Trouble

by Tia Louise

* * *

  “I think you love this place so much because they all know you here.” Joselyn leans forward across from me at Rioz, and the slinky black dress she’s wearing dips low on her cleavage.

  My eyes follow the line of thin, black silk with spaghetti straps over the soft curve of her full breast, and I want to forget dinner, take her home, and unwrap her like a present.

  It’s been nine months since that day in Fireside, and I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.

  Once we found Courtney and Oliver a safe, affordable place to live, I moved Joselyn back into my house. No surprise, Tom started dropping by to visit her friend pretty regularly, claiming he wanted to be sure they were safe. Now they’re a couple, and Oliver is happy every time I see him—he bounces on his toes and talks too loudly. I’m a fast learner.

  My biggest lesson, however, was I can’t live without this woman, and I’ve got plans for tonight.

  “Up until I met you, I was a good customer here. It’s only been in the last year I’ve gotten… less reliable.”

  We’re sitting at the outdoor patio. It was a warm day, but with the sun down and the stars out, it’s lovely. Our waiter Pat is cued up to hold dessert until I give him the signal.

  Her red lips curl in a naughty grin, and she winks. “I can’t help it if you’re not always hungry for food.”

  My cock twitches, and I have to focus my mind on the business at hand. “How was your steak?”

  “Perfect as always.”

  “Ready for dessert?”

  “Mm…” She tilts her head to the side, placing her napkin on the table. “I’ve been feeling fluffy lately. Maybe I’ll skip dessert tonight.”

  “Women are supposed to be fluffy. You’re having dessert.” She has to have dessert.

  That makes her laugh, and she shakes her head. “You won’t say that when I can’t fit through the front door.”

  I’m about to say I’ll buy a bigger house when her expression changes. She slides down in the seat making a face like she smelled something rotten.

  “What’s wrong?” I sit straighter, looking around the outdoor area, until my eyes land on a man I’ve only seen once before.

  Still, I made a mental note when it happened.

  He has the nerve to walk right up to our table with a busty brunette on his arm. “Well, hello, Sly. Funny seeing you here.”

  My girl sits up straight at once, flashing a bold grin. “How’s it going, Elliot? Nadine?”

  The woman on his arm wrinkles her nose when she tries to smile. “Joselyn.”

  I do a quick take from her to Joselyn to the guy, and I quickly read the situation. He’s being an ass, Joselyn is cringing, and this Nadine chick is threatened.

  “Sorry,” I stand, extending a hand. “I don’t believe we’ve met. Spencer Carrollton.”

  The idiot looks down at my hand like I’ve offered him a dead fish. “So you’re the new guy.” It’s not a question. “You should know she makes a habit of moving in with a new rich guy after only a few weeks.”

  My extended hand turns into a fist, which I quickly lower to my side. “You’re Elliot, is it? I’ve heard you make a habit of banging your secretaries and being an all-around douchebag.”

  Nadine’s jaw drops, but the idiot has the balls to get offended.

  “People don’t talk to me that way.”

  “Is that so?” I look down on this little man. “From what I understand, no one should talk to you, but if they do, they should only use small words.”

  Joselyn’s fingers fan over her full lips to hide her smile, and the bimbo jerks the idiot’s arm.

  “You’re not going to let him talk to you that way?” She does a little sniff, and Elliot’s face turns pink.

  “You take that back!” He sounds like a child on the playground.

  I might feel sorry for him if he hadn’t insulted my girl. “You preyed on Joselyn, convinced her you cared about her, and then cheated on her. If anyone deserves an apology, it’s her.”

  “I’ll never—” I quickly step forward, catching him by the front of his shirt.

  “You’ve got two seconds to apologize or you’ll wish you had.” My voice is low, but the threat is real. I’d like nothing better than to throw him on the ground and put my foot on his neck.

  “How dare you!” He sputters, the red growing hotter in his face. “I’ll have you know my father—”

  “One second.” My jaw is clenched, and I’m actually growing excited. “Three, two…”

  “I’m sorry!” He yells, far louder than I expected.

