Page 60 of Mistletoe Missus
“I had no idea you could sing!” Tinsley shouted as we walked backstage, and she handed me the tuxedo jacket.
“Well, the secret is out now,” I said as the crowd chanted for more. I’d have loved to give them my full attention, but my wife needed me more.
“You were amazing out there, and I don’t know how to—”
I shushed her with a finger on her sweet lips. “You don’t need to thank me.”
I caressed her mouth and pulled her in close. Her lips parted with a slight gasp, and I breathed in the sound by sealing my mouth on hers. She tasted so damn good. My balls pulled tight up against me as she moaned into me. I couldn’t contain a groaneven if I tried because the heat of the moment was on fire. We were ablaze and skyrocketing into the night.
Suddenly, Tinsley broke the kiss, and I inched back in for more, but her features made me stop. Behind the mask she wore for everyone, I could see the worry in her eyes. Something was wrong once again, and I demanded to know.
I’d fix anything for her.
“They love you. You should go back and give them another song,” Tinsley said as she pulled away from me and out of my arms. “I have something to deal with.”
“What is it?” I asked.
“It’s nothing I can’t handle.” She answered as she glanced around and wrinkles of worry formed on her face.
“Damn it, Wife. I know you can handle anything, but I want to help,” I assured her and took her hands in mine. “Please tell me how I can.”
Tinsley exhaled a deep sigh. “The fireworks weren’t supposed to go off yet. Someone set them off early, and there aren’t any left.”
I cursed. I’d sort this out. Whoever continued this scheme of ruining Tinsley’s event wouldn’t get out of here without a word from me. Their time to meet my wrath was imminent, and it wouldn’t be pretty.
“I’ve got this, Tinsley,” I said as I reached into my jacket pocket and pulled out my cell phone.
“Mitt, no—”
“Yes,” I interrupted and squeezed her hand. “No argument.”
I turned away from Tinsley and dialed the first number I could think of. I knew just the person to call for help, and it’d cost me another fortune, but she was worth every damn penny. She deserved great success, and I’d make sure she got it. I’d pull all the stops, all the strings. No matter what I had to do.
While I talked on the phone with a company who could be at the Black-Tie Charity Event within the next hour, I peered out from behind the curtain. I searched through the departing crowd until I found someone I should’ve suspected all along. I knew deep down my father was behind the sabotage, and my blood boiled. He was the only one who’d go to these great lengths, and I had to know why.
I ended the call with a one-hundred-fifty-thousand-dollar tab, but my father would gladly pay the bill. He owed Tinsley that much and more. After all, my father was the only one to force her into this messy marriage, and he made me go along with it. But I wouldn’t let him ruin her career.
“Son of a bitch,” I breathed as I pulled on my jacket and descended the stairs.
I waltzed past guests toward my father with clenched fists at my sides. He made me into a man I didn’t want to be, forced me to comply or else deal with the consequences. In this case, my wife was the target, but she was mine. Nobody messed with her. Not even my father.
Cyprus caught me coming his way and grinned as he raised his glass. “It’s about time you found me. After your stellar performance, a celebration is in order.”
I grabbed the sleeve of his jacket.
His smile turned into a frown, and I yanked my father in close. “Mrs. Chambers isn’t the one behind all of this, is she dad?”
Cyprus pulled his arm back, adjusted his jacket, and glared at me. “Did I not teach you better manners, Son?”
With abuse and burns, to scar me for life.
I ignored his question and asked bitterly, “This was all you, wasn’t it?”
He leaned in close enough for only me to hear him hiss, “Yes.”
I lost it.
“Why?” I questioned through clenched teeth and grabbed him by the collar of his jacket, shaking him repeatedly. “How could you hire my wife for this event, but try to ruin everything for her? Haven’t we done enough?”
