by Jen Luerssen
After dinner, all the kids are dancing to the DJ, so the adults sit and do what we do best, give each other (mostly Joe) a bunch of shit.
“Joe, what will you do now that Jack has someone else to cut up his meat for him?” Frank asks.
Joe throws a wadded-up napkin at him. “Well, first of all, he’s a vegetarian, Frank and second of all, I’ll have another child’s mind to shape soon enough.”
“Wait, did you guys hear from China?” Mikey asks.
Betsy nodded. “We got approved and they assigned us to a baby, we will get her when she turns two but will get pictures and progress reports on her.”
“Oh, son of a Rolling Stones that’s the best news ever,” Lia says, tears streaming down her face.
“Has she stopped crying at all today?” Joe asks Javier.
“Not really, but that’s my pregnant Diva.” He rubs her belly and she cries a little louder.
“I’m sorry,” Lia sobs and we all reassure her it’s fine.
“How did Joe here get approved by China, you’d figure they wouldn’t trust this dummy to raise a fish,” Frank teases.
“To be honest, Frank, I was the one who almost didn’t get approval because of my side hustle.” Betsy pokes Frank and does a little shimmy. Betsy’s one of the most famous burlesque dancers in the country.
“Also, he did just successfully marry off his first child to an amazing woman, not too shabby,” Kit says in Joe’s defense. She has a soft spot for him and it’s sweet. Frank says it’s because they’re so close in age, which is funny because Kit is ten years younger.
“Thank you, Kit. At least someone appreciates me.” Joe air fives her.
“Aww, I love you, Joe, isn’t that enough?” Betsy teases.
“Alright let’s leave Joe alone for now,” Frank says and we all gasp.
“Wait, is Fucking Frank suggesting we lay off Joe?” Javier asks.
Joe smiles. “He’s finally admitted he loves me so progress is being made.”
“Don’t push it, asswipe,” Frank grumbles.
“How are Reilly and Kennedy?” Kit asks.
“Reilly is going to sleep away camp this summer and Kennedy is super pissed she can’t go too. They both talk, fight, and sing non-stop but are best friends and I can’t keep them out of the ocean. They are exhausting but amazing.” Mikey is right about that. Those girls are amazing despite their grumpy ass dad.
“Enough about our kids, I want to hear about Monkey-Bee Wines,” Jen pipes up.
“Monkey-Bee is releasing its first batch of wine this September. All of them will be in cans and there will be a choice of red, white, and sparkling rosé. Salty designed the cans and Mikey and I made the wine with grapes from both wineries. Devonté has officially taken my job here and I am all about Monkey-Bee. Did we tell you about the truck?”
“Truck?” Lia asks.
“Yeah, I found an old ice cream truck and had it fixed up so it is now a wine truck.” Kit looks very pleased with herself.
“Holy shit, you mean you’re going to ride up and down the streets of Sonoma and play music to lure out all the moms to the wine truck?” Andrew asks and Jen next to him looks seriously interested in this idea.
“I wish! I don’t think the California liquor laws are that lax. I can set up at festivals and street fairs though.”
“It’s going to be so amazing. She can sell City Monkey wine too. Kit has the best ideas,” Mikey chimes in.
“How about the band?” I ask.
“You mean, how was our European tour while I was barfing the whole time? It was amazing but I missed George and Javi. The best was when we were in Dublin and we got to stay a few days with Jane and Niall, Javier brought George and Paul and Dante brought Sissy. It was such a nice family reunion.” Lia gets a dreamy look in her eye. “Jane sends her love, Joe,” she adds and then leans over and twists his nipple.
“Ah, woman, why?” Joe whines.
“She said that was for the time at Chrissy Field and you’d know.” Lia shrugs. “She also wanted there to be lots of witnesses, so that’s why I waited.”
“Oh shit, valid. I deserved that,” he says and we all go silent staring at him, waiting. “Yeah, no way I’m giving you people any more Joe ammo.”
“Jeez, Joe, how many times have you shit your pants?” Jen asks, and it’s a valid question.
“Are you guys giving my bro/dad a hard time over here?” Jack and his new wife make their way to our table. Kel is beautiful in a rose-colored gown and the cane she uses is a beautiful rose gold covered in flowers. She had an accident at birth that makes walking difficult without assistance. Sig helped her find the cane and then designed it so she could use it as her bouquet too.
“Yes, Jack, they are, I’m like the Rodney Dangerfield of the friend group,” Joe says making a face.
“Aww, maybe because you reference a comedian that only like two people know,” Kel jokes.
“Man, et tu, Kel? We are family now,” Joe whines.
She shrugs. “All the more reason to give you shit.”
“Oh, I like her,” Frank says.
“You feel like taking a wine cellar tour?” My hot wife whispers in my ear.
I look around and see my mom dancing with Bea. “Fuck yes, mom is with the Busy Bea, let’s make a break for it.”
We both get up quickly and without grace. “We have to check on something in the cellar. Be back in like an hour,” Kit says and we bolt to the golf carts.
“We know where you’re going!” shouts Joe. “We know that wine cellar is code for sex.”
“You’re just jealous you didn’t think of it first,” I call back as we start to drive away.
