I moaned, my cock pulsing in my jeans. I was already hard and I really, really wanted to get some ‘us time’ in. More specifically, naked ‘ us time .’
My mom had the baby all afternoon and I wanted to make the bed bounce with my woman, dammit! I had to keep her focused on the fact that we were alone in the house for once, and not on her crazy plan. But I could see in her eyes that she was determined to help her friend .
I sighed, strategically deciding to change tactics .
“If I promise to help you, will you help me ?”
She nodded earnestly, her shiny blond waves bouncing .
“Of course. What do you need ?”
“Well, it’s in here …”
I led her into the bedroom and smiled, gesturing to the bed. She rolled her eyes at me. I jumped on the bed with my arms behind my head, giving her a suggestive look .
“What exactly are you doing, Donnie ?”
“You said you would help me with something .”
“I did. If you help me get Whiskey to the barbecue .”
“It’s a deal babe. I’ll get him there. Let’s do this .”
“Well, what did you have in mind ?”
“I really miss my wife .”
She giggled .
“I’m right here, silly .”
“I really miss my naked wife .”
“Oh, I see. What do you want? A striptease ?”
I nodded eagerly. Sweet Jesus, that sounded good. I doubted she would go for it though. She was still a little shy around me, even after all this time .
She said she was too ladylike to prance around naked. I said she was cruel to deny me the pleasure of her 24/7 nudity. It was a long-standing argument .
Still, I didn’t complain when she started wearing silky little slinky things to bed at night .
“Yes, please .”
“And if I take my clothes off for you, you promise to help us trick Whiskey and Becky into spending the night together ?”
“No fair, woman !”
She unbuttoned her shirt slowly, waiting for my answer. It took me less than a millisecond to cave .
“Oh lord, yes. Yes, I will .”
She shrugged coyly .
“Alright then, mister .”
Her blouse opened as she finished undoing the buttons. I stared open mouthed as her glorious tatas came into view .
Lord, the woman was absolute perfection. Gorgeous from her head down to her cute little toes. And even if she wasn’t physically flawless, she was sweet and kind and loving. Not to mention her incredible voice, which turned me into man goo every time I heard it .
Like, I said, she was perfect .
Perfect for me .
She unwrapped the long silk skirt she was wearing and let it slid to the floor. I looked down her long, curvy legs and saw she was still wearing her cute, little pink cowboy boots. I looked up again and realized she was wearing matching pink lace bra and panties .
My mouth went completely dry when I realized I could see her soft blond curls through the lace .
Which meant… I hadn’t made a fair trade .
She’d been planning to seduce me, not the other way around. Not that I was going to complain. This was a very good thing no matter how you cut it .
“Come here, you sneaky woman .”
She giggled as I grabbed her and plopped her on the bed. I climbed between those sexy legs of hers and looked down on her almost naked body .
“You tricked me .”
“A deal’s a deal .”
I smiled, lowering my lips to hers .
“Yes, it is .”
Chapter Fourteen
Becky
“Y ou should go with your friends .”
I picked at my lunch, feeling tired. I hadn’t been sleeping well. Not one damn night since laying eyes on Whiskey. I’d memorized the cracks in the ceiling and read about five different romance books, all with ‘happy ever afters’ that made me want to bawl my eyes out .
I told myself I was okay as long as I distracted myself. And I was, for the most part. But as soon as I fell asleep, it all came rushing back .
The man haunted my dreams. Literally .
“I can’t Aunt Mae .”
“Why not sweetheart ?”
“Well, first of all, I can’t ask you to babysit so much. It’s not fair .”
“Are you kidding? I’d pay you to let me have this little angel all to myself .”
She bounced Eliza on her hip and I smiled. Mae wasn’t exaggerating. She was everything to Petunia and I. Our entire family, at this point. And we were hers .
“Are you sure ?”
She nodded and cracked a smile .
“You already knew that though. Why don’t you tell me why you really don’t want to go ?”
I sighed, realizing I was going to have to deal with this. Or at least admit it. But saying it out loud was tying my stomach up in knots .
“I’m dreading seeing him .”
“ Why , hon ?”
“Because… I still have feelings for him .”
I held my hand up to stop Mae from interrupting .
“And I don’t want to have those feelings. Especially now that I have to actually tell him about Petunia. It was a lot easier when I didn’t actually have to see him, you know ?”
“Well, you don’t have to tell him.” She sighed, switching Petunia. “But I suppose it is the right thing to do. And it’s not like you are the only one who is hung up. That’s a two-way street .”
“ It is ?”
“That man has been looking for you since the day you left. He never stopped pestering me about you. I felt like I was being interrogated! Too bad he couldn’t keep his pecker in his pants !”
I stared at her .
“He really asked about me? When I was gone ?”
“I told you, honey. He looked like a lovesick bull in a china shop. And he never gave up trying even though I gave him absolutely nothing to go on. I would have felt bad for him if I didn’t know what a pig he is .”
