Keeping Wicked (The Mitchell Brothers Book 3)

by Kathryn L. James

  He was just pissed off because I left. I’d been the one to leave him instead of the other way around and his ego couldn’t take it.

  In a rush, I slammed the door and bolted down the drive just like the first night I’d been with him at his ranch. The difference, the first time had been easy, this time felt as though my shattered heart would never be whole again.

  As I reached the entrance, the sound of a vehicle began closing in on me. Refusing to look, I searched the roadway for the Uber, praying it would save me from anything he had to say. The door slammed and footsteps trekked over the asphalt. I squeezed my eyes closed and a knot of dread filled me. There wasn’t anything left to say—because we were yesterday.

  “Leah.”

  “You made your feelings perfectly clear. Now leave me alone Chad.”

  “Look at me.”

  “No. I’m done.” A sob almost escaped through my lips.

  “We’re not anywhere close to being done.”

  I sighed in relief as a car winded around the curve toward where I waited. Please God, please let this be my ride.

  “Look at me.”

  The compact maroon vehicles slowed and veered to the edge of the drive.

  “Come back with me. Let’s talk,” he pleaded.

  A sudden force of courage took control of my emotions. I spun toward him and locked onto his panicked and nervous gaze. When he moved closer toward me, I shot my hand up in between us.

  “You weren’t the only one who had a lapse in judgement. I should never have thought there was something between us that could be fixed. I was wrong to think there was a chance to fix us. I don’t want to fix yesterday. In fact I don’t want any yesterday’s in my life—and you’re yesterday. Now leave me the fuck alone!” I choked out.

  He reached for my hand, but I jerked away and darted inside the backseat of the car frantically urging the driver to hurry and get me out of there.

  “Leah!” He reached for the handle but thankfully the driver pressed on the gas pedal leaving Chad behind just where he belonged.

  “Do you need me to call the police?” He glanced over his shoulder.

  I swallowed hard and dropped my head. “No. That was just an overdue break-up.”

  The rest of the ride was in silence, just as the tears were soundless as they streaked down my cheeks. Not even bothering to wipe them away, I let the anguish wet trickles flow from my soul.

  As we approached the gaited entrance, I rolled down the window. Jude’s smile faded as soon as he met the seriousness in my expression. “Please keep my no visitation request the same and if anyone shows up and causes trouble, please notify the police.”

  I didn’t want to say Chad’s name and hoped like hell the Uber driver didn’t recognize the address—or recognize him for that matter.

  “Of course, Ms. Leah.” He surveyed my eyes and had to have seen the turmoil swirling in the depths.

  I called Carli as soon as I walked through the door and curled up on the sofa spilling everything. She had wanted to rush right over, but I insisted I needed the time alone. She only gave in when I promised to meet her at the Cantina for breakfast burritos in the morning.

  Then the vibrations of the phone lying next to me began without end. Messages of missed phone calls, voice mails, and texts stretched more than I could stand. After losing count of the annoying sound, I simply turned off the device and tossed it onto the coffee table.

  Through the river of tears, I let out a half laugh thinking about the framed lyrics of The Dance hanging on my dad’s wall. Would I have missed it? Was the pain that I felt worth it? Our actual dance beneath the stars along the bay, was it worth it? He’d made me feel like a queen and his presence alone had produced enough warmth to fill the world. Would I have missed all of that? And the way his touch felt, how he made love to me. And made me feel loved—even though I was the only one who loved without measure.

  No.

  Plain and simple, no, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

  Another tear trickled down my cheek and time passed without notice. I didn’t nap. I didn’t eat. I didn’t do anything but lay in an almost catatonic state without changing positions, letting every second of every memory course its way through my thoughts in tidal wave force. The revelation of the finality of us made it difficult to do anything other than an occasional walk to the bathroom. And even then, I didn’t bother to look in the mirror to see the shattered shell of a broken heart in my image.

  Day became dusk, the sun dipping below the tree line outside the window. Finally, I moved my boneless body to the patio. For a moment, I stood there gazing at the sky before sinking into the hammock. Back and forth I swayed in the gentle wind and closed my eyes. It was like Chad’s warmth brushing over my flesh and another round of tears poured freely over my cheeks.

  I couldn’t breathe. How would I ever mend? How would all the broken pieces of my heart piece back together when every single doled out fragment still belonged to him?

  I should have never made that tequila induced call. And I sure shouldn’t have ever jumped in an Uber because I was still too tipsy to drive and went to him.

  “How am I ever going to let you go?” I whispered.

  Him persistently trying to get past the gate, calling my dad, all confused me even more. Why had he even bothered? Then to lash out, calling me yesterday? To destroy us so easily? And yet when I slammed the Uber car door in his face, he had looked stricken, like it pained him a great deal.

  The sky was pitch black with a million brilliant stars present and the tears had finally subsided. Then the unexpected sound of the doorbell chimed, and I flinched so hard I almost tumbled out of the hammock.

  “Freakin’ Carli.” I rolled my eyes contemplating letting her stand outside until she finally gave up. She knew no boundaries, but it was because she was fierce and loved me fiercely.

