Under Cover: A Blue Collar Alpha Romance

by Aria Cole

“Yes, I know. But this goes under this. The cami is for Detective Dick. This—” she pulled out a lavender cashmere sweater “is for his mother.”

  “That’s perfect,” I said, touching the sweater.

  “I know. It’s a gift.”

  ***

  “Damn. Maybe Mama is getting a call letting her know I’m sick,” Brody said, standing at the front door and taking me in.

  “I really don’t think that’s a good idea, canceling the first time she’s supposed to be meeting me,” I giggled.

  He stepped to me, put his arm around my waist, and pulled me to him. “She won’t be upset when I tell her that her little boy is very ill and a beautiful lady is playing nurse.” He pushed himself closer to me, and I could feel the hardness pressed up against me. “Paying attention to all his needs.” He winked.

  “Stop it,” I said, slapping him gently on the forearm.

  He laughed and kissed me on the lips. It was a chaste kiss, but I felt it all the way down to my toes.

  “Let’s go, beautiful.” He patted my ass as I closed the door and locked up.

  “I am a little nervous,” I admitted.

  Brody just looked at me, his eyes locked intently with mine. “Why? It’s just my mom,” he said, opening the passenger-side door for me.

  “That’s just it. She’s your mom. What if she doesn’t like me?” I pouted as I got in. He leaned in behind me, his body so close, and he smelled so good.

  “Like you? She is going to love you.” He kissed my cheek.

  I looked out the windshield at the road in front of us, hoping that was true.

  “You ready for the crazy?” he asked, turning the key in the ignition.

  “You talking about me or your mom?” I teased.

  “In this situation, it was about my entire family.”

  “Your entire family…” The words entire family caught in my throat, and I was barely able to get them out. “What do you mean, your entire family?” I asked.

  “My mom…may have invited everyone.” He smiled sheepishly.

  “How many people is everyone, Brody?” I wasn’t able to hide the horror in my voice.

  “Just her, my sister Kate, her husband Brian, their three kids, and Connor.”

  “I’m meeting your mom and your sister?” I asked, feeling my eyes actually start to bulge a little.

  “Yeah, about that,” he said, concentrating on driving. “Kate is really the one you need to worry about. She’s a little, ummm…protective of her kid brothers.”

  “How protective?” I asked.

  “She once threatened Connor’s high school girlfriend with a butcher knife.” He winced.

  “And you think I’m crazy?”

  CHAPTER TEN

  Brody

  “Broski!” Connor pushed open the door, sending the smells of rich Italian sauces into the air. “Nice to see you again, Wells.”

  I shot Connor a glare, not liking how comfortable he felt with my girl.

  “Phoebe!” My loud and sassy mother enveloped Phoebe in a hug, rocking her back and forth before she’d even kicked her shoes off. “Connor has told me so much about you.”

  She tapped at Phoebe’s cheeks with her hands and then pinched softly. “Healthy girl. That’s important if you’re going to make adorable babies with my son someday.”

  My eyes shot out of my head as Connor’s laugh rode the currents down the long hallway that led to the family kitchen.

  “I don’t know about babies, Ms. Romano, but your house is beautiful.” Phoebe took my mom’s nosiness in stride, allowing herself to be hustled off into the kitchen.

  “You’ll have many babies,” She pulled Phoebe into a gentle embrace. “Some of the most beautiful memories of my life were made right here in this kitchen, raising babies with my Giuseppe.”

  “It’s only a coincidence that they’re some of the worst of mine.” My sister rushed down the stairs and into the kitchen, a baby in each arm. “But it all worked out for the best now that Grandma’s a built-in babysitter.”

  “Grandma Moira is the best babysitter on the block, and it’s not just my grandbabies I take care of.” Mom took one of my nephews from my sister’s arm. “Siobhan, meet Phoebe, Brody’s date.”

  “Just don’t get on her bad side. She’ll shank you if you look at her the wrong way.” Connor laughed.

  “In my defense, that bitch was a backstabbing Ho with a capital H.” Siobhan winked at Phoebe, but I saw some sort of quiet warning simmering in her eyes.

