Waves of Reckoning (The Montclair Brothers) (15 page)

“He had a pretty crappy day at work dealing with a difficult client. He’ll be okay.” Vincent made a bad attempt at sounding chipper, but Renee wasn’t fooled for a second.

“Tell me, Vinnie!” She demanded in a low voice. What she really wanted to do was scream at him.

“I have another call coming in, Renee. I have to take it. Give Tyler a little time and I’m sure he’ll give you all the boring details. We’ll talk soon!” He hung up and Renee threw her phone back inside of her purse. She sat on the island stool and watched her two favorite people in the entire world run around the backyard. After a while, Tyler and Brian sat down at the picnic table and shared some humorous conversation. When they stood up to come back in the house, she quickly busied herself in the kitchen.

Tyler walked inside first. “I’m going to jump in the shower real quick, Honey. I’m afraid this suit is going to have to make a trip to the cleaners.” He gave her a small laugh, ruffled Brian’s hair, and then slowly climbed the stairs.

“He’s so much fun!” laughed Brian. “He’s in pretty good shape for an old man. I’m kidding!” Brian pecked Renee on the cheek before flopping down in the recliner.

“I’m glad you two had a good time out there. What did you guys talk about?” she cautiously asked.

“Just stuff. We talked about me being a big brother, and he even said how proud of me he is. My life is so good now. I can’t wait until we’re a real family in the eyes of the court. Tyler is an amazing dad!” Brian smiled from ear to ear.

“We both love you an enormous amount, Sweetie. It won’t be long now and you’ll legally be a Montclair.” Then it hit her. Nothing could upset Tyler like this, except for something bad happening to one of his family members. But if that was the case, he would have said something. Renee knew Vincent wasn’t being upfront with her either.

Tyler came downstairs with a book in his hand. He sat down in the living room with Brian and opened to the page with the bookmark. He turned on the lamp beside him, smiled up at them, and then focused on the page. Renee sat on the sofa across from Tyler and Brian. The television was on, but Tyler never lifted his eyes from the book. He also never turned the page. Now Renee definitely knew something was wrong. Waiting for bedtime was killing her, so she got her phone back out of her purse and went upstairs. She called the only other person who knew Tyler the best.

“Emma, how are you?” she asked brightly.

“I’m doing great! I just got back from dinner with Jacob. How’re things with you?” Renee could hear her opening up a can of soda or something.

“I want to ask you how Tyler’s day went? Did anything upsetting happen?” Renee didn’t want to beat around the bush. She had to know.

“He had a great day. He was all smiles and stayed in a really good mood. What’s wrong?” She heard Emma’s voice become serious.

“There’s something eating at him and I don’t know what it is. He won’t open up to me. The last person he spoke with was Vincent. And he’s not saying anything either.” Frustrated, Renee sat down on the bed.

“Well, he didn’t say anything to me. One thing I do know is that Tyler hates to upset people. Give him some time and he’ll come around. He always works it out in his head before sharing his thoughts.” Emma was trying to reassure her, but it wasn’t working. Whatever had happened to upset Tyler, had everything to do with that conversation with Vincent. If something went wrong at work, Emma would definitely know. “Renee, do you want me to ask Jacob or call Vinnie for you?”

“No, it’s okay. I’ll wait until we go to bed. Hopefully he’ll say something then.” Renee said goodnight and hung up the phone. She laid back on the bed and closed her eyes, going over all the possibilities in her mind. Elissa was taken care of, the Montclair brothers were all okay, the business was obviously fine, Renee was healthy and strong…
Brian.
It had to be Brian.

Renee took a long bath before going back downstairs to say goodnight. Tyler kissed her with a promise to come upstairs soon, and Brian gave her a big hug. Once her head hit the pillow, her thoughts began to race even more than before. She tossed and turned. She heard Brian turn on the shower and then go in to bed, but Tyler never made it upstairs. At four in the morning, Renee walked quietly back down the steps, just to find him sitting outside with the afghan around his shoulders. Even though she was tempted to go outside, she remembered what Emma had said. Tyler needs to think things through in his mind first. She went back up to the bedroom, closed her eyes, and placed her hand on the cool pillow next to her. When she woke up at seven to get Brian’s breakfast ready, Tyler was already gone.

