Ample & Alluring

by Mary E Thompson

  He nodded and stood, slipping the ring back into his pocket. “I understand. I kind of expected that, to be honest. I’m not going to let you down, and one of these times, when I ask you to marry me, you’re going to stay yes.”

  I tried to fight my grin, but his broad smile lit one in me.

  “Who says I’m going to say yes?”

  “I do. See, I’m already practicing for our wedding.” He wrapped me in his arms again. “You, me, and the little bean are going to be a family. And after this one, we’ll start working on another one.”

  “Excuse me? I don’t know about that.”

  He nodded. “I do. Still practicing. We’re going to have a houseful of kids. As many as you want.”

  “Where did this change come from?”

  “From knowing you were going to be the mother of my child.”

  I pushed out of his arms. “Where the hell have you been all week? Why did it take you a week to figure out that you needed to pull your head out of your ass?”

  His hand went back through his hair, and his smile fell. I knew I wasn’t going to like whatever he said.

  “I drank. A lot. Saturday night and Sunday. When my alarm went off Monday morning, I didn’t want to get up. I did, but I was pissed off about it. I went through Monday and Tuesday on autopilot, but Tuesday night, I got a visitor.”

  He looked at me expectantly. “Who?”

  “You don’t know?”

  I shook my head. “How would I know?”

  “Sawyer came to kick my ass. He said you didn’t go to girls’ night and knew it was my fault. He told me I needed to man up and grow a set. That you were a catch and I was even dumber than he thought I was if I didn’t get my shit together and beg you to take me back.”

  “Sawyer?” I breathed.

  Wyatt nodded. “He was right. Every word he said to me. I didn’t want to hear it, but he was right.”

  “Okay, if that was Tuesday…”

  Wyatt nodded. “Why did it take me four more days to show up?” I nodded. “Because I had some things to take care of.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like listing my condo for sale. Buying everything the woman at the baby store said we’d need. Learning how to install a car seat, and swearing the fireman who helped me to secrecy so the whole town didn’t find out. Buying you a diamond ring. Oh, and my job.”

  By the time he was done, tears streaked down my face. “You did all that?”

  He nodded. “I’d do anything for you. Haven’t you figured out by now that I love you?”

  “It sounds like you do.”

  “So will you marry me?”

  I laughed. “Not yet.”

  “You’re gonna make me work for this, aren’t you?”

  I nodded. “I think you deserve a little pain for everything you put me through.”

  He sobered and tucked my hair behind my ear. “I do. And I’ll take whatever you dish out. I’ll be here, waiting for you to decide you’re ready to marry me, forever. I’m not going anywhere, Peyton.”

  “I hope not.”

  “Well, there is one place I might go.”

  Confused, I asked, “Where?”

  “I”d really like to get you in the shower. Because as much as I love seeing you in my t-shirt, I think it, and you, could use a good wash.”

  I scowled at him. “That’s not nice.”

  “It doesn’t have to be nice. It’s the truth. You’re kind of smelly. I still love you though.”

  “Are you going to say that constantly?”

  “Say what?”

  “That you love me.”

  He shrugged. “Until you say you love me, too.”

  “I do.”

  “You do what? Want to marry me? I’m the mayor. I can pull some strings and we can get married tonight.” He pulled me toward the door like he was actually going to leave.

  I laughed and tugged my hand from his. “Wyatt!”

  “What? You said I do.”

  “I meant I love you.”

  He smiled and took my hand, pulling me into his arms. “Say it again.”

  “I love you, Wyatt Ramsey.”

  “I’ll never get tired of hearing you say that.”

  “I’ll never get tired of saying it.”

  “Good.”

  He leaned in for a kiss. His tongue teased my lips, which I kept clamped tight to mess with him. He groaned and tried again. He pulled back and glared at me. I laughed, and he swooped in, his tongue darting into my mouth before I could stop him.

