Authors: Crystal Perkins
Lessons in SECRET (23 page)
She starts to drop to
her knees, but I grab her arm and pull her to me.
“We’ve already got
a ring, babe,” I tell her as I take her hand and slide it back on
her finger where it belongs. When the woman you love—who avoids
attention at all costs—is ready to get on her knees in a packed
ballroom after declaring her love for you for everyone to hear, you
know she means what she’s saying.
“You didn’t answer
me,” she says.
“Yes, I’ll marry
you. Of course I’ll marry you. You didn’t need to ask me in front
of all these people, you know.”
“I had to show you
that you’re more important to me than my fear of being seen. I’ll
probably never do something like this again, but I had to do it now.”
“I appreciate it more
than you could possibly know.” I remember what else is in my hand.
“Can I open my gift now?”
“Sure.”
I open the little bag
and what I see makes me burst into laughter before dipping her down
into a kiss. It’s a ribbon with a medal on it. Like you’d get for
completing a marathon. Only this one says “The Inaugural Isabelle
Carlton Sexathon Endurance Award.”
“Best. Gift. Ever.”
begins…
Reina
Today’s the big day.
The day I marry the man I love. If it was happening for real, I’d
be wearing my dream dress and it would be taking place somewhere
else. But it’s all fake, a way to keep the Foundation and Society
intact. So I’m wearing a dress that looks okay, a ring made up of a
stone that’s a color I hate, and it’s all happening in a casino
ballroom. It could be worse, but it could also be much better.
I decide that I
probably spoke too soon when a delivery from my husband-to-be
arrives. It’s a necklace and tiara that most women would love. But
since they’re both made of not only white diamonds, but yellow ones
too, I hate them. Almost as much as my big yellow ring. Which I don’t
really hate because Matt gave it to me. Even if it’s a hideous
color, it came from the man I love so I’d wear it for the rest of
my life if I could. Just like the necklace and tiara.
I’ve been in love
with Matt Corrigan since I was seventeen years old, and I know I’ll
love him until the day I die. There was a time when I thought he
wanted to be with me forever, but whatever happened to him overseas
changed him. I know he loves me, but he usually hurts me more than he
shows me his cares. And oftentimes, it’s intentional.
Like all the women he
flaunts in front of me. Or flaunted. He promised that it would just
be me for the next year, and I believe that he’ll keep that
promise. So I’ve got a year to convince him that we’re right
together. If I can’t, I don’t honestly know if I can stay on at
Corrigan & Co.
I know I should’ve
told Jane that. I should’ve let someone else marry Matt. But I’m
too selfish to let that happen. I need this year, and then I need it
all from him. I just pray that he’ll finally be ready to give it to
me.
* * *
Matt
I guess some men are
nervous on their wedding day, but not me. I used to dream of this
when I was in the desert. I’d think about making it out of there
alive and coming home to her. Reina. She was just a girl when we met,
but she was my girl. Until she wasn’t anymore.
That’s all on me.
After what I did, I couldn’t face her again. Or even email with
her. I was tainted, and the blood wouldn’t come off. She deserved
better. She still does.
When I saw her again
for the first time three years ago, I felt at peace for the first
time in forever. She does that for me, she calms the beast that lurks
inside of me. I use her, and she lets me. Even when she knows I’ll
take another woman to bed the next night. It’s not that she lacks
self-respect. She does it because she loves me, and she believes I
love her, too. I do. I’d die for her, and kill for her. I just know
I’m wrong for her.
She should be with a
guy who doesn’t carry around the demons I do. But she’s too
stubborn to give up on me. And God help me, but I want it to work. I
pray every night that I’ll be the man she deserves. So far it
hasn’t happened, but I won’t stop the prayers.
We have one year. One
year for her to love me into being a better man. Or one year for me
to break her for good. I know which one I want, but I also know which
one is more likely. Maybe I need to start praying more than once a
day.
Tegan
Reina and Matt’s
wedding was everything we all knew it would be—full of unspoken
love, and fake romance. It wasn’t the wedding Reina dreamed of as a
little girl, and that’s exactly the way she wanted it. She loves
Matt more than life itself, and he loves her just as fiercely. But
since he won’t admit that, she made sure that none of what happened
yesterday was real. They’re really married, but that’s about it.
She wore a dress she could tolerate, yellow diamonds she couldn’t,
and a smile that anyone with half a brain could tell was fake.
