The Beauty Series Bundle (56 page)

I
t’s taken
several days for me to feel as though I’ve returned to the land of the living but I’m back. I hope I’m ready for the party scene because Daniel is driving us to Evan and Emma’s house for their New Year’s shindig. It’s not a family party, meaning I’ll be meeting Jack Henry’s friends, so my stomach is fluttering a mile a minute.

“You’re quiet, love.”

I consider saying nothing but can’t think of a good reason to keep it from him. “I’m your wife and I’ve yet to meet your friends, so I can’t help but feel nervous about meeting your inner circle.”

Jack Henry had no intention of introducing me to the people in his life when we began our companionship. Meeting his parents and siblings wasn’t supposed to happen but even after we abandoned our original agreement, he didn’t take me around his friends. He still hasn’t, and I admit I’m troubled by this.

Our wedding was small with only family in attendance. I’d like to think that was because he didn’t want me to feel bad about a huge crowd on his side when I had only four family members and a single friend, but the insecure person trapped inside me wonders if there’s more to it than that.

“The people attending this party aren’t my mates. They’re Evan and Emma’s, so we’re acquaintances at best.”

“Oh.” So I still won’t meet those he considers his buddies. “Why haven’t I met your friends?”

He’s grinning as he leans over to kiss my cheek. “I have none worthy of your company.”

He’s avoiding the question. “That’s not an answer.”

“I’m not hiding you from them, if that’s what’s on your mind.” His arm is around me and I lean into him. He squeezes me closer and plants a kiss on the top of my head. “Or maybe I am. The whole bunch of them are self-proclaimed manwhores so I’d do well to keep you from them forever.”

A manwhore, huh? Sort of sounds like someone I used to know.

“I assure you you’re not missing anything, but I can have Mum invite a few to my birthday dinner next Saturday night if it’s what you want.”

That’s right. My man has a birthday coming in thirteen days. Thirty-one. He sees age as a countdown but I don’t. That’s no way to think of life and I have to change his mindset. I also have to come up with a gift for him—a perfect one.

We arrive at my brother and sister-in-law’s and the driveway is full of expensive cars. “Looks like they invited a lot of people.” And it looks like some rich ones, which surprises me. I guess I didn’t realize Evan and Emma rubbed elbows with a wealthy crowd.

“Perfect.” The sarcasm is thick in his voice. “You should probably be prepared to be passed around. If you tire of it, let me know and we’ll leave. I’m not opposed to ringing in the new year at home, just the two of us.”

I wouldn’t want to upset Evan and Emma by leaving before midnight. I look at the time. “We can survive anything together for four hours.”

“We need a code word.”

Is he kidding? “A code word? For what?”

“For when you’ve had enough and you need to get out.”

Now I’m really afraid. “I don’t know.” I think for a moment, offering the first word that comes to me. “Infinity.”

He grins. “May I say how fitting that is since it’s what you trace with your finger when you’re mulling something over.”

We enter the house and it’s more crowded than I expected. A lot of people must’ve come by taxi, or maybe they’re like Jack Henry and have drivers. I hadn’t considered that I might have to mingle with an elite crowd.

Shit. I may have married a man from the upper class but I’ve never rubbed elbows with these kind of people, not even in my music career. I’m a simple Southern girl with a twang I can’t shake no matter how hard I try.

Please don’t let me say or do anything to embarrass myself or my husband.

Emma’s at my side almost instantly, placing a drink in my hand. “Evan’s specialty—a painkiller.”

I put it to my nose and sniff. “Mmm … smells delicious.”

Jack Henry takes it from me and turns it up for a taste. “Be forewarned, L. Evan will fool you with these. He’ll add more and more spiced rum in each one you drink. He wants you smashed—if for no other reason than to fuck with me.”

Cock-block. I swear they’re worse than two little boys hitting each other in the nuts. I bet they did that to each other all the time when they were growing up. Poor Margaret. I bet she wore their asses out every day whether they needed it or not.

Emma laughs. “Jack’s not kidding. You should watch out for Evan. He loves nothing more than to fuck with his brother and he’ll do it through you if he has to—just like Jack will use me.” She hits my husband in the arm. “It never stops. I thought they’d grow out of it eventually—especially after we had kids—but they haven’t. They’re worse than my own children so I gave up hope a long time ago.”

