How to Handle a Heartbreaker

by Marie Harte

  She undressed and put the nightie on, which barely covered her ass when she moved. In the mirror, she saw her bright eyes, her shiny diamond earrings, and her entire body exposed by the see-through lingerie.

  Walking quickly back to the room, she entered to find Brody wearing a thick robe. Mutt was nowhere in sight.

  “He’s in Vanessa’s room. Don’t worry, it’s okay. I cleared it with Her Highness before today.”

  “That must have taken some serious bargaining.”

  “Well, I owe her my firstborn. And there was something about spinning bales of straw into gold later on. But I’ll handle that when we get to it.”

  Abby laughed, so in love she never wanted the feeling to end. “I love you, Brody. With all my heart.”

  “Me too, Abby. I love you.” He came closer and nuzzled her cheek. “I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m doing my damndest not to stare at your perfect breasts and pussy in that all-but-invisible gown. I’m trying to be romantic, but I can’t help wanting to fuck you until we both pass out.”

  He drew her hand to the robe and parted it to expose his thick, heavy erection. When she grabbed him, he groaned. “Get on the bed and lie back. It’s my turn to play.”

  ***

  Brody hadn’t known he could feel like this, so high he wanted to fly. She loved him. She fucking loved him. He hadn’t blown it after all. He owed Vanessa and Maddie big time. Their help in showing him what Abby liked made all the difference. She’d bought into the whole romantic setup. But more fool he, so had Brody.

  “You look exactly the way you did on Halloween at the party.” He sighed and disrobed, loving her heavy-lidded gaze as it wandered over his body and centered on his cock. “Like a goddess.”

  “Your goddess.”

  “All mine.” He covered her, no longer able to wait for a kiss. He met her mouth, exchanged a breath, and found heaven in her embrace. The kiss started out sweet, tender, a promise made and kept. Moving in, marriage, everything. And she hadn’t said no.

  “God, Brody. I want you so much. Feel.” She dragged his hand between her legs, and he loved her assertiveness. Especially when his fingers slid through warm, wet cream.

  “I need a taste.”

  “So do I.”

  He swiftly turned around, not ready to concede his position on top. He lowered his face and pulled up her dress, in love with the design. Then he kissed her clit, sucking the taut bud and reveling in her gasp and moan as she put her mouth around him.

  She sucked and licked his slit, and he fought against embarrassing himself by coming so soon. But Christ, he’d been without her for too long. He gave her less attention than he wanted, but he neared his end too quickly.

  Brody pulled away from her and hurried to mount her. “Missionary just this once. Then we get really kinky.”

  “Anything for you,” she breathed, then cried his name when he speared her with one smooth, firm thrust.

  She felt tighter to him, and he felt harder than he’d ever been in his life. Their coupling was rough, demanding, and thorough. And over too quickly. He came just as she seized around him. Their bodies milked each other of pleasure, setting the room ablaze with satisfying belonging.

  “Oh my God.” She panted under him, dwarfed by his size and utterly perfect. “I think you killed me.”

  “Now, Abby. You know that’s only round one.” He grinned and nodded to the night stand. “Silk ropes and a blindfold. I figure we’ll save the nipple clamps for when we’re feeling not so romantic and more lusty.”

  “Great. I can’t wait to see you wearing them,” she deadpanned, and they both laughed.

  She toyed with his hair and after a moment, when he made no attempt to move or withdraw, she said, “I meant it about being engaged. I love you, Brody. I don’t want anyone else but you. Not even Rick.”

  He took a moment to process, and then he growled, “Words like that can get you punished, dear fiancée.” He nipped her lower lip. “God, I love you.”

  She smiled, beautiful and funny and true.

  “How about this deal,” he suggested. “You pick out the ring, then I give it to you on a day I choose. Not Christmas, because everyone but Maddie knows Flynn’s going to propose.”

  “Um, she knows too. But don’t tell. He really wants it to be a surprise.”

  Brody chuckled. “Women.”

  “You have a deal. But only if you agree to a little more research. I’m particularly interested in how men worship breasts, and how the blindfold comes into play.”

