Flawlessly Flawed

by Amelia Shea

  “Ray, come out here. Cassie is here with her…friend.” Her mom shouted to her dad, and Cassie could hear the excitement in her voice. Her eyes still remained on T, filled with joy.

  Yep, real cool, Mom. Cassie rolled her eyes. Looking over at T, he stood on the steps, completely calm, his face relaxed.

  Cassie saw her dad saunter up and smile. “There’s my cuddle bug.”

  Cassie sighed and blew out an exasperated breath. Oh, the pet names.

  “Hey, Daddy.” She passed her mom, who was stuck in her spot and gave her dad a big hug. He was a large man, over six feet, and had eaten one too many donuts. He was like a bear, and as Cassie remembered from childhood, he always gave the best hugs.

  He kept his arm around her, almost in a protective stance, but loosened his hold on her.

  “You going to introduce us to your friend?” he asked.

  Cassie froze. She gulped and looked at T, who stared back at her with a look of question. She gave an awkward smile and opened her mouth but T jumped in before she could speak.

  “I’m Tegan Garrison, sir.” He extended his hand to her father.

  Her dad released his hold on her, walked over and took his hand. “Nice to meet you, son. Ray Miller, and this is Cassie’s mom, Gayle.”

  Tegan.

  Cassie watched in awe as T, or Tegan, shook her dad’s hand and then her mom’s. Her mom took his hand and covered her other over his. She always did that with people she liked. Cassie smiled. Her mom liked him already.

  “Let’s get inside.” Her dad motioned for her mother and then Cassie with T following.

  Her mom showed T to his room. The guest room had once been her dad’s office on the main floor. Cassie brought her bag up to her room. It had since been cleaned up with new bedding and some new furniture, but it still had the scent of her childhood room. Her mom had framed artwork from when she was a kid and hung it on the walls.

  She headed back down to find T at the foot of the staircase with a beer in hand. Cassie stopped on the last step and smirked. “I see my dad is making you feel welcome.” She nodded to the beer. Cassie leaned in and muttered, “Tegan, huh?”

  His gaze trailed down her body with a sexy, wicked glint, bringing the bottle to his lips. She shivered under his stare. His eyes were so dark, almost black, but they were so expressive and sexy. She flushed, knowing exactly what he must be thinking. He wanted her, to be inside her. Rubbing her thighs together, she tried to ease the ache she had for him.

  She blinked when she realized his lips were moving.

  “I’m sorry, what?”

  T smirked. “You keep looking at me with those fuck-me eyes, I’m gonna do just that,” he whispered.

  “Promise?” She moved in closer and gave him a quick kiss.

  Cassie heard his low growl and his eyes darkened. “Don’t pull the tiger’s tail.”

  Cassie inched in, placing her hands on his shoulders and pressing her lips to his in another soft kiss. She kept her head close to his. “It’s not your tail I wanna pull on, T.”

  She leaned in again but a loud crash had her jumping back and looking at the door.

  “We’re here!” Becca announced as she came through the door with three kids in tow, followed by Adam, her husband, and Cassie’s brother, Charlie, his wife, Gwen, and their three kids. Let the family party begin.

  She looked back at T, “We’ll finish this…later,” he mouthed, and looked back at her family.

  Chills ran through her and her eagerness to finish what she started had her counting down the minutes until they were alone.

  * * * *

  T wasn’t sure what he’d expected but he was surprised at how easily he fit into the fold of her family. He’d never “met the folks” before; hell, he’d barely met the women he had sex with. This was new for him. Strangely, it wasn’t bad. Her parents were cool as shit and just watching them with Cassie, he could see the love they had for her. How could they not?

  Her entire family had been welcoming, especially her sister. When Cassie introduced them, he extended his hand but she ignored it and hugged him. T was not a hugger but he went with it, awkwardly.

  There was an ease they had with each other that reminded him of his family. He stayed quiet, watching their dynamic. He was slightly on edge. He found himself wanting their acceptance. T spent his life not giving a shit what others thought of him but here with her and her family, he cared. And that unfamiliar feeling scared him.

