by Kat Mizera
“If we invite friends, then Fab has to be there.”
“We can arrange that.”
“There’s a lot to do in a very short amount of time. Don’t you have deadlines and stuff?”
“I do, but this is important. I’ll talk to my editors, see what I can move around, and honestly, once I post that I’m getting married, my readers on social media will make a big fuss that will hopefully keep them from being too upset about any possible delays.”
“Tomorrow we’re going ring shopping. I think it’ll be nice to pick out our rings together.”
“That sounds wonderful.”
“Of course, I just signed a one-year lease for a house around the corner.” He shook his head. “Which is going to be a colossal waste of money, because we’re either living here or living there, but we’re not sleeping apart unless we’re traveling.”
She snuggled deeper into his arms. “We’re sleeping right here. I bet if you call the owners and offer to keep paying rent until they find someone else, they’ll let you out of it. The house will be empty soon, so we could even offer to get a realtor to rent it. If we pay her fee, it’ll still be cheaper than you paying rent for another eleven months.”
“That’s a good idea.” He kissed the top of her head.
They talked until he noticed Renee couldn’t keep her eyes open. He just stopped responding and smiled when she drifted off almost immediately. Her body grew limp against his, warm and soft as she entwined herself so firmly with him that he couldn’t move. He hadn’t told Dot he wouldn’t be home tonight, and he wanted to text her, but with Renee draped all over him and the afterglow of wonderful sex, he fell asleep without thinking about anything else.
Jared was up and out of the house early, wanting to get home before Braden left for school, but he left Renee a note telling her he’d be back after Braden was gone. As Renee made a cup of coffee, Daisy came in, yawning.
“Good morning,” Renee smiled. “You want coffee? I have to tell you something.”
“You and Jared are back together.” Daisy rolled her eyes.
“Yes, but that’s not what I was going to tell you, smarty-pants. You want coffee or not?”
“Duh.”
Renee made her a cup and then sat in the stool next to her. “Jared and I are getting married.”
“You are?” Daisy’s eyes widened with delight and then she threw her arms around her mother. “Mom, that’s fantastic! I’m so happy for you.”
“Are you? Really?”
“Of course. He’s awesome and he makes you happy. Braden might be a little bit of a hassle, but he needs a mom and you’re the best mom ever.”
“I don’t know about that.” Renee said the words but flushed with pleasure anyway.
“No, really, you are. You did everything when I was little and you’re still my best friend now. I love you, and Braden’s a very lucky little boy that he gets to have you too.”
Renee hugged her even tighter, smiling. “Thank you. I love you too.”
“By the way.” Daisy took a sip of coffee. “I just wanted to clarify something.”
“What is it?”
“All that stuff I said to Ben yesterday, about exploring sex and all that—that wasn’t really true. I mean, yes, Zio and I make love, but he’s the only other guy I’ve slept with. I just wanted to make Ben mad.”
“You don’t owe me any explanations, but that’s nice to hear.” Renee paused. “I also don’t think I want to know about you doing anal anything.”
Daisy sputtered, coffee spewing over both of them as they laughed.
Renee was in the kitchen when Jared got there, and the whole house smelled like apples. Daisy was typing on her phone but she looked up when he came in and gave him a big smile.
“Hey, Stepdad, what’s shakin’?”
He laughed. “You’re not going to call me that, are you?”
“Nah, I’ll stick with Jared.”
“Excellent. Tell Zio to pack a bag. He’s coming back to Vegas.”
“He is?!” Daisy squealed so loud Renee covered her ears as she went around the island to kiss him.
“How come I’m the one getting married and she gets a present?” Renee demanded, laughing.
“You’re getting a very special present,” he said, pulling her to him.
“Ew.” Daisy made a face. “And I’m out.”
“She keeps running away,” Renee laughed.
“Good. Let’s make sure they all run away when we’re home together like this.”
He kissed her and for a few seconds everything was stupidly magical.
