“You vindictive bitch!” my father shouts, making me jump. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”
“Oh my God!” I gasp, clapping one hand over my mouth.
“I’ll be damned,” Adam says, clearly amused that it’s reaping day in the Carter house finally.
“Desperation is ugly, Anthony.” Standing to her feet, my mother walks over and hands him a flash drive. “I know exactly what I’ve done and I even brought you a present! This is a copy of all the files that have been forwarded to the proper authorities who, according to what Martha just told me, are actually pulling up outside as we speak. I have also sent everything to my lawyer who will be filing for divorce Monday morning, along with putting the house up for sale. It’s over, Anthony.”
My father roars, sending things from his desk crashing to the floor. Adam yanks my arm, pulling me backward, safely shielding me behind him. The doors fly open and armed officers walk into the room accompanied by Martha. “Anthony Carter, we have a warrant for your arrest for suspected arson and fraud.”
After that, everything happens so fast I feel like I’m in a whirlwind. Clutching Adam’s hand, I blow out a breath as they cuff and lead my father out to the squad car, knowing that everything is going to be okay because I know without a doubt he isn’t going anywhere.
Chapter Eight
Adam
‡
Six Months Later
“You may now kiss the bride.”
The moment the words leave the Preacher’s mouth, I smile wickedly at Ainsley. The strapless white cotton sundress she decided on, instead of a traditional gown, showing off enough of her sun kissed skin to have me ready to devour her whole. Taking her in from the tips of her beautiful bare feet all the way up to the beautiful blue eyes that render me speechless at times, I pull Ainsley to me with a growl and press my lips to hers.
The last six months haven’t been easy. With the media coverage not just exposing Anthony Carter’s dirty secrets, but the involvement of the Beckers as well, we were very relieved with his lawyer who put in for a change of venue for the trial and it was granted. We spent most of our time hiding away from the press at the cabin, while Julia retreated to the boat with Sebastio, who was more than happy pull anchor and head out to sea for a while.
Now that the town has gotten back to normal, it seemed like the perfect time to out a ring on Ainsley’s finger and make her mine forever. The fact that I am kissing her on the very spot I first fell for her, just makes it that much more perfect. There was never any doubt in my mind, once she said yes, that this was where I wanted us to stand in front of our friends and family and say our vows.
Ainsley’s hands arms wrap around my neck, her body molding against mine perfectly. The only thing I want to do is disappear with her and devour my wife for days.
“For God’s sake, Adam,” Sebastio shouts, “You plannin’ to make us grandbabies right here on the docks too?”
Pulling back, I glare at him just as Julia slaps his arm. “Would you stop that!” she scolds, but can’t hide her smile.
“What?” he asks throwing up his hands, his grin splitting his face. Walking up, he shoves his way between us, wrapping an arm around both Ainsley and me. “Am I not allowed to be a proud Daddy today?” Turning to me, his gaze hardens. “I don’t think it needs to be said, son. I expect you to treat my little girl right.” Leaning in closely, he grins. “I’m experienced in knot tying and I know exactly where to dump a body out there, boy.”
“Jesus, you’re insane,” I chuckle. “We really need to stop letting you out in public.”
“Whatever, man. I’m like oral,” Sebastio says with a wicked grin. “Sure, you can technically exist without me, but who the fuck would want to? Something would always be missing.”
“I always thought of you as a rash,” Our boss, Donnie, shouts. “You know… Once he’s under your skin, he may be a little irritating, but you figure out how to live with it because it’s better than cutting off your arm.”
“Thanks man,” Sebastio says, “You’re totally nice in a really fucked up way, I like that shit. It makes me want to throw you off a roof then buy you a beer.”
“How about, since Adam and Ainsley are the only two here that are legally married and the thought of anyone fucking you, let alone marrying you, makes me want to get anal from a nail gun, I say we go to the bar and get this party started,” Roxy says, cutting Sebastio off.
“Marriage?” Sebastio groans, clutching his chest. Staggering over to the rail, he clings to it for dear life. “No one will get these balls in a vise,” he teases winking at Julia.
Swooping Ainsley up into my arms, I grin when she squeals. “Caveman!”
Taking the steps down to the beach, I turn and look at Roxy. “See you up there in a bit.”
The sun is setting just as we make it to the blanket I set out earlier, the flameless candles scattered up the steps that lead up to the bar where our reception is no doubt kicking off without us. “Adam,” Ainsley gasps, taking in the beach in front of us. “What did you do?”
Settling her on the blanket, I follow her down onto it, bracing my weight on my elbows. My lips brush over hers and without hesitation, her hands slide up my arms and grip my biceps. “Do I need an excuse to steal alone time with my wife?” I ask, kissing down her jaw.
“Wife,” she whispers, testing out the words. I look down at her, my heart fucking ready to explode along with my cock. “I guess you’re stuck with me now, huh?”
Laughing, I nod my head and lean down so that my lips are almost touching hers. “Damn straight I am,” I reply. “I promised you forever, and I’m not wasting one more minute. We’ve got a whole lot of forever left, baby.”
