Unforgettable

by Alexander, S. B.

  The gate suddenly opened, and the security guard was shoving me in before the reporter could talk to me.

  Smart man.

  “Why does he get to go in?” the wiry reporter shouted.

  “I’m going to rescue my girl,” I volleyed back with ease, affection, and giddiness. Yep, it was official. I was in love.

  The guard’s partner escorted me down to the house, where two more beefy men stood watch outside the front door.

  I felt as though I were in some type of political crime drama on TV and was about to be interrogated. But then the front door swung open, and I came face to face with the most beautiful girl in the world.

  My heart went haywire, and I knew I had made the right decision to come there.

  “It’s okay, guys,” Haven said in her angelic voice.

  One of the guards shoved me in for good measure or to prove to me that he was a badass and would have my head if I messed up.

  I snarled at him before entering the house. No sooner had I stepped inside than Haven had her arms around me. “What are you doing here?”

  “Saving my girl.”

  She let go of me. “This isn’t a good time.”

  I checked her from head to toe. No bruises. No signs that she’d been hurt. Every strand of hair was in place. Her big emerald eyes were clear. Above all else, her bewitching smile said she was happy to see me.

  I mentally scratched my head. “I heard the news. Is your father here?”

  She let out a small laugh. “Everyone’s heard of my father’s affair.”

  A tall blonde glided in, angling her head as her blue eyes appraised me. “You must be Ryker James. I’m Arlene Hale, the senator’s wife.” She pecked me on one cheek then the other. “As Haven said, this isn’t a good time.”

  A small white dog wagged his tail as he trotted in and began sniffing my shoes and legs.

  “This is Baxter,” Haven said as though she hated the dog.

  We hadn’t had pets growing up. My dad had been allergic to cats and those dogs that had fur instead of hair. Still, Mom had decided no pets even though my brother and sister and I had hounded her many times to let us have a dog.

  I ignored Baxter as he continued to look up at me with his tongue out. “I’m sorry, ma’am, for the intrusion. I saw how Haven was whisked away, and I was worried about her.”

  “You could’ve called her.” Her tone had an edge.

  If I hadn’t been driving like a madman or if I’d been thinking clearly, I would’ve.

  “I didn’t have my phone on me,” Haven said. “Glad you showed up.”

  Take that, Mrs. Hale.

  Arlene’s red lips curled at the edges, and it dawned on me that she didn’t appear to be a woman scorned—no puffy eyes from crying, her makeup was in perfect condition, and she was as calm as the ocean on a windless day.

  “It didn’t matter. Phone or not, I had to see that Haven was okay with my own eyes.”

  “It’s good to know that you’re a gentleman and the rumors about you are not true, then,” Arlene said.

  Depends on the rumors.

  “Arlene,” Haven warned. “Can we have some privacy?”

  Arlene picked up her dog. “Come on, Baxter.” Then she wound her way around a massive staircase and faded from view.

  Haven grabbed my hand. “Let’s go out back.”

  The house was deadly silent as I followed Haven through the expansive rooms of the elegantly decorated home.

  A chill danced down my spine. “Why isn’t Arlene upset about your father’s affair?” I asked as she led me out to a veranda that overlooked a lighted pool and outdoor kitchen.

  A young, dark-haired lady came out. “Would you like something to drink, sir?”

  “Roya, can you bring some lemonade?” Haven asked.

  Roya nodded then left.

  I would’ve asked for scotch, but given where I was and what liquor could do to my psyche, I would settle for lemonade.

  After we commandeered two of the six chairs, Haven said, “Arlene knew. Besides, no matter what my father does, Arlene would never leave him. And she is all about keeping up appearances.”

  “My wife is a strong woman.” Senator Hale strutted out, appearing as though he didn’t have a care in the world. “Ryker James, what brings you out this way? Or I should ask what makes you barge into my home?” His condescending tone lit a fire inside me.

