The Halo Series Boxed Set

by Kimberly Knight

  Life was good for all of us.

  Though that quickly changed.

  Two months after Brooke and Easton got married, Brooke got the news that she had another tumor. This time was far worse than the time before, and there was a moment when we weren’t sure if she’d lose her arm. Luckily, the doctors were able to remove the tumor and save her arm. They did, however, have to remove some ribs and cut a nerve and shit. She wasn’t doing well with the pain, so Easton got her some weed, which seemed to help. Over the months of her recovery, we didn’t spend much time together. Brooke needed rest, so I caught up with Easton at Halo and during our weekly dinners at the Crawfords’.

  Easton and I were even playing ball again, though this time it wasn’t hardball. We played for co-ed slow pitch softball teams—one in the spring and one in the fall.

  Everything was amazing. I had my beautiful wife, the love of the game, and Halo. Easton had set up a date night and I took full advantage to have one with my wife as well. He’d asked if he could borrow my truck for the night. I was confused at first, but then he explained …

  “You know Brooke’s scan came back clear,” Easton had stated as we sat in the office at Halo.

  “Yeah,” I’d agreed. The last two had been clear and only showed scar tissue.

  “I want to take her on a date.”

  “And you need my truck?”

  “I want to do something she’s not expecting.”

  “And it involves my truck?”

  “Are you going to let me borrow it or not?”

  “Of course, but what are you doing?” I’d questioned.

  Easton grinned. “I found this barn upstate that you can rent out for a private dinner. I want to do that and spend time with my wife—alone. Without Chey running in and ruining the mood. I want to do something special, and getting her flowers that glow in the dark like I did after her radiation a few years back isn’t going to do.”

  I’d smiled, thinking about the pigs Nic and I swam with on our honeymoon. “She’s gonna want a pig now.”

  He’d chuckled sarcastically. “No, she isn’t. That’s your wife.”

  “Could you imagine me with a fucking pot-belly pig running around my townhouse? Thank God, I squashed that shit.”

  “Yeah,” Easton had agreed. “So, can I borrow your truck?”

  “You know you don’t need a truck to go to a barn, right?”

  Easton had groaned. “Of course I know that, but I have this idea, and I need your truck.”

  “What idea?”

  “Dressing up.”

  I had blinked, confused that Easton Crawford wanted to play dress up. “Dressing up?”

  “Yeah. I want to make it a mystery, and if I have Brooke wear cowboy boots and I drive your truck, she won’t think we’re going to dinner and a movie. This will be different.”

  I’d stared at him for a beat. “Are you really Easton Crawford?”

  He’d balked. “What the hell does that mean?”

  “You sound like me.”

  He’d arched a brow. “And what does that mean?”

  “You know what they call this, right?” He hadn’t responded as he’d glared at me. I’d grinned. “It’s called romance, man. Easton Crawford is being romantic, and I never thought I’d see the day.”

  He’d thrown his pen at me, and I’d caught it. “I’ve been romantic before.”

  I’d shaken my head. “Not like this.”

  Easton had sighed. “So what? I want to surprise my wife with a night away.”

  “It’s cool. Maybe I’ll take your car for a night on the town with Nic.”

  “Do whatever you want to do, but does that mean you’ll loan me your truck?”

  I’d rolled my eyes. Easton was my brother and my best friend. “Of course, I will. Now, let me figure out what I’m going to do for my wife so she’s not jealous of your honky-tonk date.”

  We’d laughed, but we’d both known I was right. My wife would be jealous, but that was one reason I loved her. She wanted the best out of life, and I was determined to give it to her.

  Dressed in a gray suit, a white, button-down shirt, a pink tie (real men wear pink), and black dress shoes, I pulled up to my townhouse. Before I left Halo, I’d texted Nicole that I was on my way to pick her up. As I cut the engine of Easton’s car, Nic stepped out and stood on the front stoop waiting for me. She was dressed in a smokin’ hot, floor-length, red dress, her blonde hair was down and styled to the side, and I knew, because I’d picked them out, that under the dress were sparkly, strappy, silver heels.

