Chapter 35
Thirty-Five
Carter
I watch my wife as she looks in the mirror, putting on her earrings for Cal and Aspen’s gala, and allow my eyes to roam all over her body. Fuck. The way her tits spill out of that fitted red dress has my dick hard as a fucking rock.
Finding her heels resting on the floor beside her feet, I pick them up and lead her to sit on the bed.
I kneel down, kissing the top of each foot before sliding the heels on for her and buckling the straps.
She stares down at me as I run my fingertips up her calves.
If we had more time, I’d bend her over this bed and fuck her until she couldn’t see straight, but we don’t so instead, I stand, offer her my hand, and haul her up to me.
Her golden hair hangs in loose curls over one shoulder, and her pretty amber eyes, framed by long dark lashes, sparkle a little bit brighter today than they have before.
I want to kiss her, but I know that will only get me chastised for messing up her lipstick.
She walks back over to the mirror, and I place my chest against her naked back, wrapping my arm around her and splaying one hand across her stomach. I grip her hip with the other hand, then press my lips to her shoulder.
“You are the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen.”
She turns her head to the side and pulls my head down for a quick kiss, then wipes my mouth as I ask, “You ready?”
“Yeah, I’m ready.”
Taking her by the hand, I lead her into the living room.
There, we find Diesel, Tony, and Hector sitting on the couch waiting for us.
The PI has been giving me updates on Jaxon, and according to the charges to his card, as of right now, he’s still in Oklahoma.
That doesn’t mean that I’m going to back off on security or any measure I need to implement to keep her safe until he’s behind bars.
If that takes a lifetime, then so be it.
“When we get there, stay close, and do not let her out of your sight.”
The men stand, and Tony adjusts his tie, nodding to me. “Sure thing, boss.”
We weave in and out of traffic, the city lights and the high-rise buildings flying past us.
I exit off the highway and make a right, then take a left into the parking lot of the hotel.
After a forty-five-minute drive across the city, we pull up to the valet where all of us step out of the SUV.
The guys hang back as River and I pose for several pictures.
Flashes continue to blind us as we make our way inside, her arm tucked in mine.
“Oh, thank God you’re here,” Aspen says, rushing up to River, taking her by the hand. She then turns to me and says, “You go find Cal. I need to steal your wife for a sec.”
“Remember,” I say, tilting River’s chin up. “Don’t run off on your own. If you need to go to the restroom, you grab someone to go with you.”
“I will. I promise.”
Security gives me a nod, letting me know they’ve got her, and I kiss her forehead, then head over to Cal. Pulling him into a handshake, I clap his back.
“This is really something,” I tell him, looking around at the ballroom filled with people ready to empty their pockets for his foundation.
Pulling a check out of my jacket pocket, I hand it to him. “I’m proud of you, brother. I’ll be honest, a year ago, the thought wouldn’t have even crossed my mind that we’d be standing here today. Think of all the lives you’re impacting.”
He looks around the room. “Thank you. I’d like to think Paisley and Xander are both looking down right now, and that they’re proud of what Aspen and I are doing . . . what we’re all doing.”
“I know they are,” I say, clasping his shoulder.
Nodding, he glances down at the check, his eyes popping wide. “This is generous . . . more than I expected. Thank you, Carter.”
“You’re welcome.”
A waiter comes by, and I grab two glasses of champagne from the tray, handing one to Cal.
I hold up my glass in a toast. “To new beginnings for others.”
“To new beginnings for others.” He clinks his glass with mine.
I look up and see River talking to a donor. My eyes have always been able to find her in any room. She has this energy about her that draws me in, and my heart hammers in my ears every time I look at her.
Cal turns his head, finding my line of sight and shakes his head. “The hold those women have on us.”
Looking back at him, I can't help the smile that spreads across my face. “Tell me about it. Bet you didn’t think I’d catch up with you so fast.” I laugh. “I told you over a year ago she was gonna be my wife. Now look at us, married and about to have babies.”
“We find out at the next appointment what we’re having.”
“Damn. She’s that far along already?” I ask.
Nodding, he lifts his glass, gulps down the champagne, then sets his empty glass on a table. “Thirteen weeks, man. We go back to the doctor in three weeks.”
We walk around the room together, talking to different donors. Aiden, Sean, and Jerome approach us as River climbs the stairs to the stage to give Cal’s introduction.
