Vote Then Read: Volume I

by Carly Phillips

  Someone was trying to hurt their shop, their second homes. And, sadly, she had a feeling this was only the beginning.

  10

  “They seriously thought you were selling drugs out of the shop?”

  Mace’s friend Landon sounded incredulous, and he didn’t blame the other man for that reaction. Mace couldn’t really believe what had gone down the afternoon before either. In fact, he’d been so angry throughout the whole process—and after the cops had left—that he’d taken off after his shift because he needed some space to breathe.

  Adrienne had been even angrier than he was, and since they couldn’t use their anger to get each other off that night, they’d spent it apart. Frankly, he’d needed time to think anyway. Now, he was out for a beer with Landon and Ryan, trying to relax after several long days and attempting to wrap his head around everything that had happened over the past few weeks—especially last night.

  “I thought they were going to cuff you right there,” Ryan said, tipping his beer toward Mace. “You walked out behind Adrienne, looking all inked and badass, and I swear both officers twitched as if they were going to reach for their guns.”

  Mace ran a hand over his face before giving Ryan a look. “It wasn’t that bad, but having to stand behind Addi as she took the lead wasn’t easy.”

  “She’s the owner of the shop, so that makes sense,” Landon said, “but having to stand back when your woman is dealing with false accusations, and there’s nothing you can do but nod and be by her side…? Rough, man.”

  Ryan choked on his beer before grinning at Mace. “Your women, eh?”

  “She’s my friend. My boss. She’s not my woman.” And that was probably a total lie, but it wasn’t as if he could say anything different right then. “But the important thing is, they didn’t find any drugs, and were fucking pissed that they had to come in at all. The fact that this is the second false call in as many weeks…and then add in the graffiti… We have a serious problem.”

  Ryan’s smile died, and he shook his head. “Someone doesn’t like where we opened up the business. And while I’d usually say they can just suck it, they’re causing problems.”

  Mace nodded. “Our walk-in volume isn’t as high as it should be for this time of year. Shep and Addi are getting worried.”

  “You think people are worried about what they’re hearing?” Landon asked before pulling out his phone. “How are the reviews online?”

  “Good, as far as I can tell, so it’s got to just be word of mouth about the calls and issues we’ve been having.” Mace took another drink of his beer then reached for a wing, needing food that was horrible for him to get through his bad mood. Sienna had Daisy tonight since she’d shown up and said she wanted to make a play for the favorite aunt. He hadn’t minded, and Daisy was in love with the idea of a sleepover, so he’d let his sister boss him around. It gave him time for dinner and beer with Ryan and Landon—something he hadn’t had time for since his daughter came to live with him full-time. Finding that balance wasn’t easy, and if it weren’t for his family and Adrienne, he knew he wouldn’t be able to handle as much as he was.

  Ryan peeled at the label on his bottle, frowning. “We give good ink, damn it. Our loyal clients followed us from two different shops and are already on our schedule. And, hell, even Shep has a couple people coming up from New Orleans just for him. He didn’t mean for that to happen, but they’re making a vacation of it or something. It’s pretty awesome. We even have a waiting list for new clients who’ve heard about us.”

  “But we’re losing some of that initial pull of people who haven’t heard of us before and want to get a tattoo closer to their homes rather than driving across town.” Mace let out a breath. “And, hell, all this stress on Shep and Addi isn’t helping. They risked a lot—as did their cousins up north by increasing their business so much. And I have a feeling we haven’t seen the end of whatever this asshole is up to.”

  “Because it has to be that guy, right?” Landon asked. “It would all be a little too coincidental for it not to be the guy who came in on opening day to threaten you.”

  “That’s what we’re thinking.”

  “By the way, man, I’m sorry I never made it to opening day or even after,” Landon put in. “Work’s a bit crazy at the moment, but I feel like an asshole.”

  “You’re fine. I have you scheduled for your tattoo, so if you can’t make it in before then to see the place, you’ll see it in a month when you have time off.”

