Braver (25 page)

“The old ball and chain,” he said, kissing my hair. “I think I’d like some of that booty right now.”

“Lower your voice, Mr. Millionaire,” I said, my eyes darting around. “We’re in public.”

“I don’t think anyone heard me,” Liam said, grinning.

I shook my head, trying not to laugh.

We held the brunch that weekend, Liam paying God knows what to have it catered.

“When I’m your wife, will you let me cook for you sometimes?” I asked, feigning a pout at all the beautiful food laid out on his countertops.

“Never,” Liam said, kissing me. “I will only take you to the finest restaurants. We’ll never even keep food in the house.”

I shook my head and jumped in his arms as the doorbell rang.

“Don’t be nervous,” he said, laughing. “My family’s going to love you.”

It was Casey at the door — a big relief.

“Check this place out,” she marveled. “No wonder you didn’t want to live with me anymore.”

“Oh, stop,” I said, pushing her. “I fell in love, is what happened.”

“I’m so happy for you,” she said, giving me a hug.

The doorbell rang again and I stiffened. I didn’t understand why I was so jumpy. I loved meeting new people — especially those whose family I was going to be a part of.

Casey examined my engagement ring as Liam answered the door.

“Mom and Dad!” he exclaimed, hugging two finely dressed individuals. I smiled, seeing that he took after his dad in looks but mom in coloring. He was the culmination of the best of both of them. I wondered if they ever realized it.

“This is Collette Bell,” Liam said, sweeping his hand over to me.

“Please, Cocoa,” I said, holding out my hand. “Nobody calls me Collette except for your son, when he forgets that no one calls me Collette.”

“Oh, please,” Mrs. Henry said, holding her arms out. “You’re going to be my daughter-in-law. Give me a hug.”

Laughing, I complied, hugging Mr. Henry afterward.

“Where’s Michael?” Liam asked, closing the door.

“Oh, you know your brother since the divorce,” Mr. Henry said. “Out burning the midnight oil last night. He’ll be along later, I’m sure.”

We filled our plates and sat around the dining room table, chatting.

“Liam has told us all about your volunteer work at the senior center,” Mrs. Henry said. “What a selfless thing for a young girl like you to do.”

“It’s actually pretty selfish,” I said, laughing. “I love going. They’re the ones keeping me entertained all day.”

“You have a kind heart,” Mrs. Henry said, patting my hand. “I can tell.”

“So, when’s the wedding?” Mr. Henry asked.

“Dad, we just got engaged this week,” Liam protested. “Let us have a while to savor it before launching us into the planning phase.”

“Well, the estate is yours to make use of, if you want to have it there,” Mr. Henry said.

Estate? Casey and I exchanged a quick glance. This was crazy.

“Cocoa and I will discuss it,” Liam said. “But look. You’re overwhelming her. Let’s talk about something else.”

“I’m not overwhelmed,” I said. “I know a lot goes into wedding planning — or at least, I think it does. This is my first one.”

Everyone burst out into laughter at my hurried words. I joined them when I realized what I’d said.

“I’m glad this is your first, dear,” Mrs. Henry said, wiping her eyes with a napkin.

Another knock on the door had Liam jumping up, putting his fork on the table.

“That’ll be Michael,” he said. “I’ll get it.”

“So, sweetie, what do you do?” Mrs. Henry asked Casey.

She grinned. “I’m studying to become a nurse,” she said.

“How wonderful!” Mr. Henry exclaimed.

I was relieved that she left out the stripper part. Casey gave me a wink that told me she’d been thinking about revealing her night job.

“Casey, Cocoa, this is my brother, Michael,” Liam said from behind me.

“Call me Mike,” a voice said as I turned around.

I froze in my seat, dragging my eyes up to Liam’s face. I’d never noticed a resemblance because I’d never thought to look for one. But there it was. They both shared their mother’s blond hair and blue eyes, and both were easy to smile. However, that’s where the similarities ended. While Liam was fit, Mike was chunky around the waist. Liam had also been luckier in the cock department than his older brother. Liam also wasn’t cruel. Even if we fought, I was pretty sure he wouldn’t try to rape me in the middle of a place of business.

Mike’s eyes narrowed, looking at me and wondering where he’d seen me before. His eyes widened as he realized it and I cringed at his knowledge.

There was a blessed, breathless moment when I thought he was going to keep quiet about his realization. I thought he might do that for me — for what he’d done to me and to keep the peace with his family. I was marrying his brother, after all.

But then, Mike’s face gave a terrible smile, the one I’d seen when he attacked me at Mama’s nightclub, and I knew everything was over.

“You’re marrying a whore, Liam,” Mike said.

The entire room froze, forks clattering to the plate.

“Young man, if that’s your opinion of a joke —” Mr. Henry said, rising from his seat at the table.

“Just stating a fact,” Mike said. “I’ve fucked her.”

“Watch your mouth,” Liam said, his voice soft and dangerous. “There are ladies present.”

“That one, absolutely not,” Mike said, pointing at me. He eyed Casey. “That one, I have my doubts about. Our mother is a lady, of course. One lady present, and she doesn’t mind my cursing that much, do you, Mom?”

“Please be polite, Michael,” Mrs. Henry begged. “This is the woman your brother is going to marry.”

Mike snorted. “Please. Liam doesn’t even tolerate buying used cars. I don’t know why he would want a used bride.”

Liam fisted his hand in his brother’s shirt and yanked him closer. “Stop, whatever you’re doing,” Liam said, still in that soft, terrible voice. The faint tremble of his hand was the only hint of his rage.

“I can’t let you make a mistake this big, little brother,” Mike said. “I’ve paid for the privilege of her company. She was a prostitute before she met you. That’s a fact.”

A hand snaked its way into mine underneath the table. I looked over at Casey and she squeezed my hand, her eyes wide.

At the same time, Liam shoved his brother away. Mrs. Henry gave a thin scream.

“I don’t know why you’re so angry,” Mike said, laughing. “I’m just giving you the truth. She’s a dream in the sack, isn’t she? She should know — she’s had enough practice.”

Liam slugged his brother in the face, Mike’s nose spurting a shower of blood.

“Boys, enough!” Mr. Henry shouted.

I clutched at Casey, terrified of what was happening. Liam was my fiancé, but he had a very public face. If the truth of my past came out, how could he be expected to marry me anyway?

Mike hadn’t stopped laughing. “Your fiancée ruined my marriage,” he continued. “Look, I have the proof.”

He dug out his phone from his pocket.

“Please stop,” I said, speaking up for the first time. “Please stop.”

“Not until your life is just as ruined as mine,” Mike said, not looking up as he scrolled through his phone. “Bingo.”

He held out his phone to Liam, who took it with disgust.

“I don’t want to see your filthy pictures,” he said, scrolling through several images with distaste. Then he paused and brought the phone up to his face. He swiped at the screen, swiped at it again, his mouth straightening into a grim line. He knew what he was witnessing — me sleeping with his brother, I realized, a dull roar filling my ears. Everything was lost. Everything was over.

“At least we both have good taste in whores,” Mike said.

Liam lifted his eyes to me, their normal shine dull, listless.

“Is this true?” he asked, a desperate edge to his voice. “Maybe they’ve been edited, the images. Someone’s idea of a joke?”

I hadn’t noticed I’d been crying until that moment, tears soaking the top of my dress.