It was killing her inside, but she loved Tyler enough to give him as much time as he needed. Whatever the secret was, it was securely locked away between him and his youngest brother. Renee would be seeing Carrie in a few hours, so maybe she’d have a clue. One thing she did know for sure was that Brian would remain happy and safe…
forever.

Chapter 15

C
arrie couldn’t believe
her luck. Elissa was taking the boys today, so that she could go out with Renee. She woke up with butterflies already flapping in her stomach. When it was actually date time, she was sure she’d be doubled over in the bathroom. Renee picked her up at nine, and drove her directly to a luxurious looking spa in downtown Southfield. When Carrie started to object over the prices, Renee gave her a wry smile and pulled her by the wrist to the counter.

She was in absolute awe over the many things Renee had scheduled for today. Carrie had never been so pampered in all her life. The red nail polish on her fingers and toes would match her outfit perfectly, and her beautifully highlighted blonde hair, made her hazel eyes come to life. Her fear was turning to excitement, and she found herself hoping that Vincent would approve.

“Are you sure my hair isn’t too big?” She was tempted to smooth it down some.

“Not at all. You look absolutely fabulous! You’re just not used to having curls in your hair. Now, we’re going to stop by my house, and I’ll do your makeup. That’ll give you enough time to relax a bit, before having to get dressed. Are you excited?” Renee held Carrie’s hands and stepped back to get a good look at her.

“I’m nervous, but I’m also excited! Are you sure Vincent will like me?” She turned back to the full length mirror.

“I’ll tell you a secret about the Montclair men. What they’re attracted to the most is a woman’s heart. If Vinnie didn’t like you already, you wouldn’t have lasted through the second day at his house. Although these men may seem complicated, they aren’t. Trust me, Vinnie is going to fall in love with you.” Renee smiled, and Carrie busted out laughing.

“What’s so funny?” Renee stared at her.

“I’ve never been in love before. I’ve liked guys, and they’ve liked me, but love? No, not for this girl.” Suddenly Carrie stopped laughing.
How pathetic is that
? she thought.
Renee must think I’m some kind of a loser.

“Listen to me, Carrie. It’s a lot better to wait and fall in love with the right guy, as opposed to falling for a nightmare. If you ever feel like putting yourself down over that, just think of Robert.” Renee winked at her and handed a credit card to the cashier.

Back at Renee’s, Carrie found herself sitting on a bench in the master bathroom, while Renee completed her transformation. She didn’t want her to put a ton of makeup on her face. Hopefully she wouldn’t have to wash her face when she got home. Saying something to Renee about it was out of the question, as she’d been so good to her. She didn’t want to hurt her feelings.

“Close your eyes and relax. I’ll tell you when to open them.” Renee smiled proudly.

Before Carrie got out of the car, once they’d arrived back at Vincent’s house, Renee reached in her purse and pulled out a bag.

“Here. Open this once you get inside. It’s just a little surprise from me to you. Don’t forget to call me if you run into any problems. I’ll be here in a flash if you need me.” Renee leaned over and kissed her cheek, before getting out to open the back door. She pulled Carrie’s dress off the hook and handed it to her.

Carrie thanked her profusely for everything before she raced into the house and headed upstairs. She hung up her dress, turned the lights on in the bathroom and stared at her image in the mirror. A smile spread across her face. The ringing of her cell phone snapped her attention towards her purse on the floor. She quickly grabbed her phone from the inside of it. Looking at the display, she saw Vincent’s name and number. She took a deep, calming breath before answering.

“Are you looking forward to this evening as much as I am?” Vincent chuckled.

“Yes, I think it’ll be fun,” she responded nervously.

“I’ll be home around five thirty to jump in the shower. Our reservations are for seven and it’s a little bit of a drive to get there. Does that sound alright with you?” If he was nervous too, he wasn’t showing even an ounce of it. She could only assume it was because of his experience with a multitude of women.

