Being Zolt (10 page)

Sobs wracked Irelyn’s body, and I held her tight as I could without hurting her. If I was being truthful, I kind of wanted to cry, too. Chris had orchestrated our reunion not having a clue what Irelyn and the memory of that day had meant to me. He’d brought me to the woman I was going to marry. For that, I’d always be grateful.

“Okay, I need to wrap this up. I need you to do something for me. Get in the Mustang and take her for a long, fast drive.”

Again, Chris leaned forward. This time he stared hard into the camera as if he were trying to impart something important. “Turn on the stereo, play our song and think of me. I love you, Irelyn; more than you know. I hope you find happiness in whatever you do and whoever you do it with.”

Chris tapped the keyboard and the screen went blank. I memorized Chris’s instruction about playing their song. It meant something and in Irelyn’s state, she might have missed the reference.

I shut the laptop, and we sat in silence with my arms around the woman I loved. While she cried, I did my best to soothe her. If the roles had been reversed, and it would have been Brody’s message, I doubt I could have kept it together. I’d get baked and go find a woman to fuck until I forgot all about watching a video of my dead brother talking to me from the grave.

But Irelyn wasn’t me, thank God.

She stopped crying, dried her face, and then she stood and faced me. Even with her tear-stained face, she was impossibly beautiful, and I was madly, and irrevocably, in love with her.

“God, Zolt, I’m so angry with him. I mean he was running a sex club from our grandpa’s home. Why would he do that?”

“I don’t know, baby. I’ll admit it doesn’t make sense.” I was at a loss. I didn’t know what to say that would make any of this better.

She straightened her back and stood tall, and resolve lit her eyes. “Regardless of what he did, Chris wanted us together, and I want that, too. Let’s go to Vegas, Zolt. Marry me tonight. Just you and me.”

“Irelyn?” I said questioningly, taken back by her sudden change in demeanor. “Are you sure that’s what you want?”

“Yes, Zolt. I’m absolutely sure. Look at what Chris sacrificed for us. We owe this to him. Waiting a year or more so we can have a big-ass, stupid society wedding is fucked-up, given everything. And there is no way I’m going to let my father walk me down the aisle. I don’t want him anywhere near us, ever. Even if he did defy Marcus and finished what Chris started, it’s not enough.”

I pulled Irelyn to me and kissed her with all I had. Fuck, the thought that we’d go to bed tonight married blew me away.

“Baby, are you sure? What about Rach, Cory, and Brody? Don’t you want them there?” I didn’t want to discourage her, but I needed to make absolute certain.

“I love them, I do. But I love you more. I want to give this to Chris, but more than that, I want to give this to us. We deserve this. After everything Marcus has done to ruin us, he’s failed. I want to celebrate by starting our lives together sooner rather than later.”

“All right.” Smiling, I cupped her face and kissed her incredibly soft lips. “Let’s go to Vegas.”

As soon as we decided to go to Las Vegas and elope, everything seemed to fall into place, and I had to wonder if Chris blessed us from beyond. We found a lovely resort near Las Vegas that was on a lake and had a beautiful garden venue for secluded wedding ceremonies. Since the flight only took an hour, we’d set the ceremony time for sunset. It was going to be amazing and I couldn’t wait.

T-bone arranged for us to have a private jet. He and Zolt decided it was best for T to book the jet in case Marcus spied on us; we didn’t need him ruining our plans. But just in case, we’d be traveling with two bodyguards.

Anna went through my mom’s jewelry and found the antique diamond-and-seed-pearl comb that had belonged to my grandmother Mary. Then, I called Beth, my mother’s personal shopper, and had her bring me some dresses suitable for the wedding. I picked a short, lace dress with fancy cap sleeves, sweetheart bodice, and a lace keyhole opening. Along with the dress, I had Beth bring sexy new white-and-blue lace—my something blue—Agent Provocateur panties and garter belt with silk stockings. I also had my beauty salon send over someone to give me a Brazilian waxing. It hurt like a bitch, but I wanted to give Zolt a little wedding-night gift. Just thinking about him taking off my dress almost excited me more than marrying him. Almost.

