Cocktales

by The Cocky Collective

  Panting, I stay inside her for a moment, relishing the feel of her after our dry spell. Another screech from Shaw causes me to straighten up and I slip out of her, shuddering at the contrast of cool air after her heat.

  “I needed that.” Hailey sweeps her hair out of her face. She glows with pleasure. “I think that was a new record for us.”

  Glancing over at the kitchen clock, I estimate we’ve been naked for all of seven minutes. “Someday we’ll have more time. Then I’ll ravish you until you can’t walk. Sound good?”

  Her lashes flutter as she closes her eyes. “Promise?”

  Shaw yells in his room, his patience gone.

  I tug on my boxers and kiss Hailey a quick peck. “I’ll get him.”

  “I’ll make a salad to go with the pizza.”

  Upstairs, I find a pair of sweats before I rescue Shaw from his crib and change his diaper.

  “Thanks for being a good wingman and napping this afternoon like a champ.” With a kiss to his head, I lift him off the changing table. “You don’t know what a wingman is, but someday you and Mac will figure it out. He’ll always have your back, and you’ll have his.”

  He smiles at me.

  “Let’s go see Mom.”

  Hailey’s in the kitchen, chopping a pepper. The pizza sits on the counter next to a giant bowl of salad. I love that she thinks I’m going to eat lettuce when I bought a bag of garlic knots.

  I settle Shaw into his high chair first, and then step around my wife. “I saw Jonah today at the coffee hut. He offered to babysit for us next weekend.”

  “Why?” she pauses her chopping. “That’s strange.”

  “You like Jonah. We’ve known him forever. It isn’t like I’m handing our kid over to a stranger.” As a precaution, I remove the chef’s knife from her hand for the next part. I never lie to Hailey. “He asked if he could borrow Shaw for a few hours. Sounds like a win-win situation for us.”

  “Wait, you want to loan our baby to Jonah? Why?” Hailey’s voice levels up to a near screech.

  “Think of it as babysitting. We can have a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon all to ourselves. To do whatever we want.”

  She frowns at me. “Stop waggling your eyebrows at me. You look like a horny cartoon dog when you do that.”

  “Sorry if the thought of hours alone with my wife excites me. We could spend the entire time naked.”

  “Or we could nap.”

  “We could do both. Multi-task. And we won’t be cockblocked by a baby monitor.” I kiss her neck. “Maybe we can even create a sibling for him.”

  She sweeps the chopped pepper into the salad. “Aren’t you worried it’s too soon? We can barely manage with one baby, what are we doing to do with two?”

  “Be exhausted but happy?” I step behind her and wrap my arms around her waist, resting them below her navel. “Come on, we did so well on the first one.”

  Humming, she continues stirring the onions.

  “Hailey?” I nuzzle her neck with my nose.

  “I’m late,” she whispers, staring into the bowl.

  “Late?” I ask because there are a lot of things she could be late for and I need clarification before I let myself react.

  “I’m pretty sure I’m pregnant. Again.”

  Happiness and pride swell inside my chest. “Really? Are you serious?”

  “Didn’t you pay attention to the shopping list?” she laughs.

  “I thought you had PMS, not cravings.” I’m in shock. “We’re having another baby?”

  “We are.” Her smile is hesitant as her eyes fill with tears.

  “Please don’t cry. This is the best news. Here I’ve been thinking about knocking you up again and I’ve already done it.” I want to give my sperm a million high-fives.

  “You’re so proud of yourself.” Wiping her eyes, her laughter reappears. “If only you could carry this one.”

  I would if I could. I’d do anything to ease her discomfort and pain, but there’s no way I could handle birthing a baby. Not a chance in hell.

  “We both know you’re stronger than I could ever be.” I kiss away her tears and then press my lips against hers. “I love you. I love Shaw, and I’m going to love our daughter.”

  I feel her lips curl into a smile. “I love how sure you are.”

