Derailed

by Gina Watson

  “I think somebody’s had too much champagne.”

  “Think about it, Fiona. This is a reclining chair capable of reclining all parts of the body—in isolation. That means I could elevate your legs and I could—”

  Her lips descended on his, the tattooing forgotten, for now. Her tongue slid against his teeth, and then explored him further. Before tonight, she’d never been so aggressive in their kiss, but she’d blossomed under his encouraging moans.

  “I want to taste you, Fiona.”

  She smiled against his lips. At her mercy as he was reclined in the lounger, she stood over him like the Olympian goddess she was. Her hand cupped roughly between his legs. “What if I want to taste you first?”

  “There may be a way we can do it simultaneously.” He watched her closely, gauging her expression.

  “At the same time?”

  He nodded. As the position dawned on her she turned redder than he’d ever seen. It was so cute, but he wanted to ease her discomfort. “We don’t have to, I just wanted to give you the option.”

  “I don’t think I’m quite ready for that yet.”

  “Totally fine. We can rock, paper, scissors for the chair.”

  “That sounds more my speed.”

  She held her fist in her palm. “Ready?”

  He nodded. “Go.”

  “One, two, three.” He produced rock while she made scissors. “Looks like I win. Get your ass in the chair, Ms. Miller.”

  The lavender silk dress she wore was perfectly designed for the task he had in mind. He reclined the chair all the way back and then took her feet and placed them over his shoulders. Caressing her thighs he slid his hands upward to hook his fingers into the waist of her panties and peel them off. When they emerged from under the dress he smiled and wrestled them off around her legs. “Purple thong panties.” He stuffed them into the pocket of his pants. “I’m keeping these.”

  “I don’t care, do whatever you want.” She squirmed in the chair, desperate for him.

  His mouth feasted on her until she’d climaxed twice, and then she begged for him to put an end to their distance.

  He entered her slowly, “It’s our first coupling as an engaged couple.” Her reply was a moan from deep within her throat. “I love you, Fiona.”

  “Mmm.”

  He needed to see her so he lowered her legs and adjusted the chair so that they were face to face. “That’s better.” His hands haloed her face to accommodate rogue curls that had come loose from her diamond clip. “I like how you had your hair up tonight.”

  Her eyes flashed deep blue at him. She was still in a haze of ecstasy and he chuckled. “Okay, Ms. Miller, I think you’re telling me to focus and get down to business.”

  They made love twice and fell asleep in each other’s arms on the chair.

  Chapter 13

  Fiona woke a little dazed, but quickly realized she was the happiest she’d ever been in her lifetime. Beneath her slept her gorgeous fiancé. They still wore their clothes from the night before—the rehearsal dinner. Today was Bailey and Parker’s wedding day.

  A few groans and then Everett slit his eyes open. Smiling, he stretched. “Good morning. Remember this position because this is how I want to wake every morning.”

  She giggled. “Let me finish your tat.”

  She stood and checked on the ink she’d abandoned last night for something a little more amorous. She’d have to mix more, but it was totally worth it.

  “So,” he stretched his arms back behind him and yawned. “Let’s finish the tat and then take donuts and coffee over to the estate and announce our engagement. I want to tell everyone!”

  “Silly man, we can’t announce our engagement today.”

  “Why the hell not?”

  She mixed colors as she regarded him quizzically. “Seriously, Everett—we can’t take the focus away from Bailey and Parker. It’s their day. Imagine how you would feel if one of your brothers came and announced his engagement on our wedding day morning.”

  “Oh, I get it. So tomorrow then.”

  “Maybe tomorrow, but next week would be even better because everyone will have recovered from the wedding by then.”

  “Can we tell Ryder?”

  “Oh my God! Ryder!” She ran from the room and toward the telephone at the front counter, but Everett pulled her back.

  “Fiona, I asked my Dad to invite Ryder to stay the night.”

  “Oh.” She thought for a moment. “What if I would have turned you down and sent you packing?”

  “You would have made two of the Davids very sad. I told him not to tell anybody. I told him we’d make an announcement—hopefully.”

