by Anthology
After the shower, I get dressed and pile the long strands of my brown hair on top of my head and hurriedly brush on some eyeliner and mascara. I'm still straightening my shirt when I leave my bedroom.
Damn. Those candles are for shit. The smell of cinnamon is wafting throughout the whole cabin. I jog down the steps and head straight for the downstairs bathroom; I saw some air freshener there yesterday.
A stream of mist is flowing out as I walk back and forth past the front door with my thumb on the plastic button.
"Why are you doing that?" a masculine voice asks behind me.
I scream, nearly jumping out of my skin. I turn around and my jaw drops at the same time my heart falls into the pit of my stomach. Brad is holding one of my "buns" in his hand and there’s a huge bite taken out of it.
"Please tell me you got those from the front desk."
I'm grasping at straws, since I know exactly where he got them.
"You're really getting the whole domestication thing down." He raises a cinnamon roll in the air. "These are awesome."
"They were for Tanner." I shove him in the chest and he stumbles back.
"Whoa. They didn't have his name on them." He follows me to the kitchen.
"What the hell are you doing here anyway? You’re supposed to be skiing."
"They’re opening the slopes late this morning. Something about ice." I ignore him, but he continues. "I was going to make you guys breakfast. I heard the shower going and figured you two were doing the nasty again. Which reminds me, next time keep the noises to yourself. I'm nursing a broken heart here." He covers his heart and a forced chuckle slips from his lips.
"Anyway, I turned on the oven, and when I went to put the biscuits in, I found your cinnamon rolls. They were an awesome appetizer, by the way."
I open the oven with shaky hands. Sure enough, there are the biscuits.
"Don't worry, the sausage and gravy will be ready soon."
"I'm not worried about your damn breakfast. You ruined mine! It was going to be all ready for Tanner when he returned." My fists ball at my sides, and I wish I could haul off and hit him square in his perfect freaking nose.
"Jesus, Pipe. They were just cinnamon rolls."
"Buns. They were buns," I mumble, and my shoulder bumps his as I flee the room.
"Great, you're on the rag," I hear him say and I storm back in.
My hands drive in his shoulders, pushing his back into the counter. The cinnamon bun drops to the floor. "Go to hell, Brad."
Chapter Three
"Can I rush that order?" I bite on my fingernails, waiting on the phone line to see if those t-shirts can get here sooner.
With Brad being the nitwit that he is, I'm back to square one. Thankfully, after the two of them demolished what was left of the cinnamon rolls and Brad’s biscuits and gravy, they went skiing. I was even more thankful that Tanner accepted my excuse that I had to get things done around here.
"We can get them there tomorrow morning by 10 a.m., but that's the fastest," the woman informs me. I wish I had those shirts in my hands right now, but apparently tomorrow's my only option.
"That would be great." I hang up and release the breath I've been holding since I called them. He'll know by tomorrow night. "Perfect," I murmur, crossing my fingers in the air.
The quiet cabin is lonely and I glance at the clock, debating if I should join them on the slopes. With all the different ski runs, I wouldn’t have a clue where to find them though. Instead, I cozy up on the couch to finish the book I’ve been reading, Everything Has Changed by Mia Kayla. I love a good friends-to-lovers book.
Hours later, I close the book and sigh. The happily ever after was just what I needed and now I yearn to see my prince. The doorbell rings and I check the clock. It's only two and no one is due in until five.
My warm socks slide along the floor as I make my way to the front door. I look through the peephole and see four people laughing and carrying on with one another.
What is it with everyone coming early? At least this is a good surprise though.
I open the door and all their smiling faces turn my way.
"Hi, everyone."
"Piper," they all say in unison.
My parents and Tanner's parents drag their luggage through the doorway, each hugging me and kissing my cheek as they pass by.
"You look so flushed." My mom rests her hand on my cheek and then my forehead. "How do you feel?"
I grin. Of course she sees something is different. "I'm good. Just finished getting ready."
Hours ago.
"Where's Tanner?" Layla stands in the middle of the great room, looking around.
"He's skiing ... with Brad."
"Brad's here?" My dad's inspection of the cabin comes to an abrupt halt and he turns to face me.
"Yeah. He showed up last night." I shut the door and join them in the family room.
My dad and Tanner's dad, Patrick, take a seat on the couch. "I guess I had it wrong. I thought he was due tonight."
"He was," I deadpan, and they all laugh.
Layla and my mom both sit down in matching armchairs, and I sit on one of the ottomans.
"It's a great place." Patrick looks up at the giant chandelier made of antlers hanging from the ceiling.
"Yeah. Tanner found it and got a great deal."
Tanner might have found it, but our parents paid for it. He struggled with letting them pay—he always does—but ultimately they won. He so badly wants to stand on his own, but our parents still want to take care of us. It's a fine line. We hope to pick up more of the cost at the Olympics next year. They're all flying out for it, and we've already arranged some tours and things to send them on during the times when Tanner isn't racing.
The five of us chat about how their trip here went, and I hand them their keys. It's comforting to have my parents here, but it’s making it even harder because I so badly want to tell them our secret. Well, my secret actually, since Tanner doesn’t even know yet. He will be the first to find out though.
