by Lucy Darling
“What about children?” I ask, suddenly wanting to know all of the details.
“You know you’re going to sign it,” Emily says. “Let’s get this over with so you can get to that ridiculous honeymoon.” Her words are like a slap to the face.
He said he was going to plan the honeymoon. Really it wasn’t a big deal, but the lying is. What else was he lying about? For all I know he could be lying about all of his promises of what this marriage will be.
Mom keeps going on about the prenup. Kinley grabs my hand, giving it a squeeze.
“We can leave. You don’t have to do this.” She's right. I don’t, but I kept going along with it because deep down I’d always had this pull to Gerrit. Now I’m not sure of anything.
“Get my clothes,” I say under my breath to her. Mom and the lawyer aren’t paying me any attention. Emily is, though. I see the way her eyes light up when she hears what I said. I pull my eyes from her to my wedding dress still hanging on the rack.
I can’t do this. I’m not sure why I thought I could. I don’t want to get married to a man who doesn’t love me in hopes that maybe one day he will. Not to mention all this underhanded bullshit. I should have known. This is like a business deal to him, and everyone knows that Gerrit Kane is cutthroat when it comes to business. It’s how he’s made his fortune.
But the way he touched me. It all felt so real. I feel like a naïve virgin confusing Gerrit’s lust for me for love. I made the mistake of thinking he must feel the same way I do.
“Here.” She hands me a pair of yoga pants. I slip them on under my silk robe, going for my shirt next. Before I can make my move, the door to the room bursts open, revealing an out of breath Gerrit. My heart leaps out of my chest at the sight of him in his suit.
“What the fuck are you two doing here?” Everyone stands up straight at Gerrit’s tone. Except me. He doesn’t scare me.
His eyes sweep over me then go to the bag Kinley is holding and narrow.
“You’re not going anywhere. You promised.” He crosses the room until he’s in front of me. “You look like you’re about to run, love. Is that what you were planning on doing?”
“Yes,” I answer honestly. “I can’t do this.”
“Damn right she’s not doing this with this prenup.” My mom waves the folder around. I could give a shit about Gerrit’s money. That’s not what I want from him.
He takes it from her hand, looking at it. I see Evelyn slip back into the room looking as mad as she was when she left.
“What the fuck is this bullshit?” he growls. My traitorous body responds to his tone. How does that scare everyone else but turn me on? Gerrit gives me a glance, looking like he knows he turned me on.
“You never got back to me about the prenup. Emily called me this morning saying you needed one.” The lawyer looks confused.
“Of course he needs a prenup. I was doing my job.” Emily lifts her chin smugly. “It’s an arranged marriage, for Christ's sake.” Gerrit takes a deep breath. He’s about to explode. I can see it in his eyes.
“Your job has nothing to do with my personal life,” he grits out at her. She must sense his anger too because she drops that chin back down.
“But she can help with the wedding plans and the honeymoon?” I snip, not backing down.
“I pulled her out of the wedding planning when I learned how you felt about it. As for the honeymoon, I told you I was handling that.” He reaches out, brushing one of the curls out of my face before trailing his finger down my jaw. “You look beautiful. I missed you last night.” He pulls me into him. For a moment I forget I’m mad. How does he do that to me?
I push at his chest. “Maybe we are rushing this.”
He doesn’t let me get away from him. His hold on me tightens. “There is no prenup. Emily, you’re fired.” He says it as if that solves everything.
“You can’t fire her.”
“I can.”
“She’s in love with you. I can’t blame her for the things she’s done.” Emily’s face turns red. Gerrit’s eyebrows pull together. He really is clueless about his PA.
“She is fucking with my wife.” He’s right, but I’ll feel guilty. He must read my face. “Fine. I’ll give her a severance package and a good recommendation. That’s the best I’ve got.” He doesn’t look happy about this, but he’s compromising for me. “Unless she doesn’t get the hell out of here already.”