  “I come by my protective nature honestly. In this family, everyone is in each other’s business constantly. Irish-Italians… We are a frisky bunch. I’d say you’ll get used to it, but the more used to it you get, the more down the crazy rabbit hole you go with them.”

  Phoebe chuckled. I could sense the ripple of uneasiness in her muscles. I knew my family could be a lot, but I hoped Siobhan and Mom hadn’t scared her off with talk of babies and shanks.

  I sighed, realizing for the first time maybe this family was the damn reason I’d never managed a date before now.

  “How was work today, Bro?” Connor liked to call me that because it was short for Brody and because he knew all current teen lingo irritated me violently.

  “No surprises.”

  “Any luck finding your sweet boy Charlie?” My mom stirred her red sauce, eyes on Phoebe.

  “None.” She shook her head. “I’m starting to think he was stolen, maybe sold on the black market.”

  Connor stifled a laugh. The very idea of a black market for dogs was enough to make my own eyes roll.

  “You know, I just saw on the news that they broke up an international puppy ring a few days ago with ties to some important people.”

  “An international puppy ring, huh?” Connor popped a hunk of French bread into his mouth. “Sounds like one hell of an expose. Maybe that’s why Charlie was taken. If only Liam Neeson were here.” Connor’s eyes lingered on mine with amusement.

  I made a mental note to pummel that smile later when Mom wasn’t around.

  “So…” Siobhan set my other squirming nephew on the floor, and he immediately plopped onto his diaper-padded bottom and started playing with his pacifier. “What do you do, Phoebe?”

  Phoebe’s eyes widened, a little taken aback by my sister’s direct approach. “I work from home, actually—event organizing and business branding. Most of my time is spent on the Internet, I hate to say it. I hosted an event for the senator’s office a few years ago and some of the photos went viral on social media and that was all it took.”

  Siobhan’s eyes narrowed. “And doing that pays your bills?”

  Phoebe averted her eyes. “Pretty well, actually.”

  “So what are you like an influencer or something?” Siobhan was drilling into Phoebe hard, unwilling to let up.

  “Hey, I don’t think Phoebe came here for rigatoni with a side of the third degree,” I defended, guiding Phoebe to a chair around the big family table, where I sat down beside her. “Lay off.”

  Siobhan shrugged. “Only the best for the Romanos. Isn’t that what Pop used to say?”

  Silence fell, the memory of my dad lingering like a cloud. Siobhan brought him up often, but the rest of us still struggled with the pain of his loss, even if it’d been over a decade since his heart attack.

  “So, what do you do, Siobhan?” Phoebe changed the subject, putting my sister in the hot seat now.

  “I work communications for the bank on Third Street. Though these little suckers keep me busy”—she gestured to Tommy, now making an attempt to pull himself up by her pant legs—“so I’ve cut back to four days a week while they’re little and running into everything like they are.”

  She pulled her son into her arms, peppering little kisses on his nose until he erupted into uncontrollable little giggles.

  It warmed my heart to see my sister with my niece and nephew. The fact that of all of us, she’d found herself with a family first was only a little surprising. She was a seriou
s ball buster to any man or woman who crossed her path, but she was also the most fiercely loving mother I’d ever seen.

  Watching Siobhan parent her babies gave me faith that maybe I had it in me to do it too. With the right person.

  I watched as Phoebe interacted with my little nephew, her smile bright as she encouraged him to fist bump her playfully and then cheered when he accomplished it.

  His little sister army-crawled across the kitchen to figure out what all the fuss was about, and soon enough he was fist bumping and giggling too.

  It was the most precious thing I think I’d ever seen.

  ***

  Four hours later and Phoebe was as good as the new babysitter for my sister. Somewhere between cannolis and fist bumping, the kids and Siobhan had fallen for Phoebe, just like I had. By the time we were saying goodbye, Siobhan and Phoebe were exchanging phone numbers and hugs, promising to meet for coffee next week.

  Connor was winking at me triumphantly, making a gesture for sexy time behind Phoebe’s back as she pulled on her shoes.

