Empty Net Read online

  “Who is that?”

  “Erik Titov, Jakob’s brother.”

  “Oh, do you not like him?” Audrey asked confused. She hadn’t met Erik yet, but she had heard of him, and everything was good. He was apparently a great guy, quiet, but nice.

  Piper shook her head sadly, “More like totally in love with him, but he wants nothing to do with me. He wants Reese.”

  Audrey’s heart broke. She knew what it was like to lust after a guy who wanted her sister. She had lived it growing up. Thankfully, she really didn’t have that problem anymore. Audrey took Piper’s hand in hers, and squeezed.

  “He doesn’t deserve you.”

  Piper gave Audrey a watery smile before nodding, “Excuse me.”

  Audrey let her leave and when a waiter passed with a tray full of champagne, she took one. She didn’t know what was up with Piper and Erik but she planned to find out. She would give Piper some time before she forced it out of her. She would need cupcakes and maybe some vodka. Piper was a lush when it came to vodka.

  Audrey only stood for another minute alone when she noticed Shea and Elli Adler making their way towards her. Elli look amazing and round in a sweet light green maternity dress that brought out the green of her eyes. Her hair was long and curly, her make up done lightly. Shea looked dashing in his fitted black suit with his geeky black glasses and trusty Chucks on. In his arms, he held his beautiful bundle of pink while Elli held baby Shelli on her hip. Shelli was also wearing a cute little green dress, with her curly hair in two little pigtails. She was the cutest little thing, looking just like her daddy.

  “Hey guys!” Audrey exclaimed before hugging and kissing all four of them, “aren’t y’all the cutest little family ever.”

  Elli smiled sweetly as she leaned into Shea, “Thanks, Audrey. You look spectacular.”

  Audrey smiled, swooshing her dress from side to side as her cheeks became hot, “Aw, thanks, Elli.”

  Shea smiled, his arms snaking around Elli, bringing her closer to him, “Beautiful wedding,” he said with a grin.

  “It is. How is everything?”

  Elli nodded, “Good, even if I feel bigger than a house.”

  Shea rolled his eyes while Audrey smiled, “I think you look beautiful, Elli.”

  “I feel like Octomom or something,” she grumbled with a grumpy look on her face.

  “Well you sure don’t look it. You look amazing.”

  Elli smiled before shrugging her shoulders, “Thanks but I didn’t come over here for you to gush over me. I came to gush over you.”

  Audrey giggled, “What about?”

  “I wanted to suck up to you so you would do me a huge favor,” Elli said shyly.

  “What is it?” Audrey asked, intrigued. Elli hardly ever asked Audrey for things. But really, what would the owner of the Assassins need from a customer service rep? Whenever Elli needed anything wine wise, she would call Fallon.

  “I know this is short notice but I totally forgot. I was wondering if you could make cupcakes for Shelli’s birthday party this weekend. My pregnancy brain is on overload and I know I should have asked a long time ago, but I’m an idiot and you know I hate store bought ones and I love yours.”

  “Jeez, Elli, ahh, you’re rambling kills me!” Audrey giggled as Shea laughed.

  “Me too,” he said with a grin. Elli cut him a look before looking over at Audrey.

  “I’m sorry but could you help me out?”

  “Of course, email me what you need, and I’ll bring ‘em with me when I come for the party with Aiden.”

  “Awesome, you’re a life saver. Thank you.” Next thing Audrey knew she was wrapped in a big hug from Elli. When they backed away Elli said, “Give AA kisses, Shelli.” Shelli leaned towards Audrey; drooling all over her face in what Shelli probably thought was a kiss. Audrey dusted kisses all over the pretty baby’s face before Elli pulled away with a big grin on her face. Audrey’s eyes started to fill as her eyes stayed locked with Shelli’s. She wanted a little person who would give her drooly kisses all the time.

  Audrey blinked back the tears, grinning widely before saying, “Sure thing, y’all know I love you.”

  Shea and Elli smiled as they nodded, “We love you, thanks, babe.”

  With that the Adler family walked away, leaving Audrey all alone again. On the bright side though, she was going to get to make a lot of cupcakes and that would be fun. Ideas started to fill her head as she continued to drink her champagne and watch as Aiden and Fallon did the running man on the dance floor. Lucas was laughing so hard he couldn’t stand upright. They were a mess, she thought with a shake of her head. Even with them being a mess, she wished she had her own mess of a family. The man who would love her for forever, the one who would make her forget her past. The one who would make every single piece of shit she had dealt with worth it because he was there. He was holding her. He was loving her. And only her.

  Where the hell was he?

  “Well, hey there, beautiful.”

  Audrey looked over to her left to see the guy she had left, not a week ago. Audrey took in a quick breath as her eyes met his. Holy moly! How the hell did he find her?! Even in her state of shock, she couldn’t help but take in the fact that he looked positively scrumptious with his big blue eyes and long blonde hair in his eyes. That was probably the reason she slept with him. He was beautiful.

  “Hey…”

  Yup, his name wasn’t clicking at all. Eek, she was such a slut! How did she sleep with a man and not know his name!? And why did he look younger than he did the other night!? He looked like he was sixteen! Oh, goodness! What had she done!? She was a child molester! She was going to go to jail for sleeping with a minor!

  Oh, good Lord!

  Her one-night stand laughed as he looked around, “Should my feelings be hurt that you don’t know my name?”

  Ooo, he had an accent. She seemed to have forgotten that, but man, accents were sexy, but not coming from an infant! Audrey needed to get rid of him and fast.

  She smiled and looked around for something to pull her from this conversation, “Not at all, I was very drunk that night. I doubt you even remember my name.”

  “Audrey Jane Parker.”

  Audrey whipped her eyes back to him, shock all over her face, “How’d you know that?”

  The guy smiled, and Audrey’s pulse kicked up in speed.

  He had a gap in his teeth.

  Audrey LOVED gaps!

  Another reason she probably went home with him, man, she was such a little hussy.

  “I Googled ‘most beautiful girl ever’, your name came up.”

  Audrey face broke out in a big grin as her face flushed, “Smooth.”

  “I thought so. No, I play with Lucas.”

  “Lucas? Lucas Brooks? My new brother-in-law?”

  The guy nodded and Audrey decided this was getting worse by the moment. Not only was he an infant, but he also played hockey with Lucas. Not good. She pinched the bridge of her nose and gasped out, “Does he know?”

  “That we slept together?”

  “Yeah?” Audrey asked.

  “Not at all. I don’t want to get killed.”

  Audrey couldn’t help but giggle as the guy looked around the room. Probably to see if Lucas was in earshot. Ever since Fallon finally decided to stop being an idiot, Lucas and Audrey had become close. Lucas was the brother she never had, and she loved him dearly. Audrey couldn’t count how many times Lucas yelled at Levi for dating Audrey, he hated it, said that Levi wasn’t good enough for her.

  Maybe she should have listened sooner.

  Even though she knew she shouldn’t, she asked, “So what is your name?”

  Audrey needed to know, there was something about him. Maybe his eyes, such a bright blue, that she swore she could hear the ocean. They were mesmerizing and she could get lost for days in his eyes. Or maybe his swagger, he was confident and his eyes never left hers. It was like he was taking in everything about her, and for some reason she liked that