All Mine Read online

  Carrie

  Once Reid and I have Nikki home, we spend a good amount of time trying to properly introduce her to Kesha. To our surprise, this isn’t a difficult process. They sniff noses and butts and it’s not long before they’re snuggled on the floor together. It’s really incredible and easy when the internet had promised a different scenario.

  It’s hours later when we lay in the bed with Nikki and Kesha snuggled in the chair by the window. “I didn’t know that you stayed in touch with her parents,” I say, speaking my thoughts into the shadows of the dark room.

  His hand settles between my shoulder blades. “I did more than stay in touch. I took care of them.”

  I lean up on an elbow. “You mean money?”

  “Yes, money. Money isn’t the answer to how to be there for people, but it was the only way I had to help them.”

  “Did you see them after the funeral?”

  “When her father was in the hospital dying,” he says. “I was there for her mother.”

  I lean in and press my lips to his. “You’re incredible.”

  He rolls me to my back. “I was every shade of asshole possible, baby. Don’t make me some hero. I wasn’t. I’m not.”

  “You’re my hero.” I trace his jaw.

  He cups my hand and kisses it. “I promise you, baby, I will try to live up to that statement every day of the rest of our lives.” He kisses me, his tongue stroking deep, his hips settling between my legs, and then suddenly Nikki is licking our faces.

  Reid groans and rolls to his back. “You wanted a dog.”

  I laugh. “So did you. We’ll teach her no loving while we’re loving.”

  He laughs and groans, his hand taking mine and wrapping it around his shaft. “Yes. We will.” He pulls me up and over to the bed, laying us both down side by side, as he yanks the blanket over our heads. “I’m fucking you and Nikki can’t stop me.”

  I laugh as he pulls my leg to his hip and presses inside me, driving into me and the bed around us is moving in all kinds of ways while Nikki barks. Reid is not dissuaded. He thrusts into me, his hand cupping my backside and pulling me into every pump and grind, his mouth closing down on mine, his hand on my breast. Apparently, barking isn’t a problem for us, because, in a rush of fast passion, we’re quaking and collapsing into each other as Reid yanks the blanket off of our heads and gets a dog lick on his forehead as a reward. We are laughing as he carries me to the bathroom and I have a moment when I think about how bad today was and how bad I thought tonight would be emotionally for Reid.

  But it’s not.

  Because we’re so good.

  ***

  I wake on my back with Reid’s leg between my legs, a cat on my arm and a dog at my feet. I smile. My God, how life has changed. I was living in my little apartment, so completely alone, and now, there is this. So much of this. “We’ve been attacked by a zoo,” Reid murmurs.

  I laugh. “Yes, we have.”

  Nikki starts barking. “She wants to go out, doesn’t she?” he asks.

  “Yes, she does.”

  Like the good man he’s proven he is, he rolls off of the bed, scrubs a hand through all that sexy blond hair and pulls on sweats. When he’s dressed and he and Nikki are gone, I think again about his “daughter” comment. He’d be a good dad. He’d be such a good dad.

  ***

  I’ve just dressed in a blue suit and finalized my look for the day when Smith arrives to drive me to pick up Cat at her apartment. She climbs into the backseat of the SUV and settles her hand on her belly over her pink dress. “I grew like ten sizes overnight,” she declares.

  “Okay, you’re tiny and so is your baby bump, but ‘baby’ is the key word.”

  “There must be two babies with the way this kid kicks. I’m talking to the doctor. She’s wrong. It’s two babies.”

  We laugh and talk as Smith pulls us onto the road and once we’re moving, Cat’s mood shifts. “How is he?”

  Of course, she means Reid. “He’s actually really good. I think the fact that he’d already told all of us really mattered. And furry babies tend to heal. We picked up our dog last night.” I tell her all about our new family and we laugh to the point of tears.

  “Reid with a dog and a cat. Pretty soon you’ll shock me with a baby.”

  “We said we didn’t want kids, but he’d be an amazing father.”

