Daughter Trilogy Bundle (96 page)

“It’s late,” Clara gasps as she looks at her watch.

“
It’s only three,” Kry utters with nonchalance.

“
Only three?” she scoffs.  “How late do you guys usually party?”

“
It’s been a while since we partied, but this is still early.”

“
Why aren’t you dancing?  I thought that was the best part about weddings,” I provoke.

“
It is, but the clubs are just too crowded to do anything.  I’ll break loose at the reception.  Don’t you worry,” he dares.

I just laugh, and Melissa inches in closer to him.

“What do you do?” she asks curiously.

“
I do it all, babe, but you aren’t ready for this,” he teases.

My eyes widen at his rude remark.  He
’s oblivious to the fact she meant what he did for a career.  I push my face against Devin’s shoulder to muffle my laughter as the waitress brings over a cheese platter to go with our chips and salsa.

“
I’m ready for real food,” Clara gripes.

“
Let’s go.  We’ll grab something on the way out of town,” I sigh.

“
Don’t leave me, baby,” Devin pleads.

“
I’ve already promised Clara, and I promise two nights isn’t that bad.  Hell, it’s barely one night now,” I force out with mock conviction. 

This is incredibly hard, but I want to build the suspense so badly.  He kisses me softly, and we begin our begrudged exit.

“I still wish you’d reconsider,” he pouts.

“
I have reconsidered, but it’s still the same verdict.  I’m going to make my incredible groom completely desperate to be with me, so that my reveal is much more impacting.”

“
If your groom doesn’t go crazy during the next day that is.  I hate being away from you at all, and I think tonight is proof of that.”

The limo driver walks out to open our doors as we round the side of the club, and Devin swirls me around to meet his face.

“There are two times we’ve stood on this sidewalk, and neither time did you leave me.  Do you think you can tonight?” he challenges.

“
I know I’ll see you at the bottom of the aisle waiting for me, and you’ll be eager to see me because you’ve missed me.  Yes.  Tonight I will walk away so I can blow your mind later.  In more ways than one.”

I whisper the last sentence to keep anyone else from hearing, and I see him swallowing against the instant knot in his throat.

“Well, then.  I guess we know who the more stubborn one is,” he teases.

I smile, but it
’s temporary as I climb into the limo.  He bends down to kiss me one last time, and I’m worried Clara is going to kick him out of the limo if he persists.

“
I love you, baby,” he bids.

“
I love you,” I say just before the door shuts, and then I stare at the man staring back as the car drives off. 

“
You two have some seriously obsessive issues,” Clara giggles.

“
I’ll say,” Melissa scoffs.

“
I love it,” I giggle back.

Jane squeals and instantly dives over to Clara and me.

“Jace is a total hottie, and that accent… oh my deliciousness.  Please tell me you have his number,” she shrieks.

“
I do,” I murmur hesitantly.

I know what will happen.  Jace can
’t stay with a mortal for too long, and he’s not one to turn one away from a night of pleasure either.  Damn it.  Why did I push her on him?

“
Well?” she prompts.

“
Here’s my phone,” I say while handing it over. 

I
’ll just let Jace deal with this storm.  He can kick my ass later. 

“
You and Devin are going to be so happy,” Clara yawns.

“
Don’t go to sleep.  You still need food,” I remind.

“
Chili cheese fries.  Mmm…” she slurs.

The alcohol has finally caught up with her, and I can tell she
’s not going to be any good to me anymore tonight.

I laugh a little as her head flops onto my lap, and I stare out the window as the natural rain starts to break free from the clouds.

One more day.

Chapter 2

Relentless

The quiet apartment is almost eerie as I climb to my feet from the sleepless few hours I
’ve been back.  The window Devin crashed through has been repaired, but the smell of emptiness is depressing.

I smile when I see pictures of Devin and I dispersed around the room.  It looks as though he got to this place as well, and I
’m glad he did.

I sigh as I plop down on the sad, cheap couch in my cramped living room, and I realize I
’ve been thoroughly spoiled.  This apartment once seemed so spacious, and now it feels like a cereal box.

My door knob jiggles while it slowly turns open, and I stand in a defensive position until Jake walks in.  I smile and sigh in relief when I see him, and he rushes over to give me a hug.

“Hey there, wedding girl.  Don’t lock the door anymore?” he chuckles.

I just laugh instead of answering.  A locked door can
’t keep an immortal out, and a mortal can’t hurt me in the least.

“
How’d you know I was here?” I chirp.

“
Mom told me you came in last night, so I figured I’d come crash with you tonight instead of staying at the packed out inn.”

