Chapter 29
Chapter
Twenty-Nine
CHLOE
“When I was ten years old, I moved onto my father’s farm after my mother died.
It was the first time I had ever been there, and I was instantly obsessed.
He had horses, chickens, and goats. It was like I went from a city kid to a Disney princess overnight.
My favorite part was the gazebo he had. It sat about a hundred yards off the little pond he had on the property.
What I didn’t know at the time was that there was a cellar under the gazebo where he would take his victims,” the woman on the show says.
I stab my spoon into my bowl of vanilla bean ice cream that has caramel drizzled on top, bring it up to my mouth, and take a bite.
I should be excited for this episode of Murder in the Country, but I’m not.
I’ve waited weeks for this episode specifically.
I mean, who doesn’t want to hear about a killer who had his own little murder room right under his daughter’s favorite place?
Fucking Hamilton ruined it all for me, though.
Just thinking about him makes my heart ache. God, I really fucked that up. Worst of all, I let Brantley down. He was looking forward to meeting the man, to trying to convince him to join the Foxes, and I ruined it.
Just like I ruin everything.
I squeeze my eyes shut.
I should have seen this coming.
All night I made sure to be extra polite and cautious.
I looked where I was going and made sure no one was in my way.
I was trying to be on my best behavior. Then, the one time that Brantley walked away and left me to my own devices, I forgot.
I was so concerned about grabbing a drink and finding Liv I didn’t bother to watch where I was going.
The man’s cruel words play through my head, hitting every insecurity I’ve ever had.
I fucking hate him. I wish someone would push him into a woodchipper while it’s on so he becomes nothing but pink mist. No, that’s much too tame. Maybe someone should stab him with one of those paralyzing drugs while he’s in the woods and then place meat on top of him and make him wolf bait.
The image of him unable to move or make a sound as he’s being eaten alive makes me smile.
What does that say about me? That I wish him harm? A freaking therapist would have a field day with me.
Sighing, I stab my ice cream again, getting more on the spoon. With the spoon halfway to my mouth, I freeze when I hear the garage door open.
What in the world?
“Chloe!” Brantley yells.
I turn and look over the back of the couch. “What are you doing home so soon? Is everything okay?”
His shoulders drop as he walks toward me. “No, everything isn’t okay.”
My heart drops to the floor. Oh god, I really, really fucked up that meeting.
I knew it. Louis knew it. I’m a fucking plague to the team and the business he’s trying to build.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper as tears fill my eyes.
He pulls me into his arms as he sits down next to me. I cry harder when I realize he didn’t even remove the ice cream bowl from my hand.
He’s covered in ice cream now. Great. Just great. I’ve broken Brantley to the point of no return. My man who hates a mess is now, well, a mess.
“Baby, stop crying.”
“I ruined it all,” I sob.
He pulls back slightly and cups my cheeks in his hands. “What are you talking about?”
“Gregory Hamilton. You were so excited to meet him, and I ruined it.”
His eyes soften. “You didn’t ruin anything Chloe. You running into him showed me who he really was.”
“And who was that?”
“A man who I don’t want to do business with.
If he feels comfortable talking about my woman like that in front of me, I don’t want to know the shit he would spew in private.
That’s not someone I want to do business with.
Trust me when I tell you, you did me a favor by spilling your drink on him, Chloe. ”
“But…”
He shakes his head. “No buts.”
“I seriously think the next time you have a big event like this, I should stay home.”
He shakes his head again. “No, I’m not hiding you.”
“I’m a mess, though.”
“Baby, you’re my mess. I know you’re not perfect. Hell, I don’t want you to be. Will you spill another drink on someone? Possibly, but that’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
“Why though?”
“Because I love you, and if a sponsor isn’t willing to work with me because of you, then they aren’t worth my time. In fact, that’s pretty much what I told Hamilton.” He cringes. “Just in a much harsher way.”
“Brantley, tell me you didn’t,” I groan.
“Baby, no one gets to insult you in front of me and get away with it.”
“You’re an idiot.”
“But I’m your idiot.”
I roll my eyes but smile. “Seriously, though, I think you need to consider letting me stay home.”
“Tell me, before your little run-in, were you having a good time?”
“Yes,” I confess softly.
“Then that’s all that matters. Look, you might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but neither am I. I love you, and you love me. That’s all that matters. As long as I have you, I’m happy.”
Shutting my eyes, I take a deep breath.
This man.
He’s a fool. A lovesick fool, but he’s mine.
For a second on the drive home earlier, I thought about leaving him. Packing my bags and walking away. He deserves someone who is less chaotic than me. Then when I got back here, though, I realized I couldn’t leave. I couldn’t walk away from him.
He knows all my secrets, all my quirks, and still loves me.
