Kennedy tried next, pulling her huge diamond engagement ring off.
“Hey!” Luke protested. “That’s yours.”
“It’s temporary,” Kennedy replied.
Jared tried to slide it on Emily’s finger, but it was too small.
Lily crossed to them where Jared was still down on one knee. She pulled her small diamond ring off and handed it to Jared, smiling at them both. “I have another ring.” She pointed to a small turquoise ring on her other hand. “It was Nico’s mom’s ring and means more than any diamond to me.”
This was significant, Emily knew, because Nico’s mom had died when he was just a kid, and Lily was the wealthy Spencer heiress.
“Aww, Lil,” Nico said. She crossed to him, and he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her red hair.
Jared held up the diamond ring to Emily. “Will you let me be your good-for-you guy?”
“He always was!” Angel put in.
“Ignore him,” Jared said, shooting Angel a dark look. “Damn interloper.”
She grinned and whispered, “Will you still be my good-time guy too?”
“Yes.” He lowered his voice. “Five and never done.”
They grinned at each other.
“Uh, Jare, you never actually asked her,” Angel pointed out.
“Emily, will you marry me?” Jared asked grandly.
She nodded through tears. He slipped the ring onto her finger. She dropped to her knees and hugged him.
“Watch the shoulder,” Jared said on a groan.
“I’m sorry!” she cried. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too so much,” Jared said, and then they were kissing.
“Damn, Ma, those cookies are scary strong,” Vince observed.
“What about the cookies?” Emily asked, dashing tears from her eyes.
Jared stood, and she did too. “It’s some voodoo magic my mom puts into those Italian wedding cookies. Every one of my brothers and their girlfriends ate them and then ended up getting married.”
“Except us,” Zoe said, hitching a thumb at her husband, Gabe. “We got pregnant.”
“Which one will it be for you, Angel?” Mrs. Marino asked.
Angel ran a hand through his hair. “Ah, I’m the exception that proves the rule.”
“Not if I can help it,” Mrs. Marino and Jared said at the same time.
“Watch out, Angel!” Vince boomed. “They got it in for you.”
“Bring it on,” Angel said with a devilish grin.
Everyone laughed. Then they all gathered around her and Jared, congratulating them and welcoming her to the family. She was having a hard time keeping it together, so overwhelmed with the outpouring of love. She kept crying and apologizing for her tears until Angel stopped her.
“Hey, don’t apologize for your feelings,” Angel said. “We’re all thrilled that you’re happy to be part of the family. And if that comes out in tears, we’re all good with that. Right, guys?”
The women agreed. The men snickered. “Right, Saint Angel,” Vince said.
“Just Angel,” Jared said. “He’s no saint.”
“He’s no angel either,” Emily put in with a grin.
Jared leaned down to her ear. “I’m the only guy you’re going to be naughty with.”
“Ooo-hoo-hoo!” Luke crowed. “Jared’s getting naughty.”
“I really hope this will end the fighting between you two,” Mrs. Marino said, looking to Jared and Angel.
“Then what’ll we bet on?” Nico asked.
“Who’ll get pregnant next, Emily, Kennedy, or Zoe!” Vince proclaimed, causing a murmur among the men as they eyed the women in the room who could be in contention.
“Inappropriate,” Mr. Marino intoned, and the brothers quickly hushed with their betting.
Emily’s cheeks burned. “Gosh, this was all such a surprise, I—ah!”
Jared had yanked her out of the room. He led her around the corner to the living room, where he kissed her in an erotic reminder of just who she was going to have all her naughty times with from now on or maybe just who was going to get pregnant next. She didn’t know and it didn’t matter. All that mattered was him.
He pressed his forehead to hers. “I’m so glad you said yes,” he said in a choked voice.
She broke down in tears. “Of course I said yes.”
He wiped her tears with his thumb and kissed her again. “I’ll be good for you, I promise.”
“I know you will. You always were.”
