The Naughty One

by Michelle Love

  His smile was nasty. “He’s out sick today. You’re really pretty.”

  Romy took her bag and headed for the door. In a flash he was in front of her, slamming the door shut and leaning against it. “C’mon now…it’s Christmas. Give me some sugar.”

  Give him some sugar? Romy, despite her unease, had to laugh aloud at that one. “Listen, boy,” she said, steel in her voice. “Get out of my way right now, and I’ll think about not reporting you to the police.”

  He grabbed her shoulders. “I just want to have a little fun. You don’t need to be a bitch about it.”

  What the hell was happening here? Romy calmly put her bag down on the floor then stood to face him. Without warning, she brought her knee up sharply, and smashed it into his groin. The man buckled, cussing her out. Romy calmly picked up her bag of groceries, and walked out of the door, leaving him with a “Go fuck yourself, creep.”

  It wasn’t until she was in the car and driving back up the mountain that she realized she was trembling so violently that she was making the car slide on the icy road. She pulled over and calmed herself down. Closing her eyes, she dragged great lungfuls of air in, feeling her breathing steady, her heart slow. What the fuck was wrong with the world?

  She heard the whoop of a police car siren as it pulled up behind her and a tall deputy get out. She rolled down the window.

  “You okay, ma’am?”

  She nodded, then shook her head, the words spilling out, telling him exactly what had happened. His mouth set in a grim line. “Yeah, we’ve heard rumors. Are you sure you’re okay? He didn’t hurt you?”

  “No, I’m okay, just a little shaken. Why on earth do they employ him?”

  The deputy rolled his eyes. “He’s the owner’s daughter’s boyfriend. Look, I’m going to escort you home, Ma’am. If you’d like to make a statement…”

  Romy considered. “Actually, I would. There’s no reason other women should suffer that creep.”

  At home, Blue looked alarmed as she introduced the deputy, Jim, to him and told him what had happened. “That son-of-a-bitch! I’ll deal with him.” Blue was enraged but both Romy and Jim blocked his way.

  “We’ll deal with him, sir, don’t you worry. Mrs. Allende wants to make a statement and we’ll press charges of assault and harassment.”

  Romy looked slightly guilty. “I’m probably guilty of assault too. I might have kneed him in the balls.”

  Blue and Jim both grinned. “Did he put his hands on you first, Mrs. Allende?”

  Romy nodded and Jim shrugged. “Then it’s self-defense. Now, let’s take that statement.”

  After Jim had taken her statement and bid them farewell, Blue hugged Romy tightly. “Trouble follows you, Piccolo,” he said, but laughed, and Romy could see it was mostly from relief.

  His use of her nickname reminded her of meeting Atlas. “It went completely out of my mind. I’ve invited him for drinks one night – I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all, I would like to meet him. It’s a pity you didn’t walk out of the store with him.”

  “Ha,” Romy said, mildly, “I took care of it.”

  “Yeah you did, sexy ninja wife.” He eyed her appreciatively. “Gracie will be up soon…but I think we could still get one in under the wire.”

  Romy burst out laughing. “Now, that’s sexy,” she dead-panned, but giggled as Blue swept her into his arms and placed her on the kitchen counter. He pushed her skirt up to her hips, shimmying her panties down her legs, over her boots, which he insisted she kept on. Romy had to admit that they did add to the sensuality of the moment. As Blue thrust his cock into her, she gave a small moan of release, forgetting all her upset, knowing that this man loving her now was all she would ever need.

  They had just finished decorating the tree when the deputy called. “We’ve arrested him – apparently there are other female customers who have made complaints too. He’ll be out on bail soon, I expect, but it’s handled.”

  “Thank you so much,” Romy said. “I’m sorry you had to deal with it.”

  “No problem at all. Been aching to book that creep for years. Merry Christmas, Ma’am.”

  “And to you, Deputy.”

  Romy hung up the phone, gave a thumbs up to a relieved Blue and watched as her daughter was surreptitiously poking at the wrapped gifts under the tree. “I can see you, Gracie Allende.”