  I shook my head, disdain bubbling through my veins at my brother’s silly and immature antics, even if I did secretly hope Phoebe and I would get to that point. I was trying my damnedest to be a gentleman, but I’d had about as much as I could take of that shit.

  “Your family is so nice.”

  I was escorting her to my car, hand at her back. “Nice and crazy, I think you meant to say.”

  “Maybe a little of that too.” Phoebe smiled. “Makes me miss my own family and Charlie.” She fell quiet once she was settled in the passenger seat.

  “Maybe he’s just off rabble-rousing. They say male cats hit the streets often in search for love. Maybe Charlie was looking for a little love and affection from a furry lady friend.”

  Phoebe’s laugh broke the silence and made me feel a little bit better.

  “Maybe he’ll come sauntering home one morning looking like a fat cat.” I turned the engine on my car, backing out of the driveway.

  “Your lips to God’s ears, Dick.”

  I grinned, thinking how well she fit with my family, how well she fit with me, and how badly I was ready to take the next step with Ms. Phoebe Wells.

  But was she ready for me?

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Phoebe

  When we got to my place, I felt the shroud of silence surrounding us. I really didn’t know what the proper etiquette was to invite a guy into my home, but I wanted Brody there.

  “I know my family can be much, but when they are on your side, you won’t find anyone more loyal,” he said as he rubbed my hand absentmindedly.

  The entire drive home, we’d held hands. It was nice. So normal.

  ‘They are wonderful, Brody. Honestly,” I assured him. In truth, I loved how brash, loud, and uninhibited they were with each other.

  “Good. Listen, Phoebe, I want to come up,” he said, flooding me with relief.

  “I want you to come in,” I whispered while trying desperately to avoid his eyes.

  Brody smiled while parking the car.

  As we walked up to my apartment in silence, he entwined his fingers with mine, causing me to feel flushed with anticipation. I dug into my purse and pulled out my keys, trying to find the right one, my hands visibly shaking with nerves.

  “Let me.” Brody took the keys from me, unlocking the door.

  He closed the door behind us and pushed me up against it, placing his lips at my neck and slowly started kissing the skin there.

  “You have any idea how uncomfortable it is sporting a hard-on when your mother is sitting across the dining room table from you?” he asked, pulling at my earlobe. I felt breathless as he caged me in with his large frame.

  “It’s really uncomfortable turning into a fucking animal with your nephew drooling in a high chair. You make me crazy. I think all these things that I shouldn’t think about. I think of babies and white fucking picket fences. You make me want things I never thought I would get. I want you, Phoebe.” He kissed me. His kiss was fire, not a gentle build but a raging storm sweeping me away. I wasn’t sure if it was safe, but I wanted to drown in his touch.

  “It’s worth saying…” His lips paused at my neck. “I haven’t been with anyone else, Phoebe. I’ve never clicked with anyone,” he sucked in a ragged breath, eyes hovering on mine and filled with intense desire, “like I click with you.”

  “Brody, I…” I struggled for words as his hands ate up the real estate of my body. “I had this boyfriend in high school, my first boyfriend. He kept pushing me to go all the way with him, but I was only sixteen. I didn’t want to wait for marriage, but I did want to wait for the right time, the right man—and I’m so glad I did, Brody.” His lips hovered at mine, nipping at the corners. “I’m a virgin. I’ve never been with anyone else.”

  A low rumble emanated from his chest. “Baby…”

  “I’m yours.”

  He barricaded more of my words with his deft tongue. I panted as his hands roamed up my shirt and unhooked my bra, my body on fire and aching for him everywhere.

  “As much as I want to fuck you and make you scream. I have to taste every inch of you first.” He pulled my shirt over my head, stripped my bra off and, stepping back just stared at me. His eyes felt like a feather being dragged against my skin, cool and sensual.

  “You are so fucking beautiful. Those tits are just begging to be played with, those nipples demanding to get sucked.” His words made me aroused, and I wanted to be lying naked under him, feeling his warmth on top of me. He moved to the sofa and sat down.

