The Contractor (Seductive Sands Book 2)

by Sammi Franks

  “I didn’t get flowers.” I sank low in the backseat.

  “You don’t need flowers. Come on.” She was clearly excited to see Max and Penelope again.

  “I didn’t bring back chocolates. I hear women love chocolates.” I leaned forward and rubbed my forehead. “Maybe you should go on without me. I’ll pick up more stuff and come up with a game plan.”

  “Stop it. Let’s go!” Tori huffed.

  We sat there and argued for several minutes until the cab driver interrupted us. “Sir…ma’am?”

  “What?” I snapped. Then I stared past him through the front windshield. Beatrice stood there looking positively pissed. Her cheeks were pink, the wind was whipping her hair around, and there was a glow about her. I smiled, which didn’t seem to help anything at all. Stepping out of the cab, I stumbled toward her. “God, you’re beautiful,” I murmured as I took her hands in mine.

  Her flush deepened. “Well, you’re still an ass.” She stomped her foot. “How do you just leave without telling me? How do you take off with another woman and just leave me and your daughter behind?” She eyed Tori. “Sorry.”

  “Oh, no offense taken. I’m going to go see my future husband and my daughter. You two have some talking to do.” Tori turned to me, her brow arched. “Now is a good time.”

  “A good time for what?” Beatrice glared at me as Tori disappeared.

  “Let’s go for a walk,” I suggested as I wrapped an arm around her waist. At first, she stiffened, but then she melted against me.

  “Stan used to leave all the time without saying goodbye. Sometimes I wouldn’t get so much as a note,” Beatrice grumbled by way of explanation. “Then I woke this morning without you and I had no idea where you’d gone or when you’d be back.” She stopped mid-step and turned her face away, but I could see she was upset.

  “You get mad first and calm down later, huh?” I teased. “I’m slowly getting to know you.” I brushed her hair back from her face and raised her chin to stare into her eyes. “I’ll be better, Bea, but you couldn’t come on this errand. It was a surprise.”

  Her brow furrowed. “A surprise?”

  “Yes, a surprise. Everything about you has kept me off balance from day one when Mo sprung you on me. You had a big role to play…filling her shoes, caring for Thea, but your toughest job was one you did effortlessly.” I bent lower and pressed my lips to her forehead, savoring the scent of her hair. “You healed me, Beatrice. It scared the hell out of me, but that’s because I’m not nearly as tough as I look.”

  Tears leaked from her eyes. “You’ve been acting like you’re completely impervious to me. What are you talking about?”

  “Fear makes us do crazy things, beautiful. It makes me run when I should stick around. It makes me lock you down when you could fly away.” I blew out a breath and patted her eyes dry with the hem of my shirt. She caught a glimpse of my abs and inhaled sharply.

  “Lock me down?” Beatrice blinked a few times. “What are you talking about, Will?”

  I took a deep breath. “I haven’t asked Thea, but I’m sure she won’t mind. I haven’t asked you and I’m sure you will.” I groaned. “I’m no good at this, Bea. I’m lousy at love and emotions, but I think I could be better with your help. Could you stick it out with me?”

  She frowned. “For how long?”

  I dropped to one knee in front of her while pulling the velvet box from my pocket. Slowly, I opened it and held it up in front of her. “I was rather hoping you’d agree to forever. Please say you’ll marry me.”

  Beatrice inhaled sharply. The tears I’d hoped had dried instead became a veritable river running down her face. She clapped a hand over her mouth while nodding vigorously.

  “Is that a yes?” I asked hopefully. “I know I’m not eloquent or smart, but I have a good heart and it’s all yours, if you’ll have me.”

  Throwing herself into my arms, Beatrice murmured, “Just say when.”

  I took a deep breath. I hadn’t thought this through. There was a clamor behind her and I realized everyone was standing there silently cheering. Except for Thea, who was jumping up and down.

  “Tomorrow,” Thea announced. “You should get married tomorrow.”

  “I don’t know how we’d do that…” My voice trailed off as I studied Bea’s reaction.

