During a break when everyone scattered for a bathroom run, they were chatting away, gathering more snacks and drinks before starting the next series of episodes.
“Oh, my God,” Tori suddenly shrieked. “Did I tell you? Oh shit, no! I think I forgot. Damn baby brain. Ugh!” she growled with a fierce shake of her head.
Lacey shoved a bowl of tiny meringues into Tori’s hands and patted her on the head like a two-year-old. “That’s okay, honey. You had so little to begin with in the brains department and well, with the baby—I guess there wasn’t enough to go around for both of you.”
They all cracked up laughing.
“Eat shit, Mrs. Cameron,” Tori giggled.
Meghan brought the conversation back into focus. “What didn’t you tell us?” she encouraged.
“Parker told me that…” Tori started but stopped when Meghan abruptly interrupted.
“When did you see Parker?” she demanded to know. When Tori arched an eyebrow at her, she winced.
“Sorry. Knee jerk reaction. Parker’s been haunting in the shadows lately about something and I, well…I got Alex to take care of it. Guess I was just feeling defensive at hearing his name.”
Tori snickered. “Got Dad to take care of it, did you?” The innuendo in her voice was spot-on and everyone knew it.
“Shut up,” Meghan chuckled with an embarrassed flush creeping up her neck.
“What got your panties so in a twist that you had to, uh…well, you know.”
She sighed, mugged a frown, and then sighed again. “Alex is insisting on a prenup.”
The room exploded with outrage, indignation, and more snarls and growls than the lion’s den at the zoo.
“What the fuck is wrong with him? Why—I’ll change all his passwords…” Tori was yelling.
“Please tell me you’re joking,” Lacey was barking. She’d never seen her look so mad.
A clearly disapproving Stephanie was hissing, “That makes about as much sense as putting tits on a pillow.”
She held up her hands to silence their combined indignation. Wait. What? Tits on a pillow? What in the hell did that mean?
“Hush, ladies. The Major retains his spot on the pedestal you’ve all got him on. The man has a damn Ph.D. in Honor and Integrity. Hmmm. Maybe I should start calling him Doctor. Anyway—forget what I said. It came out wrong. Yes, he wants a prenup, but not to protect what’s his. It’s all about protecting me. That damn lottery money again. I told him to go shit in his hat—hence the getting him to tell Parker to stand down. Now that I’ve cleared that up, circle back to Parker and something he told you, Tori?”
“Oh shit, right. Parker. Yeah, so anyway he told me that Whiskey Pete’s is starting a karaoke night. Got some fancy system. I thought we should go. The three of us. But you can come, too, Mom! We could call ourselves Ass, Boots, and Sass.”
“What?” The booming laugh that burst out of Lacey was funnier than her reaction.
“Yeah! Come on,” Tori exclaimed. “Think about it. Meghan is the Boots. You’d be the Ass of course, Lacey, and I’m the Sass.” She turned wide brown eyes on her and added, “Parker thinks Alex liked playing with the band. He thinks that by getting him out more, he’ll be easier to convince to do it more often.”
“So, let me get this straight,” Meghan drawled while Stephanie and Lacey bent over laughing. “You want to form a ladies’ karaoke group in order to coax Alex to a shithole bar so he can suddenly be overcome by some ancient rock star fantasy where the tech genius and the former DOJ lawyer rock out with their cocks out? Do I have this right?”
“Well fuck, Irish! When you say it like that, it does sound halfway to insane,” Tori cried.
“Are you kidding?” she shrieked with laughter. “I fucking love it! Oh, my God,” Meghan screamed. “The possibilities are endless.”
As they had themselves a good belly laugh amidst a round of tasteless jokes ripe with naughty humor, Betty suddenly appeared in the room. Meghan shot to her feet and ran to the woman who operated as both Chief Bean Counter and Crazy Grandmother to the unusual Justice Family.
“What’s up, Boop?” Meghan asked in a hushed voice. Ever since the first time they’d been introduced, Meghan had called the older woman Boop. Not only was her name Betty, but she had the black hair, big eyes, and red lips of the beloved cartoon character.
