by Piper Rayne
A Modern Love Christmas
Piper Rayne
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
© 2018 by Piper Rayne
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.
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Contents
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Lennon
Puppy
Jewelry Store Employee
Jasper
Cole
Jasper
Lucas
Whitney
Tahlia
Cole
Lennon
Lucas
Cole
Brady
Santa
About the Author
Also by Piper Rayne
Lennon
My sock covered feet dangle from the bed.
“Damn.” I twist the sock around in hopes Dr. Sun won’t notice the hole that now sits at the back of my heel. This whole preggo brain thing is ruining my half stellar job as Brady’s stepmom, not to mention my fashion. He got to school five minutes late, Drew is calling me about my patents and now I have a hole in my sock.
Dr. Sun walks in, her hair pulled back into a bun, a conservative pink blouse tucked into a tight pencil skirt, along with a pair of heels and some jewelry. I miss those days when I had hours to get ready in the morning, too.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Lennon,” Dr. Sun says, going to the sink and washing her hands. “Where’s Jasper today? I thought for sure he’d be joining you.”
I lay back on the bed fighting the necessary evil of the stirrups a little longer. We all know I’m up for some bondage every now and then, but those things are practically medieval.
“He had a business trip he couldn’t get out of. We’re heading up to Climax Cove in Oregon for the holidays, so… I promised him pictures.” I smile at her as nervous excitement builds in the pit of my stomach.
Jasper’s been calm so far, but he’s been through this with Brady. This is my first pregnancy. Everything is shiny and new and I have no idea what to expect or what I’ll feel when I get the first look at our child.
I’m not exactly traditional. Understatement of the year, I know. When it came to getting married I forced Jasper to elope, having no interest in participating in anything traditional including a year long engagement where I would be forced to chose color themes, seating plans, and register for gifts.
But this is a baby. There’s no skipping from birth straight to sending the kid off to college. I’ll not a traditional mom—Brady can tell you that—but I will be this child’s mother from day one. Sadly, I missed Brady’s entire infanthood. So, I can handle a walking, talking human being. A crying shit machine? I’m not so sure.
Still drying her hands with the paper towels, she turns to face me. “How wonderful. I keep hearing about that place, but have yet to go.” She presses down on the pedal and disposes of the paper towels.
“We rented a cabin. This year we’re taking all of our friends, and since I’m on the sober train now, I’ll have to settle for gorging on some fries and pies from the local diner.”
Dr. Sun smiles as she approaches. “I’m jealous, you’ll have a great time, sober or not.” She winks and rolls some contraption of a machine over. “We aren’t going to see a whole lot today, but I’ll do my best to get some good shots.”
The screen flickers to life. “All right, pull your shirt up and your pants down.”
“Jeez, doc. Don’t I even get dinner first?”
She chuckles, holding the magic wand in her hand, waiting for me to get situated.
If she only knew—in my wilder days, I dropped my pants for much less.
Dr. Sun squirts some warm gel on my lower abdomen and smiles wide. “Let’s have a look, shall we? Figure out when you guys can expect the newest member of the Banks family.”
I take a deep breath in an attempt to calm my racing heart while she presses the ultrasound wand to my belly. I watch the black screen blip with grey and white, unable to decipher what I’m supposed to be looking at.
She moves the wand around a bit more and my heart races, facing away in case she’s about to give me bad news. Jasper’s right. I should’ve stopped googling. Nothing good ever comes from googling.
Ever googled ‘blue waffle’ because someone told you to? I was expecting some funny Eggo memes and was in no way prepared for the pictures that splashed across my screen. That shit will stay with you for life.
“Here we go,” Dr. Sun says, drawing me out of my thoughts.
She holds the wand in one place. I look up to the black and white screen, ready for a rush of love to overwhelm me when I see my little baby…
What the fuck is that?
I squint a bit trying to figure out what it is I’m supposed to be seeing but there’s only a white blob, some black space, and black and white lines.
“Oh my,” she says.
Taking my eyes off the monitor, I concentrate on Dr. Sun’s who’s staring at the screen with a crease between her brows.
Shit, something is wrong.
My hand instinctively moves to my stomach, but not wanting to interfere with her findings, I leave it on the top portion of my belly. “Is everything all right?”
Her eyes soften, and she rests the wand back on the machine, placing her hand top of mine.
I need Jasper. Where is Jasper? I can’t handle bad news right now. I can’t sit in a room, half exposed with a hole in my sock and have her tell me something isn’t normal with a baby I’ve already fallen in love with.
Her hand grips the top of mine. “Everything is fine, but…”
“But?” My eyes fixate on her, willing her to speed this conversation up before she’s preforming CPR on me.
“Lennon, you’re having twins!”
Puppy
I’m busy rolling around with my pal, Gidget when the small hands descend from up above.
