Conklin's Corruption (#3) (Conklin's Trilogy) (28 page)

I nodded my head, smiling, wiping my eye with a tissue that was conveniently placed in the dressing room.

My mom smiled back at me then turned me to go back outside.  “You are going to make the most beautiful bride.  Don’t tell your sister I said that though,” she whispered in my ear. I could sense her smile.  My grin was wide when I saw the three concerned faces that were very close to the curtain.  No doubt they had overheard some of our conversation, but I didn’t care.  I looked to Acra and nodded my head rapidly, my smile almost hurting my cheeks from being so big.

“This is the one,” I said confidently.

Chapter 16

Tyler

“Let’s start measuring, gentlemen,” Rocco, the tailor for Oxford suits, said while holding his piece of measuring tape. This wasn’t anything new to me. Nathan would always drag me to places like this to get fitted for the finest suits.  I couldn’t care less, but for the wedding I was being a little more tolerable.  I wanted to look my best for my Becs.

I had done well the past few weeks.  I hadn’t had any major panic attacks, and they only seemed to happen when I thought about RJ and my grandfather.  I had almost pushed the feeling away, and I was sure by the time Becca and I were going to escape for a few days, it would be gone completely.

“Thanks for meeting us with some of your collection at the office, Rocco,” Nathan said as he stretched his arms out.  We had a few meetings this morning, and Ray, Max, Michael, and Mitch all met us afterwards to be fitted.

“How much purple do we have to wear?” Mitch asked.

“More than me,” Ray said.  “The joys of being an usher.”

“I’m sure you’ll get to wear a pretty flower though,” Max said, patting Ray's shoulder.  Ray looked backwards and gave him a stiff smile.  “But this little guy is going to steal the show anyway,” Max added as he knelt down to Emmett who was sitting in the stroller.

I was impressed Emmett hadn’t made a peep.

“Are you sure she wants black tuxes?” Rocco asked as he finished measuring Nathan.  “Gray would look spectacular with the plum lining.”

I shrugged my shoulders.  “She wanted black. At least that’s what her email said.”

Rocco came over to me with the tape measure in hand.  “All right, but if she changes her mind, let me know.  It’ll be no trouble.  Nothing but the best for the Conklins and the Stines.”

I gave him a tight smile, knowing Becca hated how peoples’ eyes grew big when they heard our names.  She hated that we were associated so much with our parents.  Sometimes I got just as annoyed.  Lately the idea of running away together felt like the answer to all of my problems. 

“Max, ever think of moving to Chicago?” Rocco asked.

Max shook his head.  “Missy wouldn’t like the city.  Grand Rapids is about all she can take.”

“I love Chicago, but Heather is like her mom.  She wouldn’t be caught dead in this city.  Same for Becca,” Ray said.  “Although, I have been enjoying her babysitting the kids while you play in this city, Tyler,” Ray teased.

I clenched my teeth.  “I’m not playing.”

Ray smirked.  “I know, big guy. Just giving you a hard time.  She has been in a funk though.  Are you planning on moving here with her?”

“No, she’s happy by the water,” I murmured, giving Mitch a dirty look.  He rolled his eyes at me.

I had given him a swift punch to the face after the intruder in our house.  He didn’t see it coming and thought it was a cheap shot, but boy did it feel good. 

Mitch said he hadn’t done any deals on our property and didn’t know what I was talking about, but I was at my wits end with him and so ready to torture his ass until he told us where the bricks were hidden with the drugs.  I secretly hoped it was all in Miami since he had been there more often.  If they were in Miami, then they’d be far away from Becca.  But I guess that wouldn’t matter because they were still our bricks.  Unless he was putting them on other clients' properties.  My head spun.  What the fuck would that mean legally?

Nathan was very monotone about the entire scheme.  I think he didn’t want to let off how truly worried he was with all that Chino was doing amongst our company.

“Becca always liked the beach,” Max said.  “That was her dream, to live on the water.”

I smiled to myself, happy I was able to give her one of her dreams.  I planned on giving her whatever she wanted.

