“There is an upside for Alex in all of this,” Nat said as the girls all grabbed their slender bouquets of lilies. “There shall be no periods throughout the entire honeymoon, and of course, I hear that as time goes on, you get hornier, so the first six months of your marriage should be fantastic. All thanks to you getting knocked up right before your wedding.”I exhaled, feeling the nerves now. “Let’s worry about getting through this day. My aunt has been faithfully attending that wedding book, and I’m going to dodge her. I can’t cry.”“Ha,” Elena chuckled. “Good luck with that. In addition to what Nat said, your hormones can kick in at random intervals, and you could be the blubbering bride up there with Alex today.”I eyed all of my bridesmaids as they chuckled. “Aren’t you guys supposed to be my support crew or whatever it is that bridesmaids do on the wedding day?”“We support you telling Alex when you’re standing in front of that priest,” Cass teased.“All right,” the door flung o
“Yes. Fuck me hard.” She walked over to a wall in the living room, sighed in annoyance, and spread her legs.“I have to admit, everything you just demanded of me can be a man’s dream come true. However, this isn’t exactly romantic.”“Fuck romance, Alex,” she snapped into that gear again. “The romance is dead right now, and you’re going to be dead if you don’t get over here and help me get this going.”“Well, the doc said it was the sperm that triggered the pregnancy, so why don’t we do this where it’s a tiny bit more comfortable for you?” “For me?” she turned back, and evil-Bree was in full swing. “Comfortable? I can’t sleep—I don’t even remember the last time I slept. I’m hotter than hell all of the fucking time, I fart when I least expect it to happen, my indigestion is killing me from all those tacos I can’t stop eating, and as if all of that isn’t bad enough, I pee myself when I laugh, cough, or sneeze. So, I ask you,” she flashed her most challenging expression, “why would I give
WITH ALL OF Breanne’s hard work, she safely delivered our sons. Both boys were instantly rushed to their warmers after I cut their umbilical cords, and just as Dr. Allen suggested, Bree’s thirty-eight-week pregnancy could likely deliver two healthy baby boys. He was right.Both babies passing the APGAR score made me exhale in relief at our two beautiful sons, who were now crying loudly for their mother. The group had all texted that they’d wait outside when Bree’s contractions were more brutal, and it was only Cameron who had the balls to peek around the curtain to check on her before heading into surgery.The nurses quickly wrapped both sets of dark-haired boys in their burrito-style blanket and handed them to Breanne after I walked to my wife. I kissed her on her forehead, her tired eyes peering up at me and her beautiful, dimpled smile lighting up the entire room.“You did so well, baby,” I kissed her forehead. “Our sons are healthy and on their way to you.”I watched, mesmerized,
I walked out to the comfortable waiting area, and Jim was the first to stand when he saw my approach. “We heard mommy and babies are healthy?”“A new and very handsome dad didn’t pass out?” I heard Jane as she walked up to me, smiles worn all around the room while the children were occupied in the learning and games corner of the room.“Jane, I’m happy as hell that you’re here,” I said as she stepped back and smiled up at me.“Well,” she patted my cheek, “I’ve heard you’re doing well from my sister-in-law. I texted Bree and congratulated her on your nuptials since your response was some BS thumbs-up emoji.”“I am.” I grinned at how well my sister appeared. Her blonde, curly hair was loose around her shoulders, and she was dressed casually. She didn’thave her usual stiff military look. “I’m happy you’re here.”She jabbed me in my side. “You better be. Now, let’s go,” she said.“Give us a second,” I smiled at the group as Jane walked in to meet Breanne and our children for the first ti
BREEThe nightmare scenario of the other night—from being late to running into my ex-fiancé—wasn’t truly mortifying orshameful until this moment when I got the whole picture. It was like the universe had made a massive joke at my expense that night, and I was only now realizing how bad it was. Dignity? Say goodbye to that, sister. It was nonexistent at this point, and good luck getting it back.I cleared my throat, stared at Mr. Grayson, my partner—in crime and business, apparently—and I didn’t let my expression waiver.“And now I’d like to hear a few words from my new partner, Ms. Stone,” he said.I stood and walked to the front of the room, and I smiled at Mr. Grayson. “Lovely introduction,” I said. “Mr. Mitchell, nice to have you join us today. I understand your time is valuable, and so I’ll keep this short and sweet.”Mr. Mitchell nodded, his deep blue eyes glistening in humor that made me think this Grayson trickster gave him more information than I wanted him to have.“Mr. Gray
“Ah, I see. Well, then, Alex. I’ll be on the second floor if you need anything. Otherwise, Theo can help you with the stack of accounts and invoicing that I’m behind on. They’ll be moved to your new office. It’s got the best views of the alleyway. You’ll love it, I’m sure.”“Delighted,” Alex said. “Lovely to see you again, by the way. I look forward to you paying me back someday, also.” “Excuse me?” I asked.“You, me,” he said playfully with the most handsome smile, “that ex of yours and his girlfriend, who Jim had escorted out of his building this morning? It turns out her name is Haley Burns, and she was quite bold to show up to the gala without an invitation.” He watched my expression, and his eyes glistened under the lights of the room. “She and your ex practically snuck in through the back doors.” He slid his hands into his pockets, and his forehead creased in humor.“Escorted out of Mitchell and Associates? She was fired?” I asked, knowing my expression that always gave me away
