Hurrying to get her dressed, I notice she has little goosebumps. “Oh my goodness. Let’s hurry up and get you warmed up, Mia.”
Once she’s dressed, I pick her up and put her in her little bed and tuck her in tight then sit next to her and run my hands over the blankets to make some friction and in no time her cheeks are pink and she’s smiling.
“I’m warm now,” she says.
Her eyes are already heavy as she wiggles her head to make it more comfortable. “Do you need a story tonight?”
“No,” she says. “I’m really sleepy. We did a lot of fun stuff today. I like Miss Becky. She’s fun and funny. She always has bubbles in her apron pocket. That’s fun.”
“I see.” I kiss her forehead and find her already breathing slow paced breaths, meaning she’s well on her way to sleep.
While very glad they had fun with Becky, it does point out to me that she knows what she’s doing and I do not. Carter has made it all the way to four and a half without me teaching him to tie his shoes.
To be honest, it didn’t even occur to me to try to teach him. The only reason I knew how to potty-train Mia was because I was around when my sister, Hope, was training Carter. They died before he was fully trained so I got my practice in with him.
Thinking even for a fraction of a second about their deaths has me feeling a little sad and melancholy. I shake it off and go get my phone to call the cab service.
If I didn’t have the kids, I’d just let Jude come get me. But I do and I don’t want him to know where I live yet. Maybe never. Most likely, never!
After making the call, I text Jude that I’ll be leaving soon and my phone rings as he calls me. “Hey,” he says.
His deep, smooth voice is so nice to hear even if he did just say one word. “Hey,” I say back as I play with the diamond necklace, also my sister’s.
“Can you call me instead of texting me?” he asks. “I like to hear your voice when I’m talking to you.”
I giggle and feel a warmth move all through me. “I suppose I could do that. I just didn’t want to bother you is the reason why I texted.”
“You will never be bothering me, Mercy. I mean that. So I’ll take off and meet you in about thirty minutes. You know I’m going to hold you in my arms all night, right?”
The warm feeling turns to heat and I know I’m flushing. “You promise.”
He makes a little moaning sound. “I do. You know it’s at a hotel. My parents booked a lot of rooms there. I’m staying in one and I’d love it if you stayed with me.”
I freeze. Stay the night with him. After only one date. Well, this technically makes it two dates. Wait! If you count the breakfast as one, the boat as two, and this party as three then that’s three dates. That’s the rule, isn’t it? Three dates have to go by before sex happens?
I shake my head and laugh. “You’re too bad. I’ll see you there.”
He groans a little then says, “Fine, I had to try. See you there.”
Making my way down the hall, I check in on both kids and find them both making little snores. They’re fast asleep and won’t even miss me while they sleep. Everything seems okay.
I find Becky in the living room reading a book as she sits on the sofa. “You can stay in my bedroom, Becky. I’ll sleep on the couch when I get home.”
“No, I’ll take the couch,” she says. “It’s not a problem.”
“No, you will take my bed. After all you’ve done for me today, you’re taking the bed,” I say with that stern tone I use for work.
She smiles and nods, “Okay, boss.”
“And thanks for this. I promise I won’t be slamming you with babysitting requests the way I’ve done today.”
“I love hanging out with them. Please ask me anytime you want to. I still live at home with Mom and my four brothers. This is like a vacation for me, to be honest with you.”
I laugh and look around. “Where’s your puppy?”
“I left him in the back yard. I’m not about to bring him inside of your home.”
“Nonsense,” I say with a wave of my hand. “Do you keep him inside of your home?”
She nods. “I do. But this isn’t my place so he can stay outside. It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not. Bring him inside. I insist.” The cab honks outside. “I have to go now. You can leave in the morning. I don’t want you driving home late. Have breakfast in the morning with us, please.”
She smiles and nods then goes back to her reading as I leave. For the first time since I took the kids over, I feel a little normalcy is back in my life. Thanks to the competent young woman.