“
Sounds good.  I’m about to get ready to go to the inn right now,” I grumble.  “They messed up my wedding cake, so now I have to go pick out something else they can make before tomorrow.”

“
You hate cake,” he muses.

“
Yeah, but it’s tradition.  Don’t worry.  I’ll pick up some ice cream afterwards,” I joke.

“
Glad to see not everything has changed.”

“
Not everything,” I say with a grin.

He half smiles, but he seems worried about something.

“So is this guy right for you?”

“
He’s perfect for me,” I giggle out, and Jake begins rolling his eyes right away.

“
Mom said you were goofy around him.”

“
So is she,” I grumble.

He laughs a little harder while shaking his head. 
“Dad said that too.”

I just join his laughter, and then my phone buzzes against the table.

“Let me grab that, and I’ll throw some clothes on right quick,” I murmur while walking into the bedroom.

“
Hey, sexy,” I giggle.

“
Oh, I missed the hell out of you last night.  I’d forgotten how much better I sleep when you’re beside me because it’s been a while since you’ve been gone,” he huffs.

“
It’s only been a few hours, and you’ve sent me away for a month before,” I quip. 

“
You needed to be safe.  I could reconcile that separation.  For some reason this is killing me.  I miss you so much,” he mutters.

“
I miss you too, but I have to go right now.  The baker screwed up the cake, and he’s meeting me at the inn to find a replacement he can whip up between now and tomorrow.”

“
I really liked our cake.  I can find someone here to take it on,” he offers.

“
It’s fine.  It’s just a cake.  In my opinion, it’s the least important of the details,” I huff.  “There’s a lot to do though, and I can’t wait to see you at the end of the aisle.”

“
Don’t think this is the last time I’m calling.  I told you I’d be calling relentlessly.  I love you,” he smolders.

I giggle a little as I murmur,
“I love you.”

I put the phone down and change out of my briefly worn pajamas.  Jake tosses his bag to the floor as I walk out fully dressed with makeup on.

“Wow.  That was quick,” he gasps.

“
Yeah,” I murmur with a grimace.

Oops.
I flashed around to get ready without thinking about Jake. 

“
Let’s roll, sis,” he chuckles.

We race down the stairs instead of taking the elevator, but I let him win.  He
’d shit himself if he saw how fast I actually am.

“
And some things never change,” he says while he struts his victorious stalk.

I just laugh while pretending to be out of breath as we walk outside.  Suddenly a man in a blue blazer walks over to me.

“Mrs. Cole?” he announces questioningly.

I giggle at the sound of the name that will soon be mine.  It
’s fairly obvious that Devin is playing games right now.

“
Yes,” I lie.

“
I have the keys to your car.  Mr. Cole said you would need a vehicle during your stay,” he offers in his very businesslike tone.

“
Oh,” I say with surprise.

“
Wow.  Dude has it bad,” Jake laughs.

I smirk a little, and the man hands me the keys to a silver sports car.

“Holy shit.  He bought you an Aston Martin Vanquish?  How much money does your guy have?” Jake gushes as he goes to rub his hand across the car’s hood.

I laugh at his awed state as he speaks to the inanimate thing in a purred tone.  It
’s almost as if he’s trying to seduce the damn thing.

The blue blazer man disappears from sight before I can say anything else to him.  Jake is almost groaning in complete envy as he examines every inch of the flashy new car, and I prop up against the strategically placed tree beside the sidewalk.

“Should I give you two a minute?” I tease.

“
Yes, you should,” he sighs.  “You don’t need this.  This car deserves someone who loves driving.”

“
You want to drive me to the inn?” I ask.

“
Hell yes,” he pops off without hesitance, and he almost rips the keys from my hand as we climb in.

I pull out my phone and call back my overly prepared fianc
é. 

“
Impressed?” he answers.

“
Not as much as Jake is,” I snicker.

“
I suppose I’ll have to try a little harder then,” he dares.

“
Not necessary.  You’ll be here soon enough, and you can impress me the way you always do,” I seduce.

“
Gross,” Jake scolds, and I laugh a little harder as he cranks the car.

He giggles like a girl as the engine purrs, and I turn my attention back to the phone.

“I was certain that car would at least get a little rise out of you,” Devin sighs.

“
Why?  Since when am I a car buff?” I tease.  “I just like hot cars when you’re driving them.”

“
Seriously?” Jake gags out.

“
You’re killing me here,” Devin groans.  “Stop talking like that.  I want you to be desperate to have me there.  I don’t want to wait until seven tomorrow evening to see you.”

“
I want to see you, but I still like keeping the build going.  Is it all right with you if I give Jake the car?  He’s absolutely smitten with it,” I whisper hopefully, making sure Jake is unable to hear.