  “On the yacht,” Max explained. “The captain can marry you as soon as you get the license from the county clerk. There’s no waiting period in California.” He chuckled. “I may have explored this possibility before Victoria objected.”

  I nodded, shocked. This was happening. “You in?” I asked my almost wife.

  She smiled. “Anything for you and Thea.” Then she held open her arms and my daughter launched herself at us.

  My heart raced in my chest. “We’re getting married,” I murmured as I coped with the shock.

  20

  Beatrice

  I was getting married. Married. Me. Beatrice.

  Even as Thea, Tori, and Penelope threw their arms around me to congratulate me, it was difficult to wrap my head around. I had specifically come to the States to get married. It was the biggest mistake of my life, I thought.

  But now, as a coat of warmth enveloped me, I realized that everything I went through with Stan was worth it. Because in the end, I was marrying the man of my dreams. This time, I wasn’t going to be left alone without some semblance of goodbye. I had the love and support of his daughter. And, while I didn’t know Megyn, I hoped she was looking down at us with her own personal blessing. I couldn’t marry him unless I knew for sure he had healed as much as he could from her. I could understand loss and sadness, but I didn’t want to compete with a memory, with history. Megyn’s memory would always win.

  “Well?” Max asked, coming up behind us. “What are you waiting for? Go get your marriage license! I would offer you some champagne, but I think marriage is more important than alcohol. I’ll make sure to drink one for you both.”

  Tori slapped his arm playfully and I couldn’t help but grin.

  Will offered me his hand and I took it. He hailed a cab and we were on our way to the courthouse.

  “Oh,” I mumbled, a thought springing to my mind. “I know I already said yes…”

  Will whipped his head to look at me, his pale green eyes wide. “You cannot possibly be taking back your acceptance of my proposal,” he grumbled. “No taksie-backsies.”

  I laughed. “No.” I reached out in an effort to reassure him. “I just...” I fiddled with my skirt. “I know you have Thea, and you know I adore her, but I would like to have my own children as well. I don’t want this to blow up in our faces if you’re okay with just Thea.”

  Will paused, thinking. Some of the tension left him as he considered my words.

  “We were lucky to have Thea,” Will admitted. “For the longest time, I thought she would be my only child and I accepted that. But to know we could have more...” He shook his head, smiling. “I would like that. I would like that very much.”

  I let out a little squeal and pulled him into a kiss.

  By the time we returned to the yacht, everything was already set up for us. There was a makeshift aisle with two sides of plastic chairs and somehow an alter was made with flowers and a podium that should not have surprised me. Naturally, Max had everything.

  Everyone was dressed up. Thea had on her flower girl dress, Tori had a simple black strappy dress, and Max was in a suit. Even Penelope had a cute purple dress on.

  “And Bodhi?” I asked when I noticed he was missing.

  “Driving the car back,” Max explained. “Too much to drink already? Can the captain even legally marry you?” He joked, and then looked at both of us. “Now, you guys need to change. Get me your certificate and get dolled up.”

  Thea stepped forward and offered me her hand. I felt tears spring into my eyes as she led me to the room I shared with her father. We stepped in and she immediately went over to the closet and started looking through my clothes. I didn�
�t have much so it didn’t take her long until she found a white summer dress with a thin blue belt that wrapped around my waist. I wasn’t sure what the weather was going to be like so I packed it just in case. Looking at it now, I realized this was the perfect dress for today.

  “Thea,” I murmured, taking the dress from her. “Before we do this, I want to make sure you’re okay with it. I know you like me, but liking me and me being part of your life forever are two different things. If this is going too fast for you, just let me know and I can call it off. I won’t even tell anyone the reason why.”

  Thea looked up at me with big eyes. “I want you to marry my daddy.” She shifted nervously. “You make him smile. Last time he smiled like that was with my mommy.”

  I felt my eyes water up with tears as I pulled her into a hug. When I finally released her, I took a few deep breaths. “Okay, so let’s go get married.”

  Thea made a face. “I’m not getting married.”