  He hated fear—scarred from so much of it as a kid, he learned to reverse the fear. He learned to be intimidating. His size helped but true fear wasn’t just about appearance, it was about attitude, something he learned early on.

  T looked up from the sink into the mirror. He saw a hard man. For the first time in his life, he hoped to one day to look again and see a softer side. For Cassie.

  He was walking back from the bathroom when he heard Cassie and her sister in the kitchen, their backs to him. He stopped at the door.

  “Soooooo?” Becca drew out.

  “So, what?” Cassie laughed as she placed the candles on the cake.

  “Don’t you play coy with me, Cassarrah Lynn. What is going on with Tegan? Are you guys dating?”

  “I don’t know. He doesn’t date so I really don’t know what we’re doing.”

  “So, my little sister is just getting a little somethin’, somethin’?” Becca wiggled her eyebrows.

  Cassie nudged her with her shoulder. “Shut up.”

  Becca turned to face Cassie and smiled. “You like him, don’t you?”

  T watched as Cassie turned her head, a beautiful smile on her lips. “Yeah. Probably too much. He just…he’s not like any guy I’ve ever met. He comes off as this tough and scary guy but there’s something about him…He’s special.” She snorted. “Probably going to be left in a pool of tears when he realizes what a dork I am.”

  “Pfft…nah, I’m sure he’s already figured out what a dork you are. He catch you talking to yourself yet?”

  “Oh, shut up!”

  “Cass, seriously? He’d be a fool not to gobble you up and put on ring on that finger. You are the best person I know. That boy is gonna fall hard for you, Cass, and if he doesn’t, he’s not worthy of you.”

  “Awww…Becs, that’s so sweet.” Her smile turned to a fake glare. “But don’t think I’m not still pissed about that blind date. I will seek revenge for that.”

  Becca snapped her fingers and teased, “Shit! I thought my sweet words would call us even.”

  They both started laughing and T turned away and walked to the living room where the men were. She liked him, probably too much. Not a fucking chance. She said he was special. Stone’s words repeated in his head, “A woman sees you, the real you, ya don’t let that shit go…” He wouldn’t let her go, she was his and he was hers. They’d figure it all out together.

  Entering the room, T turned to the kids, who had all congregated by the fireplace. There was a bin of overflowing toys and the kids looked like they were having a blast emptying it. Charlie’s boys were playing with their cars and a makeshift track while the twins sat playing with the wrapping paper from the presents they had opened earlier. T smiled to himself. Cassie should have saved her money and just bought them boxes and paper.

  Watching the kids, T’s mind wandered with a thought of someday his own kids playing in that exact spot at Grandma’s and Grandpa’s. Settling down with a woman and starting a family wasn’t something T ever thought about. Until Cassie.

  T walked over, took a seat on the empty couch and watched a bit of the game on TV in the living room where the men had all congregated after dinner.

  “So, T, what do you do?” Adam asked.

  “I work for my family’s company. We are a securities company, specializing in bounty hunting.”

  “Damn, man, that sounds exciting,” Charlie said.

  “Yeah, it’s interesting.”

  “Sounds dang
erous to me.” Gayle had walked into the room and placed a tray of coffee and cups on the table. She raised her eyes at T in question.

  “It can be,” T answered truthfully. Her mom was a smart woman; there was no reason to sugarcoat it.

  “You make sure to be safe,” she said with a pointed finger and hand on her hip.

  T suppressed a smile and nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

  She winked at him before turning back and going to the kitchen. At that moment, T felt a pain in his heart. Not physical but almost mental. She reminded him of his own mom. It was moments like this that he missed her most.

  “Don’t mind her, T; she’s like that with all her kids. Always trying to keep them safe, no matter how old they are,” Charlie said, looking back at the TV.

  T smiled inside. He missed being a mom’s kid.

  * * * *

  Cassie came into the room and plopped down next to T on the couch. She scooted further into his side. She loved how big he was in comparison to her. It made her feel protected and safe. His arm that had been resting on the back of the couch dropped down around her shoulders and she felt him tug her closer.

