Inheriting a SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #7)(62)

“Hot damn,” Caleb says, jumping back and running for his horse. He easily jumps on and then turns back towards me to see what happens.

I just stand there, unable to move, as the steer struggles to his feet. “Run, Brayden, Run.”

I hear Darcy yelling, but I still can’t move. Where’s the rodeo clown when I need him? Oh yeah, this isn’t even my first rodeo. It’s just the corral outside of a high tech secret spy lair. Just when I think it’s all over for me, Caleb comes riding back and reaches out his hand. I take it and throw myself onto his horse behind him. We make it into the gate with seconds to spare, as the steer crashes into it right behind us.

“I don’t even know what to say,” I tell Caleb.

“I don’t really think there’s anything to say. You’re a nice guy, Brayden, but I’d suggest you abandon the idea of becoming a cowboy.”

“Yeah. I figured that out already.

* * *

Darcy

I saw that steer getting ready to charge Brayden and my heart almost stopped. This has to stop. All of these crazy tests of his. I think if he tried to slay a dragon, he’d probably be safer. I can’t even laugh this time, because I was so scared.

He’s climbing down off Caleb’s horse when I stomp over to him. “Enough, Brayden James. This is it. No more.”

“I’m a failure. I’ve failed. I’ll never be an American guy.”

“Because you’re not an American guy.”

“I know. I’m just…I don’t even know what I am.”

“Let me tell you then. You’re the man who gave up his throne for me, and then thought he still had to prove his worth. You’re smart, sexy, and romantic. That’s what you are.”

“I need you to know you come first.”

“I know that. You’ve more than proven how much I mean to you, but it has to stop. You’re going to hurt yourself, or someone else again.”

“I didn’t swing the bat.”

“That would not have happened to anyone else.”

He hangs his head. “I know. I’m cursed.”

“You’re not cursed. You just need to stick to your skill set. Or at least ease yourself into a new one.”

“I have one more thing I need to do.”

I groan. “Seriously?”

“Yes. I promise no one will get hurt. You might cry, though.”

“I seem to do that a lot lately. When I’m happy, and when I’d sad.”

“These will be happy ones.”

“When is this taking place?”

“Tomorrow night. A dress will be waiting in your apartment.”

“A dress?”

“Yep. We have a special ball to attend,” he tells me with a wink.





Chapter 24


10. Remind her that we’re already married, and ask her again with a special ring.

Darcy

As promised, I have a dress waiting for me when I get back to my apartment. It’s off the shoulder, pale blue lace, with some shimmer to the fabric. I love it, because it’s something I would’ve picked for myself. I’m not surprised when the doorbell rings the next afternoon, but I am surprised to see all the women who stream into my place. It’s all of the Society women, the Griffin wives, Alex, Sierra, and Jenysis.

“What are you all doing here?” I ask.

“We thought it would be fun to get ready together,” Stella tells me.

Outside of training, I’ve never done anything like this before. It feels right, though. “Oh, okay. And thank you for my dress.”

“I had nothing to do with your dress. That was all Brayden.”

“He picked it out?”

“Yep. It’s pretty hot, huh? I love it when Kace dresses me.”

“Um, yeah, it kind of is.”

“Let’s put on some music and get this party started.”

I have more fun in the next two hours than I ever thought I’d have with a group of women. Reina orders in food, and we drink champagne while we all pitch in to help each other with hair and makeup. I see Jen and Sierra chatting, and go over to hug them both.

“Thank you both for being here.”

“I wasn’t going to miss this. This is one of my cousin’s more brilliant ideas. Noah’s here, too.”

“He is?”

“Yep, and some other special guests.”

“I know I’m excited,” Sierra says.

“We’re going to find us some hot men, and get properly pissed.”

“Totally.”

I can’t seem to pry any information out of anyone, so I just give up. I’ll find out soon enough. We pile into limos and head towards downtown. I’m happily surprised when we pull up to the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. The Frank Gehry building is a favorite of mine, and I’ve been to a couple of events in the ballroom here before. Brayden’s standing at the door waiting for me. The sign next to him has me stopping to place my hand over my mouth as my eyes well up.

Just in case you can’t remember,

you’ve always been a prince or a princess.

Almost no one knows about my mother. That she’s suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s disease and thinks she’s a princess. The caregivers I’ve hired for her over the years have all made sure to address her as a princess, and her rooms are always decorated as such. I even bought her a diamond tiara with one of my first Society paychecks. I told Brayden about her one night when we together, but I never expected this.