Confessions of a Mail Order Bride - Complete (29 page)

“Mrs. Ava Matthews. It has a nice ring to it!” Sherry grinned. “I’m just surprised you wouldn’t keep your maiden name.”

“It just feels right.” I knew a lot of my peers kept their maiden names when they married, but I wanted to take Dirk’s last name. Somehow it made me feel even closer to him.

“I’m so happy for you. See, I told you the ‘Luscious Lads and Ladies’ site would work!”

“Yes, it did! I’m so glad Vic was having the blind dating experiment,” I hugged myself inwardly. “Dirk and I are already mated now and the wedding is just a formality, but I want to do a traditional wedding. It’s not going to be fancy, but it will be fun.” I took a sip of my water.

“That’s wild,” Sherry said. “Somehow, I would have expected you to elope and get married at a volcano, or while parachuting naked or something!”

I sputtered and water dripped from the corners of my mouth. “…naked parachuting? I don’t even know what that is!” I laughed.

“I’m just glad you are getting married so quickly,” she patted her bulging tummy. “I still have a month before the little one arrives. I’ll be able to come to the wedding.”

“Yep, that little one better hold off!” I glanced down at Sherry’s stomach. Even though she wasn’t due for a month, it looked like she could pop at any moment. Next Saturday is the big day.”

“So, Kane’s Bar and Grill…”

“Yep, I’m having the reception there and Kane’s sister Sabrina is taking care of all the details. We are keeping it simple since it’s so soon. But we will be inviting the whole town of Shifter Villages. They will want to meet the new wife of Sheriff Matthews!” It was crazy how concerned I’d been about how the townspeople would accept me with my checkered past. Dirk had said that many of the people had problems and I would be able to relate to them better because of my experiences. He’d introduced me to a lot of people already and everyone had been so nice.

“Did you find a dress yet?”

“Yes! I wanted to wear something fun, something that’s totally ‘me.’ I found a beautiful cocktail dress at Dean’s and with my employee discount it was affordable. And it’s purple—the exact same shade as my hair!”

“Woohoo!” Sherry exclaimed. “That sounds exciting!”

“For the reception, we are going to do a slider bar.”

Sherry eyes widened. “A slider bar?”

“Yes! We’ll have mini slider sandwiches; chicken breast, Kobe beef, turkey patties, black bean burgers, salmon and mahi-mahi; and tons of condiments; lettuce, pickles, onions, different cheeses, ketchup, salsa, mustard, mayo…. and we’re going to have cones of fries and onion rings, plus a huge salad bar with all the fixings!”

“Yum! You’re making us hungry!” Sherry licked her lips as she rubbed her belly.

“For decorations, we’re just going to add fresh flowers and use checked tablecloths and simple white dinnerware.”

“That sounds awesome! I’m so happy for you!” Sherry exclaimed. “Ok…it’s time to go get a burger now!” She tapped her belly. “We’re ready to eat!”

As we climbed in my car to go out for a bite, I felt like pinching myself. I was so happy. Dirk had seen to it that Lance wasn’t allowed near me, and I had started volunteering with him at the ‘Homes for People’ organization. It was so rewarding to help others live happier lives—a lot better than taking drugs ever had been. And of course, being with the love of my life, Dirk Matthews, was a dream come true.

~ * ~

As the beat of the music started, I walked from the side room of the church where I’d changed into my dress to the back area. Dirk was standing there wearing his sheriff’s uniform and his eyes met mine.

“You look gorgeous, Ava,” he said, giving me the sweetest kiss.

I felt beautiful in my new satin, purple dress. It clung to my curves, accenting them in all the right places.

“Thank you,” I whispered, “and you, Sheriff Matthews, look so handsome in your suit.” He did. It was hard to believe this sexy, strong man was mine forever—but he was. The marriage ceremony was just a formality. I’d given notice to the makeup company I worked for at Dean’s; yesterday had been my last day. As the wife of the sheriff of Shifter Villages, I wanted to spend as much time helping the community and supporting Dirk as I could. Fortunately Dirk wanted that too and his salary was enough that we could live comfortably and eventually start a family. I knew it was not going to be easy though. Whoever had set the fires had still not been caught and I knew Dirk wouldn’t rest till that case was solved, but I would be there to support and love him the whole way.