  I got out of the car and went around to the passenger side as I waited for Nic to walk over.

  “I got your note,” she stated.

  “Yeah?” I grinned.

  Dear Mrs. Scott,

  Tonight, we’re painting the town red. Or at least you will be in the dress I bought for you. The shoes? When I saw them, I knew I wanted to see you in them and nothing else. But that will come later. First, put all of this on, and I’ll pick you up at seven.

  Yours forever,

  Mr. Scott

  “We’re painting the town red?” Nicole asked as she stepped up to me.

  I kissed her lips softly and then looked down at how the red dress curved around every inch of her. “Well, you definitely are.”

  “What’s the special occasion?” she asked as she slipped into the car. “And why do you have Easton’s car?”

  I leaned in slightly, bending at the waist to be eye level with her. “Did you not learn anything from our honeymoon? I can keep a secret, baby.”

  Nic chuckled. “Our honeymoon was a while ago.”

  “And yet, it’s like you don’t even know me at all,” I teased and closed the door. I rounded the hood before sliding into the driver’s side.

  “I know what the surprise is,” Nic stated, shocking me. Even if she’d talked to Brooke and found out that Easton had bought Brooke cowboy boots and was driving my truck, there was no way she knew what I had planned. Easton didn’t even know.

  “You do?” I cranked the engine.

  “We’re going to prom.”

  I laughed. I laughed hard because my wife was too cute. “It’s not prom, but it is a night that will end in a hotel room.” I winked and backed out of the driveway.

  I drove us forty-five minutes to the Upper East Side to a friend’s building where he owned a condo. I’d known Devin for several years because he’d frequented Halo often for drinks with co-workers. He was a cool guy. Single. And he’d offered to help me pull off this plan in exchange for a month of free drinks. It wasn’t like he couldn’t afford drinks. After all, I was sure his one-bedroom condo with parking had cost him just shy of a mil. That was why Easton and I lived forty-five minutes away. The farther you got out of the city, the cheaper it was.

  The sun had almost fully set by the time we arrived. Devin had given me all the info to park in his garage under his building. I pulled in and cut the engine.

  “I thought we were going to a hotel?” Nic questioned.

  “The night’s still young, baby.”

  “What are we doing here?” She looked around the concrete room.

  “Stop asking so many questions. You know they don’t get you anywhere.”

  She sighed, causing me to laugh. Some things never changed, and I secretly loved the way my wife had to know everything. I knew that if anything were to happen that needed to be investigated, she wouldn’t stop until she found out all the details.

  I got out of the car, ran around to her side and opened the door for her. “The city awaits.” I held out my hand, and she took it, sliding out of the car. “Hungry?”

  “Starving.”

  “Then let’s go.” We walked hand in hand toward the elevator. Once inside, I hit the button for the floor my buddy had told me to go to.

  “Is there a restaurant here?”

  I looked over at my wife and gave her a stern look that said to stop asking questions. We rode the rest of the way up in sil
ence. The lift dinged, and the doors opened before we stepped out. Lacing our fingers, I led Nic down to the very end of the hall where we took a few stairs up and out a heavy metal door.

  The mid-August evening breeze blew around us as we stepped out onto the rooftop. That was one thing I loved about New York. The rooftops in California were for helicopters, but the roofs in NYC were for pools and parties and surprising your wife with a romantic candlelight dinner.

  Nicole gasped the moment she saw the votive candles spread across the ground, illuminating a path to a small table for two against the railing. “How?”

  “How?”

  “How’d you do all this?”

  “A man needs to have his secrets.”

  “What other secrets are you keeping?”

  I chuckled. “It was a joke, baby.”

  We started to walk down the flickering path. “Then you’re going to tell me how you pulled this off?”

