A Carpino Series Collection, Books 1-3

by Brynne Asher

  And with that I grin and head to the bed to kick my dog off my man for some well-deserved attention.

  I walk into Gabby’s kitchen as she’s pulling something that smells like garlic heaven off of the stove. I walk up to her as she turns her head up to me and I kiss her quick. It’s been a long day.

  She brings her hand to the lapel of my suit jacket. “You’re hot in a suit.”

  Lifting my head further I return, “Thanks. I hate it, but I can’t wear jeans and a t-shirt to court. I’m gonna go change, be back in a sec.”

  Wanting out of this suit, I walk to her bedroom and turn through her bathroom as I start yanking my tie off and make the next turn into her closet.

  I stop in the doorway of her big walk-in closet. The bomb that was my bag is no longer strewn all over the floor. I look around, spotting my t-shirts folded neatly, stacked on a shelf next to some of Gabby’s workout clothes. I keep turning, to find my jeans hanging in a row next to the few button-down shirts that have made their way to Gabby’s house. Making another move, I see three pairs of my shoes and boots neatly aligned next to a row of Gabby’s high heel shoes. And I can’t take my eyes off of our shoes, sitting next to one another and what they represent. Turning one more time, I start to open drawers of one of the built-in dressers and in the top two, I find my socks and boxers. For fear of sounding like a chick but not really giving a shit, it feels fucking great seeing my stuff next to Gabby’s, but knowing she put it there feels even better.

  I turn one more time and make my way back to the kitchen before changing my clothes. She’s doing something with her salad, so I turn her and pull her up to me immediately, kissing her long and hard. Surprised at first, she finally gets into it, her hands are in my hair and she’s up on her toes pressing into me as hard as she can.

  Finally coming up for air, I look into her clear blue eyes. “Thank you, sugar. Thank you for trusting me, I’ll take care of that. I promise you.”

  She’s surprised and a bit out of breath. “I know you will.”

  I kiss her again quickly, but reluctantly let her go. I head back to Gabby’s closet with my stuff put away where it’s meant to be.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Territorial

  It’s been a long day. I was up early to get to The Stables that will host the fund-raising event for the Children’s Home this year.

  They aren’t real stables anymore, they’ve been turned into an event venue that people can rent and have been donated for the charity gig tonight. It’s a beautiful setting, a long building that look like stables would have looked a hundred years ago. The venue is set on a hill overlooking a large, winding lake surrounded with willowy trees and a dock that walks out deep into the picturesque setting. Between the stables and lake, the terrain flattens out nicely with a square shaped gazebo open on all sides with deck flooring. It’s the perfect place for weddings, buffets or in our case, it will house the band. A dance floor has been laid in front of the gazebo with thirty round tables spotting the landscape. Down by the lake, there are huge fire pits with old tree stumps and bales of hay with thick blankets on them for seating. One side of the stable has three large old fashion sliding barn doors and they are all open for our event and will house the BBQ buffet, bar and silent auction items and I’ve decorated it all.

  I roped my aunts and some cousins into helping me, but it still took a long time. Thank goodness I’m only the decorations committee and not the cleanup committee. It’s late afternoon and I’m just pulling into my garage, past Jude’s truck that is parked in his now normal spot on my driveway along with Tony’s Harley. Smiling to myself, I think about the past few days.

  Crazy with Jude was pretty damn good, but normal with Jude has been amazing. I’m back to work trying to catch up on projects, finishing up a powder room for a client that has been ever so patient with my leave of absence. I’m also starting a master bedroom that needs to be done before their Christmas Party the first week of December. Not to mention, a few of my clients have hired me to decorate their houses for Christmas, so busy is an understatement.

  Since my insurance came through for me in a big way and I was able to repaint my entire basement, I’ve decided my basement guest room needed a mini makeover, too. My days zip by, but I still get regular phone calls and texts from Jude, checking in, saying hi, or to make plans for our evening. Thursday we even had time to meet for a quick lunch and last night he grilled steaks that he picked up from the store on the way home, apparently needing some meat. Most importantly, my days begin and end with Jude, mostly in delicious ways.

