Machine: A Bad Boy Romance: Barnes Family Book 2
Page 16
“Ivy!” I threw my arms around her neck, and she hugged me back.
“Hey, big sis! Have you met Aaron?”
“I don’t believe so. Thanks for coming.”
I held out my hand and the dude gave me a halfhearted handshake then said to Ivy, “I’m going to the bar. Want anything?”
“Not right now, thanks.”
After he was out of earshot, she whispered, “He’s super-hot, right?”
Aaron’s manners left a lot to be desired, and he didn’t seem to have very good judgment from the reports I’d gotten. Damn, I was starting to think like my mother. “Mmhmm,” I mumbled, feeling old.
“So can I have a personalized one of these machines?” Ivy quipped.
I shook my head. My little sister was definitely growing up. “If you want one, I’m sure you can.”
“Thanks! I’m telling all my friends. Social media is blowing up with Ivy Barnes talking about sex toys.”
“I’ll bet it is. Thanks for being here.”
“No problem. I’m going to go join Aaron at the bar, okay?”
Nodding, I noticed Lucinda and Bridger’s mom, Barbara, over in the corner taking selfies together. Those two were worse than Ivy and her friends with their cell phone cameras, I thought as I walked towards them.
“What kind of trouble are you ladies getting into?” I teased, giving them both a kiss on the cheek.
“We’re trying to come up with an adult version of a book club,” Lucinda said.
“I guess you could read adult books,” I offered.
“Like kinky ones? I like that, Dynassy,” Barbara said.
“And we could have sexy cocktails. What’s that one I like so much, Dynassy?” Lucinda asked.
I covered my face with my hand as I muttered, “You mean a Buttery Nipple?”
“That’s the one!” Lucinda exclaimed triumphantly.
“Or Sex on the Beach!” Barbara added.
“Okay, you two are having way too much fun,” I said, and went to look for Bridger.
When I found him talking to Leo, I got the feeling I was interrupting a discussion of the latest Madden game.
“Hey guys. Our mothers are some dirty old ladies.”
“You’re one to talk,” Leo snickered.
I rolled my eyes.
“But seriously, man, thanks for taking care of my sister like that. Nick and I’ve been talking about it, and we’re awfully grateful to you for knocking out that douchebag who was trying to assault her.”
I’d tried to keep my family from hearing about what happened over at Sal’s garage, but of course the media found out about it, and so it was all over the news. Leo had been out of town when it happened, and Nick had been at a mini camp, so my brothers hadn’t had a chance to see either one of us since it happened.
“Of course,” Bridger said. “It was my fault for getting her involved in the first place.”
“Oh, like any of us could get Dynassy to do something she doesn’t want to do? Come on, man. In any case, I appreciate you, brother. She’s lucky to have you.”
“Thanks.”
Wanting to change the subject, I asked Leo, “It seems like everybody has a special order they want for a Luv Machine. Do you need one too?”
Leo considered this. “No, but I might want to send them out as holiday gifts to some of my best groupies. What do you think, Bridger?”
I made a gagging noise, while Bridger laughed. “I’m not sure I can help you with that one.”
“In fact, I think I see one over there right now.” Leo indicated a redhead dancing in the corner.
“That’s my friend, Celeste. She’s not one of your groupies.”
Leo raised a brow. “Not yet,” he said, sauntering off in search of Celeste.
I sighed. “He’s awful.”
Bridger slipped an arm around my waist. “Aww, come on, Dynassy, he’s not that bad. He’s just young. Life hasn’t kicked the crap out of him yet. Don’t worry. It will, and he’ll be a better man because of it. He’s actually got a pretty good head on his shoulders, considering.”
Considering he was a Barnes. Bridger didn’t have to say that last part. I could fill in the blanks.
But that was okay. It wasn’t always easy being a part of my family, and I was the first to admit that.
“Hey, can you believe we got all these people here, to a nice party, for a launch of our joint sex-machine business?”
“No,” Bridger replied. “I really can’t. If I would have told you a year ago that you would be selling machines built to screw you in the privacy of your own home, would you have believed that?”
“Um, hell no. I also wouldn’t have believed that I would meet a guy as nice as you, who would love me as much as you do, and who would take such good care of me.”
“And if you had told me that I’d be dating Dynassy Barnes, I probably would have said, ‘Who’s that?’”
I elbowed him gently in the ribs. “Come on. You would not!”
“Okay, but you were definitely not on my radar as someone I would potentially fall in love with.”
I shifted in his arms so I could look into his eyes. “I do love you so much, Bridger.”
“I’m glad you said that, because there’s something I want to ask you.”
“And there’s something that I wanted to ask you, too, but you go first.”
“Okay. You know how you’ve been staying at my apartment a lot recently?”
“Yessss…” Where was he going with this? Was he going to kick me out?
