Checking It Twice

by Jodi Redford

  Leaving her to partake of the savory appetizers, he filled the stockpot with water for the pasta. Soon enough he discovered that the act of cooking for Jana and Kev brought him as much pleasure as their sexual adventures did. It felt like they were a family. It felt…right. So very, very right.

  Humming some vague Christmas tune that was a mixed-up jumble of “Sleigh Bells” and “Winter Wonderland”, he drained the pasta and sauced it before calling Jana and Kev to the stove so they could dish up their plates. A few moments later he joined them at the table. He unfolded his napkin and glanced at his meal before looking at the two people who’d become his extended family. Kev had held that position for quite some time, but Jana was a wonderful addition. One he sure as hell hadn’t been counting on. In a million years, he would never have guessed how important she would become to him.

  “I’m staying,” he blurted, the words falling free before his brain fully processed them.

  Kev stopped with fork midway to his mouth. “Good idea. It’s a long drive back to the Townsend tonight. Especially with the roads getting icy.”

  “No, I mean I’m staying. For good. I’m not returning to Chicago.” Well, technically he’d have to in order to vacate his apartment and finalize a few other things, but after that, he was damn well rushing back here and building a happy life. Hopefully with Jana and Kev.

  Kev frowned and lowered his fork to his plate. Across from him, Jana’s eyes widened in sync with her smile. Suddenly she bolted from her chair and flung herself at Nick, her hug nearly suffocating him. She peppered him with kisses, her damp, tear-stained cheeks rubbing along his.

  Laughing, he scooted her onto his lap and stroked her hair before tucking a wayward strand behind her ear. “I take it you’re okay with my decision?”

  “Of course I’m okay, you blockhead.” The happy, misty-eyed look she bestowed on him made her pronouncement the sweetest he’d ever heard.

  He glanced in Kev’s direction and found his best friend eyeing him skeptically. “You’ve decided to give up everything in Chicago and move here? Just like that?”

  “All I have in Chicago is an apartment. My happiness isn’t there.” He divided his attention between Kev and Jana. “It’s here. I’ve been alone and miserable for too damn long. I’m sick of it.”

  A shuttered expression descended over Kev’s face, heightening the stubborn lines bracketing his mouth. Nick expected him to say something. To point out that Vegas was a long way from Michigan. Instead, Kev picked up his fork and began eating again, apparently taking his frustration out on the ravioli.

  He remained quiet throughout the rest of dinner, allowing Nick and Jana to do most of the talking. Nick knew Kev was pissed at him and probably thought his decision to move to Michigan was a ploy to guilt trip Kev into staying. While he sure as shit wanted Kev to keep his ass here, it hadn’t been his ulterior motive. What he’d said about Chicago holding nothing for him had been the God’s honest truth. He could run his business anywhere, and where he wanted to be was with Jana. And Kev.

  He just prayed like hell that Kev woke up soon and saw that this was damn well where he belonged too.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Christmases in the Colton household always tended to be loud, outrageous affairs. Now that the Coltons had expanded into being the Colton-Hollister-Maguire clan, holiday get-togethers were even more boisterous. After introducing Nick to the whole gang, Jana directed him and Kevin on the ideal placement for the mountain of gifts they’d helped her lug inside Bram, Lacey and Ry’s crowded bungalow.

  While the guys situated the presents under the enormous spruce, Bram crooked his arm around her shoulder and shook his head with a tsking noise. “So now you’ve weaseled two slaves into your evil clutches. Poor unsuspecting bastards.”

  She elbowed her brother in the ribs. “It’s freakin’ Christmas. You’re supposed to be nice to me, idjit.”

  “I’m saving it up for New Year’s.” Grinning, Bram bussed her on the cheek.

  Jana scanned the jam-packed room. “Where are Ma, Pops and Grams? Everyone knows I’m supposed to be the last one to arrive.”

  “Ma called ten minutes ago to say they’re still waiting on the apple pecan caramel pie.”

  Her stomach rumbled at the mention of her Grams’ world-famous calorie-laden dessert. “They’re forgiven.”

  Lacey approached and offered to take everyone’s coats while Bram went to fetch some beers being kept chilled on the deck. As Lacey accepted Nick’s jacket, she flashed him a welcoming smile and extended her hand. “Hi again. Sorry I didn’t have a chance to properly introduce myself the other day. I’m Lacey.”

