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Ignite
  • Текст добавлен: 12 октября 2016, 02:42

Текст книги "Ignite"


Автор книги: Kelly Elliott



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Текущая страница: 12 (всего у книги 16 страниц)

I PACED OUTSIDE THE DRESS shop as I waited for Todd and Chris to call me back. The second my phone rang in my hand, I answered it.

“Talk to me, Chris.”

“It was for sure a woman. They had their hair pulled up and wore a hat, but the security footage shows a woman leaving the area of the villa we are staying in.”

“Fucking hell. It has to be that crazy bitch,” I said as I looked into the store. Ashley and Adaline’s mother, Emery, brought us here so Adaline could find another dress. Here it was our wedding day, and we had to track down another damn dress.

“Todd has already hired additional security for the ceremony tonight and for you and Adaline.”

Releasing a quick frustrated breath, I shook my head. “I don’t need any. I’m more worried about Addie. She’s freaked out, and she insists that Stephanie was watching us this morning. I’ve got to tell you, Chris, I felt the same way Addie did. When I woke up this morning I had the strangest feeling someone was watching me.”

“She’s not going to get anywhere near either of you, Emmit. I promise you. But I do have something I need to tell you and you’re not going to like it.”

I closed my eyes and got prepared for it. What in the hell else could happen?

“I’m ready,” I said.

“I did a sweep of your cottage. There were two small wireless cameras that someone had placed in your room. Someone has been watching y’all.”

My entire body froze as I let what Chris just told me settle into my brain. “What?”

Oh, my God. They saw Adaline naked. They saw us having sex. Who the fuck knows what else they saw or what they will do with the videos.

“Chris, how in the hell did you find them?”

“I combed through your entire cottage, call it gut feeling or something. I figured if someone was going to go through all of this trouble, they were most likely watching you as well. Especially if it is Stephanie.”

Turning, I glanced into the shop and saw Adaline standing at the counter checking out. She was wearing a smile as she listened to something the girl behind the counter was saying. “Who else knows you found the camera?”

“Just Todd,” Chris said.

Talking barely above a whisper, I said, “Don’t tell anyone else, especially Addie.”

Chris cleared his throat. “Um, isn’t she kind of pissed at you for not telling her about Stephanie calling up here and jacking with your reservations? Are you sure you want to hide this from her?”

“Just until after the wedding is over.” I turned away and scrubbed my hand down my face. “Chris, what would you think of taking on a new job?”

“New job?”

“I want to set up a small security team, mostly for Addie and you are about the only person I would trust to do it.”

Silence loomed over the phone. I didn’t say anything because I knew my brother was letting what I had just said soak in. “Ah, well I’d have to talk to MaryAnne about it. Can I think about it and talk to her some before we go any further with this?”

“Of course. But the sooner the better, Chris. I have a feeling if Stephanie is behind this, she covered her tracks really well.”

The door to the shop rang as it opened and Adaline, Emery, and Ashley all walked out laughing. It was nice to see Adaline happy. “Hey, I’ve got to run. We’ll be back over there in a little bit.”

“Talk to you soon, Emmit. Don’t worry, dude. Between me, Todd, and Waldo, nothing else is going to happen. I promise.”

“Thanks, Chris. Later.”

I hoped like hell my brother was right. I needed to make two more calls, but I didn’t want to make them on my cell.

Adaline walked up to me as she wore the most beautiful smile. “Hey, you still mad at me?” I asked as I gently kissed her lips.

Adaline’s eyes searched my face before they made contact with my lips. “No,” she whispered as she licked her lips and then looked back up into my eyes. “I’m sorry I got so mad. It’s just everything that is happening and today is supposed to be the happiest day of our lives, it has me thrown that’s all.”

I placed my hands on the sides of her face and pulled her lips back to mine where I kissed her again. My sister and Adaline’s mother had already gone back to the limo and were waiting for us. “Every day I wake up with you is the happiest day of my life, Addie. All we need is the two of us. Don’t ever forget that.”

Her teeth sank down into her lip as she worried it. “I won’t,” she said as I laced my hand around her waist and guided her over to the limo.

Making our way into the limo, I looked around at the three women and said, “So where to now?”

