Chapter and Verse (33 page)

“
You know Dorothy, married people don’t behave like that.  They talk to their spouse.  Reason with them.  Outsmart them even.  I’m pretty sure that walking out goes against the vows or something.”

“
And I’m pretty sure it doesn’t.  Besides, I’m not married yet.  Remember?  Not married, not preggers, and definitely not in the mood to talk about it.  Anything else?”

“
Anton’s penis.”

“
Anton’s voodoo penis.  What about it?”

“
He’s worse than a case of herpes.  I swear Dor’.  He’s plaguing me.  Just when I think he might have something better to do and he goes away for awhile, he calls.  Or he comes by unannounced.  Then he stays for like hours, occupying space and talking in riddles.  Is that an Anton thing or a Sloan thing in general?”

“
Pretty sure it’s a Sloan thing, although I hate to group Pierce in with his two crazy brothers.  It doesn’t feel right.”

“
No you’re right, it doesn’t.  Pierce is a honeybear.”

“
Yes he is.”

“
I should go for Pierce.”

“
No you should not.”

Her expression was one of shock and insult.

“
Why not?  You think I’m not good enough for Pierce?”

“
I think he would bore you to tears Mel’.  You’d chew him up, spit him out, and end up with Anton anyway.  Stick with Mr. Voodoo.”

Melody sighed and sunk deeper into the sofa.

“
Have you ever seen his penis?”

“
Whose?”

She blew out a breath and rolled her eyes at me.

“
Anton’s dumb ass!  I know you’ve seen Deacon’s and I’m sure Pierce probably keeps his under lock and key.”

“
I think we’d both be surprised at what Pierce does and doesn’t do with his penis.  But if we’re talking about Anton, then no.  I have not seen your boyfriend’s penis.”

“
Anton is NOT my boyfriend.”

“
Sorry Mel’, but it sure sounds like it.  He calls all the time, comes over for hours unannounced...I dunno.  That’s how Deacon and I started...”

She made a choking sound and stood abruptly.  Pacing must run in the family.  I watched her go back and forth as she processed what I’d pointed out.

“
Dorothy, I don’t need a Sloan in my life right now.”

I took another sip of tea and pulled an ice cube into my mouth.

“
Join the club.  Yet look at where we are.  Two of the wealthiest, most eligible bachelors in the city, and we’re whining because they’re attracted to us.  Think anyone would throw us a pity party?  Not on your sweet Prada heels Sis’.  You should be thankful that mom and dad haven’t caught on to your situation yet.”

“
Why?”

I crunched my ice and stared at her.

“
It could easily turn into a double wedding.  That’s why.  Two birds with one stone comes to mind.”

“
Married?  Me?  No way.  I’m too young and Anton is, well, Anton.  He’s a mess Dorothy.”

“
Yes he is.  But so is Deacon.”

It must have been the way I said it.  She came over and perched on the sofa closer to me and took my hand.  That in itself was a rare thing.  We weren’t hand-holders, Melody and I.  Did we support one another?  All the time.  Would she kill for me?  Probably not, but I’d be willing to bet she knew at least a dozen good burial places and she’d help me hide the shovels when we were done.

“
Are you having second thoughts about getting married?  You can tell me you know.  I’ll help you work through it and I’ll even dump him for you if you want.”

There’s the old team spirit.

“
I’m not having second thoughts exactly, it’s more a continuation of the first thoughts.”

“
You still love him don’t you?”

“
Oh yeah.  That’s rock solid.  He loves me too.  That’s not the problem.”

“
Well what is the problem then?  He doesn’t stare at your chest all the time like Hamm did.  He’s obviously not marrying you for your money, he could buy and sell you six times over.  He worries about you the minute you’re out of his sight, and our folks love him.  Honestly Dorothy.  What’s wrong with you?  Anton told me that Deacon has never treated another woman the way he treats you.  He said you’ve got him wrapped around your little finger and he’d never let a woman whip him the way you’ve got Deacon whipped.  You’ve got the Lone Wolf dreaming about a litter of puppies.  What in the world do you want?  Do you even know?”

My sister may be a self-centered pain in the ass sometimes, but there were times when she was right on the money as well.  What did I want?  Was I so dead set in my ways that I’d push everyone away to avoid compromise on any level?  Was I destined to be the dog lady on the block.  Would I ever find someone as perfect for me as Deacon?  No.  Not a, “probably not”, but a resounding, No.  This was my one shot at happiness.  If I blew this, then I deserved what I got.  Was he perfect?  No, but I wasn’t either.  And if he shut down, it was because I let him.  The weeks that we were alone, he didn’t call me.  But I didn’t call him either.  I should have.  I should have picked up the phone and told him how he was making me feel.  I should have given him the chance to make it right instead of stewing over it now when our wedding was only a week away.  This was as much on me as it was on him.

