Chapter 40

Chapter Forty

Abby

M y jaw dropped at the woman’s words. “What?”

For a split second, I doubted everything. Rafe, my marriage, my future.

Rafe said, “That’s a lie! I’ve only been married once, and my wife is right here.”

He glanced at me, and at the certainty in his eyes, my fears melted away.

Rafe wouldn’t lie about this. And given his celebrity, it wasn’t far-fetched that someone would pay this woman to cause trouble.

The woman raised her chin. “You’re a bigamist, is what you are.”

Rafe opened his mouth, but I stepped in front of him, nearer to the woman. I stared into her blue eyes and asked, “Then where’s the marriage certificate?”

“Um, what?”

I took a step closer and noticed the woman’s brows come together. “If you really came all this way to charge in here and make a grand declaration, surely you brought proof?”

“I, uh…”

I stopped right in front of her. “Well?”

She glanced away and back at me. Most of her confidence was gone. “I didn’t bring it with me because I didn’t want him to destroy it.”

She waved at Rafe, but I never took my eyes from hers. “I call bullshit.”

Amber’s voice came from behind me. “I think you’re right, Abby.”

Emmy appeared on my side. “My brother is many things, but a bigamist isn’t one of them. Especially given how much he loves my best friend.”

Katie appeared at my other side and cracked her knuckles. “I’d suggest you admit you’re a liar and leave town.”

The woman glanced around the room, but didn’t say anything. So I raised an eyebrow and said, “Well? Do you have proof, or did someone send you?”

Something flickered in her eyes. Bingo. Someone had sent her. But who?

Rafe moved to my side, took my hand, and threaded his fingers through mine before saying, “You may as well tell us the truth.”

Raising her chin, she tried to look confident, but her voice was as strong as before when she replied, “I already told you the truth.”

She glanced to the side, and I noticed someone with their phone up, probably filming this entire exchange.

I looked back at the woman and said, “You have a friend over there recording something.”

“So what? Everyone takes videos these days.”

The owner of the bar, John Thompson, walked over to the woman with her phone pointed at us and stood in front of her. “Actually, there’s a sign on the door when you come in—no filming videos without permission. So hand it over.”

The other woman, who had an American accent, squeaked and jumped back. “No.”

Beck shouted, “I already called the sheriff, John. He’ll be here soon.”

The British woman took a step back, but I followed. “Who sent you? CGN?”

“Er…”

“It was, wasn’t it?” Rafe cursed, but I continued before he could say anything. “Agree to write and sign a statement, with all the details, and I’m sure John could be convinced not to confiscate the phone or tell the sheriff how you’re harassing one of his patrons.”

I wasn’t exactly sure of the legal options, but I did my best to bluff and look confident.

Rafe spoke up. “If you do as my wife says and tell us everything, then I won’t include you in my lawsuit against CGN.”

While Rafe had the best lawyers working on the case, I had a feeling he was bluffing like me.

Regardless, between me, Rafe, the BFF Circle, and my brothers all staring her down, the woman started to crumble. She said, “They told me I couldn’t be arrested. I just wanted the thousand pounds.”

Rafe said, “So they did pay you.”

She nodded. “Yes. They wanted another scandal since the one about Abby Mendoza was one of their best performing ever, and this one would bring it back into the spotlight.”

Anger churned in my stomach. The CGN assholes only saw what they could make off me and didn’t care if they hurt me in the process.

Rafe put an arm around my waist, his touch comforting. He replied to the woman, “Cooperate and help us, and I’ll make sure you’re protected.”

“Protected?” she squeaked.

Rafe nodded. “CGN isn’t kind to those who try to stand up to them. But until my lawsuit is over, I’ll help you if you agree to share the full truth.”

The woman agreed to write her statement down in exchange for Rafe’s protection. Soon the sheriff arrived, and once the woman gave all the necessary details to Rafe, she and her friend left with law enforcement.

My friends and brothers all crowded around me and Rafe, asking if we were okay. Once we assured them we were fine, I said, “Sadly, I think our night of fun is over. To better prepare for what else CGN might throw at us, I need to go home and discuss a few things with Rafe.”

West grunted. “As long as you keep us updated.”

I bobbed my head. “Of course. I’ll text you all tomorrow.”