  Nick caught Jana’s frown. “I stopped by the Dockside a few days ago looking for Kev.”

  Lacey’s gaze turned speculative as she swept their trio appraisingly. One corner of her mouth hitching upward, she settled her focus on Jana. “Want to give me a hand in the kitchen?” Not waiting for a response, Lacey snagged Jana by the elbow and herded her across the room. Once the kitchen door snicked shut behind them, Lacey gave Jana the stink eye. “Now it’s all clear.”

  “What?”

  “Your line of questioning about how to deal with being in love with two men.”

  There was no point in evading the topic, particularly since Lacey’s shrewd expression made it all too obvious that the gig was up. Jana exhaled softly. “So, any advice for me?”

  “How serious have things gotten between you all?”

  “I’m sleeping with them both.”

  Lacey nodded. “The vibe coming off the three of you was pretty much a dead giveaway.” Grinning, she held a hand to her forehead and sighed melodramatically. “I remember the good ole days, when the boys could barely keep their hands off me.”

  “Oh puh-lease. Like that’s changed with you three horndogs.” She gave Lacey’s nonexistent baby bump a deliberate stare.

  Lacey coughed delicately. “Okay, we still have our moments.”

  “Mm-hmm.” Jana leaned her arm on the massive center island’s granite countertop and fidgeted with the beveled edge. “To answer part of your question, Nick’s decided to move to Michigan. That’s a good thing.”

  “And Kevin?”

  An ache cinched Jana’s heart. “He hasn’t changed his mind about Vegas.”

  Lacey wrapped Jana in a comforting hug. “I’m sorry.”

  Refusing to let the heaviness of her emotions ruin Christmas Day, Jana sucked in a shaky breath. “Enough about me. Did you ever get in to see the doctor?”

  For the next fifteen minutes or so, Jana managed to distract herself from the complications plaguing her love life by listening to Lacey excitedly babble on about first trimester fetal development, prenatal vitamins and a thousand other pregnancy issues that made Jana’s brain fuzzy and her stomach queasy. By the time her mom and grandmother bustled into the kitchen, she was more than ready to let the pair of them commiserate with Lacey about the joys of morning sickness.

  Sneaking from the kitchen, Jana escaped into the rear hallway. She gave a surprised start when she noticed Kevin standing farther down the corridor, his attention riveted to the large family portrait hanging on the wall adjacent from the master bedroom.

  She tiptoed towards him, the thick pile of the carpet masking her stealthy approach. Her dastardly plan of luring him into the bathroom for a quickie make-out session evaporated the moment she spotted the pain and sorrow etched in stark relief across his face. “Kevin?”

  He jolted at her voice. After a slight hesitation, he glanced in her direction, the dark shadows vacating from his eyes. He offered her a faint smile. “Hey.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah.” His gaze flickered past her to the end of the hall. “We should get back to the party.”

  She returned her focus to the portrait before reaching for his hand and snugging it within hers. “Holidays can be rough when you’re away from your family.”

  He looked at her for a long moment without saying anything.
It wasn’t the first time he’d clammed up when she brought up his parents. She only knew the barest minimum about his dad, and even less about his mom. “D-do you miss not having them around?”

  Rather than answer, he cupped her nape and pressed a light kiss to her temple. “We better see what Nick is up to.”

  Heart cramping at being shut out yet again, she nodded and let him lead her down the hall.

  Shortly after seven, his arms loaded with even more presents in comparison to what he’d showed up with, Kevin staggered to the open rear door of the Navigator. He watched Jana and her family engage in one last round of hugs and kisses, a deep, familiar pang of longing hollowing out his insides. Turning his head, he caught Nick’s sympathetic gaze on him. Feeling overexposed and vulnerable, Kevin stacked the presents in place and secured the door latch before striding to the front of the vehicle and sliding behind the wheel. Nick climbed into the back.

  A moment later, breathless and rosy-cheeked, Jana hopped into the passenger seat. The adoring look she bestowed on him and Nick increased the tightness in Kevin’s chest. “Thanks, both of you, for coming today. It meant the world to me.”

  Nick leaned forward and brushed his lips over hers. “I enjoyed myself immensely. Your family is awesome. And I’m not just saying that because your grandmother hit on me. Although that incredible pecan pie had me considering her offer.”