  We laughed as we kissed. Until he backed me up to my room, threw his smelly shirt in my laundry, and dragged me off to the shower.

  Then we really got dirty.

  And clean.

  Epilogue

  Sawyer

  I never expected a party as big as the one Tara threw for me. She invited people I’d worked with over the years, people who flew in to see me. All our friends from Tuesday nights. And my parents.

  And here I thought there were only about three people in the world who gave a shit if I was alive or not.

  I walked around the room feeling a touch out of place. Fuck, no. That wasn’t it. I felt like a damn alien. They were all there for me, but there wasn’t one person I wanted to talk to.

  And that felt shitty.

  I barely spoke to most of my former coworkers, even though they were good people. My parents were staying at our house so I’d had enough of them for a while. And our friends… I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to say goodbye to them.

  I grabbed a beer from the open bar and found an empty stool in the corner where no one was standing. Anything for a minute to breathe.

  Halfway through my beer, a clap on my shoulder nearly knocked me off the stool. I turned and saw Wyatt grinning at me.

  “Hiding?”

  “Fuck yeah. Why’d you ruin it?”

  “Figured you could use some company before Tara sent someone over to talk to you.”

  “She sure knows how to throw a party, doesn’t she?”

  “Yep,” Wyatt said, glancing around. “A lot of people are going to miss you.”

  I snorted, wondering if that was true. For a while, I felt like no one really gave a shit about me. I was Noah’s brother, so I got invited to shit, but over time they became my friends, too.

  “You don’t think so?”

  I shrugged. It didn’t matter. I was leaving. I wanted to be in Hawaii. Had for years. I was ready to not have bullets whizzing past my ears and not worry about something blowing up the caravan I was riding in.

  Not that my family ever knew how dangerous my job really was.

  “You’re a dumbass, you know that? Fuck. You really don’t know, do you?”

  “Know what?”

  “If it weren’t for you, Peyton wouldn’t have given me another chance.”

  “You didn’t fuck it up already, did you?” I demanded. Stupid fuck didn’t deserve Peyton, but for some reason, she wanted his ass. Lucky son of a bitch.

  “No, I didn’t. But I’d have fucked it up for good if you hadn’t told me to get the hell over myself.”

  “You needed to hear it. Too many people around you tell you your shit doesn’t stink, Mr. Mayor.”

  “You’ve always been straight with me, Sawyer. And I appreciate the hell out of you for that.”

  “That’s just how I am.”

  Wyatt nodded. “I know. Thanks. Peyton and I are going to visit you after she has the baby. How’s the fall in Hawaii?”

  “It’s fucking Hawaii. It’s always nice.”

  “Good. Maybe by then I can convince her to marry me.”

  I snorted. “Good luck with that.”

  Wyatt flipped me off and walked away grinning. Only to be replaced by Abby.

  “I can’t believe you’re really going.”

  “Believe it,” I said cockily. “I’m outta here.”

  “Will you come back to visit us?”

  I nodded, not only because I couldn’t say
no to a woman with tears in her eyes, but because I wanted to see them all again.

  “I’m really going to miss you, Sawyer. Thank you for keeping my head on straight with Graham. I’ve obviously needed the advice once in a while.”

  I shrugged. “Like I always tell you, he’s crazy about you. You guys don’t have to live by anyone else’s rules. Living in sin can be a lot of fun. Own it.”

  “Thanks. We’ll see you this summer.”

  I nodded. Drew and Carrie were next.

  “You can’t go. I won’t let you,” Carrie said, hugging me tight.

  “I’m with her, man. I don’t know what we would have done without you. Joel is going to be crushed when he finds out his buddy isn’t coming back to babysit.”

  “We can still talk. And video chat.”

  “We better. We’re coming to visit when the little one arrives. If Tara and Noah get married late in the summer, we’ll be there. If it’s early though, we’ll come on our own. Think you can handle all of us?”

  I grinned. “Definitely. Hopefully I’ll have my own place by then. You guys will always be welcome to stay.”