  “Great questions. And do I have some even better answers…”

  Epilogue

  Cam thought the engagement went off without a hitch. Maddie gushed over the rock Flynn had bought her, and everyone oohed and aahed over Abby’s earrings. That and the fact that Brody was smiling again and refusing to stop hugging, kissing, and holding her.

  Apparently Mutt had finally found a name. Abby introduced him as “Hyde,” of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Because while he’d finally turned into somewhat of a gentleman—her words—the dog continued to eat socks, dishtowels, and anything white. Freaky dog, but everyone seemed to love him. Even Cam approved. Oddly enough, the dog responded to his new name as if it had been his from day one. Weird to think Brody owned an intelligent dog.

  Maddie laughed and patted Hyde, acting as if she’d always loved the mutt. Cam stared at the new couples around him with pleasure. He couldn’t have imagined a better woman for Flynn. And Abby seemed to have been tailor-made for the blond McCauley. She’d even managed to pull Brody out of his funk. Would wonders never cease?

  Colin zipped around wearing his brand-new Spider-Man pajamas and shrieked at Vanessa, who chased him with his brand-new monster dolls. Mike called them action figures, but come on. The things had hair you could braid as well as toy guns, alien pets, and spaceships. Like alien Barbie on crack.

  The sexy blond bane of his existence stopped in front of him and raised a perfectly arched brow. “Cameron.”

  God, he loved it when she called him that. Vanessa never shortened his name the way everyone else did. He liked to think of it as a pet name she only reserved for him.

  “Vanessa.”

  She nodded. “Merry Christmas.”

  “I do believe we exchanged our perfunctory greeting when you got here.” An hour ago. She’d been dodging him ever since.

  “Yes, well. Since I have nothing else to say to you, Merry Christmas seems to work well enough.”

  Stubborn little—big—witch. She sure knew how to wear her clothing to accent that hot Amazon figure though. Almost as tall as he was, she wore stylish brown boots, camel wool trousers, and a blue sweater that hugged her lean lines and brought out the burning sapphires in her eyes.

  “So you’re going to hold the fact that I was sticking up for my brother against me,” he stated as fact when she gave him that look, the one that said she was fast losing patience with him.

  Expecting her to forgive him for what he shouldn’t even need forgiveness for, he nodded even as she said, “Yes.”

  “Wait. What?”

  “I said yes. You clearly took the wrong side.”

  “You have to be kidding me.”

  “Cameron, just admit you were wrong and all is forgiven.”

  He scowled. “Sticking up for Brody wasn’t wrong. Abby shouldn’t have…” He trailed off as he saw his mother and father walk together down the hall toward Mike’s bedroom.

  He and Vanessa glanced at each other, then at Mike who stood laughing with Colin and Hyde in the living room, surrounded by the rest of the family.

  Together, Cam and Vanessa tiptoed down the hall and lingered by the crack in the door of Mike’s bedroom, where they overheard his mother say, “…so we’ll tell them after the new year. Not now, James.”

  “Fine.” His father cleared his throat. “I think
this is for the best.”

  “I’m sure you do,” she answered in a waspish tone. So unlike his normally pleasant, joyful mother. “We have nothing more to say then. At least pretend you’re enjoying the party. For Colin’s sake.”

  “Hell, woman. I’m not an ogre.”

  They heard movement near the door and panicked. Vanessa pulled him into Colin’s room, across from Mike’s, and closed the door enough to hide behind it without it clicking shut.

  “Did you hear something?” his mother asked, and they heard her step closer.

  Vanessa’s eyes widened.

  They were about to get caught. So Cameron did what any self-respecting McCauley would do. He kissed the beautiful woman in his arms.

  When the door opened, Cam was only partially aware of his father’s chuckle before the door shut behind him, because the rest of him was focused on the cool blond in his arms, who lit up like an inferno when he touched her.

  Cam groaned and pulled her closer, deepening the angle of his kiss to better devour her. She tasted so incredibly sweet. Like cinnamon and spice. But Vanessa was anything but nice. And that added edge only heightened her appeal.

