Bittersweet (Redemption Book 3)

by Jessica Prince

  “But . . . you said you were never going to use that money, baby. You said it was tainted. Blood money.”

  “You told me we weren’t going to let my parents affect our lives anymore. This is part of that. I want my son and my woman to have absolutely everything they could ever want, and with that money, I can make that happen. It’s only tainted if I let it be, and I’m done letting them sour my outlook on everything. Besides, anything you take out, I’ll just replace when I rake Whitman’s ass over the coals and take everything he has to pay back what he took.”

  “Out of curiosity, just how much did Whitman take?”

  “Well, I told you I put five hundred grand in when I opened it, then fifty grand a month for the past five years.”

  My mouth fell open in shock as I tried doing the math in my head. I sucked in a startled gasp when I finally reached the number, using my hand on his chest to shove him backward and shoot up. “Three and a half million?” I shrieked. “You gave me and Brant three and a half million?”

  “Technically, the old man stole three and a half million. But I’ll get it back, sunshine. And I’m gonna enjoy the hell out of it when I do. And like I told you, even with that gone, I’ve still got more than enough left.”

  “Holy shit,” I breathed in wonder. “Holy. Shit. My man’s a millionaire.”

  He grabbed my hips on a chuckle and pulled me over so I was straddling his waist. “I thought you didn’t care about shit like money. I thought you loved me for me.”

  “Well of course, but I love you a whole hell of a lot more now that I know you’re loaded,” I said drolly.

  At my joke, he dug his fingers into my ribs and began tickling me until I was thrashing around and out of breath from screaming and laughing. I gave in when he flipped me to my back and pinned me beneath him. “Okay, okay! I love you for you! You could be a penniless bum on the side of the road, and I’d still love you.”

  “Good to know,” he said, looking down at me with a smile that warmed me from the inside out. With the moonlight filtering through the bedroom windows I was able to see his face melt into a tender expression and his eyes gleam with happiness that I felt down to my very soul. “God, sunshine. So fucking happy to have you back.”

  “Me too, Jens,” I whispered, my voice jagged with emotion.

  “Think it’s possible for you to get next weekend off so me and the boys can move you and Brant into your new home?”

  If this had been a month ago, or hell, even a week ago, I would have balked at the idea of losing out on weekend tips, knowing I wouldn’t be able to make it without that money. But everything was different now. I wasn’t in this alone anymore. Jensen was back, but it wasn’t only that. It was everyone I had in my life. It was Caroline and Scooter, Stone, Farah and Cannon, Jase and Poppy, Wynn, and all the other people in this town who I loved and who loved me back. If I stumbled or fell, I had an entire support system at my back to help me up and dust me off.

  “I think that can be arranged.

  “All right, baby. Then it’s settled.”

  With that done, we snuggled back together, and I fell asleep in the arms of the man I loved, exactly where I was supposed to be.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Shane

  “Baby, you gotta relax,” Jensen said for the third time in the span of the short car ride from my house to Aunt Caro and Uncle Scooters. “Everything’s gonna be fine, you’ll see.”

  I appreciated his positivity, but I wasn’t feeling it. I still had my doubts. I let out a noncommittal grunt, making him laugh as he reached across the bench seat of his old truck and placed his palm on my thigh, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

  “Told you already, I talked to him and it’s all good. You’ve got nothing to worry about, sunshine.”

  “Maybe,” I grumbled to the windshield, still unable to fully relent. “I guess we’ll see.”

  The truth was, I was actually really nervous. Caroline and Scooter were hosting a barbecue for the whole family at their place, something they’d done frequently over the years. It was nothing new for any of us. Hell, even Jensen had been a part of several of them back in the day. But this was the first time I’d be seeing my brother since our fight, and I was worried as hell what his reaction would be when he saw me and Brantley with Jensen in tow.

  Their cozy yellow house came into view, and Jensen turned the wheel, guiding his truck up the driveway with an ease that made it seem like he hadn’t been gone from this part of our lives for years. It was almost as if the comfort he used to feel when he was here never left. Like he was coming home again. I loved seeing him like that.

