Contract of Shame Read online

  The maitre d’ found him a seat overlooking the whole room. As he perused the menu the distinct scent of cinnamon overcame him, and he placed the menu down and gazed up at Scarlet.

  “What can I get you, sir?” Her voice was still as addictive as ever.

  She stopped and stared at him.

  “What do you want?” she asked.

  “You,” he replied.

  “If you’re going to take the mickey then I suggest you leave.” She turned away and as much as he liked looking at that cute ass, he had stuff he wanted to say.

  “Where’s Harry?” he asked.

  She froze. “What do you care?”

  “I care. I care a hell of a lot.” Richard stared out in the crowd and saw his mother and father staring at him. His dad looked impressed as he glanced at Scarlet, and his mother looked like she wanted to stab him.

  “Go away,” she said. He caught her wrist and held her steady.

  “I’m not letting you go this time.”

  “Why?” she whispered.

  “Because I love you.” She stopped and turned back. A few of the other couples had stopped what they were doing to stare at the commotion happening at the front of the restaurant.

  “Don’t say stuff like that. You don’t need to be here.”

  He got down on one knee, his heart open and bleeding for her to see what he was trying to say.

  She yanked out of his hold, and Scarlet was walking away from him. Richard couldn’t allow it to happen. He loved her, damn it.

  Without thinking he began to sing. Scarlet stopped and turned to stare at him. He was singing a tune she loved to listen to. He knew this. He’d listened to her humming and singing the song, admittedly off key, in the office. The song itself had no meaning whatsoever. But he noticed it grabbed her attention. Security had come around and were tapping him on the shoulder. He sang louder.

  “Richard, what are you doing? Stop doing this,” she said walking back to him.

  “I can’t. I need you, Scarlet.” He got to his feet and took her hands in his. “I know I was a bastard for what I did to you, and I’ll spend the rest of my life paying the price.” He got to his knee before her once more. “I want to marry you.”

  ****

  Scarlet stared at Richard, on his knees in front of her. People were staring, but he didn’t seem to care. When he told her he loved her, she didn’t know how to respond. Part of her wanted to believe him, while another part was afraid in case she opened up and was disappointed once more.

  “I can’t do this,” she whispered.

  “And I can’t go another day without being with you. I know you’ve been through a lot, and I’m really sorry for my part in that. When I got you to sign that damn contract I did it because I wanted you. I wanted you so badly and didn’t know what to do to get you.”

  His words enthralled her.

  “My family is fucked up. I mean really messed up. In fact over there is the happy couple,” he said and pointed at a couple she’d been serving most of the night. “Opal is the only good thing to come out of our family. When you walked into my life all I’ve ever wanted is to be with you. Until you came in I thought I’d end up married to a woman I disliked and hate my life.”

  Tears fell from her eyes as he opened up in front of her, in front of all of these people. This was a man on the edge, and she could see how much he needed her right now.

  “When I found out what David did to you, I wanted to murder him. That day you hated me for warning him, I claimed you and Harry as my own. I want you to be my wife, and I want to have babies with you. Grow old with you and live a life where I want to come home and see your smiling face.”

  She watched as he pulled a box out of his coat pocket. “I bought this a few months ago. I thought about you. I always think about you.”

  Richard opened the box, and she gasped. The beautiful dolphin was dazzling to the eye.

  “Scarlet Hughes, I know I don’t deserve you, but if you give me a chance I know I can make you the happiest woman on earth. I love you, and would you do me the honour of becoming my wife and making Harry my son?”

  This was the strangest thing to ever happen to her in her entire life. She never thought a man would propose to her and want to take Harry as a son.

  She stared into his eyes and knew she loved him with her whole heart. How could she not?

  “Yes,” she said, and the tears were freely falling.

  Richard stood and grabbed her in his arms. Cheers and applause were all around. He picked her up and escorted her out of the room and to his waiting limo.

  “What are you doing?” she asked with a giggle.

  “To go and pick up our son and start the rest of our lives.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Scarlet could practically hear them biting at the door. Their muffles and shuffles were distinct through the wooden door.

