by Avery, Lark
“Let’s go,” I said.
“We’re waiting for one more interested party.” When she exhaled her smoke, she looked like a dragon.
I was pretty sure she wasn’t making a good impression on Braden. She certainly wasn’t with me.
Her phone rang, and she moved away to answer the call.
Braden stepped closer, and his lips brushed my ear making me shiver on a hot day. “Just to recap, we met a guy named Shirley and a woman named Robbie in the last twelve hours. Is this pretty common for Las Vegas?”
My nipples puckered with his proximity.
“Behave.” I tried to sound stern. “Look around. Maybe this could be the perfect spot for your club.”
“We’d be neighbors then,” Braden said.
“I didn’t mean that. I meant this part of town is a good investment.” I felt like an idiot. My business savvy vanished only to be replaced with a lovesick schoolgirl.
Nice one, Scarlet.
“We might as well go in before we all melt out here.” Robbie lit up a cigarette before fishing a set of keys out of her oversized alligator handbag.
I looked over her shoulder impatiently as she tried several keys before finding the right one. The door was sticky, but opened with some help from Braden’s shoulder. A tarnished bell attached to the top of the door hinge rang as I stepped through. Inside was pitch black because the front window glass was boarded up.
Behind me, the realtor flirted shamelessly with Braden. I couldn’t blame her, though it annoyed me. I hit the light switches on the wall a bit harder than necessary. A dim glow from the bare bulbs overhead filled the dusty air.
The place had been a pharmacy when it was built. It even had a soda shop counter. There were built in cupboards and cases along with piles of debris. It needed a thorough cleaning, but I loved the two exposed brick walls and wood floor. With imagination and work, it could be cool and funky as my company’s first physical store.
I wanted this place.
I wandered deeper into the store, scouring potential storage space when the front door chimed again. I was investigating some promising looking old light fixtures when I heard a familiar forced laugh.
Back out in the main store space, Braden stood across from my business rival and all-around asshole, Mick. The older man’s jaw was bruised and swollen from the previous contact with Braden’s fist last night. It was clear he couldn’t shave on that side of his face.
“There she is!” Mick’s voice boomed through space. He could fake a laugh, but his eyes were still mean.
I stood next to Braden. It felt like Mick was tainting this space with his douchebaggery. I was aware this was odd considering I planned to sell sex toys here. But bad ju-ju is bad ju-ju.
“You two lovebirds ran off last night before I could tell you about my latest business venture.” He touched his jaw with his fingertips and winced. “Really, I should thank you for that. I’d been unable to make up my mind until that encounter.”
“Mick, I was here first. You can wait until I’m finished to see the place.” I didn’t add that by the time he stepped foot in here again, I’d have a contract signed. I was going to make it happen if I had to pitch a tent in the middle of the place.
“I’d be happy to my dear, but I’m not here to tour the property. I’m here to pick up my keys. I’m the new owner.”
“You lying asshole.” I shot a look at Robbie for confirmation he was lying. The asshole part I was one hundred percent certain about.
She had been watching Mick and me like she was at a tennis match with the occasional glance in Braden’s direction.
Robbie handed Mick the keys. “He bought it last night on the condition that I show the property this morning as planned. He was in my office when he heard me say you had scheduled a visit.” She shrugged. “Call me if you see anything else that catches your eye.” She directed this last bit to Braden before letting herself out.
That motherfucker. He’d bought the damned thing to spite me. Not surprising, but it hurt. Not just a sad feeling, but a physical pain in my chest. In one swoop, my business and personal chances at happiness evaporated.
It was the first time in my life that I’d ever cursed my good health. I wished I could vomit all over Mick. It could only improve his polyester leisure suit.
“How much do you want for it?” Braden asked, breaking through the sound of Mick’s wheeze.
“What?” Mick and I said at once turning to stare at him.
“What will you sell it for?” Braden asked again.
