living covenant 03 - eternal covenant (2 page)

“Your mind is a wonder,” Aric said, tweaking my nose and playfully grabbing my rear end for emphasis. “Now I want an apple for breakfast.”

“Ha, ha,” I intoned. “I’m serious, though. It’s been quiet for a month. That’s thirty days of no one trying to kill me. It can’t last.”

Aric’s expression softened as he ran his thumb down my cheek. “Have you considered that your reputation and your actions at Quinn’s compound have made the rounds far and wide and people are afraid to attack you?”

“Mark detonated a bomb at our engagement party and killed Scott,” I said, reminding him of our most recent mayhem. “That was after we took out Quinn.”

“That was Mark, though,” Aric said. “He’s … gone now. He can’t hurt us.”

Gone? That was an interesting way of putting it. “Is he dead?” Originally I planned to kill Mark myself after he blew up my engagement party. Eventually I realized killing Mark made me just as bad as him. That’s when I decided to let James’ men take him into custody and do what they wanted with him. I was certain that would eventually end in death, so I was technically still responsible for Mark dying. Funnily enough, I was okay with someone else killing him. There was no way Mark was getting a third chance.

“Soon,” Aric replied, his short answer signaling he didn’t want to dwell on Mark’s fate. “It’s going to be okay, Zoe. I can’t guarantee that no one will come after us, because you’re bound to tick eight people off this week with that mouth of yours and they could try to kill us, but we’ve got good security. This wedding is going to happen.”

“That’s good,” I said, slipping my arms around Aric’s waist and resting my head on his chest. “I would hate to think my new life as Mrs. Aric Winters will be delayed.”

“You’re so stinking cute,” Aric muttered, kissing the top of my head. “You’re so cute, in fact, that I think we should get in the shower and be cute together. That will allow us to get dirty and clean up at the same time. How does that sound?”

“Like we’re going to have sex for two hours and not clean a thing.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Aric said.

“Aric, the last time your mother came to visit she moved the refrigerator by herself – which was impressive because she’s kind of small, even for a woman – and spent three hours cleaning behind it,” I said. “My mother has been living close by, but each time she comes over she organizes a closet. What happens when your mother and my mother get in a room together?”

“Is this a game?” Aric asked. “If so, I’ll play. I think when my mother and your mother get in a room together they’re going to turn into mushy piles of goo talking about how happy they are we’re getting married, and how romantic and perfect I am.”

“It’s a good thing you’re handsome, because you’re a bleeding idiot when it comes to women,” I shot back, causing his eyebrows to fly up.

“Excuse me?”

“They’re not going to write sonnets about how romantic you are, no matter what you think,” I charged. “This wedding isn’t about you. It’s about me.”

“Baby, everything is about you,” Aric teased, laughing when I shot him a dark look.

“Our mothers are going to spend the next week trying to control things,” I explained. “They’re going to try to force me to get a different dress, change the flowers, update the menu, clean the house, write sappy vows, cut my hair … and so on. You have no idea the horror that is about to descend upon this house.”

“I’m glad you’re not dramatic or anything,” Aric deadpanned. “If you were dramatic I don’t know what I would do with you.”

“I’m not being dramatic,” I countered. “I’m being realistic. They’re mothers. They can’t help themselves. No matter what happens this next week, they’re won’t be happy. And since they’re both used to being queens of their castles, they’re going to collide in our castle and battle for ultimate supremacy.”

Aric barked out a laugh, seemingly unbothered by the way I painted the upcoming week. “God, I love you, Zoe Lake.”

I sighed. He was charming when he wanted to be. The truth is I love him, too. I am willing to go through whatever hell awaits – even our mothers. “I love you, too.”

“I promise things won’t be as bad as you think,” Aric said. “They’re mothers. We’re only children. They want us to be happy. They’ll work together. Just wait and see. This is going to be a great week … and when it’s over, you’ll be my wife.”

“No, you’ll be my husband,” I corrected. “I think you should start referring to yourself as ‘Mr. Zoe Lake.’”

“Oh, yeah?” Aric grabbed my waist and started tickling. “Well, your future husband wants to take a naughty shower. While I don’t care if my mother knows what we’re doing, your father is another story. So if we’re going to do it, we have to do it now.”

I bit my lip. “What about the cleaning?”

