Lizzy (A MacLaughlin Family Novella) Read online

  Lizzy

  A MacLaughlin Family Novella

  By

  Krystal Shannan

  dpgroup.org

  Lizzy (A MacLaughlin Family Novella)

  Copyright © 2014 Krystal Shannan

  All rights reserved.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons –living or dead –or places, events, or locales is purely accidental. The characters are reproductions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously. This book contains content that is not suitable for readers 17 and under.

  Cover design by Krystal Shannan

  All rights reserved.

  Please be aware that this book cannot be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without written permission from the author, Krystal Shannan, at [email protected], or within the sharing guidelines at a legitimate library or bookseller. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction, sharing, or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/) and is punishable by up to five years in a federal prison and a fine of $250,0000.

  1

  “Ethan, let go. Lor is going to be looking for me. I’ve got to get back.” She scanned the floor, zeroing in on her missing shoe. “Where are my panties?”

  He chuckled and she turned to face him in the semi dark of the linen closet, not surprised to see her white lace panties twirling around one of his fingers.

  “Gimme.” She snatched them from his hand and slipped them on.

  “Baby, hang on.” He stepped forward, heat from his body radiating against the bare skin on her back. Lord have mercy! My dress is still open! “You might want this zipped up.” He tugged the sides of the dress together and pulled the zipper up to the back of her neck.

  “Thank you.”

  He turned her in his arms and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. He tasted and smelled so good.

  “The wedding starts in twenty minutes. We’ve got to go!” “If you so much as breathe a word of this to anyone, especially Logan. I’ll bite you,” she inclined her head down, “next time.”

  He cringed and pulled away, but a grin split his face. “That’s not right, Lizzy. I don’t deserve that.”

  “Then no sharing.”

  “Deal.”

  She glared at him one more time before opening the door at her back. A quick glance back and forth proved the coast clear, and she hurried down the hall toward the bride’s dressing room. She couldn’t help a peek over her shoulder and smiled when Ethan popped his head out of the closet and glanced back and forth. He flashed her another heart-melting smile and then walked down the hall the opposite way.

  Over the spring and summer, they’d spent as much time together as possible, which translated into ten or so dates alone and another half dozen with family and friends. Between her finishing her thesis and graduating early and him wrapping up his training at the Bureau, they’d been busy. A few stolen moments here and there left them constantly horny and unsatisfied. Closet sex at her best friend’s wedding, twenty minutes before the service, was the least of their offenses. What was I thinking? She smoothed out her slightly wrinkled dress, took a deep breath, and stepped through the door into the bride’s room.

  Lorelei Ward was a beautiful bride —the very image of a fairytale Cinderella. The lacy bodice was sleeveless and fitted, complementing the fluffy flowing layers of fabric making up the skirt. The train of the dress was a half cathedral and highlighted Lor’s dramatic flair perfectly. Trevor would love it.

  Lizzy glanced up in the mirror and caught her best friend’s eye. Lor smiled. “You might want to reapply your lip gloss,” she said, twirling a brown curl around her finger.

  Oh, God! Heat flooded Lizzy’s cheeks. “I…Umm…” Words wouldn’t form.

  “Girl, I know you and Ethan have been sneaking off every chance you get. But, he’s gonna be in for it when your brothers see him sporting your cotton-candy sparkle lip plumper.”

  She touched her bare lips and fell into a fit of giggles at Ethan’s expense. He really was going to get it. Lor started laughing too.

  “I would love to be a fly on the wall… when they see him,” Lor exclaimed between laughs.

  The door behind them creaked and opened. Susan came in, followed by Lina and Liv, her other brothers’ girlfriends.

  “What did we miss?” Susan MacLaughlin asked, a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Honey, you really need to put a little more lip gloss on.”

  Lor and Lizzy fell into another round of giggles.

  “We were just saying that Ethan is about to get a beat down from Lizzy’s brothers.” Lorelei snorted through a couple more laughs.

  “Lor!” Lizzy moaned through her own laughter. “You better stop laughing before your makeup starts to run from those tears.”

  “Lizzy,” Susan chided.

  Lor fanned her face and tried to stop, but Lina and Olivia were both snickering now, too.

  She turned to face her brother’s girlfriends. “What?” Lizzy narrowed her gaze at Liv. “Spill it oh great entertainment newswoman.”

  Olivia Hampton, Harvey’s girlfriend, grinned and nodded. “It just explains all the yelling I heard in the groom’s hallway a few minutes ago. You too would actually be quite popular on the red carpet. Lots of drama.” She glanced at the ceiling. “That man should have known better. Plus, aren’t you both going away to his lake house after the reception?”

  “They didn’t hurt him, did they?” Lizzy held her breath. Surely not. She’d tear them a new one if they had.

  “I didn’t hear any actual screams of pain. Just growling and thumping of chests.”

  “Mom would you go check,” she turned to her mother, who was standing to the side with her arms crossed in disapproval.

  “Darling, he’ll be fine. And if you two are foolish enough to go sneaking around at your brother’s wedding, he deserves the tongue lashing.”

  “Mom!” Lizzy shook her head.