In a satirical voice, her sudden visitor flatly droned, “The eagle has landed. The package has been delivered. The chicken has crossed the road. The chipmunk…”
“I think I got it,” Meghan teased. “So, uh…now that the barrel has, um…rolled, are we good? You ladies are on this, right?”
The response? A two finger fake salute and a pithy, “Aye, aye, Captain.”
SOMETIME IN THE AFTERNOON, AFTER they’d had lunch and after they’d passed Dylan around before Lacey settled in to nurse him, Calder knocked on the wall outside the family room.
“Hey ladies,” he called out with a big grin. “This where the party is?”
Meghan had to smile. Alex was so much like his uncle, but they were totally different at the same time. They were like Yin and Yang. Where one left off the other stepped in. Like a completion.
She was very glad he’d come to the Villa. Being accepted and welcomed by Alex’s family was important to her. It was only fair once she fully understood the gauntlet her parents and brothers had made her man run through before they consented to his request that he had her family’s blessing on their marriage.
“Calder. Let me ask you something,” she began as she used her hand to shush the other women.
“Sure thing, Meghan. Want to know the pin number for the black Amex card? he joked.
“Have my own, thanks,” she sniped to the sound of applause and catcalls from the ladies.
He shook his head and stared her down with a wicked grin. “My nephew got what he fucking deserved with you.”
“I know! Right?” she giggled.
“Alright, almost Mrs. Marquez. What’s on your mind, Red? Since I’m guessing by your laughter that it’s something that’ll annoy the shit out of my nephew, I’m all ears.”
“You’d know all about Alex’s, uh, musical talents. His friend Parker wants him to play a couple of times a year with a honky-tonk cover band he’s got going on.”
“Yeah, I know old Parker,” Calder chuckled. “Alex was a year behind him in school. They were like Frick and Frack. Parker paved the way and then Alex enjoyed the spoils. They did college together, too. He’s got tons of history with the whole family. The Sullivan and the Marquez families go way back. Parker’s folks vacation in Spain every year.”
Meghan filed all that info away for future consideration. Back to the moment at hand, though. “Alex enjoyed himself last time they played. It was a bitch on him physically, but that was mostly because he was out of practice. What do you think, Calder? Is Parker full of shit or do you think Alex would get a kick out of sitting in with the band from time to time?”
Her soon-to-be uncle-in-law arched his eyebrows and whistled. “Wow, lady. You’re going for the gusto right from the start, aren’t you?”
“All work, no play…”
He snickered. So did the ladies. “Oh, I’m sure Alex gets in plenty of play time.”
She turned a mock furious eye on the sniggering women. “Really, girls? I’m trying to work an angle here, and you’re encouraging him? Thanks a lot!”
Fixing Calder with a cool look, she crossed her arms in front; an action that she knew threw the girls into full glory—something all too apparent in the low-cut slinky top she had on. It was her go-to boobalicious maneuver.
She saw him glance at Stephanie and almost broke apart laughing. Ah, so the beauty queen was fueling his fire. Thank God.
“Calder,” she demanded. “The band? Alex?
“He’ll bitch like a whiney teenager with period cramps and make you dance to whatever heavy-handed tune he can concoct. If you think that’s manageable, have at it, Red.”
She snorted a hearty laugh at Calder’s response. “No worries then. I can handle old Thunder Cock, believe me.”
“Oh, Jesus Christ,” he groaned. Covering his ears he made like he was about to throw up. “I’m going to forget I ever heard that.”
“Too much information, Irish,” Tori hooted with thigh-slapping giggles. “Thunder Cock! Holy shit that’s funny!”
Lacey, God bless her simple little heart, looked confused. “Wait a minute. I though Parker said Alex’s band name was Thunder Foot. ‘Cause he plays the drums and all.”
“Really?” Calder groaned with a heavy shake of his head. “How the hell did anyone this innocent end up with you lot?”
Suddenly, Lacey was blushing furiously and biting back a giggle. “Oh,” she deadpanned. “I get it now.”
