“That’s a wonderful idea,” said Julia. “You’re always so thoughtful, Livy.”
Suddenly Julia looked worried.
“Mama, what is it?” Julia looked at her daughter. “Nothing, darling. I know how much you’ve had to do since my father died. I worry you are living life for yourself.”
“Mom, please,” said Livy. “We won’t look like sisters anymore if you get crows’ feet and a forehead that wrinkles from worrying.”
Livy hugged Julia.
“My word. What did I ever do to get a daughter as precious as you? You go on with your day. I’ll find someone to come and share some of these lovely flowers. You sure a handsome rogue isn’t behind this?” Julia said toying with a bunch of sunflowers.
“Oh, please,” said Livy. “I think the only thing I should be wondering about is how to help you with granddad’s business.”
“Money isn’t everything,” reminded Julia.
“Tell that to the Foxtail Ad Group. They’re the ones who want to take away the family legacy,” Livy kissed her mother. “Be back in a few,” said Livy.
*****
“What are you saying? How can I possibly find a husband in 23 days, and prove I’m an heir? This is insane!” Livy told Simon Sallow.
“There is another clause you can use during the injunction,” said Simon.
“I’m all ears.”
“The clause about joint partnership says you must remain married for a year. You can marry but you don’t have to stay married.”
Livy looked to the Heavens. “You’re saying I could have something like, some sort of shotgun, marriage?”
“What you do, you’ll do with the understanding you will have fulfilled Donovan Lee’s wishes. Anything afterwards, including starting a family, is negotiable.” Livy listened to Simon.
“Simon Sallow, are you kidding me, or are you straight up, bona fide for real,” asked Livy.
“Straight up,” Simon cleared his throat.
Livy hung up with Simon and she texted Poppy. She told her mom Julia she’d see her in the morning.
*****
Livy sat at a diner with Poppy for sopapillas and honey. “Told you,” Poppy said between bits of the fluffy fried pastry.
“Gosh, Mexican is so good, and you don’t have to think about asking for seconds, because they always come,” smiled Livy.
“You did. You said I could get hitched and it wouldn’t be a thing or a travesty of the institution of marriage.” Though Livy was thinking seriously whether she should be committed into one for considering what Poppy told her.
“Yeppers. You can get hitched with a hubby, then bust it up like a Vegas annul, or irreconcilable differences,” stated Poppy.
Livy looked at Poppy. “How do you know so much about everything, and continue to walk dogs? It’s obvious you know plenty when it comes to relationships, life, and getting along. Why do you do so little, when you know you could do and have so much more..?
Poppy slathered honey onto a sopapilla. “I tell you why—.”
“Oh no,” Livy said starting to laugh. Livy shook her head, tearing off a piece of a sopapilla.
“That’s right. I’m an independent woman, and I do what I want—.”
Livy mimicked Poppy in tandem. “I know. ‘I’m an independent woman, and I do what I want—.’
“So are you going to?” Poppy chewed on her pastry.
“Oh…my mother thinks I’m doomed to live with cats, and I made dirty sex with a man who’s planning to steal my family’s agency. I dunno. Is a fake marriage without love any crazier? So, what’s the address?”
Poppy texted Livy in the middle of the restaurant. The name ‘Happily Ever After’ matching service popped up, and Livy frowned.
“Oh, come on,” Livy said.
Poppy looked at Livy and she wriggled her eyebrows.
“Oh, gosh. I’m going to be doomed to riding the Irish plains as a Pooka, terrorizing innocent faerie folk wherever I go—.”
“Would you stop with the Irish gloom? You’d think we were in Ireland and you were the notorious, Fionn mac Cumhal,” Livy looked up from her head she’d started to rap against the table.
“Poppy, you said ‘Finn mac Cool’. You said it properly! You’ve been paying attention to the Celtic tradition all along!”
“Yeah, and what do I get for it? A friend who seduces men by telling them she never wants to see them again,” replied Poppy.
“You and Geoff are still split up,” asked Livy. “I’ve been so wrapped up in my world, I almost forgot about yours. I’m sorry Poppy.” Livy touched Poppy’s hand.
“It’s no big ‘thang’,” replied Poppy. “Believe me, not big at all.”
Poppy and Livy burst out laughing.
“Unlike somebody else whom you know I’m just hearing about,” said Poppy.
“I know,” said Livy.
“I just didn’t know things would be so incredibly—oh, I’m about to find a man and marry him because of money.”
“Hey, J-Lo is playing,” said Poppy. “She did the split thing. Didn’t hurt her and she’s done it publicly thrice—.” Poppy nudged her hand under Livy’s head near her plate.
“You gonna eat that?”
“No—.” Livy shoved her sopapilla to Poppy.
Livy dropped her back onto the table in the Mexican restaurant and moaned.
*****
What do you mean you slept with the heir to an agency—?”