He kissed her again; the kiss turned heated, more demanding. And then she was against the wall, and he was pressing against her. She couldn’t believe how much she wanted him even knowing his entire family was mere feet away.
He shifted and kissed along her neck. “I wish we were alone right now.”
“Me too.”
“After presents.” He’d told her they opened gifts at midnight, so that gave them the whole night after that. He lifted his head and gazed into her eyes. “All I want for Christmas is you,” he said gruffly.
“Jared,” she said in a teasing voice, “I had no idea you were so good with words.” The line was straight out of a popular Christmas song.
He tugged a lock of her hair playfully. “I thought all my ‘uh’ and ‘um’ and Jen talk was pretty clear. Obviously I loved you with all my heart and wanted a committed relationship.”
“Yes, I got that right away.”
He barked out a laugh. “I got the same vibe from you when you begged for an orgasm.”
“Shh! Keep your voice down!”
One corner of his mouth lifted. “What’ll you give me?”
She grinned. “Whatever you want.”
He lifted her hand with the temporary engagement ring and kissed the back of her fingers. “I have all I want.”
“Listen to you, Mr. Romantic! Swoon!”
“That’s Dr. Romantic.”
“I like that nickname a lot better than your old one.”
“Me too.” He looked around. “Where’s a supply closet when you need one?”
She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. He tore his mouth from hers and whispered urgently in her ear, “I can’t wait. Follow me.”
She nodded. He put a finger to his mouth in a shushing motion. She quietly followed him through a nearby door that led to a basement made into a man cave with a home theater and pool table. He led her to the pool table, shut off the light, and returned to her.
“We have to be absolutely silent,” he whispered as he yanked her skirt up past her waist.
“You’re going to have to muffle me,” she said, sliding her tights and panties down. She made quick work of his pants and briefs before taking him in hand. He groaned and flipped her around, pushing her down over the table.
“Like this?” he asked, putting a hand over her mouth as he thrust inside.
“Yes!” she exclaimed against his hand, half in relief.
He grunted and the only sound was their bodies slapping together, her muffled gasps and moans, and then a low guttural groan that shook them both up as they raced over the edge together.
After, she was embarrassed. She yanked her clothes back in place. “Do you think they’ll know? We should’ve waited.”
“Nah. Everyone’s busy talking in the kitchen. No one will even notice we were gone.”
They stealthily made their way back upstairs, emerged through the door that led back to the living room, and Fred barked like crazy, giving them away. Unfortunately, all of Jared’s brothers and sisters-in-law were gathered in the living room around the Christmas tree. At least Mr. and Mrs. Marino weren’t there. They probably got stuck with dishes duty.
“Taking the edge off?” Angel asked with a smirk.
Everyone laughed. Emily was mortified. “Jared was just teaching me how to play pool.”
“Did he get one in the corner pocket?” Luke asked.
“Who broke first?” Gabe asked.
“Did you pol
ish the shaft?” Vince asked.
“I really hope you didn’t snooker,” Nico said with a grin.
“Emily got the money ball,” Jared announced. “’Nuf said.”
His brothers laughed and slapped him on the back.
“Jared!” Emily exclaimed, not used to all the teasing.
“It means you won,” he said with a straight face.
She smoothed her hair. “Oh.”
His brothers kept chuckling and ribbing Jared, so she made her escape to hang out with the women standing nearby.
“They’re so obnoxious, aren’t they?” Sophia asked.
“Yes,” Emily said, glad to have someone on her side.
“But so irresistible,” Lily said on a sigh, looking over at Nico.
“Totally,” Emily said, which made all the women laugh. Jared caught her eye and winked. She couldn’t help but smile. He really was one hundred percent irresistible, one hundred percent of the time. Good thing she was marrying him. She’d never get enough.
After more drinks, cookies, and a rousing game of White Elephant with the most ridiculous gifts being traded back and forth, including a Scooby-Doo Chia plant, it was finally midnight and time for the real gifts. Emily couldn’t wait to give hers to Jared. She had one for Vince too.
“Open mine first,” Jared said to Emily.
She opened a small velvet box, expecting to see a ring. It was a key.
“It’s the key to my house,” he said. “I want you to move in with me. Like yesterday.”
She laughed. “I will. Someone has to look after that shoulder.”
“And a few other parts too,” he said, waggling his eyebrows.
“Keep it down over there,” Vince boomed.
“Here, open mine,” she said, handing him a large flat box. “I got you one too, Vince.” She handed Vince an identical box. “Open them at the same time.”
Vince cocked a brow. “Must be pretty special if I get the same thing as Jare.”
She nodded and smiled. Vince ripped his open first. Jared was a little slow, going one-handed. She finished the paper off for Jared so his surprise wouldn’t be ruined.
Vince opened the box and peeled back the tissue paper to reveal a brand-new Captain Cuddle T-shirt with a big C sewn to the front. He promptly slammed the lid on the box. His neck and ears turned red.
“What is it?” Sophia asked.
Jared peeked at his own shirt with a big H sewn to the front.
“What’s that?” Nico asked.
“It’s our secret identity,” Jared announced. “Vince has been dressing up like a porcupine from Mom’s Huddle-Cuddle books to visit the pediatric oncology ward at the hospital.”
The men laughed heartily. The women put an end to that with one sharp look.
“Cool,” Luke said.
“Good work,” Nico said.
“I’m a hedgehog from the book,” Jared said. “I’ll do it with you sometimes, Vince.”
“Cool,” Vince said. The tips of his ears turned an even brighter red. “Thanks, Emily. That was really…uh…”
“Thoughtful,” Sophia supplied.
“Yeah,” Vince said.
“You’re welcome,” Emily replied. She turned to Jared. “And I’m going to sew you a pointy little nose. I heard that’s what hedgehogs look like.”
Jared looked uncomfortable. “Ah. That’s okay.”
Now it was Emily’s turn to tease. “What? Are you too cool to play a real hedgehog, Captain Huddle?”
“I’ll do it,” Jared said, rising to her challenge. “I’m just cool enough.”
“Yeah, he is,” Vince said. “He’s our clutch player.”
Emily kissed Jared. “He’s my clutch player.”
Epilogue
Jared showed up with Vince in full costume for their New Year’s Day hospital visit. His arm was still in a sling, so it helped to have his brother there to carry the books. At least that was what he told Vince. He could tell Vince just wanted an excuse to get back to being Captain Cuddle now that Sophia was feeling better.
Emily smiled at both of them, kissed them both on the cheek, and handed Jared the goody bag. “Go get them, Captains!”
“Hey, got room for two more?” a masculine voice boomed.
They turned. “Angel!” Jared exclaimed and then in a lower voice, “Julia.”
“Are they together now?” Vince asked in a stage whisper.
“Shhh,” Emily said.
Angel and Julia reached their side. Neither were dressed in any kind of costume.
“When I told Julia about your work here,” Angel said, “she wanted to get involved.”
“It’s one of my New Year’s resolutions,” Julia explained. “Getting more involved in things.”
Angel met her eyes with a searching look, and she quickly turned away.
“So, um, what can we do?” Julia asked.
“You could work the ward in the opposite direction and do some coloring with them,” Emily offered. “The art therapist has been off for the holidays. Let me get the supplies.”
She went to the closet and retrieved some paper and a bucket of crayons. “She often starts with a prompt to get them drawing, but also expressing themselves. Like, draw what family looks like or draw your favorite day.”
Angel spoke up, never taking his eyes off Julia. “Since it’s New Year’s, we could try…draw a new beginning.”
“That sounds like a good idea,” Julia said softly.
Jared, Vince, and Emily gave each other knowing looks and then stumbled over each other to agree.
“Fantastic!” Jared said at the same time as Emily said, “Absolutely!”