“Are you ready to go?” Zolt asked, leaning on the doorway of his—soon to be our—bedroom.

“I am. Are you?” I licked my lips. He looked good enough to eat in his black slacks that hung perfectly on his hips and an Armani Collezioni, blue button-up shirt that made his crystalline-blues sparkle. Or maybe it was me who made them sparkle?

He nodded as he walked toward me. “And you’re still sure you want it to be just us?

“Yes. I’m sure.”

Zolt ran his hands through my hair, making me shiver. His eyes darkened, and I could tell he had something to tell me.

“What?”

“I’ve been thinking about the video. I think Chris left us a clue. I don’t think he simply wanted you to remember him by driving his car. What was yours and Chris’s favorite song?”

“Cabo Wabo. Why?” I asked, arching a brow.

“My sixth sense is telling me there is something there. He did leave the video in the OU812 file folder. I told T-bone about it. He’s going to check out all the Van Halen files in the Mustang’s stereo.”

“I don’t understand.” I picked some lint from my black, tuxedo-inspired jumpsuit.

“I just have a feeling, is all? It can’t hurt to have T and his guys go through it. I promise the Mustang will be returned in pristine condition.” Zolt kissed my nose. “You look amazingly hot in that, by the way. Too bad the flight is so short; I’d love to introduce you to the mile-high club.”

I smiled at him wickedly. “Oh no, Mr. Hamil. No sex until you’ve made an honest woman of me.”

The doorbell rang, saving me from Zolt’s advances. I was pretty sure he was about to test my resolve.

“That’s probably the guy from Kavanagh’s with my wedding band. I told him to have the Irish jeweler make a band that matches your engagement ring, but we won’t have that for at least a month.”

“Well done,” I said patting him on the back. “I didn’t even see you cringe when you said wedding band.”

“I’m ready for this, Irelyn.” He kissed me sweetly. “I have no nerves about this at all.”

“Me either.” But I did have concerns about one thing, and I didn’t know how to bring it up. Instead of saying anything, I started gnawing on the side of my thumb.

“What?” The corner of his eyes tightened with concern.

“What about your medical marijuana? You can’t travel to Vegas with it.” I sucked in a breath and hoped he’d see the question as one of concern and not condemnation.

“T has arranged for it. The driver will have some waiting. It’s nothing for you to worry about.”

“Okay. I just want you to have what you need.” I gave him a small smile.

“I have everything I need, baby.” Zolt pulled me into him, and his mouth descended on mine. He kissed me until we both panted for air. “I better go see who’s at the door.”

I nodded, smiling as he left the room. Just a few weeks ago, I felt terrified at the thought of marriage, knowing that the proposal would come from a man I couldn’t stand. It didn’t matter to me that our wedding would be small, not the grand affair Rach and I had always fantasized about. With all the changes in my family, and with Dad’s involvement with Marcus, the sordid details would come out, along with the snubs and finger pointing.

Yes, it was selfish of me to do it this way. Rachel and Cory, not to mention my parents, were going to be pissed we’d eloped. But as I glanced over at Zolt and saw him wearing the same large grin as me, I knew I’d made the right decision.

We drank champagne on the plane to Vegas and enjoyed our time alone.

“Hey, Zolt,” I said after I finished my second glass.

“Hey, Irelyn.” He winked at me, and I felt my insides turn to mush.

“Will you tell me about your mother?”

“My mom? Sure. What do you want to know?” He turned his chair to face me.

“You never talk about her. I’m just curious,” I said tentatively. I didn’t want to pry, but then we were getting married…

“Neither Brody nor I have spoken to her in years.” He ran his finger up and down the stem of his flute.

“Why?”

“Well,” he said, dragging his gaze to mine. “She married a man we both couldn’t stand. A man who used her for the money she’d received when our Dad died.”

“Oh.” I didn’t know what else to say.

“After our dad died, Mom went crazy. She started dating all kinds of losers.”

“He died in a car accident, right?” I remembered reading that in one of the articles about Zolt when he played football.