The End
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Defending Her Turf
Christina Tomes
Chapter One
‡
“Anna! Get your butt over here! Look at the hottie outside!”
Anna Mara sighed and pushed away from her desk. The ladies she worked with were all sweet, but she doubted their taste in men. They were all at least five years older than her twenty-five years and married with kids. Their version of “hot” was a man who did dishes without being asked. Not like little ol’ Bowling Green, Kentucky has a great of selection of single men, anyway, she thought.
Crowded around the one window were her six coworkers, all breathless. Anna pushed into the small opening between the two women who were closest to her age, Sam and Liz. Liz simply pointed in the direction of the line of bushes that separated their office parking lot from the next.
“Oh holy shit,” was all Anna could say. Edger in hand, ears and eyes covered with protective equipment, and shirtless was a landscaping god.
“You need to tap that,” muttered Sam, “because I might be tempted to if you don’t. Mamma has one free pass that hasn’t been used, and I would use it on that man.”
Anna watched as the man’s back tattoos rippled and danced over his muscles. His arms were also covered in bright designs. When he turned, more tattoos framed his chest and left his flat stomach bare. Flashes of silver glinted from two nipple piercings. His bronze face was lightly dusted with a light-brown shadow along his jaw and topped with sun-bleached, cropped brown hair that flopped carelessly over his safety glasses.
Anna’s heart flipped in her chest, and she had to resist the urge to pet the window where he was showcased.
Liz bumped her hip and giggled in her ear. “He looks like a rock bad boy!”
Anna agreed. He did look like a bad boy, but that was what she liked.
“Hey! Were you just saying earlier today that you wished someone would come by and mow your lawn for you?”
Lesa and her big mouth. The mother of four grinned at Anna. She knew what was going to happen next.
All the other women turned towards her with matching loo
ks of devious planning.
“Umm…yeah,” she answered nervously.
“I have the landscaping company’s number. I thought maybe I would call them myself, but now I think you should.” Lesa’s grin turned into something wicked.
“But I don’t think I could afford a landscaper,” Anna mumbled, knowing it was a flimsy excuse. The ladies were giving her a valid reason to call Mr. Tattooed Landscaper instead of just calling like a creeper.
“Bullshit. It’s cheaper than buying a lawnmower,” another woman piped up.
Anna grasped for more excuses. “But what if I call and they don’t send him out to my place?” It sounded bad in her own ears.
Sam was the one to counter this time. “You have a proven landscape company coming out to your house then. Your yard gets mowed by someone other than you. Gonna call now?”
Glancing one last time out the glass, Anna reached towards Lesa’s outstretched hand, already holding a sticky note with a number on it. “Damn it. You guys are a bad influence.”
Hoots of laughter filled the room as Anna pulled her phone from her pant pocket. She dialed the number and continued to watch the man outside. To her surprise, the man jumped just as her phone started ringing. Stopping the edger and pulling off his ear protection, he picked up the call just as the ladies around her calmed down.
“Wilson’s Landscaping, this is Kyle. How may I help you?” The deep voice was pleasant in Anna’s ear.
She smiled, now knowing his name.
“Hello, Kyle, my name is Anna Mara. I need someone to mow my yard.”
She saw a bright smile light up Kyle’s features.
“I can help you with that, ma’am. Give me just a second to walk back to my truck, and I can look and see when I can come over to give you an estimate.”
“Okay!”
“So in the meantime, how did you hear about my company?”
Anna felt a blush creep up her neck and cheeks. She felt like a stalker, calling him like this.
“Umm, I work at one of the buildings you landscape for…”
“Uh hum, which one?”
She watched him walk closer to his white truck, almost out of view from her vantage point at the window.
“Healthcare Solutions.” Anna mumbled her reply.
Almost immediately, Kyle’s head whipped towards the huge window where they were all standing exposed.
Anna groaned as her coworkers yipped and ran away from the window, caught ogling.
“I guess you are the one they wrangled into calling then,” he laughed, obviously amused.
“Ahh…yes? But I really do need my lawn mowed.”
They made eye contact through the window, and Anna marveled at how wide and nice his smile was.
“I bet.”
She watched as he turned back towards his truck and out of her view.
“Seriously. And sorry we got caught creeping. Promise I am not a stalker, but we are a collection of bored medical billers. Any distraction is a good distraction.”
A very masculine chuckled sounded in Anna’s ear and pulled at something inside her.
“You are too noticeable with that bright red hair to be much of a stalker. Besides, sometimes a guy likes having pretty women ogle his body. I don’t mind.”
Anna breathed a deep sigh of relief. “Thank you for not taking offense. We don’t behave badly often.”
“I am sure your version of behaving badly and mine are completely different.”
“Maybe. Maybe not, but I am still sorry. We were acting like horny teenagers.”
Kyle let out a burst of laughter.
“Grown women acting like kids. Love it. Anyway, Anna, how does next Tuesday afternoon sound?”
