Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Darrell
After dinner, Cronus and my sister head up to their suites. It’s just Daphne and her family, along with me, sitting in the ballroom. I’m nursing a brandy, and Max is as well. Iris has been chatting with Daphne and Delphi about gowns and what styles my girl wants to wear.
“Daphne, come here, baby,” I say as I hold out my hand.
She moves around the large round table toward me and starts to sit in the chair beside me, but I pull her into my lap instead. She blushes until she sees her mom do the same to her father.
“Now I feel like a third wheel. Where is that Cronus friend of yours?” Delphi says, teasing.
“You’d sign his death certificate if you sat in his lap, or he’d drop you on your ass. Not out of anger. He’s just a one-woman man. And Hades would kill him,” I tell her.
She stares daggers at me.
“You really want to start this conversation with that. I can tell my client not to sign the documents,” she says, sassing me.
I throw my head back.
“Who’s Hades? What kind of name is that?” her mom asks.
“Like Cronus isn’t Brock’s real name, it’s his club name. Hades is what Kit goes by.” I explain to Iris.
“Oh, they’re in a biker club?”
“Yes.”
“But he’s in a suit.”
“Only today because he was being respectful to you and my sister,” I say.
“That was nice of him.”
“Okay, but back to what I was saying.” Delphi changes the subject.
“If you want to tell her not to sign, you should know the prenup is for her best interest, not mine.”
“What?” Delphi pulls the packet from her bag and looks it over.
“You didn’t read it on the flight?”
“No, I was working on a new case. I figured it would be standard. Are you sure about this, Darrell?”
She hands the packet to her father, who scans it. He looks at me and shakes his head.
“You do love her,” he says with a nod, then smiles.
“You doubted me?”
“Nope, but this is proof.”
“What?” Daphne finally asks, and he passes her the paperwork. She glances at the top page, stating it’s a prenuptial agreement. “I figured I’d have to sign this. It’s why you had the board meeting today, isn’t it?”
“Yes. But read it, baby.”
I wait for her to reach the crucial parts.
“This is for me, not for you. You want me to be entitled to Boseman Unlimited if we divorce? Why would you do that? You’re rich. I’m just well-off.”
I pull her into me and hold her face so she’s looking right at me.
“I love you. If I fuck this up and you divorce me, I don’t deserve my company.
Besides, I want any children we could have to be taken care of.
I’d never leave you destitute. You’re everything to me. I’m not Boseman Unlimited without you.”
“Dare,” she sighs as she leans forward and kisses me. “You’re so sweet, but I don’t want your company. I just want you.”
“Baby, we can continue this later. Let’s get these signed, then we can go to our suite.”
“Nuh-uh, not happening. You’re getting married tomorrow. She can’t be with you before the wedding.” Iris interrupts.
Both Daphne and I look at her.
“Oh, hell no.” I start to protest, but Daphne puts her hand over my mouth.
“Mom, we’re adults. I don’t believe in those old wives’ tales.”
“I think it’s a great idea.” Delphi giggles.
“I will remember this, Delly.” Daphne points at her sister.
I pull Daphne’s hand from my mouth.
“Mrs. Placer, I don’t mean to be rude, but I can’t sleep without your daughter by my side. I’ve gotten used to it. Besides, we have morning rituals I can’t miss.”
Daphne buries her face in my neck as Delphi starts laughing loudly.
“Honey, just let them be. We didn’t stay apart the night before we got married either.”
“But, Max, traditions have to start somewhere. I want to spend this night with both my girls.”
I want to give in, but the times I made love to Daphne before we landed were not nearly enough. I want to take her on every surface of our suite before we leave next week.
I’m about to tell Iris there is no way when Daphne pops up and looks at me.
“Please,” she says. “Just for a few hours.” She leans forward. “I’ll sneak up after they go to sleep.”
“Fine.” I give in. We have the rest of our lives together.
We discuss the prenuptial agreement a little more, and I explain that it’s meant to protect her inheritance and place it in a trust for our children until they turn eighteen.
Then they can use it for college or whatever they want.
My money is what we’ll live off. She won’t have to touch hers at all.
“I don’t understand one thing,” I say, looking at her father. “You don’t think this is too soon, but Daphne does. Why?”
He smirks as he watches his wife and daughters with love in his eyes.
