Modern Arrangements: Complete Trilogy (Modern Arrangements #1-3) (23 page)

Dedication &
Special Thanks:

To
my husband, you know how you are the best supplier ever. Thank you for fueling
my reading and writing addiction.

To
all of my readers, long timers and newbies, without your support I would be
lost. You are all so amazing.  Thank You for taking a chance on a little author
like me.

* * * * * * * *

This
book is dedicated to all the children out there who grow up without parents,
role models, or any support from a loving family. Please know that somewhere
someone loves you and wishes you the best.  I'm one of those people.

Blurb

We are gathered here today…

 LILLIAN SNOWE has finally succumbed to
Aidan's relentless pursuit. But, before they say 'I do', the surprises begin.
Some good and some bad, it becomes clear that while some want them together,
there is an outside force trying to tear them apart. Lilly just isn't sure she
is cut out for this kind of life.

AIDAN IVERSION III is about to put the
worries of his employees, board and family at ease. He is about to secure his
wife. Grand gestures and small tokens are his tool for seduction, but it turns
out all he needed was better vision. Feeling ready to stake his claim on his
inheritance and his wife, a disaster may take away what he needs most.

You are cordially invited to the union
and marital bliss of Aidan and Lillian Iverson.

Prologue
Months
Earlier

"Are you sure about this?" She
asked in a hushed tone.                                                         

"Of course I am. It needs to be
done." I responded. "You have the correct prescription, right?
Lillian Snowe?"

"Yes, it just came over twenty
minutes ago. I grabbed it before the pharmacist could and replaced it."
Her tone was uneasy.

"Good." I sighed heavily, a
small amount of guilt forming in my gut. I quickly shook it off. "Make
sure she gets the pills."

"What if someone finds out –?"
I cut her off.

"I’m doing what needs to be done
for my family! You’re being compensated extremely well, don’t you dare back out
on me. I don’t want to have to remind you again about the information I –"

"I never thought of you as a man
capable of this, Mr. Iverson." She was on the verge of tears. "When I
met you, you were genuinely wonderful, now… well, now…you are a conniving,
selfish, spoiled –"

"Enough, I don’t need a lecture
from you," I shouted.  Getting my temper under control before someone in
the office overheard, "Just do what you’re being paid to do. I’ll handle
the rest."

"Fine." She snapped. "I
cannot believe I let myself think you were a decent –"

"I could care less what you think
of me. There needs to be an heir. I’ve made promises that an heir is being
conceived, so there will be one. Do your task, Becca!" Hanging up the
phone, I put my face in my hands.

My door opened. I looked up, it was
Liam, concern etching his face. “Are you alright?"

I nodded. "What can I do for
you?"

"The Regalie’s have arrived to
discuss the venture." Liam watched me closely. He would never understand
what I was doing.

"Well then," I stood from my
desk "let’s meet with them." I collected myself and headed out of my
office, Liam flanking me.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"You're sure that it's
handled?" I asked for the fifth time, still nervous and worried.

"Don't worry about a thing, Mr.
Iverson, it's all been arranged. I can assure you that everything is taken care
of." I still didn't feel at ease by his words, but I guess I had to be.

"Doctor?"

"Yes?"

"Are you sure that they are
reliable?" He sighed heavily before answering.

"Will you please have a little
faith in me? I have been assisting your family for how long?"

"Of course, I apologize. I just, I
need this to be kept under extreme wraps, that includes the rest of my
family." I was very firm on the end of my sentence. My family had to
remain unaware.

"I understand, boy, now stop
worrying about this. You have a wedding to prepare for." He chuckled and
we said our goodbyes.

I sighed and began looking through
paperwork. Suddenly, my phone buzzed.

"Yes, Amy?"

Chapter One
 Here comes the Bride, Bought and Paid for
Aidan

 "So, golden boy, feeling a little
frustrated lately?" James cackled. James, Dixon, Oscar and Liam had come
over to my place after dinner for drinks.

"What?" Dixon's face twisted
in confusion.

"Oh God, Dixon, Aidan clearly isn't
getting any and by the way he and Lilli were interacting tonight, it's pretty
fucking obvious he’s dying." James and Oscar both started laughing at my
expense.

"Shut up, jerks." I chuckled
and tossed back my drink.

"Hmmm...do you need a little lesson
in the art of seduction, son?" Liam smiled at me.

"I swear to God, Liam, if you tell
me one more thing about you and Aunt Vi, I will throw this glass at your
head."

"I second that," James
laughed.

Liam put his hands up in surrender.

"Okay, okay...I was just trying to
offer you my extensive knowledge." He shrugged and took a drink from his
glass.

"Hmmm...I'm not above hearing about
these techniques." Dixon wiggled his eyebrows.

"Don't fucking encourage him, Dixon!"
I laughed out. "Why don't you help me with Lilli?"

"Yeah, you know her better than
anyone else in this room –" James added, getting up and going for a
refill.

"Dude, I’m not helping you seduce
my best friend. That is just...no." Dixon shook his head and cringed.

"You're shit out of luck, Mister."
Oscar chuckled out. "Stock up on lotion." Everyone’s laughter rang
throughout the room.