He hadn’t planned anything to happen, Hudson thought as he looked out of the corner window of his brother’s office. “It just, did,” Hudson said.
“It did. That’s all you’ve got to say?” Hudson’s brother stood between him and the window. Dad hasn’t been gone two years, and you’ve done nothing but screw around—.”
“I’ve brought in more money and clients than this entire agency has combined,” Hudson glared. “You’ve been after the chief exec position since dad died. You want the company to go IPO when you know Dick Fox wanted us to share it hand and hand, as a private biz.”
“That’s isn’t true and you know it.” Hudson stared out office window as his half-brother joined him. “So was she hot?” Hudson’s brother finally said.
“When you meet her, you’ll see why I couldn’t keep my hands to myself.”
Hudson’s brother ruffled his mop of dark hair and he laughed.
*****
Livy took a seat at the conservatory and waited. She thought a place that was neutral ground was better than meeting at the matching service. Livy had finished the questionnaires and filled out the proper consent forms, and personal info.
Poppy had explained to Livy that she was entering into a consensual agreement between two consenting adults. No harm at all. Poppy made all of it seem so ethical.
Livy wondered if she was doing the right thing.
“Hi,” Livy looked up to see the man she had agreed to meet in the online portfolio she had reviewed many times and more. Wow, if he wasn’t more stunning in person each time they met.
Livy hoped her dark pantsuits and flats weren’t too off-putting. She figured modest ensembles were more befitting for a girl learning how to wheel and deal.
“Hi,” Livy smiled.
The blond gentleman kissed Livy on her cheek and the air sparked when they connected. The music from the philharmonic played and Livy fiddled with her hair at the nape of her neck that she had fitted into a chignon for Logan. She didn’t know why, but Logan seemed to flirt with her more, when she dressed primly and proper. She couldn’t stop staring into his eyes. They were golden and shined in the moonlight, given Logan an almost leonine air.
Livy hoped her body would somehow show she felt attracted. Livy had come on to one stranger already; certainly she did not want to repeat the past again!
Except the man was incredibly fine. His large chest filled out his white knit sweater magnificently, and the look of his long legs and nimble fingers in his slacks whittled at Livy resolve. Logan opened up
a wicker basket and he pulled out two glasses and a jug of wine.
“I hope an evening picnic isn’t out of the question,” Logan filled a glass with the burgundy and Livy waited for him to pour himself one.
Livy and Logan sat, sifting their wine to let it air as the orchestra played an adagio. Livy thought she heard Mozart.”
“Very good,” Logan sipped his wine. “It’s good to know you have a taste for music.”
Logan smiled.
Livy sipped her wine. “It’s really neat of you to do this. I mean, arranging to marry someone isn’t something you do every day.”
“We’ve been going out for how many dates now?” Logan inched closer. Livy took another sip from her wine and she turned to the orchestra. “Three, I think.”
“This is number five,” Logan slipped his hands around Livy’s nape. He worked his long fingers into her hair and Livy’s blond tresses gave. Livy’s long hair spilled over Logan’s hands, soft and full.
“Good thing it’s not six. I have a thing about sixes,” Livy hesitantly said.
“Nothing short of sixes here,” Logan smiled. “Let’s see. I know part of the marriage agreement if we enter into it, is that we make our own rules. How about we leave our pasts, in the past?”
Livy gulped a taste of wine. “All right.”
“I’ll start,” said Logan. “We’ve learned nothing about the other. You know from my info I’m 6’5” and I work nonstop, except weekends. I have a brother, he’s 6’6” by the way, black hair, unlike me who is blond. What you don’t know is I work in advertising, since the matchmaker portfolios are kept private except for the basic info, and personally, that I like fine wine, Florentine sculpture, and classical reading.”
“About that,” said Livy. “You said you work at an agency?”
“Shh.” Logan bent Livy into his arms. Her blonde tresses fanned out around her shoulders and arms, and across Logan’s chest.
“I do work in advertising, and I do work at one of the biggest agencies,’ Logan bent to kiss Livy.
“I—I don’t think I know which one,” Livy looked up to find Logan brushing his lips against her, and she felt his hands roam under her suit as he found her buttons.
“Does it matter?” Logan undid Livy’s clothes.
“Mm, no—.” Livy said, her mind drifting to the lilt of Mozart and the feel of Logan’s gruff body in her arms.
He took her on the grass at the top of the amphitheater. Livy was relieved they were high up, so the only thing anyone might see was her and Logan in silhouette.
Logan rubbed his large male hands over Livy’s breasts. He nuzzled his face and his nose against her nipples, causing Livy to arch in his grasp.
Logan grazed her sensitive flesh with his hair-roughened lips and she moaned. Livy could never resist a day’s growth of beard in a man. It was one of the reasons why Livy had stayed with Jacques so long… but Logan’s eyes… Logan reminded Livy of somebody, but she couldn’t recall whom.
