Sweet Satisfaction

by Paige, Violet

  “Great. That’s great.” Cami patted them on the arm. “I really need to find Evan. If you see him, please tell him the girl in the big red ball gown is looking for him.” She ran off before they could trap her in more relationship gossip .

  “Where in the hell is he?” she whispered. And then she stopped in front of the punch bowl. No. It couldn’t be .

  She recognized the back of his shaggy gray head. “Peter?” she eked .

  “There you are.” He turned to face her, juggling a glass of punch in one hand and an envelope in another .

  “What are you doing here ?”

  “If you had answered any of my calls you would know exactly why I was here.” He took a sip of punch. “Doesn’t matter. Just sign this and I can fly back tonight .”

  “What is it?” She took the manila envelope from his hands .

  He beamed, showing off his gold-capped tooth. “Baby, this is it. The big break .”

  “What big break?” She knew she looked as surprised as she felt .

  “All right. So I know it’s a small label, but that’s the thing. These small labels are doing a lot for big-time artists. Sign with them and you can become one of their rising stars. It doesn’t matter how you get there, right ?”

  “This is a contract? Peter, you brought me a contract?” She stared at him. “You’re here on Christmas Eve in Harpers Point with a contract ?”

  “Yes, ma’am I am .”

  “I can’t believe this .”

  “Sweet, isn’t it ?”

  She shook her head. She knew some people milling around were starting to listen. She tugged on his arm, dragging him into the candy shop .

  “No. This isn’t sweet. I don’t want the contract. I didn’t ask for a contract. Why are you here ?”

  He frowned. “To get your signature and so I can get back to Nashville tonight. We need this deal to go through, Cami .”

  She placed her hands on her hips. “We do not .”

  “You’re not seriously turning this down? It’s two albums. Full studio support with rights to any of your original music. It’s the best deal you’re going to get. It’s the only one you’ve been offered .”

  She inhaled, placing her hands on her stomach. It was true, she had only known for less than an hour that she was carrying Evan’s baby, but it didn’t make her feel like any less of a mama bear. She would do anything to protect their baby. Anything. She wanted their children to have a childhood where they could ride their bikes down the street and swim off a pier in the summer. She wanted them to learn how to build gingerbread houses and count down the days until the flotilla. She wanted children who felt loved and safe. And lived in a town where people watched out for them .

  “No, Peter. I’m not interested. You shouldn’t have come here .”

  He shook his head. “You sound like that guy I talked to .”

  Her skin prickled. “What guy ?”

  “Dark hair. Tux. Looked like a model I could probably sign .”

  “Oh my God.” She covered her mouth. “Did you talk to Evan? Does he know who you are?” She looked around frantically for her coat. She had to find him .

  “I don’t know who he was, but he left .”

  Her long blue coat was hanging upstairs. She didn’t have time to run to the apartment and grab it. She needed to make sure Evan knew the truth .

  “Where are you going?” Peter yelled .

  “Bye, Peter. I hope you’re not here when I get back. Unless you want to enjoy the Snow Ball,” she added. She started running. She picked up the layers of tulle and ran .

  Twenty-Two

  Evan

  I t was fucking cold on the water. Evan looked up at the sky. He couldn’t see a single star. Everything was covered in clouds. Snow clouds .

  He huffed. He guessed Bart was right after all .

  He flipped his finger on the ignition button to warm the engine, before shoving off from the pier. He could see the lights in his yard. He had eventually gotten out the ridiculous Santa and Mrs. Claus set just to make Cami happy. And it worked. She loved it .

  He cranked the engine .

  “Evan!”

  He thought he heard his name. But the wind had picked up .

  “Evan!”

  He turned around as a massive floating ball of red came running toward him .

  “Cami?”

  He hopped onto the pier .

  “Evan.” She hunched over. She was out of breath. “Where—where are you going ?”

  “Out,” he answered. “I needed some air .”

  “In thirty-degree weather? On your boat ?”

  He nodded. He wasn’t going to admit how fucking insane it sounded .

  “I know about Peter. I know about the contract .”

  Her eyes met his. “No. You don’t know about the contract .”

  He crossed his arms over his chest. “If you were trying to get back to Nashville this entire time, why weren’t you just honest about it, Cami? What the hell did you lie to me and to everyone in this town? No one asked you to stay if you didn’t want to be here .”

  “I want to stay,” she whispered .

  He shook his head. “Not according to your manager .”

  “He’s not my manager. I don’t have a manager.” She pried his arms away from his chest and took his hands in hers. She was freezing. “He’s only here because he gets a cut of the deal. I never asked him to negotiate for me. I’m out of the music business, Evan. I’ve been out since the day I fell off that ladder .”

  He searched her eyes for the truth. And he found it .

  “Shit. I’m an idiot again.” He hung his head. “I’m sorry. He seemed legit. And after what happened last time — ”

  “I know. I know,” she soothed. “You had every reason to think that contract was mine. But it’s not. I told him to leave. I told him I’m out .”

  She shivered. “Here. It’s too cold out here. And you are definitely not wearing enough clothes.” He took off his tuxedo jacket and put it around her shoulders. “Better ?”