“So, ring shopping today?”
“Yes.”
“Fab and the family are flying in Friday, so I’m thinking we get married Saturday or Sunday. What do you think?”
“What about the honeymoon?”
“I talked to Pierre, Jamie and Petr. Everyone agrees that a honeymoon is important and they’ll hold down the fort while we’re gone. I wanted to really wrap my head around everything to do with the team before training camp, so this just means I’ll have to work extra-long hours when we get back. Is that a fair trade-off?”
“Absolutely.”
“Then tell me where you want to go.”
“I always wanted a beach honeymoon.”
“What about Mexico? The Caribbean is too far on our short timeline and while Hawaii is doable, we’d still lose a lot of time traveling. Mexico wouldn’t be too bad.”
“Mexico sounds perfect. Cozumel or Acapulco, whatever.”
“I’ll call my travel agent in Boston unless you have someone you use.”
“Actually, Tina’s a travel agent. I’ll call her as soon as we’re done talking.”
“Perfect.” He wrapped his arms around her. “You sure about this?”
“Fuck yes.”
“So…some sort of chapel on the Strip?”
“We have to get a license.”
“Rings and license today. Go put on your face since I know you don’t like to leave the house without it.”
“Actually,” she said, smiling sweetly, “I need to get dressed, but it’s kind of nice to only put on half of my face. One of many things I have to thank you for.”
“Yeah?” He grinned. “That’s beautiful, baby. Just like you.” He patted her ass. “Now go get dressed so we can get this show on the road.”
“Don’t you have to work?”
“Later. Stop stalling.”
He watched her run up the stairs with a smile. He wasn’t sure how it happened, but he was a lucky man.
Epilogue
Jared wanted to talk to Braden alone when he told him about marrying Renee. It wasn’t because it was a secret or he was interested in some kind of blessing from his son, but it was more about having a special moment and making Braden feel like he was part of the decision, even if he wasn’t. He’d been through so much in the last couple of months, Jared wanted to make sure he was okay. Therapy had been going well, the second week of school had been better than the first, and he appeared to have a huge crush on Daisy, which was sweet.
He took him to the arena and showed him around—his office, the locker room, the press box, the owner’s boxes, and all the nooks and crannies he himself was just learning. Braden was mostly fascinated by the locker room, even though it was empty right now, and asked a million questions as they walked around.
“I wanted to talk to you about something, buddy,” Jared said when he could finally get a word in.
“Can we have tacos tonight?”
“We’ll ask Renee what she and Daisy want too, okay?” He stopped walking and put a hand on his son’s shoulder. “So I wanted to know if you’re happy here. With me. And Renee. And Dot.”
“You don’t yell,” Braden said, nodding. “And Renee cooks good and smells nice.”
Jared smiled. “Yeah, she does. But really, do you like it here? Are you okay? I know you must miss your mom, but I’m going to try really hard to be a good dad now that yo
u’re with me.”
“Mommy told me that my real daddy was nicer than Roger and that he would take care of me. She told me that before she…” His voice dropped and his eyes watered. “I miss Mommy.”
“I know, buddy. I’m sorry.” Jared hugged him tightly. “I’m here now and you don’t ever have to see Roger again.”
“What about my baby sisters?”
“Well, when we go visit Grandpa, we can see them too, okay?”
“Okay.”
“And I was wondering… How would you feel about Daisy becoming your big sister?”
Braden’s eyes lit up. “I love Daisy! She’s awesome.”
“What about Renee? Do you think you’d like us to live with her again and be one big happy family with Dot, and Daisy and Zio, when they’re not in college?”
“Yeah. I liked living with Renee. Her house is prettier than ours.”
Jared nodded. “I agree. I was thinking that Renee and I could get married, and be like real parents to you, so you have a mom and a dad again… Would you like that?”
Braden seemed thoughtful. “She won’t die, will she?”
