by Penny Blush
“I just want to go home,” she said nuzzling into me.
“I need to get you home to make sure you truly are alright.”
“Memphis, really, I’m fine.”
“I need to get you home so that I can check for myself,” I told her. “I need to complete a thorough inspection,” I smirked winking at her trying to lighten the mood. “Every single inch of you will receive a thorough going over.”
“I am willing to submit to an inspection, Mr Blue,” she threaded her fingers through the hair at the base of my head. “In fact, I insist that a thorough quality control inspection is completed, but only if you are willing to submit to one as well.”
I touched my lips to hers; letting her know through the kiss all the things I was planning on doing to her once I got her home and all to myself. Red and blue flashing lights at the mouth of the alleyway caught our attention as the police showed up.
Fuck me - it was going to be a long ass night.
Chapter 16 Hedge
It has been a month since the incident at La Biz, and I have been on high alert ever since.
Naturally, Vex and his goons were in police custody long enough for a happy snap and fingerprinting before his high-priced lawyer rolled in demanding his clients be released.
I increased security around the apartment and the shop. Things have been quiet, but I knew that retaliation was coming, and I wanted to protect my family as much as humanly possible.
I know it’s stupid, but, I’m still so infuriated with myself for making things worse. When I busted through the back door of the club and saw three guys grabbing at Cassidy, I just acted. I didn’t even stop to think about the consequences of my actions. They were threatening my friend, Memphis’s little sister I didn’t even think.
I’m glad that I didn’t know who they were at the time. I don’t think I would have stopped until they suffered horribly before ending their pathetic lives and making sure the bodies would never be found, ever.
Retaliation was coming. I could feel it the air, like the atmospheric change that happens just before a storm.
“Baby Girl, everything is going to be fine,” Memphis tried reassuring.
“Memphis, he hasn’t even contacted you to make your regular payment. He’s planning something.”
“Maybe he just decided to give me a break while he licks his wounds,” Memphis said optimistically.
“Baby, we aren’t that lucky.”
I was sitting on the island bench with a steaming cup of coffee watching my man cook me breakfast. I offered to help, but he made me sit and watch not allowing me to cook on my birthday. He looked so damn cute in his Ironman boxer shorts and my frilly apron.
“Maybe not, but today is not the day to be thinking about such things,” he said, placing a plate in front of me with a self-satisfied look on his face.
“Thank you, Baby, this looks delicious,” I leant over the plate to kiss him.
“What are you girls doing today?” he asked, snagging a piece of my bacon.
“I don’t know. It’s something Tabby organised. I wish people wouldn’t make a fuss.”
“Baby Girl, people love you and want to do something special for you on your birthday.”
“You could do something special to me for my birthday,” I giggled, waggling my eyebrows at him.
“You’re such a goof,” he sat down with his very own heaping plate of bacon, eggs, and hash-browns.
Winking at me, Memphis replaced the piece of bacon that he had stolen from my plate. That was the only reason that he didn’t cop a fork to the hand before, I knew he would replace it.
“As much as I would love to spend the day doing extraordinary things with and to you, I have to work, and you don’t want to disappoint the girls.”
“I guess,” I pouted.
Memphis being the amazing man that he is; made sure that I was no longer sulking, and I had an enormous smile on my face when I went downstairs to meet up with Cassidy and wait for Tabby. So far, my birthday was pretty amazing. Breakfast made for me, followed by a long hot shower with Memphis and multiple orgasms, what more could a girl want?
At ten o’clock a hot pink stretch, Hummer pulled up out the front of the shop with Tabby hanging out the sunroof, hollering at us with a glass of champagne raised in the air.
“Climb on in foxy ladies, we have a very busy day ahead of us,” she called out.
We said goodbye to the boys and boarded the crazy train. By the time we got to Mecca Day Spa and Resort, we were all way past tipsy and well on our way to being happy-drunk.