Anna grinned to herself and set the appointment with Kyle. Now all she had to do was make it until Tuesday.
Chapter Two
‡
The week passed quickly for Anna. Her coworkers were unapologetic in their teasing throughout the week, ribbing her for getting them all caught spying. By the time the afternoon rolled around, she was just happy to have some man candy showing up at her house. After all, she didn’t know if he was married or an axe murderer. To her, he was just some deep-voiced, hot-as-sin, tattooed dream boat coming to quote her some prices on mowing her lawn.
Climbing into her beloved ’87 Camaro, Anna squealed. He really was coming over. She couldn’t lie and say she wasn’t excited. Excitement quickly turned to dismay as she turned her key over in the ignition and nothing happened. She tried again, nothing. Her radio was on, so it wasn’t the battery. Her fingers drummed on the steering wheel nervously as she ran through a short list of possible problems. Not the ignition itself. That would grind if it had been going out.
“Well, fuck me and fuck this car!” she shouted, bashing the steering wheel with all her might. Her red hair fell out of her ponytail and covered her face, hiding the tears streaming down her face. “Fuck my life!”
She watched as the last car left the parking lot. More hot tears flowed as she realized she was going to have to call a tow truck and pay for repairs on her car. There went all her money for the next month. Anna thumbed her phone on and was surprised to see a phone call coming in from Wilson’s Landscaping. Why was Kyle calling?
“Hey, Anna, I was calling to let you know I was going to be about fifteen minutes late,” Kyle said, a bit out of breath. “I had to run to the store to pick up a part for one of my crew’s small engines.”
“Hey, I was just about to call you to cancel anyway.” Her voice sounded dead in her ears. She just hoped he couldn’t tell she had been crying in frustration.
“What? Why?” Anna thought he sounded a little hurt.
“My stupid car won’t start, and I don’t know what’s wrong with it. Gotta call a tow truck and get this heap back to my house.” Her hands once again pounded on her steering wheel. “I don’t even know if I can afford you anymore because of this stupid thing!”
A slight chuckle sounded from the other end. “You can always afford me, sweetheart, but if you would like, I can swing by there and look at your car. I do know a bit about engines. I could at least keep you company while you wait on the tow truck if I can’t help you.”
“Oh my geebus, thank you so much. You really don’t have to, but I really appreciate it,” sobbed Anna. She was already grateful for his company and his offer of help.
“Be there in five.”
Anna hung up with Kyle and dabbed at her eyes with the bottom of her shirt. Her situation was still looking bleak, but at least she now had company. Maybe he could fix her car and the situation would be even better. She might just have to bake him thank-you cookies then.
*
“I have good news for you, Anna,” Kyle said while lowering the hood of her car with a squelch. He rubbed his hands over his jean-covered thighs to rub off some of the grease on his hands. Anna couldn’t help but notice the pleasant way his legs filled out the material. Shaking herself out of her one-track mind, Anna looked up into Kyle’s bright green eyes. They were the color of fresh cut grass.
“My car’s not quite dead?” Her small joke brought a smile to his face.
“Not quite. Your beast still has some life. Just needs a new idle air sensor. It got gunked up, and now it won’t open all the way. But that’s okay because the part is cheap and it takes two screws. Fifteen minutes tops.”
Anna couldn’t help it—she ran over to him and gave him a huge hug.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
Her face pressed into his solid chest, and she felt the tears come to her eyes.
“I thought I was so screwed, and I was going to have to go into debt, and I was going to have to bum rides from my already harried friends and…” It was like a freight train of worry just started out of her mouth before she could stop it.
Strong arms wrapped around her and pressed her into his muscular, warm body. She felt a hand go under her hair and rub her neck.
“Shhh…it’s a
ll right, none of that. I’ll get your car problems fixed for now.”
Anna melted into his body, taking his comfort. It had been a long time since anyone had held her when she had a freak out. She allowed herself a few moments to take in the intoxicating scent—a mix of sunshine and fresh-cut grass—before looking up at his chiseled face. She found herself suddenly wanting to nip the shadowed line of his jaw. His full lower lip seemingly begged for her kisses.
Get a hold of yourself, girl, she chided. He’s a stranger! But what a hot, kind stranger.
“Hey, don’t think so hard,” Kyle finally said, lightly thumbing her chin. “I can practically hear your inner gears turning. I am glad I could be here to help a pretty girl out.”
Anna sighed and pulled away from his embrace. “Pfffttt,” she dismissed. “I bet I am really pretty with my bright red hair and equally bright red eyes.” She lifted up her messy hair playfully and dabbed at the corners of her eyes.
“Your eyes look like crystals after you cry.”
Anna felt the blush creep into her skin, and she looked down. “Whatever.” She dragged her foot across the ground, trying to distract herself from the compliments. She might start thinking he liked her if he kept it up.
Daring to look up, Anna met his eyes. He beamed at her.
“Let’s hop in my truck and get that part. There’s an AutoZone just down the road.”
Blue Colla Make Ya Holla Page 53
