by Dylann Crush
“I do love to watch a man fondle his bat.”
He chuckled. “I’d rather you fondle my bat.”
“Why do I have to be the one to do all of the work around here?” She let out a breathy sigh as her fingers crept down his abs.
“I’ve always been an equal opportunist.”
She grinned as she shifted on top of him again. His hands went to her hips and he lifted her up. Positioning herself directly over his cock, she eased her way down onto him, relishing the way she stretched to accommodate him, the way he filled her.
His chest expanded as breath flowed into his lungs. They stilled, locked together in the most intimate way. Then he moved, thrusting a bit deeper. She’d been teasing him, playing with him, but now she was the one who was lost. As they moved together, finding their rhythm, she let herself go. His hands moved over her, cupping her breasts, squeezing her hips, and zeroing in on her need. She’d never felt so connected to someone before, so powerful and vulnerable at the same time.
Then he shifted, rising to a seated position. The angle changed and her release swelled. He dipped his head down to suck her nipple into his mouth and she was gone. She rode him, taking everything she needed until the momentum crashed over her. Slumped against him, her arms around his neck, he lifted her up and laid her down.
“Roll over, sport.”
“Sport?” She could barely speak as aftershocks continued to spark through her.
“Hey, you’re the one who wanted to talk baseball.”
She flipped onto her stomach, not sure her knees would be able to support her. Her limbs had turned to jelly.
His arm scooped under her stomach and he helped her up to her hands and knees. “You okay?”
Nodding her head, she pushed her ass back into him. “Come on, slugger.”
His laugh sent a blast of warm breath over her lower back and she shivered. “You’re something else, you know that?”
“Mm-hmm. But I sure do like hearing you say it.” She felt him line up against her backside and then push into her. The pressure sent her reeling again. He pulled back and pushed in farther. Nice and slow, gentle, like he was afraid he might hurt her.
His hand curved around her hip, splaying over her curls, his finger stroking her as he slid in and out. She moaned, tightening around him while another orgasm built.
He increased the pace. She met him thrust for thrust, both of them straining, eager for something just out of reach. Then she slumped down, angling her back end higher in the air as his fingers finished what he’d started. He gave a final thrust, straining, his hand holding her hip so tight she was sure he’d leave a bruise. One she’d cherish as a mark of what could only be described as the most intense night of her life.
Spent, he rolled to the side, pulling her against him. “You’re amazing.”
She nestled her backside into his front. “You’re not so bad yourself.”
“I love you, Zina.” His finger moved a chunk of her hair away from her ear. Then he pressed a gentle kiss against her neck.
Her heart glowed. She could actually feel it warming inside her chest. “I love you, too.”
“Good. And now I know what to get you for Christmas.”
“What’s that?” The idea of him being around to give her anything for Christmas was gift enough.
“Hell, now that I know how turned on you get by baseball talk, I think I’ll see if I can get on the list for season tickets.”
She let out a laugh and realized that for once in her life she knew what it felt like to be content. Truly, happily, completely content.
twenty-nine
The next few weeks flashed by in a haze of wedding preparations, rehabilitating the puppy mill dogs, and spending as much time as possible with Alex. Bodie was certain the dog-fighting ring had moved out of town, so he’d given Zina the go-ahead to move back into her place. But Alex insisted she stay at the Phillips House with him. He used all kinds of logical reasoning to make his point: it was closer to where the dogs were staying, she could help with the wedding, and the most convincing argument of all . . . it would give them more time to be together.
It didn’t seem fair for one person to have so much happiness but Zina was trying hard to enjoy it. She’d been dreading the upcoming wedding not only because of all the work but because of what it represented. But now, based on what Alex said, it was no longer a looming date signaling the end of whatever had been growing between them, just a milestone marking the end of his job with the penguins and when he’d have to start looking for something else that would keep him nearby.
She didn’t know what kind of opportunity he might be able to find or how far he might have to go from Ido. But he seemed committed to sticking around and that was good enough for her.
“You ready for this afternoon?” Lacey fluffed the pillow behind her and sat up straighter.
Zina had stopped by to get last-minute instructions for the wedding weekend. Poor Lacey. The biggest event Ido had ever hosted and the woman who’d made it all possible was stuck in bed. She was her own worst enemy, though, since she kept pushing herself too hard and ending up right back on bed rest.
“We’ve gone over it at least a dozen times. Don’t worry, I’ve got this.” Zina took the folder Lacey held out to her. “What’s this?”
“I took the liberty of doing a little research on all of the members of the wedding party. Those are just some helpful hints. You know, like the bride’s mother prefers her cosmos with a twist of orange instead of lemon. Little things that will make a difference.”
“You cyberstalked the Munyon family?”
“No, I did the groom’s family, too. His grandma is allergic to hairy caterpillars, so I’ve asked your brother to do a sweep of the tents before everyone arrives.”
Zina shook her head. “How long did it take you to pull this together?”
Lacey waved her hands. “What else am I supposed to do? Between you and Bodie I’ve barely been allowed to walk to the bathroom. I’m bored out of my mind.”
