The Escort

by Lynn, Sandi

  I stood in the room at the church as Sasha fixed my veil.

  “There. Now you’re ready.” She smiled.

  “You look so beautiful, Mommy.”

  “Thank you, sunshine.”

  The last five months were extremely busy planning the wedding, filing the adoption papers, running my business, court dates, and trying to put what happened behind us. The best was yet to come and that was all I focused on.

  “Are you ready? Your groom is waiting for you at the altar.” Sasha smiled as she handed me my bouquet.

  I met Ben at the back of the church and hooked my arm around his. The music began to play. Sasha walked down first and then Stella followed, throwing rose petals down as she made her way to Caden.

  “Are you ready?” Ben smiled at me.

  “I’m more than ready.”

  We slowly walked down the white runner and I couldn’t take my eyes off Caden as he stared at me with a smile on his face. When I reached him, Ben took my hand and placed it in his.

  “You are absolutely stunning,” Caden spoke with a tear in his eye.

  “So are you.”

  Our ceremony lasted about thirty minutes, and after I slipped the ring on Caden’s finger, the minister pronounced us husband and wife.

  “You may kiss your bride, Caden.”

  The smile on his face grew wider as he leaned in and we shared a passionate kiss.

  “By the power invested in me, I give to you Mr. and Mrs. Caden Chamberlain.”

  Everyone started clapping as Stella ran over to us and Caden bent down and picked her up. The three of us walked up the aisle together as a family. Once we reached the doors of the church and stepped outside, Stella placed her small hand on Caden’s face.

  “I love you, Daddy.”

  “I love you too, my beautiful daughter,” he spoke as he hugged her tight.

  Our reception was held at the Waldorf Astoria, where approximately four hundred guests attended and celebrated our special day. It was elegant and the type of wedding I’d always dreamed of. What made it even more special was when Stella composed a song for us for our first dance has husband and wife. Her and Caden arranged the entire thing and kept it a secret from me until he took my hand and led me to the dance floor. I was in awe of this once damaged man who opened up his heart and let us inside. I loved him more with every day that passed, and I made sure that I told him.

  “I love you so much,” I softly kissed his lips as we danced.

  “I love you too and I always will.” He smiled.

  For our honeymoon, we spent one week alone in Aruba and then Caden flew my Mom, Steven, and Stella to Hawaii, where we spent another week together.

  One Month Later

  Caden was still at the office when Kyle and Mercedes dropped off their baby Zachary. I agreed to watch him so they could have a date night. It had been a long time since I watched a baby and I was pretty excited about it. I was in the kitchen preparing a bottle for him as I held him, when Caden walked in.

  “Hi, darling,” he spoke as he kissed my cheek. “Hey there, Zach.” He smiled.

  “How was work today?” I asked him.

  “It was good. Very productive.”

  I took the bottle and Zachary and sat down on the couch to feed him. Caden sat next to me and stared down at him as he sucked down his bottle.

  “You look really sexy holding that tiny human,” he spoke. “Maybe we should have one of our own.”

  “Really?” I smiled at him. “You want to have a tiny human?”

  “Yeah. I do. We never talked about having kids and I think we should. How many do you want? I mean, in addition to the one we already have.”

  “Maybe one more? I think two is a nice number. But I’m not ready to have one just yet.”

  “Oh. Well, me either. I was just throwing it out there and letting you know that I’m all for having another child running around the house.”

  “Maybe in a year or two?” I said.

  “Sounds good to me.” He smirked.

  After Zachary finished his bottle, I burped him and then he started to scream. I walked around with him and patted his back, but he wouldn’t settle down.

  “What’s wrong with him?” Caden asked.

  “I don’t know. He ate, he’s been changed. I guess he’s just fussy.”

  “Here, let me see if I can get him to quiet down.”

  I handed him to Caden, and he still screamed his head off.

  “He hates me,” he spoke.

  “No he doesn’t. He’s just fussy.”

  “What’s Zachary crying about?” Stella asked as she walked into the living room.

  “We’re not sure, sweetheart,” Caden replied.

  “What’s wrong, tiny human?” Stella softly spoke as she took hold of his hand.

  Instantly, he stopped. Caden and I looked at each other. Then he started wailing again.

  “I think I know what he wants,” Stella said as she walked over to the piano and started playing. The moment he heard the music, he settled down.

  “Get his bouncy chair, quick,” Caden spoke.

  I grabbed his chair and set it next to the piano. Caden put him in it, and as Stella played, he fell asleep.

  Caden hooked his arm around me.

  “We’ll have it made when we have our own tiny human.” He kissed the side of my head.

  Epilogue

  Ten Years Later

  Caden

  “How do I look, Mom?” Stella spoke as she walked into the kitchen.

  “Simply gorgeous.”

  I narrowed my eye at her as I stared at the short dress she was wearing.

  “Is something going on tonight that I don’t know about?” I asked.

  “I’m going on a date, Dad.”

  “With whom?” I arched my brow.

  “His name is Kevin.”

  “How old is this Kevin kid?”

  “Twenty-one.” She grinned.

  “Over my dead body! Get back upstairs! Brielle, did you know about this?”

