Puppy Love

by Gloria Herrmann

  “Yeah, rum, remember?”

  “Tiffany, I wasn’t drinking.”

  Tiffany blinked hard at him. What? He had gone and married her sober, knowing full well that she was too intoxicated to make a sound decision?

  “Wait. You’re kidding me, right?”

  He shook his head. “When I want something, I go after it. I wanted you.”

  “That doesn’t make this okay—not by a long shot, pal. This, in fact, is even far worse than I thought. How could you, Colin?”

  “How could I what? Force you to marry me? That didn’t take a lot, especially since it was your idea.”

  “There’s no way I would suggest we get married.”

  “Well, you did and I went along with it. Because, honestly, it wasn’t a bad one.” There was no hint of a smile on his face. He was dead serious. “I don’t regret a thing.”

  “So you’re saying this was all my idea?”

  He nodded in agreement. “Yes.”

  Note to self, no more rum…ever again.

  * * * *

  “Molly’s on her way over. You just sit and breathe.” Mackenzie handed her a bottle of water.

  “How could it have been my idea?” Tiffany had told Mackenzie everything, that she’d been the one to suggest they get hitched with Elvis. Mackenzie agreed maybe ‘no more rum ever again’ was a good idea. Or any adult beverages, for that matter.

  “Well, when you’re drunk you do come up with some crazy ones, so this is probably just another one of them. I can’t believe he’s actually at your place.”

  Tiffany had raced over to Mackenzie’s house. She’d needed to escape her own apartment and have some space to think. Her world had imploded when Colin had told her that he’d been sober when they’d gotten married, and she needed to sort through the remaining pieces that still made sense. Her friends. They were her solid foundation and she needed them now more than ever.

  Mackenzie was tossing a salad and wore a tired expression.

  “What’s going on with you?”

  “Nothing. I just can’t believe all this, you know? First, Molly gets hit with a fish, ends up engaged and pregnant. You come to be with me in Vegas, we blink and you’re married to a millionaire and we’re flying home on his private jet. Where does that leave me? Single and alone—and it just kind of sucks. Where’s my awesome love story?”

  “Oh, Mac, I’m sorry. Trust me. This isn’t how I wanted this to be. This is a mistake, a complete disaster.”

  “Is it? I mean, do you or do not have feelings for Colin?” Mackenzie looked at her. They both knew the answer.

  “But I don’t know him, certainly not enough to be married to him. I’d love to date him. I mean, the man is gorgeous, is he not? But to have him want to play house and have him preach about the importance of wedding vows and shit? That is not what I had in mind.”

  “He’s hot as hell. I’d be all over him. But let’s consider that this man was sober when he married you. That speaks volumes. He wanted you. He saw an opportunity and seized it. I could kill him for doing it that way, yet at the same time, I don’t blame him.”

  “Mac, it still doesn’t make it a real wedding or marriage. I don’t feel like a wife. We still haven’t slept together.”

  “Maybe you need to fix that. It might change your perspective on this whole thing.”

  Before Tiffany could respond, she heard Mackenzie’s door open.

  Molly called out, “I’m here, girls.”

  Mackenzie looked at Tiffany and smiled. “It’ll be okay. I promise.” She patted Tiffany’s jean-clad knee as she got up to greet Molly.

  Would things be okay, or was Molly going to be royally pissed? Tiffany slouched in her chair and waited for her friends to return to the table.

  “Hey, girl,” Molly said as she bent and kissed Tiffany’s cheek a few minutes later.

  Tiffany put on a brave face. She was trying to figure out exactly how to tell Molly everything, every awful detail about the terrible mistake she’d made. Tiffany inhaled deeply and pretended she had nerves of steel as Molly listened.

  Tiffany hung her head and waited as her friend digested everything she’d just said.

  “Tiff, okay. You need to try and explain this to me one more time—maybe a little slower. For some reason, I’m only hearing that you’re married.” Molly dropped her fork.

  Mackenzie sat back and watched, obviously waiting for the moment that she would need to step in and rescue her, but that time had not yet come.

  “I know. It sounds crazy, but it’s true.” Tiffany lifted her hand. The diamond twinkled under the kitchen lights.

