Misters of Love: A Small Town Romance Boxset

by Piper Sullivan

  She blinked. She smiled. And I sped up, pounding my hips faster and faster until she flew apart, arching her back and shouting her pleasure, the sound bouncing off the walls. “Oh, god!”

  She was gorgeous and I couldn’t stop, even though her own pleasure was overwhelming her—the sight of her so turned on, so engulfed in pleasure, and the feel of her squeezing my cock, it was all too much. “Mikki!”

  “That,” she panted and shook her head, smiling as she watched the pleasure course through my body, “was incredible.” Before Mikki could take another breath, a yawn escaped. “So incredible,” she tried again, and another yawn escaped.

  “I’ll take that as a boost to my ego,” I told her and slowly pulled back until we were no longer connected. My smile was big as I lifted her in my arms. “Put you right to sleep.”

  “I’m pregnant,” she pouted and laid her head on my shoulder.

  “I’m glad you remember.” I was starting to wonder if all this was a reaction to unexpected motherhood.

  “Sexy. For you,” she whispered, but before the words even registered, her breathing had deepened and evened out. Mikki was finally asleep.

  Thank goodness. I put her to bed and covered her up, leaving her with a kiss to her shoulder. It took a few minutes to blow out all the candles and pop the ice cream in the freezer, but I managed a quick shower before heading back to the office.

  “Long lunch,” Jase shouted at me from across the parking lot.

  I flipped him off and then waved him down. If there was anyone I could talk about this with, it was him. “The woman is determined to wear both of us out before the baby even gets here.”

  I felt Jase’s incredulous stare heat the side of my face, but I refused to look at him and when he laughed, I resisted the urge to punch him in the face. “Only you could find a problem with a wife who’s horny all the time.”

  “I don’t mind that part, dumbass. But like I said, it feels like she’s trying a little too hard.” I couldn’t quite put it in words, and that made it even more frustrating.

  “Maybe she’s feeling insecure. You know how women are about their bodies and, man, Mikki is really into fashion and that girly stuff. This has to be hard for her.”

  “Was it hard for Bo?”

  He shrugged. “The hormones were the worst. You know how she hates being vulnerable and emotional. I just had to be that way to show her it was okay to do that with me.”

  Damn. “Who are you?”

  Jase smiled. “Me. Only better. Because of Bo.”

  “Ugh. Save that talk for your woman.” We shared another laugh, this one more relaxed. “The woman excels at getting me to talk when I don’t want to, so what else can I do?”

  “I don’t know. Do something where you can take sex off the table.”

  “If there’s a table around, she’ll want to screw—”

  “Nope, not listening. That’s my sister-in-law you’re talking about,” he said playfully. “First of all, disinfect your house. Then find something that can’t lead to sex. Or, you know, just say no. Claim a headache or something.”

  I looked over at him finally and grinned. “That was almost completely helpful.”

  He frowned and took a step back as a call sounded over the alert sound system. “Almost completely? I was going for somewhat helpful. Better up my game.”

  Then he was gone, the serious professional taking place of my annoying little brother.

  Maxine

  “Is it me, or did today have ninety-seven hours?” Even after a long hot shower, my muscles hadn’t relaxed from the event tonight. “Please tell me your day was better?” I slid a gaze at Derek through the bathroom mirror, watching as he towel-dried his body, wishing I was that towel right now. If only I weren’t so damn exhausted.

  “I got a job offer,” he said hesitantly, and I stopped rubbing lotion into my legs and turned to face him.

  “Why doesn’t this sound like a good thing? Is it in Alaska?” Because even if I might hate it and there was no way I could rebuild my business, it was something I’d have to at least consider. Right?

  “No.” He flashed a nervous smile and toweled off his thick black hair. “It’s at the same hospital.”

  “Less money?”

  “More, actually.”

  “Stupid job offer.” I frowned playfully. “I assume this terrible thing also comes with more responsibility?”

  He nodded. “Director of the ER.”