  “Should we call him?”

  “I’m pretty sure he concluded it went well.” He pulled her into a kiss. “So will we tell Ryder today?”

  “Of course! He’ll be so happy.”

  While Fiona finished up the tattoo they planned how they’d surprise Ryder with the good news.

  “Ryder loves Crepe House. He always gets the cinnamon roll. It takes up an entire plate.”

  “You’re kidding—I’ve never been there. Why don’t we take him there and then you can show him the ring and I’ll show him my tat.”

  “He’s going to be so happy—and so jealous. Do you know he begs me at least once per week to give him a tattoo? Says he won’t tell anybody, that it’ll be our little secret. I heard a mother in another state got arrested because she let her son get a tattoo of his dead brother’s name as a memorial on his arm.”

  “She needed a better lawyer. If you were to give Ryder a tat, you wouldn’t go to jail. But I do think ten is a little young for one, do you not?”

  “Oh no, I do. Especially a superhero tat.” She giggled. “I don’t think he’d be happy with that when he was thirty.”

  “No, I don’t either.”

  They laughed as she wiped away the excess ink. She continued to touch up his arm and when she was finished she cleaned the area to reveal her masterpiece. She inhaled deeply. “Okay, it’s finished.”

  Everett jumped from the chair and skidded over to the wall mirror. Fiona stood wide-eyed behind him, chewing her lip. What if he hated it? She herself was pleased with how it had turned out, but the realization of her name on his arm permanently made her nervous.

  He turned to face her, his mouth agape. Slowly he shook his head, “It’s beautiful. I’ll cherish it always.” He hugged her. “Let’s go pick up Ryder.”

  ***

  “Is this the biggest cinnamon roll you ever saw?” Ryder asked.

  “I do believe it is.” Everett forked a large bite into his mouth. “Mmm, he chewed, and then washed it down with tea. “Best tasting too. That’s delicious.” He pointed with his fork. “Fiona, have you tried this thing?”

  “Yes. It’s superb.” She smiled at his giddiness.

  His eyebrows rose in an unvoiced question and she took the bait. She cleared her throat, “So uh Ryder, we have some news.”

  “What?” He looked back and forth between them.

  Fiona held out her left hand. “That’s a nice ring, Mom. Did Everett give it to you?”

  “He did. Do you know what that means?”

  “What?”

  “We are engaged to be married. We’re gonna be a complete family.”

  Ryder looked at Everett for confirmation, “Really? What about Boston?”

  “We are a family now. I resigned from my job to move back to Baton Rouge, forever.”

  Ryder smiled. “So we’re all gonna be Davids?”

  “Yes, we are.”

  “Even me?”

  “Of course you,” Everett said. “You don’t want to keep your last name?”

  “No, I want to be a David.” Everett nodded. “You will definitely be a David. You already are at heart.”

  “Do you want Miller as your middle name?” Fiona asked.

  “Why?”

  “Ryder, your namesake is part of who you are. Certainly exposure can change
that and you can become part of another clan. Miller is your birth name. You may one day decide you want to be part of both the Davids and the Millers. If you keep your birth name, your name would be Ryder Jay Miller David. Or you can just be Ryder Jay David. Think about it, and then you can let us know.”

  Ryder nodded, seemingly understanding the importance of the decision.

  Chapter 14

  “And this is a cummerbund. You wrap it around your waist”—Everett clipped the sash together behind Ryder’s back—”Once it’s in place you can tighten it.” Everett pulled the sash to tighten it. “There you go. Check it out.”

  Ryder turned in the mirror, admiring his cummerbund.

  “Now for the bowtie.” Everett placed his tie around his neck and placed another black tie around Ryder’s. “Pull the ends down so that they’re even. Good. Now do the crossover.” Everett watched Ryder closely. “Looks real good, Ryder. Now we make the first bow. Hold it there with your finger and prepare for the big loop—over and under. Great job. And now we make the second bow and just tuck it right into the loop.” Everett helped Ryder a little just to get it straight. “You have to give it a wiggle-wiggle. There it is.” He turned Ryder toward the mirror. “What do you think?”

