Desperately Seeking Househusband

by Ray, Marika

I shook my head and smiled, feeling more free than I had in years. “No. Love comes for all types of couples and who’s to say what’s right and what’s wrong? We’re not hurting anyone and I know you’re nothing like him.”

  His fingers found the edge of my hair by my shoulder, twisting it around and around absentmindedly. I could have sighed at the bliss of him touching me. The only thing that stopped me was not wanting to break whatever spell this was that had Rhett talking to me again.

  “Why did you run out of the house just now?”

  My cheeks heated. To think Rhett cheated on me was so stupid. “A knee jerk reaction to seeing the man I love lying in the arms of another woman.”

  His fingers froze and I held my breath.

  “You love me?”

  I quirked an eyebrow, feeling my heart soar up as high as the sky. “You ask a lot of questions, you know that?”

  He grabbed my shoulders and spun me fully toward him, an urgency to him that wasn’t normally there. “Say that again.”

  I beamed, knowing I no longer had trepidations to saying the words that reflected exactly what I felt. “I love you, Rhett.”

  His dimples showed up just as the sun came out from behind a cloud and I knew there could be no coincidence. This man could get me to open up my heart again. I’m sure something as easy as manipulating the weather was child’s play for him.

  He pulled me into a hug, nearly crushing the air from my lungs. I was too happy being back in his arms and feeling those muscles to give a shit about a little thing like oxygen.

  “I love you too. And I sure as shit wasn’t messing around with Lavender,” he whispered into my hair.

  “I know. I’m just sorry you had to go to her for a hug instead of me. I should have been there to console you.” I pulled back a bit to see his face. “Are you okay? Your brother was horrible to you.”

  His smile dimmed but didn’t leave. “Yeah, that kind of sucked, but just like you, I needed that wake-up call. I can’t keep waiting on Hewitt to invite me into his life. I decided I’m not waiting around for him to throw me the scraps of his attention. I left this morning to talk to him at his office.”

  He grunted. “He actually texted me while I was driving over to offer me a contact of his who wants to invest in my company.”

  My fingers went cold. I wanted to be happy for him about his company, but I just didn’t see how he could count on Hew to help him. If I knew Hew, and unfortunately I did, it sounded like a set-up.

  Rhett pushed the hair back from my face where the breeze had sent it flying. “Don’t worry, I told him no. I also told him I had no intention of having a relationship with him. I told him to stay away from both of us.” He nuzzled my nose with his. “We’re done with him, Gabby.”

  “Can I never be done with you?” I whispered back.

  He brought his lips to mine with a soft brush. “You better never be done with me because I plan to have several lifetimes of loving you.”

  Our lips smashed together in a frenzied kiss of apologies, acceptance, and promises for the future. It quickly turned heated as he tried to consume me and I would have let him if not for the squeal directly behind our bench.

  “Oh look, John! They’ve worked it out.”

  We broke apart, breathing heavy. As one, we slowly turned our heads and took in John and Lavender smiling at us, along with two cameramen who looked a little pissed we’d escaped them.

  Rhett looked back at me and winked. “At least there’s no goats.”

  28

  Rhett

  Viewers of the show might think Gabby and I got our happy ever after based on the short clip of reconciliation the cameramen actually got on film, but they’d be wrong. I wouldn’t be happy unless Gabby was wearing my ring and we were raising our babies right by the ocean where I could teach them to surf and scare the crap out of their mom on the daily.

  I was so proud of Gabby for facing her demons and letting them go. Hell, I was proud of myself too. More than anything, I wanted to give Gabby absolutely everything she ever wanted. Thing is, she already had plenty of cash to buy whatever she wanted, which meant I got the opportunity to give her the things money couldn’t buy, which was my specialty.

  So I got to planning.

  We had various activities planned throughout the next week for the show, but we didn’t get everyone back together until the dinner Kitty and Jasper were hosting on Saturday night. Barring any more marriage breakup confessions putting a black cloud over the evening, that gave me five days to get my plan in place and come up with the right thing to say to Gabby, our friends, and the viewing audience.