  She nodded. “When I realized you thought I was going to sign it I had to find you. I took off. I ran to the marina first, and then I remembered your dad’s boat.” She smiled .

  “Yeah. I thought a cruise and some frigid air might do me some good .”

  “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry .”

  He wrapped his arms around her. “You don’t have to apologize. I shouldn’t have reacted that way. I’m not eighteen anymore, but I can still be a fucking idiot .”

  Cami giggled and then her eyes widened. “What’s this?” She reached inside the jacket. “Something’s poking me .”

  “Don’t.” But it was too late. She was holding the diamond ring in between her fingers .

  “Oh my God .”

  Evan plucked it from her hand. “There were a lot of ways I wanted to propose,” he admitted. “One of them was in front of the Christmas tree tomorrow morning. And one was tonight right after I made love to you .”

  She sighed .

  He took a knee in front of her on the pier. He looked up in disbelief as the snow started to fall around them. Cami’s laughter filled the air .

  “Cami Addison, we’ve been down this road before. But this time I want it to stick. I want this to be the only time.” He held the ring forward. “Will you marry me ?”

  She nodded, grinning. “Yes. Yes. And a thousand more yes’s .”

  He slid the ring over her knuckle .

  He kissed her, tasting the sweet cinnamon on her tongue. “God I love you .”

  “I love you too.” She took a step back. “I have something I need to tell you too .”

  “I know. I know. We have to get back to the ball. You’re supposed to sing soon. And it’s snowing.” He laughed .

  They walked along the pier until they reached the street. “It’s not about the ball .”

  “Or the contract ?”

  She shook her head. “Or the contract .”

  Eva
n stopped on the sidewalk. She sounded serious. “What is it ?”

  “I thought of a thousand ways to tell you this. One was going to be tomorrow morning under the Christmas tree .”

  He waited. There was no way she was getting ready to say what he thought she was going to say .

  “Evan, I’m pregnant .”

  “Oh, baby.” He picked her up and spun her around. His lips crashed into hers .

  “You’re happy ?”

  “Are you crazy?” He stopped in front of his house. It was across from the pier. “This is the best Christmas present .”

  She leaned into his shoulder. “It is, isn’t it? A baby. We’re going to have a family. And next Christmas is going to be so different .”

  “You’re going to make me take you back to the ball, aren’t you ?”

  She looked in his eyes. “I do have to sing, but not for another thirty minutes .”

  He led her to the house, up the front steps, and locked the door behind them. Cami turned as Evan unzipped the gown from her back to her waist. She stepped out of the puff of tulle and faced him .

  “God, you’re so fucking beautiful with my baby inside you .”

  He shirked his pants to the ground. He’d never wanted to be inside her the way he did now. He was going to die if he didn’t feel her tight pussy walls clench around him .

  His cock bobbed free as he pulled her to him. Cami’s leg wrapped around his waist as he thrust inside her .

  “Ohh,” she whimpered. He pinned her against the front door. On the other side was a world of nosey neighbors, and a town that thrived on tradition. But it was also a neighborhood that cherished and loved family. They would love his family. His baby .

  He thrust into her again. “You’re so tight,” he groaned .

  Cami panted his name. “You feel so deep like this .”

  He rocked harder this time, pressing her back into the door. No one knew on this side of the door the mayor was fucking the love of his love. Fucking his soon-to-be-wife. Fucking the woman who was carrying his child on Christmas Eve .

  “More,” she begged. “Don’t be scared, Evan. You can still fuck me .”

  “Oh shit.” He plunged into her, gripping her ass so tightly her other leg wrapped around his waist .

  She smiled with satisfaction. “Fuck me,” she teased .

  He drove into her, grunting until he knew they were both going to come. It was fast and passionate, but after everything they had been through, tonight was the beginning of a new life together. The beginning of them as a family .

  His spine pulsed and his cock stiffened. “I’m going to come,” he growled into her ear .

  “Yes. Oh, God. Yes.” Her nails dug through his shirt as they exploded in unison. Their bodies rocked and vibrated, sharing in the new union they had made. Cami clawed at him, while he continued to pound his release inside her .

  “You’re mine. Mine .”

  “Always,” she answered .

  He pressed his forehead to hers and lowered her legs to the ground .

  “And now we have to go back to the ball?” she asked .

  He laughed. “Can you sing after that performance?” he teased. He picked up his pants and pulled them to his waist .

  She leaned into him for another kiss. “With you I can do anything. Even turn down a two-album deal.” He reached for her dress and she stepped inside it .

  “What? Two albums? Baby, that’s fucking insane. Are you sure you want to walk away from that?” He fastened the zipper at her back and she re-tied the red satin sash. Cami spun in his arms .

  “I want you. I want to be your wife. I want our baby to grow up in Harpers Point .”

  He draped his jacket over her shoulders again before they stepped out into the cold .

  “And you have no regrets about sending Peter away ?”

  “Absolutely none .”

  He closed the door behind them and they walked along the snow covered sidewalk holding hands .

  “You amaze me every day, Cami Addison .”

