35. Pepper
“Iwas beginning to think you’d run again,” Troy mutters when I make it down the aisle, freezing my ass off despite the fur shawl they wrapped over my lacey puffed A-line dress. It’s still a beautiful dress. One I’d settled on six months ago.
It”s not something I’d wear if I were marrying Chase. I’d marry him wearing a silk sheath. With a small bunch of calla lilies. It would be spring so flowers would be blooming everywhere, symbolizing life and a new beginning. I’d know and love every single person sitting behind us, sharing our special day.
“I’m not running this time, Troy… I’m walking.”
“Be quiet, Pepper and smile for the camera.”
I find a pretty girl in a silk dress and a fur jacket holding an umbrella from the flurries next to us and hand her my bouquet.
Then I take off my ring.
“Penelope,” Troy grits, leaning into me.
I slip the mic from the officiator. “Can I borrow this?”
“W—we’re not at the vows yet.”
“Thanks.” I turn back to the crowd, trying not to focus on Troy’s parents, the President and First Lady in the front row. “Hi everyone. Oh gosh you all look—cold.”
“Pepper, stop,” Troy mumbles like a ventriloquist beside me.
“I’m sorry, but there isn’t going to be a wedding today.” I wait for the initial gasps and whispers to begin then raise my voice. “The truth is Troy doesn’t want to get married yet. He’s focused on his career and hopefully serving his city as mayor for the next few years. He’s got so many amazing plans and it’s truly so…inspiring. Unfortunately, Troy told me earlier he wasn’t sure if this was a good idea anymore.”
More gasps, and the President stands.
“But,” I add quickly. “Because he’s a committed man. A man of his word, he planned to go through with it.” I turn back to him with a smile. “For my sake.”
Troy’s expression rests, but he doesn’t seem entirely convinced. “So, I’m going to save him the trouble—save him from having to break my heart.” I smile brightly at him and touch his arm. “When you’re ready, you’ll find her—she probably won’t be standing by an elevator waiting to be saved, but hopefully, she’ll be someone who’s strong enough to save herself. Goodbye, Troy.”
I start back up the pavement and pause, twisting on my heel. “Oh. And thank you for bringing me home.” I give him a small wink.
Tables turned.
I speedwalk toward the line of town cars, where a confused driver opens the passenger door and looks behind me for everyone else. I offer him a polite smile as I pass him.
That’s…when I pick up the pace and run.
Not because of who’s behind me.
But who I need to still be waiting for me up ahead. Odds are small. Even smaller that he’ll be at the Inn, where I’m sure everyone is tuning in.
I dash down the snow-covered sidewalk. The heels of my shoes sliding on the pavement.
I’m not sure what I’ll say. If he’ll listen. But I have to try.
I have nothing with me. I came with nothing. And I have nothing but my heart to offer him. My heart and some hardcore groveling for choosing anything but him.
My breath hitches with each frantic step. My legs are threatening to give out. I’m cold and…shit…lost. I stop for a breath and turn the corner when I figure out where I am.
Flurries fall harder, and I cover my face.
A motorcycle roars up ahead before it stops completely and someone jumps off. I blink cold moisture from my lashes and see him. The man I’m meant for.
I gasp and lunge, closing the distance, throwing myself into his arms.
In a flash, his warm jacket curls around me and he presses me to his chest. “I’ve got you.”
“I’m so sorry, Chase.” I sob and struggle for a breath as cold air fills my lungs repeatedly.
He snakes his hands to the back of my neck and covers my mouth with his.
Warming me.
Calming me.
“Breathe, beautiful.”
I suck in a breath, not wanting to close my eyes in case I’m imagining him.
“Where were you heading?” His voice is so calm. So soft.
“To you. To find you.”
His thumbs stroke my jaw as he lifts my face to his. “You’re my queen. You don’t run to me. I come to you. I will always come to you, Pepper.”
I release a breath. “I love you.”
Blue eyes lock onto mine, filled with warmth and passion. “I love you more. I love you harder. I’ll love you always.”
Steam rises from behind the shower curtain as Chase peels the gown down my body. I step out of it and lose sight of the damn thing after that.
He hooks his fingers into my white lace panties, grinning at me. “You going to want these too?” I tease.
“You’re certainly not keeping them.”
He lifts me off the tile floor and sets me on my feet in the shower. I test the water before standing directly under the spray. Heat warms my icy skin. Warm hands touch my shoulders and I turn, smirking up at the man I love. “This place ain’t big enough for the two of us.”
He kisses me softly. “Then we’ll make it bigger.”
“The shower?”
“The house.”
“There’s no room to make it bigger. You’d have to go into Levi’s property.”
“He’s got plenty to spare,” he assures me, lathering soap in his hands and running them down my back.
“Hmm…what about that for sale sign out front?”
“What for sale sign?” He nuzzles my neck, trailing his fingers down my side. Somehow, I get the idea we’re done talking when he presses me to the wall and kisses me like he almost lost me.
“Welcome home, Pepper,” Levi says hours later when we go back to the Inn after endless calls from every member of the Reeves family.
“Thank you.” I smile tiredly and accept his embrace.
“Where’ve you guys been? Half the town was waiting by the doors for you two to race in here.”
Aiden slides cheeseburgers and a basket of fries over to me and Chase.
We worked up quite the appetite the last few hours. He did nothing but tease me in the shower but then made love to me for the first time in our bed, gentle and slow. Until I started begging him to make me come so we could get this over with and he could fuck me like he owns me.
I pick at a fry, staring at Chase incase my just-fucked face doesn’t answer the question.
Chase clears his throat. “Pepper needed to change.”
Aiden slaps his oldest son over the head. “Don’t ask stupid questions.”
