Fighting for Flight (44 page)

“Y’all should buy one of them private islands. Like
Oprah.” Caleb motions one of the caterers over and pops a
bacon-wrapped shrimp in his mouth.

“Forty-two million dollars.” Owen repeats himself,
sounding no less shocked. “Fuck the island. Kick some cash to your
boys, man.”

“Dominick Morretti dies and you guys get all his
money? Fuck . . .” Rex shakes his head. “I wish my dad was a
dead-piece-of-shit pimp.” He throws back the dregs of his beer.

“Raven was his next of kin. It’s her money. She’s
got plans for it.”

Caleb stands from his barstool. “Between her money
and your money, y’all could buy up half of Vegas.”

“Nah. My title-fight winnings look like pennies in
comparison.” I flex against the stifling confinement of my jacket.
I can’t wait to get this tux off. Raven is excellent with
formal-wear removal. My blood heats and has me searching her
out.

She’s on the dance floor that the party planners put
in my backyard. Blake spins her around, her white wedding gown
swirling at her feet. The strapless top pushes her breasts up in an
enticing way. I absently tug at the collar of my tuxedo. It’s
loose, reminding me that I took off my tie and unbuttoned the top
button while ravishing my wife in the limo on the way home. I can’t
wait to peel that dress off her.

“So what’s she going to do with all that money?”
Owen pulls me from my fantasy.

I take a swig of beer. “She bought her mom a house.
And she started Raven’s Nest.”

“Yeah, I know that, but what about the other
thirty-something million?”

“She plans to funnel it all into the foundation as
it comes in.”

I look for Milena in the crowd. Since that night at
the cabin, she’s been the kind of mom Raven’s always wanted:
attentive, loving, hands on. The other day, I walked in to find
them flopped on the couch watching Overhaulin’. Their eyes were
riveted to the screen while Milena twirled a strand of her
daughter’s hair.

Between Milena, my mom, and Eve, Raven has been able
to get Raven’s Nest open and running. The foundation provides
rehabilitation, job training, housing, and counseling for
prostitutes getting out of the business. The place is already
packed with the girls from Dominick’s stable.

“That’s some cool shit, man.” Rex toys with his lip
ring.

“What’s cool shit?” Her voice draws my attention. No
longer the girl who can’t curse, Raven can drop bombs with the best
of them. She strolls up with Blake at her side.

“I believe they were talking about me, baby girl.”
Blake grabs a beer. “Don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m cool as
shit.”

Caleb stands from his barstool and pushes it toward
her, offering her a seat. “We’re talking about Raven’s Nest.”

Blake plops down on the barstool, earning a glare of
Caleb. “Thanks, dude.”

She steps in beside me, champagne in hand. A slight
blush colors her cheeks. “Oh.”

I wrap my arm around her tiny waist and hug her to
me.

“You’re in the running for sainthood with that move,
princess.” Owen shakes his head. “Don’t know if I’d be able to give
away that kind of money.”

Eve slides in between Blake and Rex at the bar.
“Raven’s not about money. Hell, she’d give away every last cent if
it meant taking care of someone else.” She grabs the open beer I
just set down in front of Caleb and takes a swig. “Thanks,
Caleb.”

“Shit, man,” Caleb mumbles in frustration.

Raven sips her champagne and shrugs. “That money
isn’t mine. It belongs to those women. They sold their bodies and
he reaped the benefit.” She checks the clock and turns back to the
guys at the bar. “I’m just giving it back to them.”

The guys all grumble to themselves, probably still
shocked that Raven didn’t keep even a few million for herself.

Eve shakes her head, a knowing smile on her face.
“Anyone up for a twirl on the dance floor?” Her eyes rake across
the available dance partners. “Come on, Blake.”

“Shit, woman. I just got off the dance floor. Give a
guy a second to reboot.” Blake kicks back, resting his feet on the
bar.

Eve’s face lights with a wicked smile. “Ah, yes.
That’s right. Most guys can’t go all night long. The weak ones
lack, ahem, stamina.” She looks at me. “How about you, Jonah? You
look like the kind of guy who—”

“That’s for shit.” Blake jumps to his feet. “I got
way more stamina than he does.” He motions to me with a thumb over
his shoulder. “Dance floor now, woman.”

Eve winks at Raven and takes off with Blake.

