“Be careful what you wish for, hmm?”
“Exactly,” Brynn snickered. “But, whatever! Got a Christmas wedding to plan. Squee!”
Charlie chuckled. “Cut me a break Brynnie. You aren’t planning shit. Maybe making a thousand lists—yes. But Rhi got the planning gene. Even if you wanted to, she wouldn’t let you plan a walk around the block. That’s her thing.”
“Yeah, well—I believe Rhiann has another thing these days. A thing we’re not supposed to know about. Amy let something slip.”
“Hmm. Right. I forget that Rhi and Amy have some exclusive Ya-Ya bond going on. What are they up to? One of them designing a fashion line or something?”
“Pinky swear, Charlize and then I’ll tell you.”
The grin on her face almost hurt it was so big. “Pinky swear, Baron-Wilde style.”
“Okay then.” Brynn paused for dramatic flair. Seemed none of them fell far from the hereditary tree that was Bryanna Charles. Maybe the three of them should’ve followed Nana’s footsteps and gone into acting. “I think she’s writing.”
“No fucking way!” Charlie squealed. “For real, Brynnie?”
“Mm-hmm, though I can’t pry any real information from Amy. It’s killing me not knowing but I don’t want to ask. Rhiann’s got her hands full right now.”
“I heard. Liam Ashforth. Wow is all I can say.”
“She’s loved him since she was a teenager.”
“Mmmm.”
“And what about you? Did I hear correctly that you’re fooling around with some Italian guy?”
Damn. Really? Wouldn’t serve any purpose to pour out her broken heart to Brynn. What’s done is done. There’s a wedding happening and a baby on the way. At the end of the day, even a shitty one, she was still a Baron-Wilde and that was enough.
Careful to infuse her tone with mock humor, she drawled, “When in Rome, right?” The way her stomach bottomed out at the expression made her want to end the call quickly.
“Just don’t do anything foolish, okay? One shotgun wedding in the family is enough.”
Charlie chuckled. Well, at least she knew she wasn’t pregnant so there was that. “As if. Okay, listen sis, gotta ramble. Loads to do if I’m gonna come home.”
“Sweetie. Is this coming home thing for good? Being pregnant is some scary shit. I really need my sisters to be involved and by involved I mean nearby. Not on another continent.”
She’d already made her decision. It was time to go home. There was nothing for her here. When she looked back on her time in Italy, she’d remember it for all the great stuff she learned and the good times. Period.
“I’m coming home. I’ve already checked into what I need to drag my Master’s Degree to the finishing line and I can’t do it from here.”
Casting the finishing of her degree as the catalyst for going home made sense. Nobody would question the decision and she wouldn’t have to come up with a story to cover her heartbreak.
“I’m sending you a ticket, Charlie. First class.”
“Oh shit, Brynnie. You don’t have to do that! Mom and Dad already offered and Nana is trying to charter a damn jet to haul my ass back to the States.”
“Oh yeah? Well, I don’t care. You’re my sister. Jax says I can have anything I want and I want you here. Case closed. Don’t argue with the pregnant lady.”
“Love you bakery bitch.”
“Love you too baby bitch.”
“This is me being speechless. I figured you were in love with this woman the last time we talked but then Mom told me you went home after fucking things up. Jesus Christ, Jax.”
“Oh God. Fucked up is an understatement. Had an episode, man. A bad one. And well, Brynn she got caught in the crossfire. Almost hurt her. Going home was the only thing I could do at the time.”
“Duuude.”
“Pfft. I know.”
Cal was without coherent words. Jax. Getting married. And a baby on the way. Not only that, their parents conspired with his woman’s folks to get them together. Wow.
“Listen Caleb. I’m not doing this without you, bro. Need you to be my best man. How much begging and bribing do I have to do to get your butt back to the States?”
Cal thought back over the last week. His life was in shambles. After threatening to sue the fucking shit out of Crepuscolo for the stunt Claudia pulled, they’d wisely backed down and even threw money at the problem to settle the contract dispute and wash their hands of him.