  “You know I can’t concentrate when you’re hovering this close,” she called through the thick door.

  “Sorry, it’s Harry’s fault,” Richard said.

  “Hey.” Harry sounded outraged.

  She chuckled, and after doing her business she placed the stick on the sink counter. Scarlet couldn’t believe how amazingly her life had turned round in the last few weeks. They’d moved into his old family house where four previous generations had lived. Harry thrived under the attention of Richard. They were a happy family.

  The date for their marriage was set for some time in the summer. The ring on her finger glinted and always managed to catch her eye.

  For the first time in her whole life she knew what it was like to be loved and give love in return.

  One minute left.

  She wore the dress she’d seen at the store a few weeks ago. She recalled looking at the price tag and putting the design back. Richard had given it to her this morning along with a pregnancy test. He couldn’t wait to know the answer.

  The guy was like a big kid, but she loved him with her whole heart.

  She rubbed her hands together and moaned in frustration. Why did two minutes suddenly seem like the longest in the world?

  ****

  It was official. Richard was ringing the test companies and complaining. There was no way in hell those things had taken two minutes. Already it felt like a lifetime. Harry sat in his lap and was reading a book to him. They sat against the opposite wall from Lydia, who was on the stairs, and they were all waiting for the news.

  Not to mention the guests he’d invited over. Shit, Scarlet didn’t know about them yet. Tony, Wayne and Lily, his sister and few others were invited over.

  Regardless of what the outcome was of this test, he wanted to celebrate them moving in together.

  “She’s taking so long,” Harry moaned.

  “I know, buddy. But remember to always be polite and wait for a woman to make the first move.”

  The door opened, and she stood in the dress she’d wanted so much. Her tits looked really good, and he moved Harry away. Richard’s cock was already stirring to get her alone.

  “Well?” he asked.

  The suspense was killing him.

  Her face lit up like a light bulb.

  “We’re going to have a baby?” he asked. Scarlet nodded, and he grabbed her in his arms and spun her around.

  “What does this mean?” Harry asked.

  “It means you’re going to have a brother or sister in a few months’ time.” Richard ran his fingers through his son’s hair.

  “What happens to me? Do I get sold on?”

  Scarlet and Lydia laughed.

  “No, buddy. You know Auntie Opal? Well, I’m her big brother, and what it means is you’re going to be a big brother when mummy gives birth to a baby.”

  “I can live with that,” Harry said and walked down the stairs with Lydia.

  “Alone.” Richard growled and pinned her against the wall.

  “You’ve got to be careful in my delicate state,” she said and chuckled, which sound quickly tu
rned into a gasp and a moan of pleasure.

  “Is that the case? Then I guess you’d better lie back and think of good thoughts because tonight I’m going to make love to you all night.” He nibbled her neck, and his fingers teased her swollen nipples.

  “You’ve got to stop.”

  “I don’t want to. God, I love you so much,” he said. Richard took her hand and led her out into the back garden before she had time to know what he was doing. “We’re having a baby,” he shouted at the top of his lungs.

  “I hate you,” she cried, but with a smile on her face.

  He watched the woman he loved being absorbed into the crowd of his friends. Richard had never been happier in his life. The diamond engagement ring graced her finger, and he raised his glass to Wayne and Tony.

  Richard made his way to his two friends.

  “So, you’re getting married and having a child. However will you cope?” Tony asked.

  “With Scarlet in my life, I can handle anything.”

  Lily and Opal were each in turn hugging Scarlet. Harry was playing with some of the children as the barbeque was being fired up.

  “Only one of us left,” Wayne said, and both men turned to Tony.

  “You can keep that shit between you two. I’m really happy being a single guy.”

  “Funny. I believe Wayne and I once said that.”

  Richard sipped his beer and stared at his soon-to-be wife. As much as he hated the contract he’d forced her into, it sure had brought around what he wanted most. The love of his life. Who would have thought he’d ever get love.

  Unlikely, he’d thought once.

  Scarlet was his unlikely love.

