lie.
“Yes, I can explain. Miranda is Bree’s middle name. She preferred it for work purposes, so I always tell people her name is Miranda and when you meet I’ll give her the opportunity to decide what she’d like to be called.”
He looks satisfied with that answer and nods. “I see. I had a few friends who went by their middle names. Why on earth didn’t you tell me it was her though?”
“Because I knew you’d make a big deal out of it, and we’ve only been together for the last five years.”
Again, he looks satisfied. “You’re right I would have. Well, that does make me feel more at ease since she’s someone you’ve known all your life. But there are still some things I’d like to discuss with you.”
God what now?
“Sure.”
“I’m satisfied with the marriage and happy for you. The picture you sent me says it all and I am so happy, but I just want to take some precautions.”
Because he’s not a fool.
“Of course, that’s understandable.” I don’t really mean that. Everything is making me antsy and I feel like I would say anything at this point because I don’t have a plan.
“I’m glad you understand. This is important to me, as important as it will be when you pass on the business to your children. So, the only thing I’m going to stipulate is that you and Bree stay married for a minimum of six months before I make the final transfer.”
“Six months.” I stifle a groan. As if I have everything else figured out. Right now my lawyer is preparing the annulment document to end the said marriage and I just keep on digging that hole for myself.
“Six months. You’re married so that ticks the box, but I just want to be certain it’s a lasting marriage. Forgive me for saying so, but I do want to be sure. I gave you the nudge to get married but I don’t want you to have gotten married just to get the business.”
“No of course not.” I sound like a damn hypocrite.
“I’d say a year but that’s a bit much. I don’t want to be a control freak. That’s not what this is about. Can you see things from my side?”
“I can.”
“Great so in six months you get everything.”
Everything is what sounds great to me, but why am I even contemplating it?
When he finds out that I’m lying, and that marriage was over before it even began, I don’t know what he’s going to think of me.
“I’ll start preparing the new documents today,” he adds. “The other thing is I’ve had to bring forward my trip to Italy. I’m needed out there and not being there is making me antsy. I leave in two days’ time. It would be nice if you and Bree wanted to come visit as a honeymoon of sorts. Bet she’d love the cottage on the vineyard.”
“She would.” I can say that because I know it’s one of the things she’s dreamed about.
“Then consider coming.”
“Sure, I will.”
We talk but I’m stuck on autopilot. When I leave I head down to the beach for a walk to think.
I need to sort this out. When I do though I lose everything.
So, what I do?
I need my wife to stay with me and she wants my house for her business.
We both want something. So, the question is do we stay married and get what we want, or end this?
Staying married means I get to explore this curiosity of mine with her. There’s no way I’d do this if I have the chance to and keep my hands off her.
The thought entices me even more, so I reach for the coin in my pocket Logan gave me and look at it.
Heads: I do this, I put the offer to Bree and sweeten the deal.
Tails: I tell the truth and end everything when the annulment comes through.
I flip the coin.
It lands on heads, and I smile.
Chapter 20
Bree
“So, when do you think Ethan will be joining us for dinner?” Papa asks adjusting his cigar.
Mama looks at me from across the dinner table and gives me a warm smile.
“Yes dear, we’d love to see him.”
I smile back and spear the last piece of chicken on my plate with my fork. The poor chicken would be dead all over again if it was alive because my hand came down too heavy and the sound of metal screeching against the ceramic plate has my teeth on edge.
Thankfully, that’s all I did. I almost thought I was going to break it.
“Maybe next week,” I answer. Next week when our marriage is over.
Today is Tuesday. I barely managed yesterday with the constant well wishes from relatives and wedding presents which I didn’t want but had to accept.
Mama set up this lunch between the three of us so I could go out with the girls later to celebrate. More celebrations I don’t want, but this is me riding it out.
Maybe I’ll feel a little more at ease tomorrow when Ethan and I sign the papers.
Damn him. And damn me too for the matter. I fell right into his trap.
I knew what he was up to when he challenged me to break my silence and tell him I remembered but
I chose the more stressful road instead of the one that could get me closer to my dream.
