MARRYING MR. RIGHT (The Brides of Hilton Head Island Book 3) (19 page)

              She kept the cell held high above his head. “Why are you avoiding the question? Will you for once in your pathetic life just answer me? Admit it. You still love Bridget. Don’t you? You’re in love with a dead woman. I’m glad Bridget is dead.”

              Colton leapt from his seat and lunged forward. Face twisted, he fisted the top of Katherine’s dress and wagged his big, manly finger in her face. “Watch your gotdamn mouth. Take it back. Take it back gotdamnit!” The bridled anger in his voice vibrated inside his thick neck. 

              “Look at you, Colton. You want to hit me.” Tilting her head back, she turned her cheek to him. “Go ahead. Do it, Colton. Hit me, because I meant what I said.” Katherine clenched her teeth together. “I’m glad Bridget is dead.” Bringing her neck forward, Katherine spit in Colton’s face.

              Twisting Katherine’s clothing in one hand, Colton raised his fist above her face and started shaking. Chest heaving, his face scrunched. “You’re not even worth it.” Releasing her dress, his fist lowered to his side. “I’ve never hit a woman before. Never even came close to it. What you said about Bridget disgusts me.” The muscles in his jaws flickered. “But to answer your question. Yes. I still love Bridget. I’ll always love her. I’m sorry if I hurt you for saying it, but it’s true. And although I’ve said it a million times before, I’m sorry for cheating on you with her. It was wrong. I was wrong. But I shouldn’t have to spend the rest of my life paying for it.” Tears welled in Katherine’s eyes.
Hmmph.
Colton continued. “Believe it or not, I love you, too, Katherine. I really do. I’m willing to get marriage counseling, if you’ll come with me.”

              “Marriage counseling won’t change how you feel about Bridget. You’ll grieve that dead woman ‘til the day you die.”
And the sooner you die, the better.

              “I’m not taking all the blame for how things turned out. You bear some of the responsibility for what happened, too. You knew I was engaged to Bridget when we met. I was set to marry her. From what I heard, you knew I’d be at the bar on the evening we hooked up, and you planned to be there, just to seduce me.”

              Katherine huffed. “You sure think highly of yourself, Colton.”

              “Well, somebody has to, because you sure don’t think much of me. I’d only had a few drinks that night. It wouldn’t surprise me if you drugged me. Gary told me he saw you fooling around with my drink when I went to the bathroom, but I was too naïve to believe him back then. I sure as hell hope Gary was wrong. Because if he wasn’t, I’m as dumb as they come. A stupid fool.” Spittle flew from Colton’s mouth.

              Yes, she’d drugged him, but so what? It wasn’t like she was the first woman to put something in a man’s drink to secure her future. “Gary lied. He always had a thing for me, and you know it.”

              Colton rolled his eyes. “Yeah. Yeah. Whatever. I’m going to bed.” When he reached the family room, he turned back to look at her. “Again, Katherine. I’m sorry. Let’s get some marriage counseling, please. I really want to save our marriage. I know I may not be the best husband, but I sure am willing to try.” Colton dropped his head between his shoulders and walked out of the room.

              The kitchen door leading to the garage swung open, and Antonio emerged inside the kitchen. “I could hear the two of you arguing all the way outside.”              He removed his coat, draping it on the back of the chair. “It was about me, wasn’t it?”

              Katherine nodded. “What your father did to you is just downright wrong. I could just kill him sometimes.”

              Antonio cupped his mother’s shoulders. “Don’t go getting anything bad inside that pretty head of yours, Katherine.”

              Katherine hit Antonio’s arm. “What did I tell you about calling me Katherine? You sound like Zeke. Not only did he put Zeke in charge, but he offered him and Taylor to come live here without asking me first. I’m starting to hate your father. I hate to say it, but it’s true.”

              “Shhh.” Antonio hastened over to the family room, then the living room, and back over to Katherine. “Mother. You can’t just say whatever comes to your mind. Dad could’ve overheard you.”

              Katherine waved her hand in the air. “He can’t hear me; he’s hard of hearing.” She pulled a box of cigarettes from her cleavage, grabbed a lighter from the kitchen drawer, and lit the tip. As she inhaled a long drag, a single tear rolled down her cheek. Pooching her lips in the air, smoke spiraled from her pursed lips. Katherine said, “Taylor’s hell-bent on finding her son. Her and Zeke. If they find that child, we’re doomed.”