I turn Raven to me and pull her in for a hug, chest
to chest. The guys redirect their attention to the TV. I run my
finger along her bare shoulder and up to her neck, pushing her long
hair to her back. “These earrings your mom gave you look amazing.
They’re almost the same color as your eyes.” I kiss her neck at my
spot.

She touches the diamond and aquamarine studs. “She
told me they were my grandmother’s. I love them. They’re perfect.
This whole day has been perfect.” She smiles. “I still can’t
believe we got married by Liberace.”

“Hey, you chose him. We could have had the Asian
Elvis, or the Marilyn Monroe drag queen.”

She laughs and leans into me. I wrap my arm around
her and kiss her head.

“It was the rhinestone suit that got him the job.
Every single inch of that thing was covered.”

“Only in Vegas.”

“Did you see Guy dancing with my mom? I think he’s
got the hots for her.” She scrunches up her nose in an adorable
way.

“It was nice of him to give you away today. He’s a
good man. Milena could do worse.”

Her huge blue-green eyes look up at me. “You don’t
think . . .”

I shrug, my lips twitching. “They’d make a cute
couple.”

“Eww. That’d be like—”

“Like your mom and your dad hooking up.”

Now it’s her turn to shrug. “Good point.”

“Did you save me a dance, Mrs. Slade?” My whispered
words in her ear cause her to tremble. I trail a line of kisses
down her neck.

“Um, sure.” She tilts her head, opening up for me.
“But it’s five.”

I pull back and lock eyes on her. “So?”

She looks to the sixty-inch flat screen hanging on
the wall behind me. Her forehead drops a fraction, and she looks up
at me from beneath her batting eyelashes.

“Even on your wedding day?” I cross my arms over my
chest. I have every intention of giving this girl anything she
wants as long as we both shall live. But I do enjoy watching her
squirm.

“Hey, you’ve been watching ESPN. Same difference.”
She finishes with her hand on her sexy hip.

I lean in and kiss her forehead at my new spot. The
slight scar that slashes through her eyebrow does nothing to mar
her gorgeous face. “You win.”

With a flip of the remote, I switch ESPN to her
show. She kisses each of my dimples and finishes at my lips.

“Overhaulin’? Fuck yeah! Coolest wedding reception
ever.” Caleb rounds the bar for a better view.

“Oh wow.” Raven sips the last of her champagne.
“It’s a ’66 Ford Fairlane GT.” She doesn’t take her eyes from the
screen.

Overhaulin’ on her wedding day makes her giddy. So
easy to please.

I wrap my hands around her waist and hoist her up to
sit on the counter. She kicks her white, Chuck Taylor clad feet
back and forth.

Owen leans in, his head resting on his hand, eyes to
the TV. “Who’s this Chip Foose guy?”

My lips fight a smile as Raven goes into a detailed
biography of the automotive designer. I hand her a fresh glass of
champagne and a piece of wedding cake the waitstaff passed out
earlier.

“Ooh, yum.” She takes the glass and a bite of
wedding cake. “Thanks, honey.”

I groan at her calling me honey and kiss the
frosting from her lips. She started doing that after the night at
the cabin. I thought nothing could sound as good as my name from
her lips. I was wrong. “You’re welcome, baby.”

“Uncle Jonah,” Eric and Aiden call in unison from
the pool. The six-year-old twin boys jumped in about an hour
ago.

I leave Raven to her show and walk to the pool’s
edge. “What’s up, rug rats?”

“Come swimming with us,” Aiden says before
disappearing underwater.

“Yeah, do that thing where you throw us across the
pool to the deep end.” Eric spins in a circle, making speedboat
sounds.

“Boys, your uncle can’t swim tonight. He has guests
to entertain,” my sister calls, walking toward me.

“Your mom’s right, guys. But I promise I’ll swim
with you all day tomorrow. Deal?”

“Deal,” they answer before swimming off to the other
side of the pool.

Beth leans into my side and I throw my arm around
her shoulder.

“I’m really happy for you, big brother. I gotta say
I never thought you’d settle down.”

I laugh and give her a squeeze. “You’re not the only
one.”

“She’s really special, Joey. I’ve only known her for
two days and I’m in love with her.”

“She has that effect on people.” I kiss her head.
“I’m glad you guys are here. I know it was short notice.”