Ashley cleared her throat and said, “I think Adaline needs a massage, then it’s back to the villa to get ready. I know exactly how I want to put your hair up, Adaline!”

With a small chuckle, Adaline nodded her head and then turned to me. “What if she’s still there?”

Pulling her closer to my side, Adaline settled in next to me and rested her head on my shoulder. “Todd and Chris are taking care of all that, baby. Don’t worry about any of it. I swear to you, no one is going to do anything else to ruin this day.”

Adaline glanced up at me through her beautiful long eyelashes as she gave me a weak smile. I knew she didn’t totally believe me. Hell, I didn’t really believe me either. I had a sinking feeling Stephanie was lurking around . . . waiting for her chance to strike again. Knowing she might have watched me fuck Adaline this morning turned my stomach. The thought of someone possibly having a video of us caused my body to go stiff.

We needed to find this person, and find them soon.

Chris pointed to where each camera had been placed. I let out a sigh of relief that this morning’s escapades with Adaline weren’t in the line of sight of either camera. If it had sound, they could have listened to everything that went on.

“There’s no more. Are you sure?” I asked as I looked around the room.

“If there is, they are hidden really well.”

With a quick nod of my head, I said, “Okay.”

“Um, Emmit, I don’t really know how to ask this but I have to.”

I turned and looked at my brother as he gave me an awkward look. “Just ask.”

Chris rubbed his chin and sucked in a deep breath. “Did you ever have sex with Stephanie?”

“Hell no!” I said as I gave him a look of horror. “First of all, she worked for me and she was married. I’d never cross either of those lines.”

Chris held up his hands. “I had to ask. If it is her, and you did have some sort of relationship with her, I wouldn’t have put it past her to have recorded it.”

I pulled my head back and looked at Chris with a confused look. “Fuck dude, that’s some messed up thinking.”

With a shrug of his shoulders, Chris continued on. “I’m just saying, I could see some sick bastard recording you fucking, keep it for herself to watch and then send it to Adaline right before the wedding.”

My heart dropped to my stomach as the fear of something like that being sent to Adaline. Luckily, I never slept with Stephanie. “Well, I never slept with her so we don’t have to worry about that.”

Chris still wore a worried expression. “Talk to me, Chris.”

As he looked around my room, he shook his head. “It’s just weird, Emmit. Stephanie’s supposed to be back in the states. How did she do this? I hate to say this, but I don’t think we’ve heard the last of her.”

Not being able to push down the sinking feeling I had, I nodded my head as I said, “Yeah. Me too.”

“A sweep of your house is priority one once we get back to the states.”

My body shuddered as I let the idea of someone spying on me in my own home sink in.

“Come on, let’s go grab a quick drink to settle our nerves and then we need to start getting ready.”

“I just need to stop at the front desk and make a couple of phone calls. I’ve changed up the plans for the honeymoon. I’m not telling a soul about them. I want Adaline to feel safe.”

Chris slapped me on the back as he said, “Good call.”

I glanced around as an uneasy feeling came over me. I couldn’t shake the feeling of someone watching us as Chris and I sat in the bar and had a quick drink. I needed something to take the edge off. I was getting married in a few short hours, and I didn’t want Adaline to see me nervous.

“You ready?” Chris asked as he stood up and slapped me on the back.

Smiling, I dropped a few twenty’s onto the bar and said, “Hell yeah, I’m ready. Let’s do this!”

As we headed out of the bar, I took one more look around. I didn’t see any signs of Stephanie, but I sure as hell had the feeling she was there and I wasn’t about to let her know she was having any effect on this day what so ever.

Pulling out my phone, I sent Adaline a text.

Me: In two and a half hours you will be mine.

It didn’t take her long to send me a text back. It was a selfie and she was making a horrid face as Ashley had her hands all in Adaline’s hair. Laughing, I shook my head.

Me: You’d look beautiful with a plastic bag over your head.

Addie: If your sister doesn’t stop pulling my hair soon, I might end up with one because I will have punched her and knocked her out cold!

Me: I love you, pumpkin.

Adaline sent me another picture. This time her making kisses faces. God I fucking love her.