  “Nope.” I pulled out her chair for her.

  “Okay, I won’t ask you anything else because I love romantic Avery.”

  I smirked as I took my seat across from her. “I’m always romantic.”

  She shrugged a shoulder. “Most of the time.”

  “Are you saying I need to up my game?”

  “Well, it’s clear we’re not in the honeymoon phase anymore.”

  Nicole was right. We still had sex a few times a week, spent all of our free time together, but when we were on our honeymoon, I was all over her like a cat in heat. But over the last year or so, life had turned into life. I used to cook her dinner, draw her baths, bring her flowers as a surprise. Life was hectic with the bar, and Brooke’s illness took Easton away from Halo. Nic and I just got comfortable. I still cooked dinner or at least helped, but it wasn’t the same.

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” I stated.

  She smiled. “Okay. So, what’s for—”

  I laughed, knowing she’d caught herself asking another question. Before I could tease her, Devin walked out of the metal door dressed as a waiter and carrying two plates with silver domes over them. He placed them in front of us, not saying anything, and then turned to a champagne bucket that had a bottle of Dom Perignon chilling. I’d ordered it wholesale—one of the perks of owning a bar—so it hadn’t cost me an arm and a leg. This one cost me a nice hundred, but it was worth it. Nic was worth it.

  As I watched Devin pour the bubbly liquid, I let Nicole’s words sink in. After tonight, I was upping my game. Just because we were married didn’t mean I couldn’t make our life special.

  After Devin filled the two flutes, he lifted the domes before walking away. Nicole looked up at me with a grin. “Cheeseburger and fries?”

  I smirked and reached for my glass. “We may be dressed up to paint the town, baby, but I still know what you like to eat.”

  “Shake Shack?”

  “Of course.” I tilted my head slightly toward her flute, wanting her to lift it. She did. “Here’s to a night when we’ll both be naked by the end.” We clicked our glasses together, and both took a sip.

  “I’m sure it will, and if I weren’t starving, I’d say we should do it right here.”

  I choked a little on the champagne. “Yeah?”

  “It’s date night, right?” Nicole asked.

  I wiped my mouth. “Yeah, it is. Eat your burger before it gets cold. We have a town to paint.” We didn’t necessarily have a town to paint. Going clubbing wasn’t something that struck me as exciting anymore, but I did have plans. Plans that continued on this rooftop.

  After we finished our burgers and two glasses of the champagne, Devin brought out dessert, still not saying a word as he placed the plate between us and took the two burger plates with him.

  “Does he talk?” Nicole questioned.

  I chuckled. “Yeah, but he’s role-playing.”

  She furrowed her brows. “He’s not a waiter?”

  “Banker or some shit,” I replied.

  “Does he owe you a favor or something?”

  “Are you going to eat your lava cake? I know it’s your favorite, and hopefully, it’s deliciously warm and gooey.”

  “You’re not going to answer me?”

  I reached over and grabbed her hand. “Secrets, baby. Secrets.”

  Nicole grinned and cut into the cake with the spoon in her free hand. “Fine. I have secrets of my own too, you know?”

  “Oh yeah?”

  She shook her head and stuck the chocolate cake into her mouth. Around a mouthful, she said, “I’m not telling.”

  I smirked. “All right. I won’t press you. But we can’t keep big secrets from each other.”

  “Have we ever?”

  “Not that I know of.” I took a bite of the warm cake. It was gooey and perfect. I had to hand it to Devin for following all the instructions I’d left him.

  We finished the cake, and I reached out my hand for Nicole to take as I stood. “We’re leaving?” she questioned as she slipped her soft hand in mine and stood.

  “We’re dancing.” I grabbed the small, black remote that was sitting near the candle on the table. Some rap song started to filter in through the speakers. Apparently, Devin didn’t finish reading the entire memo, or he was fucking with me.

  “I didn’t know you liked Cardi B.”