  With a laugh, I nodded. “Of course you are. I’m not just tying my life your father, I’m going to be part of your life too.”

  She threw her arms around my neck. “Then let’s get married.”

  We all held hands during the ceremony. I swear I saw Will tear up a little during our vows. And when we finally kissed, we barely kept it rated PG.

  When he pulled back, Will whispered in my ear, “I’m so sorry. I think I was getting a little carried away.”

  I laughed. “Let’s get carried away together after we eat.”

  “Must we wait that long?” He waggled his eyebrows at me.

  “You can’t possibly think I’m going to skip out on the cake.” I smirked. “Let’s make a deal.”

  “We’re married. Isn’t that the biggest deal of all?” Will chuckled.

  “Maybe, but a happy marriage is punctuated with a bunch of teeny tiny deals. This can be our first.” I clasped my hands under my chin and grinned like a fool while his hands wrapped around my waist. He pulled me against him and his head came closer to mine. I found myself staring at his lips, completely mesmerized. Shaking my head, I moaned. “Stop. Please. I can’t think when you’re touching me like that.”

  Will smiled before changing directions and moving to murmur in my ear. His words tickled my skin and had shivers of longing racing up and down my spine. “I want you, Bea. And you clearly want me too. Still, I’m willing to wait to make tonight special.”

  I didn’t want him to think I was ungrateful. “Every bit of this has been special.”

  “Here’s my deal. We have a toast. We eat some cake. And then we sneak off together, but I want you to give me a five-minute head start.” He drew back and cupped my cheek. “Deal?”

  My heart raced and I tried to imagine a time when I’d ever deny him anything. I nodded absently. “How will I know?”

  “You’ll know.” Will grinned.

  More than an hour passed, yet my desire didn’t wane. In fact, as we exchanged looks over the rims of our flutes, or fed each other cake, I swear it intensified. I was about ready to give in. I practically prayed he’d throw me over his shoulder and carry me to our cabin. Finally, he stood behind me while I stared out over the railing and watched the sun sink over the horizon. “Five minutes,” he whispered in my ear. Then he kissed his way down my neck.

  “Mmhm,” I moaned. By the time I turned around, he’d disappeared. Instead, I found myself studying the scene unfolding on the deck. Thea and Penelope were sitting on opposite loungers laughing and eating cake. Victoria and Max were swaying to some music I didn’t hear. All this while the yacht made its way back to Westport. Instantly, I knew I had made the right decision, tying my life to Will, Thea, and, by proxy, our friends. Slowly, I wandered to our cabin. When I reached the door, I tapped on it.

  “I hope it’s my wife,” Will called out.

  I pushed the door open and leaned in the doorway. “Guilty.” Then I saw him, standing there in all his nearly-naked glory, wearing nothing but a towel. With a shy giggle, I quickly closed the door behind me.

  21

  Will

  When Beatrice opened the door and turned three shades of pink at the sight of me in a towel, I knew we were going to be in for an interesting night. I hesitated. “You have done this before, right?” I asked, my heart racing.

  “Yes, Will. Just because I’m British, it doesn’t make me a prude.” She laughed and shook her head. “Although, I have to admit, none of the guys I’ve dated have ever looked like you.

  “So, not tall, sandy brown, and handsome.” I struck a pose from Disney’s Hercules.

  Her smile widened. “No. You’re built like a Greek god.” She sighed. “Although I suspect you’re already aware of this.”

  I closed the distance between us after tucking the towel tighter around my waist. This thing wouldn’t be coming off until I decided it was time and I planned to prolong the excitement. “I’m less interested in being viewed as some kind of stud, and more concerned about being a good husband. Let’s make sure we get off to the right start. Shall we?”

  Taking her hand, I lead her over to the bed and had her sit on the end. Then I walked over to my phone and hit the button to play music. I’d already hooked it up to the portable speakers I used sometimes on job sites. Somehow, I’d had the foresight to stick them in my suitcase before we left for the wedding. I thought maybe Thea would want to listen to music, as she sometimes did. Instead, I was now using them to give my new wife the first towel dance of our marriage. I needed to see her looking at me the way she had days ago, the first time she caught me in essentially nothing.

