Reckless Kisses (3:AM Kisses Book 16)

by Addison Moore

  I’m ashamed to say that Our Seth is an actual moniker gifted to me by my parents. They’ve been prone to shelter and coddle, and those are two traits I don’t plan on taking with me on my own parental journey. But the kindness, the generosity, the faith, the positivity, the work ethic, all of those wonderful attributes they’ve instilled in me are coming along for the ride.

  Sunday wraps her arms around me and gives me a squeeze. “You were right about that. In fact, I am the perfect girl for Our Seth.”

  We share a light laugh just as the waitress comes by to seat us. Dinner goes off without a single disaster, and that alone is noteworthy. Dessert comes in the form of a double layer vanilla cake, and you can see both Nolan and Misty grow stiff with a nervous excitement. The waitress hands them an enormous knife to do the honors with.

  Sunday shivers as if it were our gender reveal party—only we won’t be having one. Sunday and I are already set on the fact we’re going to find out in the delivery room. No cake, no knives, just one hundred percent jitters—at least on my part. Sunday is as calm as can be at her doctor appointments, and I haven’t missed a single one. Afterwards, I always reward her with a nice lunch, and we’ve made a ritual of seeing a movie the same afternoon. So far, Little Fish doesn’t seem to have a problem with it, but I’m sure once he or she arrives, lunch and a movie aren’t going to be at the top of the list for an easy afternoon.

  “On three,” Nolan shouts as both he and Misty grip the knife that’s already embedded into the cake.

  “One, two, three!” our raucous group roars, and Misty pulls forth a slice of bright pink cake.

  “It’s a girl!” my sister screams so loud the band stops cold for three seconds flat. The table breaks out into a riotous cheer as everyone stands to their feet embracing.

  The cake is doled out, and our party eventually scatters to both the dance floor and the bar as Nolan buys a drink for everyone in the restaurant.

  Sunday heads over to Trixie and Serena, while I head to get us a couple of ginger ales on my brother. I spot Shep, and I head on over.

  “How’s it going?” He slaps me five. “Congratulations. Looks like everything is coming up roses for you. I’m glad about it, too. You deserve to be happy. You had a rough couple of months.”

  “That I did. And I want to apologize again for dumping all over you a few weeks back. You certainly didn’t ask for it.”

  “No way, no apologies necessary. I think under those circumstances I would have been spilling my guts to anyone who would listen, too. In fact, I’ll be at Briggs all summer and hanging out at the Black Bear a little more than I’d like, so if you spot me, don’t be a stranger. It’s been years since I’ve been at Briggs, and it’ll be nice to see a friendly face.”

  “Rush will be there.” I nod over to him as he chats it up with Sunday and the girls.

  “I said friendly.” He bounces with a dry laugh. I know for a fact he’s close enough to Rush to razz him, and Rush seems to revere him like an older brother.

  “Serena will be there, too. Her sister and your brother are married, right?”

  “That’s right.” He sighs as he looks in her direction. “But that is one face that has never been friendly—feisty is more like it. In fact, I’d go as far as saying she’s a spoiled little brat.” He frowns before taking a swig of his beer.

  I can’t help but belt out a laugh. Sunday might agree, but tongue-in-cheek, of course. “Okay, maybe a little. But her sister, Lex, is something special.” She’s as caustic as they come, and I mean that in an almost lovable way. Sunday adores her. And who could blame her? Lex stepped in to raise her after Sunday’s mother died.

  “You got me there.” His gaze never leaves Serena, although he doesn’t seem thrilled in the least. He seems downright annoyed. “Anyway, I think I’ll steer clear if I see her coming my way. I’m not in the mood for trouble.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  Axel slides my drinks over, and I take them over to Sunday.

  “For you.” I can’t help but shed a lopsided grin. I lean in and whisper into her ear, “It’s a virgin. Something you’re not.”

  “All right, smart ass.” She bats her lashes up at me. “And who’s fault would that be?”

  I wrap my arms around her, and Rush grunts my way before sagging into a humble smile. I know for a fact he didn’t hear the exchange. “I’m glad it’s you, dude.”