  Cat’s eyes warm. “And my mother would be so very happy right now.” She hugs me. “Thank you, Carrie, for loving him. You gave him back to me.” I tear up and I have a brief moment of thinking of my mother that I shove aside. She won’t be at my wedding and why would I want her to be? She hasn’t even been in my life. But my father will be. I need to call him and I know despite everything that has happened, he really will be happy for me. I believe he and Reid will eventually make true peace. Reid’s father is another story.

  I pull back from the hug and look at Cat. “He’s going to feel the loss of your mother at the wedding. I wish there was some way to honor her. Do you have any ideas?”

  “Actually she left a letter for Reid and Gabe for their wedding days. And don’t worry, it’ll be special and perfect because our mother would never do anything but make a special day more special and perfect.”

  I start to cry. Cat then starts to cry. Happy-sad tears that are all about a new day and a new life, complete with marriage and babies.

  ***

  Mia turns out to be a stunning brunette who is as sweet as can be when she greets us just inside the shop and hugs us like old friends. “I’m so excited for you and me. Grayson and I are taking the plunge in March.”

  We chat about her lighthouse beach location for her wedding and then our location. “Have you seen the actual location?” Mia asks as we’re all handed mimosas, or rather me and Mia are. Cat toasts us with orange juice.

  “I haven’t,” I say. “But it’s overlooking the tree and skating rink, which is perfection.”

  “Oh well, I can take you after this,” she offers. “I just settled the case I was on, so I’m free for a few days. It’s a perfect location with a wall of windows.”

  “Thank you, Mia,” I say. “And I owe Grayson a huge thank you as well.”

  “He’s happy to do it. He’s told me all about the event center deal. It’s incredible. We’re going to go see it while we’re on our honeymoon.” She motions us forward, through rows of gowns that have my stomach fluttering with excitement, and toward a lounge area.

  We all sit down, with about a half dozen standing mirrors surrounding us. A pretty woman named Jessica, that I guess to be around forty, greets us. We chat a few minutes and then she gets right to it. “Before Elaine comes to meet you and talk about your custom gown, I want to get some idea of what you like. Therefore, I have samples for you to try on.” She motions toward a room and I stand up, ridiculously nervous. Cat and Mia clap. “This is so fun!” Mia exclaims. “I’m so excited to be a part of this.”

  “Me too!” Cat adds. “This is amazing. I can’t believe you made this happen for her.”

  My gaze means to turn to them, but it catches on a dress hanging to my right. My eyes go wide and butterflies erupt in my belly. It’s full length with incredible, sheer long sleeves that match a sheer, flared bottom with a deep V-neck, but what I find stunning is the nude finish and delicate flowers all down the front. It’s like a fairytale dress. Mia steps to my side. “It’s an incredible dress. Do you want to try it on?”

  “No. I want that dress. That is my dress. I have to have that dress.” I walk toward it and run my hand down the front before I turn to look at everyone. “I know Elaine was going to custom-make a dress, but this dress, this is my dress. Please say it can be my dress.”

  We all look at Jessica, who says, “Of course, this can be your dress. You’re the bride.”

  I start smiling. I don’t know if I am ever going to stop smiling.

  I have my dress.

  CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

  Carrie

  I’m i
n love with my dress, so very in love. The greatest part is that I’m even more in love with it once I put it on. The store has to make a few alterations but it’s perfection. I’m wearing it, standing in front of a three-way mirror, when I look at the thirty-thousand-dollar price tag. I have a moment of panic and Mia must notice because she’s instantly by my side. “How much money did you make on the event center deal with Grayson?”

  “A lot of money.”

  Her blue eyes light. “An insane amount of money?”

  “Yes.”

  “How many times larger than that price tag?”

  “A lot.”

  “And how many times are you getting married?”

  “Once,” I say, and start to tear up.

  “I’d tell you no tears, but I bawled when I tried my dress on last month. Grayson and I were—” She looks away and then back at me. “We broke up for all the wrong reasons and I didn’t think I’d ever really wear my dress.”

  “All right. You’ve convinced me. I’ll pay the insane amount of money this dress costs and—” I motion to my cleavage. “I’m not taming it. Not when I know how Reid will react.”