Logan flipped Livy onto her stomach. She gasped as she felt him bare her bottom to the night air. Livy felt Logan nip at her bared and rosy cheeks, slipping his tongue and his fingers between her thighs.
“Oh, what’s happening,” Livy whispered into the night air.
“Shh,” Logan spread Livy’s legs and her pants legs bunched around her low heels. “Let’s get you out of these,” Logan slipped off Livy’s pants, and her heels clicked three times while he shed them.
Livy sighed as Logan turned her onto her side as he introduced her to the pleasures of following the fabled Yellow Brick Road.
*****
Livy rode Logan’s massive erection like a cowgirl riding a stallion. The thickness of Logan’s blond shaft sent ripples through her core as bounced onto his hardness with vigor.
When Logan felt she couldn’t take the friction of his girth any longer, Logan lifted Livy off of his erection and he positioned her over his lips so he could sample her willing flesh. Logan licked and suckled on Livy’s tingling, swollen labia until she gushed, over and over.
Livy watched Logan’s immense sex swell and harden as warm molten jets of crème erupted from him, arcing high in the air and landing on the soft grass around them.
Hours later they made love again.
The next day Logan spilled into the Foxtail Ad Agency, whistling.
“What’s got you all excited,” Hudson grabbed his suit jacket.
“I wanted you to be the first to hear baby brother—.” Logan stuck a wrapped cigar in Hudson’s hand.
“Hear? What?” Hudson said.
“Your big brother’s getting married!”
*****
Poppy had Livy by the hands and she twirled Livy around and around in a circle inside Doggy Hearts.
“Oh my, gosh. You’re getting married!”
“Poppy, I don’t know what I told Logan,” Livy admitted. Livy had been so lost in Classical music and wine that she might have promised Zeus her firstborn.
“Can you hold on a minute, Poppy—.” Livy came back from the restroom, she was rubbing her tummy.
Poppy shook the 8-Ball Livy left on the counter for the kids to play with whenever they waited for their dogs to be returned to them.
“Livy?” Poppy eyed Livy slowly. “You did use protection, didn’t you?”
Livy turned and smiled brightly. “Yes.” Livy turned around and she touched her belly. No she hadn’t. She realized she had gotten so caught up with Logan, and also with Hudson, that she hadn’t even thought about what could happen after making love, and not just once, many, times, over and over, again.
*****
“Where are you going?” Logan followed Hudson out of the office.
“I’m going to see someone—.” Hudson got in his Lexus and he sped down the road.
Hudson saw his brother turning onto the street where he parked. Hudson crossed the street.
“What are you doing, following me now?” Logan stared at his younger brother.
They had been inseparable growing up, even when they discovered their father Dick had been with two women, before each of the mothers died. Logan’s mother had passed during a vacation trip to Napa. Logan learned Hudson’s mother had passed one evening in her sleep. Logan was 31 now and his brother Hudson was 29. They looked almost identical except for his brother’s dark Italian hair. Logan was fairer and blond like his mom was.
“Brother, what’s going on.” Logan walked with Hudson and both men dodged traffic to cross the street.
“Nothing—.” Hudson said with his hand on the door to the dog walking company, Doggy Hearts. “I’ve just come by to wish the woman you’re marrying a fond farewell,” said Hudson.
“What?” Logan blocked Hudson’s way. “You know her?”
“Yes,” Hudson brushed past Logan into the building.
Livy and Poppy stopped bouncing.
Two men, one blond, and one raven-haired entered the office.
Livy knew Poppy recognized Hudson from the Internet. Poppy turned from the men to Livy’ and Livy shook her head slowly.
“Um, I’ve got some kibble waiting for me and the dogs. Welcome to Doggy Hearts,” Poppy left the office front.
Livy stared.
“Logan? Hudson..? What are you doing here?
“I think the more important question is, when is the wedding date?” Hudson said.
“What?” Livy walked up to Hudson. She stopped when she saw Hudson take a step backwards. “Hudson? What’s happened? Is everything at the Foxtail Agency all right?”
Hudson frowned. “Why should that matter? You said you would make me think about how I treated you. I guess you made good on your promise—.” Hudson reached for the door.
“Hudson!” Livy caught Hudson by the arm.
“You two know one another?” Logan turned from Livy and he looked at Hudson.
“Logan, we do,” said Livy. She turned and she leaned on the office counter. “I’ve turned everything into a mess!”
Huds
on joined Livy. “It’s not your fault. You wanted a way to help the business. I tried to use the oldest trick in the book,” Hudson said. “But I think it backfired on the both of us.”
Livy looked up at Hudson’s dark, golden eyes, and she snorted a laugh. “You don’t know the half of it.”
“You mean, you and Livy?” Logan pointed at Livy and then at Hudson.
STEPBROTHER: The Bride's Surprise (FMM Menage Stepbrother Romance) (Contemporary Women New Adult & College Menage Short Stories) Page 4