“Thank you.” Vanessa clenched her jaw.
The door closed and she turned toward me. I didn’t know what to do when women cried. It always made me uncomfortable. But Vanessa’s tears started to fall and I knew I had to hold her. I had to love her until the very last tear dried from her cheeks. We sank to the floor and I pulled her to my chest.
“Shh. Shh.” I calmed her as the sobs wracked her shoulders.
She crawled into my lap like a little girl. I didn’t know what in the hell I was doing. But I hoped I was doing something right.
39
Vanessa
I chose the black suit for a reason. Gretchen met me at the front door of my grandmother’s house.
“Good morning.” She smiled.
“Hi, Gretchen. I’m having breakfast with my brother this morning.”
“Yes, ma’am. They’re in the dining room.”
I walked into the McCade formal dining room. The table was set with crystal and china. I gawked at the roses and tulips in china vases.
“Nessa.” Grammy’s smile was bright. She clutched Danny’s hand.
“Good morning, Grammy.” I walked over to her to kiss her cheek.
“Not going to tell me good morning?”
I rolled my eyes at Danny. “Good morning.”
“Seems like she’s not completely happy to see me.” He spoke to Grammy like I wasn’t sitting across from him.
“Oh, she is. I know she’s glad you’re here. It’s going to take so much pressure off her.”
My head whipped toward her. “What are you talking about?”
“Danny’s back. He’s a part of the family. He’s a McCade. Naturally, he should take over running the Warriors.”
My fingernails dug into my palms. “Why? Because he’s a guy? Because he has a penis you think he should take the team?”
Grammy’s mouth opened. “Nessa, that is crude.”
“Isn’t that what you’re saying? That Y chromosome he has makes him more qualified than me? Or is it the eight years of professional drinking and sleeping around that makes him a good asset to the franchise?”
The maid walked in with a tray of coffee on the silver service. I turned my nose at it. It smelled horrible.
“No thank you.” I waved her off when she tried to pour a cup for me.
“Nessa, I have never kept my opinion of your grandfather’s plan a secret. I’ve always thought it was ludicrous. It’s not in your nature, dear. You’re a creative spirit. You always have been. He only left you the team because he was out of options. Our options just increased.” She looked satisfied with herself.
I wasn’t going to back down. I thought about all the things that had happened this season. The way I had re-negotiated each and every contract on the team. The raises I had given the employees. The plans to redesign the facilities. The contract for the new practice field.
And they were winning. Seven games were in the W column. The guys were no doubt going far in the playoffs. I had even let myself dream we’d end up in New Orleans for the Super Bowl in February.
On top of that our ticket sales were up. I had signed two new network deals. For someone who wasn’t a business woman I had found my footing. I wasn’t giving up one inch to them.
“No.” I stared at them.
“What?” Danny looked startled.
“I said no.” I threw the linen napkin on the table. “You can’t have my team.”
Grammy chocked on her coffee. “Nessa!”
“I’m sorry Grammy. Or maybe I’m not sorry for saying it. But I was raised a warrior and this is me finally becoming one. If you want my team, you’re going to have to fight me for it.”
I stormed out of the family house. Past the portrait of my grandfather in the hall. Over the past couple of months I had done everything the opposite of that man, until this moment. I looked at him as I marched into the sun.
I pulled out my cell phone as I slid behind the wheel of my car.
“Charlie, I’m going to need to see you at the office. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
I hung up as I raced through the guard gate and toward Austin. Toward my team.
40
Vanessa
Candy greeted me in the executive lobby with a latte. I turned my head. Why did all the coffee smell so terrible?
“Here you go.”
“Thanks.” I took the cup, wanting to be polite.
“Charlie Maine is already in your office. I let her in.”
“Good.” I had never felt like a mission was this important. Candy fell back as I rushed to my office.
Charlie stood in front of the windows, looking out onto the stadium. She turned when I walked in the room.
“I guess you’re anxious to hear my great Isaac plan.”
“Oh that. Yeah. I am.”
“Oh that? I’ve been working all week on it. You hand me the biggest scandal of the century and somehow reduced it to oh that?”
I closed the door behind me. “I have a bigger problem. Or an equally as big problem.”
“I’m going to have to start charging you more.” She exhaled.
“It’s my brother. He’s returned from his eight years of being a professional partier and he wants to take the Warriors from me.”
“Holy shit.”
“What can I do?”
“That’s a question for your legal team. That’s way outside of my area.”
“But it’s going to blow up in my face. There has to be a way to protect the team from this. That’s what you’re good at doing. This is your wheelhouse, Charlie.”
She considered what I said. “Why does he want it?”
I shook my head. “I have no idea.”
“Who is pushing this?” she asked.
“Grammy. That’s my grandmother. She has changed since my grandfather died. She’s mean. Vindictive and has a sexist streak I’d never noticed before. She tracked him down, despite how absent he’s been. She didn’t’ care he didn’t come to the funeral. She didn’t care he hasn’t been home for Christmas. It makes no sense.”