“I’m sorry.” Her apology is spoken so softly I almost don’t hear it. She gives Gerrit one last look. He’s not looking at her. His eyes are on me as she slips from the room.
“Guessing I’m not needed here,” Paul says before he follows Emily out.
“There. Now we can get married.” Gerrit starts to relax. I shake my head no. Why does he have to look so handsome? I do want to marry him, but not like this. “We’re getting married,” he orders me. “You promised me.”
“I want to marry you, Gerrit, I do, but maybe we’re doing this too fast? We should—“ I trail off. My eyes start to sting with tears.
“You’re getting married, Kennedy. You agreed to this. The terms have been made,” my mother adds in. She’s fully back on board with this wedding now that the prenup is gone.
“You can get the fuck out too.” My mom jerks back like she’s been slapped. Gerrit is on a roll. “I’ll drain your bank accounts. The only reason you’re still living the life you are is because of Kennedy. I didn’t save you from almost losing everything. She did.”
This time he rubs his thumb across my bottom lip. “I bought up all your family's loans to get closer to you. Strong armed them into letting me have you.”
“Why? There are a ton of women you wouldn’t have to strong arm people to get.”
“They aren’t you, love.” My heart flutters. It always does when he calls me love. “Don’t tell me you don’t feel this.”
“Why didn’t you just ask me out? This all could have been done so differently.”
A sheepish look crosses his face. “I wasn’t going to chance you saying no.” I see a flash of insecurity. “You’re too good for me and I know it. I did what I had to.”
“Gerrit.” I sigh his name.
“I know I sound fucking crazy, but I can’t help myself when it comes to you.” Every word he says nicks away at my resolve.
I glance over to my sister, who has a giant smile on her face.
“I don’t think you’re crazy. If you are, I love your kind of crazy.”
“Thank fuck,” he says before his mouth is on mine. I get lost in his kiss. When we finally break apart, I notice everyone has left the room. “We’re getting married.” I swallow. It’s so tempting, and I did promise him. “Kennedy.” He growls out my name in warning.
“I don’t like when you call me by my name.”
“I’ll call you anything you want as long as you get your ass down that aisle.”
“I told you that I do want to marry you. It’s just—“ I trail off, feeling shy all of a sudden.
“Tell me. I’ll make this right,” he pleads with me. He’s killing me. I don’t think Gerrit has pleaded for anything in his life. “I love you. We’re not leaving this room until you tell me why you're hesitant.” The tears I’ve been trying to hold back break free. Except these aren’t because I’m sad.
“You love me?”
“Love you? Of course I freaking love you. I’m obsessed with you. I can’t think when I don’t know where you are or what you’re doing. It drives me insane. So much so I’m tracking you down wherever you are. Not caring what other shit I’m supposed to be doing. I’m not even sure love is a strong enough word for what I feel for you.”
I throw myself at him. He catches me easily. I wrap myself around him, kissing him. He loves me.
“I love you too,” I sniffle. A smile spreads across his face.
“I’m not letting you go. I’ll take you down that aisle just like this.” I let out a laugh knowing he’s not joking. He wouldn’t care. It’s one of the
things I love about Gerrit. He doesn’t give a shit what others think.
“I don’t want you to let me go. That’s all I wanted. To know that we love each other.”
He puts me down on my feet. He surprises me when he takes my hand, pulling off the engagement ring. Before I can ask what he’s doing he’s dropping down on his knee. “I love you so damn much, love. Would you do me the honor of marrying me? I promise I’ll always put you first. I’m sure I’ll fuck up along the way. I’m new to this relationship stuff, but if you tell me when I’m fucking up, I promise that I’ll fix it because I’d do anything to make you smile.”
“Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.” I hold out my hand as he slips the ring back on to my finger. He stands, taking me into his arms. I wrap my legs around him as he pins me to a wall. I moan into his mouth. My heart feels so full. We’re in love and getting married. I’ve turned Gerrit Kane into a sweetheart just for me.