Jared swallowed. “I hope not, buddy. I mean, we all die someday, but not any time soon. Not until we’re really, really old.”
“Then yes. I’d like to have a mom and a dad again. I just… What about Mommy? Will she be mad?”
Jared swallowed back unfamiliar emotions as he shook his head. “No, of course not. Your mom loved you and your sisters more than anything in the world, so when she got sick, she made sure I knew about you so I could be your dad. And I think she’d like Renee to be your new mom, but only if you’re okay with it.”
Braden looked up at his father solemnly. “I think so. Can I have a few days to think about it, though?”
Jared smiled and ruffled his hair. “Of course.”
“Cool. Can we go look at the locker room again? I want to pick which cubby is going to be mine when I get bigger.”
“You interested in playing hockey now?”
“Well, yeah. I think I’m gonna be a Sidewinder someday.”
Jared smiled and followed him down the hall.
Jared and Renee got married on Saturday at a chapel on Fremont Street. It was tacky and a huge cliché, but Renee didn’t care. She and Daisy wore matching off-the-shoulder pale pink dresses, and Jared and Braden also matched, with khaki slacks and pink button-down shirts the same shade as Renee’s and Daisy’s dresses. They’d tried to keep it small and intimate, with just Zio and his family and Andra and Brad joining them, but as they walked up to the chapel, there was a huge group of their friends waiting.
All the women from Renee’s lunch group, along with their significant others, as well as Jamie and Viggo, Pierre and Donna, and Petr, who was recently divorced. Dot had come along to help with Braden and because she said she considered herself part of the family now, and just as they were about to go in, Lonnie and his wife, Pearl, came walking up the sidewalk.
“Oh my gosh, you guys.” Renee was almost in tears as she looked around.
“Since you refused to have a wedding,” Lonnie said, “we figured we’d at least make it a party.”
“You ready, babe?” Jared slid his hand into hers.
“Let’s do it.”
They walked into the chapel en masse, laughing and joking as they got ready. It was a small room, not really meant for a large group, but they all crowded in anyway. They were loud and cheerful and Renee barely remembered saying the short vows she’d written or Jared sliding the ring on her finger or even their more-passionate-than-necessary first kiss. It was all so quick and romantic and fun.
Someone had brought bubbles and everyone blew them as they stepped outside. Two limousines pulled up front and Lonnie motioned for them all to get inside. “We’re going to dinner!” he called out, getting into the first one. The coaches and Pierre, along with Dot and Braden, went with Lonnie while the others crowded into the other car, and Renee was startled when Braden crawled onto her lap.
“Renee?”
“Yes, sweetie?”
“Now that you’re married to my dad, are you going to be my mom?”
“If you want me to be.”
His eyes brimmed with tears. “Can I call you Mommy?”
Renee’s eyes welled up too. “Of course.”
“I miss Mommy but I think she would like you.”
“I think I would have liked her too.” Renee didn’t know if that was true, but there wasn’t a single reason to ever tell Braden that.
“I love you guys,” Jared said softly, putting his arms around both of them.
“On that note, let’s open some champagne,” Lonnie said briskly, as though he was trying to avoid getting too emotional as well.
They poured glasses for everyone and Lonnie held up his glass for the first toast. “To my new coach, his lovely bride, and his new family—congratulations. And welcome to the Sidewinders family.”
“Thank you.” Jared clinked glasses with everyone and a cheer went up as they drank.
“Can I try some?” Braden asked Renee.
She shook her head. “Not yet. When you’re thirteen, you may have one sip of champagne or wine on New Year’s Eve. That’s the rule at our house.”
He wrinkled his nose. “That’s like a zillion years from now.”
“Exactly.” Renee ruffled his hair and everyone laughed.
They arrived at the restaurant Lonnie had booked and everyone got out, strolling inside. Jared held Renee back, arm around her waist as he looked into her eyes. “Thank you,” he said softly.
“For which thing?” she asked, moving against him.
