Lake chuckled. “I’m making lamb chops,” she replied, ignoring my accusation.
I rubbed my hands over her baby bump. “At this point, it’s hardly as if I’m going to murder you for what you saw,” I pointed out.
Our senior year of school had been a brutal one. After Lake had taken me back, it had been hard to build on what we had when we had to still go to different schools. As much as our public argument and my professions of love had gone to make amends for what I’d done to her, Lake still had trouble being with me in public. She had pulled no punches and had made it clear that, every time she was on my arm publicly, she couldn’t help but feel stupid for taking me back.
It hadn’t been until we’d gone to college together that things had gotten easier. Lake had gotten into the Academy of Art, and I had chosen the University of San Francisco just to be near her. While I had taken my studies seriously, I’d had a job already lined up for me at RMM, so the prestigiousness of my degree hadn’t mattered, not that USF hadn’t been a good school.
And while we hadn’t had any drama in college, Curt and Erica’s ghosts weren’t so easily left behind. Curt had never fully recovered, and still used a cane to get around sometimes, and Erica had just gotten out of prison last year after serving her time for one of the largest drug busts in Sands Cove. One of the paid cops in Sands Cove had been more than happy to set her up if it meant clearing his dirty deeds off the Reed books.
It had also taken a good six months before Lake had let Dash, Crew, and D.J. apologize to her. While D.J. hadn’t really had anything to be sorry for, she had felt bad for Lake, and had wanted to make it right. Mom and Lake were also tight as fuck. Mom adored Lake, and it was clear that if I ever fucked up again, Mom wouldn’t be so understanding the next time.
Now, five years later, Lake was my wife, and she was pregnant with our first child.
And five years later, the woman was still lying to me.
“And how many times do I have to tell you I didn’t see anything that night?” she countered.
I turned her around and dropped to place a quick kiss on her stomach. It was something I did every day when I came home from work, and her lying wasn’t going to get in the way of our little tradition.
Straightening up, I kiss my wife on the lips, and when her arms came around my neck, my dick began appreciating her body pressed up against mine. “Can dinner wait?”
Lake choked out a laugh. “It can,” she replied. “But your brother is joining us tonight, remember?”
I leaned back, so I could look down at her. “Pretty sure my brother knows I fuck my wife on the regular.” She laughed as she slapped my chest and turned back towards the prep counter.
We lived in Port Lucia, though Lake’s parents still lived in Sands Cove. We visited often, but Lake preferred living in a bigger town with more opportunities for work. She was a freelance photographer, and though her traveling was minimal, she worked a lot. Or, at least, she had before we got pregnant.
“Cockblocked by my own brother,” I grumbled as I went to the fridge for something to drink.
“And your parents,” she added.
“And?”
She laughed. “My parents.”
I set the unopened bottled water on the counter and went back to wrapping my arms around Lake’s waist. “I promise I’ll be quick,” I negotiated.
This time her laughter rang throughout the kitchen. “Never a day in your life,” she replied.
“Five minutes, flat,” I lied.
“As sexy as that sounds, Ramsey, you’re just going to have to hold out until after they all leave.”
I stepped back and slapped her ass. “You’re brutal, woman.”
She laughed again, and it really didn’t get any better than this.
The End.
Acknowledgments
◆◆◆
The first acknowledgment will always be my husband. There aren’t enough words to express my gratitude for having this man in my life. There is a little bit of him in every hero I dream up, and I can’t thank God enough for bringing him into my life. Thirty years, and still going strong!
Second, there’s my family; my daughter, my son, my grandchildren, my sister, and my mother. Family is everything, and I have one of the best. They are truly the best cheerleaders I could ever ask for, and I never forget just how truly blessed I am to have them in my life.
And, of course, there’s Kamala. This woman is not only my beta and idea guinea pig, but she’s also one of my closest friends. She’s been with me from the beginning of this journey, and we’re going to ride this thing to the end. Kam’s the encouragement that sparked it all, folks.
And, finally, I’d like to thank everyone who’s purchased, read, reviewed, shared, and supported me and my writing. Thank you so much for helping make this dream a reality and a happy, fun one at that! I cannot say thank you enough.
About the Author
◆◆◆
M.E. Clayton works full-time and writes as a hobby. She is an avid reader and, with much self-doubt, but more positive feedback and encouragement from her friends and family, she took a chance at writing, and the Seven Deadly Sins Series was born. Writing is a hobby she is now very passionate about. When she’s not working, writing, or reading, she is spending time with her family or friends. If you care to learn more, you can read about her by visiting the following:
Smashwords Interview at:
https://www.smashwords.com/interview/MonClayton
Bookbub Author Page at:
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/m-e-clayton
Goodreads Author Page at:
https://www.goodreads.com/MEClayton
Other Books
◆◆◆
The Seven Deadly Sins Series (In Order)
Catching Avery (Avery & Nicholas)
Chasing Quinn (Quinn & Chase)
Claiming Isabella (Isabella & Julian)
Conquering Kam (Kamala & Kane)
Capturing Happiness
The Enemy Duet (In Order)
In Enemy Territory (Fiona & Damien)
On Enemy Ground (Victoria & William)
The Buchanan Brothers Series (In Order)
If You Could Only See (Mason & Shane)
If You Could Only Imagine (Aiden & Denise)
If You Could Only Feel (Gabriel & Justice)
If You Could Only Believe (Michael & Sophia)
If You Could Only Dream
The How To: Modern-Day Woman’s Guide Series (In Order)
How to Stay Out of Prison (Lyrical & Nixon)
How to Keep Your Job (Alice & Lincoln)
How to Maintain Your Sanity (Rena & Jackson)
The Enemy Series (In Order)
Facing the Enemy (Ramsey & Emerson)
Engaging the Enemy (Roselyn & Liam)
Battling the Enemy (Deke & Delaney)
Provoking the Enemy (Ava & Ace)
Loving the Enemy
Resurrecting the Enemy (Ramsey Jr. & Lake)
The Holy Trinity Series (In Order)
The Holy Ghost (Phoenix & Francesca)
The Son (Ciro & Roberta)
The Father (Luca & Remy)
The Redemption (Nico & Mia)
The Vatican (Francisco Phoenix Benetti & Luca Saveria Fiore)
The Eastwood Series (In Order)
Samson (Samson & Mackenzie)
Ford (Ford & Amelia)
Raiden (Raiden & Charlie)
Duke (Duke & Willow)
Alistair (Alistair & Rory)
The Pieces Series (In Order)
Our Broken Pieces (Mystic & Gage)
Our Cracked Pieces (Rowan & Lorcan)
Our Shattered Pieces (Molly & Grayson)
The Blackstone Prep Academy Duet (In Order)
Reflections (Grace & Styx)
Mirrors (London & Sterling)
The Problem Series (In Order)
The Problem with Fire (Sayer & Monroe)
The Problem with Sports (Nathan & Andre
a)
The Problem with Dating (Gideon & Echo)
The Order of the Cronos (In Order)
Typhon (Crew & Rylee)
Cerberus (Ross & Sutton)
Basilisk (Saxton & Hastings)
Sphinx (Fox & Kincaid)
Siren (Kincaid & Fox)
Standalone
Unintentional
Purgatory, Inc.
My Big, Huge Mistake
An Unexpected Life
The Heavier the Chains…
Real Shadows
You Again
Merry Christmas To Me
Dealing with the Devil
Resurrecting the Enemy: (Standalone) Page 21