“No one will notice that we left a wine bottle on the living room table,” Aric said. “It’s going to be fine. I promise.”

“Okay,” I said, giving in. Really, who wants to clean anyway? If I could figure out a way to justify a maid – one I could guarantee wasn’t a rogue assassin bent on killing me, mind you – I would totally do it. “You’d better be really good, though. It’s going to be tense once all of our parents are under the same roof.”

“Am I ever not really good?” Aric asked.

“Hmm? Oh, no.”

Aric frowned. “You did that on purpose,” he said.

“I did not,” I lied.

“Move your cute little butt, Zoe soon-to-be Mrs. Aric Winters,” Aric ordered. “I’m going to show you how great I am. You’ll be begging when I’m done with you.”

He was such an easy mark. “I’m terrified,” I deadpanned.

“You’re going to be terrified.” Aric chased me toward the bathroom. “Prepare to be amazed!”

2

Two

^“
What took you so long to answer the door?”

My mother’s eyes flashed as they locked with mine. She was early, causing Aric and me to have to scramble into clothes when we finally heard the doorbell chime. She also wasn’t alone.

Helen Winters was a beautiful and regal woman. She had sparkling eyes, and was always impeccably dressed. While Aric got his looks from his father, he was the beneficiary of a few personality quirks from his mother, including the need to irk people when the mood struck. One look at her now told me she was ready to irritate my mother – and she didn’t care whether I was caught in the crossfire.

“You’re early,” I said, moving aside so Aric could greet his mother with a warm hug and kiss on the cheek.

“Hello to you, too, Zoe,” my mother drawled, causing me to narrow my eyes. She was clearly in a mood. Things would only worsen when she and Helen realized they were at war for wedding boss supremacy.

“Hello, Nancy,” Aric said, sliding in front of me and hugging my mother. He was trying to ease the tension, but unless he had a sledgehammer hidden in his pants so I could knock the two women out, I figured that was a losing battle. “It’s so good to see you both … together.”

“Of course we’re together,” Helen said, pushing Aric away so she could close the distance between us. “Zoe! It’s so good to see you.” She threw her arms around me with a greeting as if it had been years instead of weeks since she’d last seen me.

I like Helen. I really do. I’m just not big on people telling me what to do and invading my personal space. Helen is keen on both.

“It’s good to see you, too,” I said, patting Helen’s back and darting a “help me” look in Aric’s direction. He smirked in response and remained rooted to his spot. “How was your drive?”

“It was fine,” Helen said, releasing me so she could move into the living room. Aric designed our cabin in the woods himself. It’s really more of a mansion cabin – that’s a thing! – than a cabin. “The house looks beautiful.”

Aric shot me a triumphant look as his mother bypassed the empty wine bottle and cracker package, and moved to study the new painting on the wall.

As I opened my mouth to apologize for the mess in the living room, my mother took me by surprise, smothering me with her own hug. Since I’d seen her the day before, I could only assume she wasn’t one-upped by Helen.

“I can’t breathe, Mom.”

“You’re fine,” Mom said, turning away from me and following Helen into the living room. “Why is this house such a mess?”

I shot a dark look in Aric’s direction. “I told you.”

“That’s your mother, not mine,” Aric countered.

“It’s not a competition.”

“If it was, I would totally win,” Aric said.

“What are you two whispering about over there?” Mom asked, her gaze pointed when it landed on us.

“We were just talking about how happy we are to see you,” Aric responded smoothly.

Mom looked dubious. I didn’t blame her.

“We were talking about the mess,” I said, sticking out my tongue in Aric’s direction when I was sure neither mother was looking. “Aric was supposed to clean it up before we went to bed last night, but I guess he forgot.”

“Thanks,” Aric muttered, shaking his head. “I see how this is. When the mothers come to visit, you sacrifice me to save yourself. I won’t forget this.”

“Are your hands broken, Zoe?” Mom asked. “Is there a reason you couldn’t clean up?”

“Yes.”

Mom lifted her eyebrows. “Really? What’s that reason?”

“Aric insisted that I needed sleep,” I lied, taking a step away from Aric when he reached for me. “He didn’t want me to have big circles under my eyes. I’m so excited for the wedding I haven’t been sleeping. Aric insisted on cleaning up so I could get some much-needed rest … and then he forgot.”