“Now she’s got her dream guy, even if the asshole went to Michigan,” Michael piped in, slapping me hard on the back.  I laughed to myself, knowing I would forever get his grief for going to his opposing school.  Even though it might seem annoying, it made me feel accepted into their family.  I was glad to have a place where arguing wouldn’t take place over dinner on the holidays.  Although that wouldn’t happen anymore, now that RJ was gone.

My chest tightened, causing me to cough. 

“You all right?” Nathan asked, studying my features.  I nodded quickly to him, trying to regain my composure.

Taking away the attention from my coughing fit, Ray’s phone chirped with a Dora the Explorer “backpack, backpack” chime.

His face lit up as he read his message.  When his head popped up, we were all looking at him.  “What?”

“Um, your ringtone?” Michael questioned with a raised eyebrow.

“Josie picked it out,” Ray said offensively.  “Anyway, the ladies want to go out tonight.”

“That might ruin our plans,” Mitch smirked.  “We were going to have a pre-bachelor party.”

“No,” I clipped.  “I’m not going bar hopping tonight.”

“You will if Becca wants to,” Ray said.

I bit the insides of my cheek.  Bar hopping wasn’t really my thing, and I didn’t want to tempt myself into drinking around Becca, not yet.  I still didn’t trust myself to not go into a fit of rage or anxiety around her.

“Come on, just a few drinks, Tyler.  It’ll be fun.  I’ve already made reservations at Enclave,” Nathan coaxed.  “Besides, who knows if we’ll have time for another bachelor party.”

“Don’t have too much fun,” Max interluded as Rocco started measuring him.  “We have a tee time at 9:00 a.m. at Cog Hill.”

Ray laughed.  “I doubt we’ll cause too much trouble, Max.”  Max gave him a stare, and Ray stopped laughing.

“Okay, fine.  A few drinks.  And this counts as my bachelor party,” I said, pointing at Mitch.

“Aw, dude, they don’t have strippers at Enclave,” Mitch pouted.

I shot him a look.  I didn’t need to see any naked bodies besides Becca’s.

***

The bar was loud and jam packed.  It took us almost twenty minutes to find our VIP section.  I was beyond irritated and drank my first Captain and Coke way too fast.

“Why don’t we go find some chicks to dance with?” Mitch shouted.

“Go ahead,” I waved to Mitch, happy to have his obnoxious self leave my air space.  Michael nudged Mitch, and they found their way to the dance floor.

I sat down and sighed, closing my eyes while leaning back in the leather booth.  At least they were comfortable.  Nathan sat next to me, holding his scotch in one hand.  “I talked to Anderson yesterday,” Nathan said in my ear because of the thumping music.

I clenched my jaw.  “What did he want.”

“You know, beating around the bush about Chino’s accounts.  I told him I wasn’t allowed to discuss our client’s personal accounts, and he’d have to take up any matters he had with Chino himself.”

I huffed.  “He’s a nosy bastard.”  Anderson was a little shit to me ever since he called RJ’s death a suicide.  That was bullcrap.  I didn’t believe it.  I didn’t like him constantly snooping around our office.  I wished he’d get a fucking clue.  If Nathan and I couldn’t figure out where the illegal drugs were in our business, then he sure as hell wouldn’t be able to either.

“I agree.  But we need to keep him believing everything is peachy.  So the next time he talks to you, put a smile on your face.  You are getting married after all.”  I raised a brow at him.  “You don’t seem excited,” he said, taking a sip from his drink as he looked down at the dancers.  His eyes hardened for a second as though he saw something he didn’t like.  “I mean, shouldn’t you be all doughy eyed?”

Ray came and sat down across from Nathan and me.  He had a few beers already and was obviously feeling good.  “He’s not a chick.  They are the ones that get all bushy tailed.”

Nathan regained his focus from the dance floor then laughed.  “Bushy tailed?”