Charlie sat, her tight skirt sliding along her legs as she nestled into my new office furniture. I had gone with touches of white and cream. I loved how strong and feminine it looked. I had the Warriors W embroidered on the pillows. I also had hung the watercolor of Isaac and Dylan over the couch. I loved that we were the only three who knew how to interrupt the tangled three colors.
“I’m not a psychologist, Vanessa. People do some crazy shit in grief. I’ve had clients who were out of their loving minds. I can’t psychoanalyze your grandmother beyond what it looks like.”
“And what do you think it looks like?”
She sighed. “It looks like a woman who lost her son. Lost her husband, and is losing the only life she knew—the Warriors. Your brother seems to embody that life more than you can. And yeah, it’s just because he’s a guy. Probably reminds her of your dad. Maybe it reminds her of both of them.”
“Are you sure you aren’t a psychologist?” I was stunned.
I felt another lurch in my stomach. The stress this situation was causing was making me more nauseated by the second. “Oh God.”
I rushed to the trashcan under my desk and hurled into it.
“Vanessa, are you ok?”
I nodded, kneeling in front of the wastebasket. “I can’t handle all the stress.” I reached for bottle of water on the drink cart Candy kept stocked in my office.
“Or maybe you’re pregnant?” Charlie cocked one eyebrow higher than the other.
“What?”
She shook her head. “You do like things in threes. Why not make me work three projects at once?”
“No. No, no, no.” I couldn’t be.
“Who is the father? Dylan or Isaac?”
“Charlie,” I hissed. But then my eyes landed on the painting. And I knew.
It had only happened once, but that’s all it took. I knew with everything in my being the night we made this ba
by.
I closed my eyes. “It’s Isaac’s.”
I fumbled for my chair. I chugged the water. I hadn’t had a period, but it didn’t occur to me until now that I should have been watching my calendar. I should have paid attention.
“Should we go into my plan, I guess?” Charlie offered.
I nodded. My hand rested on my stomach. I was pregnant.
41
Vanessa
I hung up the phone with Steve just before the car pulled to the front of the house. I rushed outside to meet Isaac. Dylan strolled along next to me.
The driver walked around to the back of the stretch limo and opened the door. Isaac put one foot on the driveway and then the other. I had to fight the impulse to help him, but I knew he was stubborn and proud. He wouldn’t want my help.
“Glad you’re home, man.” Dylan grabbed his bag from him.
“Glad to be out of that damn hospital, brother.” Isaac slapped him on the back.
“Can we please go inside so I can kiss you?” I leaned toward his ear to whisper.
“Hell yeah.” He walked gingerly. I was surprised there were no crutches, but his doctors said he could use them when he felt it was necessary. I knew that meant never.
“I’ll take this upstairs,” Dylan reported, leaving us alone for a minute in the foyer.
I slipped the engagement ring off my finger and deposited it in the bowl by the front door. It was a new habit I had. When I walked through this door I was theirs.
I wrapped my hands around his neck. “Don’t you think you should sit?” I asked.
“And miss my homecoming kiss?”
His mouth landed on mine and I was instantly lost in the heat of his tongue. It twined, lashing in my mouth. I tasted the mint on his lips and tugged against his neck, sinking into the kiss.
“I missed you,” I whispered.
“Not as much as I did.”
“Come on. Let’s get your leg elevated.” I threaded my fingers through his and led him to the living room.
“It’s fine. Really. Normal activity.”
I shook my head. “Let me take care of you.”
He exhaled as I pushed him to the couch. I had so much to tell him. So much to tell both of them. I didn’t know where to begin. For now, I wanted to live in this moment when Isaac was home.
“That’s not how this works, baby.” He grinned. “It’s my job to take care of you.”
I felt the little flutter in my core. If only it were that easy.
“But I have a surprise for you.” I smiled.
I heard Dylan’s footsteps coming down the hall. “I want in on the surprise.”
I looked between them. My heart melted. My insides shook. It had been so long since we had been together. Since I had loved them together. I changed my mind on the surprise. Big conversations and serious talks could wait a little longer.
“I don’t think you should climb the stairs.” I twisted my lip under my teeth. “Why don’t I meet you two in the guest room?”
“I can climb stairs,” Isaac countered. “It was laser surgery.”
“Yes, but you had three,” I argued.
“I’d like to have a damn three-way, so stop giving me a hard time, baby.”
I giggled. “I’ll meet you in the guestroom in two minutes.”
I ran out of the room and up the stairs. I dug through the back of my closet looking for the naughty nurse lingerie I bought.
I found the black bag and held it up in triumphant. I quickly peeled my suit off and slipped into the sheer number, adding the white coat that barely covered my ass. I liked that there were layers. One surprise after another. I fastened the hat, pinning it above my ears. I threaded the stockings over my thighs and clipped them with the garters. I felt sexy.
I tiptoed down the stairs and slinked along the back wing of the house where the guest room was tucked away. I lost my breath when I walked in the room.
They were lying on the bed. Arms folded behind their heads with their cocks throbbing and bulging in the air.
I froze. I wanted to look at their strong athletic bodies. Take them in this way.
“Damn it, Vanessa,” Isaac growled. I saw him take his cock in his hand and fist it. “Are you trying to make me come before we fuck?”
I walked toward the bed. I crawled between them.