  I hop down from my car and head in to say a quick hello to the guys since I need to start getting ready for tonight. Mia attacks me and I drop my things to pick her up, give her the lovies she’s looking for hearing Jude and Tony in the basement watching TV. Making my way downstairs, I see both men strewn out on opposite sides of my sectional watching a college football game.

  Leaning over the back where Jude is sprawled, I plop Mia on top of him, giving him a peck. “Hey.”

  I guess my peck wasn’t enough, because his hand reaches up around the back of my head, pulling me down for another, longer kiss. “Sugar. You finish up?”

  “Yep. All done.” I grin at him, then look up and say, “Hey Tone. Don’t you need to get ready and have some girl to pick up?” I stand up straight and put my hand on my hip. “Which by the way, who am I going to have to pretend I find interesting tonight? Maybe I’ll get there early and arrange the seating so whoever you bring has to sit by your mother.”

  “Gabba, that’s not nice. And I’m not a chick, it’ll take me all of fifteen minutes to shower and throw on some old clothes and boots. I’m bringing Chelsea, I’m sure you’ll find her extremely interesting. She’s a redhead and a waitress.”

  “Really?” I ask. “Is she even a real redhead? Real redheads are the only pretty redheads. And you picked up a waitress? What is wrong with you?”

  “Nothing’s wrong with me,” he says, affronted. Then, going on with a snicker, “Maybe I should hang out with gun smugglers and wait for Federal Agents serving warrants like you to go trolling.”

  “Hey now,” Jude rasps out in mock warning with a grin on his face.

  I put both hands on my hips and exclaim, “That’s it. I am not playing interference for you with your mother tonight. You can deal with Elizabeth Carpino all on your own.” I look down to Jude. “I’m going to get ready.”

  Jude just chuckles. “Sounds good.”

  Not believing my cousin, I march my ass upstairs to my bathroom. I only have an hour and a half before we need to be there and I still want to paint my nails.

  I shake my hands to speed up the drying process, I only had time for a clear coat of polish having to forego a color. I stomp around my bathroom in my new super cool cowgirl boots I found at Sheplers in the clearance section the other day. I can’t imagine a real cowgirl would actually wear these on a farm or ranch, but who knows? I don’t know any real cowgirls. However, I do know my new boots are the bomb, fit perfect, were seventy-percent off and they have a higher heel than normal to give me an extra boost to close the height gap Jude has on me. They’re a distressed brown with light blue stitching all over them with a cool eagle winged pattern, a cross in the middle and swirly stitching on the foot and toe.

  I was planning on wearing a jean skirt with a cute top, but on my way to the clearance section, I passed a dress that caught my eye and I couldn’t go home without it. Its cream with red, periwinkle blue and cornflower yellow little flowers all over. The neckline is square, low and wide, gathered over my breasts giving me the perfect amount of cleavage. I added a slew of silver bangles to my wrists and I’m trying to put on my chunky turquoise necklace with matching earrings without messing up my nails.

  I half dried my hair to save time and left it naturally wavy, pulling the front pieces back into a very loose French twist, pinning it with bobby pins so you can’t see where it ends. The rest is big, messy and falling down my h
alf bare back where the dress scoops to just above my bra strap. The dress, boots, messy hair, I love it all. I can easily say I’ve channeled my inner cowgirl.

  In the middle of my laborious getting ready process, Jude showered and is now dressed in faded, great fitting jeans, a black button down with a slightly western cut on the pockets and shoulders. He finished off his simple but kick-ass western attire with a black belt, silver oval buckle and old black cowboy boots. I’ve decided to add cowboy to my list of favorite looks that include his police getup, jeans with a t-shirt, and his suit. This took him all of eleven-point-two-five minutes and he kissed my then wet haired head, leaving me to it.

  “Gabby,” I hear him bite out at me from the great room. “We’ve gotta get a move on if you want to be on time.”

  “Coming,” I yell back. “Just trying to get my necklace on!”