BREEOne week had passed, and I officially hated merges more than I knew. It was no thanks to the rumors and whispers I’d been hearing and trying to ignore all week, and the one word I despised… restructure.Alexander was starting in, and I swear to God that if one more employee walked out of this building in tears, I was done trusting his skills.Mr. Mitchell had guaranteed this would be a fair and equal merge, but it certainly wasn’t feeling as if that were the case. I had to trust Mr. Mitchell, who was known to be a fair and fantastic businessman. I also learned this week that he and Alexander were best friends, and there would be no way that Alex would make Mr. Mitchell out to be the fool.That knowledge was the only reason I hadn’t thrown open the door to Mr. Grayson’s office…yet. I was beginning to think the man lived in his office, or at least, that’s where it seemed Alexander Grayson’s personality was transformed from a trickster and into the devil.Alexander took no prisoners
“There’s a difference between worrying and finding errors in a final project,” I snapped.“Go deal with whatever it is Grayson’s doing to piss you off today.”You’re an asshole, I thought, knowing that Danny not finding errors on this project was the main reason I hadn’t even spoken with Alexander since he started making cuts. I was in this room, fixing this prick’s mistakes.Here we were with a deadline, and I needed to speak with Alexander since he moved in and turned into Ebenezer Scrooge—Satan style. Too bad it wasn’t Christmas, so he could be paid a visit by three ghosts. I’m sure the third and final, grim reaper ghost could give him a run for his money.“Bree,” Theo said. His voice was grim when it came from out of nowhere. “We need to talk.” My eyes were pulled away from Danny’s indifferent expression and turned toward my right-hand man, Theo.Shit. My heart sank after seeing Theo’s grave expression. No need to wait for the holidays. I’d play the grim reaper spirit and strangle
I walked out to the comfortable waiting area, and Jim was the first to stand when he saw my approach. “We heard mommy and babies are healthy?”“A new and very handsome dad didn’t pass out?” I heard Jane as she walked up to me, smiles worn all around the room while the children were occupied in the learning and games corner of the room.“Jane, I’m happy as hell that you’re here,” I said as she stepped back and smiled up at me.“Well,” she patted my cheek, “I’ve heard you’re doing well from my sister-in-law. I texted Bree and congratulated her on your nuptials since your response was some BS thumbs-up emoji.”“I am.” I grinned at how well my sister appeared. Her blonde, curly hair was loose around her shoulders, and she was dressed casually. She didn’thave her usual stiff military look. “I’m happy you’re here.”She jabbed me in my side. “You better be. Now, let’s go,” she said.“Give us a second,” I smiled at the group as Jane walked in to meet Breanne and our children for the first ti
WITH ALL OF Breanne’s hard work, she safely delivered our sons. Both boys were instantly rushed to their warmers after I cut their umbilical cords, and just as Dr. Allen suggested, Bree’s thirty-eight-week pregnancy could likely deliver two healthy baby boys. He was right.Both babies passing the APGAR score made me exhale in relief at our two beautiful sons, who were now crying loudly for their mother. The group had all texted that they’d wait outside when Bree’s contractions were more brutal, and it was only Cameron who had the balls to peek around the curtain to check on her before heading into surgery.The nurses quickly wrapped both sets of dark-haired boys in their burrito-style blanket and handed them to Breanne after I walked to my wife. I kissed her on her forehead, her tired eyes peering up at me and her beautiful, dimpled smile lighting up the entire room.“You did so well, baby,” I kissed her forehead. “Our sons are healthy and on their way to you.”I watched, mesmerized,
“Yes. Fuck me hard.” She walked over to a wall in the living room, sighed in annoyance, and spread her legs.“I have to admit, everything you just demanded of me can be a man’s dream come true. However, this isn’t exactly romantic.”“Fuck romance, Alex,” she snapped into that gear again. “The romance is dead right now, and you’re going to be dead if you don’t get over here and help me get this going.”“Well, the doc said it was the sperm that triggered the pregnancy, so why don’t we do this where it’s a tiny bit more comfortable for you?” “For me?” she turned back, and evil-Bree was in full swing. “Comfortable? I can’t sleep—I don’t even remember the last time I slept. I’m hotter than hell all of the fucking time, I fart when I least expect it to happen, my indigestion is killing me from all those tacos I can’t stop eating, and as if all of that isn’t bad enough, I pee myself when I laugh, cough, or sneeze. So, I ask you,” she flashed her most challenging expression, “why would I give