“Gidget! Go.” I bark, scurrying over to the opposite corner, folding myself in a circle until they don’t know where my head is. I close my eyes tight, waiting for the loud screams and feet stomping to stop.
“Oh, how cute,” a voice says.
“That one must be scared,” someone else says.
Good, my act is working. No one ever wants the anti-social dog. The last thing I want is to go home with those small monsters. They probably tug on tails and pull on leashes. I’m a quick learner. One trip to the “magic room” and I realized those small people drop you on your head.
“MOMMY!” One of the creatures wails through the store. “I want that one.”
I peak my eye open to make sure the kid isn’t pointing at me. She’s not, but oh, no, she’s pointing to Gidget. Why is she bouncing on her feet and climbing the cage? We had our plan. Gidget and me were going to be the last dogs so we could go to the same home together.
“Arf-arf.”
Gidget looks over to me and tilts her head in an I’m sorry expression. Why does she want to go home with one of those germ magnets?
The guy that fed us this morning, walks over, picks Gidget up, and places her in the arms of the little girl. I guess she’s sort of cute with her yellow curls, but I know she’s going to hurt my Gidget.
I’m so busy worrying about Gidget that I can’t scurry away when two hands grab a hold of me. I never should have poked my head up.
“Sir, I’m sorry, you can’t remove
the dogs yourself.” The food man, who was saying all those dirty words to his girlfriend this morning in the back room, walks toward us. I stiffen, preparing to be let go of so at least this time I’ll land on my feet.
I’m wrong. The man holds me in his arms and he kind of smells like those good treats they give us in the magic room. I curl up in his arms out of instinct and stare up at the big guy.
“Sir.” Food man tries to grab a hold of me, but I twist and turn. I don’t know why he’s so worried. From the way he was moaning and groaning this morning while he had his hand on that stick thing between his legs, he’s not that great with his hands anyway.
“Whoa, buddy.” The guy’s hand runs down my back, holding me more firmly. “I gotcha.” And strangely, I believe him. “How much?”
“Uh... Let me check.” Food man trots back to that machine that makes beeping noises where people groan and complain before sliding a card through.
This might be my match. The man is smiling down at me and there’s something in his eyes that says he might really like me. That he’ll feed me treats, let me sleep in his bed, take me for walks, and won’t get too mad if I pee on the carpet.
“Fifteen hundred.”
The man holding me does that familiar groan noise they all seem to do. “For a dog?”
Put me down and I’ll run out the door. I’ll sniff out your car and then you can take me home anyway. Call me a stray.
I plead my case with my eyes.
His large hand pats my head. “You’re worth it aren’t you buddy? I’ll take him.”
“Great. But next time, can you please let us get the dog out first?”
“For fifteen hundred a pop, you can bet your ass I won’t be back.” In the comfort of my new owner’s arms, he groans a little before sliding his card through that machine. “She’s going to love you.” He holds me up in the air in front of him.
She? No, no, no. It’s just us guys, dude. We’re supposed to be a wolf pack. Look at Gidget. Chicks will abandon you.
I should have peed when he was holding me.
Jewelry Store Employee
“You do have exquisite taste,” I compliment the tall drink of water in front of me.
By exquisite, I mean a huge commission check for me. Damn, who snatched this one up? Probably some woman who never blows him or lets him do anything other than missionary. A shame really since he’ll probably cheat on her…with someone like me.
I reach down to grab another ring, unbuttoning one more button on my blouse. I’d go down on him in the stock room if he’d let me.
“I’m sorry, this isn’t the one.” He pushes back the more expensive ring I placed out. Those that don’t think love comes with a price tag are wrong.
He nibbles on the inside of his cheek, walking past the cases of rings, his gaze searching, his lips never flipping up into a smile.
“May I suggest custom? Many men are designing their own with some help.”
“I’m heading up to Climax Cove this weekend, so I have no time to wait.”
Impromptu proposal? Must’ve knocked her up. Ha.
His long fingers cover the glass, breezing by twenty different rings any celebrity would be happy to wear. Being the go to jewelry store for so many tech guys who suddenly find themselves with model wives after their apps turn them into millionaires, our rings are only for the rich. Hello? Jasper Banks got his ring here just last year. Shame someone grabbed one of the most eligible bachelors in San Fran.
“What spurs such a last-minute proposal?’ I ask, crossing my arms and leaning my weight on the glass case.
His finger stops right before it dives into its unexpected roadblock of my cleavage he wasn’t paying any attention to. He pulls back his hand, stuffing both of them in his pockets and rocks back on his heels.
“I’m not sure I’m finding what I’m looking for. Thank you for your help.” He swivels around to face the door. His strong shoulders stretching the fabric of his shirt. Damn, he really is a fine male specimen.
“Sir. Let me look in back just to be sure there’s no other rings that just came in.”
He stops and his shoulders rise and fall. Maybe I underestimated this guy. Maybe he is one of the rare ones who actually loves the woman he’s going to marry.
