Wife Me Bad Boy Read online

  “No, Grant. I don’t know what you mean. All I know is that you made it perfectly clear that this was to be a one night stand, that it wasn’t going to go anywhere, that I shouldn’t get attached to anything, but then, right at the most intense moment, you want me to cry out husband. It’s a head game.”

  “A head game? Lacey, I’m sorry if that upset you, but it was just a fantasy, like wearing a stewardess costume. It was role-play.”

  “Husbands and wives aren’t role-play, Grant. That’s real life. That’s what women are allowed to expect. A fantasy is a hunky police officer handcuffing you to a chair at a bachelorette party, or a fireman grinding on his hose. Husbands? That’s reality. That’s what we’re allowed to hope for.”

  “Hope for? Lacey. What are you talking about?”

  Shit. What was I saying? I was making an absolute idiot of myself. I was giving away too much. I didn’t know what I was doing. All I knew was that my emotions were in a hurricane of confusion and I had better shut up if I didn’t want to say something I’d regret.

  “I’m just saying, Grant, that maybe it’s not a good idea to play with girls’ feelings about marriage. I know you don’t want to get married, but that doesn’t mean you can just use the idea as a fantasy to play out. Especially when the person you’re playing with might think differently about marriage.”

  “You’d get married?”

  “I can’t believe you’re even asking me that. Of course I would. One day.”

  “Oh, Lacey. Sorry. I had no idea.”

  “What do you mean, you had no idea? Do you think I’m just some sort of slut who wants to sleep around for her entire life? Do you think I don’t deserve to hope for marriage one day with someone amazing?”

  “Lacey, of course I don’t think that.”

  “That’s what it sounds like.”

  “No, I didn’t mean that at all. I guess I just never thought about it.”

  “Why should it be such a big surprise for me to admit I’d like to get married one day? It’s perfectly normal.”

  “You’re right. Of course it is. I guess, I don’t know. I’m sorry Lacey. I just assumed you felt the way I did.”

  “And how’s that?”

  “That marriage is a fraud. That it’s a fairy tale. That a sane adult should be more interested in finding out who they really are, than in tying the knot with some random person they happen to like having sex with.”

  Tears formed in my eyes. It was so stupid. I knew Grant thought all those things about marriage. He was a good guy, but his ideas on family life were royally screwed up. It was the result of the horrible childhood he’d had to endure. I knew it all. It shouldn’t have shocked me.

  But after what we’d just done. After making love, without a condom, and crying out husband and wife at climax, I couldn’t help take it all personally. It was as if he wasn’t just saying that marriage was a mistake, but that marriage with me specifically would be a big mistake.

  I was crying. I was so embarrassed I could die.

  “Would you mind giving me a few moments to get ready?” I said. “I’d like to freshen up before rejoining the party.”

  “Lacey, I never intended to upset you like this. I’m really sorry.”

  “I’m fine, Grant. Really.”

  “Are you sure?”

  I wiped my eyes. My makeup would be a complete mess but I had a compact.

  “Of course I’m sure. I was being silly, that’s all. It happens after I make love. I get emotional.”

  Chapter 10

  Lacey

  THINGS WERE AWKWARD BETWEEN ME and Grant after that. Actually, that’s an understatement. Things weren’t just awkward, they were excruciating. We avoided each other completely in the mansion, which wasn’t difficult given the size of the house. If I heard him in the kitchen, I’d order in from a local restaurant and eat in the dining room. If he was in the living area, I’d go up to my room. One morning, I was sitting by the pool and he came out and sat by himself at the other end of it. We just watched each other over our sunglasses and didn’t speak. It was weird. We’d been sharing the same home for years, and suddenly we were like two complete strangers.

  Forrester and Grady noticed. They knew exactly what had happened. So much for it being a secret. They didn’t mention it, but there was sort of an unwritten rule among us that we wouldn’t sleep with each other. Or more specifically, that they wouldn’t sleep with me. My father had taken them in and we were supposed to all be a family.

