The Next Sin (The Sin Trilogy 2)

She’s so angry, she’s refusing to acknowledge the outcome my visit accomplished. “Your father approved of our marriage, Bonny. Isn’t that what you wanted? Aren’t you happy about that?”

“It’s what you wanted. Not me. I never wanted him to find out.”

Oh, she’s going to be a hard-ass on this one. “Aye. I wanted his blessing but don’t you have contentment in him knowing about us and approving of our union before he’s gone?”

“I don’t know. I can’t feel any kind of satisfaction or happiness because I’m so pissed at you.”

Did I go too far? “Are you considering backing out?”

“I don’t know what I’m doing.”

I’m not going to lose her over this. “Think about it. Your father will die knowing I’m taking you and Ellison into my care. He knows you’ll have someone protecting you after he’s gone. It’s a terrible burden lifted from his mind. He can be at peace where you and Ellison are concerned. Can you please try to see the good in what I’ve done?”

I take a step toward her but she puts her hand up. It’s my cue to not come closer. “It’s hard for me to see the good for all the selfishness involved.”

My motives weren’t only self-driven. “Your father’s blessing is a gift I wanted you to have. His approval means he and your sister can be part of our wedding ceremony. You get to have your family present when we make our vows.”

She’s barely made mention of her family not being present at our wedding, but I know how much she longs for them to be a part of it.

“Dad’s too sick to leave, even for my wedding.”

“Then we’ll be married in his hospital room. I’m sure we can find an officiant to perform the ceremony at the hospice center.” When I see a change in her expression, I move toward her. She doesn’t stop me this time. “That is if it pleases my wife-to-be.”

There it is. That smile I’m desperate to see. “Yes. It pleases your wife-to-be very much.”

What a relief. “I’m very glad.”

“I love you so I’m going to give you a forewarning. Don’t go behind my back like that ever again. I can promise you with one hundred percent accuracy that it will cause major problems in our marriage if you do.”

“Got it.” I can’t make a promise to never do it again so I voice my understanding instead of an agreement. I’m certain there will be occasions when I won’t tell Bleu the whole truth, and it will always be with good reason. I will never purposely hurt her. “Know this, Bleu. I will always do what I must for your happiness and well-being. That’s something you can always trust without fail.”

Chapter Seven

Bleu MacAllister

I didn’t like how Sin went behind my back—and although I’ll never admit it to him—he was right about going to my father. Which means I was wrong. I couldn’t see it last night because I was blinded by rage. Everything looked different to me in the light of day, even more so when I walked into the living room this morning and saw Sin crunched up on the sofa.

I looked at him drooling on the pillow beneath his head and it all came full circle for me. I realized that although he pisses me off beyond all recognition at times, this is the man I want to wake next to for the rest of my life—drool and all.

Now I’m standing here facing Sin in my family’s presence and I couldn’t be happier. This wouldn’t be happening with my dad’s and Ellison’s presence if Sin hadn’t gone against my wishes. I love him all the more for that.

No gown with a train. No veil. No organ music or church full of flowers surrounded by friends and family. I didn’t think it was possible for this to feel like a wedding but I was wrong. I’m marrying the man I love with my father and sister present. I have everything I need.

Today’s suit choice is platinum with a cream and lavender pinstriped shirt. Sin’s tie is a paisley print—silver, lavender, and peach. I can’t fathom how in the world he found one in those colors on such short notice.

His boutonnière on his lapel is a tiny miniature of my bridal bouquet, the spray of flowers the only thing distinguishing him from looking the way he does any other time. And that’s fine by me. He’s handsome every single day.

“Who gives this woman?” the officiant asks.

“Her sister and I,” my father answers from his hospital bed. I giggle inside because Ellison insisted my dad include her in the giving of the bride. I’d probably do the same if it were her marrying.

Vow writing has been the last thing on my mind so Sin and I will be using the ones provided by the chaplain—whatever they are. “Repeat after me.”

Sin squeezes my hands as he says, “I, Liam Sinclair Breckenridge, take you, Stella Bleu MacAllister, to be my lover and mother of my children.” He stops at the mention of children. He sees me fighting tears and leans over to kiss the side of my face. He whispers in my ear, “No worries, Bonny. I’m going to do everything within my power to give you babies.”