“We wouldn’t miss it for anything.” She sips her
drink. “I will say it was a rather short engagement.”

I nod. “When God hands you a gift, you don’t push it
away and tell him ‘later’.”

She smiles up at me. “Dad would be proud of you.
You’ve grown into an amazing man. Just like him.”

Emotion burns my eyes. I swallow hard, absorbing the
weight of her words and let the silence speak for me.

“I’m going to go find my husband and make him dance
with me.” She breaks the silence, and with a quick hug, she walks
away.

I turn back to watching my girl from a distance. She
laughs in the center of a bunch of muscle-head fighters, as if she
was born to be there. I’d like to think she was.

My heart swells with pride. There’s just a shadow
left of the shy auto mechanic that walked into my house with her
head down. This courageous woman confronted her life head-on. Faced
her demons. And won.

And she’s not hoarding that strength, but choosing
to share it with others. Giving them a chance to beat back the
circumstances of their lives and bend it to their will. I’ve never
seen that kind of beauty. Until now. And she’s wearing my ring.

~*~

Raven

It’s late. I don’t know what time it is. I’m swaying
on an empty dance floor with my husband. Our guests are long gone,
leaving us alone at last. Jonah’s strong arms and broad chest
cradle me to him. Content and relaxed, I replay the day in my
head.

My mom helping me into my dress, wrapping me in her
arms, telling me she loves me. It’s as if Dominick’s death cut some
invisible tie that held her back, and now she’s able to love
freely, without restraint or fear of loss. To love me the way she’s
always wanted to. Or possibly to show the love she’s always
felt.

Guy walking me down the aisle. His snort and eye
roll when he saw the flamboyant impersonator, only to get tears in
his eyes when he gave my hand to Jonah.

And my Jonah. The intensity of his stare as he said
his vows. As if hearing the words weren’t enough, he wanted me to
feel them.

Our first kiss as husband and wife, his hands
traveling down my body to cup my bottom in front of everyone. Okay,
that was a little embarrassing—hot—but embarrassing. My body didn’t
hate it. That was obvious when I had to hold onto Jonah as I waited
for my legs to start working again.

It was perfect. Every single second.

Jonah’s sister and mom have been staying here with
us, but they insisted on getting hotel rooms for the night. We had
the option of getting the hotel room, but decided we’d rather spend
our first married night at Jonah’s house—our house.

So here we are, alone beneath the stars, locked in
each other’s arms. Jonah’s heart beats against my ear. We stop and
kiss then go back to the gentle sway. Time stands still.

“Baby?”

“Mm-hmm?” I swallow a yawn.

“I’m ready to take you to bed now.” He stops moving
as if to punctuate his words with a
stop-dancing-and-get-your-ass-in-our-bed exclamation point.

My pulse quickens and excitement wakens my body. I
stop swaying and look up at him. His eyelids are dropped low with
want. I inwardly smile at my effect on him. I lock my hands behind
his neck and push up on my tiptoes while pulling his mouth to
mine.

Electricity hums between us as our lips connect.
Sparks explode beneath my skin with every touch. Ever since the
cabin, everything between us is more intense, like we’re sucking
every second out of life as we feast on each other’s bodies.

His hand slides up from my waist, over my ribs, and
stops just beside my breast. I moan and arch my back in an attempt
to get him closer, but his hand stays put.

With long, deep pulls, I suck his tongue into my
mouth. His answering groan tells me he’s at the edge of his
restraint.

He dips down, scooping me into his arms and heads
for the house, never breaking the kiss. The spice of his cologne,
all masculine and sensual, liquefies my need. My fingers sift and
grab at his silky hair, pulling him down.

Two steps into the house, he stops and lays me on
the couch.

“Can’t wait.” His husky voice vibrates against the
tender skin of my neck.

I toe my shoes off just before he pushes the skirt
of my dress up to my waist. A groan rumbles in his chest as he
takes in what I’m wearing beneath my wedding gown. I prop up to my
elbows, enjoying the view of Jonah on his knees studying my bridal
lingerie.

“Do you want to see the rest?” My voice is deep and
dripping with desire.

He caresses my legs, every swipe of his callused
hands sending heat straight between them. “There’s more?”

With a teasing kiss, I stand. Giving him my back, I
unzip, and slowly peel the fabric from my body.