Turning back around, his lips are tight, his eyes annoyed.
“I won’t be going back in the storage room with you.” His gaze lands on mine, with a bored expression that could almost make me second guess my self-confidence. Catch the word could? Eight out of ten times, the guy would follow me. Sorry ladies, it’s the truth.
“Of course not. I’ll be right back.” On the way to the vaulted storage area, I button my blouse back up. No need to be any colder than this man already makes me.
I find the latest shipment of rings the owner told me I wasn’t allowed to sell because they were only for our “special” customers. AKA our most wealthy clients who will pimp out the store on social media.
“I think I have something for you.” I walk back into the showroom, finding the man’s head buried in his phone, his fingers sliding across the screen as fast as any teenager’s. He quickly pockets the phone, his attention back to the boxes in my hand. “These are usually reserved.”
He approaches the glass case, looking at the velvet boxes. “I wouldn’t be here if I couldn’t afford reserved.” For a man who wasn’t flaunting his money twenty minutes ago, I half figure he might just make my commission for the year to prove me wrong.
“Of course, sir.” I open the first box. The light shines on the enormous five-carat princess cut diamond with rounded edges. The platinum band holds a string of diamonds all the way around. Drool almost slips out of the corner of my mouth.
“That’s the one. Wrap it up.”
My mouth falls open, and I look to find a wide smile plastered on his lips.
“Would you like to know the price?” I ask.
“No. That ring was meant for her finger.”
“Well then.” I snap the box shut. “How will you be paying for this?”
“I suppose the amount I love my girl isn’t an acceptable payment?” He chuckles, seemingly in a much better mood now.
I ring him up, my manicured finger tapping the screen. He stands there patiently waiting for me to finish checking him out. I should thank him for giving me a great Christmas bonus. I hand him the bag. “Your future fiancé is very lucky.”
He takes the bag from my grasp, pulling out the box and stuffing it into his pocket, leaving the bag on the counter. “Nah, I’m the lucky one. Thank you.” He nods.
His comment is cliché, but it still warms my heart that there are men like him out there.
Maybe I’ll be lucky enough to find my own some day.
Jasper
“Did we miss anything?” Tahlia whispers, sliding into the seats next to us.
“Other than I almost got my ass kicked, no.” Lennon gobbles down a bag of Swedish fish.
“Are they selling snacks outside?” Lucas jokes, his eyes zeroing in on Lennon’s hand.
He better watch out, she’s feisty today. Since we’ve opted to keep the whole pregnancy a secret until we announce it in Climax Cove they have no idea why she’s a tad stressed out.
“I skipped lunch, okay big guy,” She stares blankly at him. He slides back behind Tahlia, placing his arm around her shoulders and concentrating on the stage in the school auditorium in front of us.
“Where’s Whit and Cole?” Tahlia whispers.
“Running late.”
Tahlia’s eyebrows shoot up. “Whit? Late? Huh.” She sits back when the principal walks up to the stage to announce the play.
An elbow hits my ribs. “Grab your phone. We need to get all these moments on video. Next thing you know, he’ll be complaining that all we cared about are the…”
Holding my side, I glance over at her, a smile teasing my lips. Leaning in closer while pulling my phone out of my suit jacket, I inhale the sweet scent of her gummy candy. “Yo
u never showed me the pictures.” My hand moves toward her purse, but she rips it out of my hands, clutching it in her lap.
“Later. Film.” She points to the stage, never looking directly at me. My mom, who is sitting on the other side of Lennon, glances over with curiosity in her eyes.
The curtain opens and Brady stands on the top tier. His height record for a seven-year-old showing he’s my son. My eyes instinctively move to Lennon and there’s my girl’s smile. Nothing better then seeing the woman you love stare adoringly to your son who isn’t hers biologically.
Another elbow jab to the ribs and that feeling of bliss vanishes. I hold my phone up in the air, ready to film my son, who admitted last night he’ll be lip synching this round of Christmas carols.
“He looks so grown up,” Lennon whispers to my mom and the two entwine arms, staring lovingly while he mouths the words to “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”
I catch Whitney and Cole walk in, smiles wide on their faces as they concentrate on Brady while finding their seats. Knowing the drill, Lucas stands and Whit takes his seat next to Tahlia, leaving him and Cole on the end. The two girls talk softly, their eyes veering over to Lennon and then more hushed tones. I’m not sure why she thought she could keep this pregnancy to herself.
My wife is not subtle and everyone is bound to realize something is going on.
An hour later, the Christmas recital is over and we’re all waiting in the hallway for Brady to come out.
“Lennon, you’re really flushed. Are you okay?” Whitney asks, placing her hand on Lennon’s forehead.
She slides out of the way and shoots her friend an annoyed look. “I’m fine. It was like a hundred degrees in there. Haven’t they heard of air conditioning?”