“But he is the one who cheated! He hurt me. How could he act like I did him wrong, when I saw him with those girls ?”
“It pains me to even mention this, but are you sure that’s what you saw? He doesn’t seem the type .”
“I know he doesn’t. I thought he was a straight shooter. That’s why it hurt so bad. More than being hurt, I was just so… stunned and surprised .”
“Why don’t you just ask him, dear? Were you exclusive at the time ?”
I shook my head .
“We hadn’t had the talk yet. But I thought we were together, together. We were like glue those first few weeks. Always with each other every chance we got.” I sat down with a moan. “Maybe it’s not his fault. Maybe I was too naive. But I know that I was in love with him .”
“And you still are ?”
I nodded miserably .
“I am. I wish I wasn’t, but I am .”
“Well, honey, I think it’s time you got your answers once and for all. Then you can move forward, or move on with a clear heart and a clear conscience .”
“You’re right. I know you are right .”
“Why don’t you call your friends and let them know you are coming .”
I nodded, picking up the phone .
“Hey Kaylie. You win. I’ll come tomorrow. I guess I can’t really hide here forever .”
She let out a whoop that rang in my ears .
“I am so excited! Don’t you move, we’ll be over in a few hours .”
“We ?”
“Your beauty squad of course !”
I tried to interrupt but she’d already hung up. I stared at my phone, wondering what on Earth the girls had in store for me. If they made me look silly, or like I was trying to get him back, I would lose it .
I’d just put my foot down and say I wanted to look casual. I mean, I didn’t even know if he would be there. And even if he was, that didn’t mean he’d be looking at me .
/>
Oh God. What if …
What if he brought his own date ???
That would be totally normal, right? A perfectly normal thing to do. It had been a year since we were dating after all .
Did that mean I should bring a date? Who? No, that was a terrible idea. And the girls wouldn’t let me walk into that situation without forewarning anyway .
Would they ?
They might, especially if they didn’t know how I felt about him. Which I had gone out of my way to hide from everyone except Kaylie and Mae .
I started cleaning up while my mind raced. I did the dishes on autopilot. I dusted the cozy dining room and vacuumed the sofa in the living room, far enough away to keep the baby from waking .
I was still pondering the situation as I started a load of Eliza’s laundry. Then I went into my bedroom where I collapsed face down on the bed. I had plenty of things to do, but I felt incapable of doing any of them at the moment .
I was really, really screwed .
* * *
I was nursing Eliza a few hours later when the doorbell rang. A chorus of feminine voices rang out. Janet and Sally were with Kaylie, I suspected. I set the baby down and she gurgled at me dreamily .
Was I ready to introduce her to the girls ?
Would they judge me for having a baby out of wedlock ?
I shook my head. I didn’t think they would. Every one of us had had our trials. Janet had even been abducted by a rival gang to work in a massage parlor .
I squared my shoulders. I was proud of the tiny person I had made. And there was only one way to find out what anyone would say .
I had to take a chance, open myself up a little .
I just hoped I wouldn’t be disappointed .
I walked into the kitchen and stopped short. This was not a friendly visit. It was an invading army !
Sally had brought a rolling rack with at least ten garment bags. Kaylie had a rubber bucket filled with an ancient looking blowdrier. The kind that came with a cap and a tube. Janet was rolling in a gigantic makeup kit that rivaled a handyman’s toolbox in size .
“Um… Hi guys. What is all this ?”
They surrounded me, hugging me all at the same time .
“We missed you !”
“You look beautiful !”
Kaylie grinned at me cheekily .
“We are here to prep you for tomorrow .”
Janet held up a box of waxing strips .
“And remove anything you don’t need .”
“You mean… my body hair ?”
She nodded gleefully .
“You want to be flawless, don’t you ?”
“ What ? Why ?”
“Because I got you a new bikini silly! We’re going to the lake !”
I stared at the tiny aquamarine bikini Sally was holding up .
“ Um … but …”
“No buts! First, the charcoal mask and hot oil treatment .”
Kaylie’s eyes twinkled .
“Janet needs to heat up the wax .”
* * *
B y the end of the night I was buffed to a high shine. Janet had even trimmed my hair and given me something sparkly to spray on the next day .
I stared at myself in the mirror, then at the bottle of dry oil with flecks of gold .
Apparently, it created ‘faux highlights .’
I sighed. Eliza had slept right through the commotion surprisingly. And I’d been too overwhelmed to tell them. Besides, it was probably better I make that introduction to someone else first .
Kaylie and Mae were the only ones who even knew I had a baby, let alone who the daddy was .
I groaned, wondering how I would find the courage to face up to this mess. On the bright side, at least I knew I would look good doing it .
I climbed into bed and slept for the first time in two weeks .
Chapter Fifteen
Whiskey
“I don’t feel like going to a barbecue .”
“That’s probably because you’ve been drinking for a week .”
I grumbled, taking the hot coffee Donahue was forcing on me. It was still early and the bar was just starting to fill up. I had plenty of drinking left to do. I wanted to drown out the voices in my head. The voices that told me I’d had the perfect woman and lost her, all before the age of twenty-seven .