“So fucking dirty and sexy,” Dylan whispered.
“You like it?” I tugged at the buttons on the white jacket. The top one popped off and exposed the sheer fabric underneath. My nipples strained against it. Things were suddenly tighter on my breasts.
Isaac slid the sleeves of the coat off, revealing the sheer lingerie underneath. The garter was cut so that everything between my legs was exposed.
“Fuck.” He looked at me.
I was hungry for him. Anxious for both of them. There was nothing I loved more than being in bed with them. Having their arms and legs wrapped around me. Their cocks buried deep inside me while they kissed and lavished me with dirty words. Dirty promises that made all my fantasies come true. I needed those now. I needed this to bring us back together. I needed this to make me forget everything else outside the bedroom door.
Dylan was behind me, kissing my neck. His hands played with my nipples through the fabric. They were so sensitive and tender. I leaned forward, taking Isaac’s cock in my hand. I had missed it. I licked my lips as I lowered my mouth.
“Fuck, baby.” He thrust upward as I sucked him to my throat. I moaned with satisfaction. I loved how he tasted.
“Damn, I missed watching you do that.” Dylan kissed my shoulder. “You give the best blow jobs.”
I loved the encouragement. I loved their reactions to my body. Dylan’s hands slid along my thighs.
“Keep fucking her mouth, man. Shit.” Dylan pried my legs wider as my head bobbed up and down, working his cock like crazy. “This tight little ass is mine today, isn’t it?”
I wiggled backward as my answer. But I had to have them both. I needed it. I looked in Issac’s eyes.
He lifted my chin, sliding his shaft from my lips.
“Fuck me, baby.”
Oh yes. This was my favorite place to be. I straddled him, sinking the wet walls of my pussy over Isaac’s cock. I clenched and ground into him as he hissed and groaned.
Dylan was behind me, nudging against my asshole. I relaxed the tight muscles as he rubbed lube into me. And with a howl he slammed into me.
I screamed their names. First one then the other. Over and over as they pumped into me. This was my bliss. My heaven. The place where art streaked across my vision. I was lost in the purity of our skin melting into each other.
My ass stretched as Dylan claimed it mercilessly riding me, fucking me like crazy. I was on the edge faster than I had ever been. I wanted it to last a little longer, but Isaac reached forward, strumming my clit and I wasn’t strong enough to resist. My inner sex panther broke loose, clawing her way out. I screamed and bucked as the orgasm tore through me. I soared as Isaac’s cock drove into me.
“Yes, yes! Isaac. Dylan. Fuck me. So much harder.” I grabbed at Isaac’s chest as the tears started to rain from my eyes. The climax curled my toes and lit my skin on fire.
“I love you,” I whimpered. “I love you so damn much.”
“I love you too, baby,” Isaac groaned as he pushed his final thrust upward and his release claimed me.
“Oh fuck, Vanessa. I love you. Fuck. I love you.” Dylan’s fingers dug into my waist as he exploded inside me.
“Oh shit,” I whispered, collapsing on top of Isaac with Dylan still inside me.
“That was incredible.” Isaac kissed my head.
I nodded. “Don’t ever leave again.”
“I won’t, baby. I swear.”
Dylan was slow to pull out from me. He kissed my lower back and fell backward on the bed. “Fucking insane. When did you become a sex panther?”
I giggled. “You know I was thinking my spirit animal was a sex panther.”
I wanted to stay here all day like this. But we had a team to save, and it was time I started breaking the news.
42
Vanessa
The shower felt good after sex. I told the guys I needed a minute to myself. I washed my tender body, letting my hands rest on my belly. The stick was sitting on the counter. I knew it would say pregnant before I even took it.
And there the word was, blinking over and over on the digital screen.
I dried off and pulled on Isaac’s Warriors T-shirt. I slipped into a pair of Dylan’s boxers. I padded back to the kitchen where Dylan was making lunch. He had grilled cheeses lined up on the gourmet broiler.
The stick was behind my back. I didn’t know if this was the right way to tell them or not. Was there a right way to say something like this? I was scared to death things would change. That everything would be different.
Dylan hummed as he flipped the sandwiches over.
Isaac had his leg propped on an empty bar stool with a bag of frozen peas over his knee. I stared at him.
“Did I hurt you? Oh God, I was trying to be careful.”
“I’m fine. I have to do ice twice a day. Thought I’d get it over with while I’m waiting on my lunch.” He cracked a funny smile.
I sighed. “Oh good. Because if we have to hold off on sex…”
“Hell no. Don’t ever say those words.”
I twisted my lips together. It was on the tip of my tongue. I had to say it. I had to tell them, but the room started to feel fuzzy. I saw spots and I reached for the counter. Dylan must have seen me. He dropped the spatula and scooped me up before my knees buckled. The test fell from my hands and hit the floor.
“Darlin’, you ok?”
I nodded, but it was there at my feet. The three of us stared at it.
“What is that?” Dylan asked.
Isaac leaned over, collecting it from the floor. He read the stick. The room was still spinning, but they were mesmerized by the stick. Dylan’s hand was around my waist, steadying me.
My Playboy Fiance Page 45