“Well, I think it's about time for my speech,” he says. “I’ll meet up with you guys here in a bit.”
“Good evening,” River says, her eyes twinkling from the lights above the stage as she glances around the room.
I can’t help but notice how everyone instantly quiets. . . how she manages to draw people in with just two words.
“I would like to start by extending our gratitude to each and every one of you for being here tonight. Your presence, time, and generosity mean more to our family than you can ever imagine. As you all know, we have an auction directly following dinner, but before we kick off, Cal would like to come up and say a few words.”
Cal steps up to the podium, one hand in his pocket.
“Thank you all for being here tonight.” He leans into the mic.
“No one should ever have to experience the loss of their child, but the horrible truth is, it’s a tragedy that happens to many.
It’s a tragedy that happened to me. Five years ago, my late wife, Paisley, and I lost our son.
A couple of months later, the grief from that loss, coupled with post-partum depression and psychosis, took Paisley from this earth.
And with those two losses, I spent over four years suffering in silence.
To this day, even in the quietest room, Paisley and Xander’s absence echoes louder than any sound.
“My wife, Aspen, and I started this organization so no one else would ever have to walk through the heartbreak of those dark moments alone. Every donation is a lifeline. It’s a counselor on the other end of a call, even at two in the morning.
It’s a support group full of people who truly understand what one another is going through.
Tonight, I humbly ask you to give. To be a part of someone’s journey to healing after the loss of their child.
To be part of the reason they find strength to take one more breath, one more step .
. . to live one more day. Together, we can make a difference.
The loss of a loved one is never easy, but it doesn’t have to be endured alone. Thank you.”
I’ve seen Cal in a lot of situations, but this is the bravest I think I’ve ever seen him. The room grows with applause, and I clap until my palms sting, pride swelling in my chest.
As River finds her way to me, Aspen approaches the mic and instructs everyone to find their seats for dinner.
River leads us to our table, and as soon as I see the nameplates of those sitting with us resting on the table, I raise a brow.
“What? Aspen put me in charge of the seating, and I wanted to make it interesting,” River says to me.
A laugh lurches from my chest. Oh, I know exactly what my little wife is doing. It’s the same thing she did to Cal and Aspen. She’s trying to play matchmaker, so she sat us all together to make Sean jealous.
We sit down in front of our names as Hannah’s date pulls out her chair. She takes a seat next to Sean with her date taking a seat on the other side of her. Aiden is next to sit down, followed by Cal and Aspen.
River unravels her silverware and places the cloth napkin on her lap as Hannah says, “Guys, this is Spencer. Spencer, this is Cal and his wife, Aspen; Carter and his wife, River; you already know my best friend, Aiden; and this is Sean.”
I offer my hand to shake his. “Pleasure.”
Everyone extends a handshake, except for Sean. He ignores the man and stares Hannah down. I nudge Sean with my elbow. He lets out a grunt, then rolls his eyes, and reaches out to shake hands with Spencer.
River leans over. “Let the games begin. Sorry, there’s no popcorn for the show.”
I chuckle under my breath.
“I’ve heard so much about you,” Spencer tells Sean.
“Oh yeah?” Sean asks, taking a drink of his whiskey. “Hannah trying to give you pointers or something?”
River’s eyes nearly pop out of her head, and water sprays out of her mouth. I grab her napkin from her lap, helping her clean up while she strangles on her water. Leaning over, my mouth grazes the shell of her ear. “I think you might have bitten off more than you can chew here, Kitten.”
“No pointers needed here,” Spencer says, as a waiter sets a plate down in front of him. “But I could give you a couple if you’re looking to invest.”
“I’m good,” Sean counters, turning his body toward Aiden.
“Seriously, man.” Spencer reaches behind Hannah and taps Sean on the arm with the back of his hand as if they’re friends.
Sean looks at Spencer like he would love nothing more than to break his fingers, given the chance.
The guy, ignorant as hell to the situation, carries on.
“Did you know that if you gave me one percent of your earnings . . . only one percent to invest for you, I could turn that into at least fifty million within the next seven years?”
Sean brings his glass to his lips, taking another sip of his drink, then asks, “Hannah, where’d you pick up this asshole?”
“Sean!” Her jaw nearly hits the floor.