But the guys were completely insensitive to my misery. They seemed determined to sober me up, despite my best efforts to remain shit faced for as long as humanly possible .
“If you don’t come, I will be forced to do unspeakable things .”
He ducked his head and muttered something under his breath as I took a sip of the scalding hot coffee .
Jesus, this crap tasted like battery acid !
“What ?”
“Nothing .”
“Really? Because it sounded like you said something about not getting laid for a month .”
He gave me a dirty look as Jack sat down beside me. Donnie poured him a ginger ale and slid it across the bar .
“I need help tomorrow .”
“Not you too .”
Jack gave me a piercing stare .
“You are the best griller we have. And Janet’s craving spicy food. She asked for your rub specifically .”
“Craving? As in… pregnancy cravings ?”
Donnie let out a whoop. He thought it was endlessly hilarious how many kids Jack had, and how amazing he was with them. To be fair, it was pretty funny to see such a big, scary looking guy with red-headed toddlers crawling all over him .
The big guy didn’t stand a chance .
They had their daddy wrapped around their cute, little fingers .
“Don’t say anything. She’s being very sensitive about it. And I will have to hurt you if you upset Janet .”
Donnie held up his hands. He was a dad too. He knew the drill .
“Not a word , man .”
I finished the coffee and Donnie poured me another. He leaned on the bar, giving me his ‘big brother’ face. Between him and Jack, I was surrounded .
“Drink up. And get to bed early. And shave. Wear something respectable .”
I rubbed my face .
“Shave and dress up? For a barbecue ?”
“Dev wants you to come. It’s inner circle only. Are you really going to tell him ‘no ?’”
I looked up as the door opened. The Club Prez walked in, looking stern. Everyone stopped to watch him. He might be young to run a club this size, but he had the respect of every man in here .
Including mine .
I shook my head. I didn’t really have a choice. There was no way I was letting Devlin down .
“Fine .”
“Good. Now do you want me to get you a new shirt? You should look nice. Sally’s publicist might stop by for some casual shots for her next album cover .”
I raised my eyebrows. Donnie’s wife was an amazing country music singer. She was up and coming, but she was getting a lot of press and radio time these days. She had even gotten her first video on the Country Music Channel .
“Sally wants us on her album cover ?”
“Yeah. They are going for a more real life kind of vibe. So they are trying some casual shots of her and her family. That’s us .”
“Wow, that’s the big time man .”
“Well, we’ll make the liner notes anyway. Come on, it will be fun. Oh, and bring your swim trunks .”
“I don’t even own a pair of swim trunks .”
“No worries, I have a spare. Never even wore them .”
Donnie pulled out his phone and texted something furtively. I shrugged. I guess I was going swimming .
“I better get home and make sure I have enough marinade. I think I have some steaks .”
“You do that. We’ll bring everything else .”
I downed the second cup of coffee, feeling human for the first time in days .
“Thanks man.” I toasted Donnie with my coffee. “But they better not be spee
dos .”
Chapter Sixteen
Becky
I stared in the mirror, looking at my ensemble. Cut off jean shorts and a short sleeved floral top. I pressed my palm into my stomach, watching it pop right back out again. I couldn’t help wondering if it would ever be flat again .
Not that it mattered, but I did feel a little self-conscious about my body after having Eliza. I knew it was silly but I couldn’t help it. It was just there in the back of my mind, in case I ever got naked in front of someone again .
Or I could just become a nun. That would solve everything .
Good plan, Becks .
I sighed, turning this way and that way. The girls really had worked a miracle with my skin and hair. I chewed on my bottom lip, considering the outfit. I liked my shoes. I had on cute little striped sneakers with white cotton ankle socks. Not the kind of sneakers you went running in. The kind you wore to hang around in .
I didn’t even own a pair of workout shoes anymore. I was pretty much a lost cause at this point. I didn’t even own the kind of clothes you would wear to seduce a man .
Me, seductive? That was a laugh .
Cute. I looked cute in my outfit. It was perfectly acceptable for a barbecue. Or a trip to the mall .
Maybe a little boring, but I didn’t want to look like I was trying too hard .
Not to mention, I was well aware that Whiskey loved me in jean shorts. He’d said something about my curvy legs driving him nuts. He never seemed to mind that I carried a few extra pounds .
In fact, he’d seemed to love it .
I moaned, knowing I was about to go down the rabbit hole. There was no point in pretending I didn’t remember how great it had been to be with him. I’d even had dreams about white dresses and picket fences .
That dream might be long gone, but I had to do the right thing for Eliza. She would want to know her dad someday. And even if he didn’t want to be hands on, he was a good guy. He wouldn’t do anything to hurt her .
I hoped not anyway .
Either way, I’d have to talk to him eventually. I couldn’t wait for my courage to catch up with reality either. Time was of the essence. It felt like I was facing down an important test, and one I was not even remotely prepared for .
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