Spin (Boosted Hearts Book 2)

by Sherilee Gray

  “It means he’s gone soft.” Adam patted his flat gut. “Next, he’ll have a paunch and you’ll have him walking around in hand-knitted sweaters.”

  Her gaze darted away. “What’s wrong with knitted sweaters?”

  Adam barked a laugh. “Oh God, you’re not knitting him a sweater, are you?”

  Shay’s face darkened, a flush lighting up her cheeks.

  “Would you two cut it out? My life is hanging in the balance here, and you’re talking about fucking knitting.” He turned to his friend. “You. Piss off. You’ll only make her nervous.” Then he turned back to the curvy redhead beside him. “Shay, call the damn number.”

  Adam smirked at him, and then clapped him on the shoulder. “You’ll be fine. I’m pretty sure Darcey’s not the knitting type.” He laughed and jumped out of the way when Shay tried to kick him as he walked off.

  Joe looked down at Shay. “Are you really knitting Hugh a sweater? I mean, how much wool would that take?”

  She narrowed her eyes at him.

  “Sorry, ignore me. I’m nervous and rambling. I’m sure it’s awesome. Please, will you just make the call and put me out of my misery?”

  She pulled her phone out of her bag. “Fine.”

  “Just act natural…”

  “Shut it.”

  “Right.” He fake zipped his lips.

  Show time.

  ~ * ~

  Darcey shoved the door open and climbed out of her truck. Grabbing her toolbox out of the cab, she made her way to the front door.

  It was a cute house. Needed a coat of paint, and the gardens could do with some TLC, but it had a great vibe. Kinda welcoming. And by the looks, it had enough room for a dog. Maybe even a small pool out back, just big enough to cool off after work or school.

  She’d found herself doing this at every house she went to. Assessing, dreaming…hoping like hell she’d find something reasonably priced for her and Noah.

  She knocked on the door and waited.

  The state of her bank account was looking a lot better. She was only a couple weeks off from being able to afford a new place—not a place like this, though. As much as she’d love that, her budget wouldn’t stretch that far. But a two-bedroom apartment in a better part of town, a place child welfare would deem suitable for Noah to live—she was sure she could swing that.

  No. She would swing it. Failure wasn’t an option.

  The sound of a lock rattling interrupted her thoughts, then the door opened. A short, pretty redhead with banging curves answered it. Her face was flushed and her smile was a mile wide.

  “Hi—” she cleared her throat. “Hello, you must be… I mean…plumber! You’re the plumber.”

  Darcey grinned back, couldn’t help herself. “That’s me.” The woman seemed sweet, maybe a little flustered. A door opened and closed behind her, and with the blush the woman had going on, Darcey wondered if she’d interrupted a sneaky nooner. “Is this a good time? When you called, you said it was urgent.”

  Her smile got wider and a nerve started twitching in her cheek. “It’s a perfect time. A great time!”

  Good God. Was she high? The redhead was still blocking the door. “I’ll ah, need to come in.”

  “Right!” The other woman laughed, a loud snort escaping. She slapped her hand over her mouth at the same time Darcey heard a deep groan from inside.

  If there was some weird orgy going on inside, she was out of there. “Okay. Why don’t you lead the way?”

  The redhead opened the door wider and ushered Darcey inside. The place was empty, which gave her pause. Empty house, urgent call, groaning sounds, and some weird chick who Darcey was now 100 percent positive was high leading her God knows where—seemed like something she should avoid.

  “It’s just through here.”

  Darcey frowned. “Look, I don’t know what’s going on here…”

  “The toilet’s broken,” the other woman said over her shoulder without missing a beat, then pushed open a door and stood back. “It’s right through there.”

  Darcey edged closer. What if there was a dead body or some weird, naked dude in there. “Um…”

  The redhead giggled nervously. “There’s nothing to worry about. I’m not trying to kidnap you or anything.”

  “Okay.” Darcey lifted her hands. “I’m out.” Red’s eyes went wide as Darcey spun to leave.

  The nut-job ran around her, jumping to the left, blocking her path, then right when Darcey tried to dodge past.

