The Sweetest Surrender (Falling For A Rose Book 8) Read online

  “Oh my God, I think I’m going to be sick,” Eden said.

  “Anyway, you all should be all right, but they will probably tear up that pretty wedding dress trying to get you out of it. Sorry.”

  Phoebe shuddered, and Selena felt her vibrate beside her.

  “Don’t worry about that. I’m sure we’ll be out of here before any of that takes place, and your dress will be fine,” Selena reassured.

  Phoebe glanced at her then back to Blaire. “Damn this dress,” she said. “I’m more worried about the strip search. I can’t wear this gown on my wedding day now. It’s been totally ruined, and on top of that, when my Quentin does get here, he’ll see me in it. I’m going to Miranda’s, where I should’ve gone initially.”

  Phoebe turned to her sister. Eden looked physically sick like at any moment she would regurgitate everything she’d had for breakfast. Selena saw it, too, and she reached around Phoebe and caressed her arm.

  “Are you okay?” Selena asked.

  Eden trembled slightly. “We have to get out of here.” Eden turned around and shouted through the metal bars. “Hey! Don’t we get a phone call?!”

  “I’m sure Jasmine has called our cavalry by now,” Phoebe said.

  “Well, what’s taking them so long to get here then!?” Eden snapped.

  “We haven’t been here twenty minutes,” Phoebe responded.

  “Five minutes is enough!” Eden screeched.

  An officer traipsed up to the cell, and the door buzzed and opened.

  “It looks like you don’t need a phone call, Ms. Rose,” the officer said. “Your bail has been made.”

  “Oh, thank God.” Eden exhaled. She stepped out of the cell, and Phoebe followed her.

  “Not you, just her,” the officer said.

  Aghast, Eden turned back. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”

  The officer cajoled. “I’m just yanking ya chain. All three of you are free to go.”

  The ladies all sighed collectively, and the officer laughed. They all cut their eyes at him and left the cell so fast you’d think a murderer was after them.

  “You bitches are sooo lucky!” Blaire yelled from inside the cell. Blaire walked to the bars and shouted through them. “If you see a guy outside in a yellow raincoat, tell him to tell Marlon to hurry up, it’s getting cold in here!”

  “A yellow raincoat?” Phoebe said, speaking to Selena.

  “Don’t even try and figure it out,” Selena said.

  As soon as the women were up front, they were greeted individually. Phoebe took off as soon as she spotted Quentin, and he was right there to scoop her up. At his side was Derek James Clark, their fraternity brother, best friend, and Eden’s crush. Eden blushed but didn’t run up to him like she wanted to. Their relationship was still developing on the down-low.

  When Selena locked eyes with Jordan, a thrill of unexpected pleasure roamed down her spine. His sharp gaze and masculine features sat strong as he accelerated his walk to get to her. When they met, Jordan’s thick arms encircled her petite frame, and with a brushing caress, he palmed her back, pressing Selena closer into him. Selena shuddered from the possessive grip of his claim, and her hefty bosom settled comfortably in the strength of his heavy embrace as his brown eyes bore into her.

  “Are you all right?” his deep voice thundered.

  Selena pressed her plump lips together and swallowed the lump in her throat. “I’m fine,” she said. “Thank you for getting me out. I expected my father to post bail while chastising me at the same time.” Selena chuckled.

  Jordan tilted his head. “No offense to your father, but he’s not quick enough.”

  Selena blushed. “How much was it? I can pay you back when I get paid on Friday.”

  Jordan didn’t respond immediately then he smirked. “I don’t think I broke the bank, baby girl.” When Selena went to protest, Jordan hushed her with a breathtaking kiss to her lips.

  Swept away, Selena’s eyes faltered as Jordan’s manly lips sank deeper against her mouth, his probing tongue invading her cove, snatching the air between her lungs only to give it back in a rushing breath. Selena shuddered again as a raging warmth cascaded over her skin and curdled in her gut before trailing straight down to her sex. With a mind of their own, Selena’s hands trailed up Jordan’s biceps and shoulders before coming to a comfortable rest around his neck. They’d been transported completely away from the precinct in a world where only they resided.

