Shattered Vows (The Denton Family Legacy Book 2) (5 page)

“Of course.” She pulled her key out. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I’ll pick you up around eleven.” He held her bag out, and she thanked him once again.

Abel leaned in close, and nearly pressed a kiss to her lips. “I feel I made progress today, and I don’t want to ruin that by claiming your lips.”

“Claiming?”

“Yes, I want to kiss you on the mouth so damn bad. What the fuck do you do to me?”

“I don’t know.” She liked it, and her body was betraying her. How could she even like the thought of him kissing her when she’d been a little creeped out by him?

Push it all out of your mind, Harper.

“I’m going to leave you now, Harper. If you ever accept my proposal, call me.”

“I don’t have your number.”

He placed a single card into her palm. “Now you do.”

Abel stood up, opened the door for her, and waited until she closed it. Leaning against the door, she sighed, hearing him leave.

“Where the hell have you been?” Lara asked.

Opening her eyes, she saw her two best friends sitting in their pajamas with a romance on the television.

“Me? I thought you’d have been out with the Denton duo,” Harper said, dropping her bag onto the floor.

“It was a one-time deal,” Betty said. “It was a good one time.”

“Did they say that?” Harper asked.

“Yep. We weren’t allowed to call them back. One night to forget everything else,” Lara said. “You’re not going to judge us, are you?”

“No. I’m not. I just, that’s kind of mean, don’t you think?”

“Not at all. Gideon was kind of old,” Lara said. “Don’t get me wrong. He was amazing in bed, but I want to fall for someone my own age.”

Harper collapsed onto the sofa. “Abel’s older.” During their dinner, he’d given her a rundown of his family. So many brothers, and one sister. “Thirteen years older.”

“You were with Abel? I thought you’d have gone out with Damian.”

She frowned, looking at Betty. “You slept with him.”

“So? He’s not a boyfriend. It doesn’t count.”

“I couldn’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“Would you have slept with Damian after me?” Harper asked.

“No.”

“Why is that different?”

“I’ve slept with a couple of guys. You haven’t even slept with one. It’s different, believe me, it’s different. You can’t deny that. If you slept with Damian, it would mean that you had feelings for him.”

“So?”

“That’s where the friends’ code comes in.”

“No sleeping with your best friend’s guy,” Harper said.

“Exactly.” Betty patted her knee. “Abel should be good for a first time, or many times.”

“He’s got the older man experience.”

“He asked me to marry him.”

Both of her friends turned toward her.

“No shit!” This came from Lara.

Betty chuckled.

“Was he joking?”

“I thought that, and he said no. I mean, what do I even know? It’s not like I even understand men half the time.”

“You grew up with three brothers, Harp, you know men. Too much of them, if you ask me. I think that’s why you won’t date them. You know how big of an asshole they can be.”

She did know. Her brothers could be real jerks.

“I’m going to his parents’ for dinner.”

“Do you think Abel wants you?” Betty asked.

“I think so. I don’t know. I’m kind of scared. I don’t want to rush anything.” She bit her lip.

“Oh, look at those cheeks getting red. Is our virginal Harper finding temptation in our older guy?” Lara asked.

“Stop it.” She chuckled, covering her face.

“In all seriousness, do you like him?” Betty asked.

Harper flopped back on the sofa. “I think I do.”

She was totally screwed.

Chapter Five

Abel glanced over at Harper. She sat in the passenger side of his car, looking like she was hugging the door. The skirt she wore had ridden up her thighs, exposing her flesh. He wanted to reach out and touch her. Abel gripped the steering wheel tighter in his fists. He’d made himself a vow not to touch her. After he’d scared her, it was a miracle she had gone to dinner with him last night. Now, his mission was to actually make sure she was comfortable around him. She looked beautiful. The skirt she wore was white with a large blue flower that seemed to bloom. It always swirled. She wore a pastel blue shirt, and he noticed the pumps.

“You don’t need to be afraid,” he said.

She glanced over at him, her brown eyes wide as she stared back. “Oh, er, sorry.”

“No need to be sorry. You look like I’m kidnapping you. I promise I will bring you back home, safe and sound.”

“I trust you. I do.” She chuckled. “I guess I was worried you’d head to Vegas.”

“Marriage is still there. You want to get hitched, all you got to do is say the word, and I will be all yours, wife of mine.”

“I’m not your wife.”

“Yet.” He winked at her. “I can see that you’re thawing to me.”

“Just a little bit.”

“You see, that is my trick. Get you to thaw to me, and then I will get you to love me.”

She tucked some of her hair behind her ear. Damn this fucking curse! It wasn’t a legacy, but a curse. He wanted to touch, to hold her, to breathe her in, and he couldn’t do any of it for fear of scaring her.