  Gracie gave a chuckle. “Momma, why has Santa brought these ones early?”

  “Ah, because you’ve been a good girl.”

  “Then I can open them now?” She looked at her parents hopefully.

  Romy laughed as Blue picked his daughter up. “Not a chance, monkey. Come on now, Christmas day is only tomorrow, kiddo. Enjoy the anticipation.”

  “Yes, we’re going to watch Christmas movies and eat enough sugar to give us all diabetic comas.” Blue said with a grin at his wife, who rolled her eyes.

  “Look, Gracie, we’re going to make a gingerbread house – want to help?”

  Romy put the upsetting incident at the Farmer’s market to the back of her mind as she enjoyed the evening with her family. After making a tall but rather crooked gingerbread house, they sat down to watch Home Alone and Home Alone 2 with Gracie – their favorite Christmas movies, before gorging on mac and cheese for their supper.

  Despite her assurances that she wouldn’t be able to sleep a wink, Gracie fell asleep in Romy’s arms just as the second movie finished and Romy carried her daughter up to bed, tucking her in. She sat on the bed, stroking her daughter’s soft face, marveling at the sweet beauty of her. She felt Blue follow her in and they both watched their daughter sleep for a while.

  “Isn’t she perfect?”

  “Just like her mother,” Blue said softly and took her hand. He led her quietly out of Gracie’s room and to their own bedroom. Inside, he kissed her tenderly, stroking his thumbs over her cheeks, gazing at her with such love-filled eyes, Romy felt weak. “Ti amo.” His voice was soft, and sent tingles down her spine.

  “Ti amo, Blue.”

  Their love-making this night was slow and leisurely, soaking every moment of sensuality up, enjoying each other’s bodies as they moved in perfect rhythm with the other. Romy sighed and shivered through multiple orgasms as Blue made love to her in the indigo moonlight streaming through their window.

  Before they fell asleep, Romy and Blue lay talking softly, mostly about their daughter and how excited she would be in the morning.

  Blue tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I still can’t believe we’re parents, Romulus.”

  She grinned at the nickname her family had always given her. “I know, it’s just so grown up.”

  They were quiet for a while, then Romy said “Do you think it’s the right time to try for another? Do you even want another?”

  Blue grinned. “Baby, I want a bunch of kids with you. I was ready for another about three seconds after Gracie was born.”

  Romy laughed. “Even after I threatened to ‘Bobbitt’ you if you ever got me knocked up again?”

  “Even then. What do you think? I mean, let’s be practical, I’d love to carry the kid for you but that ain’t gonna happen. So, we’re talking about a year of your life, a year out of your career. And with this other thing…”

  “Yeah, it’ll be complicated. But, I’m thirty-four now. There’s a time limit here – okay, so it’s not pressing but it’s still there. And I want another child, Blue, so badly. I want to give you your son.”

  Blue kissed her. “I’ll be happy as long as they are healthy. I quite like being outnumbered by women.”

  Romy laughed. “I bet you do. Listen, this isn’t the time to make huge decisions like this…let’s save that for after tomorrow. But by the end of the week, one way or another, I’m going to have to make some difficult decisions.”

  “I got your back, beautiful, whatever you decide.”

  Romy smiled gratefully at him. “As long as I have you and Gracie, I’m good. That’s all that matters.”


  The next morning was a riot of laughter, torn wrapping paper, way too much sugar and one very excited and happy little girl. Romy and Blue played with Gracie, helping her put together her toys, taking her directions (Blue was put on diaper duty for her new doll, Romy sneaked some chocolate spread into the diaper and giggled when she saw his horrified face).

  Romy and Blue took turns in playing with Gracie and cooking their celebration meal. Outside, the sun was hidden behind gray clouds heavy with snow, and as evening fell, it began to snow thick flakes and they turned off the lights in the lodge and watched it fall.

  A picture-perfect Christmas, Romy thought, and felt a tug in her chest. She didn’t want to be away from Blue and Gracie most of her time. And yet her career was so important to her that she couldn’t see a way out. She hadn’t realized her sadness showed on her face until she and Blue were alone again that night and he asked her what she had been thinking.