Every attempt to communicate with ‘tessa failed. He knew first-hand that she didn’t answer her phone, like ever. And leaving messages was futile.
The whole thing was slowly killing him.
He’d fucked up. Plain and simple. No, he hadn’t invited what happened with Claudia, but that didn’t excuse him from the rest of it. The fresh-faced girl fascinated him from the first second he laid eyes on her. Manipulating the situation so she was forced to take him on as a client didn’t exactly make him an upstanding guy. Cal wanted the blonde hippie—knew he was taking advantage of the young girl—and played dirty to get her.
And get her he most certainly had. ‘tessa, in all her virginal glory was simply put, the only woman he’d ever been authentic with, but he’d played too many games, including hiding behind a manufactured identity for there to be much hope beyond a few weeks of hot sex.
Hot sex. Ugh. He didn’t like the term. He’d made passionate love to the quirky girl and was falling for her in a big way when it all turned to shit. Cal got what he deserved.
What was the point in hanging around Italy any longer? Seemed kind of pathetic. And though going back to the states with his emotional tail between his legs wasn’t how he envisioned returning home, he was sick to death of Cal Tyler.
“No bribery necessary, old man. My Italian adventure has reached its expiration date. Time for some changes.”
“So what’s that mean? Trading in your passport for Mom’s home cooking or just making a cameo?”
A tremor of reluctance from throwing in the towel on making things right with ‘tessa gave him pause. Being indecisive wasn’t his thing, so he closed his eyes and jumped head first.
“Let’s get you married, Jackson. Don’t want your kid asking later what took you so long. And then we’ll talk, okay? About the future. I’ve been thinking about that idea you had for the cluster of tiny homes. Twenty-first-century families connected on a single property. It’s genius, dude.”
Jax laughed. “Fucking A, it’s genius. Gave it a lot of thought. Start with a parcel of land. Figure three to five tiny homes placed strategically around the property with a communal building in the center. Something big enough for a family table with seating for everyone. The gathering place. I was thinking the center should have a playground with park benches and tables. Think about it. The whole thing could be green and tiny homes can be way more family functional than people think.”
“Don’t have to sell me. We’ll talk. First things first, though. It’ll take me awhile to wrap things up here. Stuff to ship home and what have you. So realistically, I’m thinking you can expect me to parachute in at the last minute. If you need hand holding before then, Dad can do the honors.” Cal laughed. “Still can’t believe he wanted you and Brynn hooked up so bad he and his old friend concocted an elaborate ruse. Bet they didn’t figure on you getting that poor woman pregnant the first damn chance you got.”
He heard the distinct sound of Jax clearing his throat and wanted to high five his big brother. Oh! So that’s the way it is, huh? Sounded to Cal like the first damn chance was rather spontaneous and right out of the gate. Priceless!
And then a sobering thought smacked him upside his head. When you find your best self in someone else, you fall fast and hard. Like Jax and Brynn.
‘‘tessa. Shit. That’s how he felt about ‘tessa. She was the one and he’d fucked it up. Suddenly, he couldn’t run away from Italy fast enough and he didn’t give a flying fuck what that said about him. He was a runner. Ran after Harve died.
And here he was running again. Should be old hat by now.
“Yeah well,” Jax was saying, “please don’t say anything like that around her family, okay? She’s got a bunch of sisters and the middle one has quite a mouth on her! Brynn’s the oldest so us getting caught with our pants down is way embarrassing.”
Holy cow. His brother’s life was changing fast. In-laws. Yikes.
“Understood. Look Jax. I’m overjoyed for you. Seriously, man. You deserve nothing but happiness. You’re my hero, bro. Always have been and I respect the shit out of you after everything you’ve been through. I know I’m gonna love Brynn. Her loving you means we have something in common.”
“Thanks, Caleb. And I’m really glad you’re coming home. I’ve … I’ve missed you, ya’ little prick. I think maybe it’s time for both of us to let go of the past. Focus on the future. You come home, bro. And get ready to put on your uncle hat. I’m counting on you to bring the mayhem cause I’m pretty sure my lady and I are gonna be overprotective and uptight parents.”