Carrie looked at the time on her phone when they hung up. Vincent would be home in about an hour. Making herself look halfway decent wasn’t the hard part. Acting the way a confident woman should, was going to be an impossible feat.
Maybe if I get ready now, I can walk around in the heels, until I feel more comfortable
, she thought. She set her phone down, and then slowly walked over to the closet and uncovered the shoebox that she’d hidden underneath some spare blankets. Carrie opened the lid and upon seeing the heels again, the knots in her stomach grew even tighter. “What am I doing?” she asked herself out loud. She sat the shoes down on the floor and closed her eyes. They began to burn, but she knew if she cried, her makeup would be ruined.

The white plastic covering on her dress seemed to be glaring at her. Carrie slid it off, and the beautiful red color stole her breath as it had the first time she’d laid eyes on it. As she touched the fabric, she saw how perfectly her nails matched the dress. Her fingers began to shake as she unbuttoned her shirt and tossed it on the bed. Her worn jeans were next. She smiled down at her red toenails when she kicked her jeans away, and wiggled them.

Carrie looked at her white cotton briefs and bra and shuddered. She ran to the dresser and began digging through a drawer. A couple of years earlier, she’d found a black strapless bra with matching panties on sale and bought them. She’d never had a reason to wear them before tonight, and they still had tags dangling from the seams. Carrie raced downstairs in her underwear and to grab the scissors from the kitchen, and then hightailed it back to her bedroom. She carefully cut the tags off of her undergarments and dress. As she put on her sheer thigh-high hose and lacy underwear, her stomach began to flutter again.

Carrie slid the new dress over her head and then sighed. The zipper.
How the hell am I supposed to zip this thing
! She nearly dislocated her arms, but she finally managed to slide the hidden zipper up. She had to fan her face to dry all the sweat when she was done. Carefully, she sat on the edge of the bed and strapped the heels onto her feet. She hoped she could still remember how to walk in them.

She sat there for a few more minutes to collect herself before getting back up. Carrie had to swallow hard, several times, to send the bile back down to her stomach. “You can do this,” she said in a low voice.

“I’m home!” Vincent yelled from the bottom of the stairs. “I’m going to jump in the shower real quick.”

Her heart began to race. “Okay! I’m almost ready!” she yelled back. She took slow, deliberate steps towards the bathroom. Her legs were shaking. Carrie spotted her purse on the floor and remembered the surprise Renee had given her. She pulled the bag out and peered inside at the velvet boxes and a small, sequined, red clutch. When she opened the boxes, the dangling diamond-like earrings, matching necklace and bracelet, sparkled back at her. Carrie knew they weren’t real, but boy were they gorgeous.

She put the jewelry on and took a few nervous breaths. Standing in front of the mirror, she let her eyes capture all that she knew Vincent would soon see. The short sleeves of the dress rested just off her shoulders, the bodice clung to her small waist, while the bottom half flared slightly with satin and lace. The back hem was a little longer than the front, and swayed with the movement of her hips when she walked. Carrie took slow steps, back and forth in the bathroom, while looking straight ahead. Not once did she falter.

“I’m ready when you are!” yelled the familiar voice from the bottom of the stairs.

“I’ll be down in just a second!” “Oh my God,” she whispered, as second thoughts attempted to overwhelm her. She shook the doubts from her head before opening the clutch to place her license, Kleenex, and the new tube of lip gloss inside. “It’s now or never,” she told herself firmly, as she opened the bathroom door. She stepped out into the hallway with her chin held high.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

When Vincent heard footsteps heading towards the stairs, he straightened up his black pinstriped suit jacket, smoothed down his gray silk tie against his white shirt, and walked excitedly out of the living room. He had no idea how she’d be dressed, but no matter what she was wearing, he knew that she’d be the same, wonderful girl. She’d been such a great help with Elissa, and had really shown her true colors.

Carrie had a heart the size of a mountain, and Vincent couldn’t help developing a big soft spot for her. Taking her out on the town tonight would be his pleasure. The footsteps in the hallway had stopped, so Vincent went back over to the bottom of the steps to make sure there wasn’t a problem.

