Tied to His Betrayal (Dirty Little Secrets 2)

I kiss the sweet spot on the back of her neck. “Because if I’m going to be in the tabloids tomorrow because I fucked you in a supply closet, the story better say that I made you scream.”

She bursts out laughing. “Ah, what a story that will be.”

“It’ll be the best story of all,” I say, kissing her cheek.

“And why is that?” She smiles.

“Because it’s our story.”

Epilogue

Darius

One month later, I stare at the tombstone in the middle of the large cemetery and think, I don’t remember you. I feel like I don’t even know you at all, except for what I’m learning about you from Allie. I’m sorry it took me so long to see what you went through. What he put you through. He won’t hurt anyone else, that I promise you. Especially Allie. He won’t get anywhere near her. You missed so much in my life. So now I’m going to show you something. Something that he won’t ever see. Something that I imagine would have made you very happy if you’d still been here.

I glance over my shoulder, first noticing Allie and Micah sitting in his Bentley, with Taylor waiting a few feet in front of them. We’d all come to the cemetery together this afternoon, mainly because I had no idea where my mother had been buried. Which, in turn, had been next to her husband, under an old oak tree. My mind wants to travel to the places I think are expected. If only you didn’t die. If only I had the chance to know you. So many if only’s…

But I have no time for that. I’ve never stayed in the past long, as I know those thoughts can turn into something major if you let them. I stare at the woman watching me closely. Taylor gave me space, but now I call her forward with a wave of my hand.

“Are you okay?” she asks when she reaches me.

I smile, taking her hand. “Yes, I’m good.”

She looks so worried for me, her brows furrowed tight, but coming to the cemetery didn’t worry me. Life and death happens. Hell, shit happens, too. I simply refuse to waste any more time than what’s already been wasted.

Of course, I can’t deny there’s still a world of guilt hanging on my shoulders that I hadn’t listened to Allie earlier and checked into my father’s story. Truth is, I believe I’d become numb to anything about my mother. My father made sure of that. And I’d been so focused on my success, gaining back all that I had lost, that I hadn’t realized I’d been fighting for the wrong thing. I cared more for money than I cared for relationships.

As I stare into Taylor’s warm eyes, I realize from this day on, I’ll always fight for the right thing. Her.

She’s staying silent, while I’m brushing my thumb across her soft hand, the sun beaming down on us, and I can’t stop the regret of not going to my mother when she was alive and demanding an answer for why she left, because maybe then I would have known her. But those are the scars of life. They never completely heal, but they don’t continue to bleed either.

Taylor steps closer to me, finally breaking the silence. “I’m glad you came here.”

“Me too,” I say, reaching into my pocket, retrieving the ripped-out magazine cover. “Because I wanted to give you this when we were here.”

She opens the piece of paper, her brows pulling together even tighter now at the cover headline: Darius Bennett Is Getting Married! “I don’t understand this,” she says.

“Seems like the tabloids are still printing the truth,” I tell her.

She lifts her head, blinks at me, then glances at the cover. In that second, I grab the princess-cut diamond engagement ring from my pocket. And when she looks at me again, I drop to one knee, holding up the ring to her.

The magazine cover flutters out of her hand before both are over her mouth, eyes wide. “Oh, God.”

“You know I’m not good with this…sharing stuff…” I stare into her watery eyes and drop the barriers, allowing the words to come. “My life is nothing without you. It’s like I’m a shadow, always living, but somehow bathed in darkness. I don’t want to live that way anymore. I want this. I want you, not only by my side. I want you to be my wife.” I pause, letting her absorb what I’ve said before I ask, “Taylor Erickson, will you marry me?”

“Yes!” She jumps at me, nearly sending me ass over teakettle.

I chuckle, wrapping my arms around her waist, kissing her swiftly. When I told Allie and Micah my plans, I questioned if a cemetery would ruin the mood. But as I taste the saltiness of Taylor’s tears on my lips, I realize my worries were pointless. She understands the why behind my choices today.

Her sweet laughter pulls me away. I see the delight shine in her eyes when I slide the ring onto her finger. “You’re happy?” I ask.

She laughs again; this time it sounds so free. “I’m so happy, Darius. I’m so, so friggin’ happy. I love you.”

I kiss her pouty lips. “I love you, too.”

An eruption of clapping and whistles breaks Taylor and me apart, and then the love of my life is ripped from my arms as Allie’s hugging her. I can’t stop from smiling as they jump up and down in the way they used to when they were kids, over silly things like *NSYNC concert tickets.

Micah smiles, offering his hand. “Congratulations.”