"Hey, wait...she'll have to sleep
with you eventually. I mean, you guys are supposed to have a kid, right?"

I nodded in response to James’ question.

"Yeah, but she's got that one
figured out too. Invitro."

"She’s smart." Liam blurted
and then took in the look on my face. "Sorry." He smiled with a
slight shrug. "Honestly, Aidan, perhaps you should try backing off and
just being friends. It may take awhile but at least you won't go four years
with...well, with nothing."

I sighed and sat back.

"She offered to let me have a
mistress, said she would play the girl off as her friend." I blurted, still
in disbelief that I didn't take her up on the offer.

"Seriously?" James sputtered.
"And you didn't take her up on that shit?" I shook my head.
"You're insane." He plopped back down into the chair he had been
sitting in.

I sat up and reached for my glass. Out
of the corner of my eye I caught Liam looking at me.

"What? You think that I’m crazy
too?"

"I’m just honestly surprised that
you...that you didn't do it." He eyed me up a little.

I shrugged.

"I'm not going to risk getting
caught and losing everything I’m trying to gain and protect."

"Are you sure that's all it
is?" Oscar gave me a scrutinizing look. "That sounds a little
rehearsed."

"Of course I’m sure." I
furrowed my brow at him and headed toward the bar for a refill.

"Well, assholes, I need to get home
so that I’m looking fan-fucking-tastic tomorrow at the wedding." Dixon
stood up, running his hands through his hair like he was James Dean.

"See you tomorrow." I shouted
from the bar.

"You know what time to meet us here,
right?" Liam yelled after him.

"Sure do. The evil lawn gnome sent
a damn itinerary to my phone." He laughed. "I swear to God, Liam, I
don't know how you've handled her and Viola doing all this shit."

"Son, you will soon learn that you
will do a lot of things for that special woman. Mine happens to be my
wife." He smiled proudly and I felt a twinge of jealousy.

"Or you’ll do a lot for some kick
ass pussy! How did that rubber dick come in handy, Liam?" Dixon laughed
out loudly.

"Don't answer that!" Shooting
Liam the death glare, I stalked around the bar. "Dixon, I’ll kill
you!"

Dixon hurried out the door laughing
boisterously.

"I think I’m going to retire as
well. In fact, we all should." Liam stood up.

"Yeah." Oz agreed and walked
up stairs with him.

James downed his drink and ran upstairs
behind them.

"I'll be up in a few." I
shouted out.

"Getting cold feet? Do I need to
block the doorway?" James yelled from upstairs before slamming the bedroom
door shut, obviously not expecting an answer.

Chuckling, I started to walk around the
apartment. I noticed one of those hair bands women used to pull their hair up.
Picking it up, I put it to my nose and inhale. It smelled like cherries, like Lilli.
Groaning slightly, I silently cursed myself for sniffing a headband like a
stalker.

No, James. There won’t be any need to
block the doorway.

After finishing my drink I decided it
was time to head to bed.  Reaching the top step, I found myself drawn to her
door.  There was an unexplainable pull toward her. Pressing a hand against the
door, it opened and I walked in.

Looking around the room, I saw some
books she seemed to read over and over again. It was an unusual collection,
anything from Steven King to Jane Austen. Her taste in music taste was eclectic,
as well. Hell, she had music ranging from Johnny Cash to Marilyn Manson to
3oh3!.

I found myself drawn to the few pictures
she had around. Pictures of her and her father, her and her mother, her with a
group of very large dark skinned men on a beach (I wasn't a big fan of that
one) and a picture of Her, Dixon and Phoebe together. This picture caught me
off guard. Not that it was bad, it was clearly playful, but the three of them
were outside and the leaves around them were brown, orange and red. Dixon was
crouched down on the ground with Lilli on his back and Phoebe was on hers, all
of them wearing the largest smiles. I longed to know her like that.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The next morning I woke to someone
shouting my name.

"Aidan! Where the hell are you
man?" Rolling over, I buried my head in the pillows. Cherry. Mmm...it
smelled cherry and floral. My eyes shot open and looked around at Lilli's room.
I must have passed out on her bed last night. "Here you are. What the hell
are you doing?" James looked at me with an evil grin.

"Nothing, I'm coming." I
responded curtly.

"Only in your hand," James
laughed and walked away. I groaned at his stupid attempt at being funny.

I got up quickly and dragged my ass to
the coffee machine before getting ready for the wedding.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Lilli

Luckily I was able to convince everyone that
I needed some sleep, so they didn't pressure me into staying up and talking all
night. However, Phoebe woke me earlier than I wanted. Since she brought food, I
let her live.

"It's your day!" Phoebe
bounced and clapped. "I brought coffee and croissants."

Groggily, I sat up and thanked her.

"Eat, get in the shower and come
downstairs for the full breakfast. Then we get started! I’m so excited!"

I groaned.

"Fine." Honestly, I just
wanted this day to be over.

I stayed in the shower for as long as I
could. Phoebe had me on some damn time line. She knocked about fifteen minutes
into my shower to get me moving. Wrapping up in a robe, I headed downstairs.