“Hey, did you know that your brothers had a one-night policy?”

“I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about,” Abel said.

Damn, he did know. It was his brothers’ way of never getting involved with anyone. They had seen their uncle go through a lot of pain for falling for a woman, and then finding the woman for him. It had caused a lot of heartbreak, and none of them wanted to deal with that kind of fallout.

“They told my friends that it was one night, and nothing else. Is that what you’re going to do with me? One night?”

“Is this why you’re a little distant? Last night you were warming up to me, and now you’re cold again. I don’t get it.” He was going to beat the shit out of Gideon and Damian. Both of them were meddling with his woman’s friends, and it could damage his chance with her. He wasn’t happy, and he was going to let them know it.

“I don’t know. I was just thinking about it last night. You know, if that’s what you’re hoping to happen, then please don’t. I’d rather go home, eat with my friends, and nothing happen between the two of us, if that’s okay?”

“I’m not my brothers. They’re both insensitive assholes. I’m not just wanting a one-night stand. A marriage proposal is not a one-night stand.”

“I guess not.”

“Offer is still there.”

“You are serious about the marriage offer?”

“Totally, deadly serious.” The sooner he could get her married to him, the happier he would be.

“I’ll wait on the whole marriage front.”

“I’m hoping my family will help to change your mind.”

“I think I’m starting to like the fact you don’t give up. You just go after what you want.”

“Most of the time. I don’t like waiting around. We live one life, and I don’t want to age with regrets. Do you have any regrets?” he asked.

She didn’t say anything for the longest time, so he turned toward her. She was nibbling her lip.

“What are they?”

“I don’t have regrets per se. I haven’t done anything to make me be afraid.”

“What have you done?” He wanted to know everything about her, not what was written in a file without her consent.

“Nothing. I’ve done absolutely nothing.” She flopped back in her seat, and pressed a hand to her head.

“Are you okay?” Was she coming down with something? He didn’t know what to do. What if she was sick?

“No, I’m boring. I’ve never done anything adventurous, or fun, or completely out there. I never challenge myself. I’m boring, Abel. You should just run away from me.”

“Not going to happen.”

“You know what? We should get married. Right now, today.”

“You want to get married?”

“Why not? It’s radical, and it’s awesome. Something completely different, and I want to do it. Can we do it?”

“Just get married?” he asked.

Why are you questioning this?

She’ll regret it.

Not if you treat her like the princess that she deserves.

Abel pulled against the side of the road, and turned toward her. “You want to get married?”

“Yes.”

“No second-guessing, no take-backs.”

“No second-guessing, or take-backs,” she said.

Turn around.

Don’t take advantage.

Even as he thought it, Abel couldn’t drive toward his parents’ house. He should, but this was his opportunity to keep Harper for life. Once she had his ring, it would be difficult for her to get away.

“You’re sure about this?”

“I’m sure about this. I’m not going to back out.”

Abel paused for a second, and caved.

Fuck it, whatever bad shit happened from this, he’d deal with. He always dealt with everything that was thrown at him, and this wasn’t going to be any different.

“We’re going to get married,” he said.

“We are.” She laughed. “I mean, you said it yourself, what could possibly go wrong?”

****

Twenty-four hours later

What did I do?

Harper stared down at the ring on her finger and held onto her stomach. She was going to be sick. What the fuck did she do? Why did she do it?

“Babe, are you okay?” Abel asked.

“Y-yeah, I’m fine.”

No, no, no, I’m really not okay.

Grabbing her bag, she pressed Betty’s number, and called. Leaning forward, she rested her head on her hand that held onto the counter in front of her. Closing her eyes, she listened to the ring, waiting for her friend to pick up.

“Hey, babe, did you get in really late last night, and not get in ‘til this morning?” Betty asked. “I thought we were walking in together.”

“Betty, I really need you to be quiet right now.”

“What’s wrong? You sound funny,” Betty said.

“What’s going on?” Lara asked.

“I don’t know. She doesn’t sound right.”

“Betty, I’ve done something really stupid, and right now I just really need to talk to to you.”

“Lara, this is serious. Harper, you’re on speaker. What’s wrong, and can we help?”

“I don’t know if you can help. I, er, I got married,” she said. Even now, a full day since she decided to marry a man she didn’t know, the words were just embarrassing.

Live dangerously.

Do something radical.

Marry a guy you thought was a creep.

Just do everything stupid, Harp.

She had to tell her parents yet, and the very thought of them finding out the truth scared her.

“You got married? Are you joking around now?” Lara asked.

“I really wish I was joking around. I got married to Abel.”

“The old guy!” Betty asked. “I said he’d be good for experience, not to actually get married.”