  When Saturday arrived, I was totally calm, which made me feel a bit smug. Austin, whom I’d bounced my ideas off of, told me he’d been crazy nervous with Elle. Of course, I didn’t bother calling Jayden as he’d just warn me off of women forever. He was jaded and I couldn’t deal with his permanent negativity just now.

  “Can you zip me up?” Gabby walked out of her closet with a low cut red dress held to her beautiful body, feet bare. Her toenails were painted the same blazing red as her dress, which caught my eye since she normally just had a French manicure. My gaze flew to her nails, seeing them the same bright red, not the normal deep burgundy she’d worn since the day I met her.

  “What have you done with Gabby?” I glowered at her, trying my best to mask how freaking gorgeous she looked and the internal struggle I was currently having on not ripping that dress off her and throwing her on the bed.

  She smiled, her eyes dancing like she knew my internal struggle. “I figured it was time to switch it up a bit. I seem to have developed a taste for bright reds. You like?” Her hips swung a bit more than usual as she walked toward me. The little vixen was teasing me on purpose.

  I quirked an eyebrow and clenched my jaw. “I fucking love it.” I grabbed her by the hips and tugged her all the way in, crushing her to me, her arms pinned between us, immobile. Dipping my head, I got a taste of her lips before she pulled her head back.

  “The color reminded me of your hair color when you were a little boy.” She smiled sweetly, which made me feel a bit of an ass for wanting to ravage her like a frat boy with only one thing on his mind when she was being romantic. I should never have showed her that family album. Although if she was to meet my mom next week, I wanted her to fully understand my family history before then. What better way to take a trip down memory lane than a slideshow of old family photographs?

  I slid my lips across hers again, needing to connect with her more than I needed air. I loved how she could be so sweet yet could bring a grown man to his knees with her wit and spirit.

  “I love you,” I said between kisses. I’d never get tired of saying those three words.

  “Can I do something?” she answered back.

  Anything. “Yes,” I breathed, hoping she was thinking the same thing I was thinking.

  “Promise me you won’t touch me.”

  “Uh…” That sounded like a terrible idea.

  She poked me in the side. “Promise me.”

  I touched my forehead to hers. “I promise, Snookums. Do your worst.”

  She immediately pushed away from me and I began to regret my agreement. Damn woman could get me to do anything.

  Her hands let go of her dress, letting it pool to the floor, and started working on my belt. She wasn’t wearing a bra, her breasts free for me to ogle as they bounced with each movement. My gaze trailed down to take in her black lacy underwear framing a gorgeous ass I’d had my hands on quite a few times in the last week. When she got my belt undone and started in on my button and zipper, I grabbed her hands.

  “Wha—”

  “Hey, you promised!” She leveled those brown eyes at me, daring me to go back on my word.

  Who was I to stop a hot woman from getting in my pants?

  I released her and put my hands behind my head like I was either getting frisked by the hottest cop in California or resting beside the pool on a lazy day. I remained r
elaxed until she pushed everything down, freeing my erection with a delighted squeal. Yeah, of course, I was ready to go. Any hot-blooded male who saw Gabby in just her undies would be. Though no man would ever see that again if everything went according to plan tonight.

  She wrapped her hands around the Incredible Bulk and gave it a stroke. Of course, that meant my hands flew off the back of my head because I was no longer relaxed. More like in danger of sliding to the ground in a heap of yes-please-do-whatever-you-want pleasure.

  She tsked at me, stopping my hands just millimeters away from touching her.

  “Sit.”

  When she used that tone with me, all I could do was comply, having a seat on the edge of the bed. She’d make an excellent sexy librarian. She let go of me, much to my disappointment. Instead, she shimmied out of her panties and climbed on top of me, one luscious leg on each side of my hips. Disappointment fled in a hurry, leaving me on the brink of ecstasy, thinking I was assuredly going to get lucky.

  The tips of her breasts brushed across my chest as she inhaled. She wrapped me in her arms and I was enveloped in all the scents of Gabby; the conditioner she used on her hair that smelled like a spa, the lavender of her lotion rubbed into her skin every morning, the sweet perfume sprayed on the pulse point of her neck I loved to kiss. If heaven were a scent, it was this.