  “Mmmm…” The deep throttle came from Jordan. He spoke against her hot mouth. “I’ve been wanting to do this all day,” he murmured.

  “Yeah,” Selena said, “me too.”

  They rested their foreheads against each other before Jordan kissed her on her cheek then glanced up at the officers standing around gawking at them. Straightening up, Jordan coached Selena to his side as he squared off his thick masculine shoulders and switched into attorney mode.

  “Where’s the chief of police?” his dark voice bellowed.

  Selena squirmed beside him, and she wondered if Jordan felt it. Just the sound of his voice revved her in ways that should be against the law. The officer Jordan posed his question to shifted on his feet, and his eyes darted around.

  “Get him on the line, now,” Jordan barked.

  “I don’t have his number,” the officer said, and a few others snickered.

  Jordan stared at the officers for another long second then smiled. “I see. It’s a good thing I have him on speed dial then. It’s such a shame that his officers don’t have direct communication with him. I’ll be sure to let him know you guys lost the number,” he stated sarcastically.

  The amusement on all of their faces dropped, and Jordan pulled out his cell phone and hit a button. The name Chief Fletcher appeared across the screen before Jordan put the phone to his ear. The arm that was wrapped around Selena pressed against her skin as Jordan held her possessively. Selena bit down on her bottom lip and wallowed in the feel of his strong embrace and the simple way he cuddled her with his massive hands.

  “Good morning, Jordan,” Chief Fletcher answered, “or maybe I should say good afternoon since it’s after twelve. I was just telling the missus I have a golf date with your father this afternoon. What can I do you for?”

  Jordan’s voice was stern and straightforward when he spoke.

  “Chief Fletcher, this call is a personal one, but not in the way you might think. I’m standing in your downtown precinct because your officers dragged my sisters and someone near and dear to my heart down here like they were criminals.”

  Jordan’s voice seethed with a hot ferment that let the chief know Jordan was not pleased or amused. Plastered against his side, Selena blushed at Jordan’s sentiment; someone near and dear to my heart rang through her ears on replay.

  “Not only that, but an eyewitness has informed me that they were manhandled when being put inside the police cruiser. You’re up for re-election next year, correct?”

  “Ah— yes, son, I am.”

  “It would be such a shame if the city of Chicago found out your officers were roughhousing women. It would also be a shame if they knew your officers didn’t even have your number where you can be reached. How could you provide for the city if you don’t have simple contact with your detectives?” Before the chief could respond, Jordan continued, “That was rhetorical.”

  Jordan paused for a long moment. “I hate talking in circles, Chief. So, I hope you’re hearing me good. I WILL sue this entire department from the head down to the little guy sitting at the security booth for disrespecting my family. YOU will never see another term again if this doesn’t get resolved. And before you talk about threats, I’ll be clear to let you know, THIS is one.”

  Chief Fletcher had gone quiet, and Jordan let him mull it over without saying another word. Jordan was certain the chief heard him. Everyone in the room had, including Quentin and Derek, who stood brooding like bulls right beside Jordan.

  “I’ll take care of it, son,” Chief Fletc
her assured.

  Jordan disconnected the line and glanced back down at Selena. He cupped the oval curvature of her chin, letting his gaze roam over her brown skin with a searing intensity.

  “Are you sure you’re all right?”

  Selena licked her lips. “Yes,” she said.

  “You would tell me if they hurt you, wouldn’t you?”

  “Um,” Selena stammered. She wasn’t used to being looked after by anyone other than her parents. Her pause made Jordan’s jaw lock, and he cut his eyes at the officers. “Yes,” she finally said. “I wouldn’t take shit from anyone, police officers included.”

