Blended (Redemption #1) (53 page)

The ballroom is filled with attendees occupying the space and providing a loud, yet comfortable vibe for the evening. Hadley has been gone for thirty minutes now, and I cannot find her. I walk up the stairs to the interior terrace level of the ballroom where I’m greeted by more people, including Lola, Owen, and of course Holden—
the motherfucker.

“Waylon Brass,” Lola says and offers her hand to me. I shake it and then Owen’s—intentionally ignoring Holden.

“I’m glad to see that you were able to make it, Lola.”

“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. Where’s Hads? I cannot wait to see what she looks like.”

I glance over my shoulder when I hear Adriana call out my name. “Mr. Brass? Your fiancée is wanting to do you!”

Jesus.
I don’t know Adriana outside of work, but it’s becoming apparent that she may be a handful; however, I know that Liam is to blame for her behavior as of late. He’s been throwing her off with having Isla on the side.

I watch as a few people turn her way before I turn back to Lola. “Excuse me for a moment.” I straighten my bowtie and walk toward Adriana. A couple of my guests watch me until I reach her.

“Adriana. I’d prefer if you didn’t announce that in public. Where is she?”

She giggles and stretches her arms out, welcoming me with a big hug. “She told me that she was going to go look for you downstairs.”

It’s now that I notice her eyes are rimmed in red and that she’s obviously been crying. “Thank you. If you need to retire to one of the private rooms in the lobby, then please, help yourself.”

She sighs and looks down at her feet. “I apologize, Mr. Brass.”

“I understand. Go get yourself together.”

“Thank you, sir,” she says as she walks off, trying not to trip over her evening gown. I glance back at Lola, who is now standing next to my whiskey girl. The smile that awakens on my face is one that I’ve stopped attempting to hide. I cross the space between us and pull her back into my front. I lean down and speak quietly into her ear. “I’d like to get you as drunk as Miss Hugh and then fuck that beautiful mouth of yours.”

She gasps loudly and laces her fingers with mine that I have splayed over her stomach. “I’d like that.”

“Good. Finish your drink and I’ll order you another. What would you like?”

I watch her purse her lips before turning to face me. “A Manhattan, please.”

I place my lips on hers quickly, and she pouts when I pull away to speak to a waiter that I signaled over. “Another 64-Year and a Manhattan with Old Potrero.”

“Yes, sir.” He walks away, and I turn back to the group in front of me.

“Waylon Brass, that man has been at your beck and call all evening. Is he your personal wait staff?” Hadley asks, and it makes the others laugh along with her.

“He is.” I take her hand in mine again and intertwine my fingers with hers as a couple of other people walk up to us. I introduce Hadley to a few of them before our drinks are brought to us. I hand her the Manhattan and take a drink from my tumbler.

She looks up at me and grins, mouthing, “I love you.”

I wink at her before speaking. “Lola?”

Lola turns toward me, smiling brightly. “Yes?”

“On Monday morning, please call into Brass Global and arrange a time you are able to meet with Hadley and me. My secretary, Adriana Hugh, will make the appointment with you.”

“Of course. Is everything okay?”

“Yes, I wanted to make you an offer that I doubt you’ll refuse. I’d like to help you grow Lola Marc and put your designs all over the world.” I give her a straightforward answer.

“Oh, that sounds . . . holy crap. Of course, I’ll be there.” Hadley and Lola exchange a look that I don’t understand, but I know that it’s a positive one.

I glance down at the watch that Hadley gave me for Christmas, and the face reads eleven-thirty. This evening has passed quickly while I mingled with hundreds of people. Once we ring in the New Year, the party will kick off with a live band. I tug on Hadley’s hand, drawing her attention to me rather than Owen. She seems a little giddy and I realize that we haven’t exactly eaten today with all the fucking we’ve been doing.

“You need to eat, Rye.”

“Oh? I know of something that you could eat.” She turns into me and places her hand on my chest. I’m sure she can feel my heart accelerate at her touch. I nod once and excuse us from the group before leading her down to the main floor and across the ballroom, to a darkened corner behind an alcove. “That Manhattan was potent, Mr. Fancy-ass.”

“Fancy-ass? You’ve called me that more than a handful of times.”

“Yup. You know, you’re wealthy beyond belief, and you live a fancy life.”

She’s more than buzzed, and I’m rather enjoying her loose mouth. “You’ll be Mrs. Fancy-ass soon, Rye.”

She squeals and launches herself at me and pushes her fingers through my hair as her lips land on mine. She whimpers against my lips as I run my hands up her legs, underneath her dress, the feeling of her skin under my palms causing my cock to jump. I push her gown up as I move my hand higher to her thighs and then her hips until I’ve gathered the dress around her waist. I pull my mouth from hers. “We need to behave.”

Her gorgeous nipples harden with need. I kiss down the column of her neck to her collarbone and further down to her.

“Wade . . .”

“I know, Rye, but we need to get back to our guests.”

She shakes her head and grunts as I kiss each side of her collarbone before pushing myself off of her.

“Please?”

“Baby, you won’t be able to walk for a day if I fuck you right now. Come have a drink with me, give me that New Year’s kiss, and then I’ll fuck you until you are unable to breathe.”

“Do you swear it?”

“You have my heart, my word, and my ring.”

“Fuck,” she shouts, and I glance down at her, thinking that she’s hurt herself.