We were all treated like queens. Tabby had arranged for the three of us to receive the ‘Epically Mega Awesomely Spectacular package’. I don’t think that was its official title. I’m pretty sure that when Tabby was booking today’s events, she looked down the treatment menu and decided to book us in for one of everything.
We had been told to strip down completely naked and provided with thick, fluffy white robes, slippers, and wraps for our hair. Tabby explained that new disposable panties would be provided after each service when Cassidy asked concerned about being pant less.
“First things first ladies,” Tabby declared while refilling our champagne glasses. “The not so fun stuff.”
“Miss Tabatha,” a petite blonde in a crisp white uniform, said with a slight Russian accent, “this way if you please.”
“Mariska, my darling, how are you?” Tabby asked in between air kisses.
“I am very well Miss Tabatha, shall we begin?”
“Lead the way darling,” Tabby sipped on her champagne as she followed her beauty specialist down the wide hallway.
Tabby had explained that some of the treatments would be performed in the private rooms and others like the spa-mani-pedi would be in the group treatment room. A cute Indian girl entered the waiting room.
“Miss Cassidy if you would follow me please.”
Cass gave me a slightly apprehensive look before heading off down the hall.
“And you must be the birthday girl, Miss Hedge,” a stunning ice blonde with a Canadian accent said.
"That would be me.”
“My name is Beatrix, and I will be looking after you today if you will follow me.”
I followed Beatrix down the spacious hall, with polished wooden floorboards and soft music floating from hidden speakers. I entered my treatment room and stopped, gasping. The treatment bed was set up in the middle of a room that if you didn’t know any different, you would think was in the middle of a rainforest. Soft, melodic music had you instantly relaxed. The plant life in varying shades of green and multicolored flowers made the room smell of the sweet tropics. The waterfall running into the small pond that had koi fish swimming around was the most magical thing I had ever seen.
“This place is fantastic,” I exclaimed in awe.
“It has all been designed to help you relax and escape everyday life,” Beatrix explained.
“I feel like I’m on a tropical island.”
“That’s the idea.”
The first part of our treatment adventure was to get waxed from head to toe - The not so fun stuff that Tabby had mentioned - followed by a pearl bead body scrub.
Beatrix was so fantastic and professional that she had me instantly feeling relaxed and comfortable with her.
I didn’t feel anything but relaxed as I lay naked on the treatment bed. She could have quite literally done anything to me, and I would have happily let her with a contented smile on my face.
Two hours later I met up with the girls for our spa-mani-pedi. I was so relaxed I felt like I was floating as I walked. I don’t think my skin has ever felt this smooth and soft. My skin glowed.
“Ladies, are you enjoying yourselves?” I asked relaxing into my treatment chair that felt like you were settling into a cocoon of soft marshmallow.
“Umm-humm,” Cassidy sighed.
“Mariska is marvelous, I’m smoother than Teflon,” Tabby winked at me as Cassidy spat out her mouthfu
l of champagne, making Tabby and I burst into laughter.
“Cass, you should know by now Tabby has no filter,” I laughed helping her clean up.
“I know, but I was hoping that something’s would remain a mystery,” Cassidy replied.
We feasted on cold cucumber sandwiches and ice-cold fruit cocktails as our toes and nails were being buffed and polished to a high shine.
“Can we stay here?” Cass asked, softly moaning while receiving a foot massage. “I could live here.”
“Right, screw working and being all responsible and stuff,” Tabby said dreamily. “We should just make the boys pay for us to stay here.”
“I might need to request visitation rights though,” I added. “I need Memphis for more than just his money,” I giggled.
“I hear ya,” Tabby replied.
“Hey, what’s going on with you and Davis?” I asked.
“Honestly, I’m not sure. We’re just having fun. Lots and lots of fun,” Tabby said wiggling her eyebrows. We all started laughing again.