He looked up and blinked, while his lips involuntarily parted, allowing him to suck in a deep breath. She’d stopped right outside of the bedroom, so he could only see her from the shoulders up. “Oh my God,” he softly uttered. As she lifted her chin, he could hear her taking slow steps towards him. When she’d reached the top of the stairs, his eyes roamed over her, from head to toe, before locking on hers. She smiled at him, and he melted.

“Stop,” Vincent quietly directed.

“Is everything okay?” Carrie asked with concern.

“Turn around.” A smile began to spread across his face.

He watched as she slowly twirled in front of him. Vincent couldn’t help but stare so intently that he forgot to breathe.

“Do you like it?” she asked softly.

“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life. Come to me.” It was taking everything in him not to lunge up to where she stood.

She placed her hand on the banister and slowly moved down the stairs. On the last step, Vincent held out his hand and guided her.

“I’m sorry it took me so long. I didn’t mean to keep you waiting, Vinnie.” She let go of his hand, but he held on.

“I, Vincent Kyle Montclair, would wait days for you.” He locked his fingers in hers, and then led her out the front door to his car. He opened the door for her and watched as she gracefully sat down. This woman certainly wasn’t the same person he’d seen yesterday. Hell, she wasn’t even the same one he’d met when they were in hiding, from Robert.

“Are you hungry? I bet you’re starving,” Carrie laughed.

“I was, but my appetite has suddenly changed.” Vincent hadn’t blushed around a female since…forever, but he could feel his cheeks heating up.

“We don’t have to go to the steakhouse. Anyplace is fine with me.” She looked at him seriously.

“I’m sorry. I’m acting like a teenager. I’ve just never had such a beautiful, classy woman this close to me before. Part of me wants to whisk you back inside of the house, and the other part wants to show you off to the world.” He watched as Carrie’s smile slipped away and her eyebrows rose.

“Vincent, I’m still the tomboy cop you know. Don’t let this outfit fool you. I’m just me.” She turned her head towards the passenger’s side window.

“I’ll behave. Like I said, I’m acting like I’m sixteen.” Vincent laughed a little and then hopped on the freeway. Trying to keep his mind on driving wasn’t an easy task with Carrie sitting beside him.

When they reached the restaurant, Vincent helped her out of the car, and then handed his keys to the valet. He couldn’t help but notice the guy was staring at Carrie, and as they headed inside the steakhouse, many other men, and women, turned to stare at her as well. Vincent held her hand as they were escorted to their table. He was full of pride.

While they sipped their wine, Vincent noticed how elegant her hand looked as she lifted her glass. But when their steaks arrived, he got his first glimpse of the woman he had become so familiar with. She dug right in. He couldn’t help but laugh.

“What’s so funny?” she asked with a full mouth.

“Nothing,” responded Vincent, as he stared at the most amazing woman he’d ever known. “I just wish I’d have met you sooner.”

They finished their dinner with very little conversation. Carrie ate as much as he did, and he realized that there wasn’t one thing about her that he didn’t adore. As they were driving to the club, Carrie began to fiddle with her fingers.

“Are you okay?” He finally asked as they pulled into the parking lot.

“Vinnie, I can’t dance.” Carrie lowered her face, refusing to meet his gaze.

“It’s easy!” He grinned. With his arm around her waist, he escorted her inside the dimly lit night club. Vincent found a small table by the dance floor and moved his chair around, so he could sit beside her.

“You don’t understand, Vinnie. These heels—”

Vincent quickly interrupted her. “Make your legs and feet look sexier than hell? Come on, Hun. They’re playing our song.” He stood up and held out his hand.

“No, I don’t think we should. Let’s just listen to the beautiful music and—”

Before she could protest any further, Vincent took ahold of her hand and pulled her to her feet. Her red dress flowed behind her, and he watched as people stared
. If she sees everyone looking at her, she’ll sit back down for the rest of the evening,
he thought. As he kept her back towards the tables, he pulled her gently against his body, his palm resting on the small of her back. He lifted her hand and held it in his, pulling her closer. Vincent couldn’t help but notice how great she smelled, or how perfectly she fit against him.

“Go slow, okay?” she nervously requested.