  “You think Uncle Scoot’ll make s’mores again?” Brantley asked, bouncing in his booster in the back seat. He’d been on a s’mores kick ever since his last sleepover with my aunt and uncle. It was to the point he was asking for the marshmallow-y treat for every damn meal.

  Turning to look into the back of the cab, I gave my boy a smile and stated, “I think that’s probably a safe bet.” Even if it wasn’t on the menu, as soon as Scoot found out Brantley wanted them, he’d put his ass on his bike and head for the nearest store to get everything he needed. To say my son was spoiled by the closest thing he had to grandparents was putting it mildly.

  “Look Mommy!” he shouted, already distracted from the topic of s’mores as he pointed out the window. “Uncle Stone’s here!”

  Sure enough, my big brother—and another of my son’s favorite people—was standing on the wrap-around porch as we pulled up, his tatted arms cross over his chest, shoulder leaning casually against one of the posts.

  “Calm,” Jensen said under his breath as his hand on my thigh squeezed. He put the truck in park, and I immediately climbed out and moved to the back passenger door, knowing I had exactly two point five seconds to get my kid out of his booster before he started to lose it. Sure enough, as soon as I got him unbuckled, he hurdled past me and ran to the porch.

  I turned and watched silently as Stone crouched, caught Brantley mid-jump. He tossed my boy in the air, catching him with ease before bringing him back down and propping him on his hip. “Hey, monster. How you been?”

  “Good! Uncle Scoot got s’mores?”

  My brother’s white teeth flashed with a grin beneath the layer of scruff that coated his jaw. “Not sure. Why don’t you go check it out, yeah?”

  At Brantley’s squirming, Stone placed him back on his feet so he could take off, rounding the side of the house toward the back where my aunt and uncle were probably already set up.

  Without my kid as a distraction, Stone’s attention finally turned to me. There was no missing the contrition that flashed in his eyes as I stood immobile at the side of the truck. I was trying my best to move on from my abandonment issues and the resentment they caused, but I was still a work in progress, so there was still a part of me that had trouble trusting everything was going to be great from here on out. Like my aunt had pointed out the week before, I was struggling with waiting for that other shoe to drop, but I was getting better.

  “Come on, baby,” Jensen coaxed when he reached my side. His palm hit the small of my back so he could guide me forward.

  I kept my focus pinned on Stone as we got closer, watching closely for his reaction to seeing me pressed up against Jensen.

  To my hesitantly delighted surprise, I could see there was no malice in his eyes when he looked to my man, acknowledging his presence with a jerk of his chin. Jensen returned the man version of a greeting with a muttered, “Stone.”

  He looked back to me with a small grin tugging at his lips. “Hey, squirt. Think we can talk for a second?”

  Before I could answer, Jensen leaned in, pressing a kiss to my temple and murmuring, “See you back there.” Then he followed in the direction Brantley had gone, leaving me and Stone alone.

  “Wanna sit?” my brother asked, waving his thick arm to the porch steps. I moved that way, taking a seat on the top step and waited while he lowered himself down beside me. �
�Shaney, sweetheart—” he started at the same time I said, “Stone, I—”

  We both smiled, and if felt like the tension between us had just been broken. “Sorry,” I giggled, bumping his shoulder with mine. “You go first.”

  “I’m sorry,” he started. “And not just for how I acted about you and Jensen, but for everything. I haven’t been a very good brother to you, but there hasn’t been a single day in my life where I haven’t thought about you. You’re one of the most important people in my life, squirt. I love you more than you can imagine and I hate that I ever made you feel differently.”

  I sniffled to fight back the burn that hit my eyes. “I know you love me,” I said softly, looking over at him into the same amber eyes I had. “I never doubted that. And I love you too. You’re my big bro. I’ve just missed you like crazy.”