The afternoon floated by with more treatments and the most delicious food and more booze. The final treatment was a deep conditioning treatment for my hair. I love having someone else fix my hair for me. I turned into a puddle as Beatrix talented fingers massaged the treatment into my scalp. I was going to request that she just straighten my hair, but after a text from Memphis and changed my mind.
Memphis: Don’t make any plans for tonight Baby Girl, I’m taking you out.
I hope you’re having fun.
I love you.
I swoon just a little reading his text. Seriously, he is the sweetest man ever.
Me: It’s a date.
Tonight, I’m all yours
I love you.
Memphis: Just tonight?
Me: Now always and forever.
I had Beatrix curl and style my hair and apply makeup for me. Memphis said that he was taking me out, and I wanted to look pretty for him.
On the ride back home, we all made plans to have a spa day at least once every few months. Tabby decided that we should have a girl’s spa day once a season.
I hugged and kissed Cassidy and Tabby thanking her for the millionth time for the most amazing day. I floated up the stairs to the apartment hoping to get in some adult cuddle time with Memphis before we went out.
Hey for that man I would sacrifice my beautiful hair and makeup that’s how much I loved him. I entered the apartment to find it quiet.
“Memphis, Baby?” I called out.
When no reply came, I walked into the bedroom and found a stunning silver blue dress lying on the bed with matching shoes.
“What is this?” I asked the empty room, picking up a handwritten note.
Hey there Baby Girl,
Put on the dress and shoes
Jax will be here to pick you up at seven
I can’t wait to see you
Love Memphis xoxoxo
Smiling like a goofball, I picked up my phone to call him.
“What are you up to?” I asked while listening to the phone ring.
I hung up when it went to voicemail. What the hell? He always answered my calls or at least calls me right back. My phone dinged letting me know I received a text.
Memphis: You need to be patient.
Get dressed.
Jax will be there in fifteen minutes.
I love you
Not wanting to be rushed but wanting to know what was going on I followed his instructions and got changed.
The dress was beautiful lying on the bed, but on it looked stunning. The glittery fabric fit perfectly, hugging my curves, ending just below my knees. The heels were like putting my feet into pillows. My man had done well. Jax arrived just before seven, looking very dapper in a charcoal grey suit.
“Wow Cuz, you look beautiful,” Jax said by way of greeting.
“You don’t look too bad yourself,” I said kissing him on the cheek. “Jax, what’s going on?” My curiosity was getting the better of me, and I needed answers.
“I am not at liberty to say,” he replied.
“What do you mean you’re not at liberty to say?”
“Umm, it indicates I can’t answer your questions. Geez, Cuz I thought you were supposed to be the smart one.”
“Jaaaaxxx,” I said giving him my best ‘I’m done playing’ tone.
“Cuuuuzzz,” he replied. “You’re not getting anything out of me, now let’s go, or you’re going to be late.”
“Fine,” I huffed.
Locking up I followed him out to his truck. There may have been some unladylike stomping down the stairs.
We drove in comfortable silence, Jaxon still refusing to tell me what was going on.
After about twenty minutes we pulled into the driveway of a beautiful plantation style home with an expansive wraparound veranda. The home was on a large property that backed onto the river.
“Jax, where are we?” I asked in awe of the wondrous spender of the property.
“Bear’s House.”
“What! No, Bear does not live here,” shocked I looked at Jax waiting for him to confirm that yes he was joking.
“Truly, this is Bear’s house.”
“What? How?” The house looked like the mansion of a wealthy billionaire, not a tattoo artist.
“Bear is filthy, stinking rich,” he said parking the car around the side of the home under an open carport that was large enough to house ten cars. “He is like disgustingly rich. Like Daddy Warbucks rich.”
“Why the hell is he working at the shop then?” I asked. I could not reconcile Bear the billionaire with my friend Bear the gentle giant tattoo artist.