              Antonio glowered at Katherine. “Oh, no. I’m not going to jail, Katherine. We have to make sure Zeke and Taylor don’t find their son.”

              Katherine thumped the ashes in the sink beside where she stood. “You said their son was far away from here. Are you sure?” Smoke spiraled from her mouth.

              “Yes, Katherine, I’m positive. I paid Kelvin a lot of money. Trust me, the damn kid is probably in Germany or somewhere.”

              Katherine puffed on her cigarette again. “Kelvin ain’t never been that bright. But then again, he was convincing. He convinced you to join the
Southern Mafia
gang when y’all were teenagers. Whatever you do, please don’t ever take off your shirt. Why did you let them boys in that gang burn your chest with the letters ‘SM’?”

              “That’s the past, Katherine,” Antonio said, rubbing his covered chest area where the big SM branded him. Colton didn’t even know he’d burned his flesh with those initials.

              “Yeah, but if anyone finds Kelvin, sees his chest, and then yours, they’ll know you knew him. I wish you would’ve killed Taylor when you had a chance. I told you to make sure they killed her after she had the baby. Why couldn’t you get it right, Antonio? Huh? Why?” Feeling her life falling apart, she turned, and as she started walking away, her oldest son palmed her shoulder.

              Antonio squeezed her shoulders, and the knots beneath her flesh rolled. “I did my best, Katherine. It’s not too late for me to take care of Taylor. All you have to do is tell me what you want me to do to her.”

             
I want Taylor dead
. Stressed, Katherine folded her arms beneath her breast and turned to face Antonio again. “You know what I want when it comes to Taylor, Antonio. It’s the same thing I wanted on the day you had her kidnapped.” Eyes bugging, Antonio’s finger flew to his mother’s mouth.

              Meaning every single word, Katherine strolled out of the room, her dress dragging on the floor behind her.

Chapter Twenty

             
D
elbert pushed the dinner cart inside the formal dining room, parked it by the wall, and one by one he lowered a hot plate in front of each Balfour family member. As usual, Colton sat at one end, with Katherine at the other. Zeke, Taylor, Antonio, and Bane surrounded them. Feeling nauseated, Taylor spied her dish covered, with fried barbeque chicken, braised collards, and macaroni and cheese.

              Lately, Taylor hadn’t been feeling well. It seemed like every time she ate, she got sick. She didn’t know if she was pregnant or had the flu, or maybe Delbert’s cooking just didn’t agree with her.

              Sourness rolled inside Taylor’s stomach. Hot perspiration wet her forehead. After Colton blessed the food, Taylor stabbed the chicken with the fork, then sliced the tender meat in half.

              Holding the sweet smelling piece of meat to her mouth, Taylor’s stomach cramped. She just knew she’d puke any minute. 
I need some Tums antacid. I can’t eat this chicken.
Wanting to excuse herself without alarming anyone, she lowered her fork to the side of her plate.

              Sitting to her right next to his father, Zeke rubbed circles on Taylor’s back. “Are you okay, my love?”

              Chewing on some collards, Katherine gave Taylor a strange look. Knowing Katherine, she was probably wondering if she’d told Zeke about their conversation a few days ago. Well, she’d decided not to. The last thing Taylor wanted or needed was to have Katherine mad at her while she was living under her roof. Some things were just better left unsaid.

              “I don’t feel too well,” Taylor drawled.

              Katherine’s face lightened. “You’re not pregnant, are you? It’d be so much fun to have a little Zeke running around here.”

              “Or a little Taylor.” Colton lowered his glass of lemonade to the table. “It’d really be something if y’all had twins.”

              “Or triplets,” Bane interjected.

              Antonio forked macaroni in his mouth, then snapped his eyes up. “They don’t need to have any kids yet. They just got married.” His tone was clipped.

              “What’s got you in a bad mood?” Bane asked.

              Antonio shrugged. “Who said I was in a bad mood?”

              Bane stated, “I know you, and something’s bothering you. I hope you’re not still upset about not being CEO. If you are, get over it.”

              Antonio dropped his fork to his plate with a clink. “I said,” much emphasis was on the word ‘said’, “there’s nothing bothering me.” Antonio scooted his chair back from the table, stood, and glared down at Bane. “Some people need to mind their own damn business around here.”

             
I hope Antonio doesn’t start a fight. I’m not in the mood
, Taylor thought, her stomach curdling.