  She looked into his eyes. “And you amaze me.” She held up her new engagement ring. “So I think we can tell people at the Snow Ball about this, right ?”

  He laughed. “Who do you want to tell first ?”

  She considered it for a second as they walked closer to the converted ballroom. From the sidewalk it looked like something out of a movie. The great chandelier sparkled in the candlelight. All their friends were dancing. The band was playing .

  She slid her arms around his neck. “Maybe I’ll just tell everyone during my set. I’ll sneak it in between Jingle Bells and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas .”

  He eyed her. “You wouldn’t .”

  She laughed. “Or would I ?”

  “Come here.” He pulled her against his chest. The snow drifted down around them. “Before we go inside. One last thing .”

  “What’s that ?”

  He dipped her in his arms and kissed her. There was one thing they were both sure of. This would be a Christmas they would never forget .

  * * *

  Thank you so much for reading Sweet Satisfaction! I hope you enjoyed this holiday romance. As a special treat, I’ve added a few bonus books for you .

  xoxo,

  Violet

  Sidelined

  One

  Sam

  I t was the game that popped the cherry on the season. Monday night football. The night. The one that gave millions a taste of what they had been waiting for all summer. And we were headed to Austin to play the fucking Warriors .

  I got it. I knew that the schedules were arranged ahead of time. But we were Super Bowl champions. The Wranglers shouldn’t be in Austin for this game. They should have come to us. The hatred between our two teams was palpable and an overnight trip into Warrior territory was an insult to what we had accomplished .

  I sat next to Stubbs on the plane. He kept his earbuds in for the twenty-minute flight from San Antonio .

  I tried to stretch my legs, but even on the Wranglers’ private jet there wasn’t enough leg room. At six-five, airplanes were uncomfortable as shit. At least I wasn’t in the back with the linemen. Those guys had nowhere to go. I shifted again, banging my knee into the tray table .

  “Damn it,” I muttered .

  The flight attendant stepped forward in the aisle, handing out bottles of water. Coach Howell had given strict instructions that we weren’t supposed to drink the night before the game. He couldn’t regulate everything we did, but he sure as hell tried .

  I wouldn’t have been surprised if he had told the flight crew to only stock water on this flight .

  I smiled at the brunette as I took the bottle from her .

  “Do you need anything else?” she asked .

  “I think I’m good, darlin’.” I twisted off the cap and took a sip .

  The season started tomorrow night and even though it was only my second year with the team, I had a strict policy once the first snap was taken. No women .

  I’d made that mistake in college and it messed with my head. I didn’t broadcast it. I didn’t discuss it, but she had done a number on me and almost cost me my senior season. She could have ruined my chances in the pros. I’d never make that mistake again. I had a million-dollar contract, and no woman, no matter how great she fucked, was worth losing that .

  I was the highest-rated tight end in the American Football Association. I had a Super Bowl ring and my agent had recently finalized a bonus contract for this season. I couldn’t let some pretty girl get in my head. Wasn’t happening. There was a prize for me come February worth about two million dollars .

  I looked out the window as Austin came into view .

  I’d spent my life playing Texas football. It was in my heart. In my blood. But this wasn’t my city. The Warriors were our biggest rivals. The fact that we were in constant competition to be crowned the state’s home team was always lingering between us .

  But this time we were showing up
as national champions, and they could shit talk all they wanted. They didn’t have the title we did .

  The captain called over the speaker, “We are approaching Austin. Please prepare for landing .”

  I exhaled. I was ready. Ready to get this game over with and take home another win .

  As soon as we were on the ground and could unfasten our seatbelts, I stood up to an awkward bent position. None of us could stand in this jet. Wes, the team’s quarterback, was the first to take the steps to the tarmac .

  I could hear the press outside the plane hitting him with questions. They loved that guy. He was a champion. He had led the team all the way to San Diego last year. He had earned his place .

  One by one, we disembarked. The flight attendant tugged my arm before it was my turn. I looked at her as she tucked a folded piece of paper in my suit jacket .

  “I’ve got a twenty-four hour layover,” she whispered .

  “Thanks.” I grinned before ducking out of the jet .

  “Call me, Sam .”

  I ran my hands through my dark hair and shook my head .

  I wasn’t going to pretend I couldn’t get any woman I wanted. I knew how they looked at me. How they licked their lips when I walked by. I worked hard for this body. I spent endless hours in the gym lifting weights and working with my cross-fit trainers. It didn’t happen overnight, but I looked like a god when I took the field. There were painful weeks and months of sweat and hard work that went into creating the physical machine I had become. I didn’t care if I was eye-candy to them—the season started tomorrow and they were background noise .

  I’d throw her number away as soon as I found a trashcan. No distractions. No women. Tomorrow night the spotlight was on all of us, and I had to show the world Sam Hickson was more than a lucky first-year rookie. I was as much a champion as Wes Blakefield. I had a career ahead of me that would blow all the numbers out of the fucking world .

  I smiled at the cameras and walked past Wes. He was still answering questions. There was a bus waiting to take us the hotel. I hopped up the stairs, feeling the coldness of the air conditioning rush over my head. The season opener was all that mattered now .