  “No, baby. You need to stand right there,” he said, making me stop in my tracks. “I am going to need a little show,” he whispered, his voice husky and hot. “Take off your pants, just your pants.” His words were so authoritative that I wouldn’t dare deny him. I unclasped the button and pulled down the zipper, allowing the pants to fall to my ankles before I stepped out of them. I was so happy that Kelsey had talked me into wearing nice underwear. The black lace was so much nicer than the normal white period panties I stalked like they might get discontinued.

  “Stop,” he said right before I could strip out of the black panties. He walked toward me, dropping to his knees when he reached me, eye to eye with my panties.

  “These are sexy,” he said, tracing his fingers along the lace and stopping at the obvious wet spot. “Oops… Are you horny, baby?” he asked, tapping his fingers on the wet spot.

  I moved to cover up, trying to pick my pants off the floor. He grabbed me and maneuvered me back into position.

  “No, baby, I like looking at your horny pussy in these panties. Let a man enjoy the unwrapping of his present,” he said as I stood back up. “How attached are you to these pretty things,” he asked, but he didn’t want for my response. He placed his hand in the middle of the black lace, on top of the wet spot, and ripped them off me. Gathering them up in his hands, he brought the black lace to his nose and inhaled.

  “Mmm. Nothing ever smelled so sweet.” Looking at me with the fabric still in his hands, he licked his lips in anticipation. It felt incredibly naughty to be completely nude in front of Brody while he was still completely dressed.

  “Look at my pretty, bald pussy,” he said before he got up and pulled an armchair behind me. “Sit.”

  I did as he asked. He slowly moved each one of my legs onto the arms of the chair, opening me up to him.

  “You getting off on this?” I asked, frustrated and desperate for some form of release.

  “Stay there. Don’t move. I would hate to give you a punishment instead of a reward.” He came back moments later with a pair of handcuffs dangling on his index finger.

  “Remember these?” he asked, and my eyes widened with recognition.

  “Yes,” I whispered, swallowing the lump that had formed in my throat.

  He walked behind me, taking both my hands and cuffing them together.

  I was naked now and completely at his mercy.

  CHAPTER TWELV
E

  Brody

  I nearly lost my fucking mind when I heard the satisfying snick of the handcuffs locking into place. I shook the metal, and her tits bounced gorgeously as desire wet her thighs.

  “Fuck, baby, I’ve tried to be a gentleman.” I clasped her neck, forcing her lips to mine in a rough kiss. “But that ends now.”

  I pushed her juicy round globes together and sucked, alternating nipples before forcing a tiny squeal out of her mouth when I used my teeth.

  “You look beautiful. Delicious and fuckable.” I trailed my teeth up the arch of her neck.

  Her chest panted with heaving breaths. “Take these off,” she begged, shaking her hands so the cuffs rattled. “I want to touch you.”

  “I don’t think so, my beautiful girl.” As I knelt, gazing up at her curvy body from below, the swell of her breasts, the curve of her hips, she looked like a sex goddess.

  Her pussy glistened in the soft light of the living room.

  From the moment she’d walking into my office, Phoebe had been my undoing. As I leaned in and placed my lips on her skin once more, I was never more thankful of that fact.

  “Stop, stop, stop,” she moaned as I trailed my teeth up her inner thigh, teasing and grazing her lush skin.

  I fisted my raging hard cock in one hand as I devoured her soft flesh between my lips.

  From the moment she’d walked into my office, Phoebe had been my undoing.

  I tugged from the base to the tip of my cock, pumping up and down my length slowly, prolonging my release, increasing my pleasure as she wiggled and writhed under my mouth. “Not on your life, baby.”

  I sucked at the curve where thigh met torso and placed a soft kiss at the crease.

  My tongue shot up and licked the sweet flesh before I suctioned my lips against her skin and pulled. I sucked and tugged, nipping over and over again with my teeth. A guttural noise made its way past her lips.

  My eyes flicked up her body, and I watched her throw her head back, hair loose and hanging in long waves, chest heaving, round tits swaying, nipples rock hard and a deep shade of pink.