  Jordan knew Selena wasn’t one to hold her tongue, but her hesitance made him wonder if she was telling him the truth. Jordan would find out soon enough.

  “How’s Samiyah?” Selena asked.

  Jordan released the glare he held on the officers and looked down into the crescent of her sultry eyes. “Still in labor.” He glanced back at them with an expression that made Selena think he would rip their heads off one by one.

  She slipped her hand up his chest, bringing his attention back down to her. His gaze warmed as it settled on her face again.

  “Let’s go to the hospital. That’s where we should be.”

  Jordan nodded, and they all turned to leave the premises. Outside, the windchill was unforgiving as it lashed against their faces and tornadoed around them. When Selena, Phoebe, and Eden glanced around and spotted a guy standing off to the side in a yellow raincoat, they all balked.

  “No way…” Phoebe said.

  This made Selena laugh. The men turned to the women with questionable stares.

  “Hold on for a second,” Selena said to Jordan. She tried to walk off, but his grip tightened. She looked back at him and stroked his arm. “Just a quick second.” He eventually released her, and she quickly walked up to the man.

  “Excuse me.”

  The man glanced at her with a thin toothy grin.

  “Blaire told me to tell you to tell Marlon to hurry up. It’s getting cold in there.”

  The man’s smile faltered, and he shook his head.

  “Thank you,” the man said.

  “No problem.” Selena chuckled then turned to walk off.

  “Miss,” the man yelled after her.

  Selena peered back over her shoulder.

  “You wouldn’t happen to have a lighter, would ya?”

  Chapter Four

  The gang sat in the hospital waiting room, anticipating news from Nurse Staples who’d come out every now and again to give an update on Samiyah’s labor. Selena paced while the others spoke quietly.

  “We didn’t even get a chance to have the gender reveal party,” Phoebe said. She’d come out of the wedding dress, paid for it, and trashed it all at the same time. Now she sat in a pair of dark denim jeans and a thick black wool sweater with a huge loose collar that covered her neck in a toasty blanket.

  “Well, we’ll know for sure now, won’t we?” Eden said.

  “Yeah,” Phoebe responded. She glanced over at Selena.

  “Are you nervous?” Phoebe asked her.

  Selena cut her eyes to Phoebe as she nibbled on her fingernail.

  “Does it usually take this long to have a baby?” Selena asked.

  It was eight p.m., and Samiyah had been in labor all day.

  “Some women go two or three days in labor before giving birth,” Claudia added.

  Claudia had been at the hospital in a continuous pace since the girls were taken off to jail. There had been a few times when Claudia wanted to storm the labor and delivery room, but she knew it wasn’t her place, and she understood.

  Imagining being in labor for seventy-two hours made Selena nauseated. “Jesus, that’s a long time to be in pain,” she said.

  “The doctors give you medicine to rid your pain,” Claudia said. “It’s not so bad.”

  “How would you know? Have you been pregnant before?” Selena asked.

  All eyes turned to Claudia, including her husband Jaden. Claudia stammered. “No—um, of course not, I’m just saying, they give you the good drugs to keep you sane.”

  “Hmm,” Selena murmured.

  “I’m sure you would make a great mother.”

  The dark voice came from Jordan as he strolled up behind Selena. Closing in, Jordan took the palm of his hand down her shoulder in a grazing stroke, causing a stinging flare of heat to wash over her. She opened her mouth to respond but no words came out. Jordan tipped her chin with an innate tap of his hand. Selena blushed and leaned into him, giving Jordan the opportunity to place a warm kiss against her forehead, on the bridge of her nose, then finally her lips.

  A languorous sigh released from Selena as she was taken once again by Jordan’s masterful kiss. Since they’d been dating, Jordan had done a lot of holding and kissing her, but they had yet to seal the deal with sexual foreplay although Selena dreamed of it more times than not. She was enjoying their time together, and their friendship grew daily, so she wouldn’t force it. The last thing she wanted was to seem too attached. For once in her life, she’d love to be loved wholeheartedly by someone she could spend the rest of her life with. But just as the thought trekked through her mind, the pending divorce of her parents captured Selena’s thoughts.