  “Come on ladies,” Lina exclaimed. “The wedding is about to start. Lorelei are you okay up there? Need a tissue?”

  “I’m good. Thanks, Lina. I think the laughter has run its course.”

  A hard rap at the door solidified they were out of time. “Y’all ready in there? We got Trevor to the front. It’s safe to come out,” Harvey’s voice called from the hallway.

  Lorelei’s Mom opened the door and stepped inside. And her dad was two steps behind. “Oh, sweetie. They are starting to seat everyone. I’ve got to go,” Lor’s mom said. She gave her a quick hug and sniffed through a sob. Susan followed her out of the room along with Lina and Olivia.

  “I think we’re ready! Mr. Ward, are you?” Lizzy asked.

  Lor’s dad smiled at her. “As ready as I can ever hope to be.”

  Lizzy stepped back into the shadow of the hallway and watched their emotional exchange. It was a moment she’d never be able to share with her dad and it almost made her sob. She sucked it up and pasted on a smile. Today was about Lor.

  They came out of the dressing room and Liz arranged Lor’s train before taking her place in the bridal march. Pachelbel’s Canon in D floated through the chapel doors. She gave one more glance at Lor’s smiling face and then walked slowly behind Lina and Liv to the alter.

  Her brother, Trevor, stood straight and she could see a sheen of sweat forming on his brow. She glanced out into the audience and caught Ethan’s gaze. He winked at her. Good. At least he
r brother’s appeared to have left him in one piece.

  She turned her attention back to her brothers and smirked. Caiden and Harvey most likely noticed her look for Ethan and both wore the I’m-your-big-brother frown of disapproval.

  The music changed to the wedding march and the audience stood and turned toward the back chapel doors. Lorelei and her dad appeared in the doorway and Lizzy stole a glance at Trevor’s face.

  He wore the smile of a man in love. His eyes were glassy and he was holding his breath. The soft snap of a camera to her right immortalized the emotional moment. Lor will love that picture.

  She listened to her brother and best friend exchange vows and promise to love and cherish each other until death.

  Another stolen glance into the audience locked her gaze with Ethan’s again. He cared about her. Was it the same kind of affection her brother felt for Lor? Or Caiden for Lina? Or Harvey for Liv? Her brothers made no secret about how much they were in love. Trevor was just the first to pop the question.

  The other boys were just waiting out of respect for Trevor and Lor’s special day. She’d seen the rings both had picked out. More weddings would quickly be following this one. Soon her mother would get her wish of a house full of grandchildren.

  The pastor announced Trevor could kiss his bride and the whole of the audience cheered as be bent Lorelei backward over his arm. What a ham. She smiled and clapped. He and Lor had always been meant for each other. It just took an extra decade to convince him of it. She was so excited to be able to call her long-time best friend sister. Lor had been part of the MacLaughlin family since they were little. It was only fitting that it was finally official, name and all.

  “I now present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Trevor MacLaughlin.” The pastor’s voice echoed through the sanctuary. Lizzy followed Lor down the steps, taking Caiden’s arm at the bottom and walked back down the aisle. They kept straight until they reached the covered stone patio beside the chapel. A blast of Texas heat hit her in the face full-force and she groaned. Hopefully the photographer would be merciful and move the picture taking along quickly.

  “Lizzy,” her big brother’s chest vibrated against her side.

  “Hmm?” She nodded to the photographer and smiled.

  “Are you sure about Ethan? He’s in the law enforcement. That can be really stressful…on both side of a couple,” Caiden whispered into her ear.

  “I know, and yes. I’m sure. Why, has he said something you didn’t like?” Please say no. Please say no. She would never admit it to her brothers, but she valued their approval above everyone’s except her mother’s.

  “No. It’s not that. He seems like a good guy, but it’s hard to think anyone is good enough for you, Lizzy.” He pulled her into a quick hug before being herded over to the next spot for a pose. “We just want you to be happy. And, not settling for someone quickly just because we all seemed to stumble into our other halves all at once,” he added, his voice loud enough just for her ears.

  “Yeah, I think if mom wasn’t so excited about potential grandbabies, y’all would have knocked her flat. Three serious girlfriends in less than two months.”

  Caiden grinned. “Now a wife in less than a year for Trevor.”

  “Don’t throw Trevor under the bus, mister. I’ve seen the other rings,” she whispered.

  “Hey, now. Shhhh.”

  She giggled. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell.”

  “All right, the bridal party is dismissed. I need to get bride and groom photos now,” the photographer announced with a smile.

  “Thank goodness. I think I might melt into a puddle if I stayed out here much longer,” Lina said, taking hold of Caiden’s other arm. Lizzy stepped to the side and grinned. They were just too cute together. Tough old loveable Caiden matched perfectly with Lina, a firecracker wrapped in a sugary sweet coating.

  “I get my date back now,” her boyfriend’s voice rumbled next to her.

  Forget the Texas heat! Ethan’s gravely voice melted Lizzy’s insides to mush and set a fire in her belly. Damn, she was horny. What the hell is going on with me? Get a grip! You will have him all to yourself this weekend. It didn’t help. She still wanted to rub against him like a cat in heat. I need a glass of wine and slice of Trevor’s chocolate cake.