  When his hands neared her ass to tug her closer to that insistent part of him, she pulled away and tried to catch her breath.

  “Cameron?”

  She touched her lips and stared.

  As did he. His gaze found the hard nipples straining under her sweater, saw the flush on her cheeks and the ripe lips parted for him. Practically begging him for another kiss.

  “Wh-what do you think they meant?” she whispered.

  “Hmm?” He took a step forward until she stopped him with a hand to his chest.

  “They… You really work out, don’t you?” She spread her fingers across his pectorals, and he wondered if she could feel his heart racing.

  “Yeah.” He tried to will away his erection. Focusing on Ubie, Colin’s stuffed bear—so named after the scoundrel who’d given it to him—seemed to do the trick. “They said they’d tell us after New Year’s. But I’m betting whatever it is can’t be good.”

  “I know.” She swallowed hard. “So, um…”

  “I know. You’re sorry, and you want another kiss.” Time to get the upper hand on the woman before she took him under again with that slick, heavenly mouth, mean temperament, and amazing body. “Sorry, honey. I know it’s Christmas, but until you apologize for being so wrong about my boy Brody, this body”—he pointed to himself—“is off limits.”

  She opened her mouth to retort when Colin burst in the room, Mike on his heels. Mike took a good look at them and tried not to smile.

  “Hey, there’s my Gooberon,” Colin said with a smile and grabbed his alien from the floor. “Thanks for finding him, Vanessa.”

  “That’s Major Campbell to you, recruit,” Cameron corrected.

  “Try General, you lowly alien scum,” she said to Cam.

  Figures she’d make herself the highest ranking officer around.

  “Agent Colin,” she continued. “We’ve found a traitor. Take the lackey behind you—”

  “Hey,” Mike grumbled.

  “—and rid our world of this ugly beast.” She pointed at Cameron.

  “Ugly? I think not. I—oomph.”

  Mike tackled him to the floor. Then Colin jumped on him and started tickling him, which Cam absolutely hated, because he couldn’t stop laughing. He cried out for help, but no one but Vanessa was nearby. She watched his helpless agony as his bastard bulldozer of a brother pummeled him unceasingly. Colin’s war cries didn’t help his dignity either.

  “Oh fine. Hold on.” Vanessa yelled for backup, and Brody and Flynn entered with Maddie and Abby following. Hyde barked incessantly behind them. “Help the young one! Those two are trying to kill the young earthling!”

  Colin, quick on the take, cried for help. Then Brody and Flynn jumped on them and elbows started flying once they’d rescued the boy. But while they played, Cam noted that neither his mother nor father joined in the fun.

  He wondered what to make of that. Then Vanessa gave him her trademark sneer, and he ignored a potential family disaster in favor of getting even. And trying to figure out how to get the woman to be less right about everything and more interested in being wrong about him. Because he had to figure out a way to get another kiss. And maybe a hug. Followed by a date…or three…

  Enjoy a sneak peek at book 3 in the McCauley Brothers series,

  Ruining Mr. Perfect

  “Hello?” Cam knocked as he opened the door. “Yo, Mike, you here?” He entered the house and closed the door behind him. A study in brown, his brother’s living room might not be stylish, but it provided comfort and the perfect place to indulge in family Friday night poker.

  But on this particular Friday afternoon, the house seemed dead.

  A door opened and slammed shut, and a whirlwind of energy burst through the kitchen into the living room and stopped.

  Cam noticed two things. Colin McCauley looked as if he’d been playing with Mike’s grease gun again, and he heard the shower running.

  “Hey, dude.”

  Colin didn’t smile, didn’t blink, and gave him the snake eye.

  Cam sighed. For a six-year-old, his nephew could hold a mean grudge. “Still mad I told your dad about your prank on Abby?”

  Used to be the place was full of nothing but men. Mike’s wife had died giving birth to Colin, and none of the McCauleys seemed to be able to hold on to a woman like their dad had. Then again, Beth McCauley was special.

  Now they had a houseful of hot women living next door. Flynn and Brody had already claimed two of them, leaving the best for Cam. That’s if he could get the stubborn woman to stop arguing long enough to ask her out.