A peaceful feeling settled over me as I stared at my sister.  Leave it to Mel’ to bring me around by shaking some sense into me.  As I studied her I thought, “She deserves Pierce.  But I still want her to have Anton.”

I giggled and she narrowed her eyes.

“
Are you thinking about Anton’s penis?”

I started laughing so hard I had to hold my sides.

“
No I am not thinking about Anton’s penis.  I do think it’s telling though that you associate laughter with it.  Have YOU seen Anton’s penis?”

She began to play with the hem of her blouse and I sat up straighter.

“
Mel’?  Have you been messing around with...voodoo?”

She shot daggers at me and stood, picking up her purse.

“
Check your phone and call that poor man back.  I’ll call mom and tell her you’re fine.  Get your shit together Dorothy, there’s too much at stake for you to lose it now.  I’m bringing your dress by Thursday for the first fitting, so be home.”

“
Will do general.  And Mel’?”

She stopped her progression towards the door and turned to look at me.

“
What?”

“
Please don’t tell anyone Deacon’s wild story about a possible pregnancy.  I don’t need anymore stress right now.  And thanks for the talk.  It helped.”

“
That’s what I’m here for.  Give Deke a hug for me.  By the way, we’re going with yellow and white tea roses.  They’ll look pretty at an outdoor wedding and they’ll smell wonderful.”

“
Nice touch Sis’, thanks.”

She smiled, nodded, and left.

Time to buck up and take my lumps.  I fished my phone from my purse and turned it on.  Thirteen missed calls, ten messages and a handful of texts.  I’d just left him a few hours ago, where did he think I went?

I listened to the messages, each one getting progressively more desperate.  This did not sound like a man that was blowing me off.  The final message was from my mother.  Great.  All she said was, “Call Deacon, he’s frantic.”  Leave it to Mom to cut to the chase.

I dialed his number and it he picked up in the middle of the first ring.

“
Baby where are you?”

“
I’m sitting on my sofa, drinking a decaf iced tea.  Melody just left.”

“
I called Mel’ and she told me you weren’t with her.”

“
Cool your jets boss man.  I wasn’t with her.  She dropped in.  I went for a run around the park.”

I could hear him relax and I felt better.

“
Did it help?”

“
Like you wouldn’t believe.  The run plus Melody giving me a kick in the ass.  I’m good now.  Wanna come over?”

“
I’ve got a shit ton of food up here, wanna come home?”

“
Do I have to rewrite your book?”

“
That came out of left field.  If I say yes, will you be interviewing my ex-girlfriends?”

“
As many as I can get my hands on.”

“
Then no.  I love the book.  It’s a perfect book.  I’m pretty sure it’s the best book that’s ever been written in the history of books.”

“
I agree.  What did you do today while I was gone besides harass my family?”

“
I harassed my own.  Hey, did you say something to my brother about a, and I quote, ‘voodoo penis’?”

“
Don’t drag me into his sordid sex life with my sister.  I don’t even like to think about it.”

“
Wait.  Mel’ and Anton are doing the deed?”

“
You didn’t hear that from me.”

“
My lips are sealed.  Now come home and cook for me.  I’m hungry woman.”

“
On my way stud muffin.  Start peeling potatoes.”

We hung up and I scored myself a point.  If Anton and Mel’ were busy working on their own problem, then their focus wasn’t on mine.

You have no idea how fast a week can pass until you’re planning a wedding.  We started this thing on a Sunday and planned it for a week from the following Saturday.  Follow?  In essence, we actually had two weeks minus one day.  That might have been plenty of time if we’d gone to Vegas, like Deacon had wanted to.  But no.  Little Miss, “I want my family to there”, had to have the wedding on a farm in Connecticut.  Folks it’s true.  You get what you ask for.  Or is it, you get what you pay for?  Either way, they’re both true.

It was now the Tuesday before the wedding and I had been stuck, plucked, showered by both family and friends, and I’d tasted enough cake to gain twenty pounds.  I’d smelled enough flowers and looked at enough tablecloths and chair drapes, that I couldn’t tell the color butterscotch from buttercup from goldenrod.  Between us?  In the end, will it matter anyway?  Not to me it won’t.  We’ll be just as married no matter what color the ribbons on the the table candles are.

Deacon and I spent as much time away from the madness as we could.  Our families thought we were getting the honeymoon out of the way first.  Kind of like having dessert before dinner.  In a way I guess we were.  In reality, we were letting them have their dream wedding.  He and I helped with the major decisions, but we let them row the boat.

