Beth Ciotta - Anything but Love

The bartender and the heiress.

“Dammit.”

Luke stumbled from his fridge to his recliner, beer bottle in hand. Several empty bottles cluttered the counter and the cocktail table. He’d started drinking late last night with Adam and Kane. He’d told them he was going to crash when they left around one in the morning. He’d lied.

Just as he dropped into his recliner, someone pounded on his door.

Luke ignored it. It wasn’t Rae. Rae wouldn’t pound. Or maybe she would. Maybe she was ready to tear him a new one. He’d welcome her fury to silence any day.

Bleary-eyed, Luke dragged his drunk ass to the door.

Not Rae.

Fuck.

He could ignore them, but they’d only break down his door.

He twisted the knob, falling back as his dad, Dev, Jayce, and Sam shoved in.

His dad glared at the bottle in Luke’s hand then glared at Luke. “It’s eight in the morning, son. Little early to hit the bottle.”

“He’s still on a tear from last night,” Dev said. He nabbed the bottle from Luke. “Adam called me this morning, worried about your state of mind.”

“Why haven’t you answered our calls?” Sam asked.

“Have you seen Rae?” Luke asked.

“She’s staying with Casey,” Sam said. “Harper spent time with her last night, devising a plan. Damage control. It’s what Harper does, Luke, and she’s good at it.”

“Chloe spoke with Rae this morning,” Dev said. “She’s fine. Holding up anyway. I have a meeting with her later this morning. She’s dumping her lawyer in L.A. and hiring me as her financial advisor.”

Luke swayed a little on his feet, squeezed the bridge of nose struggling for a clear thought. “She’s staying in Sugar Creek?”

Sam glared. “You thought she’d give up on her dream that easily? Don’t you know Rae at all?”

Jerome growled in frustration. “I’ll put on a pot of coffee. Jayce, fill my son in on what you learned. And Luke, for God’s sake, focus.”

Luke felt himself being hauled into the living room by Dev and Sam. They dumped him on the couch then started clearing away bottles.

“The photos were definitely manipulated,” Jayce said as he sat across from Luke. “Rae’s head superimposed on another woman’s body.”

“Why?”

“I did some digging. Pretty confident this is part of a scheme Olivia and Geoffrey cooked up in order to gain control of Rae’s fortune.”

“Making her seem incompetent,” Dev said. “Mentally unstable.”

“Stein’s loaded,” Luke said. “Why would he need Rae’s money?”

“With men like that,” Sam said, “it’s also about control.”

“And maybe revenge,” Dev added. “Rae reiterated to Chloe that Stein made the sexual advance. Rae spurned his attentions and he threatened to crush her if she outed him.”

Luke’s blood burned just thinking about it, mangling any semblance of clear thought. “She should have told me.”

“So you could knock the bastard’s block off?” Dev asked. “That’s exactly why she didn’t tell you. She was trying to protect you from Stein’s wrath.”

“As for Olivia,” Jayce said, “it’s about attention. That act she put on yesterday? You can bet she had an orgasm with all those cameras firing.”

“The woman’s whacked,” Dev said. “And Rae’s dealing with the fallout while you’re getting trashed.”

“I tried calling. I tried…” Chest aching, thoughts blurred, Luke dropped his head in his hands. “She won’t talk to me. Doesn’t want to see me.”

“Oh, hell,” Jerome said as he came back into the room.

“Coffee’s not going to do it, Dad,” Dev said.

“I got this,” Sam said.

Next thing Luke knew, he was swaying in the downstairs shower stall. “Don’t—”

Sam turned the faucet on full blast and pinned Luke against the tiles as the freaking ice cold water pounded Luke into lucidness. “Got your attention?” Sam asked.

“I love her, Sam.”

“Then fight for her, dammit.”

“How?”

“Patience.”

February 15

Rocky kicked off her morning, as was her routine, with a glass of OJ and a four-mile run alongside Jayce and Brewster. Unfortunately, the physical exertion did nothing to dispel the anxiety that had been building inside of her for the past few days. This was her wedding day and it wasn’t like anything she’d ever dreamed.

Yes, everything was set. Everything was going according to plan. The Cupcake Lovers hadn’t forgotten about making her cake. But instead of a joyful task, while baking up delicious perfection, they’d all battled the shock and sadness of seeing Rae humiliated by her whacko mother.

The next day, Valentine’s Day, had been all but forgotten as family and friends pulled together, trying to comfort and help Rae. As for Luke, Rocky had never known her carefree brother to be such a mess. Jayce said he was pulling it together, but as of her wedding morning, Luke and Rae were still estranged and everyone was feeling the effect.

Most especially, Rocky.

Now, moments before taking her wedding vows, her composure shattered. She burst into tears.

Her mother, who’d been arranging Rocky’s veil, swung around and cupped her daughter’s cheeks. “What is it, sweetheart? What’s wrong?”

“Can’t do this.”

“Of course you can. You’ve been waiting for this moment all your life.”

Chloe moved in and squeezed Rocky’s hand. “Just the jitters. Deep breath.”

“Timing’s wrong,” Rocky squeaked out over a sob.

“I’ll get Jayce,” Monica said.

“No. Not supposed to see me.”