  She smiles huge. “Atta girl.”

  “That dress,” Cat says, joining us, “will make you end up like this.” She points at her belly.

  “I can’t wait to be just like that,” Mia says. “Grayson and I really want a family and our year apart put us behind. Grayson’s thirty-eight. We have to get busy.”

  I inhale and let it out. “Reid’s thirty-eight.” My eyes meet Cat’s and understanding fills her eyes.

  “You have time,” she says. “If you wait two years, you’ll still be in your early thirties and he’ll be forty. That’s perfect really.”

  “We don’t want kids,” I say, turning away from her, but I don’t believe those words anymore. I want kids, his kids. I think he might, too. I have to talk to Reid about this before we get married. No. That’s silly. I am happy with Reid. I’m not going to make him feel it’s me and kids or no me at all. One day when the time is right we’ll have a baby or we won’t.

  “I love him,” I whisper and when Cat steps to my side and our eyes meet in the mirror I add, “With all my heart.”

  “As he loves you. I see it in his eyes, the love I never thought I’d see in him.”

  “Grayson just sent me a text,” Mia announces. “The property manager is on site now if you want to go see the wedding venue.”

  “Yes. Please. I’m dying to see it.”

  “And then we can go to lunch and plan the wedding details,” Cat says. “We have so much to set up.”

  “I can help,” Mia says. “I know I’m new to you two, but I’d love to be a part of the planning. It is fast and because of Grayson, I can pull a lot of strings.”

  “You’re amazing, Mia,” I say.

  “Yes,” Cat agrees. “You are.”

  ***

  Reid

  I don’t hurry to get to work or to get on with the day.

  I take a long jog in the cold with Nikki. I haven’t had a dog as a jogging partner in decades, and I enjoy it. Even more so when a group of reporters corners us and Nikki hams it up and steals the show. She’s a sweetheart of a dog, and as smooth as silk, just like her new mama. Once we’re home, I treat Nikki to some bacon for making me look good while Kesha stares at me like I’m a crazy person, which has me laughing. Carrie’s right. I didn’t laugh much, but I have a feeling that’s now remedied for life.

  I shower and dress in a gray pinstriped suit, with a light blue tie to match the stripe, planning to head to the office. I’m about to walk out of the door when Grayson calls. “The building management needs you to drop by and sign paperwork for the wedding, sooner than later.”

  “I’m on my way to the office now. I can swing by beforehand.”

  “Perfect. I take it Carrie’s pleased?”

  “About this and the dress, man. I owe you big on this.”

  “You already made me a small fortune,” Grayson says. “You two are good together. Mia and I are happy to help. Also, please consider this as an invite to our wedding in March.”

  “Consider this your invite to ours as well. I’m not sure how we’re handling invitations, this is moving so fast, but she wanted Rockefeller Center at Christmas and I’m not waiting a year to make her my wife.”

  “Afraid she’ll figure out you’re an asshole?” he jokes.

  “No. I’m damn glad she loves me anyway.”

  We disconnect and I dial Gabe. “In case I haven’t told you. We’re getting married on the twenty-seventh.”

  “As in this month?”

  “That’s right. You need a tux. You’re my best man. I’m going to sign the paperwork on the location.”

  “Damn, man, you afraid she’s going to back out if you don’t rush this?”

  “Hell yeah, I am,” I joke. “And I’m not letting that happen. I’ll be to the office as soon as I finish up.”

  “You inviting dad?”

  “Not a chance in hell,” I say, having made the decision during my run. “I’ve got too much good going on to fuck it up with him in the room.”

  “And her father?”

  “She needs him here. He’s all she has except us.”

  “Right. Because her mother ran off after fucking our father.” It’s a story I told him not long after I found out. “It’s probably not a good idea to have our father and hers at the wedding for that reason alone,” he adds. “It’s going to remind Carrie of what took place.”

  “Unlike her father, Carrie blames her mother for her mother’s actions. My reasons for not wanting dad there are about him alone. Now, mom. Mom, I wish like hell could be here.”