“Now that you wicked ladies have totally corrupted poor Mrs. Cameron, I need to have a word with Stephanie. Can I borrow her for a moment?”
“Please do,” Meghan purred. Stephanie, for her part, looked like she’d just been called to the principal’s office.
“I’ll be right back, shugah,” she assured Victoria as she stood up. “Just be a minute.”
As Calder and Stephanie left the family room, Tori looked at Meghan and Lacey. “What do you think that’s about?”
CALDER WALKED STEPHANIE AWAY FROM the giggles coming from the family room, his hand resting low on her back. Guiding her through his touch, he maneuvered them into Alex’s study and shut the door.
The second they were alone, she was in his arms. Kissing Stephanie Bennett was like bungee jumping. There was the thrill of anticipation, the sensory imprint from previous kissing encounters, and then there was the woman herself. When their lips touched, he felt like he’d jumped from a high ledge. The adrenaline kick was massive—so was the feeling of flying without a net.
He liked the way her hands went straight into his hair and held on tight. And the way her soft breasts felt crushed to his chest. She smelled like a woman should, too. And how she tasted? Oh, holy God. He was hungry for her—insatiably so. And until she stumbled into his life and showed him what he’d been missing, he hadn’t known he’d been starving.
It took quite a while for them to ease off. Calder would have gladly remained as he was for the rest of the day, clutching her sweet body to his while he devoured her mouth. Until this point, that was all they’d done. Kiss like horny kids on a Friday night. He didn’t believe in rushing things. There was so much to savor at the start of a relationship. While other men might be focused on getting naked in the short run, he was half a mile down the road, mapping out a longer-term strategy.
“Hi,” he murmured when their lips drew apart.
“Hi, yourself,” she answered back.
“You look beautiful,” Calder told her.
“I bet you say that to all the girls.”
He laughed. She was quite a handful, this one. Taking her by the hand, he led her to the wet bar and poured a small glass of soda, remembering to drop a small lemon wedge in before handing it to her.
“Alex sent me to check on you ladies. He’s tied up with business at the moment.” Both things were true but what he didn’t and couldn’t tell her was what sort of business his nephew was engaged in. Now that he’d been let in on the secret, he had to hand it to Alex and his devoted gaggle of women. Carmen, Ria, and Betty were really outdoing themselves this time.
“My baby girl is exhausted, and I don’t think she’s feeling well at the moment. Do you know where Draegyn’s gone off to?”
This was exactly why Alex had sent him, instead of coming himself. Cam had dragged Drae into town on some pretext so he’d be clear from the compound for a while. He’d have to come up with a plausible story for Drae’s unusual absence.
“There was a problem with some gear that got fucked up during shipping. Guess it was a big deal because Cam loaded it into the truck and went to the trucking office in town to make arrangements for replacement stuff. Drae had to go with him.”
“Oh,” she whispered. He could see by the emotions running across her face that she was trying to make a plan.
“I’ll take you guys home, okay? And I think Raven should stay with Brody tonight if Tori’s having a tough day. Let me go see what Ria has on hand that we can use for dinner, and if you’re okay with me hanging around until Draegyn returns, I can lend you a hand. Keep Tori busy.”
“Thank you. I’d like that. It’s been a long day for her, you know?”
Calder smiled and ran a finger down her cheek. It was a simple gesture, but her eyes got smoky and dark. She liked when he touched her. Good. There was more where that came from.
“Why don’t you go say your good-byes and get your stuff together? I’ll grab one of the cars so Tori can recline on the way. I think a cart ride might be a bit much if she’s uncomfortable.”
“Calder, why are you being so nice?”
Her caution light was blinking. He probably deserved it, too. However, they were onto something, and he wasn’t going to let the opportunity pass without giving an honest effort.
Joining her on the other side of the bar, he put his hands on her waist and pulled her against him. Taken by surprise, she gasped and put her hands on his chest to counterbalance his insisting grip.
“Because I want to sleep with you, of course,” he declared proudly.