  “You’d have to arm wrestle all the old coots at her retirement community. Some of them are awfully damn spry too.” Her laugh petering off, Jana buckled her belt and peeked at Kevin. “You’ve been really quiet the past couple of hours.”

  He shifted into reverse and backed out of the snow-dusted driveway. “Just tired.”

  She nibbled her bottom lip. “I hope you had fun. I know my family can be overwhelming sometimes.”

  “Yeah, I did.” Offering her a reassuring smile, he reached across the console and squeezed her knee.

  Giving a contented sigh, she snuggled closer to the divider and stroked his hand, keeping it anchored in place for the duration of the ride home to his condo. It’d become a ritual the past few days for her and Nick to spend the night. With his emotions at an all-time low, Kevin was grateful to have their company, since the last thing he wanted to do was wallow in his loneliness.

  Soon as they were parked, Jana freed her seat belt. “Do you think the gifts will be okay in the car overnight?”

  Kevin pocketed his keys. “No, we better bring them in. Why tempt thieves?”

  “Especially Snuggie thieves,” Nick piped up. “Those are the worst.”

  “Don’t you get any ideas about my Snuggie, bub.” Jana wagged a finger at Nick. “I saw you scoping it out earlier.”

  Nick flashed a grin. “But blue is my color.”

  “Nice try.” Snorting, Jana jumped out of the vehicle.

  Working as a team, they lugged the presents into the condo and piled them in one corner of the living room. Shrugging from his jacket, Nick surveyed the goodies before glancing at Kevin. “Don’t see any point in you giving her that present now. Ms. Snuggie Hoarder’s got plenty.”

  Jana pinched Nick in the side. Ignoring his yelp, she rubbed her hands together gleefully, her eyes sparkling. “I’ve been waiting freakin’ forever for this.”

  Her giddy excitement banished the lingering phantom of Kevin’s melancholy. Chuckling, he trekked to the hall closet and snatched the large gift-wrapped box squirreled out of sight behind an old ski jacket and snow boots. He handed her the container, and she oohed and ahhed over the sparkly bow and expensive designer paper before thoroughly demolishing both as she ripped through the packaging like a tornado. She tossed the cardboard cover aside, a long, drawn-out awed breath floating from her.

  Nerves getting the better of him, he waited while she lifted the fluffy pink mohair coat from the box. When he’d spotted the garment several months ago at a boutique shop in Birmingham, he’d known right away that it was destined to be Jana’s. It was outrageous, sexy and unique—just like her. The price tag had been inconsequential. He just hoped to hell she liked it.

  Nick clamped a hand on Kevin’s shoulder. “I heartily approve. Can we consign that leather trench to a bonfire now?”

  Jana wiggled out of the garment in question and shook her finger at Nick again. “Paws off my trench. I’m keeping it for spring.” She held the mohair to her cheek and rubbed it against her skin with a blissful exhalation. “It’s so soft. Seriously, I want to walk around naked in this coat.” Her eyes widening, she dropped the wrap and kicked off her boots before popping the tab on her jeans.

  “Jana, what are you…?” Kevin’s voice trailed off as she yanked off the remainder of her clothes and tugged on the coat. She pranced around the room, earning groaning laughs from him and Nick as she performed a goofy dance and struck a pose.

  Rolling her shoulder, she let the coat’s right lapel slide open, awarding them a tantalizing flash of her nipple. Lust ricocheted through Kevin, nearly deafening him to the low growl that rumbled from Nick.

  Her mischievous giggle tightening Kevin’s balls, Jana pivoted and gave them a sultry bat of her eyelashes before flipping the garment’s hem up and mooning them.

  “You are abso-fucking-lutely looking for a spankin’, naughty girl.” Nick lunged for Jana, making her squeal and dart for the hallway. Tossing his jacket to the floor, Nick headed after her, his stride brisk and purpose-filled.

  The hunger burning within Kevin was like a living thing, spiraling and thrumming through every cell in his body. Desire and his need for Jana an unrelenting leash yanking at him, he followed the sound of Nick and Jana’s voices to his room. Jana had crawled onto his bed and was shooting Nick seductive, come-hither grins while she indulged in a languid stretch.