  Grant and I had broken that rule, and no one really knew what it meant. Maybe we’d all been living together for too long. It would be a shame if the Brotherhood drifted apart because of something stupid Grant and I had done, but we couldn’t all share a house forever, could we? It was one thing when we were in our twenties, but the brothers all had millions of dollars now, and didn’t need to be living in my house. Jackson had fixed up his father’s old vineyard and moved into it with Faith. Maybe the others would do something similar.

  I’d miss them though. Actually, I’d be devastated. I didn’t want to lose the only family I’d ever known.

  I counted the days until Jackson and Faith got back from their honeymoon. They’d gone up north to Washington State for a couple of weeks. There was a forest up there where Jackson had bought a cabin by a lake. They brought Sam, and they fished and jet skied and went out in a boat. The pictures looked beautiful.

  The day after they got back, I called Faith.

  “How was the honeymoon?”

  “Amazing,” she said, and I could tell by her voice that she was the happiest she’d ever been.

  She’d always been a happy, positive person, but there was a lightness to her now, like she’d finally gotten what she’d always wanted. I couldn’t help wonder if I’d ever know that sort of happiness.

  “Was Jackson everything you remembered?”

  “And more,” she said, and then giggled like a girl. “Lacey, he’s an animal. My husband is a beast.”

  I laughed.

  “And he spent so much time with Sam, too. It was perfect. It was a dream, Lacey.”

  “I’m so happy for you, Faith.”

  “You sound like you need to talk about something,” she said.

  I took a deep breath. It had been killing me, keeping my little affair with Grant to myself all this time. I hadn’t wanted to disturb Faith on her honeymoon.

  “There is. Can we talk at the Rusty Nail tonight?”

  “Of course.”

  *

  FAITH WAS WAITING FOR ME when I got there. I scanned the bar. None of the Brothers were there, which was rare. Usually at least one of them was leaning up against the bar with a beer in his hand.

  “You look beautiful,” I said, when I saw her.

  She was positively radiant. Love agreed with her. Marriage was bringing out her best.

  She’d ordered a bottle of zinfandel and the waitress brought it over and opened it.

  “I figured we’d get through a bottle,” she said.

  “At least,” I said. “Faith, something terrible has happened.”

  “What?”

  “Grant and I … ,” I didn’t finish my sentence, but I didn’t need to. She already knew what I was going to say.

  Her hand went in front of her mouth and a look of disbelief crossed her face. I thought she was shocked, but then I noticed that she was struggling to stifle a laugh.

  “What’s so funny?” I said, indignantly.

  “Oh, Lacey. I’m sorry. It’s just, I’ve known you and Grant needed to hook up for years.”

  “Well I’m glad you find it so amusing.”

  “I’m sorry, sweetie,” she said. “It’s serious, I can tell.”

  I looked at her sternly. It was serious.

  “When did it happen?”

  “At your wedding.”

  She laughed again.

  “Faith!”

  “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s been so awkward between us
since.”

  “Why? Just tell him how you feel.”

  “How do I feel?”

  “You like him, don’t you?”

  I looked at Faith and felt my emotions well up.

  “Oh, sweetie,” she said again, “what is it? Did something go wrong?”

  “That depends on what your definition of right and wrong is.”

  “Tell me exactly what happened.”

  I took a sip of my wine. There was a napkin under my glass and I rose it to my face and touched my eyes. I hadn’t cried, but my eyes were full of tears and I’d spent half an hour on this mascara. If I could avoid messing it up that would be good.

  “We promised each other it would just be a once off thing.”

  “Oh,” Faith said, obviously disappointed. “Why? You’re both single aren’t you? You’re both crazy about each other.”

  “I’m crazy about him, I know that much. But Grant doesn’t want a relationship with me at all. He made that abundantly clear.”

  “Maybe you misunderstood him.”

  “He said we’d only have sex that one time, and it would be a secret.”

  “Maybe he was trying to convince you to go through with it. Downplaying it.”