“Well, I wanted to ask if you’d move in with me.”
Whew! Relief flooded me, and I blurted, “Oh my gosh, that’s exactly what I was going to ask you!”
“What?” He looked confused.
“Yes, my house that’s been being renovated is supposed to be finished next month. I was going to ask you if you wanted to move in with me.”
“Um, well, that’s something we can think about. It doesn’t matter to me so much where we live, as long as we’re together.”
“Well, see, I was thinking with a house, there’s more room…”
“To start a family?” Bridger asked, a gleam in his eye.
I gulped. “Maybe we could start with a dog, but someday.”
“As long as I’m with you, I’m happy, babe.”
“Me too.”
He crushed his lips to mine, and I lost myself in his kiss, knowing that for Bridger and me, this was just the beginning.
Epilogue
Bridger - is excited about his venture with Dynassy, particularly the part where he gets to try out new models on his new business partner.
* * *
Dynassy - After trying to talk Bridger into getting a Chihuahua, and failing (he wanted a Rottweiler), she compromised on an oversized Labradoodle named Mitzi, who recently joined their family. The pair is looking forward to practicing their “parenting” skills on the new pup.
* * *
Barvo - The lone porn tycoon standing from Luv Machines fell for a Columbian-born beauty he met and married in Las Vegas. The new Mrs. Charles likes lying by the pool and spending her husband’s money.
* * *
Peter - is awaiting trial for a number of offenses, including theft of intellectual property, assault and battery, and possession of child pornography. Officials tell Bridger he will be going away for a long time.
* * *
Nick and Eden - Nick is about to start training camp. This year his goal is to help the Fresno Fever have a winning record, and he’ll try for another scoring title. With Nick about to start the season, Eden has finally considering getting some help with the babies, and is interviewing nannies now.
* * *
Barbara - signed a production deal with Lucinda to do a TV show featuring her conducting sex therapy with celebrity clients. Bridger is not volunteering to be a guest.
* * *
Ivy and Leo - are planning an international tour without Lucinda, but as a concession to thei
r mother, they have agreed to do “A Barnes Family Christmas” Special.”
* * *
Lucinda - Now that her children are finding their independence, the Barnes matriarch will pick up an abandoned search for the love child of her late husband, Ziggy Barnes. Once found, this person’s existence will rock the Barnes family to its core.
* * *
Look for Barnes Family #3, Bishop’s Desire in 2017.
* * *
Thank you for reading MACHINE: A Bad Boy Romance. If you enjoyed it, please consider leaving a review. Reviews are important in helping a book succeed, so please let other readers know what they can expect from Bridger and Dynassy’s story.
* * *
Want to know when more of Normandie’s books are released?
* * *
Subscribe to Normandie’s book club with monthly giveaways of her favorite books. (BONUS: Get a free story too!) Or text RACYREADS to 24587 to receive a text alert for her new releases.
Want more Barnes Family Romances?
Coming 2017
Bishop’s Desire: A Barnes Family Romance featuring a surprise sibling for Nick, Dynassy, Leo, and Ivy.
* * *
For more information and behind the scenes access join the readers’ group for this series:
Barnes Family Reader Group on Facebook
Barnes Family Romances on Pinterest
Also by Normandie Alleman
Web Master Trilogy
In eBook, Print, & Audiobook
Her Web Master
Tested by Her Web Master
Claimed by Her Web Master
* * *
The Monster Billionaire Romances
With USA Today Bestselling Author Jani Kay
Wanted
Relationship Goals coming 2017
* * *
Barnes Family Romances
The Baller’s Secret Baby
Machine: A Bad Boy Romance
The Bishop’s Desire – coming 2017
Royal Wrecker – coming 2017
* * *
The Daddy’s Girl Series
In eBook, Print, & Audio
Daddy Morebucks
Daddy’s Game
Poor Little Daddy’s Girl
Becoming Daddy’s Girl
The Daddy’s Girl Collection (Books 1-3)
* * *
Pirates of the Jolie Rouge Trilogy
Rescued by the Buccaneer
Bound by the Buccaneer
Tamed by the Buccaneer
* * *
Standalone Titles
HOT SEALS: Surrender to a SEAL (Kindle Worlds Novella)
Taken by the Tycoon
The Professor’s Plaything
Daddy Knows Best
Venetian Love Knots
Subterfudge
* * *
Anthologies/Collections
Little Haven
Tease to Please
Whip It Up
NORMANDIE ALLEMAN
* * *
Join Normandie’s book club at for monthly contests with books from her favorite authors and to learn about new releases and upcoming appearances. Follow her on Twitter @NormandieA and on Facebook. Join Normandie’s reader group or text RACYREADS to 24587 for up to the minute new release information.
* * *
For more visit http://www.normandiealleman.com