  A fractured memory slipped past the lock on Kevin’s tainted past. Madison, reclining on his bed, her crimson lips curved in a calculating smile and her elegant fingers teasing over her pussy. “You like to watch, don’t you, Kevvy? Don’t worry, this will be our special little secret.”

  Kevin froze in the doorway, his pulse a chaotic tattoo pounding his eardrums. Shame welled like an unforgiving beast clawing at his belly. Despite that, he couldn’t tear his entranced stare away from Jana. Even now, faced with the damning reminder of his youthful transgressions and the pervasive control his voyeurism wielded over him, his addiction to Jana outweighed all else.

  She held the power to cripple his defenses. To rip out his heart and soul and leave him with nothing. Every survival instinct he possessed screamed at him to run, to protect himself while he still had the chance. He gripped the doorframe, muscles tense. Jana glanced in his direction, and the sexy sweet smile she graced him with twisted his insides. She started to say something, but her words morphed into a giggling yelp when Nick captured her ankle and towed her to the edge of the mattress.

  Wiggling and gasping, she tried to escape as Nick rolled her onto her stomach and rucked the coat up over her waist before swatting her ass. Rather than shrieking in outrage, she moaned and raised her hips. His features set in wicked consideration, Nick massaged her reddened butt cheek before giving it another smack, earning her excited murmur.

  Kneading her flesh enticingly, Nick leaned down and nipped the side of her neck. “I think you like being spanked.”

  “Mmm. Whatever gave you that idea?” Jana waggled her butt in encouragement. Ignoring the blatant invitation, Nick straightened and divested her of the coat before pulling the belt free of the loops. Her breath quickened as he dangled the sash in front of her. “Are you going to tie me up with that?”

  “You wish.” Chuckling evilly, Nick draped the soft fabric over her eyes and knotted it behind her head. “Have you ever worn a blindfold while making love, sweetness?”

  Jana licked her lips before shaking her head.

  “It heightens the sensations.” Nick’s palms skated along the delicate slope of Jana’s spine. “Makes you acutely aware of every caress and stroke.” His mouth followed the path of
his hands. “Every nibble and bite.” Nick’s teeth grazed Jana’s ass cheek, and she arched.

  Kevin swallowed hard, his skin on fire. He fumbled with the buttons on his jacket and shrugged from its sweltering embrace. Letting the garment fall to the carpet, he stepped farther into the room, his rapt focus centered on Jana. Nick caught his eye, his expression sending sizzling sparks of anticipation racing through Kevin. He’d seen Nick in performance mode too many times not to recognize the signs. The heat enveloping Kevin intensified to furnace-blasting level as Nick began undressing, his slow, methodical motions stringing out the torment.

  Employing the same deliberate laziness he’d used while removing his clothes, Nick fished a condom from his wallet and sheathed his cock. Kneeling at the foot of the bed, he stroked the insides of Jana’s quivering thighs. “Are you wet, baby?”

  A groan shook from Jana, and she nodded. Nick spread her legs wider. “Then present that pussy to me.”

  Lust fisted in Kevin’s gut as Jana obediently lifted her hips, displaying the glistening treasure trove between her legs.

  “Beautiful.” His thumbs sliding through her liquid essence, Nick held her pussy lips open, granting Kevin a mouthwatering view while Nick licked a leisurely path toward her swollen clit. She jolted with each teasing lap of Nick’s tongue, her sensitive tissues growing wetter and wetter.

  Mouth, jaw and chin glazed with her juices, Nick settled on his knees behind her, his cock nudging her soaked slit. “Keep your ass raised. Good girl. Just like that.” Flexing his hips, he eased inside her, the slick sound of his penetration igniting Kevin’s blood. Swiveling his hips in a way that provoked a strangled gasp from Jana, Nick fucked her in shallow, gliding strokes, the angle of his thrusts designed for devastating contact with her G-spot. She panted and squirmed, fingers digging into the bedding. Nick cupped her mound, thumb coasting over her clit. “Can you feel Kev’s ravenous stare on you, baby?”

  A choppy moan tore from Jana, and she automatically turned her head in Kevin’s direction. The makeshift blindfold of her coat’s belt prevented their gazes from meeting, but the connection was there nonetheless. One of her hands released its stranglehold on the quilt and reached for him.