I don’t intend on being curled over a toilet tonight or tomorrow morning. “Don’t worry.”

Emma grabs my hand and tugs. “Come with me. I want to introduce you around.”

We make the rounds and my sister-in-law introduces me to one person after another. Jack Henry was right. I’m passed from one person to the next like some kind of novelty. Everyone at the party wants to meet the woman capable of lassoing Jack McLachlan’s heart.

Meeting this many people at once, while trying to keep their names straight, is exhausting. I need a break from the crowd … and the alcohol. Jack Henry and Emma were right. Evan mixes much stronger drinks for me as the night progresses.

I catch Jack Henry’s attention and motion toward the outside door. I fan myself and then point at the door so he knows I mean to step out for air. He gives me a nod, a signal that he understands, and I blow him a kiss.

I step out into the night air and sit in a patio chair with my feet resting on an ottoman. God, it’s hot. I’m not used to bringing in the new year in the summer. I think I almost expected to see my breath in the cold air.

It’s a reality I haven’t considered—certainly not the end of the world—but I realize I’ll never have a white Christmas in Australia. All of the things I associate with the holidays aren’t the same here. I’m surprised by how bothered I am when I consider that my kids will never go out to play in the snow after they’ve opened their gifts from Santa.

“I see I’m not the only one needing some fresh air.”

I turn toward the female voice interrupting my thoughts and see a beautiful, petite blond with silky hair flowing down her back. “Yeah. It’s a lot to take in at one time.”

She sits in the chair next to me. “I noticed Emma parading you around so I’m guessing you are her new sister-in-law, Laurelyn.”

This woman knows my name but that’s not surprising since everyone at this party is aware that I’m Jack Henry’s wife. Still, it’s unnerving. “That would be me.”

“Your accent is adorable.”

“Thanks. It sort of sticks out like a sore thumb. I’ve tried to tame it but I’m afraid it’s no use.”

“Don’t. You sound like a sweet little country girl,” she laughs. “You shouldn’t change it to suit your husband.”

It’s true that I consider myself a country girl but I’m not sure I like this woman’s tone as she tells me I sound like one. I believe she’s trying to insult me—but in a catty way—as though I’m too stupid to see it. And I didn’t mention anything about changing my accent because Jack Henry didn’t like it. “My husband loves my accent and would never want me to speak differently.”

“You’re the one who said you were trying to change it.”

I know exactly what I said and it wasn’t that my husband didn’t like me the way I was.

I don’t know this woman and I have no desire to argue with a complete stranger. I came outside to get a break from empty conversations and I don’t intend on having another with her, especially if she’s going to put words I didn’t say into my mouth.

“If you’ll excuse me.” I get up to leave. “Jack Henry will be looking for me.”

“Oh, look. You’re right. Here comes Jack now.” She emphasizes his name—as if she’s correcting me about what I should call my own husband—and I’m taken aback by her nasty tone and sudden change of demeanor. Who is she? Did I get her name? I don’t think so.

She walks toward Jack Henry and goes up on her tiptoes. I know what’s she’s going to do because I can see it coming a mile away. She intends to kiss him on the mouth. “Hello, Jack.”

The bitch is quick, but he’s faster as he turns his head and grabs her shoulders to push her away. “No, Lana.” He sounds as though he’s scolding a child. Or a dog—so the term bitch would be accurate.

Disappointment is etched all over her face. His reaction clearly isn’t what she’d hoped for but then she breaks into a sneer directed at me. “I’m Lana and I can see from your expression that you’ve heard of me.”

“Don’t,” Jack Henry warns her.

“Don’t what, Jack? Tell her we were a thing and we used to fuck like champions?” She’s smirking, trying to get under my skin—and as badly as I hate to admit it, it’s working.

Fuck like champions. Perfect. My husband used the same terminology with me that he once used with this woman—the one who attempted to trap him into marriage by getting pregnant.

I’m caught off guard, my mind completely blank, so I don’t have a response for my husband’s former lover. I don’t want her to know what an impact she has had on Jack Henry’s life or how she has shaped who he became even years after they broke up. As much as I despise it, she has had a huge influence over my husband and the thought of her taking any kind of pleasure from knowing that sickens me.

