Page 166 of Priceless

“Sure you don’t.” Beneath the table, I nudged his leg with my foot. Which backfired when he caught my ankle and held it captive.

Micah leaned on the table, suppressing his laughter. “Anyway. There’s more to tell you about Frank and why the toys broke, all of it.”

And they did. Every little detail of what had transpired. The things that led to our marriage, and the things our marriage had encouraged and allowed, as well as their theories about why Frank was suddenly desperate and making bolder moves than he had before.

When they finished, I downed the last of my water and stretched. “What a mess.”

“More like a nest of snakes,” Micah muttered.

“So what do we do?”

On the table, Everett wove our fingers together and held my hand. “You don’t have to do anything, wife. Aiden is looking, as are our lawyers. But we’re planning on taking everything they have from them, getting you your money so you can do whatever the hell you want with the Caldwell Estate and your inheritance, and leaving them all behind in the dust.”

“That sounds nice.” Not just getting what my parents wanted me to have, but being taken care of. Not having to take on the heavy burden of figuring it all out. I didn’t have to do anything. I simply had to let them help me.

Cam rose and held out a hand to me. “There is one thing you can do though, if you want?”

He spun me under his arm before pulling me back. “Once everything is settled, we need to deliver this news all at once, so neither Joseph nor Frank has a chance to defend themselves or do any more lasting damage to either you or the company. So, we’re going to call Geneva tomorrow.” His grin was wicked. “Feel like designing some flowers for a party?”

55

BIRD’S-FOOT TREFOIL

(BUTTER AND EGGS, DEER VETCH, EGGS AND BACON)

MEANING: RETRIBUTION; REVENGE

OCEAN

________

The little flower in front of me wouldn’t cooperate. In the long run it wouldn’t matter, as no one was going to look at this little nigella blossom and single it out. But I was a little nervous, and fixing this flower was helping.

Guests would be here soon, and unlike the Caldwell Gala, I was looking forward to this one. The first party in my new home, and the party where we would make things right.

I’d chosen a theme of fire for the flowers, and of course, they had a deeper meaning that made me smile. Deep crimson roses for our love and passion. Red Petunias for anger and disdain. Orange lilies for revenge. Yellow celandine for legal matters and protection. The pale blue nigella, for the hottest part of the flame, meant embarrassment. Those flowers also had a different name which made me laugh—Jack In Prison. Appropriate.

And finally, young and pale sesame flowers which meant to purge something, or to reveal it.

Combined together the flowers looked like they were burning, and it was lovely. Something deep was satisfied by the fact that they were shouting condemnation without us having to say it out loud.

But of course, we would say it.

Cameron appeared in his tuxedo, and every thought of fixing the little errant flower flew right out of my head. He smiled, feeling that thought and returning it right back to me.

I wore a dress I’d owned forever and never worn before because I thought I couldn’t pull it off. Floor length, off the shoulder, sparkling red fabric that skimmed down my body and hugged it in the right places. A light, gossamer train floated from the back of the shoulders. I was still fat, and this dress showed that, but the fear was no longer claws piercing my heart.

It was still there, but lessened. One day I hoped I wouldn’t care what anyone thought of me. But in the meantime, I had Alphas who loved me and found me beautiful. Nothing else mattered.

The way my husband looked at me made it worth every ounce of nerves I had while putting this dress on. And watching Frank and Laura see me wearing it without shame, and seeing my now-healed mark, would be equally cathartic.

“Now I know why you wouldn’t tell us what you were wearing,” Cam murmured as he approached.

“I needed you to not tear it off me before we even made it to the party.”

“You need to know that I’m taking that statement as full permission to tear it off you later.” He made a little motion with his finger for me to twirl.

I laughed. “I’ll happily let you remove it later. No destroying.”

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