  “Just about work,” she said with a half-smile. “And the thought of leaving you and Gracie in Seattle while I work in Portland…god. No. I can’t do it. Especially if we decide to have another baby. I love my job, I love it, it’s my calling…but I love you and Gracie more. I think I’m going to stay at Rainier Hope. I know it’s not the best thing for my career but it is the best thing for me, and our family.”

  Blue was thoughtful, but he looked unhappy. “I hate that you’re having to choose.”

  “Don’t. I got to choose, I wasn’t dictated to by you or anyone else. I made this decision.”

  Blue wrapped his arms around her. “I promise, everything I can do that doesn’t fall within nepotism or favoring, I will do. I won’t let you slip behind your peers.”

  “You bet your ass I won’t,” Romy said with a grin. She tangled her fingers in his hair. “I know you’ll be the best Chief ever, and I also know you’re fair, balanced – with only a hint of bias.”

  “More than a hint, but thanks.” Blue was chuckling.

  “Baby…all I really care about is us. I won at life when I met you, when we had Gracie. My Mom is happy, my sisters are doing so great and I get to wake up with you. God, I’m a lucky woman.”

  “Well, shucks.” Always unassuming, Blue’s face was red, but he grinned anyway. “Then how about we go practice making another baby?”

  “I say yes,” Romy laughed and laughed as he bore her upstairs. “Merry Christmas, baby.”

  “Merry Christmas, beautiful.”

  Two days later, her decision made, Romy felt a weight fall from her shoulders. She called the hospital in Portland and expressed her regrets but turned the job down. They were disappointed but offered her any position she wanted should she change her mind. Romy watched Blue and Gracie playing and knew she had made the absolute right decision for her.

  Romy opened the door and greeted Atlas as he trudged through the snow. “Hey, small fry,” he said with a grin as she hugged him.

  “Come and meet Blue and Gracie.”

  A half hour later, and Atlas, with his natural charm, had won over both Romy’s husband and daughter. Gracie climbed onto Atlas’s knee and told him all about her Christmas presents and Atlas chatted easily with her. He and Blue found common ground easily, both men’s sense of humor jelling almost straight away.

  Later, the adults shared a late supper. Blue opened some champagne. “To old – and new – friends,” he grinned and they tapped their flutes.

  “Well, I do have some news. I didn’t mention it the other day because it was still being worked out but…I’m relocating back to Seattle permanently.” Atlas grinned at Romy’s surprise.

  “That’s wonderful…but what about your business in London?”

  “My partner has just bought me out. He knew my heart didn’t lie in it anymore, selling pharmaceuticals. More and more I felt like I was taking from the world rather than giving back.”

  Romy nodded. “Fair enough, but what will you do now?”

  “I’m glad you asked because I might need some advice.” Atlas pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. “A couple of years ago, one of my nieces was assaulted. She was at college, alone in a study room, and her boyfriend, who she’d just broken up with, found her and... You can guess. Since then, it’s been bugging me that there isn’t a safe house in the city that also helps those battered women – and to a lesser extent, men, who can’t afford medical expenses. So, me, and a couple of other local entrepreneurs are doing just that. Seattle’s first secure hostel with a full medical staff. I also want to make sure that we have a fully operational surgical facility – and an emergency room. Basically, somewhere to go when things are desperate. Eventually, I’d like to extend it to the homeless too.”

  Romy and Blue looked at each other in amazement. “But that’s fantastic,” Romy said, shaking her head in amazement. “God, Atlas…if I had had that when I left Dacre…” There was a lump in her throat. “Atlas…”

  Blue rubbed her back, seeing she was close to tears. “And you need us to headhunt medical and surgical staff?”

  Atlas nodded. “Please…obviously, this is a voluntary role, so asking docs to give up their time and pay-packet to do so might be difficult and there’ll be no recriminations if candidates decide they can’t make it work. I do need a chief of surgery though.”

  “I’ll do it.”

