Armored Hearts (The Town of Pearl 7)

“You five are not going to get out of this. Everyone is going to be there.”

Grey lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the top.

“Remember what you promised us for going to this lame thing tonight,” Fisher said as they all headed out of the room. Fenton couldn’t take his eyes off of India. She looked like a movie star and he felt kind of inadequate and not good enough again.

India looked over her shoulder.

“Come on, Fenton. I’ve got a surprise for you. Later.”

* * * *

The Main Street Inn was decorated beautifully. In fact the entire town of Pearl had gone all out and India was impressed. Street poles stood on every corner and were decorated with white lights. There were wreaths on the main signs in town and all the stores coordinated their decorations, colors and all.

The sounds of carolers caroling echoed along the streets as people smiled and listened, children drank hot cocoa, and parents warned their excited overzealous children to behave so they would remain on the good list. She smiled as she absorbed it all and thought about her new life here. She couldn’t wait tell the men about the job proposition she took only thirty minutes from town. One that allowed her to remain close by, it was her only job for the next eight months, and she could go to bed with them every night and wake up with them every morning.

Fenton took her hand and led her out of the Inn as Grey placed her jacket over her shoulders.

“Did you have fun?” Grey asked her.

She smiled. “Of course I did,” she replied.

“Did each of you have fun?” she asked as they all headed down the sidewalk, feeling the chill in the air and taking in the festivities going on around them.

“It wasn’t as terrible as I thought it might be,” Flynn admitted and then they all added their comments. India paused as she took in the sight of the large gazebo in the center of town. It was all lit up with bright white lights and the trim on the edges had some decorative wreaths scattered here and there going around the white spindles of the exterior.

“It’s so beautiful here. I’m so glad I’ll never have to miss a Christmas season in Pearl,” she said and she leaned her head against Fenton’s arm and the jacket he wore.

“We would love that, too, India, but your schedule has been insane. You barely made it here for tonight,” Ford told her and he sounded so sad and disappointed.

She turned to look at them. “I have something to tell you,” she said and saw the uncertainty in their eyes and she knew they really had hated being apart from her just as much as she had hated it.

“That job I was securing tonight before we left? The one you overheard, Fenton?” she reminded.

He nodded.

“What job? I thought you were trying to liquidate the company,” Grey said to her.

She nodded her head. “I was gone for so long this time, and was stuck in Chicago because of this new contract. I couldn’t pass it up. It’s a lot of money. It’s exactly what I love doing, and the added benefits are just too perfect to ignore.”

“What is it?” Ford asked.

“Where the fuck is it?” Fisher asked, raising his voice.

“Thirty minutes from here. I sold off the company in Chicago. A good friend mentioned me to a very wealthy businessman close by and I’ve been negotiating a contract. It’s a guarantee that I will be here every morning and every night for the next eight months, and if things go as I plan them to, I will hardly ever have to leave you guys for very long at all.”

“Really, India?” Fenton asked and she nodded her head. He pulled her into his arms.

“How long have you been planning this?” Ford asked, seeming angry.

“Just the last ten days in Chicago. I was miserable without you guys. I admit it. Life just downright sucked and I was so lonely and didn’t feel safe like I do when I’m with all of you. I knew you were angry, all of you were. I want this relationship to work. So I decided that a new life here in Pearl with all of you was more important than any jobs in Chicago. I don’t need the wild night life, the constant events, and keeping up with the who’s who in Chicago’s spotlight. I’m done with the nightclubs, the penthouse I don’t even get to enjoy, and all the damn guys hitting on me, passing me their numbers and calling and texting. I want the five of you and a new li

fe here in Pearl.”

“Wait. Back up. Texting? Guys hitting on you and passing you their numbers?” Fisher asked.

“India?” Grey stepped forward.

She rolled her eyes. “It’s all behind me. None of them, none of any of it matters but the five of you. Now, will you take me home to our bed and make love to me, please? That new contract begins January first and this is a like a minivacation for the six of us.”