  “Thanks, Sawyer,” Carrie said softly, kissing me on the cheek. Drew shook my hand and pulled me in for a hug.

  Next was Olivia. “Thank you for putting up with my kids every Tuesday night. They always talked about how fun you were.”

  “They’re good kids.”

  She nodded. “They are.”

  “You’re to blame for that.”

  “Thank you,” she said before giving me a hug. “Make sure you keep in touch with my husband. He might not say it, but you’re like a brother to him.”

  I nodded because I couldn’t speak. Damn if that didn’t mean something big to me.

  Graham gave me a bro-hug after Olivia walked away. “Thanks for keeping Abby interested in me.”

  “Somehow, that sounded like a backhanded compliment,” I joked.

  Graham, a man of few words, laughed. “Not at all. She told me she’s talked to you more than once about our situation. I tell her the same thing, but she doesn’t listen to me. She thinks we should get married or have kids or something else because everyone else is, not because we want to.”

  “You guys need to make your own rules.”

  “Yep. Just like you’re doing. Shit. I can’t believe you’re moving to Hawaii.”

  “I’ve wanted to for years.”

  Graham nodded. “I wish you well. Enjoy the hell out of it. Getting something you wanted for a long time is the best feeling in the world.”

  “I hope so,” I said.

  Next came Claire, followed closely by Aidan. “We’re going to miss you.”

  “Ah, what’s one more guy in the crowd.”

  “You know that’s not all you are. I never could have gotten the publicity I’ve had for Never Alone without your help. Your contacts, and all the pictures you’ve taken for us. It’s meant a lot, Sawyer.”

  “I’m just glad I could help.”

  “You did. And no one knows this yet, but Aidan is quitting next month. He’s going to come work with me full time. And a lot of that is thanks to you.”

  “Congrats, guys! That’s great news.”

  They nodded. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Lexi and Charlie walked over together. “How is our group going to get by without you?”

  “You guys don’t need me.”

  “You’re my best taste tester. You don’t just say everything is good. You tell me when something sucks.”

  “And I like having you to bounce ideas off of. Mike is great, but he’s not as objective.”

  “I might not be around for taste-testing, but you guys can always call me.”

  “We will. And we’ll be there this summer when Tara and Noah get married.”

  “Good. I’m going to work on renting out a big house so everyone can stay together. Hopefully my new boss or my new roommate can help me figure that out.”

  “You’ll stay with us, too, right?”

  I nodded. “Sure.”

  “Good.”

  “We’re going to miss you,” Riley and Connor said. “Make sure you come back and visit.”

  “I will. Are you coming to Hawaii this summer?”

  “We wouldn’t miss it.”

  “Good.”

  Mike shook my hand. “I couldn’t do it. Start over after a career like you’ve had.”

  “It’s time.”

  “Those are some lucky couples. Lucky women, too. I can’t wait to hear about you falling for someone down there.”

  I laughed. “Not gonna happen. I might be settling down as far as my job goes, but not with only one woman. I don’t think I’m cut out for it.”

  “You’d be surprised what you would do when the right one finds you.”

  I laughed. “I’m safe.”

  Mandy and Xander walked over. “Do you really have to leave?”

  I nodded. “I do. My job starts soon. My boss is already a slave-driver. She sent me an email this week saying I need to report to her as soon as I get to the islands next week.”

  “I thought you were leaving in two days?” Mandy asked.

  I nodded. “She doesn’t need to know that. I’m doing the tourist thing on Oahu. I’ll get to her soon enough.”

  “That poor woman won’t know what hit her.”

  I laughed. “She’ll be thrilled to have me.”

  “Any woman would be thrilled to have you.”

  “Not this again.”

  “Not what?” Max asked, joining us.

  “All of you are trying to marry me off. I’m not falling into the same trap you guys fell into.”

  “Marriage is wonderful,” Xander said, looping his arm around Mandy.