  Tilting my head so I can stare into her eyes, I reassure her. “Girl, boy, or twins, I’ll love them because they’re ours.”

  Her pupils dilate as she widens her eyes in shock. “Twins?”

  “We’ve got this. Look at Shaw. We’re amazing parents.”

  Our son bangs his fists on the tray of his chair, letting out a loud fart.

  Hailey smothers her giggles. “I’m not sure the world can handle more Donnely men.”

  She’s probably right. So much awesome in one family isn’t fair.

  We fill our plates and sit at the table near Shaw. After a few moments of silent eating, I ask, “What about Jonah?”

  “I’m going to need more information.” She bites into her crust.

  “All I know is it involves a woman.”

  Her brows lift with surprise. “Does this have anything to do with June?”

  “As in this month?” I ask, once again confused. “It’s for next Saturday.”

  “No, the woman who owns the yarn shop next to the Dog House. She made a blanket for Shaw?”

  Doesn’t ring a bell.

  Hailey sighs. “I love how oblivious you are to other women.”

  “What can I say? You’ve domesticated the tomcat in me. I’m working on my dad bod and everything.”

  “Let’s not get too carried away.” She leans over the corner of the table and kisses away the smirk on my mouth. “I like you cocky.”

  Find out about Shaw's adventure with Jonah in The Last Wingmen, releasing October 2018.

  About the Author

  Writer, traveler, gardener, taco lover, friend of sloths, and USA Today Bestselling Author of romantic comedies.

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  Also by Daisy Prescott

  Wingmen

  Ready to Fall

  Confessions of a Reformed Tom Cat

  Better Love

  Small Town Scandal

  Wingmen Babypalooza: A Christmas Babies Novella

  The Last Wingman (Coming Fall 2018)

  * * *

  Love with Altitude:

  Next to You

  Crazy Over You

  Wild for You

  Up to You ( Releases 6/12/18 ibooks preorder: https://apple.co/2rHGcW0

  * * *

  Modern Love Stories

  We Were Here

  Geoducks Are for Lovers

  Wanderlust

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  A Series Crossover Short Story Collection

  Love, Laughter and a Happily Ever After

  * * *

  Bewitched

  Bewitched

  Spellbound

  Enchanted

  Charmed

  A Cocky Corruption Engagement

  a Civil Corruption bonus scene

  Jessica Prince

  What happens when a big, bad security guy falls for the girl with a smart mouth? A whole lot of fun.

  A Cocky Corruption Engagement

  a Civil Corruption bonus scene

  Ian

  Jesus fucking Christ, this was my Hell.

  “What if we made a trail of flower petals—”

  Fuck me. I tuned Tate’s voice out before I had an aneurism. This wasn’t what I wanted. I never should have let these damn girls know I planned on proposing to Corrine. If I’d just gone with my gut and did my thing without telling Tate, Gwen, and Gina I wouldn’t be standing here right now with them trying to hijack my proposal.

  “I’m not trailin’ fucking flower petals around my house,” I grunted, staring dagger
s at them. “No flowers, no string quartet, no skywriter. For fuck’s sake, just stop giving me suggestions. I know what I’m doing, and she’s gonna love it.”

  Gwen scowled and slammed her hands on her hips. “Someone’s cocky”

  Crossing my arms over my chest, I hitched the corner of my mouth up in a smirk. “It’s not bein’ cocky when it’s true. I know my girl and she’s not into all this hearts and flowers shit.”

  “Maybe not,” she continued to argue, “But there are exceptions. And getting engaged is one of them. All girls want that hearts and flowers shit when the guy they love is planning to ask her to marry him.”

  “Not Corrie.”

  “Yes, Corrie!” she snapped back. “She’s only been my best friend forever. I think I know what I’m talking about.”