  “Daddy,” Haven said. “He’s my guest. And we talked about Ryker and me.”

  I was curious how that conversation had gone and what he knew about Haven and me. But I had a nagging topic to get off my chest now that Senator Hale was looming over me.

  I rose from my chair. I wanted to be at eye level when he and I exchanged words. “An apology would be a good place to start.” I kept my tone even.

  The senator tucked his hands into his suit pockets. “An apology for what?” His green eyes resembled Haven’s, but the one emotion missing was compassion. Then again, I didn’t expect him to have any for me.

  “Is it true you bribed state workers?”

  He smirked. “I’m not on trial here. And I highly suggest, as my guest, you tread lightly, son.”

  Haven might throw me out, but I pushed on. I had to get to the bottom of this once and for all. “You paid off an employee at the Texas Water Development Board to ensure that he would take his time in handling my father’s case with James Enterprises.”

  “Daddy, is that true? This is what Lorna has on you? This is what you wouldn’t tell me? This is why you had your men pull me out of the fundraiser?”

  I kept my focus glued to the senator as I spoke to Haven. “You haven’t heard? It’s all over the news about your father bribing state employees.”

  Haven jumped to her feet. “Father, talk.”

  Arlene must’ve been eavesdropping nearby because she rushed out like she was about to save her man. She hooked her arm around her husband’s. “Eugene, have a seat. It’s time you tell Haven everything.”

  The senator sighed and found a seat, as did Arlene. I dragged my chair closer to Haven’s. I had a feeling I would need that mojo-calming juice she seemed to have.

  36

  Haven

  Roya brought out the tray of lemonade, and I couldn’t pour a glass fast enough to cool the burn in the back of my throat or the quench the acid that was settling in my stomach.

  I didn’t know what was worse, the affair or bribery. I stared at my father, who was giving me the vibe that he wasn’t worried. In a span of hours, two bombs had dropped on this family, two bombs that I was sure would do damage, at least to his career.

  The media would hound me for a while, but as with any rumors, the next one to surface would erase the one before it. I just prayed that the next media frenzy wasn’t about my father.

  I eyed my dad over the rim of my glass, sweat beading on my neck. “Is there anything else we should know about?”

  “No.” His tone was as hard as his features.

  So that was what Beverly had meant when she’d said, “I can’t wait until you hear what else we have in store.”

  My skin sizzled with fury at my father, the Sims women, and even Arlene, who sat there as though bribery and an affair were no big thing.

  “Bribery will ruin your political career,” I said. Or it might get him thrown in jail.

  Ryker was surprisingly quiet as he watched my father like a hawk. The calm before the storm, I imagined. Maybe that was the reason my father hadn’t said a word yet.

  I swallowed thickly before taking another sip of the tart beverage, thinking back to the conversation Ryker and I had had at his family’s funeral service.

  “My old man’s company lost millions of dollars, employees, and customers, all because your father stuck his nose where it didn’t belong.”

  I’d dismissed the accusation as nothing more than my father doing his job and developing policies that bettered the state of Texas.

  Arlene clutched Father’s hand, standing by
her man. Bravo, lady. Bravo. Do you know that he might be in prison next month?

  “Talk, Daddy. Start at the top and with the truth.” I swore if the man didn’t speak, I would throw the pitcher of lemonade at him.

  Ryker’s big hands, which knew their way around my body and knew just the right spots to touch, were anchored to the arms of his chair as though he were preparing for a rocket launch into space.

  I set down my glass and covered his hand with mine.

  He visibly relaxed.

  “The bribery accusations are not true,” Father began. Then he considered Ryker. “We can’t keep contaminating our lakes, rivers, and streams. I get that there are accidents and equipment can break, but believe it or not, we’ve had some oversight in the system where companies were given the go-ahead to operate only to find that they hadn’t been ready. My advice to the man who heads the Texas Water Conservation Board was to take their time when evaluating a case, especially when a company violates the discharge permit.”

  Arlene poured Father a lemonade.