We pull up to the wine cellar door and it’s all lit up with twinkle lights. “Wow, the attention to detail at this wedding is pretty extensive,” I observe.
Kit giggles and pulls me to the door. “Salty, happy anniversary.”
“Anniversary?” I ask.
“Yep, it’s been ten years since we met in Vegas,” she says opening the door and leading me down the stairs.
When we get to the bottom, the entire room is overrun with flickering battery-operated candles. There’s some Eagles playing on the turntable and there are two glasses filled with sparkling wine.
“You’re a romantic, Chaton, who knew?” I say and bend to kiss her. When we connect it’s like I’m back in that hotel room. She thrills me just as much as she did then.
“I’m not just a naughty kitten,” she says, shrugging.
“Maybe you are right now though?” I ask sliding my hand up her skirt.
She steps her feet apart so I have better access. “Salty, I’m always your naughty kitten,” she says as I discover she’s not wearing underwear.
I turn her a little and bend her at the waist so she’s leaning over the cellar table. It’s our favorite spot still, even though we got caught one time when Devonté was down here and we didn’t realize it until I had Kit spread out, my face in between her legs.
My hand caresses down her spine and then lifts her skirt. “And I’m always anything you need me to be, father, husband, sex god.” When I say this last bit, I brush her clit then slide a few fingers into her wet heat.
“Always,” she sighs.
“Did you just Snape me with my fingers inside you?” I ask.
“Obviously,” she says.
“You now know that when I read those books to our children I’ll have a boner the whole time,” I say picking up the pace of my fingers thrusting into her.
“Remember when you fucked me in my room at the dads and I could hear Sig reading Goodnight Moon?” she asks, panting.
“Maybe,” I say but I totally remember. It was a week after we got back from our honeymoon and I couldn’t get enough of her still.
“Let’s just say things get moist in my downtown when I read it so I stopped reading it.”
“So, that’s why you make me come in and take over at that point every time?” I ask.
“Ye
s, that way I get even more turned on listening to you and go to our room to wait for you so I don’t scare the children,” she says hoarsely.
“I love you,” I say and lean in to kiss the back of her neck. “I love our life, our family, our kids.”
My hand increases its pace and I continue to devour her neck. “I love you too, Sebastian, and all that other stuff too,” she says and I laugh into her hair.
“Always,” I say but I don’t think she can hear me over her humming.
I don’t think I could have made it through this series without the help of Christopher Correia. Not only is he a talented photographer, but an inspirer of trilogies! Thanks so much for the gorgeous photos that made my men come alive. You’ll never know how much that meant to me.
I was going through a hard time when I started writing about Frank last summer. I needed some levity and just plain ridiculousness in my life and Frank brought it to me...then came Joe, and finally Sebastian to get me through a long and sad year. They made it much more fun.
Please note that I am not a wine expert (maybe drinking it?) so if you read this and are a vintner I apologize if I made an error. Sonoma is one of my favorite places on Earth and I hope you all get a chance to experience its beauty and bounty.
As always, a million thanks to my sometimes assistant, proofreader and always friend, Meaghan Royce. Without your support and comma knowledge, I’d be lost.
To the super sexy and adorable Stephen Marks for his smile and genetics Thank you for being my inspiration for Sebastian.
To all my readers, I know you have options on top of options and I’m so glad you include my stories on your TBR pile. Hopefully, I’ve made you laugh, cry, and pant a little.
To my amazing family, Jim, Jamie, Andrew, Dad, and Ray. You guys are always there to support me and read my books even though it’s not required.
To my awesome husband for letting me pursue my dream. You mean more to me than you’ll ever know.
To my awesome daughter, Maggie. I hope you see me writing and it inspires you. I love you so much.
To my mom, who I think of every day, I hope I make you proud.
Jen’s other books:
Too Far to Care - https://www.amazon.com/Too-Far-Care-Jen-Luerssen-ebook/dp/B01A8XLK3Y
The Tide is High - https://www.amazon.com/Tide-High-Jen-Luerssen-ebook/dp/B01HYRL5DM
Grown Woman - https://www.amazon.com/Grown-Woman-Jen-Luerssen-ebook/dp/B0716SG37W
High Note - https://www.amazon.com/High-Note-Novella-Jen-Luerssen-ebook/dp/B079LXBQ8R
F*cking Frank - https://www.amazon.com/cking-Frank-Smirk-Book-ebook/dp/B07H3FTHDJ
Just Joe - https://www.amazon.com/Just-Joe-Smirk-Book-2-ebook/dp/B07KTLNJSM
Storm Brewing - https://www.amazon.com/Storm-Brewing-Happy-Endings-Resort-ebook/dp/B07NCMDZWV
Table of Contents
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
EIGHTEEN
NINETEEN
TWENTY
TWENTY-ONE
TWENTY-TWO
TWENTY-THREE
TWENTY-FOUR
TWENTY-FIVE
TWENTY-SIX
TWENTY-SEVEN
TWENTY-EIGHT
TWENTY-NINE
THIRTY
THIRTY-ONE
THIRTY-TWO
THIRTY-THREE
THIRTY-FOUR
THIRTY-FIVE
THIRTY-SIX
THIRTY-SEVEN
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
OTHER BOOKS