“I met Iris and married her within six months. I knocked her up with the girls that same year. The moment I saw her, I knew she was meant to be mine.”
“That’s how I felt when I looked at Daphne. It was like being struck by lightning. When she touched me the first time, it was like coming home.”
“That’s exactly it.”
“The guys in Cronus’s club call it ‘one look.’ I told them they were crazy, but now I can’t imagine life without Daphne in it.”
“That’s why I didn’t second-guess you when you called and asked for her hand.
You said she was your other half, and that’s how I knew you loved her.
Seeing these papers just confirms it. You’re worth so much and should be protecting it, but you didn’t even think twice about jeopardizing your company. ”
“My father would have done the same thing. It’s why the board didn’t fight me.”
“Does your sister have a prenup?”
“You noticed her too?”
“I heard some of what the children were saying.”
“I want to help them leave, but until she figures it out for herself, I can’t force her. But yeah, I made her husband sign one. From the moment he started dating her in high school, he’s been all about her trust fund.”
“Well, I’ll take my ladies upstairs to our suite. If you want to bring Daphne after you say goodnight, we’ll be waiting.”
Max stands and stretches his back. He’s a good man. I’m glad I’ll get to know him better from here on out.
I take Daphne’s hand, and we all walk out. At the elevators, we find out we’re all on the same floor and head up to the private executive suites. Daphne tells her family she’ll be back shortly and follows me to our suite. As soon as the door closes, I have her in my arms.
“I wanted to take you on every surface in this suite, baby.”
“We’ll have to do that after the ceremony tomorrow.” She kisses me, and we get lost in each other.
“We have all of next week too. We’re staying here with your family for the week.” I explain to her.
“You’re the best.”
Daphne
I roll to my side and realize I must have fallen asleep last night instead of going back to Dare’s suite to spend the night with him. Delphi holds out a mug of tea for me, and I sit up and take it. She climbs onto the bed and sits cross-legged.
“So you’re going to get married before me, baby sister.”
“I’m four minutes younger.” I laugh and notice she has something more to say. She’s biting her bottom lip, like she’s trying to work something out in her head.
“I’m happy for you. I was worried for years that when we found our other halves, things would change, but I like that Darrell doesn’t try to come between us. I like how much he wants to protect you. I’m glad you took my advice and took a chance with him.”
“I’m glad I did too. He barged into my life, and I love him more for it. I just need to get him to include me once in a while and not always shield me.” She still hasn’t told me what she really wants to say. “Talk to me, Delly.”
“I’m scared I might have made a mistake.”
“About what?”
“I told Cronus last night that Kit and I will never be together, but I wonder if I should give him a second chance.”
“You need to decide if you want to open yourself up to that again. He hurt you.”
“N—” She starts, but I stop her.
“You and I both know he did. He hurt you really bad, Delly. You liked him.”
She pauses before climbing up the bed and leaning against the headboard beside me, her head on my shoulder.
“When did you get so smart?”
“I’ve always been smart. Feelings I know. It’s other people’s feelings and being able to express my own that has been difficult.”
“He’s still the one guy I compare others to, and he only kissed me once. On the freaking forehead.” She groans.
“I love when Dare does that to me. It’s so sweet.”
“Ugh, feelings suck.”
“I know, but maybe it’s time you actually felt and took a chance. Getting hurt happens. It’s a part of life. Besides, you still don’t know why he canceled on you.”
“He told me he couldn’t tell me. That it’s top secret and classified.
He’s not even an attorney for the government, but for a freaking MC club.
” She pauses. “Okay. When we get back, I’ll give him a chance.
Maybe I’ll just sleep with him and get him out of my system.
A good fuck is always a good way to get over someone. ”
I laugh. “Are you kidding me?”
“No. You get over someone by getting under someone else.”
“Oh my God! I can’t believe I just heard my daughter say that. I need to wash my ears out with peroxide and your mouth with soap, Delphi Delilah Placer.” Our mom groans from the doorway.
Both Delly and I are laughing so hard I have to set my mug down so I don’t spill it.
We get dressed, have breakfast, and are getting ready to head down to the mall area to go to the dress shops when there’s a knock at the door.
I expect it to be Darrell, but instead it’s Lydia.
We take the elevator down, and the hostess is waiting to take us to the salons and boutiques Darrell set appointments for us at.