  It made her grimace, and Jordan felt her grow cold as her lips stilled. Slowly, he pulled their mouths apart but continued to hover just over her sienna skin.

  With a penetrating stare, he questioned, “What are you thinking?”

  His voice was so soothing that Selena wished she could curl in it. She gulped thickly.

  “Um… nothing, I’m fine.”

  Jordan’s gaze grew more intense. She was lying to him, and he couldn’t imagine why. Knowing their relationship was fairly new, Jordan didn’t push the subject, but he couldn’t help but wish Selena would open up to him.

  Give her time…

  He would. After all he didn’t have much of a choice, and even though Jordan knew that, he still wanted to tug it out of her.

  “You don’t trust me enough to tell me when you’re hurting, but I can see it on your face and feel it in your touch.”

  Selena wanted to deny his claims. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him per se, but she didn’t want to sound like a crybaby. She was grown after all. How many adults acted or felt like children when their parents were threatening to divorce? Maybe if she was sixteen but thirty-four?

  Selena’s hesitance gave Jordan the impression that he was right, which he usually was. In his profession, Jordan could almost tell anytime someone was being untruthful or even gauge their reaction to certain happenings, like he did with Selena just then.

  Sadness slipped over him but disappeared just as quickly. The doors to the labor ward opened, and Nurse Staples strolled out with a huge smile.

  “Family of Samiyah Rose,” she said. They collectively surrounded the nurse with heightened anticipation. “You’ll be happy to know Samiyah’s no longer in labor, and she’s just given birth to a set of healthy newborns.”

  Everyone in the room gasped, some covering their mouths while others beamed brightly.

  “Twins!?” Selena shouted.

  Nurse Staples nodded. “A boy and a girl.”

  “When can we see them?” Phoebe questioned.

  “We’re currently moving Samiyah to a room where we’ll let four of you in at a time.” The nurse glanced at the wall clock. “About fifteen more minutes, and we’ll be out to get the first four, so you can decide amongst yourselves who will go first.”

  Claudia squealed, and they all laughed. She looked around. “Oh, please let me go first, you guys,” she begged. “I promise not to take too long.”

  The family laughed at her again. Claudia had been Samiyah’s best friend since grade school. They’d grown up and shared tons of memories before finally deciding to open a business together: S & M Financial Advisory.

  “You and Martha Jean can go with Pops and Norma if no one else minds,” Jor
dan said. “We’ll take the second round if that’s okay with you, sweetheart.” Jordan glanced at Selena.

  “I’m cool with that.”

  Everyone else agreed.

  “But don’t take all day, I’ve gotta see my babies,” their aunt Matilda called out. They all snickered, and Claudia squealed again.

  Two and half hours later, Claudia, Martha Jean, the Rose patriarch Christopher and his wife Norma filed out of the hospital room with glows on their faces. Selena and Jordan stood.

  “How are they?” Selena asked.

  “Beautiful,” Christopher said, basking with pride at his grandchildren. Christopher tossed an arm around Norma’s shoulder and pulled her in. “Just beautiful.”

  Nurse Staples stepped forward. “I’ll show you to their room if you’re ready.”

  With haste, Selena and Jordan stepped forward followed by Phoebe and Quentin as they trailed behind the nurse into a dimly lit room where Jonas sat bedside, holding one bundle and Samiyah held the other.

  Selena pulled her hands to her face and covered her mouth. With wide eyes, she cooed, “Oh my God,” as she moved closer to Samiyah with Phoebe by her side. Jordan slipped around to the other side with Quentin and slapped hands with his brother.

  “Congratulations,” Jordan said, bending to gain a better look.

  Jonas’ smile was so grand it made the muscles in his face pain.