  I pressed several buttons on the remote, not knowing what I was doing. Finally, the song switched to the country song I’d instructed Devin to cue.

  Nicole smiled. “Ah, Jason Aldean. This is more the man I know.”

  “You mean me, not Jason, right?”

  She threw her head back, laughing. “Yes, of course.”

  Taking her in my arms, we started to sway to the song. Jason sang about how she made everything easy, and how she was his better half and made him a better man. The first time I’d heard it, I pictured my wife immediately. I knew this was the song I wanted playing while I danced with her under the stars, the moon, and the sun that was on the other side of the world at that moment.

  “You know,” she spoke up. “We never got our first dance as husband and wife.”

  “This is true.” I grinned. The only time we’d ever danced together was the night on the singles cruise. I hadn’t thought about how we’d never had a dance as husband and wife until now. “Do you wish we’d gotten married differently?”

  She balked. “No, of course not. I was just saying this could be like our first dance.”

  “I like that idea,” I admitted and kissed her lips softly.

  We danced to song after song. Some I didn’t know, but I assumed Devin had added music to my playlist. He had the makings of a romantic guy, even if he was a bachelor.

  “Ready to call it a night?” I asked.

  “I thought we were painting the town red?” Nicole tilted her head slightly as she questioned me.

  “Do you want to, or would you like to go to the hotel room I got for the night?”

  “You got us a hotel room?”

  “I did. It’s our night out, and we don’t want to drive all the way home, do we?”

  “But I don’t have a change of clothes.”

  I chuckled. “Do you need one?”

  “For tomorrow, yeah.”

  “Then lucky for you, I packed a bag, and it’s in the trunk.”

  Nicole stared at me for a beat as we stood, the music in the background still playing. “You really are perfect.”

  “I wouldn’t say that. I just …”

  “You just what?”

  I sighed and stepped over to the table and downed the rest of the champagne in my flute.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” I turned around to face her. “Ready to go?”

  “Avery,” she sighed and wrapped her arms around me. “You know you can tell me anything. What’s going on? I thought we were having a nice night.”

  “We are.”

  “Then what the hell?”

  I stared into her blue eyes, the light from the candles flickering
inside her irises. “I just know what not to do.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “My parents never really showed affection while I was growing up, but I can’t even imagine not kissing you or holding your hand, or even hugging you after a long day.”

  “Yeah? That’s a good thing.”

  I looked down at the candles on the ground. “What if I turn out like my father?”

  “Your parents have nothing to do with the man you are, Av.”

  I met her gaze again. “But your parents shaped you, no?”

  Nic shrugged. “I guess.”

  “See?”

  “See what?”

  “What if we have a child and …” I paused, a horrid thought crossing my mind.

  “If we have a child what?”

  “What if I hate him like my parents hate me?”

  “That’s not possible.”

  “How can you know?”

  Nic gave me a weak smile. “Because I know you. You’re the most loving person I know. Look at how you treat Cheyenne. Why do you think you’d treat our kid differently?”

  I shrugged.

  “See? Your parents did shape you, but they shaped you to be the opposite of them because you know what not to do.”

  “You think that’s true?”

  “I know that’s true. You’ll see when we have a kid.”

  “When we have a kid?” I questioned. We’d been together for over two and a half years, but I didn’t want to press her about it because I knew it had been harder on Nicole when we lost the baby.

  She shrugged timidly. “I think I should get off the pill.”

  “Yeah?” I grinned.

  “Yeah.”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay? Just like that?”

  “Just like that.”

  I grabbed her hand and walked across the roof and through the metal door. Without stopping, I knocked twice on Devin’s door to let him know we were leaving. After we took the elevator down to the garage, we slid into the car, and I drove us to the hotel I’d booked for the night where we recreated our wedding night all over again.

  And then some.

  “So, how was your night?” I asked Brooke as we ate dinner at her place. Both Easton and Avery were working because it was Saturday night and someone had called in.