64. You Earned This
YOU EARNED THIS
Lorelei
“Hurry up, Ax. I don’t want to be late.” I jumped out of the Jeep, tugging down the hem of my Lily Pulitzer floral sundress.
My voice sounded bright. Totally normal and almost believable.
But the second my sandals hit the pavement, the breeze coming off the bluff cut across my skin, carrying the sharp bite of salt and sea, and my stomach hollowed out. For one awful heartbeat, I wasn’t standing in the parking lot of the Copper Cove Country Club.
I was back on that cliff.
Brock’s eyes were wide. His mouth open. His body disappearing into the black while his scream tore through the night.
My fingers curled into the hem of my dress until the fabric wrinkled beneath my grip.
It had been a week, and I still couldn’t close my eyes without seeing him fall. I couldn’t hear waves crashing without imagining the ocean swallowing his body whole.
And the worst part was the tiny, ugly truth I couldn’t say out loud. Part of me was relieved.
Brock Haversham was gone. He couldn’t touch me. He’d never be able to drag me onto a yacht or into a marriage where my body belonged to him because my father signed away my future like a business deal.
He was dead.
And I was free.
“Lore?” Axel’s voice pulled me back. I blinked and found him leaning against the driver’s side door, watching me too closely, that easy smile fading from his face.
I forced my fingers to loosen from my dress. “Sorry. I’m fine.”
His brow furrowed. “You’re doing that thing again.”
“What thing?”
“Pretending you’re fine when you’re about five seconds from crawling out of your own skin.”
A laugh slipped out of me, thin and shaky. “Wow. Love being perceived.”
He pushed off the Jeep and came toward me slowly, like any sudden movement might shatter whatever fragile composure I’d managed to scrape together. His big hands settled on my waist, warm and grounding, and he pulled me against him.
The familiar scent of his crisp button-down shirt hit me, clean citrus and completely Axel, and some of the trembling eased from my bones.
“We don’t have to do this today,” he murmured. “I can take you home.”
“No.” I shook my head and pressed my palms to his chest. His heart beat steadily beneath my hands.
We were both alive and safe, and he was finally mine.
“I want to go. I want normal. I want country club lunches and your mom fussing over me and your dad pretending he doesn’t already like me more than you. ”
That coaxed the smallest smile from him. “He does not like you more than me.”
“Axel, please. Everyone likes me more than you.”
His mouth twitched. We all knew that was the biggest lie ever.
The warmth in his eyes made my throat tighten. I leaned into him, letting my forehead rest against his chest for one stolen second. “I just hate that I can’t get him out of my mind.”
“I know, baby.” His arms wrapped tighter around me. “I know.”
“Every time I think I’m okay, I hear him screaming again.” My voice cracked, and I hated it, hated that Brock still had any part of me at all. “And then I feel guilty because I’m glad he’s gone. I’m so glad, Ax. What kind of person does that make me?”
His hand slid up my back and tangled in my hair, holding me there. “The kind who survived him.”
The words hit hard. I squeezed my eyes shut, but that only made the tears burn hotter.
Thanks to the Lords and their endless connections, Brock’s death had been neatly explained away as a suicide. There was even a note, one that claimed he’d been so humiliated after our failed engagement that he couldn’t go on.
No one would ever believe Brock Haversham ended his life because he couldn’t live without me.
But this?
Totally believable.
His body, gunshot wound and all, hadn’t been found, and I doubted it ever would be. Ax spared me most of the gory details, and for once, I was grateful to let him handle the ugly parts.
I had enough ugly living inside my head.
Axel pressed a kiss to my hair. “Brock is gone, Lore. He can never hurt you again.”
I nodded against him, trying to believe it.
A long moment passed before his fingers slipped beneath my chin, tilting my face up. His eyes locked onto my mouth, and I knew where his thoughts were going before his lips brushed mine. I knew, because the reason we were already late was that we’d had a quickie in the car before we drove over.
Apparently, I was too irresistible in my prim and proper knee-length dress, and he’d needed to dirty me up a little.
A whisper of heat skated up my spine at the memory as he deepened the kiss. For a few seconds, the dark receded. There was only Axel’s mouth, his hands, his body reminding me I was still here.
But now was not the time for another quickie. Slamming my palms to his chest, I pushed away despite every nerve lighting up at his proximity.