Once I said goodbye to everyone, Rafe ushered me out the door and into his car. As soon as we were inside, he turned to me and asked, “You still believe me, right?”

The uncertainty in his gaze squeezed my heart. I cupped his cheek and said, “Of course I do. For a split second, I had my doubts, but then I remembered everything you’ve done for me. Hell, that you’re still doing for me. And most importantly, that I trust you.” I kissed him. “I love you, Rafe, and for better or for worse, I’m your wife.”

He smiled. “Definitely for the better, love. You’re all I need or want.” After kissing me, he added, “Which is funny, considering what you said that day I drove you to Vegas.”

“Wait, what? You remember what happened?”

He nodded. “It came rushing back as you stood up to that woman in the bar.”

“And? Don’t you dare keep me in suspense any longer!”

After chuckling, he replied, “Well, that day you told me I was the absolutely last person you wanted to see.”

And he went on to tell me about how I’d cried over another brother finding love, and as much as I didn’t want to be, I was jealous. Also, with Rafe being back in town, it only reminded me of all the dreams I’d had as a kid and teenager. And he was the absolute last person I wanted to see during my breakdown. I just wanted to forget myself for a night or two in Vegas, but of course, my car had broken down.

In the end, Rafe had won the battle to drive me there, and we both got drunk. The proposal was a little fuzzy to him—and me, as some of my memories returned as he told his side—but I’d joked about wanting to marry him when I was a teenager, and he’d said he could give me that dream, at least.

The ceremony was a blur; the night ending with us giggling and passing out in the hotel room.

When he finished, I sighed. “I don’t think I’ve ever been as drunk as that day. Otherwise, I never would’ve told you about my teenage marriage dreams.”

He smiled and brushed the hair off my face. “Well, I don’t think I’ve drunk more, either. And don’t take this the wrong way, but I must’ve been completely shit-faced to marry anyone. Luckily, it ended up being you.”

Rafe moved in to kiss me, but I leaned back. “Why did you need to be super drunk to marry anyone? I’m curious.”

He sighed. “You’re not going to let me kiss you or take you home and do dirty things until I tell you, are you?”

“Nope. So, spill.”

He ran a hand over his hair. “Well, mostly because of what happened to my parents and the ensuing guilt. I understand now that I couldn’t have controlled the drunk driver that killed them. But for a long time, I focused on how they were going to the airport to see me. And if I hadn’t hounded them to come to the UK for a match, they might still be alive.”

I took his hand in mind. “What-ifs are dangerous. I should know, given all the crap that happened with Travis. But hopefully now you accept that you couldn’t have done anything to change the past, right? No lingering doubts?”

“I don’t think so. I’m sure every once in a while the years of guilt might come rushing back. But a drunk driver could’ve hit them any night, and it was bad luck that it happened when they were coming to see me.” He paused, traced my cheek, and added, “Besides, no matter what happened, my parents would’ve wanted me to be happy.” He lifted my hand and kissed it. “And you make me happy, Abigail Mendoza. More than anyone else in the world. I love you.”

I brought his hand to my chest, over my heart, and said, “Good, because I love you and I’m never letting you go, Rafe. You’re stuck with me. Although…”

He raised his brows. “Although, what?”

“I still never claimed my favor for staying married to you…”

He snorted. “I honor my bargains. So what do you want, love?”

Leaning forward, I traced his jaw before placing my hand on his chest. “For you to love me, Rafael. Just love me.”

He kissed me, and I melted as much against him as I could, considering we were in a car. When he finally let me up for air, I stated, “We need to get home. Stat. I’m not about to accidentally give my brothers a free show in the parking lot.”

Rafe chuckled as he started the engine. “And as much as I want you right now, I’d rather be able to touch and taste and devour all of you. So let’s see how quickly I can get us home without getting pulled over.”

As he sped down the road, I placed a hand on his leg and squeezed before moving it up, up, up.

Rafe hissed. “Don’t even think about it, Abigail. I don’t want to crash into a tree.”

Laughing, I removed my hand and fondled my breasts. “What about this?”

Rafe cursed again. “You’re incorrigible, aren’t you?”

“And you love me for it.”

“For whatever reason, I do.”

“Good. Then hurry up. I’m impatient to be fully incorrigible in our bed.”

And so I managed to behave as Rafe drove us home in record time.