Page 149 of Hale Yes
“I’d like you to stay, and I think Nicolette would as well.” I clap him on the shoulder. “Now let’s both go get a drink. I have a little story about a baby elephant I want to tell you.”
My wife brings tears to my eyes when she walks down the aisle. Auburn was correct; I’m ecstatic. Nicolette’s creamy ivory dress is a ballgown style with a fitted bodice and sweetheart neckline. Layer upon layer of sumptuous silk make up the skirt, which gives her the appearance of floating toward me.
It’s a dress fit for a queen, which is fitting because that’s what she is to me… my queenie.
Her hair is down, her curls wide and loose, like it was styled with hot rollers. And of course, her makeup is perfect. I can barely get through the vows without dipping her low and kissingher, but when the moment finally comes, I do just that. I kiss my wife.
Once we’ve walked up the aisle after being introduced as Dr. and Dr. Hale for the first time, I kiss her again.
“You are absolutely stunning, Nicolette. I’m the luckiest man in the world.”
She smiles up at me, the flowers of her huge bridal bouquet tickling the back of my neck. “I’m the lucky one, husband. I love you so much.”
I rub my nose against hers. “I love you too.” My hands slide down over the thick layers of fabric over her hips. “And I can’t wait to see what you’re hiding beneath these skirts.”
“I think you’ll be pleased, husband.” My wife’s smile turns sexy, and she goes up on tiptoe to whisper in my ear as the bridal party recessional begins. “It’s very slooty.”
I have no idea what that means, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to love it.
EPILOGUE
Phoenix Hale
ABOUT TEN MONTHS PRIOR
I’m sitting at my desk in the executive offices of Hale Cosmetics, thinking about the woman I want but can’t have. She’s so much younger than me, though to be honest, she doesn’t seem like it when we spend time together.
As they often do, my thoughts turn dirty, and I reach beneath my desk to cup my hardening cock through my pants. I shouldn’t think about Jordie McNamara like this. And I sure as hell shouldn’t stroke myself off to thoughts of her every fucking morning in the shower like a teenager with a crush. I’m a grown man with a child.
Okay, tomorrow is the day. I won’t think about her at all while I’m naked. But today, maybe just once more won’t hurt.
I stand, intent on heading to the bathroom to think about my forbidden fruit and jerk out a quick one, when my office door flies open. Quickly sitting to hide the evidence in my pants, I relax a little when I see my twin. Then my heart rate picks up when I see the panicked look on his face.
“Helix, what’s wrong?”
“She didn’t do it,” he says, his breaths heaving out of his chest. “Nicolette didn’t steal the formula.”
We’ve talked this subject to death the past couple days. “I know. I thought we already established you don’t believe she did all that shit.”
“Yeah, but now I have proof.” He waves his laptop around. “I have a video of the thief.”
“The security company dug it out already? I thought they said it would take a while.”
“It’s… well, it doesn’t matter how I got it. I’ve watched it about fifty times, and the woman looks familiar to me somehow. Not her face, but there’s something niggling in the back of my mind.” He places the device on my desk and opens it. “Will you watch it with me and give me your thoughts?”
“Of course,” I say soothingly as he takes a seat on the edge of my desk. I can feel his anxiety as if it were my own. “Have you heard from Nicolette?”
“She’s not answering me,” he says tersely, “but I have a plan. I’m going to show up at her sister’s wedding. The rehearsal dinner is Friday night.”
I try not to visibly wince at this plan. “Are you sure that’s the best idea, bro? Didn’t you tell me her sister treats her like shit?”
He nods, his focus intent on the screen as he locates and clicks on an MP4 file. “That’s why I have to show up.”
“You don’t think you being there would only add to her stress?”
He glances at me and shakes his head solemnly. “She needs me.” Directing his attention back to the screen, he orders, “Watch.”
The screen is filled with a view of the hallway outside Helix’s office in the laboratory building. We’re both silent as a woman in all black approaches the camera with her head tilted down. Helix is right; there’s something familiar about the way she moves.She’s short, and despite her bulky clothing, I can see she’s quite thin.