Cal roared. Yeah. Mayhem. He was good at fucking with Jax. “So what you’re saying is, a drum set for Christmas when he’s five?”
Jax howled with laughter. “What if it’s a daughter? Think I’d like a little girl to spoil. Then what?”
He thought for a second and then drawled mockingly, “Shotgun. Teach the little lady how to shoot. Yep, yep. Shotgun.”
It felt damn good to break apart laughing with his brother. Jax was right. Letting go of the past was best for both of them. Going home wasn’t a second-place win. He belonged there.
Caleb Merrill belonged there.
“SMILE FOR THE CAMERA, LADIES.”
Charlie and Rhiann looked toward the door at the same time to find Jax standing there with his phone lining up a picture. They were cuddled on either side of Brynn, who was sitting up against the headboard in a mound of pillows. Brynn’s hands rested on her small baby bump—the one she’d exposed by pulling up her top while she and Rhi softly stroked their big sister’s growing belly.
“Out with you Butt Whacker,” Rhiann quipped with a playfully arched brow. “This is sacred sister time. No icky boys allowed.”
“Yeah,” Charlie added. “Clubhouse rules. Girls only.”
Jackson Merrill languidly settled against the doorjamb in a cocky pose that made Charlie giggle. This guy was seriously good looking. Brynnie got herself a winner with him. Big and ruggedly handsome, he had an ease about him that reminded her of someone else. Someone she still couldn’t completely dismiss from her thoughts. And Brynn’s sexy fella’ also had a way with words and a snarky quip that made her laugh every time he and Rhiann went at it. Another trait she found uncomfortably reminiscent.
“Yes, well you’ll have to amend those rules. Baby daddy comes with special privileges. Right sugar lumps?”
Brynn shrieked, “Sugar lumps?” Pulling her shirt down, she covered the bump. “Ladies, he may be terms-of-endearment challenged but I’m afraid he’s right.”
Rhi grunted with hilarious outrage and Brynn made a show of patting her on the back as she offered her big sister wisdom. The whole scene felt like something out of Little Women. Only this version was naughty, funny and full of snark. Typical Baron-Wilde fuckery.
“But don’t fret, sweeties. There’s a bright side to every cloud.”
Charlie saw the way Jax smirked and how Brynn met the smirk with a big ol’ smile. Seeing it sent a zing straight to her heart. Ty used to look at her that way when she was being playful.
“I made him promise to check on me every hour. That only sounds fair, right?” she asked them with a righteous head nod. “I mean, I’m the one who’s pregnant. He got the fun and I get the nine months of worry. The least he can do is have an hourly reminder of what he did.”
“What I did? I was alone? Shit. You’ll have to explain that part to me!”
Brynn made a face and snickered. “Be quiet. I’m explaining how having you hanging around is a good thing. Don’t ruin it with your alpha nonsense.”
Charlie very nearly choked with laughter. This playful, sexy side to Brynn was new and got her looking at Jax through new eyes.
“Anyway,” she drawled. “Think about it, girls. Every hour he’s going to come check on me. Need a drink? He’ll have to go get it. Want the lip gloss in your purse? Jax’ll search till he finds the bag. It’s awesome. The possibilities!”
Jax pushed off with his shoulder from the doorjamb and stalked across the bedroom straight to Brynn’s side. He put his hand around the nape of her neck and pulled her to him for an incendiary kiss.
Oh my. Charlie remembered Ty doing the same thing.
No! She had to stop thinking about him like this and by like this, she meant all the damn time. It was just her desperate and heartbroken imagination that kept her comparing Jax to Ty. Cal Tyler was an empty suit living a made up life in a country far, far from here. Jackson Merrill, on the other hand, was a hard-working family man. A respected military vet with a soft spot for other vets. He was solid and real and had shown he was a true man. Not like that other one. The two men couldn’t be further apart. Case closed.
Jax ended the kiss and grinned into Brynn’s loving gaze. “Save the smart mouth for later, babe.”
Rhiann groaned and stuck her finger down her throat. “Ew, you two. Yuk. Get a room, okay?”