Layla stands and looks around. "It's so cute how the resort already decorated." Her hand brushes the Christmas tree in the corner. "Patrick, can you get me that suitcase so I can place the gifts with the others?"
Patrick obediently stands and heads to where they left their luggage by the front door.
"I bet you and Tanner have already kissed under the mistletoe." He points above the archway to the great room.
"Not yet. Maybe you and Layla should."
"Later … when we're alone." He winks at her and a childish giggle escapes her lips.
I clap my hands. What my fiancé’s parents do when they’re alone is not something I want to think about. "Who wants a drink?"
"Me." My dad stands and follows me to the kitchen.
I tell him about the local beer Tanner picked up last night and offer him one. He takes a sip and nods. "It's good."
My mom comes in and tells my dad they’re going to find their rooms and unpack. He gives me a quick hug, kisses my forehead and leaves the kitchen with my mom.
I'm just about to sit back down in the living room when the boys step through the door.
Tanner pulls his skullcap off and snow falls to the floor. "There are hooks in the back room for your wet stuff," I say, pointing down the hallway.
Brad and Tanner stare at one another, smirk and then disappear.
A minute later, the two of them come back in. I scoot over for Tanner to sit next to me on the chair. He nuzzles his freezing cold nose into my neck and I jerk back.
"You're cold."
"You want to warm me up?"
A tingling sensation zings through my body when his hand rests on my stomach. If he only knew.
His feet entwine with mine across the ottoman. "Our parents are here," I remind him.
"Early, huh?" He smirks and eyes Brad with a lopsided grin. I laugh.
"I guess it's a trend."
Brad throws himself on the couch and thumbs through a magazine,
oblivious.
"Their original plane was cancelled, so they caught another one. I guess they left you a message," I tell him what was conveyed to me.
"Shit." He digs into his jeans. "I must have left my phone."
"Here." I hand it to him and he leans over, kissing my cheek.
"That's why I keep you around."
"I hope that's not the only reason."
"Yeah, she's not exactly domesticated," Brad chimes in from across the room, and I throw a book at him. "Ouch." He rubs his chest. We each narrow our eyes at one another. You’ve got to love siblings.
"She's plenty domesticated for me." Tanner swings his arm around me and pulls me in close. His lips linger on my temple and my eyes close.
"The guys are back," my dad calls out, walking down the stairs.
"Dad!" Brad springs up out of his seat and meets our dad at the bottom of the stairs. "Piper threw a book at me," he whines.
My dad clasps him on his back. "Why is it that out of my twins, my son is the dramatic one?"
Brad cracks up and winks over at me. He's definitely more theatrical than me. He and Dad hug, and Tanner moves to stand.
"No need," my dad says, waving his hands. "Please, sit." He places his hand in front of Tanner and they shake.
"How are you, Mr. Ashby ... Brad."
I giggle and my dad smiles over to me. He’s been trying to get Tanner to call him by his first name, but old habits are hard to break. Especially when you’ve grown up together.
"Better now that we're here."
"Yeah, everyone's here. Except Dylan," Brad adds and sits back down on the couch.
"He's supposed to be in this evening. You know, when you were supposed to, Brad." I quirk my lips and he throws the book back to me.
"I was bored and needed to get out. Plus, Dylan ditched me because Bea couldn't come until tonight."
My best friend, Bea, who has been hanging around Dylan a little too much lately, is coming. Tanner needs to know about the baby before I see her. She'll know for sure.
"Hey," I whisper to Tanner, noticing my dad and brother are busy discussing his job.
Tanner gives me his full attention and my stomach flips. Sometimes I can't believe he's mine.
"Yeah, babe."
"You want to go for a swim after dinner?"
"With you? Any day of the week." He winks and I bite my lip. "Truth or Dare?"
Tanner and I have always played Truth or Dare, but after we became a couple, the game got a little more risqué.
"You better think of your questions now, Mr. Truth."
"Oh, I intend to."
Unable to control myself, I lean over and plant a gentle kiss on his lips.
Just when I’m starting to wish we were alone, the other parents come down the stairs and Tanner wiggles out of the chair to greet them.
* * *
We walk into the pool house and the humidity warms my body for the first time since we've arrived in the mountains. I strip off my sweatshirt and pants.
"Nice choice," Tanner compliments my swimsuit and smacks my ass. He runs along the cement floor and dives into the warm water.
He shakes his head when he surfaces and beads of water drop on the top of the pool. "I'll catch you." He holds his arms out, but I head toward the stairs.
I slowly walk in and Tanner watches every movement, his eyes scorching my skin.
"I love watching you enter the water."
"And to think you wanted me to just jump in."
I lean over and cup some water into my hand, then pour it over my arms. Old habits die hard. When I was in college, we’d always wet ourselves before competing in swim meets.
"I was dead wrong." A growl escapes his lips when the water slides down my breasts.
I laugh and he swims over, waiting impatiently two feet in front of me.