  “Mac, weren’t you with her? I mean, this creep just fired her.”

  “He explained that whole mess. They asked for me and Jason to leave them be. I honestly thought they were going to go back to the hotel to finally get their lovin’ on.”

  “Nope, nope, nope. This is not okay.” Molly turned to Tiffany. “We can get this sorted. We can get an annulment or something. You don’t worry. I will make some calls tomorrow morning.”

  “Moll, it’s okay. Believe it or not, I was the one that made us get married.”

  “He was sober, you were drunk, so nope, I’m not buying that for a minute.” Molly drove her fork into the salad and speared a mushroom.

  “How are you feeling?” Tiffany asked cautiously. She was terrified at how strongly Molly was reacting. She watched her friend tear into the salad.

  “How do you think?” Molly glared at Tiffany and Mackenzie. “You guys go to Vegas, and I hear nothing about this mess until now. I’m just shocked that Mac didn’t get hitched, too. I mean, why not?” Molly shoved the lettuce into her mouth, chewing then swallowing. “I’m stuck here, trying to wrap my head around my own stupid wedding and this creature that is now growing inside me.”

  “I didn’t mean for this to happen.” Tiffany frowned. “I wanted the whole enchilada—the engagement party, the wedding shower, the bachelorette party, the amazing wedding. I did not want a Vegas wedding.”

  “Yeah, I get that. What about the fact that you don’t even like Colin? Can we discuss that you are now married to a man you hate?”

  “She doesn’t hate him anymore,” Mackenzie rebutted.

  “Oh, really? Because when you went to Vegas to play with that bouncer, I was sitting with her and scarfing down ice cream because this jerk fired her.”

  “He didn’t mean for it to go like that. He wanted to give her back to Patty. He actually wanted to start dating Tiffany and couldn’t do it when she was still his assistant, but she ran out before he could fully explain everything.”

  “Seriously?” Molly turned to face Tiffany. “So, let me get this straight. He wasn’t firing you?”

  Tiffany shook her head. “Apparently not. Colin didn’t want to work with me anymore because he wanted to date me. So, I guess I was getting promoted to possible girlfriend.”

  “But now you’re promoted to wife? And you’re okay with this?”

  “I don’t know what I am, to be honest.”

  Molly chewed on a carrot and looked at both of them. “You know, I didn’t tell him where you were. So, I’ll be having a little chat with Owen when I get home.”

  “Don’t be mean to that man. He was just trying to help,” Mackenzie stated.

  “Well, a lot of good that did. Now, look at things.”

  “Things will turn out fine. I don’t think this is such a bad thing, Molly,” Mackenzie argued. “You’re getting married to an amazing guy and are pregnant with his baby. Tiffany is married to a millionaire, who also happens to be Owen’s best man. Life is serving it up pretty darn nicely to both of you. If anything, let’s look at how things are for me. Let’s see… That’s right. I have no one.”

  “Oh, Mac, please don’t feel like that,” Tiffany begged. She watched Mackenzie wipe away tears.

  “No, it’s fine. This is how life goes. We get married, have kids and live happily ever after. I’m just waiting for my turn. I only hop
e I get one.”

  Molly sighed. “I’m sorry. You’re right. Tiff, if you want to stay married, then you have my blessing or whatever. I’m here for you, no matter what. Mac, quit your shit. Someone will be crazy enough to marry you, the poor, lucky bastard. We got this.”

  “We’re here for each other, because we’re like sisters. We have each other’s backs and we need one another.” Tiffany sipped the iced tea in front of her to calm the emotions that were bubbling inside her.

  “I couldn’t imagine facing all this without you two by my side,” Molly said as her eyes grew wet. She began to fan them in a feeble attempt at drying them. “These damn hormones.”

  “How did everything change so quickly?” Tiffany asked.

  Mackenzie and Molly shook their heads. None of them had an answer because not one of them understood how so much could change in such little time. Just since spring, Mackenzie had tragically lost a sister, Molly had gotten engaged and preggers and Tiffany had gotten fired from her position and married to the CEO. Don’t get her started on her love affair with Pauly. If this wasn’t all the makings for some ugly-cry-romcom chickflick, she didn’t know what was. Yet, this was now their lives.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “You’re finally home. I was beginning to worry,” Colin said as soon as Tiffany unlocked her apartment door and came inside.