They didn’t even take
a real honeymoon, which is why I’m walking to Reina’s office
right now. She called and said that there was someone coming in who
needed our help. I just got done with my suspension from missions, so
she was offering it to me first. All I know is that it’s some kind
of personal protection job.
I walk into the office,
and stop dead in my tracks. The woman in the chair sees me at almost
the exact moment I see her, and she rockets to her feet.
“Tegan?”
“Hello, Mrs. Hall.”
“You two know each
other?” Reina asks.
“Yes. We do,” I
say, trying not to show any emotion.
“She can’t be the
one. She can’t help. My son would never believe I hired her as my
assistant.”
“Son? This is about
Caleb?”
“That’s none of
your business. You made sure of it when you cheated on my son, and
broke his heart.”
“I didn’t cheat on
Cal, and believe me, what he did to my heart was much worse.”
“People saw you leave
that bedroom in your bra and panties.”
“That may very well
be, but no one saw what happened in that room.”
“Greg told Caleb what
happened.”
“Don’t sugarcoat it
for my benefit. He told the whole town what he wanted them to hear.
That doesn’t mean it was the truth.”
“I want to believe
you, Tegan, I do. You were like a daughter to me for so many years.
But you weren’t yourself after that night, and you didn’t try to
defend yourself. The girl I knew wouldn’t have let it all go so
easily.”
“Yeah, well, when
they boy I loved more than life itself called me a slut without even
giving me that chance to defend myself, it kind of broke me.”
And nothing and no one
have ever been able to put me back together. Not only because of what
Caleb did, how he believed someone else over me. But because of what
happened after. And what would’ve happened if Cyndi Evans hadn’t
saved us. Because as a sixteen year old girl, what my parents had
planned for me was out of my control, but would’ve destroyed me for
good.
I have control now,
though, and years of ignoring that stupid ‘S’ word people like to
throw around like it’s nothing. Like it doesn’t hurt a girl to be
called that. Even if she does enjoy sex. Or if she’s just using sex
to try and get over a boy, or the hurt he’s caused her.
“If Caleb’s in
danger, I’m doing this mission. I may not be able to be point
person, but I’m going to be there as back-up.”
“Teeg, are you sure?”
“Yeah, Reina. I am.”
It’s time for me to
go home and confront my demons. And maybe even the Devil himself. I
have to do it, because despite my scarlet “S” and the hate Caleb
spewed at me all those years ago, I still love him. God help me, but
no one has been able to make me forget him, and what could’ve been.
I gave up hoping that we’d be together years ago, but I can make
him listen to me now when he wouldn’t back then. I’ll hold him at
gunpoint if I have to, but he
will
listen to me. And maybe I’ll even let him meet our son.
Dominique and Gabi, you
always get top billing here :)
Helen Williams, Jesse
Gordon, and Ally Murphy-As always, there wouldn’t be a book without
the three of you! Thank you for all the hard work you put in for me!
Lisa Dess-Thanks for
talking up Gaming for Love last year while we were at RT, and for
making me have Hurricane Shooters on my first ever release day. I’m
glad I got to share that with you, and give you a mention in this
book!
Sarah Vela-I don’t
see you as much as I’d like, but I appreciate you more than you can
ever know!
The Friends of the
Society-You ladies are the best secret group ever (although I guess
now you’re not so secret)! Thanks for always being impatient for my
next book, which makes me write them even faster!
Chris Baughman, Al
Beas, and Cathy Hui-All those times I went out to hear Chris speak
about PIT and your team at his book signings has obviously stayed
with me! Las Vegas needed you, and you answered the call, saving so
many women! Eternal thanks for everything you’ve done for this
city!
To all the readers who
pick up the books, post on my Facebook wall, send me emails, and
message me on FB, Twitter, or Goodreads, THANK YOU! I appreciate you
all (and I’m as obsessed with Reina and Matt as you are)! Feel free
to reach out any time!
Author
Crystal Perkins
has always been a big reader, but she never thought she would write
her own book, until she did. She lives in Las Vegas, where you can
find her running author events and selling books at conventions when
she isn’t reading, buying too many Sherlock t-shirts online or
finding a place to put all of her Pop! figurines. A mac and cheese
connoisseur, she travels the country looking for the perfect version,
while attending book conventions and signings as a cover for her
research. The Griffin Brothers series are all International Best
Sellers, the Corrigan & Co. series is also doing well, and she’s
thankful to the readers who made those things happen!
Find
her here: