by Karen Renee
He put the phone to his ear and wandered to the kitchen. After a moment, a thought hit me, and I followed him.
Clint liked to pace when he was on the phone, so in a moment he turned back to me and stopped short. I grinned. “If she’s dropping by, tell her to bring some red wine. It goes better with the music.”
He did a long blink. “You mean the empanadas, honey.”
I shook my head. “No. I mean the music.”
His head cocked to the side. “You’ll regret that in the morning, mamita, mixing red and white wines.”
I smiled and knew I looked a little maniacal. “Just add it to the list, man. It’s a long one already.”
Clint waved me out of the room as his mother spoke to him. He never could tolerate two women talking to him at the same time. If she was dropping by, I needed to change from his shirt into regular clothes.
Forty-five minutes later, his mother bustled into the house carrying a brown paper bag and a cloth grocery bag for wine.
Clint closed the door behind her, asking, “Four bottles, Mamá? Are you trying to help her or poison her?”
Juanita whirled around to Clint. “She’s right. This music demands red wine, and if you think I’m not partaking, you’re crazy.”
She turned to me and smiled. “Hola, Raegan. I knew there was a reason I liked you. Anyone who appreciates Astor is after my own heart. Give me a minute, and we’ll eat.”
IT WAS AFTER THE TASTIEST empanadas this side of the equator, and after my fourth glass of wine. Juanita and I were sitting on the couch laughing our tails off as we played tennis against each other on Clint’s Nintendo Wii. He sat to the side on a loveseat, shaking his head at us. From the moment the game began he kept telling us it would work better if we would stand up. Neither one of us was up for that.
“If I wanted to stand up, Clint, I wouldn’t have suggested playing a video game,” Juanita declared, which made me laugh.
She grinned and took her seat next to me. From then on, we had some success waving the controllers around like crazy women, which made it that much more fun. I was sure the wine helped, but I would not admit that to Clint.
When I managed to serve an ace to Juanita, she groaned dramatically. “You beat me again, Raegan. How dare you!”
That made me belly-laugh, and I blurted, “Why can’t you be my mom? I bet you’d never cheat on anybody!”
My face fell as I heard my words, and her expression sobered. I opened my mouth to take it back, but she touched my bicep with a small smile on her face.
“If I were your Mamá, mi hijo would be your brother. It’s in the past, and your mother loves you deeply.”
I pressed my lips together, feeling ashamed of myself, but I nodded. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Her hand rubbed up and down. “No. Don’t say that, either. You said what was on your mind. Getting it out makes room for what really should be on your mind. Sí?”
I covered her hand with mine. “Thank you, Juanita. Those are very wise words.”
She smiled sweetly. “You’re welcome, mi querido.”
My smile widened hearing her call me that for the first time in years. “I missed that too,” I murmured.
Clint wandered over to us. “All right, on that note, Mamá. I think we’ll call you an Uber, and —”
“Clint Pablo! I do not need an Uber. My last glass of wine was nearly two hours ago. Would you like to give me a field sobriety test?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. I loved when Juanita did things like that to Clint.
Clint ignored me. “I’d like to be certain you’re going to get home safe. Rather than call Uber, we could have Laura take you home. She bolted before you got here the other day.”
Juanita wagged a finger at Clint. “That’s a nice tactic, mi hijo. But no dice. I’ll be fine. It isn’t even nine-thirty. I’ll call you when I get home.” She turned to me. “If you have nothing to do tomorrow, you’re welcome to come by my salon. Things have changed since you were there last. And, I have more than one stylist who would love to get their hands into your virgin hair and highlight it for you.”
Clint growled before he said, “Mamá, don’t talk about Rae’s hair and the word virgin. I don’t care if it doesn’t mean what it sounds like it means.”
She glared at Clint, but I grabbed her hand and squeezed. “If he’s got work tomorrow, I might take you up on that.”
He leveled a glare at me, but it faded when he shook his head. “Let’s go, Mamá. I’ll walk you to your car.”
I stood up and gave her a hug. “Thank you for the food and wine, Juanita. You’re a lifesaver!”
“Think nothing of it, Raegan.”
Five minutes later, I lounged on the couch. Clint sauntered back into the room and leaned over me. “Are you drunk?” he asked with fake malice lacing his tone.
I shrugged. “Not really... do you want me to be? It wouldn’t take much.”
His lips shifted as he thought about it. “I’m having a nightcap, but you’re gonna have half a glass of wine. Agreed?”
My hands glided out in front of me. “Who am I to argue?”
He scratched his forehead. “Jesus. You are drunk.”
I stood up. “Am not! Your mom’s just fun, Clint. I always told you that, you know.”
He chuckled and moved to the kitchen. “You would think that. Then again, I think your mom’s fun too, so it makes us even.”
Clint
I CLINKED MY TUMBLER of Bushmills against Raegan’s wine glass. “To tomorrow, honey.”
Her eyes slid to the side, but she repeated, “To tomorrow, Clint.”
While sipping my whiskey, I kept my eyes on her. She took in a moderate amount of wine and swallowed.
“Why are we toasting to tomorrow?”
I raised a brow for a moment. “It should only get better from here, honey.”
She lifted her chin for a moment before dropping it back in place dramatically. “From your lips to God’s ears, Clint. I didn’t say so earlier, but I was right. You said murder is the worst, and I shouldn’t look for more, but do you see what happened? I find out someone wants me dead, and I might be putting Mom in danger. That should be the worst, right? Nope. Mom lays the ultimate on me. I’m telling you. When I think it can’t get any worse, it damn sure does.”
I shook my head. “Honey, part of that is the wine talking.”
She opened her mouth, but I put a finger to her lips.
“No, baby. What your mother shared, that’s bad. And the feelings you have about it are legitimate. But the thing is, you need to remember when you were ten, twelve, fourteen, and fifteen. I know you lost your father way too early. But, think back. Were you and Wynnie happy?”
She kept quiet, so I said, “My guess, you two were happy as fuckin’ clams. I won’t compare your upbringing to mine since nobody should watch their mother take a beating because she’s sharing her culture with her children. And no son should have to protect his mother when he’s eleven or twelve years old. But, Rae, you found out your parents cheated on each other. The key words there are ‘each other.’ You still had two adults who gave a damn about you all day, every day. That’s a fuck-ton more than some kids get.”
Her lips pursed for a moment. “Well. Now that I feel like a self-centered douche—”
“Nope. Not gonna hear any of that, either. I didn’t disagree with your feelings earlier, but tomorrow will be a better day, honey.”
She took a deep breath and looked like she would say something, but she didn’t.
I gave her a look. “Raegan. You were never a cynic before. Why are you starting now?”
She exhaled. “Because, for the most part, since I came back here, Clint, nothing has gotten better. The lone exception is you being interested in another chance with me.”
I downed the rest of my drink and smiled. “Well, I’m glad you got something good out of coming home.”
She lowered her chin. “You know what I
mean.”
I nodded. “Yeah. You’re happy we’re giving this another shot. Finish your wine. Or not. But we’re going to bed, honey... though not to sleep. Been a long time since I had sex with drunk Raegan.”
“I’m not drunk.”
“Famous last words, Rae.”
“Whatever,” she cried, before she downed her wine.
As she rinsed out her glass, she asked, “Am I going to your Mom’s salon tomorrow?”
I finished my drink. “Not if I can help it. You’ll do better being with your mother.”
She looked over her shoulder at me, giving me her best attempt at doe-eyes. “But she wants to highlight my hair.”
“I love your hair just the way it is. You want it highlighted, when this shit is done, you come jogging with me. Mother nature will take care of it for free.”
Her nose scrunched. “Bleh. Jog, schmog. That makes me sweaty.”
“So does sex, but you don’t complain about that,” I replied, bumping her hip with mine, encouraging her to make room at the sink.
Her eyes went hooded. “That’s different.”
I put my rinsed glass in the sink, lifted her by the hips and put her on the counter. “Is it, now?”
She bit her bottom lip. “Mm-hmm.”
I swung her legs around my waist, then cupped her ass to pull her crotch even with mine. To my satisfaction, she gasped.
“You like this idea, Raegan? Counter sex?”
Those beautiful brown eyes went hooded again. “Any sex with you is an idea I like, Clint.”
I brought a hand between us. “You said that so I’d reward you, didn’t you?” I asked, stroking her outside her shorts.
She squirmed and shook her head.
I pressed my lips together for a moment as I deliberated things. My hand went back to her ass, and I cupped both cheeks so I could carry her.
Making my way to the bedroom, I said, “I hate to be a tease, but I’m in no mood for counter sex right now. Maybe another time when you’re good and tipsy, we’ll have that.”
She tipped her chin down. “We better, Ramsey.”
I chuckled. “Pulling out the big guns, using my last name.”
She unwrapped her legs when we hit my room and I let her slide down to her feet. Rather than let her go, I yanked her shirt over her head, and I hadn’t realized she’d skipped wearing a bra while Mamá was here.
“Surprised about this,” I said, cupping her beautiful breasts in my hands.
Her eyes narrowed a touch at me. Then she yanked my shirt out of my jeans. It was a polo shirt, so rather than have her rip the buttons, I undid them and reached behind my head to pull the shirt off.
“God, that’s so fucking sexy,” she muttered.
My hands went to her shorts, and I slid them down her legs along with her underwear. “You’re the one who’s so fucking sexy, mamita.”
“Bullshit,” she muttered as she unbuttoned my jeans.
With one arm, I pulled her to me and gave her a scorching kiss while I used the other hand to unzip my fly and shuck my jeans.
“On the bed, on your knees,” I said against her lips.
She looked up at me. “Only if we’re going to sixty-nine.”
My cock throbbed at her words. “I’m always ready to go down on you, Rae. But I’m coming inside you, and I’m too wound up as it is. Which means I won’t last long.”
She thrust her hands into my hair and pulled me to her for a fierce kiss. I groaned and backed her onto the bed. Her hands moved to my shoulders, trying to roll me to my back. I tore my lips away from her.
“On your knees, honey,” I said, swatting the side of her thigh.
In response, I got a short pout, but she did what I asked.
I dropped my boxers and climbed on to the bed behind her. She had the most perfect ass of any woman I had ever seen. I rubbed the plump globes and smacked one for good measure, making her gasp. I smiled and slid my cock into the warm wetness of her pussy.
“Yes,” she hissed.
I leaned over her, so my lips were next to her ear. “You got that right, baby,”
Then I picked up my pace and pounded into her. Bracing my weight on one arm, I used the other to reach around and grab her breast. My thumb and index finger found her taut nipple, and I rolled the bud just the way she liked it.
“Clint,” she cried.
“Yeah, mi corazón?”
“I need to come, baby.”
She didn’t often call me endearments, and I loved it when she did. My hand slid lower, and I rubbed at her clit with no mercy. I felt her pussy clench against me before she moaned with her orgasm. Feeling her climax set me off, and I gently thrust into her a few more times even after I was done.
Her hands started sliding down the bed. I leaned over her again as her legs gave way. “I told you it would be quick, Rae. You want, round two starts in fifteen minutes.”
I jolted because she chuckled, then her head turned to the side. “Nope, that was pretty fucking epic as orgasms go, even if it was really fast.”
While kissing her shoulder, I gently slid out of her and rolled to her side. “Well, I’m glad I can please my woman. You want to clean up?”
She smiled. “Yeah. Then bed, because I suspect you have work tomorrow.”
“That I do,” I muttered.
Chapter 20
Made a Strange Bedfellow
Raegan
I PADDED BACK INTO the bedroom feeling a happy sex afterglow. Clint was shrugging into an undershirt and had donned a pair of men’s sleep shorts.