What does she want? She didn’t follow me outside for no reason. “Lana. I’m aware of your prior relationship with my husband and I’m also privy to knowing why he ended things with you. He, nor I, has any interest in reminiscing about the manner in which you once fucked. I’m his wife—by choice, not force. That means he fucks me—and only me—like a champion. And he enjoys the hell out of it when he does, which is often.” I’m shaking on the inside. My upper lip may even be quivering. “Does that cover it, or do you need further discouragement?”

She looks at Jack Henry and reaches for his hand. “There’s no possible way you could be happy with her. If you’ll think about it, you’ll remember how good we were together.”

Un-fucking-believable!

Jack Henry moves from her reach and places his arm in front of me. It’s to hold me back because he knows I could go for blood any second. “Lana, I don’t remember us ever being good together. You’re just somebody I used to know.” He reaches for my hand. “I love my wife with all my heart and we couldn’t be happier.”

“I know you, Jack. You don’t keep any woman around for long. You need variety—and I’m okay with that—but she won’t be.” She walks toward the house and calls out over her shoulder. “Emma will know how to reach me once the shine is knocked off your new bride.”

That was absolutely humiliating—being told by a woman that she used to fuck my husband—and no less than like a champion. It’s almost as if she said that knowing it would hit home with me. I want to strangle them both.

I stand motionless as reality sinks in. I married a man with many women in his past. This is the third time I’ve been humiliated by one of his previous lovers and I strongly suspect it won’t be the last. “How many times do I have to go through this?”

He puts his hands on my shoulders, maybe because he’s afraid I’ll bolt. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know she was invited. We wouldn’t have come had I known.”

I’m guessing she’s Emma’s friend if she’s at her party, so why wouldn’t he have considered her being invited? “You never told me Lana was Emma’s friend. Is that how you met her?”

“Yes.”

I feel like I’ve been hit in the gut. Jack Henry’s connection to Lana through Emma is a huge problem for me.

“Come on. We’re going home,” he says.

Oh hell no! Tucking my tail between my legs isn’t my forte. Leaving would make me appear upset, which I am, but also weak, which I’m not, so I have no intention of giving her that pleasure. “No. It’s too early to go home. We have a new year to ring in.” I walk toward the house. “I think I’ll have another painkiller since I’m due a stronger drink.”

“L. Don’t get smashed because you’re angry at her.”

“I’m not going to get drunk because I’m angry with her. I’m going to drink way more than I should because I’m pissed off at both of you.”

“What did I do?” He tries to catch me but I make it into the house before he can grasp my arm.

I find Evan still acting as the resident bartender. “Hey, sis. Can I do you for another?”

“You certainly may, bro.”

Jack Henry walks up and watches Evan mix my drink. “Get her hammered and I’m kicking your ass.”

Evan gives him the bird and I sort of feel like doing the same thing.

He grabs my hand and leads me into Evan and Emma’s bedroom. He shuts the door and presses me against it. “Why are you mad at me, L? I didn’t do anything wrong.”

L. Hearing him say that puts a thought into my head. Laurelyn. Lana. “Oh my God. Did you call her L too?”

“What?” He looks like I’ve injured him as he steps away from me. “No, of course I didn’t. That’s my special name for you.”

He can wipe that hurt look off his face. “She used your words, McLachlan. Fuck like a champion. I can’t believe you said that to me on our honeymoon when it’s what you used to say to her.”

He shrugs and puts his hands out. “It’s a phrase that my mates and I used to say all the time. It wasn’t something special I shared with her. In fact, I don’t recall ever telling her I was going to do that to her.”

I don’t want to hear details about anything he might or might not have done with her. “Just stop.”

He rakes his hands through his hair—a telltale sign of his frustration. “You are my wife. I love you. She and I were over a long time ago. You heard me tell her that, so why are you angry with me?”

I’ve probably turned an ugly shade of green because I’m so envious of the role she has played in his life. “I’m your wife yet this other woman has molded you into the man you are.”

He cradles my face with his hands. “Dammit, Laurelyn. You make me the man I am today—the one who loves his wife and wants to be a father. When are you gonna see that you’ve undone all the damage she caused? You make me … unbroken.”