“We can’t do this again!” I squealed. I still had some remnants of cum trickling down my inner thigh from the last time.
“Why not?” Mischief lit the deep blue of his eyes. “You’re so fucking sexy in that dress, baby, I can’t help myself. Besides, my brothers will be there to keep my parents company.”
I pressed another quick kiss to his lips before lacing my fingers through his and hauling him off the car. “Later.”
“You’re no fun, blondie,” Ax grumbled as I led him toward the entrance of the Copper Cove Country Club.
A gull squawked as it flew by, calling my attention to the white-capped sea below and the yachts dotting the harbor. Already, there were fewer than last week. Fall was right around the corner, which meant school would start.
For the first time, the thought didn’t terrify me because I had a plan.
Maybe I didn’t need Daddy’s money, or Brock’s, or some husband with a last name powerful enough to keep me polished and protected.
I had planned countless charity events throughout my years as a Zeta down to the last pink cocktail napkin.
I’d salvaged a catering disaster in stilettos and still charmed half of Copper Cove into emptying their wallets before dessert.
People paid a fortune for perfection, and God knew I was a pro at manufacturing it.
Maybe Lorelei Battenberg didn’t have to be anyone’s trophy wife.
Maybe I could build something on my own, one flawless, overpriced, champagne-soaked event at a time.
It was a long-term goal I knew I could accomplish.
Now, I just needed a short-term fix. With no engagement to Brock, the Battenbergs were officially on their way to bankruptcy.
After everything that happened, the only part I was really upset about was the possibility of having to drop out of Stonewall for a semester until I figured it out.
But I still had a few weeks, and Axel promised to do whatever it took to make sure that didn’t happen.
He’d even offered to loan me the money, which of course I politely declined. The last thing I wanted was to start off our real relationship with a huge chunk of money hanging over my head. I’d already started applying for jobs and even financial aid. Hopefully, something would pan out.
Axel’s hand tightened around mine as he steered me past the putting green to the dining room. “Why are you so quiet?”
“It’s nothing.” I drew in a breath, letting the country club noise, the clink of glasses, and the distant murmur of wealthy people pretending the world was simple settle around me. “Just enjoying the calm after the most chaotic few weeks of my life.”
He stopped walking and turned to me, gripping my shoulders with his big, firm hands. “Everything’s going to be all right now, Lore. You know that, right? It’s over.”
I dipped my head as he pressed a kiss to my forehead.
“We got through all the bullshit, and we’re finally together for real.” He cupped my cheek, then brushed his lips against mine. “I love you, Lorelei, and no one will ever keep us apart again.”
The familiar prick of hot tears threatened, but this time, I didn’t shove them all the way down.
“I love you so much, Ax.” My voice trembled, and I let it.
“I never would’ve gotten through any of this without you.
If it wasn’t for you, I’d be in Texas right now married to Brock, miserable, beaten and abused.
” I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my nose in his shirt.
“I’ll never forget what you did for me. Never be able to repay you. ”
“You don’t owe me anything, blondie.” With one tight squeeze, he finally released me, holding me at arm’s length.
“Now come on. You’re right, my parents must be dying to see us.
Or rather, you. My dad is totally obsessed with you.
He’s already warned me that I better go through with my proposal soon, or he’ll steal you away from me himself. ”
A surge of heat coated my cheeks as I stared up at the best man I’d ever known. Marrying Axel would be a dream come true, but there was no rush now. “Well, you better warn him that you’re the only Vanderhart I want.”
He chuckled, the smooth, warm sound filling my heart with so much happiness that all the anxiety about the unknown future softened around the edges.
The happy chatter of voices echoed across the massive table filled with Vanderhart men, girlfriends and wives.
I was squished between Ax and his dad and across from two of his older brothers, Jeremy and Aaron.
I loved Axel’s family. They were so different from mine, so warm, loving and supportive.
I couldn’t help but wonder how I would have turned out if I’d been born into a family like theirs instead.
As it was, my father was barely speaking to me, not that I wanted to see him either, and my mother had vanished to Switzerland to enjoy her final weeks at a luxury spa before the repossessions began.
The part that sucked the most about losing everything was not being able to afford to pay for our live-in housekeeper anymore. Gisella had been more of a mother to me than mine ever was. She promised to stay in touch, and I knew she would, but nothing would ever be the same.
“More champagne, Lorelei?” Axel’s dad held up the bottle of Dom Perignon, drawing me free of the dark musings.