  “Oh my fucking God,” A deep voice said from behind her. “What in the fuck was that, Shay?”

  Darcey froze. She recognized the voice instantly. She turned slowly, mouth dropping open when she saw Joe standing behind her.

  He was frowning at the redhead. “What the hell?”

  The other woman… Shay he’d called her, blushed, face going as red as a fire truck. “I told you I sucked at this stuff.” Then she turned to Darcey. “I’m sure this is all very confusing, and… You’re probably freaking out. I’m not really a psycho, I promise. I…” Then she held out her hand. “I’m Shay, Joe’s future sister in-law.”

  Darcey took it, her mind spinning, jaw slack, and yes, confused as hell.

  Joe groaned. “Good God, you can go now. Go and knit your fiancé a sweater. Hopefully you’re better at that than whatever the hell that was…”

  “Um, guys? What in the hell is going on here?” A swirl of nerves started up in her belly. She wasn’t scared for her life anymore. All she could see was Joe. So big and tall and gorgeous.

  Shay squeezed her hand. “He may act like a jackass, but he’s a pretty decent guy.”

  Joe planted his hands on his hips. “Gee thanks, Sis. I’m overwhelmed by your endorsement.”

  “Well, that’s the best you’re going to get right now, you ingrate.” Then she spun on her cute retro platform wedges and walked out, shutting the door behind her.

  Darcey’s gaze darted back to Joe. “What…?”

  “I ah, have a problem with my toilet.” He motioned to the bathroom. “Will you have a look?”

  They hadn’t seen each other in two weeks, and that’s what he says to her. After that insanity she’d just witnessed. A wave of hurt pummeled her.

  She forced it down and walked into the small room, staring down at the smashed toilet. “Um…”

  “It’s broken,” he said, stating the obvious.

  “It looks like someone”—her voice trailed off when she spotted a sledgehammer leaning against the wall—“purposely broke it.”

  He nodded. “Hmm, it does, doesn’t it?”

  “Did you do this?”

  “Yes,” he said would hesitation.

  “Okay. Why?”

  “To get you here.”

  “You could have just asked.”

  He grumbled under his breath. “Yeah, well, I’m starting to see that now. I had the stupid idea that this might be more… I was worried that you might not…” he dragged a hand over his face. “Shit, I’m screwing this up.”

  Her belly flipped and it took all her strength not to go to him and kiss the pants right off him. “Who’s house is this? Why are we here?”

  “What do you think of it?” He slid his hands into his pockets, and all she could think was that she wanted them on her.

  “It’s really nice.”

  His brows lowered, and he looked unsure. “Yeah?”

  She nodded. “It’s great, but…”

  “It’s yours…”

  Her jaw unhinged. “What?”

  He took a step closer. “Well, ours really. But I got it for you and Noah. You two can move in now, and when he gets used to me, I can move in, too…if you want?” he said, voice gritty. The vein in the side of his throat throbbed, and an expression that could only be described as vulnerable transformed his handsome face. “What do you say?”

  She was struggling to comprehend what he was saying. “But…how?”

  “You heard about Len?” he asked.

 
“Yes,” she whispered.

  “Someone was feeding the feds information from the inside. There’s nothing left. The debt I owed was dissolved when Len went down.”

  “Someone snitched?” She jolted. “Edith. It had to be her.”

  Joe’s hands came down on her hips and he gave her a squeeze. “I’m free, Darce.”

  “You’re free?” She blinked rapidly.

  He slid his fingers over her cheekbone, then tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “You haven’t answered my question.”

  Her vocal cords were tight, emotion burning her throat, stinging the backs of her eyes. “You want me and Noah to move in here?”

  “Yeah, Peaches.”

  “And you’ll move in when Noah gets used to you?”

  “If you’re good with that?”

  She swallowed. It wasn’t easy. “You, me, and Noah. Together, like a family?”

  “That’s what I want,” he said, voice cracking.

  She flung her arms around his neck and jumped, wrapping her legs around his hips, holding on tight, and kissed the hell out of him. The heat and warmth of his lips slid across hers, making her moan, making her squirm to get closer, to kiss him deeper. He squeezed her ass with one hand, the other cupping the side of her face.