“I’ll pass the info along. I’m sure everyone will find it extremely helpful.” She tucked the folder into her bag. “Anything else you need to fill me in on?”
Lacey shook her head. “Nope. Just be nice. I know you’re not one hundred percent on board with the whole wedding destination thing. Try not to piss anyone off, okay?”
“Piss anyone off? What exactly do you think I’m going to do out there?” Zina pressed a hand to her heart in mock offense.
“Nothing.” Lacey reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. “You’re just not as warm and fuzzy as . . .”
“As you?” That was the gospel truth. And thank God for that. She could tell by the way Lacey’s shoulders drooped that she’d hit the proverbial nail on the head.
“You know I love you, Z. Just channel your soft side. These people are going to be demanding and probably push every hot button you’ve got. I’m just asking you to keep the needs of Ido in mind before you fly off the handle because of some stupid request.”
Zina could appreciate her concern. Lacey had always been the mushy, gushy one. Zina was more calculating, a lot less enthusiastic, and had a history of dissing people who came up with outlandish expectations.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be so accommodating they won’t know what hit them.”
Lacey smiled but her brows drew together, showing she didn’t fully believe the promise.
“What now?” Zina pulled her hand away and picked up her bag. “Make it quick. I’ve got to get over to the Phillips House to make sure they’ve got those garlands installed just like you wanted.”
“Nothing. I know you’ll be great. Just . . .”
“What?”
“Thanks.” Lacey wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. The pregnancy hormones must be jacking with her emotions. Even as the emotional one in their re
lationship, she was rarely reduced to tears.
“Oh, honey, you’re welcome.” Zina perched on the edge of the bed and pulled her bestie in for a gentle hug. “We’ll get through this weekend and then you can stop worrying about everything and focus all of your attention on growing that baby.”
“You’re the best. And I know you’re not the hard-ass you pretend to be. At least not so much now that you’ve got a certain birdman in your life.”
“Do not call him a birdman. That strips away any kind of attractiveness.”
“It’s true though. Alex said he might be sticking around for a while, maybe even for good?”
She was digging for info. Zina hadn’t had the time or desire to fill Lacey in on the plans she and Alex had discussed. Partly because she hadn’t had a chance. But mostly because she still wasn’t totally sure he meant it. Once they got through the wedding from hell, she’d have a better idea if he would follow through.
“We’ll see. Can we talk about this after I spend all weekend working my ass off?”
“Of course. Call me if you need anything. I might not be allowed to leave my bed but I can still make calls or follow up on things or look stuff up online.”
“Try to get some rest.” Zina slid the strap of her bag into place. “Alex and I have everything under control. I promise.”
A half hour later she wished she hadn’t uttered such a ridiculous assurance. As Zina pulled in to the drive leading to the Phillips House, she came across the florist stringing garland along the low wooden fence. She pulled over and rolled down the window.
“Hey, Suzy, how’s it going?” Had Lacey approved the clash of colors currently being installed on the fence? Based on what they’d talked about she clearly remembered the bride’s request of using only white flowers in all of the decor.
“Great. Almost done here, then I’ll go over and set up the centerpieces for the reception dinner tomorrow.”
“I thought Lacey talked to you about using white flowers in all of the decor?” Zina reached for the three-inch-thick notebook Lacey had saddled her with so she could confirm the floral order.
Suzy shook her head. “The wholesaler didn’t have enough, so he had to make some substitutions. Besides, that would be so boring. With all of the gorgeous colors available this time of year, don’t you think it’s better to amp up the display?”
“Suzy.” Zina lowered her voice. She remembered how the florist had botched Lacey’s own wedding last year. Since then Lacey had warned her about taking creative liberties and she’d been following the flower orders to a T. Until now.
“You’ve got to agree, this is a lot more welcoming for all of those Hollywood types heading our way.” Suzy stepped back and crossed her arms as if she needed to take a minute to admire her own creation.
Zina groaned as she climbed out of the truck. “You can’t just change things on a whim. The wedding planner wants all white flowers. It’s our job to give them to her.”
Suzy barely came up to Zina’s chin, but she carried herself with such power that even Zina took a step back when the vertically challenged spitfire turned her attention Zina’s way.
“I tried. The order didn’t come in and now it’s too late to get new flowers anyway.”
This wasn’t a good way to start the weekend events. “What are we going to do?”
“I spent the past two days stringing these garlands together. There’s no way you’re going to be able to change them out before that hoity-toity wedding lady with the pink hair gets here.” Suzy turned her attention back to the flowers.
“We have to do something.” Zina forced her hands to her hips, ready to stand her ground. She’d gone up against much fiercer opponents in the military. Ones who weren’t taxidermists posing as wedding florists.
“It’s your funeral, sweetie.” Suzy dropped the garland she held in her hand and stalked back to where she’d pulled her truck onto the side of the road. “Good luck.”