  The minute Candy Shop started playing, she grinned and I began dancing. It’s not like I’d had time to rehearse, but I’d seen some dance moves and I used to be a passable dancer once upon a time. So, I started Magic Mike-ing it for her. Soon, I had the towel undone and was carefully, barely covering my goodies as I turned. Then I dropped it altogether and started to undress her while I moved and she tried not to stare.

  I managed to make short work of her dress. Beatrice stood to help me and began dancing too. My eyes widened in surprise then I grinned like a fool. I had a hot, sexy wife. When she dropped to her knees and took my cock in her mouth, I almost lost it. In fact, after she had licked me up and down a few times while running her hand along my shaft, I had to pull her away.

  “Bea, please. It has been a really long time.” I exhaled and nodded for emphasis.

  “I understand. Let’s make sure you never go a really long time again.” She winked at me as she stood. And I swear, when she turned and asked for my help with her bra, the woman intentionally dragged her lace covered ass over my raging erection. When she looked up at me and batted her eyes innocently, I realized she knew what she was doing.

  “Careful,” I warned as the song came to a close and she brought me to the bed. She turned toward me as she backed onto the mattress, and tugged me with her. I thought I’d be scared. I thought I’d feel guilty, but all I felt was happy and hopeful. Deep in my soul, I knew Megyn would approve.

  I kissed her gently at first, little ones strategically placed on her temple, her forehead, the tip of her nose. Then I grew bolder. I pressed my lips against hers and felt her willingly open for me. Our tongues danced as the songs switched. Luther began crooning, “Let’s get it on…”

  The kissing immediately ceased and Beatrice smiled at me. “I love your taste in music.”

  “Yeah, well, I love you.” I ran my hands through her hair. “I fought it as it was growing and now, I get to embrace it, and you.”

  “We really did this.” She sighed happily as she ran her hands up and down my back. “We’re really married.”

  “Yup. Now, we make it official.” I kissed her neck, inhaling the scent of her, reveling in the new warmth between us.

  “One more deal?” she asked quietly.

  “Anything to make you happy.” I moved lower to caress her breast.

  She gasped in pleasure and writhed slightly under me. I hadn’t
lost my touch. “Towel dance every year on our anniversary, please.”

  I laughed. “You liked it that much? Then definitely.” I sucked her nipple into my mouth before releasing it and adding, “Maybe next year…you can join me.”

  Don’t miss The Marine, Seductive Sands: Book Three

  Coming March 26th

  Read Chapter One NOW!

  22

  Chapter One of The Marine, Seductive Sands: Book Three

  Hawk

  “Nice boat.”

  I’d been watching the guy since he pulled into the marina parking lot with a surfboard on the roof of his SUV. After all, this wasn’t the area for surfing so he seemed out of place. “Nice surfboard,” I commented with a nod as he began to board the yacht in the slip beside mine.

  The guy smiled and paused. “Thanks.” I had the sense he was trying to get a feel for me, whether or not I was being a dick.

  Sometimes I was. I couldn’t help it. The Marines made me that way. Being in the toughest branch of the military means that we walk with an earned swagger.

  “Bodhi, get up here!” A man in a suit leaned over the railing of the yacht and snapped at the guy I’d been talking to.

  “You got it, Max.” Bodhi rolled his eyes with a grin. “Hey, do you have a brother?”

  I paused momentarily before shaking my head. Everyone in the corps was my brother, but I knew he was referring to the more common meaning of the word. “Nope.”

  “Want mine?” He grinned as he boarded the vessel.

  “Pass,” I mumbled as I stretched and decided to get back to work. Pulling my shirt over my head, I started cleaning the boat. This was my house, and the place I stored all of my worldly possessions, which at the moment didn’t amount to much. I’d saved every penny while I was enlisted. When I left, I thought I was going to use it to buy my girl a ring, but she’d moved on while I was in Afghanistan, so I bought this boat instead. At least I was living debt free, even if my nest egg was non-existent.