  “I’ve missed you like crazy, too, darlin’. Even if I didn’t show you. You’ve always been on my mind. I just want you to be happy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

  “I am happy,” I told him with a genuine smile. “I’m really happy, Stone. I know you were worried, but you don’t have to be. No matter what happens, I’m gonna be okay.”

  One corner of his mouth crooked up as I nuzzled into his side, forcing him to lift his arm and wrap it around my shoulders. “I know you will, squirt. ’Cause you’re the toughest chick I know.”

  “Thanks.” I laid my head on his shoulder and let out a sigh. “So, now that we’re good, does that mean you’ll be heading back to Cali?” I tried to keep my tone light and airy, but there was no hiding the dejection in my voice at the thought of him leaving.

  “I could,” he said, his arm giving me a squeeze. “Or . . . I could stay.”

  My head shot up, my eyes big and full of hope. “Really? For, like . . . a couple more weeks?”

  “Or, I was thinking maybe for good.”

  I shot up straight. “Seriously?”

  “Yeah, seriously.” He grabbed hold of me and pulled me against him once more.

  “Stone, I love having you here, and it would make me so happy if you’d stay for good, but I don’t want you giving up your life like that. You and me, we’re good, sweetie, and we’ll stay good even if you go back.”

  “I know that,” he said in his low, raspy tone. “But Brant’s growin’, and I’ve already missed a big chunk of that. You’re gonna start settlin’ down. Life here is movin’ and I feel like I’m missing everything that matters. I left back then because it was what I felt I needed. I needed to see what was out there, experience life on my own terms. But now it’s time for me to come home.”

  “Well, it would be nice for you to actually settle down somewhere. You know, you aren’t getting any younger, old man,” I teased. It was something I loved throwing in his face, the fact he was so much older than me. Stone’s dad had knocked up our mom by accident before he bailed on her. Stone was twelve when my dad came into the picture and only months from fourteen when I was born. Even before our mom took off, she’d shoved the responsibility of taking care of me off on him, so it had been Stone who’d practically raised me.

  “Thirty-eight’s not old,” he grumbled.

  “Yeah, but you’re only thirty-eight for another month or so, and thirty-nine is old.”

  “Asshole,” he grunted with a gravelly chuckle.

  I giggled along with him and rested my head back on his shoulder while we lapsed into silence. I broke it several seconds later. “Stone?”

  “Yeah, squirt?”

  “Thrilled to have you back for good, big bro. More than you can imagine.”

  He twisted his neck and leaned in to press a kiss to the top of my head. “Thrilled to be back for good, sweetheart.”

  And just like that, me and my big brother were good again.

  “Fuck, yes. Jensen, baby,” I moaned as I dug my head back into the mound of pillows. Reaching down, I fisted his hair, grinding myself against his face as he shifted between fucking me with his tongue and sucking on my clit. I could feel it building inside me, but I wanted to hold off, to make this last as long as possible.

  After my come-to-Jesus with Stone, the rest of the afternoon with my family had been a blast. Brantley had run himself ragged and was already asleep before we pulled the truck into the garage. Now he was crashed out in his room at Jensen’s—soon to be our—house.

  A day in the sun with good food, cold beer, and great family had left me feeling loose and relaxed. I’d been feeling pretty tired myself, and had gotten ready for bed while Jensen shut down the house. That was, until he came in the bedroom, shutting the door behind him, and giving me a heated look that could only mean one thing.

  He’d stripped me naked in no time and was now feasting on my pussy like it was a five-star meal.

  “Stop fighting it,” he rumbled against my sensitive folds.

  “Wanna come with you inside me, honey,” I panted.

  He lifted his head and hit me with that devilish smirk that made me shiver. “Oh, you will, baby. But you’re also gonna come on my face first.” With that order, he buried his face back between my thighs, licking and sucking until I exploded.

  I was still in the middle of an intense orgasm when he shot up and drove his cock home.

  “Jesus, fuck,” he grunted, pulling out and slamming back in as another wave of ecstasy crashed over me. “So goddamn tight. So perfect.”

