Jennifer Naylor.
She was part of the crowd of girls who made my last year of high school a nightmare.
The Bitch Squad.
My sister Jessie gave them that nickname and it’s appropriate. Even now, just seeing the bitch makes my stomach hurt.
I can act the adult around her. I’m sure of it. We’re not in high school anymore and I’m no longer someone who can be walked all over.
“You’re new in town,” Jennifer flirts with Leo.
“I am.”
“I’ll show you around,” she offers, straightening her back, trying to get his gaze on her enormous rack.
Leo meets and holds my gaze over Jennifer’s head before he looks back to Jennifer, and answers, “I already have someone to show me around.” He meets my eyes again. “Thanks for the offer though,” he adds as an afterthought it seems.
Except I’ve learned that Leo’s a nice guy. No one has a bad thing to say about him at school and he certainly has enough women after him, but he never seems to take any of them up on their offers. I’ve been told that I’m the first woman he’s taken an interest in, and I don’t know how to take that. Has he really been so closed off before he met me? Or am I only hearing what I want to hear?
Perhaps while he’s in town for the holidays, I can give him a chance, because I desperately want to spend time with him. All my time.
“Oh, it’s you,” Jennifer drawls, spotting me hovering over her shoulder.
Leo’s head snaps to the rude woman and frowns at the back of her head. He glances at me and waits…and then he winks. “While it isn’t busy why don’t you come behind here for a bit?”
I manage to hide my surprise, but move behind the bar to join Leo and keep my eyes on Jennifer, who turns on her stool, watching my every move. The woman has a cruel smirk on her face.
Behind the bar though, my anger stops as Leo takes me by surprise and cups my face. He moves in slowly while my heart beats rapidly in my chest, and then his lips caress mine in a whisper of a kiss. Desire like I’ve never felt before rushes through me.
“You’re all I see,” he whispers, and takes my mouth in an arousing kiss that leaves me breathless.
I clutch at his wrists to keep my balance, without the support I’d be on my ass on the floor, but our kiss is turning me inside out.
Leo breaks the kiss and curses softly. His breathing labored as he rests his forehead against mine. “I’ve wanted to do that for so damn long,” he whispers against my lips so that only I hear him. “Don’t let her get to you. I belong to you.” Leo smacks me on the ass as he moves further down the bar. He keeps his gaze on me from over his shoulder and I have a feeling that he’s hiding his reaction to our kiss.
I narrow my eyes at the teasing man. His eyes widen as I take a step closer to him.
Hearing a throat being cleared behind me, I stop in my tracks, and turn to find my two oldest sisters grinning at me.
By the looks on their faces I’m guessing they saw what just happened.
I ignore the question that I’m sure is on the tip of their tongues, and ask, “What are you two doing here? Mom said you guys were arriving tomorrow.”
My sisters live out of town. We talk all the time, but I’m so glad that everyone will be under the same roof for Christmas this year. I just wish they hadn’t caught Leo and me sucking face.
I know it only happened because of Jennifer’s attention on him, and I guess he wanted to let her know that he’s already spoken for.
“Earth to Robin,” Sarah shouts, and prods me in the arm. “Must have been some kiss, huh?” She smirks, which snaps me out of it.
“It was…hot and delicious. That man sure knows how to kiss.” I slap my order book onto the bar. “You guys want anything?”
“The only thing I want is to know who that is and what that kiss was all about.” Amanda always has to know everything.
“We go to the same school. He’s about done there, and working here over the holidays.”
Jennifer stomps out of the bar at this point.
“Mom never mentioned you had a boyfriend, and Reece…”
I roll my eyes. “Reece does not need to know that I know Leo from school. He’s already been in here glaring at the poor guy. Leo is harmless, and I want everyone to leave him alone.”
They sit a minute and stare at me while I stare back. “What?”
“You really like this guy.” Sarah observes.
“You’ve never been like this about anyone before. Usually you don’t give a damn how Reece reacts.” Amanda’s right.