  Letting out a deep sigh, I rolled to my feet and headed toward the front door.

  Not even bothering to look through the peep hole, I opened up ready to throw myself into her arms. Instead, I frowned at my Dad standing there with his hands pushed into his pockets and a sympathetic smile ghosted his lips.

  “What are you doing out at this time of night?” My voice cracked.

  “Are you going to invite me in?” He reached up grazing his thumb over the stained path of wetness on my cheek.

  “Under one condition. You don’t get to ask questions.” I made a feeble attempt at a shaky smile.

  “I promise.”

  “Do you want to sit out back? It’s nice.”

  “Wherever makes you happier.”

  Dad followed me to my outdoor oasis, and I plopped down onto the whicker rocker and him onto the matching small sofa. I clutched onto a navy pillow, holding it tightly against my abdomen, and rested my feet onto the glass table between us.

  The discomfort in his expression was immeasurable as he silently searched my face. I was so thankful he had recovered from the heart surgery and more thankful for our second chance.

  “You should be home resting, you know.” I smirked.

  “I get plenty of rest. They won’t let me do anything but rest or that damn rehab.”

  Another long pause of awkwardness passed between us. Without a doubt I knew it took all he had to keep his word and not attempt to pry the saddest unhappily ever after story from my lips.

  “I can tell you want to ask, but I just can’t go there.”

  “You don’t have to. I already know everything, Leah.”

  “Exactly what is it that you think you know?” I frowned holding my eyes to his.

  “That he was going crazy trying to see you. That you went to the ranch house. And maybe he said things he didn’t mean, things that had to slice your heart in two. His words, not mine. And lastly, that you think it’s over between you two.”

  “Did he tell you all of that?”

  “He came by the house after he was arreste
d for disturbing the peace at your secured entrance. Luckily, his one phone call to the attorney was able to pull a few strings.”

  “Arrested? Chad was arrested?”

  “I’m not gonna lie. A huge part of me wanted you to open the door wearing a big smile. I had hoped you were okay, but you’re not. Seeing you like this, only confirms I’m doing the right thing.”

  “Eventually, I’m going to be all right. Just not today.”

  “He was begging, Leah.”

  “Don’t.” I shook my head softly. “We…can never be anything more than yesterday. Those were his words and he meant them. I’m sorry he was arrested, but he can’t expect to get his way just because his last name is Mitchell.”

  “Maybe you should hear him out.”

  “Why are you doing this? Talking about him, feels like a knife slicing into my heart, Dad! You’ve been a hundred percent against the idea of Chad and I having any kind of relationship! Why now? Why the sudden change?”

  “Because I can’t bear to see you like this. And he’s just as miserable.”

  A wave of emotion rushed through me and I closed my eyes. “You said he begged?”

  “He swore he would do whatever it took to make things right. That he would walk away from everything. Sell the team. Resign from Mitchell Oil. Move to Bolivar, if that’s what would make you happy.”

  I stared dumbstruck and had no idea what to think, what to say, or how to react.

  “Your father’s right. I’ll do whatever it takes to make things right between us.”

  I sprang out of the chair and spun around to where Chad stood in the doorway. He stepped toward me and dad stood.

  “I’ll talk to you tomorrow, honey.” Then deadpanned Chad. “Don’t make me regret this.”

  Chad nodded his head and Dad brushed past him leaving us alone. He stared at me for a few seconds before dropping his head. His disheveled hair looked as if his hands had ran through the strands hundreds and hundreds of times. His shoulders slumped and slowly his pain filled eyes met mine.

  “Chad.” My voice was barely audible.

  “I never meant to hurt you. I would do anything to take it all back. When you left me in Bolivar, I was hurt beyond words. I thought there was something special between us and you left so easily.”

  “I heard what you said to Stone.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” He narrowed his eyes.

  “You said you take care of family and because I was Harry’s daughter that made me part of the Lonestar family.”

  “It’s not what you think.”

  “Those were your words. I heard you, Chad.”

  “You heard what I wanted Stone to hear.”

  “It doesn’t matter. You didn’t even wait before you went on a date!”

  “I haven’t been out with anyone, Leah.”

  “Garrett told me you were on a date. A fucking date. And I still went to your house because the security guard at the gate and Dad said you were trying to find me. And you were almost arrested because you kept harassing them trying to let you inside. And you were arrested today!”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about or what Garrett said to you, but I haven’t been on a fucking date! There’s been no one else since I walked into Ortega’s. I spent nine days in hell and the last few hours in a cell that I’d gladly do all over again, if it finally got me to you!”

  “But I’m yesterday! Don’t you remember?”

  “I love you, Leah. I didn’t want to. God help me, I didn’t want to, but I do. You are my yesterday, but you’re also my today and if you’ll give me another chance, you’ll always be my tomorrows.”

  I squeezed my eyes closed. God, how I had wanted to hear him tell me he loved me, but now?

  “I’ve never been more scared in my life. I want to believe you, but after everything that was said, I don’t know how I feel.”