  Epilogue

  Tony glanced at one of his best friends. Since marrying Scarlet and having a baby together Richard constantly looked married and smug about it. The only other time he had looked so happy was when the adoption papers had been finalised. Scarlet’s son now had a father.

  Four years had passed since his friend had taken the leap. Both Wayne and Richard were happily married with a few kids.

  “What do you mean you can’t find Opal?” Tony asked.

  “She’s not in any of the rooms at the church, and the priest has said she didn’t go to confession. I’ve got to find her. The parents are freaking out.” Richard looked around, frantic.

  “We’ll find her.” Tony wouldn’t mention he already knew where she’d run to.

  He left his friends in their search. Past the graveyard and through the small orchard at the bottom of the church he found Opal on one of the last remaining swings. Her white dress billowed all around her. Tears stained her cheeks, and she must have been wearing one of those water proof mascaras because it hadn’t run down her face. For a bride on her wedding day, she looked like shit.

  Her blond hair fell down in curls. He personally loved the length of her hair, and he liked that fact she kept it that way. So many times he’d seen fashion columns criticise her for the length of her hair and the body that they described as unfashionably full.

  “I thought I’d find you here,” he said moving behind her.

  She jumped but calmed when she saw it was he.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “What are you doing here, petal? You’re supposed to be a blushing bride.” Unable to resist he ran his fingers through her curls. Pastel pink flowers had been decorated through her hair.

  “Blushing bride. That’s a laugh.” He heard the bitterness in her voice, and he waited like other times for her to talk. “Do you know why I’m getting married today?” she asked.

  Tony shook his head.

  “Because it’s good for business. Most women on their big day are getting married because they’re in love or want to be with the person they’re walking down the aisle with.”

  “Is that why you’re walking down the aisle?”

  “Good for business. I hate him. Charles is a fucking liar and a cheat,” she s. The tears were coming down thick and fast.

  “Don’t swear, petal.”

  “You know what he was doing last night?”

  “No.”

  “While I was being convinced by my parents about how good a union is between us, he was fucking his mistress. Don’t ask how I know. I just know. When I told mum about it, she said we make sacrifices for the men we love.”

  Tony heard her snort.

  “I can’t marry that man, Tony. I’ve never been with anyone. I wanted my first time to be with someone I love. Charles will jump from the bed of his mistress to mine. I can’t do it. Please don’t make me go back.”

  She turned and latched onto him. Tony held her while she cried. His heart strings were pulled by her unhappiness.

  “Are you sure you won’t ever want to be married to Charles?” In truth he thought the bastard was a snivelling little shit. He couldn’t believe her parents had set her up with him. The girl was twenty, and they’d had her life planned out from the start.

  “One hundred percent. Look at me, Tony. He’ll hate me and try to change who I am. No one likes me. Scarlet told me I had to follow my heart, and my heart is telling me to run, as far and as fast as I can.”

  He couldn’t argue with that. Quickly thinking on his feet, he made a decision. Tony adored Opal, and he didn’t want to see her hurt.

  “Go back to church, and I’ll help.” He held a finger over her lips and followed her back to the church. Richard thanked him, and Tony sat in the back of a pew.

  The music started up and Opal walked down with a bouquet of white roses. She stared at him with begging eyes. Tony couldn’t ignore her desperation, and he sat and waited.

  Throughout it all the bride looked like she was about to collapse.

  The priest said those vital words. “If anyone in the room has cause to believe Opal Shaw and Charles Clarke shouldn’t be joined in matrimony, let him speak now or forever hold his peace.”

  Tony glanced up, and saw her staring right back at him. He licked his lips, and when the priest was about to pronounce them man and wife, Tony stood up.

  Gasps and mummers erupted.

  “I object, and I refuse to allow Opal to go through with this,” he said, loud and clear for everyone to hear.

  Richard stood, and Opal made her way down to him.

  Fuck, what had he just done?

  The End

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  Other Books by Sam Crescent:

  Blackmailed by the Beast

  Evernight Publishing

  www.evernightpublishing.com