  She slid down my length, teasing us both before reaching down and lining us up. This time, she slid nice and slow, inch by inch, seating me deep inside her by the time she stopped moving. A groan filled the air and I couldn’t have said whose it was.

  “Kiss me,” she demanded on a wisp of breath.

  I claimed her lips without any finesse, my restraint gone the minute she pulled up onto her legs and then sat back down. She continued her frenzied ride, my hands gripping the quilt on the bed tightly in my fists. I told her I wouldn’t touch and I wouldn’t even if it killed me. This felt too good to be real. Each time she sank fully onto me, a tiny gasp left her mouth, the puff of air swallowed in our messy kiss.

  When her gasps became one continuous moan and a fluttering of pulses added to the sensations coursing through my body, I knew she was close. Thank God. I was right behind her, just barely holding on and hoping she’d take her pleasure before she wrenched mine from me. Gabby bit down on my lip and the added pain short-circuited my brain. I was coming whether I planned to or not. The room spun and I squeezed my eyes shut, not pleased to be losing the sight of an unrestrained Gabby all hot and sweaty atop me. When equilibrium returned, I blinked my eyes and felt Gabby shift on my lap. She curled into the curve of my shoulder and I broke my promise, holding her to me as tightly as I could.

  “I love you, Tesoro,” she whispered against my skin.

  I hit bliss again, this time my heart being the organ to take the trip.

  My heart would forever belong to her.

  * * *

  “So you’ve decided to work things out?” Natalia, not one for communicating discreetly, asked Kitty and Jasper about their situation the minute we all sat down with drinks in hand in their living room.

  Gabby sat beside me on the love seat, the skirt of her red dress spread out over my leg. I was having a hell of a time concentrating on the conversation at hand, rather than reliving those moments with her in the bedroom when she’d stepped out of that red dress. I could safely say that even if I lived a thousand years with her, she’d never be boring to me. Each expression she made or sound she uttered or word she said was unique and precious.

  “Gabriel has signed his rights away and Jasper has agreed to raise the child as ours.” Kitty nodded her head like the Queen of England. Jasper shifted in his chair and took a long pull from whatever he was drinking.

  “Well, I guess that’s that.” Natalia shrugged, like she didn’t foresee five thousand hurdles ahead of them as a couple raising a baby she’d produced from infidelity. Not that I thought it couldn’t be done, but damn, that was a rough situation for everyone.

  “I’d like to propose a toast.” Lavender raised her glass of cucumber water and we all followed suit, though I doubted any of the rest of us had that beverage choice, besides maybe Kitty, the baby mama. I sure as hell knew Jasper had something stronger. “To all of us, wherever life takes us. The show brought us together, but I hope our friendships last long after.”

  “Here, here!” We all took a sip, agreeing with her. Even though these people were definitely weird and wouldn’t have been my first pick as friends, they’d become important to me. One never knew when you’d need a good hug and Lavender had the best. I didn’t really like to mow my lawn, so maybe having Frank’s herd clear the grass in an eco-friendly manner would be a good idea. John’s fan, the one that now hung in our living room, not only functioned perfectly to cool off the room, but was so unique it was a conversation piece. Lord Jasper unclenched his asshole so much during this reality show, he’d quit reminding us to call him Lord. I’d say that was progress. Natalia and Kitty were still a mystery to me, but I knew Gabby had grown fond of them. All in all, Lavender was right. I knew we’d remain friends.

  Gabby cleared her throat and stood up, surprising me. She rarely took the spotlight in our group functions, preferring to let the others lead the charge into dramaville.

  “On that note, I’d like to talk with you all.” She set her glass of champagne down on the coffee table and I could see the tremor in her hand. Shit. Now I was nervous, wondering what had her shaking.