  “I’m fancy.”

  “You are fancy.”

  They put their patent leather shoes on and donned their jackets. He wanted Fiona to see Ryder in the full getup. Everett went into the bathroom to check his hair one last time in the mirror and put on aftershave. It was always something he did last in his dressing sequence. However, this time a pair of blue eyes watched him.

  “What’s that?”

  “After shave.” Ryder seemed very interested in the bottle. “Would you like a little?”

  He cupped his hands together and Everett splashed a little onto them. He watched as Ryder mimicked his every move. When he smoothed his hair down, Ryder did the same. “That’s the end of it. We are two handsome dudes. Let’s go find your mom and see if she agrees.”

  Fiona was sipping tea in the kitchen. She turned when she heard their voices. When she saw them her hands cupped her face. Everett wondered if something wasn’t quite right.

  “Fiona?”

  She inhaled through a stuffy nose. “Oh my God, Ryder.” Tears fell fast and furious down her face. “You look like a gentleman.” Her eyes locked with Everett’s, “Thank you.”

  He went to her and pulled her into his chest. “Our appearance wasn’t supposed to make you cry. You may give us a complex. Here we thought we looked hot and we’ve made you cry.”

  “You do look hot. I’ve just never seen Ryder in a tux before. You two handsome lads took my breath away.”

  “Now that’s more like it,” Everett cockily smiled. “Ryder don’t forget, mum’s the word on the engagement for now.”

  “It’s our family secret.” Ryder winked and walked ahead of them out to the SUV.

  “Oh geez, he’s winking now. He’s just going to be a miniature version of you, isn’t he?”

  “Is that a bad thing?”

  “No, it’s a wonderful thing.”

  Epilogue

  “PumPecApple cake.”

  “Puppypull cake.”

  “No pum—pec—apple cake.”

  “Pum—pec—apple.”

  “There you go.” Ryder made a grand gesture by clapping his hands together when his little brother Anthony got the name right.

  “Mom, you’re my sous-chef.”

  “Yes, and I’d like to thank you for this high honor by offering you a gift.”

  “Awesome, you know I love gifts.”

  “I do, baby.”

  She passed him a soft package wrapped in brown paper. He ripped it open and pulled out the apron. Embroidered on the lapel was:

  David Seafood Company

  Ryder Jay David

  On the chest was an embroidered crawdad.

  “It’s perfect, Mom.” He leaned over and hugged her into his side, kissing the top of her head. He was six-feet tall now and towered over her five-foot frame. “Thank you.”

  “You’re most welcome. I know you’re excited to start working with Parker.”

  “It’s so cool. I can’t believe we’re opening a David family restaurant.”

  “Your idea was a great one.”

  “Mommy, we’re gonna make a puppy pull cake.”

  “Puppy pull?”

  “That’s not how we practiced it Tony.”

  “Pum—pec—apple.” Ryder ticked the names off on his fingers and his six-year-old brother attempted the same.

  “Pum—pec—apple cake.”

  “Where’s Ryder?” Everett asked.

  “Dad?” Ryder watched his father scarf down a kolache.

  Everett pointed at the pastry, “Best kolaches ever!” He reached for another, but Fiona swatted his hand away. He pouted.

  “You’ve had enough. Ryder’s making a pum—pec—apple cake and we’ve still got to leave room for your brother’s fried crabs, Julian’s turducken, and I think your father is out on the porch smoking a turkey.”

  Everett smiled proudly. “Just another Thanksgiving day at the David’s.”

  “Ryder, before you get started, I’ve got something for you. Why don’t you follow me?” Fiona smiled knowingly.

  Ryder followed Everett out to the driveway where a brand new Chevrolet Silverado truck sat. Everett pressed the key fob prompting a series of digital beeps, and then he jiggled the keys. “I know you’ll need a truck for your new job. Your mother and I talked about having you help with the gas, but we’ll settle on that later. Merry Christmas, son.”