“As happy as I am to see my son has fixed this mess he’s made because he couldn’t admit his feelings, we need to get this show on the road,” Evelyn says. Gerrit slowly puts me down on my feet.
“He didn't mess anything up,” I admit. “In fact I think it was perfect.” If he had done this slowly with dating and so on, I don’t think he’d be here yet, and I want to marry this man now. He brushes his mouth against mine.
“You better be walking down the aisle in ten minutes or I’m coming for you.”
“We have to get her in her dress and fix her makeup you messed up,” my sister declares, making her way toward me.
“Ten,” he orders. I’d be annoyed by his bossy behavior but like always, it only turns me on more, making me want to get back to him quicker. So much so I was walking down the aisle in eight minutes, arm in arm with my sister. My parents didn't fight it.
They didn't want to make a scene, and we all knew Gerrit has no problem making one. He was determined to give me the wedding I wanted. He gave me that and so much more.
17
Gerrit
I can’t take my eyes off my wife. My dad spins her around the dance floor before pulling her back in. He dips her, making Kennedy laugh, the sweet sound filling the room.
Both of my parents already adore her, but what’s not to love? I fell for her the moment she walked into my life. As much as I want to lay both her parents out, I’m also thankful they made this beautiful creature. Their fate lies in her hands alone.
“You can’t keep your eyes off her.” My mom wraps her arm around mine. I smile but continue to look at my beautiful bride.
“She’s the best thing that has ever happened to me. I didn’t know that it would be like this. She has changed me. She’s made me want to be the best man I can be for her. She’s shown me what it means to really live life.”
“That life. It’s not always about work.”
I nod in agreement. “I remember your advice, Mom.” Ever since she told me her and Dad’s story, I’d thought about it. I’ve spent the last ten years building my name. It’s time to lean back and enjoy it with my wife. “You’re not mad at me anymore?”
“I should have known. You never dated, and then bam you’re getting married. Thank God she's an angel. Now we just have to get your brother to notice her sister.” Of course she’s still playing matchmaker. “It’s time for him to come back home.”
I agree. I glance over and see Luke whispering something in Kinley’s ear. I wonder if he knows she’s about to take off for six months.
“Look at them,” my mom gushes.
“You do know she’s leaving the country for a while, right?”
“Yep.” Mom smiles, but I see mischief in her eyes. I had a feeling she would know. She spent a ton of time with the girls getting the wedding together. “I’m proud of you. I want you to know that. You burst into that room ready to fight for her. That takes a man. You didn’t care if you had to grovel in front of the whole world.”
I didn’t. “There isn’t anything I won’t do for my wife.”
“I know.” I spin my mom over toward my dad.
“Can I have my bride back?” I ask.
“I suppose.” Dad leans in and kisses her on the cheek. He pauses and whispers something in her ear that has her smiling but her eyes watering too.
I have no doubt he told her to call him Dad or that she’s the daughter they have always wanted. It makes me so fucking happy that my family is taking to her so well. She deserves it with the shit parents she has. I take her hand, pulling her into me as Mom goes to dance with Dad.
She wraps her arms around me. “I love your parents. I thought in-laws were supposed to be terrible.”
“Wait until she starts coming at you suggesting you have grandbabies and then see how you feel.”
“I’m sure she’ll get some soon enough,” she says easily. “Now are you going to tell me about this honeymoon?”
“You’ll see soon enough.” I pull her tighter into me. I’m ready to show her now. I’ve been counting the minutes until we can leave. “Why did you think Emily helped with the honeymoon? She doesn’t even know where we’re going,” I ask. Emily is fucking lucky my wife has such a big heart. If it were up to me, I would have gotten rid of her.
“Something she said. I can’t remember word for word, but it was along the lines of us doing a ridiculous honeymoon. I thought if she knew it was ridiculous she must’ve had a part in it. I’m sorry. I should’ve trusted you. You’ve never lied to me.”