  Both of them started laughing.

  “Relax, overprotective father. He’s sixteen. He goes to Juilliard and he plays the violin. I think you’ll like him.”

  “Oh. Okay then.” I narrowed my eye at her.

  “He’s here!” she excitedly spoke as she ran to the elevator.

  “I’m not ready for this, Brielle.”

  “She’s sixteen. She’s done concerts at Carnegie Hall. She’s played with the New York Philharmonic, and she’s a straight A student. She deserves to have some fun. Plus, she’s at that age.”

  “That’s what I’m worried about. What kind of fun are they going to have?”

  “You’re so adorable when you’re stressed out.” She kissed my cheek.

  We walked into the living area and Stella introduced us to him.

  “Mom, Dad, this is Kevin. Kevin, these are my parents, Brielle and Caden.”

  “It’s nice to meet you both.” He extended his hand to us.

  “It’s so nice to meet you, Kevin.” Brielle smiled as she shook his hand.

  I stood there and narrowed my eye at him as I lightly shook his hand.

  “Stella tells us that you play the violin,” I spoke.

  “I do. It’s always been a passion of mine since I was a child. Stella tells me that you also play the piano.”

  “I do.”

  “Mom, can you help me pick out which purse to take?” Stella asked.

  “Of course, sweetheart.”

  The two of them went upstairs and I used this opportunity to have a little chat with Kevin. I hooked my arm around him.

  “So, Kevin. What are your intentions with my daughter?”

  “Excuse me, Mr. Chamberlain?”

  “What are your plans for tonight?”

  “We’re going to go to dinner and then come back here and play some music if that’s okay with you. Stella and I have been working on a project. We’re composing a song together.”

  “Hmm.
Okay. Sounds like a fun evening. You do know to keep your hands to yourself, right?”

  “Yes, sir. Of course.”

  “Dad, what are you doing?” Stella asked as she walked back in the living room.

  “Kevin was just telling me your plans for this evening. You two have fun.” I patted him on the back with a smile.

  “Come on, Kevin. Let’s go.” She grabbed his hand.

  I cleared my throat and he immediately pulled his hand away from hers.

  As soon as the elevator doors shut, Brielle turned and looked at me.

  “Really, Caden? It looks like you scared that poor boy to death.”

  “He’s sixteen, Brielle, and his sex drive is kicking in at high gear.”

  “Well, don’t worry. I already had the talk with her, and she told me that she is nowhere near ready to have sex yet.”

  “She’s sixteen. All sixteen-year-olds lie. Remember what you were like at sixteen?”

  She stared at me as she bit down on her bottom lip.

  “Shit. I always lied to my mom.”

  “Exactly.” I pointed at her.

  She hooked her arm around me and laid her head on my shoulder.

  “Let’s go make some martinis and check on the twins,” she spoke.

  “Good idea, darling. Good idea.” I sighed as I kissed her head.

  One Night In Paris

  Chapter One

  Anna

  Each of my bridesmaids gave me a hug and left the bridal room to go take their places. A few moments after they left, there was a light knock on the door, and when I opened it, my best friend, Franco, stood there holding my veil.

  “Your veil.” He grinned as he stared at me from head to toe. “You look absolutely beautiful, Anna.”

  “Thank you. Get in here!” I smiled as I pulled him inside the room.

  I stood in front of the three-way mirror and stared at my reflection.

  “You really outdid yourself with my wedding dress,” I spoke to him.

  “You deserve only the best, Anna.” He smiled as he placed the veil he made on my head. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah. I’m fine.”

  I walked to the balcony and stared out at my future husband waiting for me with approximately two hundred guests who had properly taken their seats.

  Franco took hold of my hand and lightly gripped it as he stood next to me.

  “You don’t have to do this. There is always plan B.”

  “I know. I better get down there. I’m late and my dad’s going to kill me.”

  He let go of my hand, held out his arm, and walked me to the back of the hotel and down the stairs, where my father waited for me.

  “You’re late,” my father spoke as I took hold of his arm. “That is disrespectful to Matthew and your guests, Anna.”

  “Franco had to fix a button on my dress. It came loose.”

  The music started to play, and I took in a deep breath. My stomach was tied in knot after knot walking down the white runner as every single guest stared at me. This was what was expected of me. But the thing was, I was never good at doing the expected. I stared at my future husband as he stared back at me. Even his stare was annoying. We were almost to the end of the aisle when I came to an abrupt stop. It was now or never. I chose now.

  “I’m sorry, Dad,” I spoke as I turned to him and placed my hand on his cheek.

  “Anna?”

  I turned around, kicked off my heels, and ran up the aisle, throwing my wedding bouquet behind me with a smile on my face. I heard both my father and Matthew shouting my name, but I ignored them and kept running. I ran up the steps, into the hotel, through the lobby, and out the front door, climbing into the black limo that was parked along the curb.

  “So you did it.” Terrance, my driver smiled.

  “I did it. Thanks for waiting for me.”

  “Not a problem, Anna. Airport?”

  “Yes.” I smiled.