  Now I am cursing myself for thinking I had time to paint my nails as I try to hook my necklace and not smudge them at the same time. I hear the clomp-clomp-clomping of boots getting louder on my wood floors. I look up to see Jude standing in my bathroom doorway.

  “Can you help me with this, please? My nails are still tacky.”

  Looking at me a beat, his eyes are heated and melty, taking me in slowly from tip to toe and back again. He moves to me, takes my necklace out of my hands, turns me so I’m looking into the mirror and he stands at my back. Slowly swiping the hair on my back over one shoulder, his arms come in front of me and around my neck to clasp my necklace. His eyes are on his task, when all of a sudden, I feel his warm fingers tracing the scoop of my dress on my bare back making me shiver.

  He looks to the mirror, into my eyes as his hands come low to my hips and thighs as he fists the ruffles in each hand. “This is a short dress.”

  My eyebrows come together and my head tips. “You don’t like it?”

  “No,” he keeps on low and raspy. “I like it.”

  Then he dips low, kisses me below my ear and I feel my dress move up my thighs and ass. I close my eyes and lean my head back on his shoulder and then feel his hands on my chocolate brown with pink lace Brazilian cut panties. His hands stop abruptly and I feel him move away from my back a small step and I open my eyes to see him looking down at my ass with my dress around my waist.

  He doesn’t move his body, but his eyes come to mine in the mirror. “Shit, baby.” Then his thumbs dip into the waist of my panties and he yanks them down my legs.

  “Jude. We’re going to be late,” I semi-yell at him.

  “Yeah, we’re gonna be late,” he agrees, squatting, yanking my lacy panties over my boots.

  “You’re going to rip them. I bought them just for this dress,” I complain, but I still find myself helping him out trying to step out of them while still in my boots.

  “Don’t care.” He stands up and tosses my panties to the side, pulling my dress back up around my waist again.

  I raise an eyebrow to him. “My nails are still wet, you know.”

  “Don’t worry, you won’t have to do anything.”

  I feel his boot kick my boot farther to the side, one hand slides in between my legs from behind while the other snakes around me up to my breast. Not messing around, two fingers dip inside me as one glides over my clit and my hands go the vanity in front of me to hang on. In, out, forward, back—his fingers move and it starts to build. I drop by head forward and hang on getting ready for it to come over me, but then he stops, keeping his hand where it is cupping me between my legs.

  I lift my head, look at him in the mirror and breathe, “Why did you stop?”

  He pulls my back into his front tightening his hold on me and looking me in the eyes. “I want you to look at me.”

  “Okay,” I plead. “Just don’t stop.”

  His grin forms as his hand starts to move again, but this time at a much slower pace. I look in his melty eyes searing into me as the torture resumes. Savoring the sight of us in the mirror—Jude, tall and dark next to me, taller than usual but my lighter hair contrasting against his almost black. His touch is so light now the burn is driving me crazy. Pure torture. I grasp onto his forearm, not caring about my tacky fingernails and try to move my hips to get more contact with his torturous fingers. His arm around my torso squeezes me and I look at both of us in the mirror again, me falling apart and Jude’s heated eyes on me.

  “Please.” I beg.

  His eyes come to mine and he finally puts a tad more pressure, I gasp out loud as it washes over me. The next thing I know, I’m turned around and plopped on top of the vanity with my dress still around my waist. He spreads my legs apart as he’s working his big silver belt buckle and jeans at the same time. Before I know it, my boots are swung around his waist and he pulls me to the edge of the counter and thrusts inside.

  “Put your hands to the edge to hold yourself, Gabby,” he demands.

  I fist my hands around the edge of the granite counter, still feeling the remnants of my orgasm as he pulls me to him, slamming into me quick and hard. It’s fast but great because it’s unexpected as he finally plants himself into me one last time and his arms come around me sit me back on the vanity. He’s still planted deep inside me with his arms wrapped tight me holding me close.

  After sitting here a beat, I say, “I guess we’re going to be late, huh?”

  “Yeah.”