  Landon was a broker who worked longer hours than Mace had when he was practically doing overnighters back in the day. And the man was the best at his job. That said, he probably was a little too good because his bosses worked him to the bone. Mace was honestly surprised that Landon had been able to join them for dinner and beers. As it was, Shep hadn’t been able to make it, and Carter was running late. Mace didn’t know Carter all that well, but he’d married a Montgomery woman, and that meant that he was now part of the group—even if he didn’t know it yet.

  And as if he’d conjured the man out of thin air, Carter walked toward them, a look of exhaustion creeping over his face, but he’d still made it there to hang out with them. The other man worked long hours like Landon, and it was starting to show on both of them. Mace worked his ass off, sure, but he also had a daughter and his health to think about. He wasn’t twenty anymore where he could get by on a couple of hours of sleep—but neither were any of the men at this table.

  “Hey, Carter.” Mace gestured toward the empty seat, and the other man sat down at the table. “Glad you could make it.”

  Carter smiled, his eyes not looking quite as tired as Mace had first thought. “I wanted to eat dinner with Roxie before I came. I hope that’s okay. Between her deadlines coming up and my workers calling in thanks to that flu going around, we haven’t been able to eat together most nights this week. But I figured I’d come and hang out for a beer at least.”

  “See? You’re being the good husband,” Landon put in. “Us single men over here were forced to eat hot wings that will probably cause heartburn later tonight, but you got good food with your wife. Sounds like the perfect night.”

  Mace grinned over his beer, and Carter rolled his eyes and explained how neither of them could cook but were learning. “One day, we’ll have something better than tuna casserole—the stovetop kind, we’re not up to baking it yet.” Ryan poured Carter a drink since they’d ordered a pitcher instead of going micro-brew that night. Only Landon had money to spare this month since the rest of them were in the middle of life changes that required them to be slightly more frugal.

  “That’s love, though. Eating crappy food you make together.” Mace lifted his beer up in a toast as he said it, and the others joined in.

  Carter rolled his eyes but sipped his beer. “Roxie will end up being a better cook than me, I think. She’s determined.” There was something else in his voice, but Mace couldn’t figure out what it was, and since it wasn’t his business, he didn’t press.

  “Addi’s a pretty decent cook, and we all know Thea’s a damned fine baker and chef. And I think Shep holds his own, too. Seems the talent didn’t trickle down.” Mace reached for a wing, slapping Ryan’s hand away when the other man tried to filch one from his side. He liked Ryan, considered him a friend, but no one got between him and his wings.

  Carter narrowed his eyes at Mace and sipped his beer. “Seems you’ve been spending a lot of time with my new sister, Adrienne, from what I can see.”

  Ryan coughed, his grin widening while Landon looked between the three of them, brows raised.

  “You and your Addi?” Landon asked, his voice sounding a little too intrigued.

  Mace set his drink down and looked at all of the men he called his friends. “She’s my best friend.” Not a lie. Not quite the truth either. But neither of them were ready for the world to know what they were. And the more important aspect of that was that they didn’t actually know what they were to each other yet. Because, for all
they praised themselves on talking about their relationship as it was and how they were going to make sure neither of them ever got hurt, he knew they both had their heads in the sand when it came to definitions and feelings.

  And maybe, just maybe, that’s how they were supposed to make things work for them. At least, for now.

  “Yeah? And?” Carter winked as he said it before setting down his beer. He hadn’t had more than a few sips, and Mace wondered if the man was going to finish it. All of them were sharing one large pitcher since they all had to drive home, so it wasn’t that big of a deal. “Don’t tell us, it’s fine. But you should know, I saw the sparks between the two of you when I dropped by the shop. And I have a feeling if Roxie and Thea are in the same room as the two of you soon, they’ll figure it out.”