“I just bought it. It’s not for sale.” Mick’s eyes fairly glinted with dollar signs.
“Everything is for sale.”
What the fuck!
It was like a train was roaring through my head. I had the urge to knock these two arrogant assholes’ heads together until they saw stars.
“Stop it! I’m right here. Don’t act like this has nothing to do with me. You,” I pointed at Mick, “are a total dick. You’ll be out of business within a year here.” Then I turned to Braden. “And you have no business buying this place out of virgin deflowering guilt.”
Mick gasped at my revelation.
I winced.
Braden pulled me outside so fast I teetered on my heels as the door chimed at our hasty exit.
“Get in the car, Scarlet,” He snapped at me on the sidewalk.
“I’m not—”
“Would you like me to haul you over my shoulder into the car? I’m fine with that.” Heat rolled off Braden that had nothing to do with the midday Vegas sun. His dark eyes bored into me until I was ready to combust on the spot.
“Fine! Fucking caveman,” I muttered, climbing into the passenger seat.
Braden slammed my door shut behind me. He stalked around the front of his SUV looking pissed as hell.
“What the fuck is your problem? I’m the one who has a right to be pissed. You think you can just buy me off?” I demanded as soon as he opened his car door.
“Stop talking.” Braden started the vehicle and cranked the air conditioning.
“You’re not my boss.”
“Christ, is the only way you’re ever going to stop talking is if I bury my cock inside you? I’m not opposed to it. It’ll just save us a lot of time if I know so we can skip to that.”
I gaped. Did I just hear him right? Was he suggesting fucking me to get me to shut up?
“Ding. Ding. Ding. We have a winner.”
I was about to spew my reserve of filthy curses. The ones I only aired on special occasions. This was one of those for sure.
Braden reached over, gathered me in his arms and kissed me hard.
My anger at Robbie, Mick, and him melted into a white-hot heat of desire. His tongue stroked mine hungrily.
All too soon, Braden broke the kiss. “Now be a good girl and listen to me so I can get back to kissing you properly.”
My mind was blank. What had we been arguing about anyway? Oh yeah. Now I remembered.
He held his finger against my lips.
“I was not offering to buy that place out of any sense of guilt, pity, or whatever else that brain of yours is coming up with. I offered to buy it because…” Braden took a deep breath and expelled it shakily. He ran a hand through his dark hair. “I can’t stand the thought of saying goodbye to you. Ever. I’ll do anything to keep you beside me. Apparently even offending you by offering to buy some business property you want from a total dickhead.”
“You don’t even know me,” I said softly. Though in truth, I never wanted to be parted from Braden. He completed me.
But I’d known him twenty-four hours. I had to be sensible. For all I knew, he could spend his weekends hooking up with girls and breaking their hearts for kicks.
“I know you’re smart. I know you aren’t afraid to go after what you want. I know you have a soft spot for mediocre magic shows. I love being with you. I’ve never said that to anyone else before. And at the risk of freaking you out, I’d be more than happy to s
eal the deal.”
Holy shit. He wasn’t saying goodbye. He wanted to marry me.
Yes! Yes! Yes!
I was stunned. My heart cried out to be his. After all, I already was. But I was too afraid to break the spell by saying anything.
I reached out a fingertip, running it along Braden’s lower lip. “Did you just propose to me using the phrase ‘seal the deal’?”
Braden sucked my finger hard before replying. “I did. What do you say, how about we visit one of these Vegas wedding chapels to finalize our merger?”
“Will you stop using business clichés to describe our relationship?”
“Marry me and find out.”
Epilogue: Braden
Three Years Later
Ten months after we met, Scarlet gave birth to our daughter, Rose. My life had a new purpose, and it was all because of my wife. Beyond knowing I would love my new family with my dying breath, I wanted to change how I ran my business.
The new Las Vegas location we’d chosen for our club was killing it. But I wasn’t going to let my newborn daughter grow up hanging around bars the way I did. And I wanted to be with her and Scarlet as much as possible. I was happy to hand the pub business over to my brothers.