  She was surprised to see he was still there, especially stretched out on her couch. Tiffany huffed, but that was not nearly half as surprising as seeing Mr. Sprinkles laying on top of him.

  “I think your kitty is rather fond of me.” Colin stroked her cat.

  Mr. Sprinkles barely allowed Tiffany to pet him. He never wanted to snuggle, and yet there he was, all cozy and purring loudly on Colin. She would probably be purring if she were on Colin, too. Tiffany covered her mouth as she giggled out loud.

  “What was that about?”

  “Nothing,” Tiffany lied as she headed toward her kitchen.

  “Did you eat yet?” Colin asked.

  “Yeah, with Molly and Mackenzie.” Tiffany returned to the living room after grabbing a bottled water. She handed one to Colin. “You got Owen in so much trouble.”

  “Me? For what?” Colin looked up at her in confusion.

  “For asking him where I was.”

  “Is that what your friend told you? Clever girl, that Molly.” Colin wore a grin.

  Tiffany was confused now. She sat as Colin moved to make room for her. There were other areas to sit, but for some unknown reason, she wanted to be near him. Mr. Sprinkles wasn’t too keen on her choice.

  “So, wait. Who told you I was in Vegas?”

  “Well, I was drowning my sorrows with my mate, Owen, and his lovely bride-to-be was quite happy to share the details of where you were.”

  No way Molly was in on it. There had to be a mistake. As angry as she had been this afternoon, there was no way she would be involved in any of this.

  “Did you ask her?” Tiffany questioned him.

  She watched as he gently stroked Mr. Sprinkles, who was sending icy daggers toward Tiffany.

  “Well, I suppose I didn’t have to. That’s why I told you in Vegas that it was him. Owen did furnish that information, but he’d been fed it by Molly, in front of me. I don’t want you to be upset with her or with Owen. I’m the one who asked where you were.”

  Okay, nothing made sense anymore.

  “She seemed pretty unhappy about this marriage business.”

  “That’s because you beat her to it,” Colin said.

  “Nah, she’s wanting the exact opposite. She’s a no-frills kinda girl, and getting her to even plan her wedding has been a nightmare. She and I have very ideas about weddings.”

  “And what exactly is it that you want, Tiffany?” Colin’s voice grew rough and quiet. His eyes didn’t blink as he stared at her.

  Tiffany looked away. She noticed the bulldog was now watching them. Mr. Sprinkles hissed suddenly and Pauly charged in turbo speed toward the couch, causing the cat to leap off. Colin seized the opportunity of chaos and confusion and pulled Tiffany to his chest.

  “Do you know?” he asked again, “because I do.” Colin brought her lips to his. He was gentle at first, soft and tender. The wild explosion slammed into Tiffany as Colin wrapped his arms tighter around her.

  What do I want? This? Because this feels very nice, but it isn’t real. They hadn’t earned this yet. They were miles away from this point by any relationship standards. As tempted as she was, Tiffany wasn’t ready.

  Tiffany reluctantly pulled away. “Colin, do you think maybe you should go home?” She felt flushed and was doing everything in her power to keep it together. Well, to keep from stripping them both naked and showing him exactly what she needed.

  “I am home.”

  * * * *

  This was technically not his home, yet over the next few days, Colin persisted that it was. He’d even brought over more of his belongings and her living room was beginning to fill up. Tiffany needed to put a stop to this.

  “You can’t keep bringing stuff here. There’s no more room,” Tiffany said on the third night that Colin stayed.

  “Well, I suggested that my place was bigger.”

  “Then go there. Simple fix.” Tiffany was standing over the stove and watched as Colin brought yet another giant suitcase into her living room.

  “No can do. My wife is here.”

  “Why are you being so difficult?”

  Colin walked into the kitchen and leaned against the counter. “I’m not being difficult. You are, and I do love a challenge.”