  He pulled back gently. “That a yes?”

  She smiled so wide it hurt. “It’s a hell yes.”

  He headed to the stairs. “Now that we have that sorted, I need inside you, woman. Like now. You good with that?”

  “Please.”

  He stormed up the stairs and into an empty bedroom and kicked the door shut.

  Darcey’s back hit the wall, and they instantly started tearing at each other’s clothes. Joe shoved her shirt up and yanked down the cups of her bra so her hard nipples popped free. He groaned and wrapped his lips around one aching peak as his fingers went to work on her jeans. He dragged them down her legs without breaking contact, taking her panties with them. She kicked off one boot, freeing a leg, while he tore the front of his own jeans open. His cock sprang free, and he shoved a condom in her hand while he jerked off his shirt.

  Opening it with her teeth, she rolled it on, wrapped her free leg around his hip, and whimpered as he gripped her ass, lifting her up against the wall again. Then the swollen head of his cock was at her entrance and he was pushing inside. She open-mouth groaned against the pounding pulse at his throat, sucking on the thick tendon there, nipping.

  “Missed you, baby. Jesus, so much.” Joe’s hips snapped forward, and he filled her completely. “Missed my Peaches. You’re so perfect, every damn inch of you.” He slid out and jolted forward again and again. “Haven’t slept, couldn’t eat, could barely fucking breathe. I was dying without you, sweetheart. You’re my fucking oxygen.”

  She clung tighter, crying out as he pounded deeper, thrust harder. “I love you, Joe, so much.” Then she arched against him, coming apart at the seams. Joe anchored her, his fingers thrust deep in her hair, fisting it tight, his hard, bruising grip on her ass. He slammed his mouth down on hers, swallowing her cries. Then he ground deep and fed her his own moans, deep and raw as he pulsed inside her.

  They stayed like that, mouths still brushing as they tried to catch their breath. Joe’s heart hammered against hers, and she knew hers was doing the same, that he could feel it, too.

  She ran her hand over his shoulders, over his smooth skin. “Is this going to be our room?”

  He lifted his head and held her stare, his dark eyes turning soft like melted chocolate. “Yes.”

  “I love it.” Then she smiled, her heart so damn full it was close to bursting.

  His eyes crinkled at the corners, and he slid his thumb over her lower lip. “I love you, Darcey.”

  “I love you, too.”

  “Let’s not break up again, okay? Cause I gotta tell you, it fucking sucks.”

  His forehead was pressed to hers, and she nodded against him. “Agreed.”

  She brushed her fingers over his whiskered jaw, her eyes locked with his. “You know, you’re the best man I’ve ever known, Joe Colton. You have the biggest heart, and it shines from you. Do you know that? It’s beautiful. You’re beautiful.”

  “Baby,” he rasped and pressed his mouth to hers, kissing her almost reverently, making her belly ache and her heart pound.

  When he pulled back, his eyes looked suspiciously glassy, proving her point. Showing her that big, soft heart.

  He ran his nose along hers, so close his eyelashes tickled her cheek. “You mean beautiful in like an uber manly way though, right?”

  She laughed, so damn happy it hurt, and bit her lip, nodding. “Of course.”

  He swiveled his hips. “And if me, Adam, and Hugh were to compare dicks, you know mine would be bigger than both of theirs put together?”

  “Um…”

  “Okay, that sounded weird, but you know what I mean.”

  “Yes, baby. In a dick contest, you would be the winner.”

  He grinned. “Excellent.”

  She couldn’t look away from him. Afraid she’d wake up and this would all be a dream, that she was really in her bed all alone, clutching her pillow, wishing it was Joe. But then he did another hip swivel, proving how real it was, and she moaned.

  He was hard again, and she rocked against him, unable to help herself.

  “Now that we have that sorted, are you going to make love to me again or talk all damn day?”

  He chuckled. “The first one.”

  “That’s what I thought.”

  Then he kissed her again.

  Epilogue

  Four months later.