  “I’m glad it’s me, too.”

  Sunday bounces on her heels. “So, who has big plans for the summer?”

  Trixie raises a hand as if she were in class. “I’m stealing Rush away for the weekend, and we’re headed to Mirror Lake. You guys are totally welcome to come along. My family has an amazing cabin that could house half of WB, and we’ll have the place to ourselves.” Rush growls at the thought of me having some one-on-one time with his sister, I’m sure, but Trixie knocks an elbow into him. “Behave. My brother, Knox, and his girlfriend, Harper, will be there, too. It’ll be fun. I’ll bring board games.” The three of us break out in a riotous laugh.

  Sunday nods to Serena. “And you?”

  “Just summer school. I’m taking a class—entrepreneurial sciences. It counts as credits and as an internship, so I’m pretty psyched. Dr. Miller is teaching it, and we’ll be assigned a proctor. I’ll be breaking my back at the Black Bear, too.”

  “I just talked to Shep”—I nod back at him, I can’t help but stir the pot a bit—“he’ll be hanging out at the Black Bear this summer.”

  “Oh, please”—she looks as if she’s about to be sick—“I’m the last person who’ll wait on him. I’d rather lose my job than serve that egotistical ball of testosterone.” She wrinkles her nose at Sunday. “He’s one person I’m determined to stay away from.” She jumps up on her tiptoes, and a mischievous grin blooms on her face as she looks to the band. “I think I see a drummer I’d like to know better. I’ll catch you guys later.”

  Rush and Trixie take off for the bar, and it’s just Sunday and me, holding one another right here in a room with friends and family.

  I press a kiss just above Sunday’s ear. “I’m pretty sure Serena and Shep are about to collide this summer. I think he’s the proctor for that class she’s taking.”

  Sunday gasps with a laugh in her throat. “Are you kidding? And we get to have front row seats? This is going to be great. Serena and Shep make oil and water look like soul mate compounds. I bet she explodes day one. And, believe me, she’ll bring the aftermath right to our doorstep. She’s really going to need me to get through that nightmare.”

  “You think she’ll drop the class?”

  Sunday shakes her head emphatically. “Serena is a lot of things, but she’s no quitter. If anything, she’ll make Shep rethink his assignment.”

  “Looks like we won’t have to wait for the Fourth to watch the fireworks fly.”

  “Nope.” Sunday trembles with a laugh. “We’ll be watching a grand finale-worthy spectacle every day those two are together.”

  “You almost make me look forward to it.”

  “Are you looking forward to anything else?” She bites down on her lip, seducing me with little more than a glance. Sunday has always held that power over me. One look, one thought aimed in her direction is enough to get me going.

  “I think I’m looking forward to saying goodnight to everyone and getting you home. You know, to tuck you in. Making sure you have a good night’s sleep.”

  “Oh, to tuck me in? I see. Well, I hope you won’t mind tucking me into your bed because it’s where I happen to sleep best.”

  “That’s the only bed I ever want to tuck you in.” I lean and whisper into her ear, “And something else that rhymes with tuck.”

  We share a dark laugh and say a quick goodnight to everyone. I take Sunday home and tuck her in my bed and make her mine in every way. Little Fish offers up a few good kicks, and I drink it all in. I love Sunday Knight. I love that things worked out. I’m glad her brothers didn’t murder me like I’m
sure they wanted to. And mostly, I’m glad Sunday and I are about to embark on a brand new journey together.

  Now that finals are through and summer is taking off, I drive Sunday up to the overlook, and I hold her as we gaze out at Jepson down below, Hollow Brook in the distance. It’s so beautiful up here on the mountain, with its mustard grass in full bloom, a sea of lavender blanketing the fields behind us.

  “I have to tell you something.” I pick up both her hands and look into those bright sunshine-inspired eyes. “We have a check ready for the Jepson homeless shelter.”

  She winces. “So, how far off are we?” Her affect falls flat as she grows dejected.

  “About a hundred thousand.”

  Her mouth opens, then closes before she finally concedes. “I think that’s great, Seth. I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done. I’m proud of you.”