Now our new son, Thomas, was six weeks old. The timing was perfect. Scarlet was right about Mick’s business failing. We bought the place from him and some other storefronts. The neighborhood had only continued to grow over the last few years.
But instead of an adult toy store, we opened a family diner in the original building Scarlet had her eye on. As my clever wife pointed out, the restaurant needed a Las Vegas hook. Our place featured a restored old-fashioned soda shop dining counter with a family-friendly menu in the Fremont Street area.
We’d only been open four months, but the diner was already popular with tourists and locals alike. Scarlet had hired help for her family’s sex toy business so that her travel days were over. We worked really well together in business and with our family. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
The diner front door chimed as I shouldered in with my arms full of boxes. We’d closed early today.
“Daddy!” Rose shrieked with joy when I entered the diner. She had my eyes and her mother’s dark curling hair. She was a heartbreaker for sure.
Scarlet wore a button-down western shirt, jeans, and cowboy boots. Her stomach and hips were still curvy but her tits were bigger from nursing our son. She looked fucking sexy, and I clenched my fists to keep from sweeping her into my arms. I settled for stacking the boxes inside the door and called hello to my two girls.
Scarlet sent me a warm smile over her shoulder as she helped Rose into her jacket. Shirley emerged from the back with Thomas on his shoulder. “Clean diaper. The big man is all set for the car ride home. Hiya, Braden.” His stopped patting my son’s back long enough to give me a brief wave.
Yep. Shirley, the very same middling magician, turned out to be an excellent manny. Tonight he was taking our kids home early. Scarlet and I had work here together to complete without interruption.
I let my hand fall to my son’s soft dark curls, stroking them softly. I gave Rose a kiss on the cheek.
“Drive safe.” I ordered Shirley.
“I will,” Shirley said before he carried Thomas out to the car with Rose holding his hand. She blew me a kiss from the door.
My heart melted.
“Oh no, Mister Mushy.” Scarlet tucked her hair back behind her ears. “Rose is only two years old, and she’s got you wrapped around her little finger. I can only guess at the large animals and ponies she’ll wrangle out of you in the future. I’ve got an agenda here, and we’re not leaving until it’s done.” She waved her hand in the air, but her lips softened. “We don’t need to take too long though.”
The closed sign was out, the shades were drawn, and most of the overhead lights were off. Our voices echoed in the open space. Scarlet had done a great job supervising the remodel, showcasing the original brick and adding light colors to keep it bright.
“What’s first on your list?” I drew close enough to kiss her. Scarlet always had a list. She was the most strategic person I ever met.
Just the scent of her shampoo and having her within arm’s range made my cock hard. We hadn’t made love since the end of her pregnancy with Thomas. I loved fucking my pregnant wife. There was nothing sexier than knowing she was carrying my child. The added benefit of her pregnancy was that it made it very clear to any male that she was mine. But she needed recovery time and those six weeks felt like an eternity.
“This for starters.” Scarlet unbuttoned the top buttons of her shirt. The sight of the black lace underneath made my mouth water.
“What are you doing?” I asked dumbly.
“My agenda is getting you to fuck me thoroughly without interruption by the kids. That work for you?” Her fingers continued working her shirt buttons.
“Hell, yes.” I pulled her to me and crushed my lips to hers.
She opened her mouth eagerly while her hands headed straight to my belt.
I broke our kiss. “Did you see the doctor? Everything ok?”
“Stop worrying. I’m fine.” She pushed my briefs down, releasing my cock. Her touch was sure and gentle as she stroked me. “I want another one of your babies growing inside me.”
“Fuck, baby.” I groaned as her hand worked me. “Here?”
Scarlet knelt before me, taking my cock in her mouth.
I took that as a yes.
I watched her lips wrap around me. This pleasure could wait for another time, filling her pussy with my cum was my top priority.