  This cat and mouse game was driving Tiffany crazy. Colin was nothing more than a patient wolf. He was waiting for her moment of weakness and she was doing everything to keep her resolve—like him standing there, doing nothing at all. Yet it made her body respond. Why does he have to be sexy all the time? He had gone to the office briefly, and his pale pink dress shirt was rolled up his forearms. His gray slacks hugged his ass, one that she’d been noticing more each day. Tiffany wasn’t sure how much more of this she could take. He was doing this on purpose and was enjoying every little bit of it.

  Colin began to remove his tie from his collar. It was like the start of a good strip tease and Tiffany had to keep her eyes trained on the food she was cooking. Don’t watch the hot guy removing his clothes in your kitchen, Tiffany told herself. But her eyes had other plans as they caught him unbuttoning his shirt. Lord, help me. Tiffany began salivating and she was dying to touch his skin. She had no self-control. Tiffany inhaled deeply and attempted to channel her energy to the task in front of her.

  “It smells good. What are you cooking?”

  Tiffany was not prepared for Colin to be behind her, nor was she prepared for him to wrap his arms around her waist.

  “I never thought I’d have a wife that could cook.”

  “You don’t.”

  “No, I do. Just look at you.”

  “No, I mean, I can’t cook. I pretty much survive on takeout and salads.”

  He roamed his hands down her sides then squeezed her ass with one hand while the other remained locked on her hip. “Whatever it is that you’re cooking or eating is working. You’re gorgeous,” Colin whispered in her ear. “But I finally got you to admit you’re my wife.”

  Tiffany’s knees grew weak and her body was responding to him against her wishes. “It’s only a technicality.”

  “It doesn’t have to be,” Colin said before his lips found the back of her exposed neck.

  * * * *

  Tiffany lay there. It was still dark. Her body was programmed to be up at this awful time after years of waking up early. Tiffany was cranky. Last night had been by far one of the most awful nights she’d ever experienced—tossing and turning, dreaming of Colin, mostly naked. It had ravaged her mind all night. While he slept soundly on the couch—she assumed he’d slept well, but she was hoping he’d suffered like she had. Tiffany was being tortured by her body. It wanted Colin, badly. H
e knew it and she knew it. Hell, Sir McCartney even knew it, which is probably why he was guarding her bedroom door. Tiffany found herself fully aroused, angry at her body’s betrayal but horny as hell. She laid her palm on her belly and her body responded. Tiffany’s core heated up as she slipped her hand below the waist band of her pajama pants. Tiffany cupped her mound, giving it a hard squeeze. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine Colin was between her legs. Tiffany used her finger to slowly tease the soft and silky folds of her pussy. She hissed as her finger grazed her swollen clit. She was wet—dripping wet, in fact, and throbbing with need. Tiffany inserted a finger, then another inside her. It feels so good, but it would be even better if it was Colin’s tongue. She’d mastered the fine art of getting herself off years ago and knew what strokes to use. Her imagination worked overtime, conjuring up images of Colin and all the things he would do to her. Tiffany grew needy and her pussy wanted to be filled. This was just supposed to be quick relief, but it was becoming a feverish task. She was getting close to climaxing when she thought she heard something. Fuck. She stayed frozen, her fingers deep inside her as Tiffany listened again. Nothing. But now it was ruined. She was too paranoid to finish and she blew out a frustrated breath.

  Tiffany swung her legs over her bed and sat for a moment in a sleepy and horny daze. Why am I even getting up? It’s not like she had her old job back. Maybe she should go for a run or grocery shopping, not that she could afford food since she was unemployed. Perhaps it was time to start the job hunt. Nothing more had been said about her going back to Patty, so that obviously wasn’t happening. Tiffany scooched off her bed and opened her door quietly. A snoring bulldog was still standing guard and Tiffany stepped carefully over him. Her heart squeezed. He was the sweetest thing. She should take him for a walk later.

  Part of her morning routine was to shower then have coffee. Not wanting to stray from that, she shuffled into her bathroom. Sleep deprived and not thinking, Tiffany opened the shower curtain and there was Colin in all his masculine glory. Tiffany blinked and her brain took snapshots to save later for her lady spank-bank. Lots of toned muscle and suds.