Ray shrugged his shoulders and crinkled his nose.  Then a sly smile crossed his face as he watched the stairs.  “There’s one sexy woman,” he said in a deep voice.  His eyes grew hungry, and I couldn’t help but turn to see who he was looking at.

Oh, I was in trouble.

Heather and Becca were walking up the stairs, and I swear to God Becca was trying to kill me with her outfit.  A super tight, hot pink dress hugged her body and was way too many inches from the top of her knee.  Her hair was tousled from the Chicago wind, and her lips were bright along with her flushed cheeks.  I was getting hard already, and I gulped with every step she took towards me.

Once they approached us, I realized just how short her dress was.

She snuck past Nathan, her eyes pinned to mine.  A devilish smile crossed her lips as she slyly sat down on the bench next to me, scooting so her breasts were pushed against my arm.  I couldn’t stop the mischievous grin from spreading across my lips.  She brought her hand to my tie, playfully tugging it with her fingers.  She batted her eyelashes then leaned into my ear.

“What brings a stuffy businessman to the club on a Friday night?”

I grinned wider.  So she wanted to play.  “This is my bachelor party.”

I felt her lips deathly close to my ear.  “No strippers?  Isn’t that what bachelor parties are all about?”

I turned my head so I could look at her.  I was met with sparkling blue eyes and long, dark, and sexy as hell eyelashes.  “Haven’t gotten to that part of the night yet.”

She smirked again then moved her eyes down to my lap then back to my lips.  “What would your fiancé say?”

I licked my lips, enjoying this playful side of her.  We had hardly talked the past few weeks, and it felt good to see her smiling.  “Mmm, I’m not sure she would approve, but I think it’s customary for the bachelor to get a lap dance from a stripper on his supposed last night of freedom.”

Her pupils dilated then her eyes turned hungry as she thought.  What was my baby doll plotting in her head?

“The point of a bachelor party is no women,” Nathan shouted.  I turned my head from Becca, my eyes catching Heather damn near straddling Ray.  She was wearing a dress almost as short as Becca’s, the only thing keeping her ass from hanging out was Ray’s hand holding the fabric down. 

Heather turned to look at Nathan.  “We’re the strippers, don’t you know?”

“Yeah, Mitch hired us,” Becca flirted, running her hand up my thigh, getting very close to the bulge that was growing in my pants.  I spun my head in her direction again, giving her a sultry stare.

“You didn’t tell me you were a stripper?” I asked playfully.

She licked her lips and nodded.  “Not sure if you can afford me though.”

“Probably better, I think my fiancé would get upset.”

“Oh Jesus,” Nathan shouted, throwing the rest of his drink back.  “I’m going to the bar.”

Becca giggled. My smile widened.  Her eyes caught mine again.  “So, what strip club are we going to?”

I raised my brow at her. “We?”

She nodded her head while biting her lip.

“I don’t think my fiancé would like that either.”

“No?  She sounds like a real stiff,” she said playfully, reaching for my tie again.

I laughed under my breath.  “She’s actually amazing.”

Becca’s seductive look faded, and her eyes grew big.  “Yeah?”

Swallowing the lump that was forming in my throat, I nodded my head yes to her.  I’d been shutting her out ever since RJ left this world.  That wasn’t cool of me at all.  That look she just gave me put everything into perspective.  I was hurting her, causing her to question where my heart was. 

“My fiancé is the most loving, caring, and precious person in my life.  I would never do anything to jeopardize her,” I murmured.

She bit her bottom lip again, but this time it was to try and stop it from trembling instead of looking devious.

“But, it might be hard to avoid someone as tempting as you the entire night.  Especially if the waitress keeps refilling my glass,” I said, shaking my nearly empty cup.

Her eyes filled with lust.  “I guess I’m going to have to stick around and find out.”

Her fingers traced the buttons on my shirt as the waitress brought more drinks.  “Gin and tonic for my guest,” I said without taking my eyes off Becca’s.

“Top shelf,” she added.

I smirked at her.  “You’re playing the part well.”

She shrugged her shoulder’s playfully.  “Would your fiancé be upset if you danced with another woman?”