Gently, I tipped her head back, and she released my cock.
She pouted as she ran her tongue over her lush, wet bottom lip. “I wasn’t finished.”
Scarlet stood up. She unhooked her bra, dropped it on a nearby chair and cupped her breasts while grinning at me.
I removed my shoes, pants, and shirt, getting naked as quickly as possible. Scarlet liked to rub herself against me and lick my tats, I certainly wasn’t going to deny her any pleasure.
She kicked off her boots before pulling down her jeans and panties. My wife stood naked in our dark family diner. I drank in her beauty and strength, taking a few steadying breaths to calm my racing heart. In two steps, I swept her off her feet and set her on the counter.
Her legs wrapped around my waist. I rubbed my cock against her pussy lips, but she was wet and ready. I plunged into her in one fluid motion until I was completely inside her. Her head tipped back as we started to move together.
“Fuck me,” she breathed. “You are very good at this.”
“Only with you.” My fingers flexed into her hips every time I thrust inside her.
“What are you thinking?” Her question ended on a gasp as I pulled almost entirely out of her.
“How much I love you.” Then I was lost in kissing her before I whispered in her hair. “And how I’m never going to look at the milkshake machine again without thinking of taking you here on the counter.”
Not ready to stop reading filthy, flirty, fun romance? No worries! I’ve got you covered! There are two more books in the Lucky in Love trilogy. You’ll get to meet all three of the Sullivan brothers. Read on for a sneak peek at Kellan and Amber’s story, Lucky Hook Up!
Sneak Peek: Lucky Hook Up
Chapter One: Amber
The first thing that penetrated my consciousness was the pounding. Who on earth would be banging on my door this early? I started to open my eyes only to find it wasn’t the simple act I expected. My lashes were glued together and prying my eyelids apart took as much effort as deadlifting a hundred pounds over my head.
I finally managed to wrench them open and blinked to clear my oddly blurry vision. I scooted my leg toward the edge of the bed with the intention of answering the door, and immediately regretted it. I swiftly squeezed my eyes shut again to ward off the stabbing pain shooting through my temples and to right my suddenly tilting world. Groaning, I
lifted a hand to my head and slumped back on the pillows.
I strained a little to listen for the knock to come again, but ever so slowly, reality intruded and I came to the realization that nobody was at the door. No, that pounding was taking place in my head. I must have the flu or something.
The throbbing was so vicious, I could feel it in my eyeballs, and my mouth felt like I’d inhaled half the stuffing from my pillow. So weird. I never got sick. The last time I could remember feeling this awful…
No!
Ignoring the tilt-o-whirl spinning of the room and the mariachi band doing their thing in my head, I bolted straight up and took stock of my surroundings.
Relief poured through me as I looked around and confirmed I was safe and sound in my own bed in the bedroom of my apartment. And even more importantly: I was alone.
The last time I’d woken up feeling this way, I’d definitely had company. It was the morning after my twenty-first birthday. My life had changed a lot since then.
But thankfully, there was no way in hell I’d be stupid enough to make that mistake again. I’d only done it the first time because I’d laid eyes on Kellan Sullivan from across a crowded room, and like something out of a romance novel, I’d fallen head over heels in love.
Only in our case, the crowded room was the nerve-janglingly loud floor of a Las Vegas casino where cocktail waitresses doled out free gin and tonics like they came from a tap in the kitchen. And said crowded room with the freely flowing alcohol was located only steps away from at least a dozen twenty-four hour wedding chapels that served up marriage like it was mac and cheese at an all you can eat buffet.
My memories of the event itself were hazy at best, but I had a strong impression of repeating my wedding vows to a drag queen dressed as Marilyn Monroe while a dead ringer for Frank Sinatra stood by singing a medley of his songs. To this day, I cringed a little when I heard the song Luck Be a Lady start playing. And since it seemed like the anthem of every casino in Las Vegas, living here made it almost impossible to avoid.