Chapter 4
JUDE
Waiting nervously for the first time I can remember since I was a kid, I spot a cab pulling up at the front of the hotel where my parents’ anniversary party is being held. When she steps out of the back of the cab I blink and shake my head as I’m not completely sure it’s her.
Long, toned legs go all the way up to a short black dress that has a daring plunging back, showing off some more toned and tanned skin. Loose spirals of golden blonde hair fall out of a nest of loose curls on top of the woman’s head. The lights catch small diamond-like sparkles that have been placed all through the curls.
She turns her head and looks at me with a smile on her red lips. Her blue eyes are outlined in a darker shade of blue and she’s beyond anything I’ve ever seen before. The apples of her cheeks spring up as her smile grows and she waves at me. “Are you just going to stand there and look at me, Jude?”
The sound of my name brings me out of the daze she’s put me in and I mumble, “Coming.”
I can’t feel my feet as I go to her. She does a little turnaround and asks, “Is this okay? I was worried about what to wear.”
“You’re perfect, Mercy. Absolutely perfect,” I manage to say.
Her black heels are high and shiny and make her legs look amazing. They looked great in her shorts and flip flops but now they look out of this world. My fingertips graze the side of her exposed thigh as I move my hand up to take hers and slip it into the crock of my arm.
Moving my body in so she’s closer to me, I hear her breathe what sounds like a sigh of relief. “I know I’m not perfect but thank you for saying that. I was so worried I was over or under dressed. I’ve never dressed like this before. I Googled what to wear to fancy parties and something like this outfit popped up. I’m so nervous. Can you tell that I’m nervous? You have no idea how my stomach feels right now. Sometimes when I’m nervous I talk too fast and too much. Tell me if I do that. I don’t want to,” she stops talking.
Because I’ve stopped her with a kiss. My hand holds her face still as I caress her jawline. As I kiss her, I can feel the tension leaving her body.
“No need to be nervous. Everyone at the party is most likely already a little tipsy and will love you no matter what. Not that there’s a thing not to adore about you. You look amazing. You’re gorgeous without a spot of makeup on your face and wearing normal clothes. Put on your best face and style your hair, toss on some nice clothes and fuck me, Mercy. You’re making me insane for you. You’ll do well to get out of my arms at all tonight.”
She laughs a little and puts her hand on my chest as her eyes cut off to the sides. “Jude, people are looking at us.”
“I bet they are. You look like a movie star.” I move back to her side and lace our fingers together as I lead her to the elevator that will take us up to the club my parents rented for their party. “My parents have a few singers here for the entertainment tonight. Have you ever heard of George Strait?”
“Shut up!” she says as we get on the elevator that goes up to the club. “You’re messing with me.”
“So you’ve heard of him then?” I ask with a smile. “He’s here, along with a few of his friends, Alan Jackson, this little guy named Kenny, and some guy named Willie. He’s old and wears his hair in braids. He’s funny, though. And he sings pretty good too.”
“For real, Jude?” she
asks as her jaw hangs open. “I’m really about to freak out. Oh my, God!”
“Don’t freak out. They’re just people like you and me.” The elevator doors open and we step off of it as I run my arm around her waist. “Here we are. What do you think?”
The room is dim with lights randomly lighting up areas for milliseconds as the strobe light spins in a circle above a large dancefloor that’s full of people. I turn my head to look at Mercy and her eyes are large as she takes everything in.
A waiter walks by with a tray full of drinks and stops. “Pick anything you want.” I choose a small glass of dark liquor while her shaking hand picks up a champagne flute.
“Thank you,” she says to the man then she looks at me. “And thank you. This is so beyond what I thought it would be.”
After a sip of my drink, I lean in and say in her ear, “This is just the tip of the iceberg when you’re with me.”
She takes a long drink as she looks at me. “So show me around, I guess.”
Going to find my parents’ table, I whisper to her, “Now don’t be all professional with them. Talk to them the same way you talk to me.”