  “Dad, I …” Fiona knew her son well enough to know that he was trying not to cry.

  Everett, who was crying and not afraid of letting it show, pulled his son into a tight hug. “I love you, Ryder.” His voice cracked with the admission.

  “I love you too, dad.”

  Fiona watched from the sidelines, not wanting to disturb their moment. She got much joy out of watching the two of them interact.

  “Now tell me, what the hell is a pum—pec—apple cake?”

  They laughed deeply. “It’s a pumpkin pie baked in a spice cake, a pecan pie baked in a devil’s food cake, and an apple pie baked in a caramel-flavored cake. Three pies, three cakes, stacked together and iced.”

  “Holy hell. It’s the turducken equivalent dessert.”

  “Needless to say, it’s the only dessert we’re having this Thanksgiving.”

  “I should think so.”

  Fiona approached and they made room for her in the middle. With her son on one side and her husband on the other, life was complete. Almost. “We left little Anthony in the kitchen with your icing. He and Maura are licking the bowl, so you may be short for the cake.”

  The men chuckled.

  “I have some news,” Fiona said.

  They both looked at her, patient and waiting. She looked at Ryder, “You’re going to be a brother again”—and then she turned to look at Everett—”And you’re going to be a father, again.”

  They group hugged and shared some tears.

  “Mom, that’s great. Another brother, or maybe this time we could get a sister in the mix.”

  “I’d like a girl too, but not because boy’s aren’t the best,” Everett clarified.

  “Boys are the best,” Fiona confirmed. “This is the best Thanksgiving of my life.

  “You say that every year,” they both mumbled in unison.

  “That’s because every year it’s true.”

  Dear Reader,

  I hope you enjoyed Derailed: David Family Saga, Book Three. I loved, loved, loved, little Ryder Jay Miller. Up next and just in time for Halloween is The Haunting of Ashton David. He’s the crazy demented billionaire cousin of our seafood loving Davids. I want to do something for my devoted readers and so I am offering the book for .99 cents. Make sure to pick up a copy for a spooky good time.

  What about Courtney David, Parker, Julian, and Everett�
�s feisty little sister? Her story will be available November 2014. I’ve been waiting for this one. It’s entitled Dirty. You may recall Courtney had a little dream on the couch about a guy named Sawyer. It’s basically your rich little daddy’s girl meets a rough around the edges blue-collar worker (I have one of those and I love him). Sawyer has many secrets and he is going to be difficult to get to know, but I think Courtney can handle him.

  As an author, I love feedback. Candidly, you are the reason that I explored Parker’s future and now we have the Davids. So, tell me what you liked, what you loved, even what you didn’t like. I’d love to hear from you. You can write me at ginawatson@mac.com and visit me on the web at ginawatson.net.

  Finally, I need to ask a favor. If you’re so inclined, I’d love a review of Derailed: David Family Saga, Book Three. Loved it, didn’t love it, long, short, words of encouragement—I’d just enjoy your feedback.

  Reviews can be tough to come by these days. You, the reader, have the power now to make or break a book. If you have the time, here’s a link to my author page on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/author/ginawatson. You can also find all of my books at http://ginawatson.net/books/main.php. To make it easier, I’ve only listed this one platform, but you may review it at Barnes & Noble, iBooks, wherever you purchased the ebook. Additionally, if you didn’t purchase the book at Amazon, but do have an Amazon account, you can leave your review there—just click the link above.

  Thank you so much for reading Derailed: David Family Saga, Book Three and for spending time with me.

  In gratitude,

  The Haunting of Ashton David Excerpt

  Excerpt has not been edited. Content may change upon final publication.

  Chapter 1

  “Harmony, Ashton’s waiting! Get your butt down here already!” Her brother hollered from downstairs.

  Her mom placed the last pin in her hair, and then she stood in front of the mirror to check her look.

  “You look beautiful, darling.” Her mother kissed her cheek, careful not to mess up her hair.

  “I can’t believe I’m attending junior prom.”

  “I attended junior prom with your father when I was just a freshman. Just think, you’ll get to go all four years.”