  She smiled when he whispered in her ear. “Cassarah, huh?”

  Cassie playfully elbowed him in the ribs and T laughed, drawing everyone’s attention to them. Her dad had a funny look on his face. When Cassie made eye contact she shrugged at him. He said nothing, just smiled and winked.

  “So, Tegan, tell us about yourself.” Becca sat on the couch next to her husband.

  “Jeez, Becca, don’t interrogate him.”

  Becca laughed. “What? We want to get to know him. Jeez, Cassie,” she responded in a mocking tone. “This is usually what happens when you bring someone home to meet your family.”

  Cassie looked around the room and found all eyes were on her. This was awkward. He came to keep her safe, not technically meet her family. Cassie looked over at her mom who squinted at her in question.

  “Yeah, well, T is private.”

  Cassie heard him laugh and felt the rumble of his chest against her side. She glanced his way to find him smiling with a questioning look on his face.

  “Babe, I’m private to people I don’t give a sh—that I don’t care about. It’s your family.” T looked across the room at Becca. “As Cassie said, I’m private, so you already know that. I’m from Houston. I’ve worked at my family’s business for the last three years. Before that I was in the Marines for six years with my brother Stone. I have two other brothers, Ethan and Bogs, and a sister, Roxanne.”

  “Wow, that’s a lot of kids; your mom must be a saint.” Gayle sighed.

  Cassie gasped, drawing everyone’s attention, including T’s. Her mom didn’t know and would feel horrible bringing up his mom.

  “We were all adopted. My mom and dad, the Garrisons, adopted me when I was twelve.” He paused and tugged Cassie closer to him. She reached up to hold the hand that was on her shoulder.

  “My mom died three years ago. Breast cancer.”

  “Oh, dear, Tegan, I’m so sorry.” Gayle sighed.

  “So sorry, son,” her dad muttered.

  There was complete silence and Cassie knew her family was feeling for T. Their family knew loss, too. Her grandmother died a few years back; it was very sad. Cassie couldn’t even imagine losing her mom. The room was solemn and she racked her head for something to say.

  “But you are right, raising four boys, my mom was a saint,” T joked, and her mother smiled back at him.

  “I bet she was.”

  The mood completely lightened and Becca continued her interrogation, which T seemed to take in stride.

  He talked about his time in the Marines and how he learned a lot but was ready to leave when he did. He talked briefly about his bounty hunting and how he enjoyed the challenge.

  Sarah, Becca’s three-year-old, walked into the room with a doll in her hand. Cassie rolled her eyes. Here we go. Sarah loved her dolls and insisted on an outfit change every five minutes. Usually, Aunt Cassie was her go-to person.

  She grinned at Sarah, making her way with a dress in one hand and her baby doll in the other. Cassie reached out but Sarah passed right by her and stopped in front of T. She pushed her doll into his lap and held the dress up to his chest.

  “You dwess baby,” her girly, three-year-old, sweet voice said.

  “Manners, Sarah Lynn,” Becca stated from the other side of the room.

  Sara looked back at her mom, then back to T, opened her eyes big, and said, “Pweeze?”

  Cassie immediately reached out to Sarah. “Give it to me, sweetie, I’ll do it.”

  Sarah looked at Cassie then back up at T with a confused look on her face. A hand landed on Cassie’s wrist and she looked up at him also.

  His soft eyes peered into hers. “Pixie, she asked me to do it, not you.” Turning to Sarah, he asked, “You want me to do it?”

  Sarah nodded dramatically and smiled at T. Cassie had a feeling she wasn’t the only one in the room who liked him. Cassie watched as he gently undressed her doll and put the new outfit on. He buttoned the back of the shirt and handed it to Sarah.

  He leaned in and whispered loudly, “How’d I do?”

  Sarah beamed her bright smile at him. “Gweat!” She grabbed her doll and raced off but Cassie knew she’d be back in five minutes.

  “That was sweet.” Cassie leaned in and kissed his lips. Not even thinking about her family watching, she had to kiss him, overwhelmed by his tenderness with her niece.