  She folded her hands together and went on. “I have a confession to make. You see, when the producer for this show called me to be on it, I was in the middle of getting over the breakup of my five-year relationship with Hew, the guy you all saw last week. I had this crazy idea to go on the show and prove how wonderful my life was to get back at him. You know, to show him I was totally over him, right?” I could see Natalia nodding vigorously in support. I wished Gabby had told me what she planned to do tonight so I could have supported her better.

  Gabby laughed, the sound tinged with sadness. “The thing is, needing to throw that in his face showed exactly how much I wasn’t over him. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that I hired Rhett to be my fake boyfriend so I could come on the show.” She turned toward me, but wouldn’t look at me.

  I heard the others gasp and whisper, but I couldn’t take my eyes off Gabby, with her pink cheeks and hands twisting with nerves. Confusion dissipated and massive pride filled my chest. She was confessing her grand scheme to everyone, exposing herself in ways she never could have even just a month or two ago. If I hadn’t already loved her, I would have fallen in love with her right then, sheerly for her bravery.

  “How is that even possible? You’re the cutest couple I’ve ever seen.” Natalia looked ready to stand up and fight it out with her fists.

  “Let her finish, dear,” Lavender interjected, a sly smile on her face.

  Gabby cleared her throat again. “The thing is, Rhett and I fell in love despite the obstacles between us. And because I love him, I don’t want to keep anything a secret anymore, like it’s something dark and dirty. Yes, he’s my ex’s half-brother, but he’s the best man I’ve ever met. He loves me so much he lets me stand on my own two feet and delights in who I am. So, I come to you now, with all my secrets exposed, and let you see who I am as well. I hope you can forgive me for lying to you.”

  She plopped back down on the sofa, her chest heaving. I grabbed her hand and laced our fingers together, squeezing her tight.

  “You’re amazing,” I whispered as I nuzzled behind her ear. She dipped her head, saying nothing, but squeezing me back.

  Kitty broke the stunned silence. “Well, I for one think everyone deserves a second chance. Kudos to you for going after true love no matter the odds. May you have a beautiful relationship.”

  “Thank you, Kitty,” Gabby said softly.

  Natalia shook her finger at us. “I knew there was real chemistry. You cannot fake that.” Her grin turned devilish. “You must fuck like goats.”


  I coughed, nearly choking on my beer. “I’m not sure what that’s like, so I couldn’t possibly answer you, but I think the phrase is ‘fuck like bunnies’.”

  Natalia shook her head, blond hair flying around her head, accent getting thicker as she argued. “No, no. Obviously whoever made this phrase has never seen goats in action.”

  Gabby started shaking next to me, right before a snort-burp broke free. She slapped her free hand over her mouth a little too late. I brought our joined hands to my lips, kissing the back of her hand. See? Everything she did was precious.

  “To Gabby and Rhett.” John lifted his glass and everyone toasted us. Gabby relaxed into me, much calmer now that her secret was out and everyone was so accepting.

  “I knew the goats would get you two.” Frank smirked. “Primal, I tell you. Primal.”

  29

  Gabby

  Relief left me weak, like all my muscles had run a marathon when really, all I did was stand up to my truth and share it with my friends. Over dinner, I relaxed even more as we discussed anything and everything. These people were so crazy in the best way. And really, I was just as crazy as them, so who was I to judge them harshly? I’d had a fake boyfriend on national television, for God’s sake!

  “I have an announcement.” John banged his spoon against this glass while we all chatted over dessert.

  “Oh Lord,” Jasper muttered.

  John smiled. “Nah, don’t panic. This is a good one.” He turned to Rhett sitting next to him and smacked him on the back in that way guys do when they want to show affection but it comes out in the form of physical violence.

  “Rhett and I have inked a deal. I’m now the forty-nine percent owner of Willy Boards. Rhett will be moving his board shaping company into my warehouse space.”

  Rhett took over the announcement. “With the injection of capital from Fantastical, all our boards at Willy will be made with the most high tech materials possible. And I’ll be branching out into T-shirt design as well, taking all the funny sayings I love so much on my shirts and giving them a surfing twist. We’ll make our debut splash next summer as one of the sponsors of the Vans US Open of Surfing competition.”