  Normally I adored Gwen. She was good people, and I’d been through enough and seen enough when I was in the service to know the good from the bad when I saw it. Gwen was salt of the earth. Even if my gut didn’t tell me so, the way she was with her and Garrett’s adorable little girl Liddy was all the proof I needed. That little girl wanted for nothing, but wasn’t spoiled rotten. She had a heart even bigger than her mother’s, which was saying a lot. But right now, I kinda wanted to sew her lips shut just so I didn’t have to hear her talk anymore.

  “And I’m the one who’s been screwin’ her. No offense, babe, but significant other trumps BFF every time. That’s just the way it is. Men and women shared more with the person they were in love with than even their closest friends.”

  She knew I was right, and by the look on her face she wasn’t happy to have to admit it. “Fine,” she mumbled with a pout. “No flower petals. So what are you gonna do, then?”

  “Don’t you worry about that. I’ve got it all figured out. I just need you to do me a favor tomorrow.”

  Gwen smirked conspiratorially. “Whatever you need, I’m totally on it.”

  I was counting on it.

  Corrine

  “Gwen, babe. No offense, because you know I love you with all my heart, but if you drag me into one more freaking bridal boutique, I’m going to murder the hell out of you.”

  “Don’t be such a Debby Downer. Bernie’s watching Liddy for the day, and I’m getting married!” She’d shouted I’m getting married approximately 1,249 time in the past four hour, and while I was stoked out of my freaking mind for her, we’d hit up five boutiques before lunch, and she hadn’t found anything she liked.

  Don’t get me wrong, I was always down for a shopping spree there hadn’t been a single thing I could buy for myself in any of the shops we’d visited without looking like a psycho, not my idea of fun.

  “Just one more,” she pleaded, clasping her hands in front of her. “I promise. This’ll be the last one. Then we’ll go grab something to eat.”

  “And have drinks,” I demanded. “Lots and lots of drinks.”

  Grabbing my hand, she dragged me down the block. I knew the instant we stepped through the doors that this was going to be a complete and utter waist of time for her. For me, on the other hand…”

  “Seriously, Gwennie? This place totally isn’t your scene.” But it was absolutely mine. The moment we crossed the threshold I felt like I’d stepped into a store that catered solely to my special brand of quirky awesomeness. “Omigod!” I gasped, rushing to one of the rack sand slapping at the hangers. I sucked in a huge, dramatic gasp at what I saw. “Feathers!” I squealed with uncontrollable glee. “Look, Gwen! This has feathers!” Another gasp. “And fringe! Holy shit! I’ve totally died and gone to Heaven. If the day ever comes when Sam and Dean Winchester profession their undying love for me and request sister-wives type deal I’m totally rockin’ a dress with feathers and fringe!”

  “Just a couple things wrong with that scenario, honey,” she said on a giggle. “First of all, they’re fictional characters.”

  “Spoilsport,” I grumbled, running my fingers along the delicate beading along the bodice. The gown was the palest of pinks, trumpet mermaid cut with a sweetheart neckline and a full skirt and train made of layer upon layer of feather and fringe. It was the most stunning thing I’d ever seen, and it would be mine. Oh yes… it would be mine.

  “Secondly, you remember Ian? You boyfriend? That big mountain of a man who could pop a watermelon like a freaking balloon just by squeezing it in his hand? I’m not thinking he’d be all too thrilled with you marrying anyone but him.”

  My chest heaved with a heavy sigh, and grumbled, “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Stupid sexy Ian, making me love him when the Winchesters could just be waiting in the wings.”

  “Good afternoon, ladies,” a shop worker greeted in an overly shipper voice. “Is there anything I can help you find today?”

  Shouldering me out of the way, Gwen grabbed the dress I’d been caressing and shoved it into my chest. “Yeah, can you show her to a dressing room? She needs to try the on.”

  “Whoa! Wait, hold on.” I dig my heels in as she tried to shove me away. “No, no, no. No way. Isn’t that, like, bad luck or something? And we’re supposed to be here for you, not me.”

  “Oh, that’s just a stupid old wives tale. It’s not bad luck, and this dress is absolutely, totally you. You have to try it on.”

