I nestled my face against his chest. If life was twisted before, I didn’t know what to call it anymore.
“This is insane.”
“More like fucked up,” he laughed. “But getting mad won’t fix it. Hating him won’t fix it. The only thing we can do is defeat it.”
“How do you defeat something like this? He stole eleven years of my life!”
“You don’t give into it. You do the opposite of hate; you love. You love Linc with everything you have. You love yourself. You love Olivia.”
“I love you,” I blurted. “I’ve always loved you. I’ve never stopped loving you.”
It felt so dirty to say it, to admit aloud, that I’d loved another man while married to another, even thinking of him during my vows.
“I love you, too.”
I hauled his face to mine, kissing the man I loved more than air, one of two I’d lost, only now I had him back in front of me, and I’d never let him go again.
Luke
Prying my lips from Josie’s was almost impossible, but it had to be done. We needed to head upstairs before things went too far, and as much as I wanted to fuck like crazy in my office, I couldn’t.
Not like that.
She deserved to be savored. Cherished. Worshiped.
So I did the next best thing. I strolled into the reception with the woman I loved on my arm, sticking out in jeans and a t-shirt. Meanwhile, Josie was breathtaking, the horrid pink color palatable when draped on her curves.
More than one head turned as we walked by, especially those belonging to women I once entertained, only now I was entertaining them in a new way and providing enough gossip to last a lifetime.
A Barrett was with Ed Roberts’ daughter again, the daughter of Briar royalty dating its forgotten son. The daughter cast away by a father desperate to save himself from his own sins.
But he’d never hurt her again. Not with his hands. Not with his words. Not with his secrets. I’d shield her from it all, and there’d be hell to pay if he tried otherwise.
All around things were winding down, the crowd thinned considerably from the 400-person headcount. The music lowered to crooning from the big band tunes that blasted earlier, trickling down the stairs when I caught a glimpse of Josie headed to the basement.
Despite the downtick in action, the place still stunned, everything falling into perfection. Abby outdid herself, and she’d hear all about it in the morning after I had a chance to settle and start planning for the next step.
My future clung to me as we walked across the event space, hunting for Lincoln and her shoes. I wouldn’t let them ride home with Ed, whether he was on the other side of the limo or strapped to the fucking roof. I didn’t care.
As I scanned the room, I spied my target, the mini Josie slumped in a chair a few feet away with a scowl while Trish chatted up well-wishers beside him.
I whistled once, catching his eye, a smile igniting as he sprang to his feet.
“Did you just call my son like a dog?” Josie laughed.
I shrugged. “It worked.”
“Mr. Luke!” he called as he ran to us, Trish shuffling after him with a worried look on her face cracking her usual polish.
“Hey, Little Dude!” I extended a hand, and he shook it with a smile, his pink bowtie crooked.
He puffed his chest out, proud of his tuxedo complete with tails. “I was a ring bear!”
“Bearer,” Josie corrected, reaching out to right his tie. “And you did a very good job, Linc.”
I was sure he did. He probably counted out his steps perfectly, each covering at least one Mississippi.
“Do you know where your mom’s shoes are?” I asked, noticing Ed approaching with Trish.
He smiled wider, happy to help. I didn’t have kids, but I figured if they came when called like a dog, they’d like having a job too. Not made Tally happier than playing fetch. “At her seat!”
“Can you grab them for me, bud? I’m driving you guys home.”
He nodded, running off just as Trish stopped in front of us. “I don’t think that’s a good idea…” she trailed. “You don’t have a booster seat, do you? And Josie, what do you think?”
Josie’s arm was rigid in mine. “I’ll get it out of the limo.”
“Honey,” Trish started, looking between us nervously as Ed came up behind her, a hand placed in the small of her back. “Maybe you should come home with us for the night.”
“What’s all this fuss about?” Ed was already aggravated, his face more flushed than his ridiculous pink cummerbund.
Trish played with her pearls, her lips pressed together. “Josie is going home with Luke.”
“Like hell! She’s drunk!” Ed barked, reaching for Josie. “You’re taking advantage of her!”
I pulled her back, just out of his reach. “I’m driving her home, not sleeping with her. And she’s not drunk.” She was buzzed at most.
“Yeah, right. You do something honorable!” He rolled his eyes, stepping forward to reach for her again.
I stepped in front of her, fully protecting her. “Coming from you, that’s rich.”
He tensed, knowing exactly what I was talking about. “I was a civil servant. I’ve lived an honorable and dignified life. That’s more than you can ever say.”
I could destroy the empire he’d built with just a few words, but I swallowed them down. It wasn’t the right time, not that it would ever be. What he did was disgusting, but revealing it would hurt those around him more than him after so many years.
It’d hurt Josie. Olivia. Trish. I wouldn’t do it.
“You abused the fuck out of that title,” I muttered, pushing down the rage. “But, it’s over.”
Trish inhaled sharply while Josie’s hand clenched my bicep, both women eager to cut the tension.
“Luke, let’s go.”
I stared him down, sizing up yesterday’s hero, knowing it was nothing but talk. He hadn’t done shit for Briar or