“This is our room,” Jax smirked.
Brynn giggled happily. “I fucking love you guys.”
“Everything okay, honey? You seem tired.”
Brynn was lying back against his chest as he smoothed lotion on her belly. He found her as she was drying off from a shower and quickly got her on the bed between his spread thighs, covered by nothing but a towel that was laying in her lap.
She reached back with one hand and put her fingers on the back of his head. He knew this signal. It said, kiss my neck. With her hair still pinned up from the shower, he had easy access. Licking from shoulder to ear, he pressed a soft kiss on a spot halfway between that always made her melt when he touched it.
Sighing heavily when he was finished, she gently squeezed his neck and dropped her hand. “Not tired. Moody. Sorry. Pregnancy hormones.”
Oh, it was more than that, although she wasn’t kidding about the hormones. Being pregnant was a blessing he barely knew how to describe. Every change in his lover’s body was like one of the seven wonders. Jax was still in shock and he knew she was, too.
Their Christmas wedding was coming up fast and as more and more of their families arrived and set up camp, Brynn became more and more emotional. Everyone was spread out in B&B’s and vacation rentals so as not to overwhelm his bride. Only her sisters were staying at Wilde House. She wanted them close by and now that they were here, she was a contradiction of happy and melancholy.
Hoping to distract her, he reached for more lotion and squirted a big glob on her sternum. The doctor said keeping her skin moisturized would help alleviate discomfort and stretch marks. He didn’t give a baker’s fuck about stretch marks. He was a fucking warrior. Scars, the ones you see and the ones you don’t, are symbols of survival. And life.
But any suggestion of Brynn having discomfort sent him to Defcon status. If rubbing a bit of cream onto her belly and breasts was going to help, he was all over that shit.
A few minutes later, she was purring and her nipples were beautifully puckered from the attention. His vantage point as he looked down offered a spectacular view. Brynn was naturally voluptuous and sexy as fuck without even trying. Add a burgeoning belly where his baby grew inside her and some extra oomph to her already fabulous tits and, well…
“You can be as moody as you need to be, babe,” he assured her in a husky murmur. “But I read in one of those pregnancy chat rooms online for expectant dads that there’s a way to channel those hormones into something less moody and more … pleasurable.”
She squirmed in his arms and arched back so she could look at him. Humor and lust, in equal parts, were all over her face. “H
oly cow. Chat rooms? Expectant dads? Whadaya do? Exchange fantasy football information?”
Jax laughed. And tweaked her nipples—which instantly made her settle down, only this time when she squirmed, her ass rubbed his hard-on.
The hard-on was his new reality. He wanted to be inside Brynn twenty-four seven. If he could wear her on his cock, he would. Only, this wasn’t about him. It was about her and he knew just what to do to make her feel more than good.
He wrapped a hand around her throat. She immediately put hers on top of his. She called this an alpha move and she wasn’t wrong. He knew it turned her on and used it to his advantage. Tilting her head, he swooped down and kissed her with a ferocity that made his dick throb even more.
“We talk about practical things. Like hemorrhoids and episiotomies.”
She shuddered. Oops. Jax knew better than to make light of shit she was going to be dealing with.
“And we talk about which chocolate to buy at the CVS on a midnight craving run. And where to get the best tacos that don’t cause heartburn.”
“Really?”
He kissed her head and chuckled. “Yes. Really.”
She shocked him when her normally confident voice sounded small and worried. “I’m scared.”
He wanted to admit that he was too, but that wasn’t what she needed right now. And taking care of Brynn’s needs was his number one priority.
“Don’t be. I’m right here and you know I’d never let anything happen to you or the bump. Daddy’s got this.”
He knew she’d chuckle. They were gonna get a ton of mileage out of the many interpretations of the word daddy.
“Just relax, babe. Close your eyes.”
He massaged her breasts, kissed, and licked her neck till she was wriggling like mad. Groping a path from her tits to her navel, Jax enjoyed stroking Brynn’s soft body—especially when a hushed whimper escaped her throat.
Wilde Magic (Wilde Women Book 3) Page 21