“I know, but guess what? I got married instead, yay.” She squeezed her eyes closed, hoping she didn’t have to open them again. “It’s not a dream.”

“Wait? Where are you?” Lara asked.

“Vegas. He got us on the first flight out here, and we got married a few hours ago.” Since the moment she’d said “I do”, and the ring was on her finger, she’d been slowly building up the regret. They were now back at the hotel he’d booked, and he was outside waiting.

She was a virgin, and even though it was her wedding night, she wasn’t ready to have sex. Not yet.

“Vegas! Marriage! Abel! You didn’t invite us!” Lara asked.

The disappointment in her friends’ voice was easy to hear. She’d upset them both. “Can we stay on point? I made a mistake, and now I don’t know what to do.”

“Have you slept with him?” Betty asked.

“No. I don’t want to either.”

“Then don’t. Don’t sleep with him, and you’ll get the marriage annulled. Everything will be fine,” Betty said, being the voice of reason for a change.

“You’re sure?” Harper asked.

“Yes. They can still annul marriages. Don’t sleep with him, and tell him how you feel. I’m sure he wouldn’t force you.”

Standing up, Harper stared at her reflection, and saw the fear in her eyes. “This is why I don’t go partying in nightclubs, or do anything stupid. The moment I start, I spiral out of control, and now look at what I’m doing? I’m a complete mess!”

“This is not our fault,” Lara said. “We didn’t encourage you to marry the guy. We haven’t even seen him apart from at the club. In all honesty, Harp, he wanted you. The guy couldn’t tear his eyes away from him. Maybe give marriage a go. He’s experienced, and he’d make your first time something enjoyable.”

Rubbing at her temples, Harper tried not to break down. “I better go. I’ve been in the bathroom for ages. Bye, you two.”

Flicking her phone closed, she placed it in her bag, and stared down at her clothes. She wore a pair of jeans that were torn at the knees, and the shirt she wore belonged to one of her brothers, and hung off her fuller figure.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door, to find Abel sitting on the bed that they had both collapsed in only a few hours ago. They had ridden to the airport, gotten onto a flight, found the nearest chapel, gotten married, partied, and crashed right here in this hotel.

“Hey,” she said.

Abel looked up. “You regret marrying me?”

She groaned. He looked so sad, which just didn’t make her feel all that great. “I … I don’t know what I’m feeling.”

“You don’t need to lie. I thought this was about us taking a risk.”

“We got married, Abel. I don’t know you. I don’t know your middle name—”

“I don’t have one.”

“Oh.”

“You know, I asked you in the car on the way here if you would have any regrets.”

“I don’t have any regrets.” She winced, seeing as that was what she told her two best friends.

“It doesn’t sound like that’s the truth from where I’m standing. In fact, it sounds to me like you have a whole lot of regrets,” he said.

Hazel eyes stared back at her, and Harper didn’t know what to say.

“You’re not even going to give this a try?”

“Abel, we made a mistake—”

“You don’t know that!” He yelled the words, getting up from the bed, and advancing toward her. “You’re too damn scared to even see how good we can be together.” He stopped right in front of her, not reaching out to touch, just standing there, waiting.

“What do you want from me?” she asked.

“To give me—and to give
us
—a chance. Don’t go running away because it’s easier. Stay. Be my wife. Don’t just get our damn marriage annulled. You can’t deny that we have chemistry. Did you have fun last night?”

She nodded.

“Give us a chance, Harper. I won’t rush you.”

He ran his fingers down her arm, taking hold of her hand.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I just kind of had a freak out moment there. I woke up, and you had your arms wrapped around me. Everything came flooding back, and I just freaked out. I guess it’s the curse of being young.”

“Tell your friends to stop calling me the old guy. I’m not that old.”

She chuckled. “You heard that.”

“I heard it all, Harp.”

“What else did you hear?”

“You’re a virgin?”

Dropping her gaze, she nibbled her lip. “You heard that.”

“I heard it all. I’m not some horrible person. You’re a virgin.”

“I know you said you wanted to be all my firsts, and you will be.”

Silence fell between them, and she looked up. She took a step back when she saw how intense his gaze was.

“I’m going to be your first?”

“I don’t know.”

He held her hand, running his thumb across her knuckles. “You don’t have to be afraid. I’d never force you.”

“I know you wouldn’t.” Abel wasn’t a bad guy. He was nice, and she liked him. Really liked him.

“My parents want to meet you,” he said.

“I haven’t told mine.”

“There will be time to tell them.”

“We’re going to meet your parents now?”

“Yes, we’re going to meet them. We’ll be back home by tonight. Mom has a dinner planned. All of my brothers will be there, and of course you’ll get to meet my sister.”

She smiled.

The plan for an annulment went out of her mind, and instead, she focused on what was important right now.