Hunks, Hammers, and Happily Ever Afters

by Cari Quinn

  Her mother sat silently. Her iron will for once thwarted by the daughter she loved.

  “I have to go. When you’re ready to talk, call me.”

  She felt as if she was the parent and her mother the child. This wasn’t something she’d ever expected to do. But, if anything, their history together had shown she was going to have to be the adult because her mother, followed by her father would never treat her as one as long as she let them get away with it.

  Her phone rang as she was preparing to leave. It was her father. Mica answered. “Hello Daddy.”

  “Mica.”

  She stayed silent as she put the call on speaker and backed down the driveway.

  “Your mother just called. She’s upset, Mica.”

  And her mother was the only one who’s allowed to be upset. “We’ll just ignore the fact my ex fiancé was in the house and waiting for some sort of signal from her to ambush me. Or that I’m asking to be treated as an adult.”

  There was a pause as if he was absorbing her hurt. “I’m sorry it happened that way honey.” His voice was a silky ripple meant to sooth. It had the opposite effect.

  “And why exactly did it happen that way? You knew about this and you did nothing to stop it, didn’t you? I’m an adult and I can’t believe I have to say it over and over again to the very people who raised me.”

  “You’ve always been content...”

  “To what, stay at home and have mom run my life? I got engaged to a man I barely knew because I wanted out.” She was breathing hard because she hadn’t meant to say it out loud. Hadn’t meant to say that to her father.

  “Was it really so bad to have all of your bills paid, to have our connections land you a job and a husband?” Exasperation colored his voice. Sarcasm gave it an edge.

  “Everyone else has a career.” She was speaking of her friends now. Envy and inferiority did battle as she started on her drive home. “I’m a kept doll. Or I was until I came back from New York. I won’t be one, daddy. I can’t. It’s not me.”

  ~*~

  Mica was all nerves. Cam watched her pace her tiny studio. She’d been fine for the two weeks after her interview but now she’d worked herself into a frenzy.

  “What if they don’t hire me?”

  “I think they’re going to hire the woman who came in equipped with a complete proposal and individuals already expressing interest in being involved.”

  Ever since the time they spent stuck in the elevator he’d grown sure that he wanted her in his life. But Mica needed to take things slow. She needed time to establish herself on her own and he was happy to give her that.

  She was in her favorite yoga pants and a tank top as she paced the length of her studio. Her phone clutched in her hand. Cam enjoyed the view both going and coming from the safety of her couch. Her curls were free and in wild disarray. It made him want to sink his fingers in her hair and cover her mouth with his own.

  He’d just swung his feet off the couch and had begun to prowl towards her when her phone beeped. And then his.

  “I got it!” She whispered and then did a happy dance that he found cute, especially since it meant she shook that delectable ass. His phone beeped again Cam checked the screen and smiled at the text he’d received.

  “I’m supposed to get you dressed and take you to a celebratory dinner.”

  “Is that Alexa?”

  “Yeah”

  “She always maneuvers everyone to where she wants them.”

  Cam looked up from his screen. “That doesn’t bother you?”

  “It should, shouldn’t it? Mica’s gaze grew distant. “But, she doesn’t treat me like a kid. So no.”

  Cam gave in to his need to kiss her. She was warm soft woman in his arms and if he kept her there, they wouldn’t make it to dinner. Not with her breast pillowed against his chest or the full globes of her ass he currently cupped in his hands.

  “We could skip dinner.”

  Cam threw his head back and stared at the ceiling as he willed himself to let go of the woman who was kissing his neck.

  “No. Go, get dressed.”

  “Fine.” She had a twinkle in her eye that warned him whatever she chose to wear tonight he was going to be in for it.

  Cam grabbed his overnight bag, changed shirts, and sat down to wait for Mica. Mica took his breath awaywhen she emerged twenty minutes later. She’d done something with her curls to make them behave sort of and she was in the same outfit she’d worn for their first dinner date. That line of skin between the valley of her breast still drove him crazy.

  “Ready?”

  “Ready. Where are we going?”

  “It’s a surprise. But I wanted to let you know your family will be there.

  He closed the door behind them and waited until she locked it.

  “Things have been getting better and I think we’re all learning how to deal with each other.”

  “So you’re ok with it?” he asked as she pressed the button to call the elevator.

  “Yes. I’m happy.” She sashayed into the elevator ahead of him.

  Cam smiled and followed. Who knew he would find love in an elevator?

  Chudney Thomas

  I was born in Brooklyn New York, raised on the island of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and live in sunny Central Florida. According to my father, I learned to read at three and wouldn’t allow him to skip a page of a story. I grew up raiding my mother’s stash of books and my Aunt Patsy’s extensive library. Books transported me to different worlds, and encouraged me to learn about different cultures, continents, expanding my horizons.

  For more information, please visit my website: http://www.chudneythomas.com . You can also find me on twitter @CDeFthom or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ChudneyThomas. I can also be found on Pinterest at http://www.pinterest.com/cdefthom.

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