“Aric Winters!” Helen’s hands landed on her hips. “This poor girl is about to have the biggest day of her life. How could you forget to clean up your mess?”

Aric opened his mouth but no sound came out.

“It’s not his fault,” I offered, flashing a smirk that only Aric could see before pasting an earnest expression on my face for the benefit of our mothers. “He’s exhausted, too. He’s so excited to get married that he actually cried last night.”

“That did it.” Aric grabbed me around the waist, causing me to laugh as he swung me around. “That might’ve actually worked until you took it one step too far. Why must you always take it one step too far?”

“I think it’s in my genes.”

“I think you’re right,” Aric said, laughing heartily as he gave me a hot kiss. The kiss probably would’ve lasted longer if our mothers didn’t clear their throats in unison. Aric graced them with a sheepish smile when he finally pulled his mouth from mine. “I don’t care what either of you say. It’s my wedding week and I’ll kiss her if I want.”

“Very cute,” Helen said dryly. “That doesn’t explain why you couldn’t clean up your mess. It would’ve taken five minutes.”

“We had other things on our minds,” Aric replied.

“Like what?” Mom asked, instantly on alert. “Is there another monster on the way to destroy the wedding? Instead of rain, should we expect a shower of blood?”

“Wow. Thank you for that visual,” I deadpanned, making a face that had Aric in stitches and our mothers in snits.

“No one is coming for us,” Aric said, pulling himself together. “Well, no one is coming for us that we’re aware of. That’s not what we had on our minds.”

“I don’t understand,” Mom said.

“He’s a sex fiend, just like his father,” Helen said. “That’s what they were doing. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that’s what they were doing when we got here, too. That’s why it took them so long to answer the bell.”

Mom was scandalized. “Is that true?”

“It is true,” I confirmed. “Aric is a total sex fiend. Blame him for all of this.” I hopped out of Aric’s reach as he grabbed for me again, giggling as I shuffled toward the kitchen. “I am starving. You promised me breakfast, Aric.”

“Why would I cook you breakfast after that display?” Aric asked, purposely sticking close to me and avoiding the eye daggers his mother lobbed in his direction. “I promised you breakfast if you were good.”

“Hey, I didn’t hear any complaints in the shower,” I pointed out.

“Zoe Lake!” Mom wagged a judgmental finger. “That is inappropriate!. One doesn’t talk that way in front of company.”

“You’re not company,” I scoffed. “You’re my mother.”

“It’s the same thing,” Mom argued. “Good manners prohibit one from saying things like that in front of others.”

“You seem to be forgetting the time I snuck into the house late that one night and found you and Dad … doing it … with your bedroom door open,” I reminded her, inadvertently shuddering at the memory. “I thought I would need therapy after that. It was horrifying.”

“Yeah,” Aric said, enjoying the story. “At least we’re not doing it in front of you.”

“I’ve seen you two come plenty close enough on more than one occasion,” Helen argued, shaking her head. “Aric, you cook breakfast for Zoe. Zoe, you clean up the living room.”

Aric and I exchanged annoyed looks. “Do we have to?” I whined.

“Yes.” Helen doesn’t take a lot of guff. I figured it was better if I did as she ordered rather than argue.

“Fine,” I said, moving toward the living room. “I want eggs, corned beef hash, toast and juice for breakfast”

“Yes, my little despot,” Aric said, blowing me a jovial air kiss. “I guess I should take my duties as Mr. Zoe Lake seriously starting now, huh?”

Helen stilled. “What?”

Aric realized what he said when it was too late to take it back. “It’s an inside joke, Mom,” he offered. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Are you really considering changing your name?” Helen was mortified. “I know the line between the sexes is almost completely erased, but your father won’t like that, Aric.”

“Well, given how powerful Zoe is, I thought it would be better for us if we both had her last name,” Aric said, opting to mess with his mother instead of apologize. “Zoe Winters doesn’t send the right message of terror and fear. Aric Lake, though, that’s terrifying.”

“It will be when your father finds out,” Helen huffed.

“Good grief,” Aric muttered. “Do you have to take everything so seriously? It’s a joke. I’m not taking Zoe’s name. We were playing a game this morning, and it’s not the type of game I’m supposed to talk about in polite circles. It wasn’t serious.”