  Ethan walked her into the reception hall behind Caiden and Lina. Everyone was mingling, waiting for the caterers to uncover and start serving the food. The bar, however, was open and flowing.

  “Ethan, would you get me a glass of the Reisling?”

  “Of course. Be right back.”

  He left her standing next to Karen, their office manager, and her husband Logan, Ethan’s best friend. He wove expertly through the crowd and reached the bar in moments.

  “Girl,” Karen leaned toward her, “You look like you want to strip that man naked and have your way with him right here on this table.”

  Good grief! Was it that obvious?

  “Shhhh…” Lizzy fussed.

  Karen laughed. “Shushing me doesn’t change the truth.”

  “What truth?” Logan bent to kiss his wife on the cheek.

  “That she is madly in love with your best friend.”

  Logan’s smile widened. “It’s good to hear that, Lizzy. You’re the first bit of happiness he’s had in a long time. He never stops talking about you at work.”

  Joy flooded through her at Logan’s words. Maybe, just maybe Ethan felt the same about her as she did about him. She caught him moving back across the crowded room with a wine glass in one hand and a beer in the other.

  “Thank you,” she said, taking the offered goblet.

  “Any time.”

  She sipped the wine and her lips puckered. It didn’t taste right.

  “Taste this.” She gave the glass back to Ethan. He raised an eyebrow, but sipped the wine without complaint.

  “It’s good,” he replied and handed back the glass. Great, it’s just me then. Her stomach rumbled and she glanced longingly at the half-covered buffet of food. Just then a whiff of the barbeque hit her and she covered her mouth, overwhelmed by a wave of nausea.

  “Lizzy, are you okay?” Karen touched her shoulder.

  “I’ll be right back.” She held up her hand to tell Karen to stay and hurried out the back door. It was only a few steps down the hall to the restroom.

  She dashed into the biggest stall at the end of the row and locked the door before emptying her stomach’s contents into the toilet. Instant relief. Maybe I just ate something that didn’t agree with me this morning. Though if she were really being honest with herself, she hadn’t been eating much more than cereal and popcorn for the last couple of weeks. One hell of a stomach bug.

  “Lizzy.” Ethan called from the hallway. “Are you okay?”

  She hurried to the sink to wash her hand and rinse out her mouth. “I’m fine. Be right there.” I can do this. Mind over matter…or smells anyway.

  2

  She was pale and even through the makeup, he could see dark circles under her eyes. Her beautiful blonde hair was twisted up on her head with trailing curls framing her face. But, overall, it looked tight and more than a little uncomfortable.

  “I brought you some water.” He held up a small plastic punch glass, sweating from the cold water inside it. Her eyes lit up and she took it, gulping it down in moments.

  “Thank you. I don’t know what came over me. Probably just the excitement of the day and the heat from being outside.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. Yes,” she answered back quickly and flashed him a big smile. “I’m fine. Just overheated.”

  He held out his arm and she slipped hers through it. The scent of her jasmine perfume drifted his way, reminding him of the lake house he was taking her to later today. Jasmine grew all over the patio trellis.

  Lizzy MacLaughlin was his heaven on earth. He’d met her family originally through his buddy Logan, whose wife worked for their company. The MacLaughlins had a way of making everyone around them
feel like part of the family. When he and Logan deployed, it’d been Susan MacLaughlin he’d called to say hi to on his video chat time. There was no one left in his family he wanted to talk to.

  Thankfully their unit completed the mission in less than six months and they got to come back home sooner than expected. Logan got to meet his new baby girl, Sadie, but he came home to phone calls from the Houston police force, telling him to notify them if he had any contact with his in-the-wind half-brother.

  Before he’d left to go to Iraq, he’d helped his sister-in-law, Valarie, get a restraining order against Simon and disappear. It hadn’t been hard, since his brother was probably down a rabbit hole high on whatever the latest street drug was.

  The police did find Simon, because several weeks later his brother called begging for money for a lawyer. He’d refused the collect call. A court appointed attorney was all that menace deserved after beating on Valarie. He could care less whether he was innocent of a robbery or not like his phone call plea stated.

  Now was the time to put his half-brother in his past. Valarie was safe and he was done being a sniper for the army. The FBI had given him new purpose and both he and Logan were thriving in the new environment. He hadn’t shared anything with Lizzy about his brother. His family’s dirty laundry wasn’t something he liked to talk about. As far as he was concerned, the past could stay buried.

  He’d started seeing Lizzy right after her brother Caiden’s birthday party. She was the light at the end of his dark and stressful tunnel. He looked forward to a long committed relationship with her for as long as she would have him.

  “What are you thinking about?” Lizzy’s voice cut through his thoughts and brought him back to the present.

  “Just how lucky I’ve been to be friends with your family and finding you.”

  Her eyes teared, but she didn’t speak.

  “I love you, Lizzy. You know that, right?”

  She wiped her eyes before the tears could fall. “I love you, too. You stole my heart the very first time I laid eyes on you.” She squeezed his arm and pulled him down, placing a soft kiss on his cheek.