We worked on our Compromise List and discussed our jealousy issues in detail.  Insecurity seemed to be at the heart of the matter and once we identified that dragon, we began working on slaying it.  Every relationship I’d ever had, revolved in someone wanting to get closer to my father or my money.  For him, women wanted his money and his social connections.  For those of you thinking, “Ah, poor little rich kids.  People wanted them for their money.”  Stop and think about that for a moment.  I’m not saying that your average person working a nine-to-five doesn’t have problems, but do they have to wonder if everyone they meet wants something from them?  Deacon and I lived lonely lives before we found one another.  When you have to question the motives of everyone that’s friendly or wants to date you, your social circle stays small and you play your cards close to your vest.  When you’re a public figure, it’s even worse.  If you befriend the wrong person and they know your secrets are worth something, it’s a slippery slope to betrayal.

So recap:  Our families worked on the wedding while we worked on our relationship.

As I said earlier, it was now Tuesday and it was “Final Fitting Day”.  Does that need to be capitalized?  Yes it does.  You haven’t heard the way my sister says it.  It sounds like a combination of Christmas and the moon landing.  Very serious business with the potential for fun.  She’s worked her ass off on this dress and I have to admit, it’s a beauty.  She worked a miracle in a week and I’m sure I’ll owe her big time when this is over.

I’d just finished making coffee and putting out bagels when my sister came breezing in, followed by the most beautiful red headed woman I have personally ever seen in my life.  She was carrying a garment bag that matched the one my sister was carrying, plus a rather large shopping bag, and a purse that might also be used as carry on luggage.  I knew my sister, this new person intrigued me.

I walked up to her and started relieving her of her burdens.  She smiled thankfully and held out her hand.

“
Ayla Warren.”

“
Dorothy Lincoln.  Nice to meet you Ayla.  Why are you tailing my sister?”

Her laughter was like the tinkling of bells and it was genuine.  She followed me into the kitchen to help with the coffee and breakfast and I knew we would be friends.  I like a person that can make themselves at home anywhere.

“
I’m her new accountant-slash-assistant.  I started last week.”

I handed her a cup of coffee that she accepted with a smile and I picked up my cup of Lemon Zing tea.  She saw the expression on my face when she took her first sip and furrowed her brow.

“
You’re looking at me like I’m stealing your cookie.  Giving up coffee?”

“
Not by choice and not forever.  Between us, I may be pregnant and my fiance has decided that everything except him, water, and air are bad for the baby.”

“
Oh dear.  Think he’ll lighten up?”

“
You haven’t met Deacon Sloan have you?”

She started to laugh as she reached for a bagel and slathered it with blueberry cream cheese.

“
I don’t get out much.  Your sister is keeping me chained to a desk with promises of pizza and beer if I behave.”

She took a bite and closed her eyes.  A woman that enjoyed food.  We were going to be good friends.

Melody joined us and grabbed her own cup and bagel, then motioned for us to sit at the table.  Time for, “the talk”.  “The talk” consists of her final instructions concerning the garment in question, details she’s learned about the event the garment will be worn to, and bits of gossip about anyone that might be interesting, that might see me in the garment.  If I get compliments on the dress, I drop her name and praise her work.  It’s only fair and I play my part well.

It started out as I knew it would, but the conversation took a turn somewhere between the antique lace overlay and the pale yellow she’d chosen for her dress.

“
Dor’ did you know that both Anton and Pierce are standing up with Deacon?”

“
I assumed that would be the case, why?”

She looked at me as if she were imparting the wisdom of the ages.

“
You only have me Dor’.  Our line will be off.  The pictures will be off.  The whole damned symmetry will be...off.  We need to even up the playing field.”

I shrugged as if I didn’t care because frankly, I didn’t care.  I didn’t have nearly the time or work invested in this that she did, and if she was stressing out over a lack of someone in a yellow dress?  Then I say find someone in a yellow dress.  I took a bite of bagel and smiled.

“
So find someone.  I don’t care.  Do you know anyone that would be available at such short notice?”

Ayla shyly raised her hand and I grinned.

“
You’d do it Ayla?”

“
If you don’t don’t have anyone else in mind, I’d be happy to do it.  Your sister kinda already made a dress for me...”

I started laughing and she laughed with me.

“
That sounds like Mel’.  The rehearsal is Friday night.  Drive out with us and spend the night so we can get to know one another better.  You can get to know the rest of the Sloans then too.”

I noticed she looked nervous about the prospect, and I reached over to pat her hand.

“
Ayla, it’ll be fine.  They’re good people.  Grant and Bree own the farm and they’re as down to earth as you and me.  Deacon is, well, Deacon.  Ignore him.  Pierce is the shy teddy bear and the sweetheart of the three boys.  Anton is the prankster with the voodoo...”

Melody jumped in looking like she was ready to kill me.

“
If you say voodoo penis I will kill you.  We figured out it was your sick idea of a joke smart ass.  Neither one of us even knows what a voodoo penis is.  Do you know what kind of nastiness you get when you try to google it?  Very funny Dorothy.”

“
I know what it is.”