"Good morning, babe!" My
mother pulled me into a large hug.

"Mom, I really need to talk to
you." She looked at me confused. "I don't think it's fair for you to
think that this," I motioned to everything, "is real." She
furrowed her brow. I sighed, sat her down and started from the beginning.

Cracking my knuckles, I waited while she
processed what I just said.

"Well...you’re a grown woman and
make your own decisions. Besides, I can see the way you two feel about each
other. Even if you both don't see it yet." She shrugged and stood, walking
toward the kitchen.

"W-what?" I quickly followed
after her.

"Oh Lilli, you are so blind
sometimes. He wants you and you want him. It's just a matter of time." She
wrapped her arm around my shoulder.

"Mom –"

"You see it too!" Viola said
cheerfully.

"Of course, Aidan looks like he
wants to eat her." My mother laughed joined by Viola, Celia and Phoebe.

"What did I miss?" Maggie
appeared in the kitchen.

"Nothing," I groaned.

"How Aidan and Lilli are going to
be perfect together and they don't even realize it yet." Celia giggled.

"Oh that," Maggie shrugged.

"Not you, too?" I scowled.

"Jesus Lilli, the first day in the
club his eyes were all over you and the smile on his face when you would talk
to him was insane. It’s the same way Dixon looks at me." Celia laughed
out. "Then that day he attacked that groper at the bar," she broke
into laughter.

"Aidan attacked someone?"
Viola looked startled.

"No...It's not like that –"

Celia cut me off by going into the whole
story. Groaning, I started shoving eggs and toast into my mouth.

"Someone hand me a fucking
mimosa." I growled. They all laughed at my pouting.

Viola and Phoebe had two make-up artists
and two hair stylist brought in to work on all of us.

Lance was working on my hair, pulling it
all up into intricate twists and curls. I sat there for over two hours sipping
water and nibbling on toast, cheese and crackers. My ass had started to go
numb.

Once he was finished, Kammie started on
my make up with strict instructions from Phoebe. My eyes, smoky but neutral
with a slight hint of green. My cheeks naturally blushed and my lips were
tinted red. It wasn't overpowering or heavy, so I was content.

Slipping into the dress, my mother
helped to zip and button me up. I could see the tears already starting in her
eyes.

"Mom, don't start crying, please.
You'll smudge our makeup because I’ll cry with you."

"I'm trying not to."  She
sniffed. Phoebe handed her a tissue.

"Lilli, you look amazing!" She
bounced with excitement.

"You look lovely, dear." Viola
smiled wide.

"Uh, Lilli, if you’re trying to
keep Aidan from putting his hands all over you, that's not going to help."

"Maggie!" Viola slapped her
playfully. "Stop it!"

Turning, I looked into the mirror. This
was it, my wedding day. I was the bride, bought and paid for. Sighing heavily,
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and looked at myself again. I did look
nice. The stylists and makeup artists did a great job and it all pulled
together perfectly.

"Okay, now for the important
stuff." Phoebe smiled largely.

"Something borrowed." Phoebe
held up her mother's ankle bracelet. "I want this back." She eyed me
playfully.

"Phoebe I can't...that's –"
Phoebe smiled and crouched down to the floor to put it on my ankle. Phoebe's
mother had died when she was in college and it was the last thing her mother
had given to her.

"Something blue," Maggie
walked over with a navy blue garter belt and a large grin. "Hike that
dress up, baby!" She laughed and then added, "Just like you’ll be
doing later."

I burst into laughter.

"Margaret!" Viola yelled at
her teenage daughter, trying to stifle her laughter.

"Something old." Viola stepped
forward and held out small silver trinity earrings. "These were Grandma
Isobel's."

"Viola, I can't...those should be
used for –" Viola shook her head.

"These were put away to pass down.
Eliza wore them on her wedding day and it’s only right that you wear them
today. It will be Eliza’s way of being here." Swallowing hard, I took the
earrings, putting one in each ear.

"And something new," My mom
put the necklace Aidan had made for me around my neck.

"A sixpence for your shoe,"
Celia leaned down and slid the coin into my shoe.

"Thank you. All of you." I felt
the twinge of guilt from all of this. These were things that should be
happening for Aidan and I, when we marry someone for love, not convenience.

"Okay, time to head to the
lighthouse!" Phoebe grabbed the flowers and passed them out. The limo was
waiting for us and we climbed in.

Arriving to The Lighthouse at Chelsea
Pier, we were ushered in by the wedding coordinator that helped Viola. As we
stood in a back room, I looked around at the women in my life.

My mother was talking animatedly with
Viola, both of them looking stunning in champagne colored dresses. Viola's
dress was classic, while Sarah's dress was freer flowing. Phoebe, Celia, and
Maggie were all beautiful in their dresses. Celia's hair was pulled up into
large curls, almost Marilyn Monroe like. Phoebe's short black hair had been
slicked back in a 1920's type of fashion. Maggie had actually allowed her hair
to be curled but I had the hair stylist use a burgundy hair extension and work
her hair into almost a pinup look.