I turn and watch Leo fix a drink at the end of the bar, and when he turns and catches me staring at him, he gives me such a hot look that my panties melt.
“Oh God.” Sarah chokes. “I’m overheating.”
“I’m starting to realize that I’ve been a big idiot.” I sigh and turn back to my sisters. “He’s been asking me out for months, and I kept saying no.”
Sarah and Amanda stare, speechless at me. “You said no?” Amanda questions. “What’s wrong with you?”
Leaning on the bar, I whisper to my sisters, “There isn’t anything wrong with me. I was trying my best to stick to my no-dating-while-in-school rule.” I stare down at the bar. “I don’t think it’s going to work anymore because one day he wasn’t there, or the day after that. He was just gone and I worried that he was sick…I realized that I was stupid. He’d gotten under my skin and I missed him.” I look up and offer my sisters a wry smile, but their attention is behind me.
My eyes close as embarrassment washes over me. I slowly turn and opening my eyes, I gaze at Leo who has a serious expression.
“We need to talk, Robin. I mean really talk. Can we have coffee away from here? Sometime soon?” Leo asks.
The heat from his body wraps me in a blanket of warmth that I don’t want to leave. “Yes.” I smile. “I’d like that.”
His face completely lights up. “Really?”
I laugh. “Yes, really.” I bite my lip. “I can’t tomorrow though. I promised my brother and Callie that I’d go to their place and mind Ben while they finish sorting their dining room out.”
“Take Leo with you,” Sarah suggests.
All I can think about is Reece’s reaction if I turn up at his house with Leo. I took too long with my answer as Leo hardens his jaw and turns to go back to work.
I react quickly and grab his arm to turn him back around to face me because I need him to understand where I’m coming from. “I’d love for you to come with me. It’s just my brother.” I sigh. “He’s a bit overprotective, okay? I’m afraid that you turning up with me tomorrow will set him off.” I reach out and intertwine our fingers together.
Leo squeezes my hand. “I’ve seen the looks he throws at me, so I guess I can accept that, but I’m not going to let him keep you away from me, Robin. It’s taken months to get you to agree to coffee, so I’m not going to let anyone or anything prevent it.”
I make a split-second decision. “Come with me. Callie will be there and she’s good at distracting him. I have a feeling you’re going to be around a lot so we might as well get the Reece part over with.”
He grins and whispers, “Okay,” before he places a chaste kiss to my cheek. “Tomorrow, you’re mine.”
My hand covers the kiss on my cheek as I watch him go back to work.
Reece & Callie
Callie
Dropping my cell to the kitchen table, I bite my lip as I walk through the house to find Reece. He’s lying out on the floor with our three-year-old son, Ben. They’re playing with Ben’s train set that we got him for his birthday the week before. He eats and sleeps that train set.
I lean against the doorjamb and watch them. Their heads are together, Reece wearing a dark blue beanie, and Ben with his blond locks. He sometimes gets mistaken for a girl with his hair, but as of yet, I haven’t been able to bring myself to have his hair cut. Reece teases me that he’ll take him if I don’t, but I know he’s only joking beca
use he loves his son’s hair just as much as I do.
My heart is full as I watch them together. Ben is so focused on what his father is doing that he hasn’t paid any attention to the train passing him by. His concentration is absolute.
I know that the minute I interrupt and tell Reece whom Robin is bringing with her, he won’t be able to settle. It annoys me sometimes how obsessed he is with protecting his sisters. We’ve had a few arguments over the years because of that, and I can see us getting into it about Robin.
I sigh and smile when Reece looks over his shoulder and meets my eyes. His gaze drops to my bare feet and slowly makes its way up my body until he holds my gaze. “What’s wrong?” He frowns.
My husband knows me so well and nothing gets past him. “Nothing much.” I smile.
“Hmm.” He shakes his head and kissing Ben on his forehead, whispers something before he stands and prowls toward me. “You aren’t telling me the truth.”