Addie: I love you too. I can’t wait to see you! Ashley is threatening to take my phone cause I’m sending you pictures. Got to go! See you soon!

Me: See you soon.

My stomach felt like I was on one hell of a ride with the way it was dipping. The idea of making Adaline my wife was almost bringing me to tears. Chris wrapped his arm around my neck and pulled me to him as he hit my chest.

“You all right, little brother?” he asked as we both laughed.

“Yeah, I feel like a pansy though. The idea of marrying Adaline, damn it makes my heart feel like I’m fucking soaring on that zip line again.”

“That’s a good feeling, Emmit. Don’t hide it, dude. You two have been waiting for this day for as long as I can remember. You both deserve to be happy.”

Nodding my head slightly, I looked out at the water as my mind thought back to that little girl who stole my heart in elementary school.

Smiling, I kept my eyes on the beautiful blue ocean. “That’s my goal; make Addie the happiest woman in the world.”

Chris chuckled next to me. “Come on. Let’s go get you married off like the rest of us lucky bastards.”

I STOOD BEFORE THE MIRROR and smiled as I looked at myself.

“You look so beautiful, Adaline,” MaryAnne said next to me.

Glancing up, our eyes met. “Were you scared when you married, Chris?”

“Oh yeah. My hands were shaking so bad, I was scared Chris wouldn’t be able to put my wedding band on.”

I laughed as I looked back in the mirror. Ashley had pulled my brown hair up and had a few strands hanging down to frame my face. A single braid ran from one side to the other, and I had no clue how she did it, but it looked beautiful.

The simple white dress was nothing like my designer wedding gown, but when I tried it on, it felt perfect. It was almost a blessing in disguise that some nut case cut mine up. The sweetheart neckline accented my breasts perfectly. Emmit would love it, my father not so much. It was made of lace and chiffon and was lightweight. I loved how it fell just at the mid of my thigh, giving it just the right touch of sexy. The back of the dress fell to the floor and had a chapel train that would run beautifully across the sand.

I smiled bigger as I pictured Emmit unzipping the dress off. My hands went to my cheeks to hide the fact that I had instantly blushed while thinking about Emmit making love to me tonight.

“Oh God. Please tell me you aren’t thinking what I think you’re thinking. Because that just makes me feel sick, Adaline. Yuk.”

I let a giggle slip from my mouth as I turned and looked at my mother staring at me. “Mom,” I whispered as she made her way over to me.

Her eyes looked me over from top to bottom. “You are gorgeous. Emmit is going to fall in love with you even more the moment he sees you.”

I fought to hold back the tears that were trying like hell to fall. “I love him so much, Mom.”

“I know you do, and he loves you so much too.” Giving me a wink, she leaned in closer. “He’s for sure going to be racing to get you out of this!”

My mouth fell open as I quickly looked over to Emmit’s mom, Candace. “Mom!” I said with a giggle.

Brushing me off with her hand, she said, “Well, it’s true!”

After we both finished our little giggling fit, my mother turned serious. “I remember the day you were born, Adaline. Your father leaned over and kissed you on the tip of your little nose and told you no man would ever love you like he did. I see the way Emmit looks at you. The way he has always looked at you. He loves you with his whole heart.”

A single tear slowly rolled down my cheek. “I love him too. So very much.”

My mother nodded her head and quickly wiped a tear away. “The day I married your father, my grandmother spoke with me alone. She sat me down and gave me three pieces of advice that I’m going to share with you.”

“Okay,” I said as my mother and I held hands.

“Never go to sleep angry with each other. Everyone says this one I know, but it’s the most important one.”

“I promise we won’t,” I said with a grin.

“Now, this next one shocked the hell out of me coming from my grandmother, but it has been the best advice I’ve ever gotten.”

My curiosity was piqued as I waited for my mother to continue talking.

“Always play in the bedroom, and don’t be afraid to be vocal with what you want him to do to you sexually.”

My mouth fell open as my eyes widened in horror. She did not just say that to me.

“Um . . . Mom I didn’t need that visual of you and Daddy in my head. Gross!”

