She'd never be sweet or the kind of the girl that a guy threw everything away for. She straightened her spine. She took care of herself. She was always fine with anything that was thrown in her way. She used a phone app and called a car to pick her up.
As she turned off the lights, she continued her conversation with God. "I'm too closed off to ever truly fall in love. We both know that."
She locked the door behind her and ran down the stairs as fast as she could. Miami was warm, and the wedding invitation for tomorrow meant she'd be too busy to worry about herself or feel sorry that she was no longer the bride. She pocketed her phone. Everything was perfect.
Chapter Two
The Miami skyline outlined the back of Peter Morgan’s mansion as the waters of the Intracoastal Waterway lapped against his yacht. Tonight he wouldn't be able to enjoy his privacy. The tropical breeze brushed against his suit as he locked his front door. Peter Morgan slipped into the backseat of his personal town car, complete with his driver in the front seat.
He checked his phone and work emails. Outside, they passed other neighbors on Starr Island. The white lights that flashed at the bottom of the palm trees next door to his home never indicated Christmas to Peter Morgan. He could have been anywhere in the world right now, and ensured he successfully moved Morgan Enterprises to the top of the next big field, but his family reminded him to stay here.
John Morgan, his brother, chose to live in a more residential area, and his party meant people had more places to park without the valet service.
A few minutes later, Peter Morgan knocked on his brother John’s door and held a gift basket in his hand. No one should ask him what it was, because he had no idea. His secretary had told him, but he forgot. Since his siblings, John and Victoria, had returned to his life, Peter's heart seemed to have begun beating again. He'd do what was best for them.
Vicki opened the door and hugged him. "We're happy you're here."
“Thanks.”
Victoria, his baby sister, was getting married on Christmas Eve. He'd give her away. He swallowed. Vicki practically glowed with happiness. His arms wrapped around her and squeezed.
"I'm glad I made it home early. Beijing was not where I wanted to be, though it was successful. Where's John?"
Their brother's house overlooked Biscayne Bay. The white lights of Christmas stuff hung everywhere, and John had a large Christmas tree flown into his house for the occasion. At least he hadn't done the cheap pink flamingo lawn ornament with the red hats. His Grammy award-winning neighbor next to his own house on Starr Island didn't have the same elegant taste.
Guests were both inside and outside the well-secured mansion. Vicki pointed toward the backyard with more strings of white lights that reflected against the darkened blue waters of the evening bay.
She led him to the bar and said, "Our brother is off scaring Colt in some effort to stop the wedding if he doesn't behave."
His eyebrows shifted up. "Sounds fun. I should go join them."
She shook her head. "Peter, be nice. You're my oldest brother and giving me away in a few days. If you don't agree, I will haunt you for eternity and beyond for ruining my happy-ever-after."
Peter massaged her back. "Vicki, we all actually like Colt. We're saving him from a life with you."
She pinched him, and he laughed. Then he hugged her. Vicki was the best part of their family growing up. Her supposed death had widened the huge hole in his heart that had starting breaking long ago.
Their mother had ditched them practically the day Vicki was about to turn one and John had been two. Peter had spent his childhood protecting Vicki and John from their father and wondering how their mother walked away.
He petted her hair until she swatted his hand away. "Don't go ruining my new style for our rehearsal dinner."
The warmth without the humidity made Miami in December one of the best places to spend winter. The party was full of people who laughed and drank. Most of the people in the room had business dealings and contracts with him. The rest were people who one day would.
He pressed his lips together. "Is Jennifer here?"
Vicki crossed her arms. "Not yet. She is invited. Don't break her and Rafe up because you're lonely, big brother. There is more to life than sex."
The friends-with-benefits relationship he shared with Jennifer for the years his sister supposedly had been dead as Jennifer had reminded him of Vicki. Jennifer never had his sister's good heart, but she had been a link to memories of when his sister had been happy.
A picture of Jennifer formed in his mind. Their break up, at Jennifer's insistence, had been one of the highlights of this year. He shook his head. "I won't, and I'm not lonely."
Vicki shook her head no. John and Colt chose that moment to join them near the patio door. John slapped him on the back and laughed. Then Vicki said, "You live in dad's mausoleum on Starr Island and work in that office of yours far too late."
"I was in Beijing, taking care of business."
His brother and sister clearly had both decided to interfere with his life and intentions for the future. Peter stood straighter. He had forgotten what families were supposed to be like until they had barged back into his life.
He sipped his drink. "And unlike you two, I don't have a fiancée or wife. I get to go home with any single lady I want."
Colt wrapped his arms around Victoria. "Life is better with someone, Peter. A good woman would do wonders for you."
His sister glowed with happiness. Marriage was not in his life plan. His own mother hadn't wanted him anymore, so why would he take in any woman? He'd stockpile as much of the Morgan finances as he could and leave it to his nieces and nephews. A wife would be a weight his heart didn't need. He pressed his lips together and hoped this didn't make him like their father.
Peter shook his head. "There are more than one ‘some ones’ out there."
John crossed his arms, and had the same expression Vicki had a moment ago. "My brother is incapable of dating only one woman for long. We all know that."
Women were all disappointments and they left. Their father had taunted him the day his mother walked out the door as he said, ‘women are playtoys for men like us.' He had seen her walk out the front door from the marble staircase that she had passed on her way out. They had stared at each other on her journey, and even then their mother hadn't stayed to protect them. She hadn't even said goodbye, and her brown eyes still haunted him.