  He brought the glass to his mouth, his gaze never wavering from Ryker’s. “I’m not sorry that I want to better this state. I’m not sorry that I want to protect the environment. I’m not sorry that we need to make sure cases, whatever they may be, are handled in the proper manner.” I could hear the sincerity in his voice.

  Ryker slouched his shoulders and lost the tick in his jaw.

  Father took a swig of lemonade. “There was no bribery on my part. Nothing more than counsel.”

  I cocked my head. “Then why would someone leak that to the press? Is this what Lorna had on you? If so, I’m confused. You seemed worried when we talked the other night.”

  My father adjusted his body in his chair. “I was because I don’t need a lie in the press. Whether rumors are true or not, news like this ruins people and their careers.”

  “Why should we believe you?” Ryker asked.

  Creases lined Father’s freckled forehead. “I don’t have to prove anything to you.”

  “Then prove it to me, Daddy. And why would Lorna put her family through something like this? Surely their plot wasn’t just about getting me away from Ryker.”

  Arlene cleared her throat. “Your father has been giving Lorna money to keep her mouth shut about the affair. It just so happens that she overheard a conversation your father had with the head of the Texas Water Conservation Board. He told them if money was an issue, he would see what he could do to increase the budget for overtime to make sure that cases weren’t rushed and mistakes weren’t made.”

  “So Lorna took that as bribery,” Ryker said.

  “Lorna is mad because my husband will not give her what she wants, and that’s to leave me for her. So she’ll do whatever it takes, even lying. She even went as far as making sure Haven didn’t get near you.”

  Well, that didn’t work out too well. “Daddy, you didn’t hire her daughters to spy on me?”

  “Not at all,” Father said. “Look, Haven, I will atone for my affair. But the facts will show I am innocent of the bribery charge.”

  “So explain to me why you hate me, then,” Ryker said. “Why you threatened my football career? Why you don’t want me anywhere near your daughter?”

  “You’re not good enough for her,” Father said as a matter of fact. “If you have a daughter one day, you might understand.”

  “That’s not your decision,” Ryker said through clenched teeth. “You can keep trying to push me away or use your political status to scare me, but I’m not going anywhere. I might not like you, but I love Haven. And I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure no one, and I mean no one, stands in my way.”

  I choked as my eyes bugged out. “You love me?”

  Ryker turned his head slowly, and any signs of anger were replaced with a ginormous smile. He lifted my hand to his lips. “I came here tonight to tell you how I feel. I’ve never been in love with anyone but you. You have a way of stealing the breath right from my lungs. You have a way of making me see that a future is possible.” His warm lips touched my hand, making me tingle. “I’m nuts about you.”

  Tears rushed out. My throat closed up. My hands were shaking, and my heart was beating so fast, I thought I would pass out. I wasn’t sure I could speak. I checked on Father and Arlene but mainly my father. He had his head cocked to one side, dumbfounded. Arlene, on the other hand, was smiling.

  Ryker flashed his sultry gray eyes as he continued to keep his lips glued to my hand. I suspected he wasn’t letting me go until I said something. I did love him. I did believe he was the man I would marry someday. But I worried whether our relationship could thrive with my father in our lives or the hatred they had for one another.

  My eyes drifted to my father again.

  “Baby doll,” Ryker said in a husky voice, “we don’t need your father’s approval. If you love me, that’s all that matters.”

  My father knew how I felt about Ryker. But I did want his approval. I did want him to accept Ryker into this family. Ryker’s love for me said that he would tolerate my father. But was my father’s love for his daughter strong enough to accept Ryker?

  Father pushed to his feet and came around until he was standing over me. Then he kissed me on the head. “You have my approval, Haven. I want you to be happy. That’s all I ever wanted for you.”

  I jumped up and hugged the man I remembered from before my mom died. “I love you, Daddy.”

  He squeezed me to him. “I love you, little one. Always have.”