  Freedom and exhilaration soared through me as the plane took off from LAX. I was on a high. Something I always got when I was defiant. I was a strong-willed, independent woman and when someone told me to do something, I always did the opposite. I’m not going to lie, Matthew wasn’t the love of my life. Why did I accept his marriage proposal? Because it was what my father wanted. I thought for once I’d grown up and I could make him proud. He brought Matthew into the company to groom him and to run it with me one day. That was how we met. He was practically shoved down my throat every single day and he was persistent about taking me out. So I finally gave in and went on a date with him. He was good-looking, and the rest is history. He grew on me, but I wasn’t happy at all. I just went with the flow, worked, and planned my wedding. The way he kissed my father’s ass was annoying. In fact, everything he did was annoying. Even the sex with him was annoying. I faked more orgasms than I had real ones. I gave myself better orgasms than what he could give me.

  The plane touched down in Paris, and as soon as I turned on my phone, there were numerous text messages and missed calls from my father, with the exception of one text message from Franco.

  “I knew you’d do it. Call me when you get to Paris, regardless of the time.”

  I took a cab to the Peninsula, where reservations were made for Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Bondi. Yep. I did it. I took our honeymoon anyway. I loved Paris and I needed the escape.

  “Bon jour.” The man behind the desk smiled.

  “Bon jour. Reservations for Bondi,” I spoke.

  “I’m sorry, Mrs. Bondi, but that reservation was cancelled yesterday.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Of course it was. And for the record, I never became Mrs. Bondi. I left my fiancé at the altar and I’m still Anna Young. So, since my honeymoon suite was cancelled, I’m going to need a room. The Garden Rooftop suite if available.”

  “I’m sorry, Miss Young, but that suite is booked. I can put you in our Katara Suite that’s right next door.”

  “The Katara Suite will be fine.” I smiled.

  “Very good. I’ll have someone bring up your bags.”

  I took the elevator up to the sixth floor, and as I was sliding my keycard to unlock the door, I noticed an incredibly sexy man walking out of the Rooftop Garden Suite next door.

  “So you’re the one who took my suite.” I smirked as he passed by.

  “Excuse me?” He stopped and turned around.

  “Nothing. It was a joke. I just flew in and I wanted that suite and they told me that it was already booked.”

  “Well, we could always share it if you want it that badly.” A sly smile crossed his perfectly handsome face.

  “I’m sure your wife wouldn’t appreciate it.”

  “I’m not married.”

  “Oh. Well, then your girlfriend wouldn’t appreciate it.”

  “No girlfriend either. It’s just me in there.”

  “I’m good with this suite but thank you for the offer.” I blushed.

  “If you change your mind, you know where to find me. I need to run. I’m late for a meeting.” He smiled.

  I sighed as I watched his six-foot-two stature and fine ass walk down the hallway in his tailored designer dark gray suit that fit him perfectly in all the right places. His brown hair was kept short all the way around with a slightly longer top, which had a wavy texture to it, and his rich brown eyes were captivating as they held me in a trance. In fact, every feature on his face was captivating. Damn, that man was sexy.

  I opened the door to my suite and stepped inside with a smile on my face.

  “Welcome to Paris, Anna,” I spoke as I looked around.

  I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of One Night In Paris. To read more, click the Universal Amazon link below!

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  getbook.at/OneNightInParis

  Books by Sandi Lynn

  If you haven’t already done so, please check out my other books. Escape from reality and into the world of romance. I’ll take you on a journey of love, pain, heartache and happily ever afters.


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  Millionaires:

  The Forever Series (Forever Black, Forever You, Forever Us, Being Julia, Collin, A Forever Christmas, A Forever Family)

  Love, Lust & A Millionaire (Wyatt Brothers, Book 1)

  Love, Lust & Liam (Wyatt Brothers, Book 2)

  Lie Next To Me (A Millionaire’s Love, Book 1)

  When I Lie with You (A Millionaire’s Love, Book 2)

  Then You Happened (Happened Series, Book 1)

  Then We Happened (Happened Series, Book 2)

  His Proposed Deal

  A Love Called Simon

  The Seduction of Alex Parker

  Something About Lorelei

  One Night In London

  The Exception

  Corporate A$$

  A Beautiful Sight

  The Negotiation

  Defense

  Playing The Millionaire

  #Delete

  Behind His Lies

  Carter Grayson (Redemption Series, Book One)

  Chase Calloway (Redemption Series, Book Two)

  Jamieson Finn (Redemption Series, Book Three)

  Damien Prescott (Redemption Series, Book Four)

  The Interview: New York & Los Angeles Part 1

  The Interview: New York & Los Angeles Part 2

  Rewind

  One Night In Paris

  Perfectly You

  Second Chance Love:

  Remembering You

  She Writes Love

  Love In Between (Love Series, Book 1)

  The Upside of Love (Love Series, Book 2)

  Sports:

  Lightning

  About the Author

  Sandi Lynn is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who spends all her days writing. She published her first novel, Forever Black, in February 2013 and hasn’t stopped writing since. Her addictions are shopping, going to the gym, romance novels, coffee, chocolate, margaritas, and giving readers an escape to another world.

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