Well, all but one secret.
brANTLEY
Chloe licks her lips and looks up at me. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
In all the time that I’ve known her, I don’t think she’s ever looked as nervous as she does now.
“What is it, baby?”
She wrings her hands together, making the alarm bells in my mind go off even more.
Shit, this must be bad.
“I’ve been lying to you.”
My heart drops. “What do you mean? Do you not love me?”
Is this some kind of sick joke?
She shakes her head. “Shit, not like that. I love you more than I love myself.”
I take a deep breath. “Okay, good. Now what is it?”
“I didn’t just have a pipe accident at my last place.”
“Okay…”
“So, um, it was my fault.”
“Explain.”
Chloe then proceeds to tell me all about bath bomb gate. How she was buying ones with seaweed in them and never read the directions on how to properly dispose of them after usage. How over time the seaweed built up in the pipes, clogging them and then making them explode.
“So that’s it. That’s why I had to move in with you.” She blows out a breath. “That feels good to get off my chest. I didn’t realize how badly I needed to tell you.”
I tip my head back and laugh.
Of fucking course. That explains why everyone smiled when the topic of the pipes at her former place came up and why Mason told me not to let her have bath bombs. They all knew.
“Baby, that would only happen to you.”
She rolls her eyes. “Still love me?”
“Of course I do, but I’m going to have to insist that the only bombs you use in the bath from now on are going to be ones I buy for you.”
“Seriously? I learned my lesson,” she whines.
“Either that or I just send you to the spa to get your fix. Up to you.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“So you tell me. Speaking of spas, how would you feel about going to one tomorrow with Hannah?”
“I mean, I can, but why?”
I proceed to tell her all about how Mr. Graceland saw the blowup with Hamilton and how he promised me an in with a better deal. One that I never would have landed on my own.
“So you’ll play golf and I’ll be getting a facial?”
“Yes.”
Chloe grabs my forearms and looks at me seriously. “Brantley, please tell me you know how to play golf. We can’t afford for you to fuck this up.”
“Your faith in me is touching. Really. Of course I know how to play golf.”
She leans back and wipes her brow. “Phew. I was worried there for a second. I thought we were going to have to find one of those golf simulators and then stay up all night practicing.”
“I’m glad you were willing to do that for me.”
“I mean, it was less for you and more for the Foxes.” She cringes. “Although, can I just say we are horrible?”
“How so?” I ask as I move the ice cream bowl and set it on the table.
I cringe as I look down at my shirt.
Yeah, this is definitely ruined.
“We talked mad shit about that uniform lady and how we didn’t understand how her company would be a good fit, but yet tomorrow you are going to go meet with an owner of a shoe company.”
“I mean, the guys have to wear shoes to and from the stadium and when they are working out in the gym. They don’t wear skates all the time.”
“Oh, that does make sense,” I murmur.
“I still don’t want to do business with her. Especially when she was Louis’s idea.”
When I say his name, her nose crinkles.
“I hate that guy,” she mutters.
“Well, you have nothing to worry about. You’ll never see him again since I fired him.”
“You did what?” she asks slowly.
“I fired him. I told you, I won’t do business with someone who openly disrespects you.”
“But you needed him.”
“I don’t. Trust me, there are plenty of people who are itching to have his job,” I reassure her.
“How do you know that?”
“Because I’ve already been inquiring about it. I have a stack of possibilities on my desk, waiting for me to go through them on Monday.”
“How long have you been thinking about letting him go?” she asks.
“Since the start of the season when he first got pushy about sponsors. Then again when he started showing up unannounced. It cemented it when he thought he could tell me what to do with my personal life. Specifically you. No one gets to insert themselves in this relationship.”
“Huh, can’t say I’m going to be sad to see him go,” she muses.
“I don’t think anyone is.” Reaching forward, I grab her and pull her into my arms. “Are we okay?”
Her eyes soften. “We are more than okay. I love you so much.”
“I love you more. I hope you know that there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you.”
She leans in and kisses me softly and then begins to trail her lips from mine down my neck.
“Chloe…what are you doing?”
“Well, I figured since it’s early, the business isn’t falling down around us, and we love each other, that we could have a little fun. The naked kind,” she says as she nips me right under the ear, making me groan.
“You little minx.” I stand with her in my arms.
Chloe wraps her legs around my hips as she yelps. “Warn a girl.”
I slap her ass as I move toward our bedroom, making her moan.
“I love you,” I tell her again, and I’ll keep telling her until she’s sick of hearing it.
“I love you too. Now fuck me or lose me forever!”
I tip my head back and laugh. Yeah, life with my little ball of chaos will never be boring.
My life has changed so much since I first met her.
Back then I had no problem being the playboy and sharing the love with everyone I met.
Now I can’t imagine loving anyone more than I love the feisty redhead in my arms. Well, with the exception of our future children if we are so blessed.
In the meantime, though, it’s all her. Always her.