“Sure, why not?” I doubted I’d be indulging in such an expensive drink again any time soon.
“Dad,” Ax grumbled as he pulled the bottle out of his hand and poured the sparkling wine into my flute, “even if you get her drunk, she’s not going to run away with you.”
Conrad laughed, the warm sound so similar to his son’s. Even Mrs. Vanderhart threw her head back with a cackle.
“I adore Lorelei, but you know your mother is the only woman for me.” His eyes brimmed with love as he cast a glance in his wife’s direction.
“And let’s be honest, I’m the only one who could ever put up with him.” Deb leaned into her husband, dropping her head on his shoulder.
“It’s true. I’m not as great as I seem.”
“I highly doubt that,” I said after swallowing down a big mouthful of liquid bubbles.
“Who’s ready for a pickleball match?” Jackson stood, the eldest of the brothers, tugging his wife Everly up with him.
“I’m in.” Jenson rose then all the other boys were leaping up from their seats.
“Dad, are you in?” Aaron lifted a taunting brow.
“Of course, I am. You guys go ahead and reserve the courts. There’s something I have to talk to Axel and his future wife about.”
Wife. My cheeks heated at the word. Even though Axel had told his family we were taking a minute to slow down, they still treated me like I was already one of them.
“See you out there!” the boys called out.
A sudden silence consumed the table with the absence of the rowdy siblings.
“So, what’s up, Dad?” Ax pivoted toward his parents.
Conrad placed his elbows on the table and swung his gaze on me. “Actually, there’s something I wanted to ask Lorelei.”
“Oh, sure.” I smiled despite the hint of unease that instantly swept through me.
“Ax told me about the event planning company you’re hoping to start.
It sounds like exactly the kind of thing you’d be brilliant at.
But until then, I wanted to tell you about the paid internship position at Vanderhart Securities.
We’ll be opening it up in the fall, and I thought you would be perfect for the job.
Axel will be there, getting school credits so I figured I may as well pay you both since I doubt he’ll let you out of his sight for long. ”
A rush of excitement shot through my chest, escalating my pulse. “Seriously?”
“Yes, absolutely. I’ve heard about your GPA and have spoken to some of your professors. You’re quite impressive, Miss Battenberg.”
“Oh my, thank you so much!” I grabbed his hand before I could stop myself and squeezed. “I’ll work really hard and prove myself to you, I swear.”
“I don’t doubt that one bit, Lorelei.”
“Tell her the other thing.” Deb speared her elbow into her husband’s side. “Just in case.”
Mr. Vanderhart cleared his throat. “I’m not sure if you’re aware, but I set up a scholarship fund at Stonewall University years ago back when Jackson started there. I understand your family is having some liquidity issues, and I think we could help.”
My eyes darted to Axel’s before returning to his father’s. “That’s very kind and extremely generous of you, but I couldn’t take your money.”
“Oh, it’s not my money, Lorelei. It’s a fund that was established for smart, hard-working students who wouldn’t have the means to otherwise attend the university.
Anyone can apply and I promise not to exert any undue influence.
” He winked, and a mixture of embarrassment and absolute joy twisted in my chest.
“It’s the same scholarship Killian’s girlfriend, Lexi, is on,” Deb added.
Of course it is. Because that would be the ultimate twist of fate, wouldn’t it? I’d been such a bitch to the scholarship girl when she arrived last year, and now I was that girl.
Swallowing my pride, I offered Mr. Vanderhart my best smile. “Thank you, I’ll be sure to apply.”
“Great!” He lifted his flute to mine. “Now, let’s make a toast to our future rising stars at Vanderhart Securities, and to my son and his future bride.”
Axel and his mom both lifted their glasses, and all four of us clinked the fine crystal. A smile parted my lips, and I was so damned happy my cheeks hurt. I swallowed down the fizzy, cool liquid and turned to Ax. “Thank you,” I whispered.
“No need to thank me, blondie. You earned this.” He brushed another quick kiss to my cheek before offering me his hand. “Now come on, we have to show my brothers you’re not only amazing at flag football, but you can also kick their asses in pickleball.”
A devious grin kicked up the corners of Axel’s lips, and it was all I could do to keep from kissing him again.
So instead, I rose, pulling him up with me. “Let’s show them who’s the boss of the pickleball courts, baby.”