Owning Beauty (Taking Beauty Trilogy 3)

“I’m opening my own business and I’ve never done this before. Bear mentioned your services might be for hire?”

“Of course!” she said. “I’d love to help.”

“That’s wonderful!”

“What’s your business?”

“I’m starting a clothing line. A retail store…”

“From scratch?”

“Yes,” I said, wishing I was much further along than I was.

“Well, you’ve called the right person. It’s better you called me at the beginning of the process, that way everything can be done right the first time.”

“Oh, okay, good,” I said, my fears put at ease.

“I have a ton of experience, Chloe, don’t you worry about a thing. When can you meet?”

“Well, I’d like to meet after our wedding this weekend. We’re going away for a short honeymoon and then I’ll be right back to get to work.”

“What’s the rush?”

“Oh,” I said, my hand flying to my belly, “I’m pregnant.”

“Oh!” she said. “I see, I see. Bear didn’t tell me that. Congratulations, Chloe!”

“Thank you,” I replied.

“So, I’ll see you when you get back and we’ll hit the ground running. You don’t worry about a thing and enjoy your honeymoon.”

“Thank you, Violet,” I repeated. There was something in the confidence in her voice that was contagious and I hung up doing exactly what she said—not worrying.

My shoulders relaxed and I went about my day breathing a little easier than I had before I called.

I made a mental note to listen to Bear a little more and accept his assistance a little quicker the next time.

It was a learning process. I was growing. Slowly, surely, and one little bit at a time, but I was getting there.

Bear

“Sarah, can you ask Jeffrey to come in here?” I called.

“Sure thing, Mr. Dalton,” she said, her voice disappearing on the phone.

Jeffrey is the head of my IT department and it’s taken me a few days to decide if I could trust him with this particular task, but I think I can.

When he walked in, I pulled the CD out of my briefcase.

“I need your help with this,” I said, sliding it across the desk to him. “I tried it on my computer, but I can’t open the document. Can you take a look and let me know what you find?”

“Of course, Mr. Dalton,” he said. “I’ll get right on it.”

“Thank you,” I said, as he rose to walk out. “And Jeffrey?”

“Yes?” he asked, turning back.

“This is personal. Please keep this between us. Whatever is on there is not to be shared with anyone, do you understand?”

“Absolutely, Mr. Dalton.” He nodded and walked away and I took a deep breath.

“I’m gonna figure this shit out,” I said to my empty office, hoping like hell Bruce could hear me.

“Wish you were here,” I whispered, blinking away the tears. I hated feeling weak and sad. Those were not emotions I was used to. So, I pushed them away, focusing instead on the anger, using it to motivate me forward.

I had a lot of work to do, a lot to figure out and if there was anything to uncover, which I was pretty sure there was, I needed to do it methodically and carefully.

But first—I had a wedding to attend.

I’d never imagined I’d ever get married. Finding someone who could accept me as I am always seemed like an impossible task.

But Chloe proved me wrong.

I’d never expected things to last this long. I figured she’d confess to Matilda about our first encounter and it would be over. I didn’t think I’d ever see Chloe again and even though she said she would, I never expected her to show up in New York.

But she had. She’d responded to every one of my demands willingly and bravely. I’d seen something shining in her from the beginning and the more she responded, the more enthusiastic I became. In the beginning, I didn’t know I’d come to love her as fiercely as I do know.

But it had come. It hit me hard and fast and what had begun as a game had turned into something so much more.

She was everything to me.

I could lose everything tomorrow, all my money, my property, every asset I’ve acquired over the years and I wouldn’t give a shit, as long as I had Chloe.

She was all that mattered to me now.

Now that Bruce was gone, she was really my only friend. I had acquaintances, colleagues, even a few guys from college that I kept in touch with, but before Chloe came along, Bruce was the only person I’d confide anything of importance to.

My gratitude for Chloe was immense. She’d been an absolute angel these last few weeks, putting up with my melancholy mood, wrapping me up in her much needed love. I wouldn’t have survived this without her.

I would have married her soon anyway, but the baby and then Bruce’s death…well, I just couldn’t wait.

I wasn’t even sure why. I’d already claimed her as my own, but there was something more sacred about having a ceremony.

I wanted to seal our union, in a way, however corny it may sound.

There were lots of legal reasons, too, and whenever I started feeling particularly mushy about it, I hid behind them to hide my sentimentality. I didn’t really think anything would happen to me, but Bruce’s death had highlighted the fact that anything could happen at anytime, and it made me nervous. I wanted Chloe and our baby to have all the security they could, just in case.

I hated thinking about this shit…

I enjoyed pretending that myself and my few loved ones were untouchable, immortal…I knew we weren’t…but I was guilty of finding periodic comfort in the delusion. Bruce’s death didn’t allow me that comfort anymore.

So, lately, despite my preference, death was all I was thinking about.

Maybe once I found some answers, I’d feel better.

All I could do was hope…for now, I guess that was good enough.

Chloe

“Something new, something old, something borrowed, something blue,” Marie said, holding up a lacy blue garter belt. “Here’s your blue!”

“I hadn’t even thought of any of that!” I cried. “Shit!”

“That’s okay, I’ve got you covered,” Marie said. I hugged her gratefully, my stomach quivering with nerves.

“You’re the best friend I’ve ever had,” I said.

“I thought I was the only friend you’ve ever had?” she quipped.

“Shut up!” I said, winking at her. “Give me that!”

I took the garter belt from her and lifted the skirt of my dress, sliding it over my left foot and up my leg to the middle of my thigh.

“How’s that?” I said.

“Are you not wearing fucking panties again, Chloe?” she asked, arching an eyebrow.

Hastily, I let my skirt fall and tried not to blush.

“Shut up,” I said again. “I need something old, new and borrowed now.”

“Right,” she said, digging through her bag. “So your dress is new. So you’ve got that covered. And you can borrow this,” she said, handing me a beautiful jewel-covered hair comb.

“It’s lovely!” I cried, rushing to the mirror. I’d let my hair fall in carefully crafted waves around my shoulders and I lifted up one side, securing the comb and inspecting myself in the mirror. “How’s that?” I asked, turning back to her.

“That’s perfect,” she said, smiling over at me. “You look amazing, Chloe. Seriously, you’re the most beautiful bride ever!”

“Thank you.”

“Bear must be thrilled.”

“I wish he was more into it, to be honest.”

“Well, Bruce’s death hit him hard. It’s understandable. I don’t know why you guys didn’t wait till the baby arrived.”

Instinctively, I reached down, pressing my palm against my belly.

“He didn’t want to wait.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter. I’m

sure everything will work out just fine.”

“Me, too. I can’t wait to be Mrs. Bear Dalton!”

“I can’t believe this. Your relationship has moved as fast as lightening. I think I still have a little whiplash,” she teased, reaching up and caressing her neck.

“Shut up!” I repeated again, laughing in spite of myself.

She winked at me and smiled.

“So now you need something old,” she said, just as Matilda peeked her head in the door.