  It’s very satisfying.

  “To whom are you apologizing and why?” It’s more of an order than a question, and I steer him around so he’s facing my date.

  “Joselyn!” He’s still shouting, and our fellow patrons stop eating.

  Two of the waiters rush out then stop when they see what’s happening.

  I give him a sharp jerk. “Continue.”

  “I’m sorry, Joselyn, for saying bad things about you.” He’s breathing fast like the sniveling loser he is.

  “Will you ever do it again?”

  “I’ll never do it again.”

  Leaning forward, I look down into his face. “Good. Now get out and never come here again. This is our restaurant, and I don’t want you spoiling our dinner.”

  I let him go with a shove, and he bounces off an empty table behind him before staggering to the exit. Looking around, I straighten my jacket, meeting a mixture of curiosity and approval.

  “I apologize for the disruption. Just removing some old trash.”

  A light murmur and some laughter, and I look down at Joselyn, whose eyes are shining up at me. “Now I’m really ready to go home.”

  Pat stands at the door, and I do a little shrug. He waves me away with alternating thumbs up and fast air clapping.

  “Come on.”

  * * *

  We barely make it through the door when Joselyn pins me to the wall with a kiss. “Have I told you how happy you make me?”

  I’m right there, meeting her lips, grabbing her face, and turning her back to the wall so I can kiss her deeper. My hands slide up the slippery silk of the dress, lifting her breasts and teasing her nipples through the thin fabric.

  “Then I’m doing my job.” I trace a line with my lips along her jaw to her ear, inhaling deeply soft white flowers and the warmth of her body. “I love this dress.”

  Sliding my hands down her hips, I cup her ass, but she holds my wrists, kissing my neck before dropping to her knees. Fuck, yes.

  Her hands are on my pants, sliding up and down as she gives me a naughty look, curling her fingers so her nails tease my thighs before rising higher to unfasten my pants.

  “Joselyn…” I reach out to brace my hand on the wall, and she has my fly down.

  My cock springs free, and she wraps her fingers around it. “Hello, Jock!”

  I can’t help a laugh. “Stop talking to my cock.”

  “Just ignore him.” She leans forward to kiss the tip before flicking out her tongue and tracing it all around the edge. “Does that feel good?”

  “Yes,” I groan, and she looks up at me with big blue eyes before pulling me all the way into her mouth on a long suck.

  My eyes roll shut as she does it again.

  Her mouth pops off, and she looks up at me. “You were very good tonight.”

  Sliding my fingers along her cheek, I’m still amazed by how much I feel for her. “I’ll always take care of you.”

  She grins, returning to my dick, tracing her tongue around it before pulling it between her red lips, smearing lipstick on my shaft, licking and sucking as her head bobs faster.

  “Sin…” I groan deeply.

  Both her hands slide up my legs, scratching her nails lightly over my ass. My eyes squeeze shut, and I do my best not to thrust forward and drive my cock down her throat.

  She’s sucking and pumping me with her fist, making little hungry noises as she does it. She�
�s on her knees, feasting like I’m a fucking ice cream cone, and when I look down and see her breasts bouncing, I can’t take it anymore.

  “You’re too good,” I gasp. “Come up here.”

  Reaching down, I catch her under the arms and pull her up, turning her stomach to the wall and ripping the silk over her ass. Fuck, I love this ass.

  I rip the thong off her just before I slam into her and hold. My heart is beating so hard, I can’t breathe, and she whines, bucking against my pelvis, sending me deeper into her clenching core.

  My teeth are tight, and I grind out, “I’m going to come.”

  “Me too,” she moans, twerking against me.

  Fumbling with the front of her dress, I find the top of her thighs and slip my fingers between them, massaging her clit fast as I thrust harder, faster. Her palms flatten against the wall, and she pushes against me, fucking me backwards as I do my best to wait for her.

  It’s no use. I’m too far gone as the ripples of orgasm climb my legs. My knees buckle, and I push up and hold, closing my eyes as I pulse into her so hard.