  “Me too, man. Me too. Where’s the wedding venue? I’ll meet you for lunch. We need to catch up on a few things and the office is suffocating me.”

  I give him the address and a few minutes later, I’m on the subway, the fastest method of travel to my destination. The ride is short, and even shorter, considering I spend it thinking about Carrie. I don’t think about that press story. I think of her. I’m not beyond understanding the impact of this woman on my life. Hell, I know all too well, which is why I’m marrying and keeping her forever. Nothing is going to get in the way of making this woman my wife.

  I reach the street level and find a photo from Carrie waiting on me of the Rockefeller Center tree, which must mean she’s finished shopping for a dress and beaten me here. Eager to find out how she feels about her dress and the location, I cross the street and I’m about to turn into the rink area when suddenly Tabitha is standing in front of me.

  “You bastard. Do you know what you did to me?” She grabs my jacket. “Do you know?” She swings at me and I catch her hand and turn her against the building wall, looking for a security guard. What I find is Carrie standing a few feet away, staring at me, holding Tabitha against a fucking wall.

  CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

  Reid

  I hold Tabitha against the wall of the building off the ice rink by the lapels of her coat as my eyes hold Carrie’s, and I can’t breathe waiting for her to react. “Asshole!” Tabitha shouts and kicks me in the shin.

  I grimace and look at her. “You are insane, woman,” I say, and my only pleasure in the pain she created is that Carrie has to know this wasn’t what it looked like.

  She kicks me again and Carrie is suddenly beside us. “Reid,” she says urgently. “Let her go.”

  “She attacked me, baby. Get a security guard.”

  “He’s lying,” Tabitha says. “He asked me to meet him here.”

  “What?!” Carrie demands. “He asked you to meet him for a tour of our wedding location? You’re kidding, right?”

  Tabitha goes pale. “Wedding location?”

  “Yes,” Carrie says. “This is our wedding location. I highly doubt anyone would believe he had you meet him here.” She looks at me. “I’ll get security.”

  “I’ll tell them you threatened me,” Tabitha snaps. �
�And I don’t think you want that right now with all that press you have, Reid. It’s not going to please your stockholders.”

  I tighten my grip on her shoulders. “What do you want, Tabitha?”

  “Money. He’s taking my money so you get to pay me.”

  “Money,” Carrie repeat. “You’re really blackmailing us?”

  “How much?” I ask, baiting her to finish the threat. I have a witness in Carrie.

  “A million,” she says fearlessly. “That will get me started.”

  Carrie holds up her phone and hits a button and the conversation we just had with Tabitha begins to replay.

  “Let her go.”

  I look left to find Elijah standing there in a three-piece blue suit, no coat, his dark hair fluttering in the cold wind. “You sure you want me to do that? She might kick you like she did me.”

  His eyes meet Tabitha’s. “She doesn’t seem to understand that you won’t ever give her money, while I might.”

  At the mention of his money, I’m certain I’m safe to release her and I do. I step back and Carrie is instantly at my side, her arms around me, one of mine around her shoulders. Elijah grabs Tabitha and pulls her to him, his eyes meeting mine. “She won’t be a problem.” He looks at Carrie. “Forgive the intrusion, Carrie.” He gives her a nod and turns Tabitha toward the sidewalk.

  I pull Carrie in front of me to process the white hat with a ball on top of her head. “Are you okay?” I ask, stroking a strand of hair from her mouth.

  “Of course I’m okay. I didn’t get kicked. How’s the leg?”

  “She’s a bitch and she kicks like a bitch. He’ll take care of her. She won’t be back.”

  “Elijah the hero,” she says. “Who’d have thought?” She grabs the lapels of my trench coat. “You ready to see our spot?”

  “That’s it? You have nothing else to say about what just happened?”

  “I’m over them and immune to the drama. Our spot. I want to go to our wedding spot and think about us.”

  God how this woman makes me fall in love with her over and over and over again. “Our spot,” I say. “Yes. Let’s go to our spot, baby.” I wrap my arm around her shoulder and we start walking. “What happened to Mia and Cat?”