She nods and gives me a thumbs up. She’s so funny. Her appearance is that of a sophisticated beauty. Her actions are that of a young woman who thinks she’s nothing special. I wonder if she’s really looked at herself in a mirror lately. She is magnificent!
Out of nowhere pops my three-year younger brother, Zeek. “Hey, bro!” He hugs me then gestures to Mercy. “And who do we have here?”
“This is Mercy Noland, she’s my date for tonight,” I say as I look at her with adoring eyes.
My brother, in typical Zeek fashion, holds out his arms. “Well, then get over here beautiful. In this family, we hug our hellos. I’m Zeek, this ugly guy’s younger and much more attractive brother.”
Mercy looks at me for only a moment before Zeek has her in a hug. Her cheeks turn red but she maintains her composure. “Nice to meet you, Zeek.”
He takes her hand and pulls her along with him as I follow behind. She looks over her shoulder at me and I give her a nod. This is what he does after all.
We make our way to my family’s table and my father gets up as Zeek says in a very loud voice. “Look who Jude brought to the party. Her name is Mercy and our boy, Jude, looks like he’s gonna need some of that tonight!”
I take Mercy back as she blushes and drops her head. My arm goes around her shoulders and I whisper, “The introductions are the worst, I know this. But they’ll be over with soon.”
She takes in a deep breath and looks up again. My father comes to us and brings Mom along as he says, “Well, well, well, we were wondering what was taking you so long but now we know. You were up in Heaven bringing this little beauty down to Earth with you.” He takes Mercy’s hand and kisses it. “If I wasn’t already hitched, I’d have to give my boy here a run for his money!” He laughs and Mom hits his shoulder.
“Don’t mind him, sweetie. He’s all bark and no bite.” She shakes Mercy’s hand. “I’m Jude’s mother, Loretta. His father’s name is, Jim. It’s nice to meet you. I’m so glad you could come tonight.”
The lights go down as the music is about to start and I take Mercy to sit down as everyone else takes their seats. Sitting side by side, I put my arm around her shoulders. She looks at me with a smile and lays her head on my shoulder. “This is the coolest thing ever, Jude. Thank you.”
With a kiss to the side of her head, I say, “No, thank you.”
And for the first time in my life, I really mean it!
Chapter 5
MERCY
This doesn’t feel real. Not one bit!
Jude is holding me in his arms as we dance to a slow song sang by the man who made it and is sitting on a stage not far from where we are. It’s too unreal. Everything is so unreal.
His lips brush over my neck as he says quietly, “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“It would sound stupid to you.”
He spins me around then says, “Nothing that comes out of your mouth ever sounds stupid.”
“Okay, I was just thinking that this doesn’t seem real. I kind of think I’m going to wake up and it will all have been a dream,” I confess.
He laughs a deep, throaty laugh. “Mercy, this is real and your life is about to become something people only dream about. If you let it that is.”
How I wish I could let it all change. But I can’t. I’m not about to spoil this night for him, though. “Why me?”
“Why not you?” he asks then spins me around again as the song ends then he kisses me.
A hand touches my shoulder and he ends our kiss. I turn to see a young woman smiling at me. She has Jude’s green-brown eyes and I can tell she’s his sister even though her hair has blonde streaks in the deep brown color.
“I’m Rose,” she says as she holds out her arms. “In this family, we hug hello.”
“So I’ve heard,” I say and find Jude letting me out of his arms and I go into his sisters. “I’m Mercy.”
“I know. I heard Zeek when he yelled it out,” she says as she lets me go and I find Jude’s arm back around my waist, pulling me tight to his side. “I just wanted to introduce myself. You’re like the first real woman my oldest brother has ever brought around.”
“That can’t be,” I say as I look at Jude who’s smiling like crazy.
Rose nods. “It’s true. My brother usually has a certain type of girl he hangs with. Rich as hell and fake as hell too. You seem genuine. The real deal.”