"I'm thinking we need to dirty up our Truth or Dare game tonight." His eyes roam up and down my body, and my skin aches for his touch.
"No." I shake my head. "I'm going to run this game."
"I love it when you take charge."
Once I'm fully submerged, I swim to the opposite side of the pool and rest my arms along the edge.
"You’re too far." He swims toward me, but I inch away.
We both know if he wanted to catch me, he would. Tanner likes this cat-and-mouse game.
"Ready?" I ask.
"Let's do it."
This time when he moves closer, I don't swim away. He wraps his arms around my stomach and I swing my legs around his taut waist.
"You can't go easy on me." There have been numerous occasions where Tanner lets me win to get what he wants.
He rolls his eyes. "Then I should just ask you the questions."
I splash water in his face. "Alright, since you’re being cocky, then whoever wins a handstand competition will get to ask first."
I push away from him and venture over to the shallow end.
"Handstand? You know I can't do a handstand for as long as you."
Precisely.
"Come on. We're on an even playing field."
"Fine," he says grudgingly.
"Whoever comes up for air first loses."
"Yeah, yeah. You better have something sexual in mind after this."
I smile. "GO!"
We both dive under the water and I steady myself on my arms. They're firm and strong as my legs peak out of the water. I eye Tanner behind me—shit, he's looking pretty good. My arms start to wiggle like Jell-O after a bit. My breath locks in my chest so I blow through my nose, but my chest tightens even more.
Go up, go up, I think, hoping Tanner will surface first.
Finally, Tanner shoots up out of the water, and I hold out a little longer so he doesn't think I was waiting for him. He taps on the heels of my feet and I immediately pop back up out of the water.
I rub my eyes. "Oh, did I win?"
His chuckle bounces off the steam-covered glass windows.
"Alright, baby. Dare me."
"You're picking dare?" Tanner's been a truth man all his life, and it's one of the reasons I love him. He's steady and consistent.
"You’re right…truth." We laugh because we both knew he would.
"Are you happy?"
He swims forward with one stride and bundles me in his arms.
"Do you think I'm not?" His hands tuck under the bottom of my swimsuit and I close my eyes, wishing I could toss this game out the window.
"I'm the one asking questions here."
I feel a little guilty that he’s now worried that I don't think he's happy. Tanner never hides his happiness when it comes to us.
"Yes. I love my life."
He swings us around and presses me up against the scratchy cement. His fingers graze along the seam of my swimsuit. My breath hitches and I arch my back, pushing my breasts against him.
"What about you?" he asks as his finger pushes aside the wet fabric between my legs.
"Am ... I ... happy?"
Tanner kisses my shoulder and then inserts a finger inside me.
"YES!" I clench around his finger and he quickly adds another one. My fingernails dig into his rock-hard shoulder blades and my legs tighten around his waist.
"You still want to play this game?" He nibbles on my collarbone and I grind against his hand. "Why don't we say screw it and screw each other?"
The reason we're here slams into me. I push away from him—again. It's amazing the empty feeling I have when I'm not in his arms.
"Round two." I swim away and he dives under the water. He grabs hold of my legs.
I wiggle to escape, but Tanner tightens his grip. He swims up my body, and when we both surface, his hands are locking me to him.
"You know I'm just appeasing you, right?" He yanks down my bathing suit, exposing my breast. His palm manipulates the flesh and his thumb rolls along my nipple.
I push off his chest. "Distance, please." I hold my hand up and he laughs.
He raises his hands in the air
. "You know I'm not good at staying away from you."
"Try. We’re playing Marco Polo now, and you’re Marco." I point to him and he snickers. He thinks he has this in the bag because he can swim faster than I can, but he forgets I was the Marco extraordinaire when we were younger.
"Okay." He swims away from me and his strong chest peaks out of the water. His trained muscles flex as he holds himself up on the edge of the pool. He's trying to entice me and it's working, but he can’t have me until he knows I'm carrying his baby.
"Close your eyes."
He does. God, his muscles are so defined. I can barely remember him as the scrawny boy he once was.
"Marco," he whispers.
"Polo…" I dive under the water.
He leisurely walks through the water saying Marco, withholding his full potential to win the game. I wonder if he even wants to win.
"Marco."
"Polo." He dives under the water and I do too, but I can't swim fast enough and he catches me.
He holds me to him as we surface. "Got ya!" I twist to free myself. No such luck.
"I swear you saw me. Were you peeking?"
"I don't cheat, you know that."
I do.
"Okay, your turn."
He taps his lips with his finger, and I tread water as I wait for him to decide.
"Truth or Dare."
"Truth."
I'm pretty sure his dare would include me stripping down to nothing, but that won’t get us to the end goal of this game—well, my end goal anyway.
"Really?" Disappointment fills his face.
"Yep."
"Will you marry me?"
I lift my left hand, showing him the diamond ring he gave me months ago. "I already said yes."
"I mean, tonight. Would you marry me right now, just the two of us and no one else?"
It would make it easier to hide the fact that I got knocked up before I was married.
"Yes."
"Really? That surprises me."
This time, I go to him and wrap myself around his body.