  I braced on hand on the headboard as he fucked me and used the other grab his hair and force his lips down to mine for a brutal kiss. The thrust of our tongues matched the thrust of his cock, and I could’ve sworn I saw stars.

  “Baby,” I whimpered, feeling my walls clamp down tight around him.

  “Feel so fuckin’ good,” he growled against my mouth. One of his arms came down and cradled me behind my left knee, forcing my leg back and open even wider so he could get ever deeper. “Christ, I love you, sunshine.”

  Raking my fingers through his hair, I lifted my hips to meet his and smiled up at him. “Love you too, Jens.”

  His eyes grew dark and stormy as he stared down at me with an intensity that was almost too much to bear. “You’re mine, Shane. Always.”

  “Always, honey,” I whispered back.

  “Can’t live without you.”

  Reaching up, I brushed the sweat-damp locks from his forehead. “You don’t have to. I’m right here.”

  He pulled out almost all the way and punched back in hard, making me cry out as the pressure deep in my core began to build to an almost blinding level. “Marry me, sunshine.”

  My lips dropped open and my eyes went wide. “W-what?”

  “Marry me,” he grunted. “Say you’ll be my wife.” Before I could fully comprehend what he’d just said, he snaked a hand between our bodies and pressed down on my clit. I went off like a rocket. “Oh, God. Yes!” I cried as I came long and hard, crying out as my release dragged me under.

  Jensen followed me over a second later, burying his face in my neck and emptying himself inside me on a long raspy groan. We held each other close as we came down, our breathing slowly going from erratic to calm.

  “Was that a yes, you’ll marry me?” he asked into my hair minutes later.

  “I . . .” I had no idea how to answer that.

  Sensing my confusion, he lifted his head and stared down at me, those gorgeous gray eyes shining with a light I’d never seen before. “You and Brant are already movin’ in here tomorrow. Engagement and marriage are the next logical steps.”

  He was right . . . sort of. With the help of his friends, Laeth and Gage, as well as Stone and Scooter, they were packing up my tiny house tomorrow and moving me and my boy under this roof for good. But still . . .

  “That’s true,” I said gently, “But usually, the next logical step doesn’t come right on the tail end of the first one.”

  “I’m never leaving you again, sunshine. There isn’t anything in this world that could take me away from you and Brant, if that’s what you’re afraid of. Knew you were
the one since I was eighteen years old, and if you’ll let me, I’ll spend the rest of our lives making you the happiest you’ve ever been. We lost five years. I don’t want to lose any more time with you. I want you and Brantley with me always. I want you to have my ring and my name. I want to have more babies with you.

  “My life’s been on pause since the day I walked away from you. I’m ready to start living again.”

  My heart swelled so big I wasn’t sure there was enough room in my chest to contain it. A warmth bloomed right in the center and spread out through my whole body. When he put it like that, who was I to deny him—or myself for that matter?

  “I love you, Jensen,” I breathed. He didn’t say a word, almost like he was waiting for me to add a ‘but’ at the end of that. “So that was a yes, I’ll marry you.”

  His whole body locked tight, and for a second I could have sworn he’d stopped breathing. “You will?”

  “I will,” I giggled. “But I want a big ring. I’m talking big. Like, the size of—” My words ended on a squeal when he shot up, bringing me with him so I was straddling his thighs as he sat back on his haunches, his length growing long and hard inside me.

  “Need to fuck you again,” he said on a growl. “Spend the night burying myself so deep beneath your skin, you’ll never get me out. Then tomorrow, after you’re all moved in, I’ll get you a ring so goddamn big you won’t be able to hold your hand up.”

  “Well, it doesn’t need to be that big,” I started to tease, only to have my sentence end on a breathy moan when he shifted his hips and rubbed something deep inside me. “But we can talk about that later. Right now you need to get to work burying yourself beneath my skin.”

  He gave me that cocky smirk. “Challenge accepted, sunshine.”

  Then he proceeded to do just that.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven