My mom grins, and I’m so glad I forced Anthony to come. She’s the happiest I’ve seen her in a long time. “Sure, Mom, as long as you stay off your ankle .”
“Well, you know back in my day, there was a song about cherry pie. Mine’s sweet enough to make a grown man cry,” Mom boasts with a laugh .
Anthony groans, slapping his forehead. “Really, Mom? That’s not what that song’s about. Please stop . . .”
I open my mouth to comment, but right then, Mindy pops in my mind. Her long legs, her sweet lips. And I have to think that maybe that band had a point .
There’s a sweet cherry pie, and I plan on tasting it .
Chapter 5
Mindy
“H ow did it go?” Brianna asks me. “When I walked in on you guys, it looked like you’d seen a ghost .”
We’re in my bedroom and I'm getting the clothes ready that I'm going to wear for my trip. I packed a lot of nice dresses, and now I’ve got a problem. I might have packed some nice things, but I’ve got to do some shopping to get a few more outfits that would be more in line with what my mom would expect .
Peering at myself in the mirror, I spin around and place my hands on my hips, fixing Brianna with a scowl. “I don't appreciate your sending me in there unarmed. He was an asshole .”
Brianna lets out a laugh. “Unarmed? What did you want to go in there with? A shotgun? I’ve never known a man you couldn’t wrap around your finger in about two minutes flat,” she says with a snap of her fingers .
I shrug. “I dunno. A big fat dildo, maybe? So I could’ve shoved it up his cocky ass .”
“Mindy!” Brianna protests. “What did I tell you about these words around Rafe? You can't be saying those things! He’s started repeating every new word that he hears !”
“Sorry, Rafey,” I say to the little boy who's sitting atop a mountain of my discarded clothes, playing with one of my sports bras .
I get lucky, as he seems to have ignored my foul mouth and instead pulls one of my sports bras on top of his head. “Look, Mommy! I’m a Duacone !”
“A what?” I ask, giving Bri a glance .
“Cartoon,” Brianna says with a chuckle before looking back at me. “Still . . . why so mad ?”
“Are you kidding? I was sweating bullets before I even walked in there!” I say, my face flushing. “He wasn’t what I expected, and I’m just frustrated that he was able to get the upper hand on me .”
“And I . . .” I clench my fists, my breath tight in my throat. “He got to me, okay ?”
Brianna’s jaw drops. “I can't believe I’m hearing this. Aren’t you supposed to be Miss Fearless? The woman who takes life by the balls ?”
“Balls,” echoes Rafey. “I like balls !”
I mock-scold Brianna, sticking out my tongue. “Wanna tell me where your son gets his bad language again ?”
Brianna scowls at me. “I’m so going to kill you .”
I spread my arms defensively as Brianna glares murder at me. “I just wish you would’ve told me .”
“Told you what?” Brianna asks, trying hard to be mad but looking like she wants to burst into laughter .
I gesture sharply, leaning in to whisper so Rafe can’t hear. “That he was hot as fuck !”
Bri looks at me out of the side of her eyes before she shakes her head. “How was I supposed to know? I’d never met him .”
“I don't believe you,” I say. “You did that on purpose .”
Brianna looks genuinely hurt. “I swear to you, I didn't. I never saw him before I walked into the room with Gavin. It was his idea .”
I look into my best friend’s eyes to see she’s telling the truth, and I sigh, shaking my head but not smiling yet. “Never mind that. I seriously don't know how I’m going to live a week with that guy without killing him .”
Brianna glances at Rafe, who’s now quite happily turning my Under Armour sports bras into hand puppets, and leads me into my connecting bathroom. “Was he that bad ?”
“You’re damn right!” I growl, letting go for the first time. “You wanna know what he told me ?”
“What?”
My hand goes to my throat, remembering his deep voice and the way that it both pissed me off and turned me on. “Basically, that he would do anything to me that he wants since we’re supposed to be engaged .”
Brianna gapes. “He did not !”
I nod, my skin flushed. It pisses me off that I’m getting hot thinking about it .
Brianna thinks for a minute, then chuckles. “Well shit, you said he’s hot, right? That should be right up your alley .”
I glower at her. “What’s that supposed to mean ?”
Brianna shrugs, leaning against the bathroom wall and grinning. “I recall a certain person urging me to sleep with Gavin when I barely knew him .”
“But this is different,” I protest. “Gavin was sweet. He wanted to court you, treat you like a princess. This guy . . .” I shake my head as the curl of his cocky lips appears in my mind. Oh, what those lips could do to my . . .
I shove the treasonous thoughts away, my chest heaving. “He’s different. Let’s just leave it at that .”
“You all right?” Brianna teases, raising an eyebrow. “Feeling a little hot in here? Need a cold shower or two ?”
I wave her off. “I’ll be fine .”
“Mmmhmm,” Brianna replies. “So, should I close the door behind me so you can break out your purple friend ?”
I scowl. “Please. He might be hot, but he’s not that hot .”
I smile, and we both start laughing at how bad my lie was. “I might need to take it with me though,” I admit. “We’re going to have to fake all this affection. From what he says, he’s not exactly worried about keeping his hands to himself, but with how he was talking to me, I’m not about to sleep with him .”
Right then, I see Rafey pull out a red number from the pile of clothes, a dress I bought years ago but have never worn. Even for me, it’s pretty sexy and flirty .
“Oh, Rafey, I can just kiss you,” I say, rushing over and grabbing it from him, but he hangs on like a toddler will. He giggles as I tickle him and deliver kisses to his head, letting go of the dress and letting me snatch it up without any more trouble .
I rush back to the bathroom and pull it on. It doesn’t go with the undies I’m wearing today and I’m not wearing heels, but it gives me an idea. I come back out, spreading my arms and twirling a few times for Brianna. “How do I look ?”
Brianna’s eyes go wide. “I think you know how you look .”
“Good,” I say with a naughty grin, the plan cooking up in my head on the fly, “because I’m going to wear this tomorrow to meet Oliver .”
Brianna looks at me like she’s about ready to call the psych ward. “Seriously? You just said you weren’t going to sleep with him, but then you’re gonna wear something like that? Don’t make me say what that dress is screaming. Not with Rafe around .”
I make a face, wiggling my butt in Bri’s direction as I check myself in the mirror. I know the heels I need to wear with this. They’d make me . . . oh, yeah. “I’m not gonna sleep with him. But two can play his game .”
“Right,” Brianna says. She grins as she gets the point of my plan. “You’re going to grab the bull by his horn .”
“More or less,” I say as I place my hands on my hips, admiring the dress that hugs my curves like Saran Wrap. Oh, I most certainly fucking will .
Chapter 6
Oliver
“R emember,” I tell Tony as we pull up to the curb of the airport. I hired a driver again, both for convenience and to make sure Tony and I can talk. “Don’t pull any bullshit while I’m gone or you’re going to find your ass and your head meeting .”
“Relax. I got it,” Tony says, annoyed. “You’ve only said it a hundred times before .”
“Good. Take care of Mom. We’re all she’s got,” I remind him, more gently this time. “She needs us .”
“Damn, Oli, yo
u’re just leaving for a week. Not a lifetime,” Tony says with a grimace .
We pull up in front of the airport, and I offer Tony my hand as we come to a stop. “Take care. I’ll be in touch .”
Tony shakes, and I’m encouraged. He’s got a man’s grip. I get out of the car and grab my bags out of the back. With a wave, I slap the hood and watch the car take off .
I stop and look around. I got a text from Gavin this morning telling me that Mindy would be here before I was. But she’s nowhere in sight .
I wait five minutes, and I’m about to pull out my phone when Brianna rolls up with Mindy, the sunroof down on her convertible. She gets out of the car and I have to fight to keep my expression neutral. She’s wearing dark shades and a tight body-hugging red dress. She might as well be wearing nothing at all .
Blood pumps furiously to my cock as it instantly hardens. Good thing I’m wearing a sport coat .
“Hey, Oliver,” Brianna greets chirpily as she gets out of the car. Mindy pretends she doesn’t notice me, walking around to the side and bending over to get her bags out of the back, giving me an unrivaled view of her ass. I’m pretty sure she’s doing it on purpose .
I swallow hard as fire runs through me. I see her toss a little glance behind her and then quickly look away as she slowly pulls her bag. I knew it—she’s doing this shit on purpose .
Okay, Princess, you wanna play? Challenge accepted .
“Hello, Brianna,” I say politely, trying to keep the strain out of my voice. “You’re looking as beautiful as ever. Gavin’s a lucky man .”
She walks over, gesturing at me with a smile. “Looking good yourself, Mr. Fiancé. What is that, Gucci ?”
I chuckle. “Thanks. I figured I’d play the part. Mindy’s supposed to have this stud of a date, so I dressed down a little .”
Brianna chuckles, then leans in to whisper to me. “Thank you for doing this .”
I shake my head. I still don’t get why this charade is needed, but whatever. “It’s no problem. I think it’ll be fun,” I say, trying to restrain a grin from spreading across my face .
Brianna gives me a measured look, and I wonder how much her husband has told her about me .
“I think that’s it,” Mindy says, pulling our attention to her. She has a small hoard of luggage. She’s packed for a month, not a damn week. “So where’s the redcap ?”
Brianna winks at me and stands on her tiptoes to pat me on my shoulder. “Take care of her for me, okay? She can be a handful .”
I give her a polite nod. Regardless of the dirty things that dress makes me want to do to Mindy and her body right now, I can tell Brianna cares about her a lot. “I’ll do my best .”
There’s a twinkle of mischievousness in Brianna’s eyes when she turns away, and something tells me that she’s laughing at an inner joke. Something tells me Mindy’s got something up her sleeve .
“Bye, trick,” Brianna says to Mindy, giving her a hug. “I’ll miss you, even if it’s only for a week .”
“Bye, hussy,” Mindy says, delivering a quick peck on her cheek. “Please control your language around my little Rafealicious while I’m gone. It’s really getting out of control. I’d like to know someone’s raising him right .”
Brianna turns to me, a mock scowl on her face. “You know what? I take that back. Have your way with her .”
Mindy gawks, then laughs defensively. She wasn’t expecting that one. “Oh, come on, you know I love you !”
“Nope, not listening,” Brianna says, sticking her fingers in her ears as she walks around and jumps into the driver seat. “I hope you get hogtied and covered in honey !”
Oh, the ideas that brings to my mind. Mindy blushes too but waves it off with a laugh. “Whatever !”
“That’s right!” Brianna says cheerfully. She starts up her car and gives us both a playful wave. “Bye, Felicia !”
She drives off, leaving Mindy looking almost shocked. “I’m so gonna kill you when I get back!” Mindy yells at the fleeing car, flipping the bird .
I chuckle at their antics. I don’t know if they’ve always been this way. Gavin says that his wife used to be pretty shy, but she could have fooled me .
When Brianna is gone, I walk over to Mindy. I look her up and down, letting my eyes tell her just how much I like it. “Dressed for the weather ?”
She looks down at the dress before giving me a saucy grin and putting on a terrible Scarlett O’Hara fake accent, teasing me again. “This little ole thing? I just threw it on .”
Painted it on is more like it, I think, checking her out again. “It looks good on you,” I admit, but not offering too much. I’m not going to let her think she has power over me and think I’m going to obey her little rules .
A blush comes over her face and she looks away. “Thanks.” She turns back around a moment later. “Can you get my bags ?”
“Just a second,” I tell her, holding in my grin. I pull out a black velvet box from my pocket, raising an eyebrow. “You’re missing something .”
“What is that—” she begins to ask. Her breath catches in her throat as I open it to reveal a platinum engagement ring with two stones, emerald and diamond to match our birth months. Gavin was helpful. “Oh, my . . .”
I lean in close, pressing my body into hers, letting her feel my cock pressing into her side and whispering in her ear. She’s trembling already, and I feel confidence returning. She’s so going to be mine .
“For you,” I say, meaning both my cock and the ring. I pull away a second later, grinning at the effect my moves have on her. “I’m sure it’s just the right size .”
She’s red in the face and her chest is heaving as I take the ring out of the box and place it on her finger. A perfect fit, of course .
“Why—” she begins to say breathlessly when I step away, staring at the ring as if it’s magic, and she’s not sure if it’s good magic or bad yet. “How did you . . .?”
“The details don’t matter, Princess,” I tell her. “We’re supposed to be engaged. How would it look if you show up without an engagement ring ?”
She looks like she wants to say something, but she knows I’m right. “You’re right,” she mutters so low I can barely hear her. “I guess I didn’t think about that. Where’d you get it ?”
I wink at her and throw her words back in her face. “That old thing? Oh, I just found it lying around somewhere .”
I hold in my grin as she scowls at me and I call the redcap for her bags. We check in the airport and walk through the terminal. On the way to the plane, she says very little. I try to keep my eyes off her tight curves, wanting to keep the little edge that I’ve got .
But by the time we board the plane and get in our seats, some of her spark has returned. We’re flying first class, of course, and she knows as she slides past me to the window seat exactly how much her ass is in my face. The flight attendant brings us some pre-takeoff drinks, and she turns to me, raising her glass .
“This ring is beautiful,” she says, her shoulder brushing mine as she leans slightly in to toast me. Up close, I can smell her perfume and it smells like heaven. Running her finger along the band, she chuckles as she checks out the stones. “Nice bullshit story about where you got it though. So, you’re a May baby ?”
“I am,” I admit. “Figured it’d help you remember .”
“Nice idea,” she says with a chuckle. “So where’d you get it ?”
Damn, she really wants to know badly. Well, it won’t hurt to tell her. “I got it from Feinberg’s in the middle of town. He’s got a good selection of stuff .”
“It must’ve been a small fortune,” Mindy says, biting her lip unconsciously .
“It wasn’t cheap,” I confirm. Actually, Feinberg will let me bring it back, minus a thousand bucks, but Mindy doesn’t need to know that. Besides, the ring looks good on her hand .
I clear my throat as the plane begins to taxi. “So what’s this place like ?”
“Summerfield?” Mi
ndy says, looking out the window for a moment. “It’s a rich bay town, sorta like the Keys or Martha’s Vineyard. Oh, by the way . . . for the next week, your name is going to be Harold .”
“Harold?” I ask, raising an eyebrow. “You must be fucking kidding me .”
“You got a problem with that?” Mindy asks in challenge. “Seriously, it’s what they’re expecting .”
“I’ll go by Oliver,” I say firmly. “There’s no way in hell I’m answering to Harold .”
“But . . .” Mindy says, stopping when I shake my head .
“We’ll say Harold’s a bad joke of a name you gave me. For something being especially . . . hairy .”
Her mouth opens and shuts like a fish and I hold in a grin .
“Nothing wrong with being called Harold,” she grumbles after a moment, having to get the last word in. “I had a goldfish named Harold. By the way, did you rehearse the names ?”
“I looked at it a little.” To be honest, I couldn't focus much on anything but Mindy .
She sucks in a breath, frustrated. “Okay, let me give you some tips. Mother can be bossy. She’ll try to run all over you. Grandma pretends to be dumb, but don’t let it fool you—she’s as sharp as a tack .”
“Anything else?” I ask. Sounds like Mindy’s not going to be the only fun I have this next week .
“Listen to me and follow my orders and you’ll be fine .”
I have to grin. She should know by now. “What did I tell you about that, Princess ?”
Mindy hums and turns back, her hand brushing her cup and dumping half a Sprite with ice in my lap. “Oh, Harold, I’m sorry!” she says with an overly dramatic gasp .
Before I can react, she gets a napkin and dabs at my crotch. Her strokes barely brush the top of my dick, and it twitches, wanting nothing more than to get rid of the two layers of fabric between me and her soft fingers .
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