  Joe took Darcey’s hand and pushed open the door to Abella’s. Noah ran in ahead, making a beeline for the table at the back. Hugh and Shay, as well as Lucy—home from college for a few days—were already there. Edna and Harold, Shay’s elderly neighbors from the trailer park she used to live, were there as well. His brother gave Noah a high five and Lucy ruffled his hair. Shay, on the other hand, pulled him in for a hug and Darcey giggled beside him when her brother screwed up his face.

  “He loves it, really,” she said, grinning up at Joe.

  He grinned back “‘Course he does.”

  Darcey gave him a squeeze and he glanced down at her.

  “I’ve never seen him so happy, Joe.”

  Her eyes got glassy, and he tugged her in to his side, kissing the top of her head. “You made it happen, Peaches.”

  “Not on my own.”

  Noah had been back with Darcey for three months. It had taken him a few weeks to settle after all the shit he’d been through, but once he realized he was there for good, that no one could take him away from his sister, he’d been a different kid. He’d warmed to Joe pretty fast, too, and the feeling was mutual. He’d recently signed to play baseball, and Joe had to admit he was loving going to the games and helping him practice in the yard.

  He’d finally moved in with Darcey and Noah the week before, and so far, everything was going great. It probably helped that he’d bought Noah a puppy to soften him up. It’d worked. He really was a great kid.

  It was starting to feel like they were their own little family. He’d never been happier in his life.

  Joe gave her another squeeze. “We’re both lucky to have you, and I thank whatever higher power sent you my way every day.”

  She blinked up at him. “You’re going to make me cry in front of everyone if you keep saying stuff like that.”

  He gave her one more kiss, because he had to, then led her to the table. “I’ll keep the sap to a minimum for the rest of the night, I promise.”

  Her hand landed on his chest, resting directly over his heart. “I’d appreciate that.”

  Fuck, she was beautiful.

  Joe tore his eyes off her and they took their seats. He glanced over at Hugh. “Adam not coming?”

  The door opened at that moment and the man himself strode in. Lucy sat up straighter across the table, his sister’s expression going
from relaxed to surprised to pissed in a matter of seconds. Joe tapped her foot under the table. “I know the guy rubs you the wrong way, but try to keep the claws sheathed tonight. No squabbling, shrimp.”

  Lucy tapped him back, but harder. “Why don’t you tell him that? Your friend is a douche lord.”

  Adam had reached the table and smirked down at her, picking up instantly that she was talking about him. “Nice to see you, too, baby girl.”

  A flush crept up Lucy’s neck, darkening her cheeks. She clamped her lips together and turned her back on him.

  His friend shook his head. “The silent treatment, huh? Mature as always, Luce.”

  Lucy spun around, fire lighting her pale green eyes, her jaw going slack.

  Joe groaned, not in the mood for these two and their bickering. “Do you have to bait the woman?”

  Adam shrugged. “Doesn’t take much.”

  “Dick,” Lucy muttered.

  Adam crossed his arms. “You’re actually kinda cute when you scowl.”

  Her brows lifted. “Well, you…your face looks like a baboon's ass.”

  Adam snorted. “Nice come back, shrimp. Are we in grade school?”

  “I hate you,” she ground out through clenched teeth.

  “No, you don’t.”

  Lucy opened her mouth to fire something back, but Hugh cleared his throat. “Now that everyone’s here…” He looked pointedly between Adam and Lucy. “I have some news to share with you.” He glanced down at Shay and she slid her hand into his, her smile so bright it felt like a thousand-watt bulb shone around her. “I knocked Shay up. We’re gonna have a baby.”

  Edna hooted. “Knew it wouldn’t take long.” She turned to Harold. “You owe me twenty bucks.”

  Shay scowled at Hugh, poking him in the ribs. “Don’t say ‘knocked up’.”

  His brows dropped. “Right, sorry.” Then he grinned like a goof. “I planted my manly seed in my woman, and she’s going to bear my superior offspring.”

  Noah screwed up his face. “Ew!”

  Shay started giggling, tugging on his hand, pulling him down for a kiss.

  Good news. Fucking spectacular news. He was so damn happy for both of them. Hugs and congratulations were passed around before they took their seats again.