“I’ve done some underhanded things to make you my wife. You don’t even know the half of it, so I understand why you thought that.”
Her eyebrows lift. I’m sure she’s wondering what else I’ve done. She doesn’t need to know I went full stalker, having bodyguards follow her. Hell, the night of her bachelor party there were a handful of them in the club.
“Gerrit.” She presses herself into my hard cock. “Don’t think I can’t get it out of you.”
“You’re asking for it, wife.” I give her ass a squeeze. “The only reason I can see why Emily said that is because I had her clear my schedule for the next month.” She lets out a surprised gasp. “We got married fast. I know that. We’re going to spend the next month getting to know every detail of each other.” It’s the truth. I want her all to myself.
“You keep on surprising me.” She leans up on her tiptoes, pressing her mouth against mine.
“I say we get out of here.” I take her hand, wanting her alone.
“I have to say goodbye to a few people.” She pulls on my hand. “Are we leaving for the honeymoon now?”
“Yes. I have a plane waiting.”
She lets out a soft laugh. “Of course you do.”
“Five minutes,” I warn her. She rolls her eyes at me, but I give her a look, letting her know I’ll come for her and carry her out if I have to. She lets my hand go so that she can go talk to her sister. My brother heads my way, giving them a moment alone. He’s been at Kinley’s side all day.
“If you hurt that girl, I’m going to have to fuck you up,” I let him know.
“You’re that protective over the sister?”
I shrug. “If her sister gets upset my wife will get upset. I don’t much care for my wife being upset.”
“Fuck, it sounds so weird you calling someone your wife.” I glare at him trying to change the subject. “Calm down. I’m not fucking with her. She’s a sweet girl.” He looks back toward Kinley, and I see the hungry look in his eyes. I know what it looks like because I’ve seen it in the mirror.
I glance at my watch when I see a group of girls form around Kennedy. A few I recognize from the bachelorette party. I give them a few more minutes as Kennedy hugs them each, reminding myself that in a few minutes she’s going to be all mine for the next month.
Another girl with dark hair walks over to them. I see Kennedy’s demeanor change immediately. Her smile is forced, not meeting her eyes. I head over toward the group of ladies. It’s obviously time to go.
When I reach her, I wrap my a
rm around her. She looks up at me, searching my face for something. I’m not sure what. “Have you met Beth, honey?” Damn. I like her calling me that. “We went to school together.”
I look down at the dark-haired girl. “It's a pleasure to meet you.”
“Gerrit.” She rolls her eyes. “We've met before.”
I might not remember everyone's names, but I always remember a face. “I’m sorry. I don’t recall.”
“Gerrit.” My wife pokes my side. “Beth said you two dated a few years back.”
“No,” I respond, knowing that’s a lie.
“Gerrit,” Beth says, her tone shocked. Her face starts to turn red.
“I have no fucking clue what you’re talking about. Not that it matters, but why would you bring some shit like that up to my wife anyways unless you’re trying to be an asshole?” Beth's mouth falls open. A few of the girls snicker. “Are you ready, love?” I look down at my beautiful wife who is smiling up at me. This one isn't forced.
“Yeah.” She melts into my side, and I lead her out of the ballroom.
“Who the hell was that?” I ask her when we make it down the hallway.
“Beth.” She rolls her eyes. “She’s been telling everyone you two had a thing. I thought it might be true until you told me that you haven’t dated in forever. I don’t know why she has to be a brat. Everything's a competition to her. I shouldn't have invited her, but I was being petty back, I suppose.” I chuckle. “I hate the thought of you being with her.” Her nose scrunches.
“The feeling is mutual. I wanted to strangle James the other day when I thought he’d dated you.” My driver opens the door for us when we step out of the hotel. We slip into the back of the limo. Kennedy lets out a long sigh.
“Finally alone.” She surprises me by crawling into my lap the best she can with her wedding dress on. I pull her into me more.