He straightens and clears his voice to continue his vows. “I love what I know of you and trust what I’ve yet to learn. I eagerly anticipate the chance to grow together, getting to know the woman you will become, and falling in love a little more every day. I promise to love and cherish you through whatever life may bring us.”

I believe what Sin has just said to me. Every. Word.

I repeat the same vows and nearly lose it again when I get to the part about children. He squeezes and rubs his thumbs over the tops of my hands to reassure me.

No worries. That’s what he said.

I finish my vows, truly meaning each and every word. We exchange rings and I’m nearly floored when I see my wedding band for the first time. I can’t believe I didn’t ask to see it before. In combination with my engagement ring, it’s huge—ridiculously so. And I love it. No one will ever mistake me for an unmarried woman. He’s made sure of it.

“You may kiss your bride.” We lean in and softly brush our lips. No tongue. That would just be weird in front of my dad and sister. I’ve never had a boyfriend so they’ve never witnessed me so much as hold hands with a man.

“And so it’s done. You’re my wife, Mrs. Breckenridge. No backing out now.”

I’m in too deep for that but I wouldn’t dare try, even if it were a possibility.

Elli is all smiles as she claps. That’s because my sister doesn’t know who Sin is. She has no idea what kind of man I’ve just married.

She comes to me. “Congratulations. I knew you wouldn’t have a wedding cake so I brought white-on-white cupcakes.”

She goes to the closet and takes out a Gigi’s cupcake box and a large green bottle. “But more importantly, I brought champagne!”

“Thank you, Elli. Everything happened so fast, I didn’t consider anything like that.”

She pops the top and pours for everyone. Even Dad. “A sip won’t hurt.”

“A sip, hell. I’m having as much as I want, little lady. It’s not every day my girlie girl gets married.”

Ellison is snapping pictures one after another—she’s my photographer today. “Drink from each other’s glasses.”

We do as instructed and she gives us a plastic knife from the cafeteria. “Time to cut the cake.”

“It’s a cupcake. I don’t think it needs cutting.”

“Humor me.”

I place the knife on top of the mile-high frosting. Sin wraps his hand around mine and together we glide it downward.

I giggle. What we’re doing feels silly—but fun—so I can’t resist swiping my finger through the frosting and smearing it across Sin’s face. “I see

how you want to play.”

“Ahh!” I step away and look at Harry. “Daddy. Help.”

“Don't look at me,” he laughs. It’s the first real smile I’ve seen out of him in weeks.

Sin prowls toward me until my back is against the wall. “Come here, sweet wife.”

I’m doomed. I have nowhere to go so I grin and prepare for what comes next.

Sin doesn’t disappoint. He kisses me, smearing white icing all over the lower portion of my face.

I grab a napkin and go into the bathroom to survey the damage. “You messed up my makeup,” I call out.

He comes into the bathroom and stands behind me, looking at my reflection. “You didn’t need it anyway. You’re beautiful without it.”

“Dad is spent. Today’s events were a lot for him. I think we should go so he can rest.”

“Whatever you want is fine by me.”

As we clean our mess, Ellison holds up the box of leftover cupcakes. “Take these with you. You might have some fun with them later.”

“Fun with cupcakes?” I’m not sure I want her to elaborate on that.

She laughs and shrugs. “Get a little bit creative and you can have fun with anything.”

“Sure.” Why not?

I look at Dad to make sure he isn’t paying attention to us. “He isn’t doing well,” I whisper.

“He tires easily.” I remember the nature of this beast. It takes and takes without giving anything in return.

“He won’t last much longer, will he?” I say the words, immediately wishing I hadn’t. “Never mind. I don’t want to know the answer to that.”

Elli stops and grasps my arm. “You shouldn’t take a long honeymoon if you want to be here when he goes.”

“Then the end is closer than I thought.”

“Dad hides a lot from us. I go along with it, pretending I don’t know what he’s doing, but he doesn’t fool me.”

Sin and I haven’t discussed a honeymoon, but there’s no way I can go anywhere with my dad in this condition. “I’m going to be here for him. We’re not going anywhere.”