  I caved almost instantly, practically skipping toward the dressing area the sales clerk led me to. Closing myself in, I stripped out of my clothes and stepped into the incredible gown. Zipping up and getting everything tucked where it needed to be was much harder than I expected. But the end result was so freaking worth it.

  “Holy shit,” I breathed as I stared at my reflection in the mirror.

  “What? What is it?” Gwen called from the other side of the door. “Is it too tight?”

  “I. Look. Amazing!” I shouted. “I’m never taking this off. Like, ever. I’m sleeping in this thing, Gwen. And not only because I can’t get myself out of it, which I can’t, but whatever.”

  “Well get your pretty but out here so I can see!”

  The second I stepped out Gwen’s mouth dropped open and her eyes brimmed with tears. And I knew for certain that I was spending the rest of my life in this dress.

  “Told you that shop would be a bust.”

  Gwen had walked out of the last empty handed. She’d decided to call it quits for the day, and we’d gone to my favorite little café for lunch. In all the years I’d lived in Seattle I had no idea this place existed until Ian brought me. Their quiche melted in my mouth, and I damn near spontaneously orgasmed when I tried their chocolate soufflé. This place was my Heaven, and I made a point to eat here as often as I could.

  The kindhearted swung by to refill our mimosas for the third time. Gwen sucked half of hers back and licked her lips. “I wouldn’t say it was a complete bust. I might not have found anything, but at least you did, so it was good for something.”

  I snorted into the raspberry torte I’d ordered for dessert and spoke through a full mouth. “Yeah, because that matters. I’m not the one getting married babe. What do I need a wedding dress for?”

  “You never know,” she replied, smiling a manic, frightening Cameron Diaz smile.

  Sitting my fork down, I stared across the table and asked, “What’s the deal with you, huh? You’re acting weird.”

  “I’m not acting weird!” she chirped. Gwen wasn’t a chirper

  “Are too. You’ve been like a freaking ray of sunshine all day long. You’re never in this good a mood. Usually you spend the first half of the time we spend together coming up with elaborate ways to murder Garrett and get away with it.”

  “Can you blame me?” she asked in defense. “I mean, you’ve met the guy. He can be a pain in the ass.” She wasn’t wrong about t hat. Before the two of them had gone and fallen madly in love, they’d spent three years at each other’s throats. I might have been teasing about her wanting to kill him now, but back then I used to worry I’d get a call from the cops wanting to know if I could provide her with an alibi. “Who better to bitch about hi
m to but my best friend?”

  “Whatever,” I muttered, rolling my eyes as the smartest waitress in the world refilled my glass again. “No of that changes the fact you’re being weird, whether you’re willing to admit it or not.”

  “I’m not being weird! I’m just in a good mood. Can’t I be in a good mood for ten flipping minutes without you accusing me of being up to something?”

  My forehead wrinkled in confusion. “What the hell are you talking about? I never said you were up to something. I just said you were acting strange.”

  Gwen’s eyes bugged out at the same time her face went pale.

  “Wait… are you up to something?”

  “No! I have to pee. I’ll be right back.” She shot from her chair and sprinted toward the restrooms at the back of the restaurant.

  Not being weird my ass.

  I was just about to pull my phone from my purse and text Tate and Gina to find out what was up, when the chair across from me squeaked across the floor.

  “Ian?” I asked when I looked up to see my boyfriend had taken Gwen’s chair. “What are you doing here? I thought you said you had stuff to do today.”

  Ian

  I had to admit, for someone who was usually so confident, I was pretty fucking nervous right then.

  That picture Gwen sent me an hour ago hadn’t done jack to calm my nerves. Corrine’s beauty took my breath away most days. But when I’d seen her in that dress I’d nearly had a heart attack. It should have looked ridiculous, pale pink with goddamn feathers and fringe… but she looked like an angel in it. I could imagine her walking down the aisle toward me in that dress. It was my girl in everyway… absolutely perfect.