“
Yeah,” he grumbles.  “I’ve got two or three here already,” he murmurs in disappointment.

“
You don’t even know?  Wow.  You’ve got too much money,” I snicker out.

“
It’s hard to impress a girl who doesn’t want anything my money can buy,” he gripes.

“
You don’t have to impress me.  You’ve already got me, so the chase is over.  I love you, and I’ll see you tomorrow,” I giggle.

“
I love you,” he breathes in dismay.

I put the phone away, and I turn to the ear-to-ear grinner behind the wheel.

“You really like this car, don’t you?” I ask rhetorically. 

“
No.  It’s a piece of crap,” he sarcastically scoffs.

“
Do you want it?”

“
Please don’t do that to me,” he whines.

“
I’m serious.  Devin said you could have it if you want it.  He’s got some more at home,” I say too casually.

“
Oh, hell yes.  I love your man,” he roars, and the engine mimics his excitement as he gasses it.

“
So do I,” I add with a touch of corniness.

“
I’ll let that slide,” he chuckles out.  “This is the best day of my life in a car.”

“
I need a favor though,” I quickly insert.

“
Name it,” he says with a shrug.

“
I’ve got a friend that’s going to be chasing one of my guy friends around.  He’s a bit of a heartbreaker, and I need you to distract her.  She’s going to be at the inn when we get there, and I think you’re the right guy for the job.”

“
Is she a dud?” he asks suspiciously.

“
Not at all.  He’s just not very good with commitment.”

“
Neither am I,” Jake snorts.

“
You’re better than he is.  Just help me out, and the car is yours.”

“
Sounds fine to me.  Dud or not, I’ll do anything for this car,” he crudely remarks.

I just laugh as he squeals into the inn
’s driveway, and he roars the engine loudly one last time before shutting it off.

Dad comes running out, and his arms are wrapped around me before I climb all the way out of the flashy new ride.

“Hey, Daddy,” I softly chirp.

Then he grabs Jake to force a group hug.

“Both of my kids in one weekend.  It’s a good day,” he sighs.  “Where’s Devin?”

“
He’s coming in tomorrow.”

“
Jane and Clara are waiting inside,” he prompts, and Jake follows behind me.

I can see the sad look on Jane
’s face, and I know Jace has already hurt her feelings. 

“
Jane, hey.”

“
Hey,” she says with forced pleasantness.

Her eyes flash over to Jake, and a real smile spreads.

“This is my brother Jake.  I was wondering if you would go with him to pick up the wine for tomorrow?” I nudge.

“
Yeah.  Sure,” she spouts. 

I pull out the credit card with my name on it, but Persia is the one who is collecting the bill.  I feel like a child with Momma
’s credit card instead of a woman right now.

“
Use this, and take your time,” I whisper.

She giggles a little, and Jake gives me a wink and an approving smile as they disappear out the door.

“You knew Jace was going to be a jerk, didn’t you?” Clara exasperates.  I nod, and she continues, “I’ve had to hear about him for the past twenty minutes, and my head is absolutely killing me.  I only slept for a couple hours before it was time to come here.  How in the hell do you look so good?” she growls.

“
Lots of makeup,” I lie.

She slept the whole ride to her house, and we got in just before dawn.  I
’m the one running on a couple hours of sleep, but I don’t need it too much these days.

“
Well, I need your makeup,” she grumbles while sipping on her coffee.

I smirk as I walk over to grab me a cup of the complementary brew, and then I spew it as I taste the cheap grounds that were brewed too long.

I’m so spoiled.

“
It’s disgusting, but it’s all they have,” she mumbles.  “Have you forgotten your dad’s java?”

“
Actually, I did have a momentary lapse,” I chuckle out.

A guy walks in with a bag and a carrying tray that hosts two cups as he heads over to the table we
’re at.  I smile as he places two coffees in front of us, and then puts the bagel bag beside them.

“
Mrs. Cole, these are for you.  Mr. Cole said you would need them,” he says with a chipper tone.

I laugh a little, and he turns to walk away.  Clara grabs the coffee with needy hands, and she moans in ecstasy as she sips it.

“Oh I love Devin right now,” she moans.

“
So do I,” I snicker out.  “I’ll be right back.”

I pull out the phone while she sifts through the bagel options, and I grin when Devin answers.

“Well?” he smugly remarks.

“
You’re very clever.  I am impressed.”

“
The coffee impresses you more than the expensive car.  Unbelievable.  You still won’t see me yet?” he pouts,

“
Nope.  I’ll see you tomorrow evening,” I play.

“
Fine.  This isn’t the last you’ll hear from me,” he promises.

“
I’m starting to see a pattern here, Mr. Cole.”