  My arms tighten around her waist, and I hold on so I don’t fall as the planet shifts beneath my feet. Her hand fumbles over her shoulder into my hair, and I turn my face to kiss her neck.

  “You are the most amazing woman.”

  Her cheek rises, and I turn her to face me, looking down into her lazy blue eyes. “You’re my hero.”

  For a moment, I take in her beauty. Her hair falls around her shoulders in messy, just-fucked waves, and her black silk dress is off one shoulder. Reaching down, I slide it up her arm. She leans closer, pressing her lips to my neck.

  My eyes close, and I want to carry her upstairs and repeat what we just did in my bed many times.

  Instead, I place my hands on her shoulders. “I had other plans before we left the restaurant tonight.”

  She leans against the wall, smiling at me. “Other than making that fucking Idiot apologize for living and making me love you even more as if that were even possible?”

  “That was pretty good, but it wasn’t on my original agenda.”

  “It was better than pretty good.”

  “What I wanted to do was this.” Lowering to my knee, I pat the pocket of my jacket, locating the small item our waiter was going to bring out with the tiramisu.

  Her eyes widen, and she places her right hand over her heart—the same hand that holds my promise ring, which she never takes off.

  This item is more delicate. It’s an 18-karat, white gold diamond engagement ring with a three-karat oval diamond in the center and two baguettes on each side. In the band, I had the words “My queen” engraved.

  “In the last nine months, I hope I’ve proven myself to you. I intend to go on making you happy, fighting for you, protecting you. Will you marry me?”

  She drops to her knees as I slide the ring on her left hand, nodding as she puts her arms around my neck. “Yes, of course, I will. I love you.”

  My eyes close, and I hold her tightly to my body, feeling the warmth of her, the beating of her heart, the fire in her soul. This woman, who brought so much trouble into my life…

  She broke me free from my prison. She melted the ice around my heart. She taught me to love—she taught me I could love.

  I’ll never let her go.

  Lifting my head, I smooth my hands down the sides of her fiery red hair, gazing deep into her sparkling blue eyes. I kiss the freckles on her nose, so thankful she fell into my arms, my witchy angel, my queen.

  “I love you.”

  Epilogue

  Joselyn

  “Why aren’t you wearing your helmet?” Spencer stalks across the parquet floors of the Oceanside Hotel’s Grand Ballroom with a football helmet in his hand.

  “I thought that was a joke.” I’m at the top of a ladder threading the final flowers into a larger than life-sized sculpture of Belle and Prince Adam.

  It’s a slight variation from the one I made for the ball in that Belle’s hair is redder, and they’re embracing closely rather than just dancing. It’s my one contribution to the reception for our wedding, coming in only two days.

  Gazing down at him, holding that ridiculous helmet he got from Daisy, I wonder if I could love him more if he weren’t so over-protective.

  Short answer: No.

  “It’s most definitely not a joke. I won’t have you walking down the aisle in a neck brace.”

  I place the final coral rose in the side of Belle’s hair then I sit back on the ladder, smiling at my creation. “It’s perfect. Just like you.”

  “Come down from that ladder at once. I don’t want to injure my back before our honeymoon.”

  My nose wrinkles at my fussy fiancé, so sexy in an Armani suit. His dark hair is messy around his temples like he’s been walking on the beach, and his hazel eyes are broody. That muscle in his perfectly square jaw moves like it does when he’s annoyed with me.

  He still takes my breath away.

  It’s been a year since he proposed, and I want to say a lot has changed. The truth is, we’ve simply gotten to know each other better, and as a result, we’ve grown deeper in love. Not everybody can say that.

  We’ve also established a rule—neither of us can leave without a kiss goodbye.

  On Saturday, we’ll be man and wife, and we’re back to the beach with the whole gang turning out to celebrate with us.

  The noise of running footsteps precedes a little girl in a pink dress with a fluffy tulle skirt flying across the glossy dance floor. Her blonde hair bounces in curls around her chubby cheeks, and two little boys in matching black suits are hot on her heels.

  “Go far, Ironman!” Melody yells just before passing a football to Spencer.