“Yeah. The weather was rainy and wet, and he lost control of the car and ran into a tree. I was nineteen and in my first year of college.” Pain flashed in his eyes and he glanced down and to the right. “She was out-of-control, partying night after night, drinking too much. Grief had consumed her—I can see that now. But then she married Henry.”

“I’m sorry, Zolt.” I grabbed his hand, wondering if this was why he’d been reluctant to have a relationship before. “I didn’t mean to open up a sore subject. I just wanted to know.”

“No, Irelyn. It’s fine. You should know about my family. I just haven’t thought about her in a while. Last time I talked with her, she was wasted. She and Henry had partied their way through the money from Dad’s estate. After I had signed with the NFL, I gave her twenty thousand and told her not to call me again until she got sober and divorced the idiot. She hasn’t called and Brody hasn’t talked with her, either, as far as I know.”

“Were your parents happy before that?” I climbed into his lap and rested my head on his shoulder.

“They were. At least, I think so. They were very affectionate with each other and with us. I mean, they fought like all married couples do, but they always made up, and they never went to bed angry. Ugh!” Zolt rolled his eyes. “I can remember hearing them have sex. Seriously, no one wants to hear their parents getting busy. Major Ick factor.”

“Ha! I know, right? I’ve heard my parents on more than one occasion. Chris and I used to laugh about it. That stopped after he died. Everything stopped after his death. I can’t believe my dad may have screwed around on Mom.” Closing my eyes, I clutched at Zolt’s shirt.

“I think it’s more likely than not, I’m afraid.” He rested his chin on my head and sighed.

I pushed back so I could meet his gaze with mine. “Promise if you ever feel attracted to someone enough to sleep with them, you’ll tell me?”

“Irelyn,” he said and caressed my cheek. “That won’t happen. I’ll never betray you like that. Ever.”

“I believe you. But we can’t know what’s in store for us or the people who might come into our lives. Hell, I could get fat and hairy, and you might not want to have sex with me anymore.”

“So could I. Maybe you won’t want to have sex me anymore, either.”

We stared at each other for a minute then started laughing. I felt confident that neither of us would let ourselves go, but you never knew.

“I’m always going to love and adore you, Zolt. If I’m ever in the position of wanting to be with someone else, I promise to tell you.”

“Me too. But it won’t happen, baby. You’re it for me, for the rest of my life.”

Three hours later, Zolt and I were in the garden overlooking a lake in Summerlin, Nevada, ready to make good on what we’d just discussed. The setting sun burned the sky with colorful, dusky hues of yellows, reds, purples, and blues.

It was beautiful, and I couldn’t think of a lovelier place for our simple wedding.

The two bodyguards acted as our witnesses, and one of them held my phone, recording the ceremony. Zolt and I decided we’d send the video to Rachel, Cory, and Brody, announcing our marriage; then, we’d brace ourselves for the pissed-off calls that would undoubtedly come. I hadn’t decided how I’d tell my parents. I couldn’t forgive my dad now that Chris had told me about what he’d done. Mom didn’t deserve to be hurt, but I didn’t want her talking me out of this, either.

I pushed all those depressing thoughts from my mind and concentrated on the gorgeous man standing under the floral-and-vine covered arch, wearing a black Gucci suit tailored to perfection. I licked my lips as I flashed on later, when I would divest him of his suit and have my way with him.

My husband.

Whoa!

Maybe he’d tie me up with his black tie. The thought almost had me stopping in my progression toward Zolt to press my thighs together. I needed to focus on why we were here. But he looked so good with his wavy, brown hair curling up just above his collar that I found it hard to concentrate. Later, I’d make sure to run my hands through it, tug on it….

Zolt’s smoldering gaze caught mine as I approached, and I wondered if we were thinking along the same lines. My heart sped up in anticipation of everything we were about to take part in.

When I finally reached him, Zolt took my hand and kissed each one of my knuckles. I quivered at the feel of his lips on my skin, and I paused, telling myself to stay in the moment. For six years, I’d fantasized about Zolt being in my life. Never did I dream it would be like this; that I’d be his wife and we’d start building a life together. Even with all the shit surrounding us, for one perfect moment, I was blissfully happy.