  “I know,” I said. “That was part of it, sure, but you know Grant. He’s never been in a relationship for more than a week or two.”

  “That’s because he’s always been secretly in love with you.”

  That made me laugh.

  “Please, Faith.”

  “I mean it, Lacey. I’ve been watching him look out for you for twelve years, ever since I got here.”

  “He wanted me. That much was clear. But I think he just wanted me because I was forbidden. He wanted to have what he wasn’t allowed to have. And now that he’s tried me, he’s satisfied and ready to move on.”

  “Lacey. I’m sure there’s more to it than that.”

  “He had a crush on me when we were younger,” I said. “I found pictures from when I was in high school.”

  “Exactly.”

  “But it was just a crush, Faith. Just an infatuation. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, he’s been wanting to fuck me for his whole life. So he took his opportunity at the wedding.”

  “Give him time.”

  I laughed. “I’ve given him seventeen years, Faith. I’m not waiting any longer. You know, we even discussed marriage.”

  “How did that come up?”

  “Well, we were at your wedding after all.”

  “Of course.”

  My mind flashed back to the moment of orgasm, when Grant had cried out wife, and I’d cried out husband. I didn’t mention that to Faith. That was too private. She didn’t need to know every single detail.

  “So what did he say about marriage?”

  “You know. Same thing he always says.”

  “That it’s impossible?”

  “Yes. And this was right after he’d just orgasmed inside me, Faith. It was really hurtful. I was filled to the brim with love for him. I’d have promised my life to him if he asked. But all he wanted to talk about was how marriage wasn’t a realistic option for him.”

  “I see,” she said, her face full of sympathy.

  “Yeah. So, you know. I’m pretty sure there’s no point in waiting around for him to propose to me. I’m thirty-four, Faith. I want to move forward with my life. I want to find the one.”

  “I understand that.”

  “The way Jackson feels about you. The way he spent years hunting down Los Lobos to make sure you and Sam were safe. I know it was torture, waiting for him. But he was committed to you completely. He’d have died for you. That’s what I want.”

  “Of course you want it, Lacey. You deserve it.”

  “Do I?” I said, my eyes filling with tears again.

  “Of course you do, sweetheart. Don’t you think otherwise for one second. You deserve all the happiness in the world. You’re a wonderful person, and you’ll make someone very happy someday.”

  “I don’t think Grant wants me in that way.”

  “Then you find a man who does. Do you hear me? You find a man who’ll cherish you for the treasure you are. You don’t need to settle for anything but the best, Lacey. If you want a husband, if you want a big wedding, and a diamond ring, and the whole nine yards, then you find the man who will give it to you. Because he’s out there.”

  “I just hope I won’t let my feelings for Grant hold me back.”

  Faith smiled. “He was that good, huh?”

  “Oh, Faith. I can’t even describe it. He was better than good. He blew my mind.”

  Faith laughed. “I know the feeling.”

  I looked at her and smiled too. It was true. Any girl who’d ever seen Jackson knew Faith had a hell of an animal in her bedroom.

  “Yes, you do.”

  “Well,” Faith said, “why don’t you just count it as a blessing. You had the orgasm of your life with the guy you’ve been secretly obsessed with since high school, and now that it’s out of your system, you can find Mister Right and settle down.”

  I nodded. That was certainly a good way of looking at it. I could search for the man of my dreams, while knowing that I had at least had the chance to taste the pleasure of Grant’s cock. It wasn’t the way I would have preferred things to play out. My first choice would have been for me and Grant to fall madly in love. And then he’d propose to me with the ring of my dreams, a solitaire diamond ring. Then we’d have our dream wedding, with flowers and doves and music, then move into a beautiful house with a white picket fence, and I’d give him the most beautiful babies he could ever imagine. And then we’d live happily ever after.

  And then unicorns would fall out of rainbows in the sky. A girl can dream, but at the end of the day, it’s reality that has to give you your happiness, not fantasies.

  Chapter 11

  Lacey

  I CHECKED MY MAKEUP ONE final time.