I had my reasons though and they were good. At the time they even seemed almost more important than the dream.
My reasons were plain and simply that I didn’t know what admitting something like that would do to the already weird relationship we have. And the second is a little more worrying. I’m attracted to him, and every second he spent in that kitchen with me was nerve wrecking.
I don’t know if this enhanced attraction is because of what happened—and hello I saw him naked—or if it’s because I’ve always been and what happened just fanned the flames.
Maybe it’s both.
“I just can’t believe I’m going to have Ethan Carson sitting at my table.” Papa says with narrowed eyes.
Neither of my parents suspected anything other than what I told them because they would never imagine me going to Vegas to do what I actually did.
“Me too,” Mama concedes. “I had to speak to that boy’s mother more times than I wanted too, and she was just like the others who live on the south side. All distant and bougie, like she thought she was better than everybody else.”
Ethan’s mother is not like that at all, but of course Mama thinks so.
“Oh Sally, she was always nice to me,” Papa states with a nod.
Me too, but I dare not say it. The look my mother gives my father would probably kill him if looks were so powerful.
“That’s because she was probably after you. We came to Wilmington poorer than church mice and built ourselves from the ground up with that bakery. Samuel, you’re a respectable family man and she was jealous because her no good husband was running around town chasing skirts.”
It’s the first I’m hearing this and it’s making me feel uncomfortable. I remember what Ethan said about his mother and father.
I’d heard his father was a cheater. In fact, I heard that was how he died, cheating on Ethan’s mother with her best friend’s daughter.
But I didn’t know he beat her and Ethan too. It probably explains why he was the way he was in school.
“Sally please, she’s family now.”
“I’m aware of that.” Mama turns back to me. “I do wish you could have given me a heads-up Bree. The whole family is talking about how you were with Liev one week then you’re married to another man come weekend. It’s not natural.”
As if I don’t know that.
“I know. It just happened, completely unplanned.” I drink my water wishing I could turn it into wine. Maybe if I prayed hard enough God would help me out. Or not. Wasn’t it too much wine that got me in trouble?
I don’t know how many sins I committed with Ethan in that one night.
“I get it but try explaining such and such to our relatives. And of course, Lucille thinks you’ve stolen her moment.”
Of course, she does. But serves her right. Even if I get divorced or annulled or whatever it’s called, I still got married before her.
“I’m sure she’s upset.”
“Of course, she’s upset and you wore the dress she was going to pick. She hadn’t decided yet.”
Double serves her right.
“Well, how was I to know that? It was Vera Wang, I’m sure anybody would jump at the chance to have it.”
“And that’s exactly what I said,” Mama says with a wicked smile on her face. “And the only reason I forgive you for getting married without me.”
I chuckle lightly. My mother is an interesting being.
“You should have seen their faces. It was good to know my daughter could get dressed up too in Ms. Wang’s couture and look like the beautiful princess she is.”
Oh my God, have I just died?
Did my mother just call me a beautiful princess?
“Thanks Mama.”
“Don’t you ‘thanks mama’ me. I’m still upset I missed the wedding and you got married in Vegas of all the places. And I also have another bone to pick with you.”
“What bone is it this time Mama?”
“I’ve seen you running around with Shelby, planning. Planning without me again. I heard you were talking about a spa.”
This means Shelby spoke to her. I wanted to keep it quiet, but I understand why Shelby did it. I do lean on her more than I do with my mother, and it must be awkward for her at times.
“Just because I’m not swanky like Shelby with my perfect hair and clothes and I don’t think it’s appropriate to teach you about orgasms doesn’t mean you can’t share your plans with me.”
Papa chokes on his drink and a coughing fit follows. Mama slaps him on his back a few times and he rights himself.
“Are you okay dear?” she asks him.
“Yes, warning next time please. I don’t talk about orgasms either.”
I shake my head at them both.
Mama turns back to me and gives me a pointed look. “Anyway, I would love to hear about the spa, Bree. Sometimes I get jealous thinking that you wish Shelby was your mother and not me.”
I just stare at her because I’ve been jealous my whole life of how much she praises Lucille. She even said once that she wished she was her daughter.