“What is it?”

“I just love you,” she says with a laugh, and a radiant, tipsy smile.

I cannot stop my own smile. “As I do you.”

My watch shows that it’s fifteen minutes until midnight, and I take her hand, leading her to one of the roped-off windows in the ballroom. Once we’re immersed in the crowd of people again, I grab her a glass of champagne, and we make our way to our designated spot, ensuring that we’ll have the best views this evening. My mother is usually present at this event as well. However, she decided to instead stay at Mothers of Brass and assist with their small New Year’s Eve celebration this year.

I wrap my arms around her from behind. “Are you okay?”

“Perfect,” she says as she takes a drink and leans her head back against my chest. I kiss the back of her head, and her body sags against mine.

“Drink up, fancy-ass. I’ll get you another glass for cheers before the clock hits midnight.”

“Thank you,” she says softly. “Wade?”

“What is it?”

“This year has been life changing, and this next year . . . it’s just the start of us.”

My arms tighten around her waist as she says those words. They hit me with force in the center of my chest. “Are you ready for all of it?”

She glances at me over her shoulder after she finishes the glass off. “More than ever.”

“Good because I’m not going backward again. Not when it comes to us.”

“I wouldn’t want you to. You’re my life.”

The waiter comes by with two champagne flutes. I take them and hand one to her. “To my bride.”

“To my groom,” she counters.

I take her mouth, plunging my tongue between her lips until mine is dancing with hers. Liam clears his throat, which ignites fire in my gut. This fucker will get exactly what’s coming to him.

Pulling away from my fiancée, I look over at him, pissed that he interrupted something remarkable between the two of us.

“Fuck off.”

He chuckles and lays his hand on my shoulder. Isla is next to him, but Adriana is nowhere in sight. “Two minutes, dude. Are you ready for this next step?” He nods toward Hadley and smirks.

“More than you know.”

“Sweet. I get to be your best man, right? A strip club and a couple of whores will do for your bachelor party.”

“I mean it; fuck off.”

Hadley pulls on my bowtie to undo it. I look away from Liam as he draws Isla close and instead focuses on what she’s doing.

Hadley gets my bowtie off from around my neck and pushes it into my slacks front pocket, resting her hand against my shaft for a moment before removing it.

The ten-second countdown starts, and I can’t keep my eyes off of the woman in front of me. She fought this high-frequency love as if it wasn’t supposed to be, but she’s here now, right in front of me. Engaged to me . . . promising me her future.

“Happy New Year” rings out through the vast space as the band starts the music, and the fireworks start to go off just beyond the pier. The noise should distract me, or draw my attention elsewhere, but all that I’m able to see is her. I take her mouth with mine as if I’m dying of thirst and she’s the only thing that will be able to quench it. She undoes the top button of my shirt before circling her arms around my neck and pressing her entire body against mine.

She’s brought tranquility to my world.

She’s my reason.

My reason for existing.

She comes first. Always.

The early morning sunlight streams into our hotel room a few hours later: January first. After an hour of celebrating, the alcohol went to Hadley’s head and she was struggling to stand in her heels. We stole away to our hotel while the party was in full swing. I ravaged her while she spilled over with drunken giggles, which morphed into delirious cries of pleasure. She squirms beside me, reaching for me in her sleep; once she’s reassured that I’m still beside her, I reach over and grab my phone to answer a couple of emails.

I type out one in specific that I know Hadley will enjoy when I let her in on my surprise. Adriana has been helping me plan our honeymoon, and I’ve just confirmed all of the details. She’ll get back to me on Monday, and let me know that all of the reservations have been made.

Aside from the copious amount of alcohol we consumed last night, she drunkenly assured me that she was giving up her position as a phone-sex operator. We spoke about what she wanted to do because I know that she will refuse any suggestions of her not working. She mentioned that she’d possibly like to go back to school and get a degree in psychology in order to help others in need. I told her that she’d be welcome to work with Mothers of Brass, and at my suggestion, her eyes lit up and she told me that she would love nothing more than to be involved with that venture in Brass Global.

I get out of bed and get dressed before walking out into the suite’s living room to call my mother.

“Happy New Year, Waylon,” she says when she answers.

“To you as well, Mother. How was your evening?”

“I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I believe that all the women did as well. Thank you for allowing me to host the first one, dear. It meant a lot to me.”

“You’re welcome. I’m sure that we will host it next year as well. Hadley and I would like to attend it as she’s taken a liking to the charity.”

“She has? Well, I’d love to have that sweet girl help out if she’d like to.”

“She’s rather interested in getting involved and helping the women through their troubles. I think that it’s a remarkable idea.”

“Will you tell her to give me a call, please?”

“I will, Mother. I think that she enjoys helping those in need, and she’ll enjoy spending the time with you,” I tell her as I take a seat on one of the wingbacks and place an online room service order for breakfast on an iPad in the room.

“Now tell me, Waylon, what are you doing with regard to your wedding? I haven’t heard much about it other than the date the two of you chose. That’s only twenty-eight days away.”

“It’s one of the reasons why I’m calling you. I was considering the house that your great-great-grandfather owned in Scotland. I believe you called it the Ardunan House?”

“That would be incredible. I think that it’s now named the Strathblane Country House. I believe that they have very recently remodeled it as well. Let me get into contact with them right now and find out if they have an opening, and I’m confident that they will accommodate us.”