  “If Shep wasn’t so focused on the shop and his family, he’d figure it out, too,” Ryan put in. “The two of you going off to the storage room together and coming out all red-faced and mussed sort of tipped me off. Just saying.”

  Landon threw his head back and laughed, the others following suit as Mace didn’t confirm or deny what his friends were saying. After all, it wasn’t as if he had to. They already knew. Mace had a feeling the cat would officially be out of the bag with the rest of his and Addi’s family soon if his friends had anything to do with it—at least by the way they were acting.

  Thankfully, the conversation moved onto the Broncos and their slim chances for making the playoffs, and soon, they were stuffed full of wings and mostly water now since they’d finished their one or two beers each.

  They said their goodbyes, and because Mace was a glutton for punishment or perhaps because he was addicted to the one woman he shouldn’t be, he found himself taking an earlier turn than the one to his house and soon sat parked in front of Adrienne’s home. He’d called his sister so he could talk to Daisy before she went to bed, and she said the two of them were camping in Sienna’s bedroom, complete with a pillow and blanket fort. His sister had told him to have fun, and had teased him about seeing his woman. He didn’t think she knew exactly who his woman was, but he was going to take this time he had.

  He hadn’t texted or called ahead, and because she usually parked inside her garage, he had no clue if she was actually home or not. This was probably stupid of him, but then again, he was good at making idiotic decisions recently.

  He turned off his engine, but before he could get out and walk up to her door, hoping she was home, his phone beeped, signaling that he had a text message.

  Addi: Creeper much?

  He grinned, shaking his head as he replied.

  Mace: If you know I’m out here, then you’re the one creeping on me through the window like in that old movie with the birds.

  Addi: The window movie is not the same as the bird movie, dork.

  Mace: I’m woefully inept when it comes to classics, it seems. Can I come in and watch some?

  Addi: …

  Mace: What?

  Addi: That’s the worst line ever. But come inside, and I’ll make you come.

  Addi: I, uh, mean something eloquent and ladylike that doesn’t sound like I’m thinking about your dick.

  Addi: Because I am.

  Addi: I mean, I’m not.

  Addi: I mean, just get in here and let me play with your dick.

  Mace’s laugh filled the cab of his truck, and he shook his head, stuffed his phone into his pocket, and headed out into the cold. He locked the truck behind him and hadn’t even raised his fist to knock on the door before she had it open and her arms around his neck.

  “Hey there, sailor,” she teased. He reached down to cup her ass and lifted her into his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and he walked into her house, using his foot to close the door behind them.

  “You know I get seasick,” he said, turning so he could lock the door before carrying her into the living room.

  “Then I’ll be gentle.” She kissed him then, and he growled, needing her taste more than he needed air.

  “It’s okay that I’m here, then? That I didn’t call?” He didn’t want to cross any lines and knew they both needed their own spaces.

  She bit his jaw and grinned, her eyes bright. “You never had to before you saw me naked. You don’t have to now. Did you have fun with the guys?”

  He kissed her behind the ear, loving the way she pressed into him, practically purring in his hold. “Yeah. But Ryan and Carter figured out we’re doing our thing, and that means Landon knows. Not sure how long we’re going to be able to keep it away from everyone else.”

  She pulled back, blinking quickly. “I figured Ryan, but Carter?”

  “He saw us looking at each other like we wanted to rip each other’s clothes off and brought it up tonight.”

  “Well, then. I guess…I guess we just keep doing our thing and don’t lie.” She was so still in his arms, he had a feeling if he didn’t say the right thing, he’d screw everything up.

  “Sounds good to me, Addi. Now, since I’m not as young as I used to be, I’m going to have to set you down on the edge of this couch so I can fuck you hard in a bit. Okay?”

  She laughed, doing exactly what he’d wanted her to do, and wiggled from his hold so he could set her down. “Why don’t we go into the bedroom? I have that nice, soft mattress. When you’re done pounding me into it, I’ll let you lay down and relax while I finish you off.” She reached between them, rubbing his cock through his jeans, forcing a groan from him. “I really miss your dick.”