  Tears dripped down my cheeks, relishing those three words I’d been waiting for for so long.

  My father eased away and extended his hand to Ryker, who rose to the occasion.

  Father gripped Ryker’s hand. “If you so much as treat her badly or break her heart, I won’t hesitate to ruin you. Are we clear?”

  “Crystal, sir.” Ryker’s gaze tangled with mine. “I promise you that I will love her, protect her, and cherish her.”

  I beamed as my stomach fluttered with love, pride, and happiness.

  Father released Ryker’s hand. “I have to prepare a speech for the press. I suggest both of you lay low for the next couple of days.”

  Arlene joined us, grasping my father’s arm. “I’m happy for the two of you.” Her smile seemed genuine, but hurt swam underneath the fake mask she was trying to wear, and it wasn’t directed at Ryker and me but at what my father was about to go through and, I would guess, the affair.

  I’d always known she was a strong woman, but even the strongest person had to break. As much as Arlene and I didn’t get along, I hated that she had to put up with the turmoil my father had created. Sure, she’d known what she was marrying into as the wife of a senator, but cheating wasn’t one of them.

  Out of nowhere, I hugged her. She stiffened for a second then returned the gesture. We’d had enough hate in this family to last a lifetime. If my father could accept Ryker, it was about time I did the same with Arlene.

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “For being a bitch to you all these years.” I couldn’t and wouldn’t apologize for my father’s actions. That was something he had to do.

  “I’m sorry too. A new start?”

  I let go of her. “Absolutely.”

  Father kissed me on the head again. “We’ll get through this.” Then they excused themselves, leaving Ryker and me standing on the veranda, watching them walk away, hand in hand.

  Ryker scooped me up and into his arms then carried me out to a lounge chair by the lighted pool. He went to set me down but wobbled, almost falling into the pool water.

  I slid down his hard body, clutching onto him, saving him and me from getting soaking wet. “Are you sure you’re the Ryker James, playboy, the guy that sleeps around?” I teased.

  He burrowed his hands in my hair. “I traded that guy in.”

  I giggled. “I might love you too.”

  “Might?”

  I gave him a shy look. “I am hopelessly in love with a quarterback.”
r />   His eyes darkened, filling up with love and devotion. “And I’m head over heels in love with a senator’s daughter.”

  “But we’re oil and water,” I said playfully.

  “That’s perfect,” he said. “Because we’ll always be trying to mix.” He waggled his eyebrows.

  As corny as that line was, it was perfect. I didn’t want a guy who believed in everything I did or a guy who didn’t have a mind of his own. We were both headstrong. We were both determined. Above all else, we loved each other, and that trumped everything.

  37

  Ryker

  I’d been on cloud nine for the last week since I opened my heart to Haven. I was officially off the market, and the university paper made sure every chick on campus knew that too. I didn’t care who knew how much I loved Haven Hale. I didn’t care that women were devastated over the news.

  Lucas and the guys on the team laughed at the way ladies were so distraught, but on the flip side, the guys were stoked for me and for them.

  “More women for us,” Erik had said.

  I only wanted one woman, and I was dying to see her. The week had been riddled with classes and practice and then our away game. But seeing Haven would have to wait.

  I nursed a drink at the bar, which stretched the length of the back wall and overlooked the patrons dining at the expensive French establishment, La Provence.

  The restaurant was buzzing with chatter, the clinking of utensils hitting plates, and servers rushing around tables.

  Vicki had picked the ritzy, elegant, and expensive spot.

  “Go big or go home” seemed to be her motto.

  The woman had paid ten grand for my ass. Haven had been scratching her head as to how Vicki could’ve afforded a donation that size, but I didn’t bat an eye. Women who were desperate found a way to get what they wanted.

  I’d wanted to cancel, but the charity would lose the donation, and I couldn’t let that happen. Plus, Haven had encouraged me to stick to the plan. I’d found it odd that she hadn’t been angry with her roomie for buying a date with me.