  Feeling talkative for some reason, I go on. “I’m glad you like my dress. It’s new.”

  “I like your panties, too.”

  “They’re new, too.”

  “And your boots. You can keep them on later tonight.” He pulls his head up to look at me. “But without the dress and panties.”

  “You like my boots the best?” I grin at him.

  “No, I think I’m just liking you the best.” He reaches down to kiss me soft and I melt into him. Then he bosses me, “Go clean up, we’re late.”

  “You say that like it’s my fault,” I say dryly without moving a muscle.

  “It is your fault, I couldn’t help myself.” He smiles, helping me off the counter and I come down with a clomp on my boots. Bending to grab my panties, I make my way to clean up and I hear Jude call after me, “And do me a favor, Gabby, don’t bend over in that dress. I don’t want to have to kick anyone’s ass tonight.”

  Shaking my head, I mutter, “Whatever.”

  “You think I’m kidding? I just fucked you in that dress and those boots. I’m feeling territorial,” he growls.

  Seriously. We are going to a charity function with my family, like there’s any reason for him to feel territorial.

  “We basically have two tables—the firm buys a table and my Uncle Nic’s construction company buys another. I think we’re at the firms table, I’m pretty sure Tony arranged that so his mom will have someone else to bother besides his date. My Pop will be at our table, too, and since Lilly is by herself, I asked her to join us. You should know everyone,” I explain as Jude pulls my Tahoe onto the Stable grounds to park.

  “This is a sweet ride, but why do you have such a big car?” he changes the subject, apparently not caring who’s going to be there or where we’re sitting.

  Getting used to Jude’s conversation tactics, I respond immediately. “I’m always hauling around furniture, large pictures, or area rugs. I needed something big. I like your truck, Jude, but I didn’t want one.” I wrinkle my nose at my explanation for my choice in vehicles. “And by the way, we need an excuse as to why we’re late.”

  “One look at you in that dress, do you really think anyone’s going to think twice about why we’re late?”

  “But this is my family.”

  “You’re an adult.”

  I look to the ceiling of my car as he parks and start to panic. “I’m not getting out until we think of an excuse.”

  “Just blame it on me, I can handle it.”

  “Oh my,” I whisper to myself and I hear Jude getting out of the car.

  I hear my door open, he grabs my hand to pull me out. “Don’t worry
. No one’s going to say anything.”

  The sun is setting and it’s a beautiful night. The bonfires have been lit near the lake and people are milling all over the grounds. Lilly has sold all three hundred seats and it looks like they could be close to capacity already. The Carpino clan isn’t hard to find in large groups because of the sheer numbers and volume they create when they’re together. Tonight is no different. They’re congregated near the bar in a mass of people, Jude must have spotted them as well because this is where he is dragging me.

  “Maybe we should go look at the lake. We can pretend we’ve been here and just couldn’t find them.”

  “Gabby, over here! Where have you been?” Aunt Lizzie yells, stretching her already tall body up high and waving to us dramatically.

  “Too late, sugar,” Jude says on a chuckle.

  “Shit,” I whisper as I wave back and we make our way to the craziness that is my family.

  “Where have you been?” Lizzie demands.

  “I decided to paint my nails at the last minute,” I respond with enthusiasm.

  I look around and my Pop is glaring at Jude with narrowed eyes. Uncle Gino is taking a drink of his beer while shaking his head minutely looking to the sky and Tony is grinning huge like he finds something funny. Shit, shit, and shit again.

  Needing to do something, anything, to take the attention off me, I try to pull a Carpino and ask, “Tony, where are your manners? Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

  Tony’s huge grin disintegrates immediately and he glares at me. Putting his arm around his date, he looks down at her and says, “Chelsea, this is Gabby, my cousin and her live-in boyfriend, Jude. They’ve been together for a whole month.” He looks back over at me and gives me a look like he has just one upped me.

  My manners on the other hand never fail, so I stick my hand out. “Nice to meet you Chelsea. And he has his own condo,” I add, pointing to Jude for good measure. “What do you do?”