“Basically, the dude never has to work another day in his life but likes to work. So, he plays with us peasants to keep busy. He has his pay check deposited into the account of his charitable foundation. He gives his Barber Shop Ink wage to his foundation, and then the funds are divided between the charities he supports.”
“Holy Shit,” I said as Jax opened my car door.
“Right,” he held my hand as I climbed out of his lifted truck as gracefully as I could in my tight dress. “Okay, now my instructions are to have you put this on,” he said holding up a silver silk sash.
“Why? Jax just tell me what’s going on? You know I’m not a fan of surprises,” I begged.
“Cuz, just this once suck it up, okay? Memphis has gone to lots of trouble for you, and that’s all I am going to tell you. Now turn around so I can tie this thing up.”
Reluctantly, I turned and held the sash against my eyes as Jaxon fastened it in place. I couldn’t see a thing. Jax turned me around and looped my arm through his.
“Jax, please don’t let me fall,” I whispered.
“Never, I’ve got you.”
There were very few times that I allowed myself to feel vulnerable and this was one of them. With Jax supporting me and knowing that this was all some elaborate plan of Memphis’ I felt okay. I held tight to Jax and let him lead me across the manicured lawn.
ith my eyes blinded, my other senses came to life. I could feel the warm summer night breeze on my skin. The air smelt sweetly of flowers and freshly cut grass.
“Almost there,” Jax whispered, and the soft sounds of a string quartet filled their air. “Okay, stop here,” Jax instructed.
My heart sped up in anticipation as Jax undid my blindfold. The silk dropped from my eyes revealing all of my friends - now my family - all dressed up to the nines.
“Happy Birthday!” they all cheered as party poppers exploded into the night, with brightly coloured streamers floating to the ground.
On the grass behind the house, was a long table with white linens, decorated with flowers, glowing candles and place settings. There were so many candles and twinkle lights set up in the trees and around the yard that they danced like a million fireflies in the soft breeze.
All the boys, including Johnny, Tabby, and Cassidy were all cheering and beaming at me and in the middle
of the chaos was Memphis.
Chapter 17 Hedge
The world faded into the background as I locked eyes with him. My God he is handsome. I thought he was sexy as hell in his jeans and Barber Shop Ink tee stretched across the expanse of his chest, but that had nothing compared to the sight of my man in a suit.
Holy Fuck, he looked so sexy in his cobalt blue suit, a white button-down shirt that had the top few buttons open and dark brown dress shoes. He had his hair pulled back in a low sexy man-bun, and his beard had been trimmed and tidied.
“What… what is all this?” I asked, my eyes never leaving his.
He gave me his signature smirk, making desire pool low in my belly.
“Happy Birthday, Baby Girl,” he pulled me into his arms kissing me deeply.
I wrapped my arms around him. Not caring that I was kissing the most amazing man in the world in front of my family.
“Get a room!” Davis called out, laughing we broke the kiss.
“Baby, you didn’t have to do all this we could have just stayed at home,” I said running my thumb across his bottom lip removing a smear of lipstick.
“It’s not every day that my gorgeous girl turns twenty-nine and from what Jax tells me your last few birthdays have been a little boring. You wouldn’t even let us celebrate it last year. This year there was no way we were staying at home. Your special day needs to be celebrated.”
“God, I love you,” I smiled, “thank you.”
He kissed me again before letting me go so that the rest of the gang could wish me a happy birthday. I hugged and kissed everyone and yelled at the girls in mock anger for not giving me a heads up on what was going on.
“We didn’t want to ruin the surprise,” Cass said, hugging me again.
“The look on your face was worth it,” Tabby said embracing me tightly.
“Happy Birthday Boss,” Bear’s deep rumbling voice said from behind me.
I raised an eyebrow at him, waving my hand around the property. “Really Bear, what the hell?”
He lifted his shoulder in half a shrug that said ‘meh.' "It's kinda small, but I make do."
Laughing, we all took a seat at the table with me seated at the head in a high back throne chair.