When she jerked as if she’d been slapped, he shook his head at her and frowned.
“That’s what you expected me to say, or at least be thinking,” he chided her gently. Shaking her slightly where he still held her waist, Calder made a disapproving grunt.
“Face it, Cowgirl. You have a chip on your shoulder…” he shook his head to silence her when she started to comment. “All the barrel riding belt buckles in the West can’t change the fact that you’re one seriously beautiful woman.”
He smirked at the death glare she tried out on him. She might want to pretend that her husband had been the source of Victoria’s feisty character, but from where he was standing, it sure did look like Mama got there first.
“We’re starting over, remember? Don’t lump me in with the other guys who only see the window dressing, Stephanie. I mean, fuck—it’s not my fault you’re gorgeous. In case you still haven’t grasped my meaning, I’ll even spell it out for you.”
She looked surprised at his directness. Boy, was she in for a shock because direct was all he knew how to do with her. This wasn’t a fucking game. Or a dress rehearsal. Or the second act of a play. He was fifty-two, and for the first time in his life, he was pre-occupied with a woman. Far from stupid and enlightened enough to listen when the universe whispered, Calder knew in his gut that this thing between them was a game-changer.
“I’m initiating a slow down plan. We’re not rushing into anything because I’m not interested in just scratching an itch. You’ve beguiled me in some way, m’lady, and I think that feeling is kinda mutual. Am I right?” he asked softly as he searched her face.
Yeah. Fucking starbursts lit up his brain when she bit her lip, looked away, and nodded her head. He’d been working in his mind on the word to describe what he felt. When beguiled hit him broadside—he knew that was the one, bringing to mind a whole slew of others like charm, enchant, bewitch, enthrall, captivate.
“Look at me,” he murmured with a finger under her chin. She tilted her head just so and peered up at him from beneath lowered lashes. He loved that when it counted, she was letting him see the shy, confused, uncertain soul behind the powerhouse female.
“Lady, you don’t need to wonder why I’m being nice. This is me. This is who I am. I’m in your life now just like you’re in mine.” He paused because he wasn’t sure if he should blurt out what he’d been about to say. But if he parsed what was an honest reaction, he’d be playing a part and not giving back to her what she was sharing with him—who he really was. Behind the mask.
“Stephanie,” he grumbled. “I really hope I can say this without you over-reacting but…well, here it
is. You can rely on me. I’m there for you in every way. To lean on. Listen. Comfort. Whatever. I, uh, want to take care of you. Whatever that means.”
There. He’d said it. He wasn’t fooling himself. Or her. Calder was one of those, “I am the man” types. His respect for women was a given. But when it came right down to it, to be involved with him in an emotionally intimate way meant understanding that respecting women aside, he was the dominant male. Period.
For a brief second, he saw the one eyebrow arched smirk that women used to deflect a man’s arrogance, but then it vanished. She blinked and stared at him. His hands were still holding her body against his while her hands remained on his chest. Shit. He could practically hear the gears grinding in her head.
And then she gave in. Melted just a little, her body softening in his hold. Instead of pushing on his chest to maintain some semblance of physical distance, she relaxed and fiddled with the buttons on his shirt. Oh. My. Fucking. God. She was going to let him in.
“Thank you.”
Well, two words weren’t much, he thought, but they were pretty much the best two words she could have shared at that moment.
“Um, it’s hard,” she muttered. “I mean, I’m so…”
Calder brought his hands up slowly from her waist, joining them as they pressed against her back, pushing her torso closer to his. She was holding her breath.
Then, the dam broke and she trembled in his arms. “Oh, I’m just so worried about Victoria, and I’m really panicked that I’m going about everything all wrong. I hate doing this alone,” she whimpered.
It took a strong woman to share an emotional vulnerability. He was going to see to it that she never regretted letting him in.
“You lean on me, m’lady. Whatever you want, whatever it takes. You’re an amazing mother, Stephanie. Victoria is a truly wonderful and unique woman. She adores you—and…you’re not alone. Understand?”
Always (Family Justice Book 1) Page 30