  “Director? Derek, that’s so great!” I flew into his arms and hugged him tight. “I’m so damn proud of you, babe. Congratulations.” Which only made his reaction seem odder. “Why aren’t you happy about this?”

  “I am. But I haven’t accepted it.”

  “Why the hell not? This is your dream job. Your dream job, Derek.” I shook my head, trying to figure out if maybe I didn’t understand words anymore, because none of this made sense. “It’s here in town, so we don’t have to move. What am I missing?”

  “Nothing. This is me thinking like a husband and a father—talking to my wife about something that will take more time away from the family before we make a decision.”

  It was hard not to love a man who was just so damn good. How had I ever thought he was nothing but a callous playboy? “I love you, Derek. But seriously, accept the job. Right away.” I kissed him long and hard just to make sure he got the message.

  “You sure?”

  “Positive.” Our gazes locked for a long moment, filled with unspoken words of assurance, and I gave one last sharp nod. “I’m so damn proud of you.”

  His shoulders relaxed as if that was exactly what he needed to hear, and the smile he sent my way was blinding and unstoppable. “It will mean time away from us, sometimes.”

  “We’ll find a way to make it work. Right?”

  “Damn straight, we will.” His smile was so happy and wide that warmth zipped through my body, making my nipples throb, and when Derek pulled me closer and put his mouth to mine, I sighed.

  I let go.

  I don’t know how long we stood there with our arms wrapped around each other, kissing like hormonal teenagers. We just kissed. Sure, hands roamed and squeezed and kneaded, but mostly we just kissed. There was no hurry, no need to rush on to something else, something better.

  It was the best damn kiss I’d had in a long time, as memorable as my very first kiss. “Derek,” I moaned against his lips.

  “Maxine. I love you.”

  “Right back atcha, Doc.” We fell asleep as we always did, with Derek’s arms wrapped around me, his warm soothing breaths lulling me into a peaceful sleep.

  I woke up the next morning to the sound of excited whispers and the smell of roasted coffee beans and sugar, likely waffles. Stretching my stiff muscles with a smile on my face was exactly how I wanted to wake up every day.

  I washed my face and tossed on a pair of jeans and an old T-shirt, since I would spend the next few days in the kitchen, before heading downstairs.

  “Does that mean you’re in charge of the whole ER now?” The excitement in Callie’s voice was palpable.

  The smile in Derek’s was just as clear to me from my spot on the other side of the kitchen entrance. Like a creeper. “Yes. Scheduling and inventory and all that boring stuff.”

  “But also like surgeries?” The child was obsessed. “Maybe now I can see one?”

  Derek’s long pause gave me worry, and the look of relief that crossed his face when his gaze landed on mine told me I was right. “Probably not yet, kiddo. I think it’ll give you nightmares.”

  “Smart man,” I mouthed at him as I crept up on Callie, totally unaware. “Good morning, my sweet girl.”

  “Morning, Mama.” She turned back to Derek, a determined look on her face that usually spelled trouble. “A new job means more money, right? That means I can have that sister now, right? Missy Templeton’s mom says that’s how it works.”

  The words out of my daughter’s mouth stole the breath from my lungs. Little sister
? “Callie, what are you talking about?”

  She sighed and rolled her eyes. “The moms at school were talking about how you and Derek would be having babies soon, and Derek said not yet.” She sucked in another breath and kept on going, because her batteries rarely ran out. “I said when you do have a baby, I want a sister. But I guess it would be okay if it turned out to be a boy, instead.”

  What in the hell? Had everybody in town gone baby crazy? I let out several deep breaths, keeping them slow and steady so I wouldn’t freak out in front of Callie and Derek. “We don’t get to choose, Callie.”

  “But you can,” she said, and slid off her seat. “I’ll be back.”

  As soon as Callie’s feet sounded on the stairs, Derek was on his feet with his arms wrapped around my body and his lips on the column of my neck. “Good morning.”

  “It’s better now.” I ignored my racing heart, pretending it was Derek’s proximity rather than Callie’s verbal salad. Derek kept his arms wrapped tight around me even when he pulled back from the kiss.