Levi smirks, and I cover my face with a groan. “Hey, we’re all adults here. I was just hoping for a little creativity from my future sister-in-law.” He winks.
My face heats.
Aiden shrugs and takes a seat next to Levi. “Some people were expecting an impromptu wedding right here at the Inn when you guys got back.”
I expect Chase to blow off the conversation or get uncomfortable and change topics, but he pushes hair away from my face and gives me a cocky grin.
“Think Pepper deserves a little better than a wedding at a smalltown inn.”
“You two sure seem pretty confident you’ve seen the last of Troy Mayfield,” Noah says, stepping in and ruining our fun as always.
“I am,” I say sharply.
“Yeah, well just to be safe, I asked his lawyer for a copy of your new agreement—by the way, you owe me a dollar as I am your legal representation from now on.” He slides open his phone. “Apparently, you put an honesty clause in there that says you can talk about anything you feel is important for the other person to know.”
Chase jerks in confusion but doesn’t interrupt.
Noah holds up a finger and glances around the near empty bar. “Accordingly, you announced at an interview that your late father was convicted of fraud?”
With all eyes on me, I place my burger down and slow my chewing.
“Well, his lawyer told Troy he’d dodged a bullet because that’s going to get out.”
“How does he know? Troy told them to cut it.”
Noah cocks his head. “He’s a politician. No one cuts out information like that.”
Chase twists to face me. “Baby, why would you do that?”
I shrug. “It’s not like his opponents won’t do their own digging once the election starts.”
He kisses the top of my head like he appreciates what I tried to do but is somewhat disappointed. “He’s still your father.”
I frown at the strange comment and then remember something. “Hey, can I borrow your phone to call Charlie? I’ve had enough testosterone today. And…I need to make sure she’s not insulted by something I did.” I wince. There’s no mistaking the anger with which that red ink was scribed onto the check. And I don’t blame her.
Chase smirks like he knows something I don’t and hands me his phone. “Go ahead.”
As expected, Charlie refuses to come to the Inn but is excited to meet me for breakfast at the bakery tomorrow. I hang up and am about to go back inside when I consider making one more call I don’t want to put off.
I dial his number from memory and put the phone to my ear.
“Yeah,” Troy answers, sounding mildly annoyed.
“It’s me.”
He sighs from boredom. “If you’re expecting a thank you for making it look like it was my idea, don’t hold your breath.”
“You were always so charming.”
Another sigh and it sounds like he’s relocating himself as I hear movement and then a door shut. “Would it have killed you, P? The one year?”
I’m not about to go into detail about everything that’s wrong with his question. “You’re going to find someone someday who will change your life, Troy. Someone who will make what I did today make sense. Someone you’d give up everything for, instead of asking her to.” I sigh when he doesn’t respond. “No. It wouldn’t have killed me. And this isn’t going to kill you.”
More silence and I wonder if he’s even listening to me.
“Troy.”
“The floor was yours, Pepper. You had the chance to tell everyone the truth. That you’re walking away. Instead you made me out to be some hero. Why?”
“Some things are more important to you than they are to me. This way, we both get what we want.”
“Bye, P.”
I purse my lips. “Goodbye Troy. And good luck…not just with your campaign.”
The phone clicks off and I take a moment, breathing in the cool air.
“How’s Charlie?” Chase asks, coming up behind me, wrapping me in his arms.
“She’s going to lay into me about the check tomorrow, I just know it.” I look down at the phone before handing it to him with a wince. “I called someone else after I got off with her.”
He swipes and looks at the D.C. area code on the screen, then flicks his gaze back to me. “You okay?”
I nod with a smile. “We’re good.”
He kisses the top of my head and takes my hand. “Walk with me for the sunset?”
“Something on your mind?” I ask as we stroll down to the town park.
“Yeah.” He stops walking and twists me. “I’m sorry I left you that weekend, knowing they were out looking for you.”
My smile fades. I’d almost forgotten about that.
He sighs. “I don’t know what’s worse, letting you think I abandoned you or—” He swallows hard, looking at his feet. Something I’ve never seen him do.
“Or what?”
“Or confirm your nightmares.”
“You’re not making any sense.”
“Pepper, the reason I left with Noah that day is because—we’re looking for your parents.”
A rush of air escapes my lungs, and my eyes widen. “They’re—”
“I don’t know. But I believe you when you say it wasn’t them in the car. And…I want to find them for you.”
My eyes sting.
“We were following a lead and—”
“You found them?”
He breathes out, sadly, taking my hands. “No. But we’re getting close.”
I sniffle and he cups my face. “I almost lost you because I kept something from you. I’m not making that mistake again, sweetheart. I’m sorry, I wish I had more to tell you, but we don’t know much.”
I nod and throw my arms around him. “Thank you.”
After a long moment, he pulls back, holding that gorgeous ring between us. “Maybe one day, we’ll find them and I can ask his permission to have you forever. But…in the meantime…” He takes my hand and waits for me.
I nod. “Yes, please. I’ll never take it off again,” I promise him before he slides it onto my finger.
“You can wear it but I’m not proposing officially.”
“You’re not?”
He shakes his head. “When I do, the timing will be perfect. It will be in front of all our friends and family. And…I’ll be down on one knee.”
I smile as I stare longingly at my ring, feeling a new sense of belonging. A permanent one. “What will you tell your fans?” I wince.
He lifts his arm and nods me over. “Come here.”
I slip under and look up at the phone he’s positioned in front of us, snaping a selfie with the sunset behind us.”
I hover by his forearm watching as he types a caption under the square photo of us.
The king always gets his queen
#lovethisgirl #smalltownlove #sunsets #shesaidyes