  “You look great,” Faith said from over by my bed where she was watching a reality television show.

  Jackson had taken Sam to a baseball game in the city and Faith was helping me get ready for my blind date.

  “Why am I so nervous?” I said.

  “Because you’re normal,” Faith said, “and you’re about to go out on a date with one of San Francisco’s most dashing young doctors.”

  I hugged her before leaving the room.

  “Thank you so much,” I said to her from the top of the stairs.

  “For what?”

  “For helping me through all of this.”

  “Lacey, you helped me through so much when I needed you.”

  I blew her a kiss and ran down the stairs. The drive into the city would take over an hour and I was already running late. I’d really cast my net wide this time, relying on an internet matchmaking website to find me the man of my dreams. Rob Crawford, a plastic surgeon in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods of San Francisco, was the match they’d found for me. I prayed he was as charming in real life as his online profile made him out to be.

  At the bottom of the stairs I ran into the kitchen to grab my purse from the counter. Grant was standing by the refrigerator, startled to see me.

  “Lacey,” he said, awkwardly.

  I looked at him. God, he was handsome. Even after everything we’d been through, living together for years, he could still take my breath away. His hair was wet, fresh from the shower, and he smelled of shaving foam and cologne.

  I stopped dead.

  “Grant.”

  “You look very pretty,” he said. “Are you going out?”

  It was the first time he’d said more than a few words to me in days.

  “I’ve got a date, in the city.”

  For some reason I felt guilty telling him about it, but he was the one who’d been adamant that our affair was only a one night stand and nothing more.

  “Who’s the lucky guy?”

  “Some doctor. I got matched with him on the Internet.”

  �
��I see,” Grant said.

  I leaned past him and took my purse from the counter. My arm brushed his and made my breath catch in my throat. Why did he have such an effect on me? Why did my heart have to go nuts for the one guy who wasn’t interested?

  “Well,” he said awkwardly, “I hope you have a nice night.”

  My eyes locked on his. I wanted him to be jealous. I knew I looked my best.

  “Don’t wait up,” I said.

  In all the years that had passed since high school, not one thing had changed. Grant was still watching me go out on dates with guys that would never match up to him, and I was still hoping against the odds that somehow, one of them would make him jealous and force him to make a move.

  I got in my car and turned the ignition. For a moment I sat still, the engine running, and waited. What was I waiting for? For Grant to run out and stop me? I was being ridiculous. He was never going to do that.

  *

  THANK GOD FOR GPS. Otherwise, I’d never have found the secluded little restaurant Rob had chosen for our date. It was a beautiful old turn of the century villa that had been converted into a restaurant. It was hard to find, located in an expensive, quiet neighborhood in the hills overlooking the city.

  It was my idea to meet him there. He’d wanted to pick me up but I didn’t let him. I didn’t want to be stranded in the city without my car. It would mean I couldn’t drink more than one glass of wine, but I wasn’t in the mood for drinking anyway. At least not with someone I didn’t know.

  Inside, the house was decorated extravagantly, as if it was still the home of some rich nobleman from the colonial era. An ornate chandelier hung over the entrance and a valet took my keys. Inside, I asked the concierge for Crawford and he brought me to a candlelit table by a window. We were on a hill overlooking the entire city and the view was stunning.

  A handsome man in a tailored suit, white shirt, and black tie, stood to greet me.

  “You must be Lacey,” he said.

  His voice was delicate, a hint of British in his accent. His hair was short and neatly combed. A gold watch sparkled from his wrist. He was handsome, certainly presentable, and there was no doubt he was wealthy and well travelled.

  The only problem was that he wasn’t Grant. There I was, doing it again. I had started immediately, instinctively. I was comparing him to Grant, and I was allowing myself to feel the disappointment I always felt. No one would ever measure up. Grant could have lifted this guy over his shoulder with one arm. Rob didn’t stand a chance of measuring up physically. Not to sound shallow, but this guy’s cock was probably half the size of Grant’s.