Ayla spoke up in between bagel bites.  Melody’s eyes widened.

“
You do?”

“
Sure.  It’s a penis so remarkably talented, that it must have voodoo magic attached to it.  It’s addictive.”

Melody and I were both blinking.  Her definition could not have been better if she’d written it for Webster’s.  Ayla grinned and we grinned back.  We were definitely keeping HER.

The dress fit perfectly and we all cried.  It’s a wedding.  It’s what you do.  I’m not sure why and I don’t even have a theory about that, but I’ll work on it.  We ended up having lunch together where we ran over music choices for the first dance, and we laughed.  A lot.  The three of us together felt good.  It had been a long time since I’d had a day out with girlfriends and relaxed.  I’d venture to say it hadn’t happened since college.  Mel’ and I did okay together, but Ayla added the glue that made things fit together seamlessly.

Deacon had gone back to work on Monday and had planned on working until Thursday, when he and his brothers would head out to the farm.  The bachelor party would be Wednesday night in the city.  With Anton in charge, the potential for debauchery was endless and I was ready to post bail, should the need arise.  I wasn’t too worried.  That was mistake number one.

Wednesday morning, I was making breakfast when Deacon came ambling down the hall, impeccable charcoal grey suit in place.  It set off his eyes and made me tingle.

“
You’re biting your lip Dor’.  See something you like?”

“
If I say yes, can I unwrap it?”

I saw his eyes darken and I knew I’d hit paydirt.  I slipped my arms beneath his suit coat and tipped my head up for a kiss.  Never one to refuse me, he gave me something I’d remember all day and I smiled.

“
You look hot Mr. Sloan.”

“
Why thank-you Ms. Lincoln.  I have three P.A.’s to interview today, a board meeting at ten, and a late afternoon development pow wow with Pierce.  He’s got an idea for something to compete with Amazon.”

“
Nothing competes with Amazon.”

He poured himself a cup of coffee and I put a plate of food down in front of him.

“
That’s what I told him, but he says he has an idea.  When Pierce has an idea, you listen.  The man astounds me sometimes.  Nasa should have snagged him before I played the Family Loyalty card.”

I sat down next to him with my own eggs and toast.  The bacon didn’t smell as appetizing as it usually did, so I took a raincheck.

“
Will you be home for dinner tonight or will you leave from work?”

His bachelor party was tonight and he winced when I brought it up.

“
I’m bringing a change of clothes and we’ll leave from there.  The sooner we go, the sooner it’ll be over and I can come home.”

“
Babe, you’re supposed to enjoy this.  You only get one, have fun.”

“
What are you gonna be doing tonight?”

“
Mel’ and Ayla are coming over.  We may go to dinner and a movie.”

“
Can I come with you guys?  I don’t eat much and I’ll even let you choose the film.”

I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

“
No.  You’ll only cry during the movie and bring us down.  Go play with the boys and do boy stuff.  I’ll meet you here tonight and we’ll do... us stuff.”

“
I like Us stuff.”

“
I know you do baby.  So do I.  Now finish your coffee and go to work.  You have an empire to run and when you’re not there, Anton takes a shot.”

“
Oh shit, gotta go.”

He gulped his coffee, looked at his watch, and grabbed his brief case.  I walked him to the elevator and hit the button while he adjusted his cuffs.  When he turned to me, I straightened his tie.

“
Be a good little wolf and I’ll see you tonight.  Love you.”

He kissed me again quickly and stepped into the elevator.

“
Love you too babe.  Have fun tonight.”

“
You too!”

He was gone.

Deacon and I have a nice routine now.  Once I made up my mind to stop fighting and let him take care of me, it’s amazing how much time to myself I actually have.  I go for my daily run, but I leave my cell phone on in case he needs to get hold of me.  That compromise seemed fair.  The work stuff was tricky, because he unrealistically wanted me to only write about women.  The compromise there, was that he meets everyone I take on to write about.  That’s no big deal because he was a subject of one of my books and it’s immediate common ground.  He’s practically a walking endorsement.

On his end, once ne narrows done his P.A. choices, I get to help him do the final interviews.  That way they understand from the get go that I’m a looming presence in his life, and I get to pick the male if one’s on offer.  He doesn’t know about that last part.

On the out and out jealousy front, we’ll have to take that on a case-by-case basis.  I’m starting to think it won’t be a problem.  No, I’m not being unrealistic or blind to the facts.  I think that as we get closer, settle down, and have children, our security issues will solve themselves.  We’ve already established a meal pattern that’s hilarious in it’s domesticity.  I get up with him in the mornings and make sure he has a hot breakfast before he leaves.  If we’re both free for lunch we tend to meet somewhere, or I bring something in.  We’re always home by six o’clock for dinner unless one of us is out of town or a meeting runs long.

I think I’m gonna love being married.