When he reaches me, his hands cup my face and slip to massage the back of my neck.
“Callie?”
I know that I have to tell him, but I can make it more difficult for him to give Robin’s friend crap. “I’ll tell you, but please remember that you will be sleeping on the sofa if you overreact…and I mean it this time. Regardless as to how many clothes you take off, it will be the sofa.” I hold his gaze until I’m sure that he knows I mean business, and then I admit, “Robin is bringing Leo with her this morning.”
His eyes widen before he closes them and breathes heavily, as though he’s a bull ready to charge. “Why?”
“Look, you might as well know the whole story. Apparently, Robin and Leo know each other from school. Leo has been asking Robin out for a few months.”
“So he’s harassing her?” Reece growls.
I place my hand on his chest. “No, he is not harassing her. He really likes her, just like she does him. He’s hung in there and they’re just going to hang out this morning.”
“Not in my house.” Reece folds his arms in front of his chest and narrows his gaze. “You said it was okay for him to come here?”
I should have known that no matter what I threaten him with that it won’t end well. My anger is close to the surface but it will have to stay there with Ben in earshot. “As I recall this is my home as well.” I raise a brow. “Robin is your sister and she wants to bring a young man here whom she’s interested in. There is nothing wrong with that.”
“I don’t want him around her.”
The stubborn ass!
“Well I do.” I turn on my heel and disappear into the kitchen. I need a minute or maybe ten.
“Callie?”
I slowly turn to face him and let him see how upset I really am. “I can’t keep doing this, Reece,” I admit, sadly. “I love you, but the way you are with your sisters hurts me. It’s as though you can’t think about anyone else but them once they’ve met someone. It’s unreasonable. I’ve gotten to the point where I can’t handle the stress of you like this. You need to stop. Here and now. I want you to promise me that you’ll let it go. You’ll meet Leo and be pleasant instead of an arrogant jerk because he’s with your sister.”
He hasn’t heard a word that I’ve said. “I can’t.” Reece turns when he hears Ben shout for him. “Ben needs me.” He heads back to our son.
I turn and head upstairs to our room, and through to the bathroom. I close the door before I give way to the tears that threaten. I’m not usually so quick with my emotions, but as my hand presses gently against my stomach, I realize that the pregnancy hormones have started flowing through my body rather strongly. Reece has no clue where my emotions are at or why. He hasn’t even asked me about my visit to the doctor because he is too distracted with his sister to really pay me any attention.
Usually he’d have been there with me, but instead, he’d wanted to talk to Robin, so he had sent me on my merry way.
He knows that he hurts me when he acts this way. It’s like a switch being flipped, and while it’s in the on position it’s as though I don’t exist.
I slide down to the floor and cry. I cry until there are no more tears left inside of me. I cry until I have to move from the floor to grab a glass of water for the hiccups that have started to cause me pain.
My hands grip the edge of the basin as I raise my head and stare at myself. For the first time since I’ve started to feel unwell, I actually look sick instead of glowing with happiness.
My eyes are red rimmed against my pale face, which I usually hide behind an application of foundation. I hate wearing makeup and Reece also hates me wearing it. He hasn’t even noticed. It has only been a couple of days since he’s gotten all up in Robin’s business and usually I’m more calm and collected. Well, there would be shouting, but usually I can snap him out of it before it really is too late. This time, I just want to climb into bed and wake up when I’m over the roughest time to find Reece has calmed down and our life is back to normal. Reece is supposed to be the one person that I can always count on. Now, I feel sad for myself because he isn’t giving me the time of day.
Reece
“What’s wrong with Callie?” is the first thing out of Robin’s mouth as she joins Ben and me outside.
I ignore my younger sister because I know that she’ll say anything to take the attention off her and the man who stands by her side. I glare at him and when he glares just as hard back, I’m surprised to feel an ounce of respect for him. He doesn’t cower like I’m used to with the boys my sisters have showed up with in the past.