Rolling her eyes, my mother sighed. “Adaline, I’m not talking about me and your father right now, although I will say we have a very healthy sex life because of my grandmother’s words of advice.”

My body shuddered as I made a gagging motion.

“Stop it!” my mother said with a laugh.

“Okay, so can we move on to the other bit of advice now?” I asked as I tried to wipe away the mental image of my mother and father getting it on.

“The last piece of advice she gave me was, your husband should be your best friend, lover, husband, and father of your children. All in that order. Confide in each other and talk. Communication is the key to a long healthy marriage.”

My heart felt as if it was going to burst in my chest as I smiled at my mother. “That’s wonderful advice, Mom,” I said as I wrapped my arms around her.

“Don’t ruin your make-up!” Ashley shouted as I laughed and carefully wiped my tears away. Ashley pulled her phone out and took a selfie of the two of us. “Smile, so I can send it to my friends! I can’t believe my big brother is getting married!”

After a quick redo of my makeup, I took in a deep breath and slowly blew it out. The soft knock on the door alerted us that it was time. My father walked in as I turned to face him. I’d never seen my father cry. That’s a lie. He cried the first time Emmit won a NASCAR race. According to him, he had something in his eye.

“Hey, Daddy.”

Slowly shaking his head, my father walked up to me and placed his hands on my arms as he looked me over. “My God, you are beautiful, Adaline.”

Tears were started to build up as I smiled and tilted my head. “You kind of have to say that, you’re my dad.”

“Bull shit. You are stunning and Emmit is one lucky bastard. I made sure he knows it.”

Lifting my eyebrow, I cocked my head and giggled. “You didn’t, Daddy.”

Pulling his back, he attempted to look innocent. “What? I just gently reminded him that if he was to ever hurt you, he’d get hurt.”

Shaking my head, I slapped him lightly on the chest. “Are you ready, Daddy?”

Tears built in his eyes as he nodded and the words barely came out. “No.” He held his arm out for me to take as I laced my arm through his.

“I’ll always be yours, Daddy,” I said as we made our way out of the room and to the man of my dreams.

After getting a kiss from my mother and Candace, they turned and headed out to the beach. Todd was walking around making sure everything was going how it should go. He looked kind of cute with one of those walkie talkie things and an ear piece in. My mind drifted momentarily. What if Stephanie shows up and tries to ruin our wedding.

I swallowed hard and took in a shaky breath as I waited for the wedding planner to cue my father and I to start walking. The breeze of the ocean caught my dress just right as it blew in the wind. I ended up ditching the Jimmy Choo shoes I had bought and planned on wearing with my other dress. I was barefoot and it felt right.

Giving the signal, my father placed his hand over mine as we walked. The bouquet in my hand shook as my father said, “Take a deep breath, baby girl, and let it out.”

Doing like he said, I closed my eyes and let him lead me for a just a bit. At least until we rounded the corner and I could open my eyes to see Emmit.

“Open your eyes, Adaline,” my father said as we rounded the corner.

My breath hitched the moment I saw Emmit. He was dressed in tan linen pants and a white cotton shirt that was casually buttoned up but not all the way. The same as my father and Chris.

“Oh my,” I whispered as I was captivated by Emmit’s smile. I was surrounded by beauty but nothing was more beautiful than the man standing at the end of the aisle. His dark hair blew gently in the ocean breeze as his eyes took all of me in.

I finally pulled my eyes off of him to see that the aisle had been lined in beautiful flowers. At the end was the new trellis that had been decorated beautifully with tulle and flowers.

Everything was perfect.

Magical.

Stopping right before we reached Emmit and the pastor, my father turned to face me. Placing his hand on the side of my face, he smiled the sweetest smile I’d ever seen.

“Adaline Rose Morgan. You will forever be my little girl, and no one will love you as much as I do.”

A sob escaped my lips as I felt a single tear escape and make a path down my face. “Daddy,” I said as I leaned closer to him and kissed him on the cheek.

With a wink, my father turned to Emmit and held my hand out to him. Emmit walked up and smiled at me and then turned to my father. “I promise to always take care of her.”

My father was too choked up for words to speak. With a quick nod, he turned and sat down next to my mother as Emmit led me up to the pastor.