“Thank you,” I say as I can’t seem to take my eyes off of Jude’s as they dance around in a sexy and mischievous way.
“Let’s sit this one out and get something to eat and drink, baby.” He leads me to another area off of the loud dance area.
A few people are in the smaller room with a large buffet and a bar. “Wow, that buffet is huge!” I say as I see an eight-foot-long table full of all kinds of food.
“My mother is the type who wants everyone to get exactly what they want. So what are you in the mood for?” he asks me as he takes me to look over the vast array of food.
“Those steaks look good. Then again, so does that tray of enchiladas. How am I going to choose?” I ask as I look at all the great food.
He lets me go and picks up a plate, placing a steak on it and one enchilada too. “Have both. There are no rules.”
I laugh and put a spoonful of mashed sweet potatoes on the plate too. “We have to have a vegetable,” I say as I pick up a little bowl of green beans.
Then we go to a small table as Jude waves at a waiter. “Two beers on tap, please.”
The man nods and goes off to get our drinks. Jude pulls the chair out for me to sit in and pulls the one he’s about to sit in closer to mine. When he sits, our legs touch and I find it sweet and charming.
He can’t seem to keep his body away from mine. He’s the first man to ever want to be around me this much and in almost constant connection too.
Rose comes into the room with a young guy trailing after her. Her date, I guess. They make plates while Jude and I share our plate as Jude cuts the steak and gives me a bite.
Rose and her date come and sit across from us. A thing that has Jude frowning a little. “Who’s your date, Rose?” he asks.
“Oh, yeah, you haven’t met him yet. This is Donald Pendergrass,” she says as she gestures to the shy looking young man. “We met online. He’s from London.”
“Hello,” he says with a quiet voice.
I notice that Jude isn’t introducing us so I do that. “I’m Mercy and this is Jude.”
“Nice to meet you both,” Donald says then looks at his plate as Jude’s quiet behavior is unnerving.
“So, London?” I ask. “Did you fly over just for this event?”
His eyes cut to Rose and she shakes her head then says, “I’ve had Donald over here for about a month. He’s staying in this hotel as a matter of fact.”
“Why is that?” Jude asks
as he looks at his sister. “Why have you been hiding him from us? And when did you start meeting men online? Do you know how dangerous that is?”
“And that right there is why I hid him from you all. I knew everyone would get all over me for meeting someone online. Anyway, he’s here and I’m introducing him to everyone now. God! I’m not a baby! I’m twenty-four-years-old. When will all of you stop treating me like a baby?” she whines.
Placing my hand on Jude’s leg, I ask Donald, “So what is it you do for a living, Donald?”
“I’m in between jobs right now. I’ve been a professional gamer back in London. I’ve yet to find employment here doing that yet,” he says as he looks at me then right back down at his plate.
Jude’s body tenses as he asks, “So my little sister is supporting you?”
Donald nods and Rose looks pissed as she says, “That is none of your business. God knows how much money you’ve blown on bitches, dear brother.”
“Whoa,” I say to try to ease the situation. “No reason to get all up in arms about anything. This night is about your parents and nothing else. So let this go.” I look at Jude as I touch his chin to make him look at me. “Okay?”
He nods and cuts another bite of steak and gives me a bite. “For you, Mercy.” He glances his sister’s way then looks back at me. “Only for you.”
With a nod and a smile, I place a little kiss on his lips and he smiles back at me. All the fire in his eyes is gone and he laughs then gives me a bite of the enchilada which I find is spicy.
Grabbing the beer, the waiter placed in front of us only seconds ago, I chug it all down as they laugh. Jude takes a bite and then a little drink of his beer then says, “It’s not that hot, Mercy.”
The waiter, noticing my distress, brings another beer to me and I manage to only take a sip of it then Jude is placing a forkful of sweet potatoes into my mouth. “This should cool you off.”
It does the trick and when he holds out another bite of that hot as Hades enchilada, I shake my head, making them all laugh.
I can see the kind of family they are now. A bunch of sadists!
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