  “The baby talk made you a little uncomfortable.” It wasn’t a question, so there was no need to deny it.

  “No, it made me a lot uncomfortable, because it seems really soon for everyone to hop on this train. We just got married.” I felt like a broken record and this was the only tune I could sing.

  “So, it’s not off the table?” The hope in his voice was like a hand gripping my heart. The girls were right, Derek was a man who was made to be a father. Those deep blue eyes were filled with kindness and patience and goodness, all things a good dad would possess.

  “It’s not off the table, Derek. Of course not.” I’d never thought of having more kids—then again, I hadn’t thought about marrying again until a blue-eyed doctor wouldn’t take no for an answer. “But maybe we could enjoy it just being the three of us? Just for a little while?” I needed to get used to the idea of having a baby and what it all meant for my family. My business.

  He smiled and nodded, but the smile was, at best, half wattage. “Okay.” He kissed me and I could feel his disappointment.

  And I didn’t like it.

  This week, I promised myself to take steps toward making this a part of my new reality, starting with a trip to the doctor. “Thank you, Derek.”

  “Of course, Maxine.” He smiled weakly and shook his head. “I’d better go. Dinner tonight?”

  “Can’t wait.” I watched Derek leave and I didn’t like the feeling brewing in my gut. I decided, then and there, to spend the rest of the day getting used to the idea of having another baby.

  Scott

  Running errands was my least favorite activity, but today’s tasks were part of a bigger mission. A much bigger mission. I kept my shoulders squared and a polite yet distant smile on my face, hoping that my purposeful gait would deter anyone from engaging me in small talk. Not that I didn’t enjoy stopping to smell the roses or to engage with the citizens of Tulip, it was just that today wasn’t a good day.

  Town Hall was quiet this time of day, with everyone safely back in their offices after a leisurely lunch—Stevie included. Big Mama’s still held more than a dozen customers, but my shoulders relaxed when I made it past the entire bank of windows without a tap on the window or a nod of acknowledgment. It was almost as if the universe was on my side today.

  “Scott! Yoo-hoo, Scotty boy!”

  Or not. The sound of Eddy’s voice from at least half a block back made it tempting to speed up and get lost before the old girl ever caught up. But, as crazy and meddlesome as she was, Eddy was my grandmother who I loved very much. No matter how difficult she made it at times. So, I stopped and pasted a smile on my face before I turned and waited for her to shuffle my way in bright white sneakers that looked far too big for her small frame.

  “Eddy, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

  She smacked her lips together and gave me a healthy dose of side-eye. “We both know it’s not a pleasure.”

  “That’s not true Eddy, and you know it.” I folded my arms and let out my breath slowly, since she was in the mood to be offended today.

  “Then why haven’t you invited me over for dinner recently?”

  “When you learn the difference between an invited guest and an intruder, you’ll get another invite.” She’d caught Stevie and I going at it like porn stars in the kitchen, after sneaking in. To look for gossip.

  “It could have happened to anyone,” she insisted, chin tilted high in defiance. “Anyway, I didn’t stop you to rehash all that.”

  Her glare wouldn’t scare me. Not this time. “Then why did you stop me?”

  “Oh, right! Who is the best cook you know? Besides me, of course.” I didn’t have the heart do dim that proud smile. Eddy was a capable cook, fun and creative, but she also didn’t stand on ceremony. Ever. Even when it came to what foods went together and which ones didn’t.

  “Is this a trick question?”

  “No, boy, it’s not.” Her sharp words were accompanied by a smack to the arm.

  “Ow, woman!”

  “Best cook you know. Tell me now.” She snapped her fingers, the universal sign for ‘hurry the hell up.’ “Go on now, don’t be shy.”

  “Nate,” I said automatically, because the most memorable meal I could think of was a lamb he’d made recently to help Mikki fight a craving. “Best lamb I ever had.”

  A wide, satisfied smile bloomed on her face and I got the feeling I had wandered into a trap somehow, but I still couldn’t see it. “Perfect, Scotty. Thanks.” She patted my jaw and then, because she couldn’t resist, pinched my cheeks. “You planning on putting a ring on it anytime soon?”

