Love Entwined
LOVE ENTWINED
Copyright © 2016 M.C. Decker
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the author.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or publishers.
Cover Design:
Kari Ayasha, Cover to Cover Designs
Cover photo:
Lauren Perry,
Perrywinkle Photography
www.perrywinklephotography.com
Back cover photo:
Deposit Photos, Image #42811525
Interior Design and Formatting:
Christine Borgford, Perfectly Publishable
Table of Contents
To my Nachos—Gia Riley and Mandi Beck—I’d be lost in this world without you. We started out as strangers and soon became friends. You’ve become the sisters I never knew I wanted, but soon realized I couldn’t live without. Here’s to: #BitchesNachos #Shenanigans #BreathinEasy #timezones #whistles #P4D #BigGulp
James Bentley
O
ne final time, I patted my side pocket making sure the ring box was securely planted in its rightful place, before getting behind the wheel of the Corvette convertible I’d rented for the evening. I wanted the night to be perfect. I’d never had the opportunity to take Ireland to prom when we were in high school and when she told me that she’d never gone at all, I knew immediately that I wanted to do something special for her. Call me pussy-whipped, but at least I knew I’d be buried deep inside hers later tonight. This senior—more like senior citizen, I thought to myself—would definitely be scoring this evening.
I was sure Katie had already shown Ireland the gown I’d purchased for her to wear. I’d also scheduled an afternoon appointment of pampering for both of them at a local spa. I really had no idea what girls did for hours in those places, but Katie said she would handle it. You could call me a complete idiot for handing my credit card over to that woman, but nothing would be too extravagant for my Shamrock.
Needing to make a quick stop at the architectural firm to pick up some blueprints, I then went on to the construction site to check the progress of my most recent design project. I didn’t want any interruptions or surprises tonight—just Ireland’s toned legs entwined with mine in bed, or maybe wrapped around my waist as I slammed into her, pressed up against the wall.
I had about thirty minutes to spare before the limousine I’d rented for Ireland was scheduled to drop her off at Iridescence. Located on the sixteenth floor of the MotorCity Casino Hotel, Iridescence was known as the hidden gem of Detroit and I’d been able to secure the entire restaurant for just the two of us.
We’d been there once before and Ireland had raved about the floor-to-ceiling windows which overlooked the city with a view of the Ambassador Bridge. Every time we’d driven past the building since then, she commented about how much she wanted to dine there again. I told her we could go anytime, but she always insisted it was too expensive and we always wound up taking a five-dollar carryout pizza home from the local pizza parlor.
I’m not sure she would ever get used to the fact that I was part owner in a very successful firm and had more than enough money to drop on a nice dinner. But, tonight and every night from now on, I wanted her to know that everything I had was hers—including my heart, and my future. Tonight, I was going to ask her to be a part of that future as my wife.
I was surprised to see my business partner/best friend’s car in the parking lot when I pulled up to the construction site. No doubt he was going to bust my balls for my choice of wardrobe tonight.
“Hey Greg, I didn’t expect to see you here. After all, it’s after four in the afternoon and a Saturday no less,” I quipped, grabbing a hard hat before stepping onto the site.
“Fuck you, asshole,” he retorted without looking up from the design he was poring over. “And, I really should be asking you the same thing. Katie told me you had some top secret date planned for you and Ireland tonight.
“I take it she was right since you’re dressed in that god-awful penguin suit,” he joked, momentarily taking his eyes off the blueprints he’d been studying.
“Yeah, tonight’s the night,” I told him, patting my side pocket once again. “I just wanted to make a quick stop here to make sure everything was in order and then I’m taking Ireland to our prom at Iridescence. Didn’t Katie tell you all about it?”
“Yeah, she did, but I honestly tuned her out after she spoke the first few words. I love my wife, really I do, but you know how she can go on and on,” he said.
“And on,” I laughed.
“Right. So, I flipped on an episode of
Sons of Anarchy
and nodded my head a few times. She isn’t any the wiser. But, congrats man. I’m happy for the two of you even if you are lame as fuck with setting up this whole prom thing.”
“Yeah, yeah. I knew you were gonna give me shit for it. Honestly, I didn’t give Staci the proposal that she deserved and maybe that’s one of many reasons our marriage was a joke. I was a senior in college who’d just knocked up his girlfriend and thought I needed to get down on one knee to be a real man. I didn’t do either of us any favors. Had I known she was going to fuck other guys the entire time we were married I would have fought for custody of Tanner and hit the road.”
“Sorry I even mentioned it, man. Go to your prom and put a ring on the girl of your dreams. You know Ireland is like the little sister I never had and I know you’ll treat her right.”
“Thanks, Greg. I wasn’t really looking for your approval, but since Ireland doesn’t have any family, I guess it really does mean a lot,” I said, patting him on the shoulder.
“Now I only have twenty minutes before I’m meeting Ireland and I need to check out the archway and make sure it’s up to our client’s standards. Clark wasn’t pleased with the results when he stopped by day before yesterday and I told him I would take care of it by Monday. You know how fucking picky that man can be,” I yelled down as I began climbing the scaffolding.
Clark and Kelly Miller were known as some of the snobbiest restauranteurs in metro Detroit. Clark, especially, walked around like he had a constant pole stuck up his ass and everything had to be perfect down to the exact dimensions of the floor tiling. However, he’d believed in me since I began working in the field over a decade ago and I’d since designed every one of his restaurants in the state. I wasn’t about to let him down now, especially over a fucking archway.
“You might want to grab a few of the safety hooks before you get up there too high. The workers were complaining about some of the planks slipping earlier today,” Greg called out.
“Nah, I’ll be fine. I’ll just be up there a minute and I don’t really want to get any wrinkles on this—what did you call it—penguin suit. Besides, I have a thick skull and this hard hat will protect me,” I said, tapping on the thick, yellow plastic.
“I’m surprised you were willing to put on the hat—wouldn’t want it to ruin your hair,” Greg yelled back.
“Safety first, fucker,” I shouted, just as my feet began to slip from under me. I reached for the guardrail, but only grabbed a fistful of air as I began my descent down to the cold, unforgiving concrete. I barely heard Greg’s muffled scream through my own rapidly beating heart. And then there was only silence.
Three Days Later
Everything was fuzzy as I began hearing voices off in the distance.
“Jamie—Jamie, open your eyes for us again? Come back to us.”