Callie asked me to promise not to be an overbearing dick, so I can do that…for now. Holding my hand out, I offer, “Reece.”
He seems surprised, and narrows his eyes. He places his hand inside of mine. “Leo Williams.”
That went well. Callie would be proud. I didn’t even squeeze the life out of his hand. The thought doesn’t count.
“Reece,” Robin snaps once she has Ben in her arms. “I’m serious. What’s wrong with Callie?”
“Nothing.”
Robin gives me the evil glare that only a sister can give, and questions, “Are you sure? Because she didn’t seem herself.”
“We had a disagreement before you got here. She’ll be fine.”
“Hmm.” Robin introduces Ben to Leo and before I know it my son is holding Leo’s hand and leading him inside the house to look at his train set.
The minute the door closes behind them Robin faces me. “Did you argue with Callie because she told you that I was bringing Leo with me?”
I’ve had enough of trying to protect everyone, and it makes me damn tired. It pains me and makes me angry because I know that I’m hurting Callie, yet I can’t stop. Callie and Ben really are my world, but since my dad left years before, I’ve always felt that it was up to me to make sure that my sisters stay safe. It has been so ingrained into me to do that. I know I went overboard.
“Reece, Callie looked really upset. She didn’t look good. She actually looked sick.” Robin glances at the house and back to me. “Please go and check on her and stop being blind to what’s going on in front of your face.” Robin disappears back into the house and leaves me staring after her.
I glance up to my bedroom window and see that the drapes have been pulled closed. What is going on with Callie? Surely it isn’t just because I’ve been an ass over Robin. Is it?
With a heavy heart, I check on Ben, except he’s too occupied to care where I am at that moment, and I carry on upstairs.
At the doorway to our room, I hesitate. Callie is curled up on the bed with the quilt over her small frame, and for the first time, I realize that I’ve gone too far and hurt her more than I ever meant to. I hadn’t intended on hurting her at all.
Moving forward, I crawl on the bed behind my wife and tug her into my arms. She resists at first, so I move into her and nuzzle into her neck. “I love you, Callie. I’m really sorry. I promise I’m going to try and calm everything down, okay?” I bury my face into her shoulder and
feel her release a shuddering breath.
“You have to stop ignoring me?” She turns over and it kills me to see tears on her beautiful face.
I use my thumbs to brush the tears away and bend to kiss each eyelid. “I never ignore you.”
“You do when you get possessive over one of your sisters. It’s as though you don’t hear anything I say, and you don’t give a shit about what I do.” She sniffles into a tissue while my heart sinks knowing that she’s right. “I don’t expect your undivided attention all the time, but it hurts to be ignored.”
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper, meaning every word. “You and our son are my life, Callie. I know I get too worked up, but right here, I’m promising you to stop. If I slip up then grab my balls to get my attention.” I smirk. “I can guarantee you’d have it while holding the family jewels in your hand.” I kiss her forehead and feel huge relief when she responds by slipping her hand over my waist.
“I love you, too.” Callie moves on top of the quilt and wraps a leg over my hip as her fingers rub back and forth on my chest. “Please don’t treat me like that again. It hurts, Reece. A lot.”
The air feels like it’s being sucked out of my chest at her words. It kills me that I hurt the one person I can’t live without. I know I won’t be able to formulate any words with how much she brings me to my knees, so instead, I gather her into my arms and hold her.
Seconds, minutes, tick by and then she slips her hand into the back of my jeans. Her fingers dig into the base of my spine and my eyes roll as my hips push against her grinding pussy.
It never takes much to get me hard and panting for my wife, now is no different. She always turns me inside out. Having her hands on me can be damn well embarrassing whenever she gets the look while out in public.
“Make up sex,” she whispers into my ear. “Now, Reece.” She bites my lobe and my dick jerks.
“Ben,” I groan when her other hand cups me through my sweatpants.
“He’s with your sister.” She kisses along my jaw and nibbles down to my chest.
Silent Night (Bad Boy Rockers Book 6) Page 4