“The timing’s perfect,” Kaye said. “You look beautiful. The church looks beautiful and all of your friends and family are waiting to share in your special day.”

“Rae?”

“She’s out there,” Chloe said. “She’s sitting with Casey and Sam and the kids.

“Luke?”

“He’s with Jayce, dear. Remember? Your brothers are standing up with him.”

“Have they talked?”

“Who, dear?”

“Rae and Luke?”

“I don’t know. I—”

Rocky felt a warm, large hand squeezing her shoulder.

“What’s the trouble, Dash?”

Heart pounding, Rocky turned into the arms of the love of her life. “Everyone’s supposed to be happy.”

“I’m happy, baby.” He smoothed tears from her cheeks. “I’ll be damned delirious when you say ‘I do.’”

“It’s just … today. It was supposed to be magical.”

Jayce kissed her with tender passion. “Then let’s make some magic.”

* * *

Rae sat in the pew, flanked by Casey and Sam, struggling with twisted emotions. She’d spent the last day and a half taking control of her tattered life. Harper had flown back to L.A. this morning but not before working miracles for Rae with the media and she’d promised to continue her PR efforts on Rae’s behalf. In addition to Harper, Rae had also had the support of Sam and Casey, Dev and Chloe, Luke’s parents, and Rocky and Jayce. So many people had stepped up to her defense.

Even Luke.

At least he had tried. Rae had shut him down. Shut him out. All because of that one moment of doubt.

She didn’t blame him. Truly she didn’t. She should have told him about Geoffrey’s sexual advance. She should have trusted that Luke would have handled the news appropriately. If he’d had that heads-up, maybe he would have instantly seen through Olivia’s twisted version. Those compromising photos hadn’t helped. She knew she wasn’t the girl in those pictures and even she had been rattled. Logically, she understood why Luke had lapsed. Logically, she knew the moment had quickly passed. She’d agreed early on to a paternity test if he wanted. She hadn’t lied about the baby. Luke was the father. Logically, she knew he believed that. And she believed that Luke loved her.

Unfortunately, logic was no match for emotions and Rae had needed time to sort out her thoughts and feelings. Luke needed time, too, even if he didn’t believe that at first. She knew through the grapevine that he’d taken their separation hard. Sam had been his greatest champion, although her friend hadn’t told her anything she didn’t already know. Most essentially, Luke was a kind man. A good man. Still, Rae had needed time. They hadn’t spoken since that awful confrontation. She hadn’t seen him.

Until now.

Casey reached over and squeezed Rae’s hand as Luke entered from a side room and took his place beside his brother and Jayce.

Rae’s pulse raced. He looked so handsome in his tuxedo and when he smiled over at his brother and Jayce, her heart did this funny dance. She knew he was hurting, but he was pulling it together for family. Just one of the reasons she loved Luke. He was all about family.

The bridal march signaled Rocky’s entrance and everyone stood. Rae’s eyes filled with tears as Jerome, looking more dapper than frail, escorted his daughter down the rose-petaled aisle. Rae tried to imagine what Rocky was feeling.

She couldn’t.

When Jerome handed his daughter over to Jayce, Rae grabbed a wad of tissues from her purse.

Sam reached over and patted her knee then he shushed his daughter, who’d started to squirm.

Rae’s pulse raced as the preacher started the ceremony, heart in throat along with everyone else in the church. This moment had been a long time coming for Rocky and Jayce. It was all so beautiful, so perfect … until Rocky stopped the preacher just as he reached the vow portion.

There was a stunned sort of silence as Rocky whispered into Jayce’s ear. He nodded then kissed her cheek. She turned and addressed her wedding guests.

“As you all know, this is a very special day for me.” She glanced at Jayce with a shy smile. “For us. We’re about to say our vows, to pledge our forever love, and though it won’t be official, I’d like to invite every couple, anyone who’s in love, to stand and take these vows with us.”

Rae stared, her chest exploding with wonder as, one by one, couples stood.

Rocky’s parents.

Monica and Leo.

Daisy and Vince.

Dev looked at Chloe and, smiling, she moved from her bridesmaid position to stand beside her intended.

“Brace yourself,” Sam said close to Rae’s ear and then suddenly he was jostling her so she was seated at the end of the pew.

She blinked through confusion and tears to see Luke striding down the aisle.

He reached down and pulled her to her feet then, with everyone watching, he took a folded red paper from his pocket and gave it to Rae. “I made this for you.”

“A valentine?” she whispered. Hands trembling, Rae unfolded the fairly large heart, her throat tightening as she noted the long, painstakingly neat handwritten message. She met his vulnerable gaze, swallowed, then looked back to the note. A note professing his love.

She imagined it had taken him as long to write the note as to gather his thoughts. He’d had to work hard to produce the beautifully written words. And he’d done it for her.

Words failed Rae, but she did smile. And she followed, when Luke took her hand and led her toward the altar to stand alongside Rocky and Jayce and Dev and Chloe. The moment could not have been any more perfect.

Until Rocky signaled the preacher to continue after smiling at her siblings and saying, “Magic.”

BETH CIOTTA is an award-winning author who specializes in romantic comedy with a twist. Her work includes contemporary, historical, and paranormal romantic fiction. “I can’t think of anything more fulfilling than writing stories where everyone (except the villain, of course) gets a happy ending!”