  He drops the helmet and catches it with a grunt a half-second before it nails him in the groin, and Daisy’s daughter flies past him, steps ahead of Jesse and Ollie.

  “Pass it to me!” Melody screams, now on the other side of the room. “Don’t just hold it!”

  “We got you. It’s our ball now.” Ollie holds Spencer’s arm, trying to get the ball from him.

  “Throw it to me, Ironman!” Melody’s hands are over her head, and with every jump, her skirt rises and falls like a cloud.

  Spencer’s brow lowers. “Who taught her to call me that?”

  Ollie makes a guilty face, and Jesse only laughs. “Don’t hold up the game.”

  “Football.” Spencer grouses, and my lips press together to hold back a laugh as he tosses it underhanded just short of my little cousin.

  It bangs the ground on a corner and flies wildly in the opposite direction, and Melody jams her hands on her hips stomping after it. “He might be a superhero, but he can’t play football.”

  Jesse and Oliver take off after it, and she breaks into a run just beating them, scooping the ball into her arms, looking so much like her daddy, and heading across the dance floor in the direction they came.

  Spencer looks up at me and holds out his hand. “Will you come down now?”

  Exhaling a happy sigh, I step down the ladder, dropping lightly into his arms. My arms go around his neck, and his go around my waist.

  “You’ve been a naughty girl, Miss Winthrop.” His tone makes my insides clench. “You need a spanking.”

  Leaning closer, I kiss his perfectly straight nose. “Maybe I did it on purpose so you would.”

  His eyes flare, and I start to laugh when my cousin slams through the double doors. “Sly, have you seen Melody? She’s going to ruin that dress… Oh!”

  We look over to my cousin, who isn’t paying attention to us. Her eyes are lifted to the floral statues I just finished.

  “Just look at them.” She whips out her phone and takes a picture while I’m still in Spencer’s arms.

  He lowers me to my feet, hugging my back to his chest. “My bride is a genius.”

  He kisses the side of my neck, and Daisy watches him, smiling. “It’s so nice to see you so happy, Spence. It’s like a vote of con
fidence in humanity.”

  “Your cousin is a kook,” he whispers in my ear, sending chills down my shoulder.

  “Melody ran through here with the boys and a football less than a minute ago. They’re probably out at the beach.”

  “Your mom said the lady from Karen Willis is here for your final dress fitting. I’ll get the kids, but you’d better get back there.”

  Tilting my head to the side, I exhale a sigh. “I guess my spanking has to wait.”

  He slides a hand down to my ass, giving it a squeeze. “I’ll take care of you.”

  Warmth floods my chest, and I place my palms on his jaw before kissing his lips. “You always do.”

  * * *

  Tears are in my mom’s eyes, and she attaches the small veil to the top of my braid. “Your father would be so proud of you.”

  “Ma!” I cry, looking up at the ceiling and touching the tears away as soon as they form in the corners of my eyes. “You’re going to ruin my makeup.”

  “Nothing will ruin this makeup. It’s ultra-waterproof performance wear.” Daisy steps up to smooth my hair down my back. “You’re going to need a triple wash to get it off.”

  “At least it won’t smear on my dress. I hate when that happens.”

  “Spencer’s going to pop a boner when he sees you.”

  “That’s the goal.” I wink, smoothing my hands down the thick white satin of my mini slip-dress.

  The front has a deep V-neck that shows off my cleavage, and the back is also plunging, held together by a delicate string tied in a bow. Daisy helps me into the white blazer I’ll wear over it.

  “When you two disappear, I’ll know not to go looking for you.”

  The door to the dressing room suite opens, and Courtney sticks her head inside. “How’s it coming? You should see the guys out there. It’s like one of those cover-model calendars.”

  “They do make an impressive lineup.” Daisy fastens a necklace with a round blue sapphire charm resembling the night sky with three diamond stars on me. “This is your something borrowed and blue. Scout found it at a museum auction last month.”

  “Are the three stars the three of you?” I lift the unique pendant and study the circular pattern.