“Addie, you look absolutely beautiful . . . you take my breath away.”

Butterflies danced in my stomach as my heartbeat kicked up another notch. “Thank you,” I said as I looked into Emmit’s eyes. His love for me seemed to shine in his eyes. Everything about this man was amazing. He was perfect. Beyond perfect. How I ever lucked out winning his heart, I’ll never know.

Smiling, I said, “You look very handsome.”

Wiggling his eyebrows up and down, Emmit winked and my stomach clenched with desire as my lips parted and I was pretty sure I made some sort of moaning noise.

The pastor cleared his throat and began with the ceremony. My mind was going off in a million directions. Emmit stood before me gazing at me with such adoration, I almost wanted to cry. I’d never been so happy in my entire life. I pictured us walking along the beach with a little girl between us as we swung her while she cried out for us to do it again. My lips pressed together in an effort to keep my tears at bay.

“Emmit will now say his vows.”

The pastor’s voice pulled me away from my thoughts as I focused back in on Emmit.

Clearing his throat, Emmit smiled and the entire world around us ceased to exist. Taking my hand in his, Emmit began talking as his eyes pierced mine.

“Addie, when I woke up this morning, the first thing I did was fall on my knees and thank God for bringing you back into my life. Then I asked him why I couldn’t for the life of me write out my vows.”

Everyone’s laughter rode along the sound of the waves as I felt a tear slide down my cheek.

“Then I realized something when you walked toward me just now. One, you left me speechless with your beauty, and the second thing, I could stand here and profess all these amazing things to you, but all I really need to tell you is one thing.”

I fought like hell to keep from crying as my eyes searched Emmit’s face.

“I will love you and cherish you until the day I die. If there was ever anything I believed with my whole being, it is that statement. You can take everything else away—the racecars, the big fancy houses, the money . . . all of it, and I’d be perfectly fine. But if you were to be taken away from me—” Emmit’s voice cracked as he closed his eyes briefly before opening them and whispering, “I wouldn’t be able to breathe without you.”

The moment I saw a single tear fall from his eye, a small sob escaped from my lips.

Emmit lifted his hand and placed it gently on the side of my face as he smiled brighter than I’ve ever seen him smile before. The force of his touch raced through my body as I stood there trying not to let my legs give out.

“I can just see our future now, Addie. You pregnant with our first child and both of us scared as hell. The first day we drop her off at Kindergarten, then high school, and then college. Me draping a string of pearls around your neck on their wedding day.” Emmit closed his eyes as I leaned my face into his hand. Opening his eyes, he slowly shook his head. “The two of us walking hand-in-hand on some walking path as our grandchildren race by us on bikes. I want it all, and I don’t want it with anyone but you, Addie.”

Tears fell freely from my eyes as I placed my hand over Emmit’s. Closing my eyes, I shook my head. Everything I had wanted to say to him slipped from my mind. I barely said, “Emmit,” as I walked to him and he held me. “How am I going to top that?” I asked into his chest. My body shook as he laughed and held me tighter to him.

Pulling back, Emmit wiped my tears from my face. “Just tell me you love me and you’re forever mine, Addie. That’s all I’ve ever needed to hear.”

I lifted my hand and wiped across my nose in the most unladylike fashion as I captured his eyes with mine. “I love you so much, and I’ve been yours since the first time you smiled at me. I gave you my heart back then, and you’ve held it ever since. I will forever be yours.”

Emmit placed his finger on my chin and lifted my mouth to his. He was about to kiss it when the pastor talked.

“Oh, we aren’t at that part yet.”

The naughty smile that spread across Emmit’s face caused me to giggle. “Hurry it up, pastor. I want to kiss my wife.”

I didn’t hear a word that was spoken from that point on. The only thing I for sure heard was the pastor saying, “You may now kiss your bride.”

Emmit pulled my body to his as he kissed me like I’d never been kissed before. Something beautiful and amazing was shared between our bodies and I never wanted to leave that moment. It was exactly how I felt this morning when we were connected as one.

When our lips finally broke, Emmit whispered, “You’re mine.”

With a smile, I bit into my lower lip and slowly released it as I softly spoke. “Yours forever.”


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