  Both Blue and Atlas looked at Romy. She returned their gazes steadily. “It’s perfect. Look, Atlas, these past few days we’ve been going around and around trying to find a role for me which doesn’t smack of nepotism but also won’t tamp down my career. This is it. Don’t you think, Blue?”

  Blue nodded slowly, and Romy could see him working things out in his head. “Yeah…yes, I think it is perfect. What do you think, Atlas?”

  Atlas looked a little shell-shocked. “Well, I mean…god, really? You would do this? Train my staff? Be our head of surgery? For free?”

  Romy started to laugh. “Are you kidding me? Of course. There is just one thing. There’s a good chance I might be pregnant again soon, so we’d have to work around that.”

  Atlas held his hands up. “Girl, even an hour of your time would mean the world to us – I think we can accommodate a pregnancy.” He laughed. “But we should slow down, discuss this more fully when we’re not hopped up on your good champagne.”

  But Romy could see how excited he was and later, after Atlas had gone home, she smiled at Blue. “This is it, isn’t it? This is what I should be doing. Everything has been pointing towards this.”

  Blue studied her. “You know what, Romulus Sasse? You are my freaking heroine; do you know that? My absolute superstar Wonder Woman. Yes, baby, I agree. Everything’s has been leading to this. It’s not only a way to give back, but to finally get the stain of Dacre from your memories.”

  “Exactly. Honestly, baby,” Romy wrapped her arms around her husband’s neck, “I can’t wait to get started.”

  “Let’s go celebrate.”

  “Take me to bed, Allende.”

  Three months later, Atlas’s clinic opened its doors.

  Six months after that, Zachery Stuart Allende was born, with his twin sister Rosa following six minutes later. Their mother and father looked down at their newborn twins and knew their family was now complete.

  The End.

  Her and Him: A Holiday Romance Story

  An agreement between two friends, made on a drunken night a decade ago, comes back to haunt one of them. Amelia Mason is happily single, living a quiet life with her island bookstore. When an old friend Kirk Ferron comes to the island and reminds her of a pact they made when they were younger, Amelia initially laughs it off until Kirk makes it clear he is deadly serious about their agreement to marry when they both reach thirty if they’re both single. He threatens her with a lawsuit if she doesn’t marry him, but her best friend Silas offers a solution which surprises everyone and Amelia begins to realize everything she ever looked for was right in front of her. Unfortunately, Kirk is a jealous psychopath and he vows revenge – reven
ge which could tear the happy couple apart forever…

  It was on clear, bright, fresh mornings like this that Amelia really appreciated how lucky she was. The small island in Puget Sound was already waking up, and on Main Street, where her little bookshop sat, locals waved to her as she opened her store. Officially, her store didn’t open until nine am, but Amelia loved her job too much to bother about that. Often, she would open early and stay open until late at night, her loyal customers lingering for hours to chat or browse. Amelia’s best friends Hannah and Silas, brother and sister owners of the island’s coffeehouse across the street, would take turns bringing over coffee for Amelia and her clientele.

  She saw Silas now, carrying a huge box of supplies into the coffeehouse. He grinned at her, his smile lighting up his handsome face. Amelia waved back. Silas Wolfenden had always been her crush, but as they had grown older, their friendship had deepened to the point where Amelia considered it too late for anything to happen between them.

  That didn’t stop Silas from flirting endlessly with her and often Amelia would fantasize about calling his bluff. She loved his shaggy dark curls, his permanent scruff, his intense green eyes. Silas had no shortage of admirers, both male and female, but he seemed happy to be single.

  His sister, Hannah, Amelia’s best friend since third grade, was, like Amelia, six years younger than Silas, and the more outgoing of the two of them. She too was single but had a revolving door of young men in her life and she was utterly unashamed of how sexually active she was.

  Amelia herself, at almost thirty, was settled in her tiny ocean-front home. Orphaned at an early age, she had always been shy, and after college, she had returned to her hometown, wanting to be close to the only family she had ever known – the Wolfendens. Amelia’s parents, her French mother and African-American father had died in a sea-plane crash when she was fifteen and she had been alone ever since.