  He did look pretty happy, but it wasn’t for me. I was definitely not a commitment kind of guy.

  “You’ll fall hard. I bet when we come down this summer you’ll have a girlfriend to introduce us to.”

  “I’ll take that bet because it’ll never happen.”

  Max extended his hand. “We’ll see.”

  The three of them walked away and were replaced by Vicki and Hunter. “I guess you won’t be coming to Hawaii with me,” I teased Vicki.

  She shook her head. “Nope. I won’t. But we’ll come visit you. As long as I’m not pregnant by then.”

  I hugged her. “In that case, I hope you don’t come visit me.”

  “Thanks Sawyer. You’ve been a great friend.”

  “You, too. Thanks for helping me with getting Noah on board with this.”

  “Any time.”

  Ethan and Brady came at me from both sides, a wall of muscle. “Who the fuck’s going to be our fourth for poker night?”

  I shrugged. “You’ll find someone. Aren’t we surrounded with men?”

  Ethan snorted. “Men who are pussy whipped by their wives.”

  “Are you seriously saying you’re not?” Brady countered.

  “Not as bad as you are.”

  “What is this, elementary school? I know you are, but what am I?"

  “Children, children,” I chastised them. “Calm down. You’ll find another dick to fill my seat. Maybe not one so big, but you’ll find one.”

  They glanced at each other then nodded.

  “You’re right,” Brady said. “We will find a dick. And with any luck, he won’t be as big of a dick as you are.”

  “Fuck you,” I said with a laugh and a roll of my eyes.

  “Fuck you,” Brady said.

  “Fuck you both,” Ethan said.

  We were silent for a moment before we all broke out laughing. They’d become like brothers to me in a short period of time. Brothers I’d never forget.

  “Bring your wives to Hawaii. I’ll find a place to stay that’ll be guaranteed to get you laid.”

  “I don’t need your help getting laid,” Ethan growled.

  “Uh, yeah. Neither do I.”

  “Oh, fuck you both. You kn
ow what I mean.”

  They nodded. “We will.”

  Sam kissed Brady as he walked away, giving Peyton a chance to say hi to me first. “Thank you for going to Wyatt. I would be planning life as a single mom if it weren’t for you.”

  I shook my head. “He would have dragged his head out of his ass eventually.”

  “Maybe. But I’m still grateful.”

  “Any time, babe.”

  “Hey, how come I didn’t get a babe? I let you steal my husband when you come home. He’s been crying that you’re leaving him and they don’t have a fourth for poker.”

  “Poker?” Peyton asked.

  Sam nodded. “They get together once in a while, when Sawyer’s home.”

  “Wyatt plays poker. They should invite him. And we can go out.”

  “I like that plan. I’ll tell Brady now. Oh, hey,” she said to me. “Please come back to visit. For my husband’s sake. And mine.”

  I laughed. “I will.”

  “We’re going to miss you, Sawyer. And we’ll come visit as soon as we can travel,” Peyton said.

  “Keep that little bean safe inside there.”

  She smiled. “I will.”

  Tara and Noah approached next. “Are you enjoying your party?”

  I nodded, surprised to find I really was. Ever since I went to hide in the corner and was found by all our friends.

  “Thanks for doing this.”

  Tara grinned. “We couldn’t just let you leave without letting everyone say goodbye. We’re really going to miss you.”

  “Ah, I cramp your style. I know you guys will be happy to have the whole house to yourselves.”

  “Well, we have been eyeing your room. It’s the only place in the house we haven’t had sex,” Noah said, smacking Tara on the ass.

  She yelped and I groaned.

  "I really didn’t need to know that.”

  “What are brothers for?”

  I shook my head. “As soon as I get to Hawaii I’ll start working on your wedding. I’ll see what we have available and book you guys.”

  “Thanks. It’s really exciting to get married in Hawaii.”

  Addi and Joey approached. “Do you guys mind if we talk to Sawyer for a minute?”