  “I’m proud of you.” I give her hand a little tug. “Sunday, you’re over a hundred thousand. We have three hundred fifty thousand dollars ready to gift them.”

  “Oh my God!” Her voice shrills into the sky. “How is that even possible? Please tell me my father had nothing to do with it. But if you can’t, I totally understand.”

  “The only thing your father had to do with it was bringing you into the world. All of the drives, all of the fund matching we were able to get the corporations to participate in boosted us over the edge. Collins and Associates may have helped in tipping the scale.”

  “Seth!” She rings her arms around the back of my neck. “You’re incredible, you know that? You really are a living superhero.”

  “I’m glad you think so because—Sunday, I know that we’re in a unique situation, but what I’m about to say has less to do with that and more to do with how I feel about you. I realize we’re young, we have an entire lifetime together, but my love for you is solid. It’s not fly-by-night, and I’m not caught up in the moment. This is real, and it’s for all time.”

  Her eyes water on cue. Sunday’s emotions only seem to grow more extreme by the day, but I’d like to think she’d be shedding tears at this point no matter what end of the scale these emotions tip.

  “Sunday—” I drop to one knee and pull out the white sapphire ring I purchased last week. Nolan and Rush went with me. We thought a diamond was nice, but the white sapphire means so much more since that’s the stone that represents the month our precious son or daughter will enter this world. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and I would love to make you my wife.” I bear hard into her watery eyes. “Would you do me the honor and marry me? No hurry to answer. We can do the ceremony whenever you want. It could be tomorrow or ten years down the road. I just need you to know, I’ll be waiting for you if you’ll have me.”

  “Seth!” Her voice comes out threadbare as if it expended all of her energy just to squeeze it out. “I don’t need to wait. I already have my answer. Not only do I want to marry you, I would never wait ten years to do it.” She pulls me up with tears raining from her eyes. “Yes! I love you, Seth Baker!” She looks to the cliff side and shouts into the great expanse, “I’m going to be Mrs. Seth Baker!” She pulls me in close, giggling through tears. “And I cannot wait.”

  Sunday collapses her arms around me, and I can’t help but laugh as she crashes her lips to mine. Sunday Knight will one day soon become Sunday Baker, and it’s because she loves me, because she wants to. I’m not sure what’s happened this last year, but I can honestly say it’s been the best year of my life. And something tells me with Sunday by my side, each passing year will only get better.

  She said yes.

  And she loves me. Life made.

  Sunday has always had the ability to make it or break it.

  A sharp jab pins me in the gut, and we back off from that perfect kiss with a laugh.

  Sunday cups her belly. “Somebody is happy.”

  “Hey, Little Fish, we’re a family. And we can’t wait to meet you and make it complete.”

  Sunday lifts her brows. “I guess we’d better start entertaining names. I’m pretty sure Little Fish Baker will make for a tough start in life.”

  “How about Baker Baker? It’s gender neutral and has a nice ring to it.”

  Sunday swats me as she tips her head back. “Good thing we didn’t wait until we were in the delivery room to come up with something solid. I think we’re going to need all the time we can get.”

  I take her back in my arms and pull her in tight. “All the time we can get together is something I look forward to spending with you.”

  Sunday and I dive right into a kiss that christens this moment. It rings a bell, letting the universe know this is how it’s going to be forever, Sunday and me, in love, a child to raise, the first of many if we want. I couldn’t be happier. I couldn’t be luckier. It looks like something good has come from what once felt like an impossible situation. And with Sunday by my side, we will always look for the good in everything.

  Reckless Kisses BONUS scene!