              Bane stood to meet Antonio’s harsh stare. “Having a bad attitude about the situation is not going to solve anything. Dad made his decision about the CEO position, now just accept it.”

              Colton dragged his napkin over his mouth, then balled it in his hand. “All right, you two, that’s enough. Y’all are two grown men, now act like it.”

              Eyeballs to eyeballs, neither Antonio nor Bane moved.

              “You better be glad you’re my brother,” Antonio stated.

              Bane’s eyebrows dipped. “Or you’ll what?”

              “Trust me, little brother, you don’t want to know. You have no idea what I’m capable of, so if I were you, I’d keep my damn mouth shut from this day forward about who’s running the company. Everyone is on Zeke’s side except for Mama. She’s the only one that has my back.”

              Taylor’s stomach burned with pain. Bile rushed up her esophagus.
What’s wrong with me?

              Finally having had enough of the bickering, Zeke ordered, “Both of you need to do as Dad said and stop arguing. Sit back down and enjoy this delicious dinner Delbert cooked.”

              “Everybody got my side except for Mama,” Bane whined, mocking Antonio.

              Antonio punched Bane in the face. Gripping his split cheek, Bane stumbled backwards. “Punk!” Bane lunged into Antonio. Antonio’s body slammed into the table. Plates of food went flying into the air. Bane rose his fist above his brother’s face. “I ought to bash your brains in!”

              Zeke clutched Bane’s shoulders and pulled him off Antonio. “Don’t stoop to his level. Be the bigger man, Bane.”

              Bane touched his red split cheek. “Easy for you to say. You’re not the one that got punched in the face.” Furious, Bane stormed out of the room, then left.

              Afraid to speak, Taylor glanced up at Zeke. “Can we leave now?”

              Katherine exclaimed in a proper tone, “But you haven’t touched your food.”

              Taylor put her hand to the lower part of her stomach. “I don’t have an appetite.”

              “I’ll wrap up your food for you, and you can take it home.” Katherine’s kind offer made Taylor feel as if their relationship was headed in the right direction. Maybe the two of them could become good friends one day after all.

              “Thanks, Katherine. I’d like that—” Taylor hopped out of her seat, ran to the bathroom in the hallway, and purged in the toilet.

              Towering over her, Zeke patted her back. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

              Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, Taylor rose from her knees. “No. Let’s go.”

              Zeke’s dark, worried eyes clung to her face. He put his flat palm to Taylor’s stomach. “Is it possible you’re pregnant?”

              “Yes. It’s possible. How would you feel if I am?”

              “Nothing would make me happier than for you to be pregnant with my child.” Zeke grabbed Taylor’s hand, and after she got her to-go box from Katherine, they returned home to their guest suite behind the main house.

SEVERAL WEEKS
later, Taylor’s hands curled around the steering wheel of the Audi Zeke had given her on their
second
wedding day. Not much into cars, she loved the Audi. Shiny black paint on the outside, orange-brown leather on the inside, the Audi RS was the finest and most luxurious car she’d ever owned.

              Turning the corner, Taylor headed down Ocean Drive. Passing
Balfour Hotel & Resort
, the ocean to her right glistened. Sunrays beamed down through the windshield onto her face. She reached into her console for her white Bvlgari designer sunglasses and slid them on her face.

              “You have reached your destination. Your destination is to your left,” the lady on the GPS announced.

              Taylor slowed her Audi and glanced at the building in front of her.
SugarKanes.
“This is a very nice building.” She drove into a vacant parking space, placed the gear in park, and cut the engine.

              Toting her clutch, the cool March air bristled Taylor’s face as she walked along the pavement across the street from the ocean. Hoping she wasn’t too dressed up in her red blazer, skinny jeans, and black Christian Louboutin shoes, Taylor pulled open the door and entered.

              Glad Kayla had invited her to her baby shower, a delicious caramel flavor sailed up Taylor’s nostrils upon entering
SugarKanes
. 
Mmm. Must be one of those caramel pecan pies everyone rants and raves about,
she thought, admiring the beautiful decorations
.

             
Baby blue balloons floated in the air. A three-tier white cake encircled with blue rattles sat centered on the table in the corner.

              “Taylor!” Kayla hopped up from the table and wobbled over to Taylor. A pregnant Kayla threw her arms around Taylor and hugged her like they were already best friends. “I’m so glad you could come,” Kayla said, smiling, releasing her.