  Colin continued to glare at him. The spitting image of Mike with those bright blue eyes and short black hair. They even shared the same dimple.

  “Colin,” Cam tried again. “You know dumping water on someone in the shower is a no-no. And especially Ubie’s new girlfriend.” Ubie—short for Uncle Brody. Brody Singer, the blond “adopted” McCauley who had grown up as part of the family.

  “But he told me to do it.”

  Cam blinked. “He did? Well, you should never—”

  “Dad thought it was kind of funny after he yelled at me.” Colin gave him a sharp nod, then added with a smirk, “Dad said he used to do that to you, and that you cried like a girrrl.” Considering Colin’s anti-girl phase, that was a high insult.

  “Is that right?” Cam frowned, remembering being the butt of too many jokes while growing up. “Mike has no idea what he’s dealing with. You think your dad’s tough? Watch Uncle Cam.” Knowing he shouldn’t encourage the mischief in his nephew’s eyes but unable to stop himself from the unspoken dare, Cam hurried to the kitchen, found a large glass, and filled it with ice-cold water. Considering the freezing January wind outside, Mike would be basking in a hot shower to warm up. Cam grinned, looking forward to his brother’s howl of misery.

  Colin trailed him like a puppy. “Oh wow, Uncle Cam. Are you going to get Dad?” He clapped.

  “Shh.”

  “Oh, sorry.” Colin’s big grin showed a missing front tooth.

  Cam walked down more ugly brown carpet that looked as if it had been vacuumed to death—Mike and his obsession with cleanliness—and tiptoed into the big guy’s room. He made sure he had a clear exit. If his goliath big brother caught him, he’d be toast. Fortunately, he could move like a gazelle.

  Gliding into the master bathroom, he readied himself. One, two…three. He yanked open the curtain and tossed the cold water at…Vanessa Campbell?

  He stared in shock at the sexiest woman he’d seen in a long, long time. Naked, her creamy skin glistened with water as she gaped at him in horror. Which quickly turned to anger.

  “Cameron McCauley!”

&nb
sp; “Oh, wow.” He couldn’t look away. Even as manners dictated he close the shower curtain and give her privacy, he couldn’t stop staring at her slender belly, legs toned from years of running, and those beautiful breasts tipped with rosy pink nipples. God, he’d imagined what she might look like, but reality far surpassed his fantasies.

  She yelled a string of obscenities as she whipped the curtain closed.

  While Cam tried to catch his breath, he heard muffled laughter behind him and turned to see Colin with his hand over his mouth. His nephew’s eyes widened and he took off.

  Cam caught him easily, though the kid had made it to the kitchen before being snagged. As he took Colin by the collar, Mike strolled into the kitchen from the attached garage.

  “Colin, I said get me the paper towels five minutes ago.” Mike glowered at Cam holding his son. “What’s up, little brother?”

  Gritting his teeth, because he hated always being reminded that he was the baby of the family, Cam shook Colin like a rag doll.

  Colin, of course, laughed and asked him to do it again.

  “Your son played a nasty prank.”

  “Yeah?” Mike’s lips quirked. “What did he do?”

  “He convinced me to throw cold water at you. In the shower.”

  Mike frowned. “But I’m… Shi—oot.” Mike looked from Colin to Cam and tried to hide a grin. “So, um, how is Vanessa?”

  “Why is she in your shower?” He’d called dibs. Secretly, but still.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know.” Mike’s wide grin wasn’t helping. “So you froze her thinking it was me, eh? Poor, poor Cam. You never learn. I am the master of the prank.”

  “And me,” Colin added proudly. “Shake me again, Uncle Cam. It’s fun.”

  “Gah.” Cam dropped Colin, tickled him soundly, then gave him a light swat on the behind. “You owe Vanessa an apology.”

  “Oh?” Mike crossed his mammoth arms over his chest. “Seems to me you’re the one who threw cold water on my unsuspecting neighbor. Or are you trying to tell me that my six-year-old forced you to mess with her?”