  “You say the sweetest things, Addi.” He leaned down and kissed her, knowing they were far more than friends at this point, though they wouldn’t say it aloud. “The sweetest things.”

  He followed her into the bedroom and stripped off his jacket so he could lay it on the chair she had by the door. Then he took off his shoes and smiled as she leaned against the end of her bed, watching his movements.

  “See something you like?” he asked, his fingers on the bottom edge of his Henley.

  She tilted her head as if studying him. “Maybe.”

  He grinned and slid his shirt up and over his head. “Maybe you’d like it more if I’m closer to you. Say, on top of you as I fuck you into oblivion?”

  “Now you’re saying the sweetest things.”

  He couldn’t hold back any longer. He had to kiss her, had to have his hands on her. They stripped each other out of the rest of their clothes, their bodies coming together as they arched into one another during the kiss. They only let their mouths part to catch their breaths or kiss and lick down each other’s bodies. Even then, he knew he had to rein it in, or he’d blow right there on her stomach like a damned teenager instead of the man he was.

  Mace licked down her chest, taking one nipple into his mouth and sucking while rolling the other between his fingers. He felt, more than saw, her head drop, and her hair slide down her back, touching the tips of his fingers as he held her so he could take more of her into his mouth. He nibbled her skin, enjoying the way she shivered at his touch before he went to her other breast. He licked and sucked and molded each in his hands. Soon, her nipples were bright red like cherries and so sensitive that she made little noises when he blew on them.

  “Mace, I can’t take much more.”

  He moved up and kissed her on the lips, her now sore nipples pressing into his chest. “Then let me make you come.”

  “I want to make you come, too.” She reached between them and cupped his balls, then slid her fingers over his length. He groaned and moved away, a little too close to coming just by sucking on her breasts.

  “I need to have my face between your legs in the next thirty seconds, or I’m going to go back to your breasts and make you squirm.”

  She grinned at him, and he knew she was about to tell him something very naughty and probably something he would totally agree to. “Why don’t we do both at the same time? I’ll ride your face if you let me suck your dick.”

  “You come up with the best ideas, Addi.” His
dick twitched, and he picked her up by her ass and tossed her onto the bed. She bounced and laughed. He’d never thought he could have this much fun during sex. Of course, he hadn’t been having sex with his best friend before.

  Mace lay on his back, and Addi moved so she could straddle his shoulders. Her wet and hot cunt hovered over his face, and he couldn’t help but reach out and grab her ass cheeks to move her down so he could lap her up.

  She let out a moan and spread her legs slightly wider so he could have more and take his fill. Then he let out a groan of his own as she practically swallowed him whole. The tip of his cock bumped the back of her throat, and she gave him a hum that went straight to his balls. She stayed there for a moment, moving her throat slightly so it squeezed his dick, and he crossed his eyes before she moved back and let go of him with a wet, sucking noise.

  “I’m going to come in about five seconds if you keep being so damn good at that.”

  She wiggled her hips, and he squeezed her ass harder so she would stop. “Then get to work on eating me out and making me come, and then you’ll be so focused on how I taste and feel that you’ll last just a little bit longer, old man.”

  He slapped one cheek hard before running his hand over the new red mark to help ease the sting.

  “Bad.”

  She tossed her hair over her shoulder and winked. “So?” Then she was sucking him again, and he moaned before going back to her pussy. He licked and sucked around her opening, using one finger to play with her clit. She tasted so fucking good that he was pretty sure he’d be addicted to her cunt if he weren’t careful. He kept up his ministrations until, finally, her sheath clamped around his two fingers and she came on his face. He was so close to coming as well that he had to pull her off him and slide out from underneath her so he wouldn’t lose control too quickly.

  He had her on her back in the next instant, one leg up by her ears and the other below him as he teased her entrance.

  “Shit. Condom.”