  Sunday

  FLASH FORWARD*** This scene takes place during the next book in the series, Hot Honey Kisses (3:AM Kisses 17)***

  The living room in our apartment, the one that once belonged to just Seth, is laden with boxes and gift bags from the shower Lex and Serena threw us. Seth and I have been scratching our heads at the amount of merch a newborn baby seems to require. I mean, I totally get the diapers and wipes, and I more than get the ultra-cute clothing I’ve thankfully been gifted en mass, but the bouncers and the plethora of plastic whirly twirly toys that have taken over make it feel as if we’ve stepped into a psychedelic dream—and it is a dream. It’s mid-September, and my due date is exactly one week away. I was wrong in my prediction that I’d be larger than a house. I’m larger than all of Cutler Tower. I’m a mega mansion as far as baby abodes go. It’s safe to say I haven’t denied myself one culinary pleasure this entire time, and neither Seth nor I are complaining. Whatever Little Fish’s appetite demands is what I give in to. I’m pretty sure this pushover attitude will continue once our tiny bundle of joy arrives. I can’t help but shower my little peanut with whatever its heart desires. I’ve never been so in love in my life, with the exception of Seth, and I haven’t exactly been denying him much either.

  “How’s this?” Seth helps set up my phone on the sofa table, a good height considering I’m no longer shooting my vlogs cross-legged and on the floor. In fact, I’m not even shooting my traditional beauty vlog today. Over the summer, I’ve basically rebranded myself from exclusively all beauty all the time to all things expectant mother, and in doing so I’ve double my viewership overnight. Who knew branching out into all things baby would do wonders for my vlogging career?

  “That’s perfect. Now, how about you sit next to me? That way you can hand me the gifts as I share them with my viewers?”

  “Only if I’m out of range.” His brows do that hot up and down thing as he focuses in on the camera angle one last time. I can’t believe that Seth and I are finally together, and not one of my brothers has committed a felony over the fact. We actually go out on double dates with Rush and Trixie. And Nolan and Misty have had us over for dinner at their place more than I can count. Misty makes a mean chicken saltimbocca, and I’m forever grateful for it.

  Seth strides his way over, and my heart thumps just for him. Regardless of the fact my hormones have been jumping like a cat on a hot tin roof, I’ve always found Seth Baker to be wildly attractive, and now he’s all mine, forever, in spirit and in law. I glance down at my wedding ring.

  I still can’t believe we did it.

  At first, I wanted a simple courthouse wedding, but Serena quickly stomped that idea out like a kitchen fire. It was Lex who convinced me that we should do something simple at the overlook, and that’s exactly what we did—only Lex had a bit more up her sleeve than I bargained for, and it was far from simple. A live band? Check. A throng of thousands showing up for said live band? Double check. And the fact we held our special day on the Fourth of July e
nsured we had premium seats for the fireworks that took flight over the city. It was truly magical, and I will never forget it as long as I live. And for the first time since I lost my mother, it was as if I could feel her there with me. Serena may have had something to do with that.

  I brush back the memory as I blink the tears away.

  “Hey, bellas!” I shout over to my phone. “Today I’m doing a little unpacking in reverse. I’ve already seen the fabulous goodies gifted to me with friends and family, but I had to share these amazing treasures with you too because, face it, they’re too cute not to.”

  Seth hands me a gift bag with a glittery giraffe embossed over it. “Up first is the most adorable little jumpsuit.” I pull out a mint green sleeper that seemingly is made for a doll rather than a baby. It’s that tiny. “Can you believe soon I’ll be holding a tiny being that will actually swim in this outfit?” I shake my head at the thought. “And as soon as I laid eyes on this precious piece, I knew it was the exact outfit I’d be bringing Little Fish home in.” My viewers have been long since apprised of the cute little nickname Seth and I gifted our baby bundle, and they more than approve. In fact, over a dozen viewers have sent in gifts with Little Fish customized on them, blankets, bottles, onesies. In addition to that, big corporations have been sending boxes daily of brand new baby products they’re eager for me to try to upsell on my vlog. I have a feeling Little Fish won’t want for much.

  Seth rubs my knee in approval before handing me the next gift bag, and from the sound of it, I already know it’s one of the many gag gifts Trixie gave us.

  “And this—” I pluck an oversized rattle from the bag. It’s clear with red and black beads that swim around the inside and drum up a cacophony of noise loud enough to give a 747 a run for its money. “Isn’t what you think it is. It’s designed especially for the man-child in your life for those moments when he starts acting like an infant himself.” I make a face as I look to Seth. “But you won’t be needing this, will you?”