“Get in there and get ’er done!” Vince boomed.
Everyone stopped to stare at him.
“What?” Vince asked.
Jared shook his head, making the quills bounce on his hat. “Come on. Leave them to it.”
“That’s what I was trying to do,” Vince said.
The two brothers turned at the same time, their blue capes flying out behind them, and headed to the first room. Angel and Julia walked side by side, speaking in low tones. And Emily went back to work, knowing her patients would have a good New Year’s Day thanks to a sweet porcupine, an adorable hedgehog, two best friends, and her.
~ ~ ~
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You’ve just read book #9 in the Clover Park series. The books in the series are The Opposite of Wild (Ryan & Liz), Daisy Does It All (Trav & Daisy), Bad Taste in Men (Shane & Rachel), Kissing Santa (Rico & Samantha), Restless Harmony (Gabe & Zoe), Not My Romeo (Vince & Sophia), Rev Me Up (Nico & Lily), An Ambitious Engagement (Luke & Kennedy), Clutch Player (Jared & Emily), and A Tempting Friendship (Angel & Julia). I hope you enjoy them all!
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Read on for an excerpt from A Tempting Friendship, Angel and Julia’s story:
Even Angels have their limits…
Widow Julia Turner is finally ready to date again after five years of mourning her husband. She confides to her longtime friend Angel Marino that she's signed up for an online dating site and is shocked when it's Angel that shows up at her door on the night of her first date. And the look in his eye is anything but friendly.
Angel has secretly been in love with Julia since college, and after fulfilling his promise to his deceased best friend to watch over her these past years, he can't stand idly by and watch her date another man. It's time to unleash the sexy for a seduction that's been a long time coming.
“Welcome, ladies, to the very first Singles Book Club! I'm your hostess, Hailey Adams, also known as Clover Park's one and only wedding planner! I hop
e to plan a wedding for each and every one of you! Now you might have noticed…”
What in the world am I doing here? Julia Turner fidgeted in her seat and glanced around the circle of six women (and zero men) gathered at Something's Brewing Café. All of them hanging on Hailey's every word. Julia had only called Hailey out of sheer desperation. She couldn't find a way forward with her best friend Angel Marino, not with their screwed-up history. Besides, Angel needed his freedom. He'd been looking after her ever since Brad died. Like she was his duty. She'd met him when she was only eighteen. Some part of him would always see her as that young girl. The only solution was for her to meet someone new, which would free Angel to find someone that truly deserved him.
Five years she'd been a widow. Five years Angel had been a devoted friend. Five years he'd been everything she wanted and everything she couldn't have—forbidden.
Hailey flicked her strawberry blond hair, her pale blue eyes bright. “Since it's just us ladies, I thought we'd open ourselves up to love with our first selection…” She paused and the women leaned in. “The Fierce trilogy!”
“Ooh!” the women chorused. Except for Julia, who was fighting a full-on body blush. When she'd met Hailey at cooking class earlier this month, Hailey seemed to intuitively understand Julia's predicament and handed her a business card, promising to help. The card read Hailey Adams, Love Junkie. Perhaps that should've been a red flag. The fact that Hailey was Clover Park's wedding planner and notorious matchmaker should've been a red flashing light of danger. But now she was stuck. Hailey was giving her the extra-special treatment because she was a widow, going out of her way to make sure she was comfortable. The woman had given her a big hug and the sympathy eyes when she'd first arrived and saved her a seat right next to her. There was really no polite way to leave.
“I heard the Fierce trilogy is so good!” Ally Bloom, a fellow teacher and friend, exclaimed from Julia's other side. Ally was blond, young, excitable-the near opposite of Julia's brunette, older than her twenty-eight years, weary self. Her friend was twenty-three and already open to new relationships after a recent breakup with her college boyfriend of four years. At that age, Julia had become a widow. Brad died a hero for his country during his last year of required army service. She'd married him at nineteen.
Clutch Player Page 18