“For giving me something to fight for.”
“Thank you for fighting for me.”
“How could I not?”
She smiled. “I love you, Jared.”
“I love you, too. Ready to party?”
“With you, I’m ready for anything.”
If you enjoyed JARED, please consider leaving a review at the retailer of your choice—it means the world to me. And check out the excerpt from PROTECTING DELILAH, my second book in Susan Stoker’s Special Forces: Operation Alpha world!
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www.KatMizera.com
Excerpt from “Protecting Delilah” (unedited, subject to change)
Chapter One
Eric Lopez opened the door to his parents’ house and called out. He quickly put his duffel bag down, waiting for his five-year-old son, Elias, to come running. Sure enough, there were footsteps in the hall and then his son’s sweet voice.
“Daddy!”
“Hey, big guy.” Eric caught him mid-air and hugged him tightly, kissing the top of his head.
“Abuela said you were coming.” Grandma.
“Mom? Dad?” Still carrying his son, Eric looked around.
“Eric.” His younger sister, Rosa, ran to give him a hug. “You’re looking good, big brother.”
“It’s good to see you to.” He tugged her braid playfully.
“Daddy, can we go next door and swim? I want you to meet Lilah.” Elias wiggled free. “Can we?”
“Who’s Lilah?” Eric looked Rosa in confusion.
“She’s the neighbors’ nanny, Delilah. You’ll meet her soon.” Rosa took Elias’s hand as she headed into the kitchen.
“Eric.” His mother, Josefina, looked up from a pot of something she had on the stove. “Come kiss your mother.”
“Hi, Ma.” He leaned over to kiss her cheek. “Whatcha makin’?”
“You’ll see when it’s done.”
“Porque llegaste tarde?” Why are you late? His grandmother, Antonia, came into the room with her hands on her hips.
“Because this is L.A. and there was traffic.” Eric kissed her cheek.
“Good, now you are here.” Antonia nodded. “Come sit with me.”
“But Elias—”
“Rosa, take Elias next door to th
e party,” the older woman motioned to her. “We’ll join you when the paella is finished.”
“Uh oh.” Eric opened the refrigerator and pulled out a beer. “Why do I feel like it’s report card day again?”
“You know us too well,” his mother chirped. “Damn, he’s on to us, Mama. Oh, well, I guess then we don’t have to tell him about how we’ve solved his childcare problem so he can go do that Reconnected Enforcement and—”
“Ma, it’s Force Recon.” He managed not to roll his eyes but the smirk on her face told him she was messing with him. “Would you tell me what’s going on already?”
“We found you a woman,” Antonia announced emphatically.
Eric willed himself not to groan. “Abuelita…”
“Listen to her, Eric. We found the solution you’ve been hoping for—someone to watch Elias so you can focus on your new job.”
“Y ella es muy bonita.” And she’s very pretty.
“I don’t care if she’s pretty,” he protested. “I care if she’s trustworthy and capable of taking care of my boy.”
“She is.” Josefina turned to him. “Eric, she’s a lovely young woman, and she needs you just as much as you need her.”
“That doesn’t sound good,” he murmured.
“She needs a job,” his mother said.
“She will tell you everything herself, when we go next door,” his grandmother added. “But you must promise to listen, Eric. I know you, you don’t like to listen.”
“I’m listening now, aren’t I?” He hated when the women in his family ganged up on him.
“Go change into your swim trunks,” his mother said. “The paella’s done and I need you to carry it next door for me. Go on.”
Eric wanted to protest again but knew it was a losing battle with any of the women in his family, much less his mother and grandmother. He allowed it, of course, because he loved them and knew they loved him back, but sometimes it was annoying. He’d been planning to spend a few days with his family before moving to his new post in San Diego with the Force Recon team, but of course they’d come up with a scheme to set him up with someone. It would undoubtedly be a disaster, but he loved them enough to at least meet the woman.