I slid my arms around his waist. “Why aren’t you sleeping naked, Clint?”
His arms came around me, his hands sliding down to squeeze my bare ass. “Got caught with my pants down, when someone broke into your Mom’s house in the wee hours of the morning. Shouldn’t have happened then, and it damn sure won’t happen again. Capisce?”
My happy afterglow fell away at his statement, but he was right. I nodded and let him go. In my pajamas, I slid into bed beside him.
He tugged me closer and nuzzled my neck. When he pulled away from my neck, he lowered his lips to mine and kissed me. It turned into a small make-out session, but I ended the kiss before things got too heated.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I whispered.
“Fibber.”
I sighed. “I’ll be glad when this threat is gone.”
His warm eyes caught mine. “All because we’re not sleeping naked?”
I shrugged. “I guess. It just makes me mad. And, I’m mad at myself. I don’t know.”
He cupped my cheek. “Stop it, honey. There’s no need to be mad at yourself. It’ll be cleared up soon, if I have anything to say about it.”
I kissed the side of his lips. “You’re right.”
His head reared back a touch. “Might have to note the time and date. Can’t remember you ever telling me I’m right. But let’s get some shut-eye. If you’re nice, I’ll let you shower with me, and we’ll make up for the missed shenanigans from this morning.”
I laughed, and he turned out the light.
IN THE MORNING, I WALKED into Mom’s house with a much better disposition than I expected. Partly it was because sleeping curled up next to Clint was always good for what ailed me, and partly it was because he delivered on shower shenanigans.
I wandered into the kitchen to find Mom sipping her coffee at the table. “Good morning, Mom.”
“Morning, Rae.”
Her greeting was short, but I couldn’t tell if it was curt, since she hadn’t had a full cup of coffee. Brock had met us on the sidewalk outside the house and told us she was just having her first cup. He and Clint were still outside chatting about work, or more likely, about me and Mom.
“You sleep all right, last night?” I asked.
“Yep.”
I pulled a glass from a cupboard. “Have you eaten?”
“Had some raisin toast.”
No endearments. Maybe sh
e was mad, but what she had to be mad about, I didn’t know.
I filled a glass with water and turned to her. “What’s bugging you, Mom?”
“A lot of things, Raegan. But mainly the fact, I’ve lost one daughter, and you couldn’t even call while you were at Clint’s last night.”
I took a gulp of water in an effort not to sigh. After I swallowed, I said, “I’m sorry, Mom. My thoughts were a little scattered. Knowing someone wants me dead, and it’s my fault Wynnie’s not here.”
She put the coffee down with such force; I wondered if she dropped it. Her eyes narrowed at me. “What happened to her isn’t your fault. And call me selfish, but with one daughter gone, I need to have my other daughter close. And if she can’t be close by, she should call me.”
I arched a brow at her referring to me in the third person. “I understand your point, Mom, and I apologize. Though, my head was a little messed up last night.”
“Because you blame me.”
I sighed before I took my water to the table and sat next to her. “I don’t blame you. I just needed to wrap my head around all of this. It didn’t occur to me that you needed to hear from me. Especially since Brock was here.”
“He’s nice, but he’s not family.”
Clint’s heavy footsteps filled the air and my response died on my tongue. He entered the kitchen looking between us. “Everything, okay?”
I smiled with closed lips. “Sure is.”
One eye narrowed. “If you say so. I got work to do, but put this in your purse. Same place we had it before,” he said, handing me his small revolver.
My lips quirked to the side, but I took the gun and tucked it into my purse.
“Walk me to the door, Rae,” he asked, but it was clearly a demand. He nodded to Mom. “See you this evening, Penny.”
“Be safe, Clint,” she said over the rim of her coffee cup.
With my purse in hand, I followed Clint to the front porch.
His hand shot to my neck, pulling me in for a deep but quick kiss. When he lifted his lips away his brown eyes bore into mine. “What’s with your Mom?”