“There is an upside for Alex in all of this,” Nat said as the girls all grabbed their slender bouquets of lilies. “There shall be no periods throughout the entire honeymoon, and of course, I hear that as time goes on, you get hornier, so the first six months of your marriage should be fantastic. All thanks to you getting knocked up right before your wedding.”I exhaled, feeling the nerves now. “Let’s worry about getting through this day. My aunt has been faithfully attending that wedding book, and I’m going to dodge her. I can’t cry.”“Ha,” Elena chuckled. “Good luck with that. In addition to what Nat said, your hormones can kick in at random intervals, and you could be the blubbering bride up there with Alex today.”I eyed all of my bridesmaids as they chuckled. “Aren’t you guys supposed to be my support crew or whatever it is that bridesmaids do on the wedding day?”“We support you telling Alex when you’re standing in front of that priest,” Cass teased.“All right,” the door flung o
I was not the bridezilla Nat was sure I’d be. Instead, I was going with the flow, filled with gratitude that I was about to become Alex’s wife officially. After the wedding, he and I were set to travel on the yacht he and Jim jointly owned—Maiden Stone, the one he’d named after me. He was incredibly proud of himself for naming the ship now because he said it represented our relationship—Made in Stone. The only thing we needed to do now was get to the boat after the wedding, which was anchored in the Sea of Cortez.Alex still held an iron fist at work and with our employees, but this softer side of him led him down some silly romantic roads, so much so that I teased him that if our marriage was made in stone, he should probably take my last name and not the other way around.“You look so goddamn beautiful,” Nat said, walking into the room where I was dressed and fully prepared to walk down that aisle and become Alex’s wife. “You’re never going to believe what that gorgeous young doctor
“It counts for something, right?” he asked. “But I can watch our movie with you a hundred times, Dorothy, with my new heart you’ve insisted the wizard give me. I will gladly watch that movie with you.” He kissed my ring finger. “But only if you put my outward expression of love on your finger.”I sniffed as I started to cry, officially caught up in the moment with the man I loved more than anything, and I felt more solid about marrying him than I felt about anything else in this world.Alex returned to bended knee in front of me. “I humbly ask you to marry me or at least start over and date me until the day comes that you feel confident enough to become my wife.”“What if I told you that I felt confident enough that I would marry you now if I could?” I knelt in front of him.“Well, that would put us all back on the plane and off to Vegas as your birthday evening stop, doing that Titanic experience,” he looked back atAvery’s grin, as she leaned into Jim’s side, “and Elvis handling our
“What the hell are you two doing?” Alex said when he turned, and I laughed softly with the rest of the women who’d found the two men’s humor just as entertaining.“Well, I’m humming the tune for Coll to sing on key,” Jake said, acting extremely serious. “Trust me. It takes a lot to keep Collin at that angelic level. And of all the songs he has to sing, it’s got to be Celine Dion’s song —the one we had to hear when we were forced to sit through the movie so we could learn more about the ship.”“I never told you idiots to watch a movie about this ship,” Alex answered in confusion. “What movie?” He glanced between the two men.“Titanic. Kate Winslet?” Collin stopped singing and answered. “Elena told me that you insisted we watch that three-hour movie.” He looked around Alex and at me. “Speaking of which, I now will add my expert opinion. Leonardo DiCaprio’s character was an absolute idiot, and that’s why he didn’t make it.”“Really? We’re doing this?” Alex said. I could hear him trying t
“Whether she knew they were stealing from her or not,” Alex said.I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard his voice as he finished speaking for Cass. I turned back and stared at his brilliant smile and his lighter expression, looking more handsome than I remembered.“You’re here?” I said, confused and in utter shock that Alex was here and joined by his closest friends.“Well,” he held up a boarding pass and pulled his sunglasses off to read the pass, “according to this, I’m not.”Did he go through this attraction too? Wait, this was Alex’s idea. All of it, and my girlfriends did well in acting like it was theirs.I smiled. “Third class passenger and didn’t get a boat?” I tried to guess.His eyes locked with mine. “No boat and my passenger gave up his life jacket. He was reported to be preaching to the ones who were going down with the ship.” He read the information with a broad grin.“Preaching?” I cocked my head to the side. “What passenger were you who selflessly gave up your li
“We’ll be sure to do that,” Cass said. “Go lay down and sleep this off because when we land, we’re going directly to the attraction we set up for Bree. The rules were to drink, but don’t get drunk, and now look at you?”“God,” Nat rubbed her forehead and meandered through the leather seating where we were in, “you owe me for this, Bree.” She turned back to me. “Trust me, flying to an attraction in Missouri was not my idea of a thirty-something birthday party.”“No,” I smiled, “I know exactly what your plans would’ve been. I’m glad we’re going to Missouri instead.”“Wake me when the wheels are safely on the ground, please,” Nat said.WE’D CONSUMED plenty of food and water to soak up the cocktails we’d enjoyed on our luxurious flight, and after the plane landed in Springfield, Missouri, we loaded up into a party limo that was waiting for us. I should have been drawn to the party lights of this massive SUV, but instead, seeing the lime green grass and how beautiful the countryside was in