“It’s not a funeral, it’s a wedding,” Zina muttered under her breath. Or at least she hoped it wouldn’t turn into a funeral. Because right now it was her head on the chopping block. She consulted the minute-by-minute schedule Lacey had printed out, detailing the weekend’s events. Chyna and the bridal party would be arriving in three hours. That gave her one hundred eighty minutes to figure out a way to magically transform the colorful garland into winter wonderland white.
With the threat of a headache twinging at her temples, she gritted her teeth and climbed back into her truck. She’d figure out a way to make this work. She didn’t have another choice.
thirty
Alex tossed a sardine in the air for Louise to catch. “Good girl.” Now if she could just keep her cool and execute her walk up and down the aisle tomorrow as smoothly as she’d done today, they’d have nothing to worry about. Too bad there were so many ifs in that statement. Why did so much of their success have to depend on a bunch of birds?
The wedding photographer Chyna hired snapped a few more shots. “Thanks for letting me sit in on your training session.”
“Not a problem. You get what you need?”
“Sure did. I think the bride and groom will appreciate the behind-the-scenes shots of the prep work.” He sat down in the front row and began to disassemble his camera.
“Just remember, no flash at the ceremony. The penguins will freak out.”
“Got it.”
Alex waited for the photographer to leave, then turned back to the penguins, ready to have them take another turn down the aisle. Before he had a chance, Zina rushed into the tent.
“I’ve got a problem, and I need help.”
“What’s up?” They’d anticipated issues and had spent the better part of the past three days coming up with plans B, C, D, and all the way down to N. He was confident that whatever issue she was dealing with was one they’d already worked out a solution for.
“The flowers didn’t come in. Suzy didn’t question it and now we don’t have time to get all white like Chyna wanted.” Zina set her bag down on a table that hadn’t been draped with linens yet. The caterer was holding off on setting out the white tablecloths until the last moment lest the wind kick up and cover everything in a nice coat of dusty grit.
“Calm down. We’ll figure it out together.” He racked his brain trying to remember what their alternate plan was for a florist gone rogue. Surely they’d talked about that.
“It looks like a circus threw up on the fence. What are we going to do?”
“How much time do we have?”
Zina checked her watch. “Two hours and forty-eight minutes until Chyna arrives.”
Alex bit his lip and took in a deep breath through his nose. The smell of paint hit him. Of course. “Come on, I’ve got an idea.”
He rushed to the front of the tent where one of Zina’s volunteers was touching up the paint on the front of the warehouse.
“No. That’s not going to work.” Zina crossed her arms over her chest.
“You’re right. We won’t have time to brush it on.” He turned to the guy wielding the paintbrush. “Y’all got a paint sprayer?”
Fifteen minutes later he stood over the bright garland of flowers. Here goes nothing. He squeezed the trigger and sprayed a light coating of white paint over a particularly large sunflower. “What do you think?” he shouted to Zina over the roar of the compressor.
She shrugged. “You’ve committed now. I say go for it.”
He nodded, then continued to coat the entire garland with a light layer of white. It almost looked like snow. Snow that had fallen in the middle of April, coating a crazy clash of colors in a soft layer of white. Who the hell would buy that? He dug in, continuing to layer light coat upon light coat until the entire garland sparkled in the sun.
Zina cut the compressor and stalked toward him. “I think that’s all we can do under the circum
stances. How long will it take you to do the rest?”
Alex eyed the fence line. “Give me an hour. It ought to dry fast in this heat and then we’ll string them up long before she gets here. Sound good?”
Zina nodded, then pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thanks. Have I told you how much I love you? I’d be totally lost without you right now.”
He gave her a half hug in return as he wielded the sprayer. For some reason her confidence in him tugged at him this morning, and not in a good way. He shook it off. “Don’t you have something more important to do than watch paint dry?”
“I do. I’m going to head over to the house and make sure they’ve got the buffet for the rehearsal dinner set up. Catch up with you in a few?”
“You bet.” He waited until she walked away before he fired up the sprayer. He’d been the happiest he’d ever been over the past few weeks. Spending time with Zina, working on a common goal, it had been fantastic being so close to her and taking on such a huge role in her life. But he’d also been getting a little freaked out. What if he ruined it? Everything was so good. What if he screwed it up like he always did? What if he failed her?
He finished the flowers and returned the sprayer to the warehouse. As he made his way back to ensure the penguins had been secured, he caught a glimpse of Gramps. The old man had Herbie on a leash and was heading his way.
“Hey, Gramps. You’ve got to kennel the dog.” Even though Zina had done her best to find new homes or shelters for the pups they’d had on-site, they still had a few that needed to remain out of sight and out of earshot over the next couple of days.
“It’s okay. This one’s coming up to the house with me.” Gramps stopped when he reached Alex. “I’ve been telling Herbie all about the pastures we’ve got at the ranch.”
“That’s great. I’m sure he’s been enjoying the stories.” Everyone had a part to play this weekend. Gramps needed to get it in gear and start working on his. He was in charge of helping with the penguins and making sure the remaining rescue dogs stayed under the radar.