  “I’m one hundred percent in love with you,” he whispered. “You leaving me scared the hell out of me. I never let anyone close, but you never gave me a choice because I couldn’t get enough of you.”

  “I want to believe you,” I whispered.

  “Before you, love fucked me over. I swore I’d never let anyone get close to me again. I vowed never to let someone in again, but it didn’t matter what I vowed because my heart wanted you.”

  “You said you’d never been in love before.”

  “It’s a part of my past that I’ve never wanted to talk about,” he paused.

  I couldn’t take my eyes off of him as he reached for me. My hand was so small inside his large strong hold. My fingers laced with his and it felt so perfect, as if we were meant to hold hands for the rest of our lives.

  “Her name was Daria McPowell, the first and only girl I loved, until you. We met when I was twenty-three and she was twenty-one. After six months of everything perfect she moved into my apartment. One day I came home early, with a dozen long-stemmed roses, just because,” he shrugged, “most cliché thing ever. I haven’t sent roses since. She wasn’t home, and other than disappointment, I didn’t think anything of it. Then everything changed. I found a business card on the floor in the closet.” He dragged his free hand through his hair.

  “It’s okay. You don’t have to talk about it.”

  “The card was a doctor specializing in abortion. She had never asked me if I wanted a family. When she came home, she found me holding the card and even tried to say it was her sister’s. It wasn’t even my baby. She had been cheating on me and was only with me for the money. She had the abortion, kept seeing the other guy and planned to still marry me. If I hadn’t found the card. I would have never found out and married a fucking cheating, lying, bitch.”

  “Have you seen her since?”

  “No. You and my brothers are the only ones who know that side of my life. I’m sure Avery and Brooke both know, but we’ve never discussed it.”

  “I’m glad you shared it with me.”

  “When Stone and I were talking, it caught me off guard. I’d fallen in love with you long before I flew us to Bolivar, but I wasn’t ready to admit it.”

  I threw my arms around his neck. Our mouths crashed together, and I clung to him as he pulled me tighter into his embrace.

  “I love you, Chad. Probably since the day you first smiled at me at the Cantina.”

  He tipped my chin upward and brushed his lips against mine. “We belong together, Leah.”

  “We’ve never even been on a date out in public.” I teased.

  “My publicist will write up a submission article for The Dallas News in the morning.” He nipped my lips. “How do you feel about a road trip to meet my parents and Gammy.”

  “When”

  “Next week too soon?”

  I let out a breath. “I thought you meant tomorrow.”

  He laughed. “No. We have a lot to do in the morning.”

  “Like what?” I scrunched my face at him.

  “I’m going to cook some breakfast and then we’re going to have amazing makeup sex from our first argument.”

  “Sex first, then the rest.”

  “What if I tell you I want to marry you first.”

  I froze and took a long swallow. He smoothed his hand over my cheeks and into my hair. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world knowing how blessed it felt to love and to be loved. Pure joy spread through me.

  “Are you asking me to marry you?”

  He dropped to his knee in front of me. “Yes. Marry me, Leah. Marry me and make me the happiest guy in the world. If you say yes, I’ll have Marcello’s close and you can have any ring you want. I know it’s soon, but when you know, you know. My heart’s known for a long time.”

  He was right.

  My heart had decided for me as well. Against my wishes. Against my will. But I was so thankful the heart knows what the heart wants.

  “Yes. I’ll marry you.” I dropped down to my knees and wrapped my ar
ms around his neck.

  “When?”

  “December?”

  He frowned. “I was thinking next week.”

  “Next week?”

  Chad laughed. “I’m kidding. I know weddings take some time to plan.”

  “I’d rather not have a big wedding. Maybe something small at Bolivar.”

  “Well that did it. You’ll have Gammy wrapped around your little finger. She’ll be eating out of your hand if we get married where her and my grandfather met.”

  “I think it would be perfect for us.”

  “Because we’re perfect.”

  We were perfect.

  Ridiculously perfect.

  We had a wicked perfect love.

  THE END

  I hope you enjoyed the last installment of The Mitchell Brother Series. If you enjoyed Chad and Leah’s story, and have time, please leave a review.

  Also by Kathryn L. James

  Crazy Beautiful Lies

  Crazy Beautiful Kiss (short in Anthology, A Story of a Kiss), re-release as novella TBA

  Chasing Wicked (The Mitchell Brothers , #1)

  Finding Wicked (The Mitchell Brothers, #2)

  Acknowledgments

  First and foremost, thank you to all of my readers! I cannot express how much I love your messages, teasers, and dropping by to meet me at some of the book signings. Thank you for leaving reviews and I’m sorry I made one of you burn cookies because you couldn’t put down my story. Those are the type of reviews that make me keep writing new stories. I’m truly humbled and hope you all continue to read my work.

  Thank you so much Mr. James for supporting me in all that I do! It seems like yesterday that we were two kids who fell in love and look at us now. I’m so glad you chose me and that I get to do this crazy life with you. You have my heart forever.

  To my amazing girls—you know who you are. Thank you for your feedback, suggestions, and advice. I see a glass of wine to celebrate in the near future!