  “See ya later, Eddy.”

  “Don’t need it, thanks to you.” She flashed a devious smile and took off like someone was after her. Knowing Eddy, someone probably was.

  When she was out of sight, I turned back and around and managed to make it all the way inside Max’s place without getting stopped by anyone else. I looked around the newly decorated shop while Max barked orders at someone over the phone. With one hand on her hip and the phone sandwiched between her ear and shoulder, she looked every inch the mother and businesswoman she was. Her keen blue eyes seemed to be wondering what I was doing in her shop, but she only smiled and waved me closer.

  “Set it up like I told you to. Exactly how I showed you. Three times.” Max hung up the phone and turned to me with a smile. “Scott. What brings you by?”

  “I need your help. Your professional help,” I rushed on. “Do you do private catering?”

  Her brows dipped in confusion. “I do.” The way she drew out those two little words said she wasn’t gonna make this easy for me.

  “Perfect.” At least, that was what my brain was telling me. Forge ahead with the plan. Destroy all obstacles. “How do we do this? I need to pick a date, I know that. What about a menu, do I just tell you what I want or fill out a questionnaire or what?”

  Max laughed and reached across the counter to drop her hands on my shoulder. “Take a breath for me. And then a couple more.” She waited for me to do what she said and then rounded the counter and pushed me toward an empty table.

  I looked at the table and then at Max. “Do you have adult furniture in this place?” This dainty stuff looked like it would break if a stiff wind tore through.

  “Sit.” That was her only reply as she stood, looking fierce while waiting for me to take a seat. When I sat, she smiled and joined me. “All right, what’s your idea for this meal?”

  If I wanted to hire Max, and I did, I had to trust her. No, I had to be able to trust her. “You’re not gonna blast this all over the town Facebook page, are you?”

  The air changed immediately when she leaned in, her blue gaze fierce as she spoke. “I don’t screw with my business. Ever.”

  “Noted.” I gave a short nod and told her what I’d been thinking about. “Romance. Super romantic, like so romantic you might expect a proposal at the end of the evening. Or sooner.”


  Her smile widened. “Congratulations.”

  “Thanks, but she hasn’t said yes. Yet.”

  “Then let’s get started.” She pulled out a sheaf of papers that asked a lot of questions for someone to cook a meal for you. “Just list your allergies and food hates first, then tell me what you have in mind.”

  “Hell, Max, I don’t know. That’s why I came to a pro.”

  She tossed her head back and laughed. “A pro at cooking, not romance.”

  “Isn’t this built into all women?” It was a sexist question, but all the women I knew were so much better at romance than their men that it was a safe assumption.

  “I wish.” She shrugged it off and got back to business. “Fill this questionnaire out as soon as you can so I can come up with a few ideas for you to choose from. Any idea of a venue?”

  “My place. The terrace.” At night, you could see damn near every star in the sky—it was the perfect place to propose.

  “That will be beautiful, Scott.”

  “I have every confidence the meal will be delicious. You’re a great cook, Max.”

  “Thanks. I’ve already got a few ideas, so we’ll talk in a few days.” She pointed at me, her smile gone and replaced with a serious expression. “Don’t ignore my calls.”

  “I won’t. Promise.” For the time being, she was the second most important woman in my life, which meant I would take her calls.

  Until Stevie said yes.

  Mikki

  I woke up from a nap and stretched with a smile on my face. Then a pout, because it felt like I was always waking up from a nap. Always. The last thing I remembered was trying to seduce my husband. Again.

  And being thwarted. Again.

  I’m not even sure if he’d gotten out of it or if I’d fallen asleep before we got to the sexy parts. I hoped it was one of those two options and not the third, more terrifying one—that I had fallen asleep during the sexy times. That would be both humiliating and devastating.

  But I couldn’t let whatever did or didn’t happen hang over my head. It was early evening, which meant I’d already slept the day away and that Nate would be home soon.