“Stop with the noise already,” I say as I swing it open.
Grant.
He’s here, standing in my doorway. He looks more disheveled and even more handsome than ever before. My legs give way and my hand reaches out to hold on to the doorframe for support.
“Grant,” I whisper.
“Can I come in?”
“I, um . . . Yeah. Sure. Come in,” I say, moving aside to allow him entry. “Sorry about the place. I’ve been . . . busy,” I lie. I’ve been heartbroken, but that about covers it.
“You do realize I’m only here to see you, not your place.” He smiles.
“What brings you here?” I go for small talk because I’m out of my element. I’m caught off guard and not sure if I’m relieved to see him or about to break all over again.
“I filed for divorce.”
The words fill the air and I think I’m about to faint. I blink a few times before finally finding my voice again. “Wh-what?”
“I fucked up, Bridget. I should have tried harder with you. I never should have let you go.”
Speech escapes me. I can’t form words. Everything I’ve wanted to hear for weeks, everything I’ve dreamed every night . . . he’s saying it. I want to pinch myself awake, not wanting to delude myself any longer, but not wanting to wake for fear it’s only a dream.
“I’m lost without you, Bridget. Please tell me I’m not too late.”
My heart seizes, and all the broken parts begin to mend themselves. Hope swells. Am I hearing him right?
“God, I missed you so much,” I whisper. “More than you will ever know or even understand.” I hiccup a sob. “I love you.” The words spill out of me, and I suddenly feel very uncomfortable. I lower my head, but then his fingers tip up my chin.
“Don’t look away from me,” Grant says.
Through tear-rimmed eyes, I peer up into his green gaze. “Promise me right now,” I whisper.
“I’ll do even better . . . I’ll promise you forever.”
Standing on the beach in Antibes, surrounded by family and beautiful scenery, the only person who holds my attention is my wife. She captivates me in ways I never dreamed possible. She’s everything I ever wanted and nothing I deserved, yet she’s all mine.
She catches me staring and rewards me with a smile that’s just for me. Nodding toward the event taking place before us, I’m forced to oblige. I never thought I’d see the day when Spencer took the leap and asked for a woman’s hand. Yet, here we are, watching him on bended knee, vowing his intentions of a lifelong commitment to Olivia, Bridget’s sister.
If you had told me the Lancaster brothers would be a family again I would have never believed it, but here we are, stronger than ever. The bond of brotherhood proves to withstand even the greatest of betrayals. To be one of the few to witness this is humbling after everything we’ve been through.
Olivia squeals in excitement as Spencer spins her around. Lynn and Bridget don’t waste time rushing forward to celebrate the upcoming nuptials with their sister. My brother’s eyes meet mine and I smirk. The Miller girls have a way of rooting themselves deep into your veins.
Soon after Bridget and I reunited, I made her my wife. I offered her the big wedding every girl dreams of, but she wasn’t interested. Too much time apart had us both eager to jump at the chance of forever. The day my divorce was official, about three months after I filed, we boarded a plane, and forty-eight hours later we were married. The only stipulation Bridget had was that our families were there and Isabella was by her side.
Her love for my daughter sealed my feelings for her. There’s no better mother for my daughter than Bridget. Of that I’m sure.
Chelsea hasn’t even tried to see Isabella since she received her check, which doesn’t surprise me. As much as I wanted it that way, it pains me that Isabella means so little to her. I thank God every day that he brought Bridget into our lives, because between the two of us my little girl will never feel unloved. I was nervous at first about how Isabella would take her mom’s absence, but she’s a resilient and strong little girl. As the weeks and month have passed, she barely mentions her mother’s abandonment.
I look away from the sisters celebrating and my eyes catch on Pierce, our youngest brother. He’s chatting up some girl in a wheelchair who Bridget introduced earlier as one of Olivia’s friends, Lindsay. They appear to be deep in conversation, so I refrain from approaching him. I’ve yet to forge a solid relationship with him since he was so young when I left, but I need to make an effort. He’s been getting into so much trouble these past few years, and it wouldn’t hurt for Spencer and me to take a bigger interest in helping him straighten up.
“Hey, babe,” Bridget coos as she sidles up beside me.
“Hey, gorgeous. Is your sister excited?”
“Are you crazy? She’s over the moon. She’s going to drive me batshit for the next few months.”
I chuckle.
“I’m serious. She’s a bridezilla in the making.”
“You can give her all sorts of hints.”
She scrunches her nose. “We eloped. Do you know Olivia at all? This shindig is sure to be the party of the century. She’s insane with this shit.”
“Come here.” I pull her into me, needing her close. “Want to get out of here?”
“We’re alone for the weekend and our minibar was stocked full of tequila.”
“Tequila, eh?”
“Great things start with tequila.”
“The greatest, Dumpster Dude.”
“Huh?”
She laughs, the wind carrying her magical voice to the ears of everyone around us. “Never mind.”
I pull my wife into a kiss, not caring who sees. I intend on showing her how much she means to me tonight, tomorrow, and for every tomorrow after that.
Forever.
Thank you for reading Sordid. If you loved Grant and Bridget, click here for an exclusive bonus scene.
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Imperfect Truth
Through Her Eyes
trans·fer·ence
Illicit
Clandestine
Pierce Lancaster is coming soon. Click here to add to your TBR.
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Haven’t met Spencer and Olivia yet? Now’s your chance! Clandestine is available. Read the first two chapters now!
Exposed: Spencer Lancaster, CEO of The Lancaster Hotels, was recently rumored to be attending clandestine meetings with UK developer Henry Gilbert. Sources close to Gilbert say Lancaster is looking to expand his currently domestic brand of hotel chains into the European market. If you recall, when the senior Lancaster retired five years ago, he snubbed his younger sons and left the hotels solely to his eldest. Spencer Lancaster appears to be anxious at the news that his estranged middle brother Grant Lancaster is starting his own brand of luxury hotels. The brothers are set to go head-to-head in a few months. Will the black sheep or the golden child playboy come out on top?
We can’t wait to report.