Dirk nudged me and we started down the aisle. Though I wanted a traditional wedding ceremony, I wanted to have fun with it. We planned to walk down the aisle together, and we decided to do it to a jazz beat to keep things lively. I’d practiced with Dirk beforehand, and now we danced a little as we made our way to the front of the church—no stilted walk for us. It was a huge crowd. I couldn’t believe the turn out on such short notice, but I knew the townspeople were expressing their love and respect for their sheriff. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sherry, her hubby Adrian, and Judith, along with her baker men, Grant and Evan, sitting on the benches.

“Nervous?” Dirk mouthed at me as we danced by a pew.

“Yes…but in a good way,” I whispered back.

The crowd roared as Dirk twirled me around to the front of the alter and leaned into me for a long kiss—so much for being quiet in a church. That was my Dirk—he wasn’t about to wait till the end to be told he could kiss the bride.

As the minister opened his book to begin reading, Dirk ran his hand along my cheek.

“I love you, Ava.”

“I love you, Dirk.”

His hand slid down my cheek to my neck.

I put my hand on top of his and rubbed it along my heart tattoo. There was no cover up on the ink today. I was wearing the heart tat proudly and openly.

“I belong to you and you belong to me,” he whispered.

“I know.” I smiled back at Dirk, tears of joy filling my eyes.

As Dirk moved his hand along my neck he traced the outline of the letters in the heart tattoo. Dirk had bitten me on the open space in the ‘L.’. His bite had closed in the ‘L,’ rounding it to be a perfect ‘D.’ I was no longer branded ‘L.M.’ by Lance Murphy, I was branded ‘D.M.’ by my one and only true love Dirk Matthews—in my heart
and
on my skin.

I gazed lovingly at Dirk. His warm brown eyes were filled with adoration and desire. “We will be together, forever and ever!”

The End

I had been working my butt off my whole life, busting my ass every day until I eventually reached the top of the ladder at the ad agency I worked for. But I finally took a few days to visit my brother—well, half-brother, actually. We have the same mom but different dads. Our parents hadn’t always been there for us, and we grew up depending on each other a lot. We became very close, and we have a lot in common. We’re both loyal, honest…and total workaholics. The major difference between us is that he’s a coyote shifter and I’m just a regular girl.

Both Kane and I had been anxious to get out of the house. He moved to Shifter Villages and I headed to Chicago. Both of us carved out lives for ourselves, and things got busy. But the older I grew, the more I realized how life was passing me by. I was so busy working I didn’t have time to stop and smell the roses.

I decided to start making more of an effort, and flew out to visit Kane one day. He was short-staffed at the bar he owns, so I offered to wait tables. I wasn’t used to it and I slipped carrying a platter full of food. I fell headfirst into a plate full of fried chicken and mashed potatoes and gravy, and broke my leg.

During the time I spent recovering, I discovered I loved the lifestyle that I found in Shifter Villages. Sure, it got rowdy at times, but I loved the sense of community in the town. When Kane offered me a job as banquet manager, I took it immediately. I quit my old job and immersed myself in small town life.

I love my new job. I get to organize a lot of events, and I especially enjoy planning the wedding receptions. The bride and groom always seem so happy and in love. I only hope I can find that deep love for myself one day. I keep praying and wishing, but my ‘person’ just hasn’t arrived yet. I hope I will find him soon.
My name is Sabrina Foster, and this is my story…my confession…

~ * ~

What the hell? I couldn’t believe who had just moseyed into the bar.

“And just what are you doing here, Brad Stanford?” my eyes narrowed into slits as I studied the muscular frame of the wolf shifter. “You know Kane told you to stay away.”

“Aww, come on Sabrina. Can’t we just forget about what happened?”

“I think not,” I said firmly. I couldn’t believe the nerve of this man. He had played with the emotions of several women in Shifter Villages, including my sister-in-law, Marcie. Before she’d married my brother, Kane, the owner of the bar and grill, Marcie had gone out with Brad a few times. He’d mistreated her and made her feel like crap. Then she’d started dating Kane and when Brad made the mistake of insulting her in front of him, the two shifters had engaged in a knock-down, blow-out fight.

“But this is one of the few restaurants in town,” Brad whined. “Where else am I supposed to relax and get a beer?”

“You should have thought of that before you barged in here a few weeks ago and insulted Marcie.”

Brad pursed his lips. “Isn’t Kane over that yet?”

I rolled my eyes. Ugh. People like Brad. They just didn’t get it, and they never would. If someone called your partner a slut and a piece of tail, like Brad had called Marcie, did you ever get over that?

“Um, no, he was very clear.” I pointed towards the door. “He doesn’t want you in here…
ever
!”