              Taylor smiled back.
Kayla is so beautiful
. “Thanks for inviting me.” Taylor waved at her mother sitting over there in the corner, talking her behind off. “Thanks for inviting my mother, too. Wow. You look so pretty, Kayla.”

              Kayla caressed her protruding belly. “I’m glad you and your mother Veronica could come. Thanks for the compliment. With this big old belly, big thighs, and heavy breasts, I sure don’t feel pretty.”

              Excited to be in the presence of such nice women, Taylor felt grateful. “But you are pretty. Wait until I tell you about the phone call I received. You’re not going to believe your ears.”

              Belly hard and round, Kayla put her hands to her hips. “Well, don’t keep me in suspense; tell me now.”

              Taylor shook her head. “Today is about you. So let’s just focus on you.”

              “Get over here, you two!” Sandella waved for them to come and sit.

              After Kayla introduced Taylor to Willa, Leslie, and the rest of the women, they played a few games and ate a delicious lunch prepared by one of Sandella’s chefs. As the women sat indulging in the sweet strawberry cake with cream cheese icing, Kayla opened her presents. Lord knows she had a lot of them, too.

              “So, Taylor,” an older woman by the name of Willa started, “how does it feel to be back in Hilton Head Island?”

              “Actually, it feels great. I’m happy to be here,” Taylor responded, meaning it.

              Leslie exclaimed, “I bet it’s a lot different from Paris, isn’t it?”

              Taylor nodded. “Paris and Hilton Head are in no way alike. They’re totally different.”

              Kayla tore the sparkling blue paper off the square package. “I’m glad to hear you’re adjusting, Taylor.”

              Crossing her legs at the knees, Leslie said, “With a man like Zeke for a husband, what woman wouldn’t adjust?”

              Willa high-fived Leslie. “Ain’t that the truth, Leslie! Zeke so fine, women would travel the world to and fro just to be with him. I did the same thing for my Drake when we first met. Shoot, good men are hard to find.”

              “Tell me about it. I wish I had a good man,” Leslie admitted.

              “Even at your age, you want to date?” one of the other women asked Leslie.

              Leslie said, “Hell yeah. I may be old, but I ain’t dead.” She looked down between her legs. “It’s still hot and jumping down there. Of course I want a man to date.” Clapping her hands, Leslie cracked up laughing, and so did the rest of the women.

              After the baby shower ended, Taylor, Willa, Leslie, and Veronica remained at
SugarKanes
to help Sandella clean up.

              Sweeping the floor, Taylor glanced over at Kayla as she sat in the chair, tucked in the corner by the glass display. Rubbing her belly, Kayla’s face wrinkled. The broom stilled in Taylor’s hands. “Are you okay?”

              Rubbing her belly, taking a deep breath, Kayla nodded. “Yes, I’m fine. Oh yeah, before I forget, what did you have to tell me?” Kayla inquired.

              “Sandella, come here,” Taylor called her over to where she stood speaking with Kayla. Rounding the glass display, Sandella came and stood beside Taylor. “I have something I want to share with y’all. Before I say anything, just know that this idea is just food for thought.”

              “Okay,” Kayla and Sandella said in unison.

              “What are y’all over here talking about?” Willa stopped wiping the tables and joined the small circle of women. A moment later, Leslie and Veronica joined them as well.

              Gleeful, Taylor continued. “I got a phone call from a producer in Charleston, and he propositioned me with an idea concerning the three of us,” Taylor said, referring to her, Sandella, and Kayla.

              Sandella’s eyes smiled. “A producer contacted you regarding Kayla, me, and you?”

              Taylor nodded. “Yes. He’s interested in the three of us doing a reality television show called ‘The Brides of Hilton Head Island’.”

              “Oh my goodness. I’m too shy to do something like that,” Sandella said.

              “Because we all have different personalities, it’d be great.” Taylor waited for Kayla to respond. “What’s your take on it, Kayla?”

              Sitting in the chair, Kayla spread her thighs apart. “My life is too boring. No one would be interested in following me.”

              Laughing, Leslie shook her head in disagreement. “Like hell your life is boring, Kayla. Your father-in-law’s girlfriend tried to kill you! And don’t forget that stupid Russell paid your ex to pretend like he wanted you back. All that drama makes for an interesting television series, in my opinion.”

              “No, try movie.” Willa laughed.

              “I’ll think about it,” Sandella stated.

              Veronica exclaimed, “I’m single. I’d love to get married and be a bride of Hilton Head Island.”