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“No. Put him on a plane back to Boston and see to it he gets there,” Edward ordered. “And if you ever set foot back in my town, Buddy, you’ll regret it. Now, come, darling. Let’s get hitched.”
I struggled against his hold, while looking back into Buddy’s eyes in case it was the last time we ever held a gaze. But all of a sudden, the door flew open and Delta rushed in.
“My God, don’t you answer your phone—Oh, shit.” Her face shifted. “What did I walk into?”
“Me setting things right, as it should have been all along.” Edward spoke before I could. “If you’ll excuse us, we have an appointment with a judge to get married.”
“But Cal’s dead,” she cried.
“What? No!” Honey screeched.
“Ah, fuck.” Edward loosened his hold on me enough, I shoved away from him.
“Where is he?” I demanded.
“In his bedroom. I-I was by his side when he reached for his heart and had trouble breathing. He was gone before I could finish the call with 9-1-1. I’m so sorry, Honey,” Delta’s voice broke.
“I need to see him,” I cried, tears forming at the edges. The love-hate relationship we might have had aside, the man provided and cared for me over the years. I couldn’t deny him the respect he deserved for not deserting me after Mom passed.
“Not so fast,” Edward shouted. The gun cocked at my head, and in the mirror beside the door I could see Jerrod behind me holding the gun, and Buddy behind him—slouched over, moaning in pain. “You think we’re thorough? Hardly. You’ll still marry me tonight.”
“You’re delusional.”
“No. You’re the one I’ll have declared mentally incompetent after I’m through with you, and I’ll end up with everything. Dream Waves, Cal’s millions, it’ll all be mine.”
“Oof!” Jerrod groaned. The gun clicked, and I turned in time to see Buddy in the chair had plowed him over again, only this time the gun jammed and the guard’s head went through the wall, knocking him out. His body slumped to the ground.
Edward jumped on Buddy then, the two men fighting like a dog pile in a junkyard scrap for who would be the head of the pack.
“Give it up, asshole. Honey will never be yours,” Buddy muttered coherently enough as his gag had come loose in the melee.
“Who the fuck do you think you are to dictate what happens around here?” Edward said, getting in a few jabs to Buddy’s ribs.
Was there no end to this? Men thinking they could take advantage of me and my rightful claim to my mother’s company?
The sound of gunfire to my left took everyone’s attention. I jumped out of my skin. Delta stood there with a phone in one hand and a dainty little gun the size of her tiny purse in the other, pointed at the ceiling. “I’ve recorded the entire thing and just hit send to a friend of mine in the LAPD,” she screamed. I rushed to her side.
“It’s over, Edward. Get the fuck out and stay out of my life.” I pointed to the door with a straight arm and a bitch face. I didn’t breathe again until he left, hissing like a snake and murmuring something about getting back at me. He could try, but never again would I let him gain an edge over me.
I ran to Buddy and untied him, once again so grateful for Delta and her loyalty to me all these years. Without her intervention just now, who knew what might have happened tonight? She’s like the angel on earth Mom left me with to watch over me.
I took my scarf from around my neck and held it to his wound. “We need to get you to the hospital.”
“You just go and pay your last respects to Cal.” He leaned against the wall once he was upright, holding his hand to the scarf at his shoulder, and scrunched his face in pain.
“He’s right, Honey,” Delta said, just as the sirens neared the house. “The ambulance is here for Cal, and they can also tend to Buddy.”
“Go. I’m fine.” Buddy agreed. I couldn’t just leave him, could I? This turn of events, though, meant he’d served his purpose. With Cal gone, our marriage contract ended up null and void. I’d inherit everything and wouldn’t need a man around. Or could something more come of my time with Buddy? Something real?
The knock at the door from the first responders came, and Delta left us to answer.
“Oh, Buddy. You saved my life.” I stood on my toes, my hands on his cheeks, and I kissed him, melting my lips to his. We lingered there, and I was saddened by this turn of events. More tender kisses passed between us and longing hit me, my thighs tightening against the rising tide of desire.
Even in the pain he must feel, he continued our kisses across my jaw to my earlobe.
“I don’t know how I could ever repay you for what you did for me.” And I didn’t mean just now, but for everything. His understanding of my situation, the way he encouraged me to work hard to achieve my dreams. It’d be a long time before I could forget a man like him. Did I have to?
He whispered in my ear, “I can think of several ways you could thank me?—”