I shuddered as I remembered the scene. Kane had gone ballistic at the nasty comments Brad had made towards Marcie. Even though Kane was a coyote shifter and normally no match for a wolf, he was so angry he’d easily over-powered the larger shifter. Brad ended up with a neck wound, a bloody leg, and a bruised ego. It was crazy to see my brother act so aggressively. He was always in control—firm and commanding—and he rarely lost his temper. But I couldn’t blame him. Marcie was his mate and he would do anything to protect her. I wished I had a man who felt that way about me.

When the sheriff, Dirk Matthews, arrived on the day Brad and Kane had butted heads, he wasn’t sure who was to blame. But Brad had been parked illegally in the loading zone, which resulted in his new car getting bashed by a delivery truck and some damage to Kane’s property. Brad was held liable for all damages. Kane agreed not to press charges against him, so long as he stayed a good distance away from both Marcie and Kane’s Bar and Grill.

Brad made a sour face. “Whatever happened to love and forgiveness?”

I raised my brows. “Brad, get a move on.”

“This place sucks,” he muttered loudly as he headed towards the door. “Who wants to drink here anyway?”

“You do! But you’re not going to. Now—move it!”

Brad swatted the air. “Ok, ok. I’m leaving.”

“Oh, by the way,” I said sweetly as he headed towards the door. “How’s your car?” I had to stifle back a laugh.

Brad gave me a smug look. “I bought a new one. It’s blaze orange with black stripes. It’s a racing car—even better than my old one.” Brad twisted his hands back and forth as if they were on a steering wheel. “Vrooom, vrooom…see you later, Bree.” He walked out the door slamming it shut.

I rolled my eyes. He was such a loser. Damn. It made me mad that he had a nice new car already. The fancy black one that had been smashed had to have been expensive, and I doubted insurance covered all the damage to it since he was at fault. It must be nice to have the kind of money he had.

I glanced over towards the door to the kitchen. Kane and Marcie were talking to the cook about the restaurant specials for the next week. I was glad they hadn’t seen Brad. He dredged up a lot of bad memories.

~ * ~

“Geez,” Marcie said, her mouth tightening as her brows crunched together. “He has some nerve coming here!”

I patted my sister-in-law lightly on the shoulder. “He’s such an asshole. But I had to tell you he came in.” Kane and Marcie had been married over a month now and every day I felt closer to her. I wanted to make sure she knew Brad had come in and tried to get a drink. I didn’t want Brad to show up again one day and catch her and Kane off guard. What if Kane couldn’t hold himself back and tried to kill him?

“Thanks for letting me know about Brad. He’s such a scum bag. Well, I don’t want to waste time talking about
Brad
,” Marcie’s lips curled disgustedly as she said his name. “So, let’s talk about something interesting…like—your love life?”

“Noooo…” I whined.

“Oh yes,” Marcie insisted. “Tell me, did you and Neal go out again?”

“Yeah, last week,” my shoulders slumped. “But he’s just not right for me.” I really wanted the tall, lanky banker to be my forever man, but I knew it just wasn’t meant to be. He was so caught up in rising to the top of Shifters’ First Bank that he had little time to focus on anything else. Plus, there really wasn’t a romantic connection there.

“I’m sorry, Bree.” Marcie’s eyes had that concerned ‘I feel sorry’ for you look—which made me feel even worse.  “I really want you to be happy.”

“I know, and it doesn’t help seeing Kane and you so in lov…” I slapped my hand over my mouth. “That didn’t come out right. I meant…I meant…”

Marcie laughed. “I know what you meant. I know you are happy for me and Kane. You just want that for yourself, too.”

“Whew…yeah, that’s exactly what I meant.”

Marcie eyed me sternly. “How many wedding receptions have you planned here at Kane’s?”

“Quite a few now,” I replied as flashes of the beautiful brides and their receptions danced thru my head.

“And where did most of those couples meet?”

“The ‘Luscious Lads and Ladies Marriage Mates’ site,” I admitted, biting my lip.

“What have I been telling you? You need to put your profile on the site. Everyone I know that has used it has found an amazing match—everyone!”

My eyes started to water and I turned away from Marcie so she wouldn’t see. “Yeah, ok,” I muttered.

“Bree…Sabrina, look at me!”

I turned to face Marcie, tears blurring my vision.

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

“Oh, Marcie,” I moaned, trying to keep myself from losing it. “I put my profile on there over a week ago. Not one person has shown any interest in me. Not a single one…no one wants me!”