I’m so glad I finally got to meet Lydia and spend time with her, but I feel like she needs sister time too. She seems to be going through something.
Her phone goes off while she’s in the dressing room trying on a gown. I glance down and see the message.
Colton: Are they in a plus-size section of the store trying to find you a dress? I can’t believe you talked me into this. If you pay for anything, I’ll take it from your household budget.
Her husband is an asshole. I don’t normally cuss, but his message makes me angry.
There is no way Lydia is a plus size. She’s got curves from having her twins, and she has fuller breasts than I do, but she also has a tiny waist. There’s a single dimple in her left cheek that you can see when she smiles. The problem is she doesn’t smile very often.
“Hey, your phone went off,” I tell her when she catches me looking at it.
She forces a chuckle when she reads the text.
“Oh, Colton’s being funny.”
“Really?” I look up at her and take her hand in mine. “We are sisters now. I’m a good listener.”
“Thank you,” she says before standing on the pedestal and turning this way and that in the mirror.
Delly steps out in the same dress, and both of them stand there.
“I like that one,” I say.
The dress is long and a very soft lilac with rose gold embellishments all over it. The skirt flows to the floor but has a slit up to the knee. It has a deep V in both the front and back. The sides are sheer tulle with the rose gold detailing over it.
“You’ll see my tattoos in this,” Lydia says, and I realize she was hiding her ink last night. They run up her arms and across her fingers.
“That’s okay. We have some too.” Delly shows her a few of hers. “Did you have makeup on your hands to cover those?” My sister points at Lydia’s hands.
“Yeah. Colton says they’re awful and prefers me to cover them. He said my work will fire me if I show them.”
“They shouldn’t,” I say.
“You ladies look amazing,” mom says as she steps out of the dressing room. She’s in a deep rose-colored dress, and I nod at her.
“That’s perfect, Mom. It will look so good with the others.” I pause and snap my fingers. “We need a flower girl. Can you have Michelle come down here?”
Lydia told me their nanny was going to take the kids to the pool and play with them.
We all start looking for a dress for Michelle. I’ve already got mine. The women have theirs. Now we just need the little miss’s dress.
I pick out a rose gold tulle dress with layers and a satin bodice. “How about this one?” I hold it out for Lydia to see.
“She’ll love that.” There’s that smile with the dimple. I’m so glad I could make her this happy.
A couple minutes later, Krystal walks in, leading Michelle, and just like Jada, I notice she’s looking around and protective.
That’s when I figure it out. She isn’t just a nanny.
She’s their protection detail. She must be the woman I overheard Darrell and Cronus talking about when we were in Chapelville.
“Hello, little miss,” I say, greeting Michelle at her height level. She’s six, and I want to be her favorite auntie. “I want you to be my flower girl.”
“Really? Can I wear a fluffy dress instead of one like this?”
Just like yesterday, when I thought she was in her school uniform, she’s in a white polo shirt with a tan jumper dress over the top.
“Yes. How about this one?” I hold out the dress I found.
She squeals before she covers her mouth and apologizes for being so loud.
“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.” She bows her head, and my heart breaks for her. I want to scoop her up and hold her tight, promising to protect her from her father.
Lydia takes her into a dressing room, and they try on the dress.
“Thank you.” I turn to see Krystal standing beside me. “I try so hard to make their lives as normal as I can.”
“I hate him,” I tell her. “I saw how he talks to Lydia.”
“There is nothing we can do, but thank you.”
“I’m going to be her favorite auntie. I’ll send her all kinds of fun clothes. Screw him.”
“Damn, Daphy, that was almost a curse word.” Delly chuckles. “Do the kids need an attorney? I know a couple good ones.”
“Not yet, but hopefully soon. Ms. Lydia has about hit the end of her rope.”
“Good. We’re here if you need us.”
“Thank you,” Krystal says again.
When Michelle prances out of the dressing room and twirls, I pull the attendant aside.
“Get me a couple more dresses just like that in fun kid colors.”
“Yes, ma’am.” She walks off to do as I asked.
I’ll put it on Darrell’s tab and pay him back, or tell him who it was for and he’ll allow it.
We head to the salon next to get our hair and nails done. We take Michelle with us, and even though Lydia says she can only have clear polish, my sister talks the lady into putting a bit of sparkle on her nails. We’re horrible influences on them.