I decide I’m not going to allow her to make me feel bad.
“Mama, I talk to Shelby because she listens to me. I would have loved to tell you about the spa but the last time I got an idea you told me I wasn’t capable of following through with it or anything. That hurt me to no end, and I didn’t want you to say the same thing to me this time.”
She gazes back at me for a few moments then looks over at my father who nods agreeing with me.
Mama sighs. “I know and I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that to you. I do think it will work out. It’s new and I believe after seeing the way you handle the salon that you’ll weather any storm that comes your way.”
I must really have died because she’s never been so forthcoming before not ever.
I think that could be Shelby again.
“Thank you appreciate that.”
“Now as for that husband of yours, the situation between you two ain’t natural, but your father and I have decided you’re a grown woman now and we’re going to keep our noses out of it.”
“You are?” I find that hard to believe.
They both nod.
“We are. I trust you know what you’re doing. We do not understand it, but we just hope you do. Lord willing and the creek don’t rise you’ll be all right with Ethan Carson.”
The creek has already risen, Mama, and I jumped right into the center so the water could swallow me whole.
I get the feeling that Ethan has something more up his sleeves. He knows I need him and that’s not good. He also knew I was lying and that’s not good either.
Both mean he has me right where he wants me, and he’ll want me to do whatever he wants to get what I want.
That’s him all over. The problem with that is I might be willing to do what he wants me to do for more than just my dream and I might enjoy it too much.
My friends and I meet at the Kat’s Tail at nine.
The music is pumping, and everyone is dressed in their finest. This place opened a few years back and the way I hear it, there is no night that sees it empty.
There are a number of other cool clubs to go to, but people love coming to this one because they bring all the class and energy from L.A. and New York combined. The owners are always thinking up one thing or another on a weekly basis and on top of that they have the best live bands twice a week. Tonight is not one of those nights but the energy is no less different.
I’m enjoying being with my friends but having to make up parts of what happened between Ethan and I is not nice, especially with Quinn as my side kick trying to help me out. I feel like just because I’m reserving my seat in hell, doesn’t mean I have to save one for her too.
We got our drinks—mocktails for Quinn and me—and sat in the little booth we always gravitate to when we come here. The music is loud but th
ere it’s low enough so we can speak.
As the questions fire at me I answer them until I’ve ran out of steam and they’re all out of questions.
“I just don’t believe it,” Mary says. “You and Ethan.”
“Well stranger things have happened.”
“No,” Tennessee replies laughing. “They haven’t. I’m sorry Bree.”
We all laugh at that.
“She’s right,” Quinn agrees. “But we’re happy if you’re happy.”
God bless her heart, she’s been a real rock to me. She knows exactly what’s going to happen but like the good friend she is she’ll walk on this rocky road with me right until the very end.
“Agreed.” The girls say together raising their glasses.
“Besides, he must be the good dick if you’re going to stay married to him.” Tennessee adds and they laugh even more.
“Subject change,” I say in a sing song voice.
Tennessee puts up her hand. “Oh my God I have some serious tea.”
“What?” Mary and Clarissa both gasp.
“I heard Denver’s wedding has been postponed.”
My eyes widen. “What happened?” That was the whole reason for Vegas.
“I heard one of the strippers filmed them having sex and sent the video to his fiancée.”
They all gasp but my heart squeezes when I think the guys really did have strippers. Of course, they would. I expected that and Ethan was with them.
Denver is a dirty dog, that’s even his nickname on the field. So, him having sex with strippers when he’s supposed to get married in a matter of days doesn’t surprise me. What I do wonder is if Ethan was with any of the strippers.
Again, I have no right to think this, but I hope he wasn’t. I can’t see what time he would have had to get frisky with the strippers, but I don’t know.
Denver’s poor fiancée. She sounded decent so I thought maybe he’d changed. Clearly, I was wrong.
“What an asshole,” Mary says. “He must have hoped what happened in Vegas would stay there, but it followed him like the dog he is.”
Out of Bounds: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Sinful Bachelors Book 2) Page 12