  “I can be sweet.” He kissed her back and glared at her but this time she could see the humor in his eyes.

  “You know she’s going to be having you change clothes all night, right?”

  T squinted at her. Like clockwork, Sarah wobbled in with the same doll and a new outfit in hand walking straight for her target, T. Cassie burst out laughing.

  Chapter 18

  THE women had gathered in the kitchen, cleaning up after cake. T, Cassie’s brother, and her dad had settled in the living room, bullshitting about next year’s draft picks over beers.

  “Got to catch a game this year, Dad,” Charlie said.

  “Yes, we do, missed not going last year.”

  Charlie turned to T, who was sitting across from him on a recliner.

  “You should come, T. We try to do it every year. Tailgate for a few hours then head into the stadium. Adam’s company gets tickets.”

  T nodded. “I’m in, man, just let me know when.”

  Charlie smiled. T’s eyes caught her old man’s. He nodded his head.

  A few hours later everyone was packing up to leave.

  “All right, kiddies, let’s go!” Becca shouted.

  T stood back and just observed. They all said their goodbyes, hugging much like his own family did. The men came over and shook his hand. Her brother reminded him, “Soon as I get a date, I’ll let ya know.”

  “Sounds good, man.”

  Becca walked over to T and pulled him in for a hug whispering in his ear, “You take care of my baby sister, ya hear?”

  She pulled back, keeping her hands on his arms.

  “Will do.” His mouth curved.

  “I know you will.” She winked and turned back to her family.

  They were almost out the door when Sarah turned around and dropped her dad’s hand, rushing over to T and hugging his leg. She squeezed tight and looked up. “Bye.”

  Not many things melted a man but her sweet face did. He reached down, ruffled her hair and smiled.

  “How about I get one of those hugs?” Cassie squatted down next to her niece and T watched her throw her arms around her before racing back to the door.

  Cassie straightened and smiled up at T.

  She followed her family out the door and T headed into the kitchen.

  He was finishing up his beer when Cassie stalked over to him at the counter and threw her arms around him. She reached up on her toes and he leaned down,
capturing her mouth for a hot, wet kiss. He pulled her to his chest, his hand gripping her hair. It was so fucking soft. She frantically started to rub against his dick when he licked her lips then bit down.

  “Baby,” she purred. She slid her hand down his chest, past his hard abs and covered his erection. T released her mouth and grunted at the sensation. He was about to explode in a way that would only embarrass himself.

  “Let’s go to your room, I promise to be quiet.” Her eyes were heated and T wanted to do nothing more than sink his dick deep inside her. But he wasn’t doing it there. He shook his head and watched her sexy smile fade.

  “Cass, I’m not fucking you with your parents upstairs.”

  “But I thought you liked it dirty?” she questioned with a wink.

  “Dirty, yeah, but not disrespectful.”

  “Oh,” she uttered.

  T contemplated what to do. He couldn’t fuck her here but he had to fuck her now. His dick was about to rip through his jeans seeing her here all sexy and needy. He lowered her to the ground and grabbed her hand. “Let’s go.”

  She quickly followed behind. “Where?”

  “Anywhere I can fuck you.”

  They drove down to the old field behind the closed mill.

  Cassie explained, “Kids used to come here to drink or party, or just hang out.”

  T narrowed his eyes. “You come here a lot?”

  “Why? Jealous that you’re not the only boy I’ve brought her to seduce?” she teased.

  “Not a boy, but fuck yeah!”

  She laughed hard and caressed his thigh. “You’re the only one I’ve ever brought here in hopes of seducing, T. Are you going to let me seduce you?”

  * * * *

  T parked on the edge of the field, turned off the engine and looked over to Cassie giving her a dangerously sexy smile.

  She could feel the heat coming from his eyes, primal desire. Yes!

  “Now what?”

  “Now you take off that top and show me those tits I’ve been thinking about all fucking day.”

  Cassie bit her lip and lifted her shirt, all the while keeping her eyes on T. She tossed it in the back and reached behind her to unclasp her bra, slowly letting it slide down her arms. The cool air in the truck hit her breasts and beaded her nipples.