The Halo Series Boxed Set

by Kimberly Knight

  A few moments later, she sighed and looked up at me as I hovered over her. I smiled, she smiled back and then I slid into her, nothing between us. She sucked in a breath as I went deeper, her warmth covering me as I slid into my base.

  “I really like not having to use a condom anymore.” I slowly rocked my hips. I couldn’t even explain the feeling I had the first time I felt her warm juices around my dick. It was like heaven. A warm fucking heaven.

  Nicole panted. “Me too.”

  I leaned down, kissing her, letting her taste herself on me, taste how good she was. My hips continue to rock slowly, sliding in and out, the smell of our arousals filling the room. She hooked her legs around my ass, urging me to go deeper. I knew what she wanted. She wanted it fast and my girl got whatever she wanted.

  I picked up my pace, leaning on one arm for support while I pumped into her. Our bodies were slick with sweat, our breathing fast as the sounds of her moans and my groans filled the room.

  The more my hips rocked, the closer I got to coming. Nicole’s eyes were closed, moaning each time my dick pounded into her. Reaching down, I found her clit and rubbed it, my hips still pumping.

  “Oh God,” she said again. “I’m close. I’m so…”

  She shattered beneath me. Her body jerking as the orgasm tore through her. I groaned, picking up my pace a little and rammed into her a few more times until I found my own release, spurting my seed deep inside her.

  “Damn, Baby,” I said, trying to catch my breath. “I fucking love Mondays now.”

  She laughed. “Me too.”

  I kissed her again. “I love you,” I whispered in her ear with no energy to lift my head any longer.

  “I love you too,” she said, running her fingernails along my back.

  Monday’s were definitely better waking up with Nicole in my arms.

  Since moving to New York, Nicole had found a doctor to take care of her while she was pregnant. She’d also found a doctor’s office to work at that would allow her to work there while her license was transferred from Boston. Everything was transitioning perfectly.

  I went with Nicole to her first doctor’s appointment in New York. I’d never miss another one. It was her twelve week appointment. Twelve weeks. I couldn’t believe it. Time was flying.

  “I’m nervous,” Nicole said as I put my truck in park.

  “Why are you nervous?” I asked, turning towards her.

  “We get to listen to the heartbeat.”

  “That’s exciting,” I smiled.

  “It still makes me nervous. It’s all so real.”

  “Are you having second thoughts?” My stomach dropped. Did she want to have an abortion? Did she not want to have my baby?

  “No, not at all,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s just—”

  “Exciting.” Nicole had a way about worrying about everything and I wasn’t going to let her. “You have me here with you.”

  “I know.” She grinned. “Okay, let’s go.”

  We walked into the doctor’s office and Nicole gave her name while we waited for a nurse to call us back. I looked around the small waiting room. Toys were spread around and I had a flash of my house covered in toys. I couldn’t wait.

  “Nicole Chambers.” A nurse finally called and I looked up.

  Nicole stood and I followed her back. After the nurse had taken her weight and height, we were led to an exam room where Nicole had to put a gown on. Twelve weeks ago I had no idea Nicole existed, let alone that she would be carrying my baby. Crazy how life turns out.

  We waited for the doctor to enter, me trying to crack jokes to make Nicole not stress. Not gonna lie. I was nervous. I was more nervous now that we were in the tiny room waiting for the doctor than I was the day I waited for Nicole to tell me that she was pregnant when she went to the doctor the first time. This was real.

  The doctor came in a few minutes later and introduced herself. Afterwards, she put some jelly shit on Nicole’s stomach, spreading it with a thing that the doctor said was a heartbeat Doppler, and then we listened, waiting until we both heard our baby’s heartbeat for the first time.

  The doctor glided the wand of the Doppler across Nicole’s belly searching for a beat, but all we heard was white noise. Just as the doctor was about to give up, saying she wanted to do an ultrasound, she found it. At first, I didn’t know what it was. It sounded like a horse galloping, and then the doctor said, “There we go,” and I knew that was the heartbeat.

  I looked up at Nicole’s beautiful face. Her eyes were glassy, like she was on the verge of crying. I smiled, trying to get her to smile back and she did.

  “That’s our baby’s heartbeat,” I said, brushing her hair out of her face and kissing her forehead.

  She nodded in agreement, tears still pricking her eyes. “Yeah, it is.”

  It has been two weeks since Nicole and I went to the doctor and heard our baby’s heart beating. Words can’t even describe the joy I felt deep in my heart when I heard it. It was like…it was awesome. It was something I’d created and I couldn’t wait to find out if we were having a boy or a girl.

  Since all of us live in New York, the four of us hang out a lot. Easton and I hired two new managers. We wouldn’t be making money in tips like we used to when we worked the busy nights, but both of us needed to make time for our girls.

  Brooke was having her last day of radiation, and other than her skin looking sunburnt in circles on the right of her neck and a little on her chest and back, you wouldn’t know that she went to radiation Monday through Friday for six weeks straight.

  I heard Easton call her Superwoman a few times and I had to agree. She was strong. We’d teased her about glowing in the dark from all the radiation. At first, Cheyenne thought we were serious, hoping that Brooke would glow, but then we explained we were just joking and radiation really didn’t give you superpowers. But it kinda did in Brooke’s case. Ever since she walked into Easton’s life, he was changed. He was so wrapped around her finger that no matter what she wanted, she got. I wasn’t one to talk. If Nicole wanted a milkshake in the middle of the night, I was driving my ass to McDonald’s to get it for her. If she wanted fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, I was pulling a stash of dough out of the freezer.

  Since today was the last day of Brooke’s radiation, Easton had a surprise for her. I knew it and Nicole knew it because she insisted she help pick out the ring.

  “You know this is going to make me look bad,” I said, leaning back in my office chair to look at him while he sat at his desk.

  “Not my fault, you should have already done it.”

  “I told you that I didn’t want to propose because she’ll just think that I’m doing it because she’s having my baby, and now she’ll think that I’m just doing it because you’re doing it.”

  “Not my fault,” he said, taking out the black velvet box from the locked drawer of his desk.

  “Are you sure this is what you want?” I asked. I knew better than to ask him, but this was Easton Crawford I was talking to after all.

  “Are you trying to talk me out of it?”

  “Of course not. I just want you to be sure. We know how your first marriage worked out.”

  “Avery. Two words. The one.”

  “All right, good luck.” I slapped his back as we both stood.

  “I don’t need luck.” He laughed and shook his head.

  “Break a leg?” I joked.

  “I hope not!”

  “Fine. Go get the next Mrs. Crawford!”

  “Brooke Crawford. Has a nice ring to it.” He smiled.

  I smiled. Brooke Crawford. Never thought I’d get a chance to be Easton’s best man again.

  My best friend was engaged and I was pregnant. A lot could change in less than a year, that’s for sure. I couldn’t believe that it had. I was happy. Really happy. Waking up with Avery every morning was worth packing up my life in Boston and moving to New York.

  “Want to go have a picnic for lunch?” I asked
Avery. He had started working the day shift so he could be home with me at night. He and Easton still switched off working Friday and Saturday nights, but it gave Brooke and me an excuse to keep an eye on our guys.

  “Sure.” He smiled.

  We packed a few things for lunch and drove to the park. Once we got there, our tree, where we had our first picnic, was vacant and we set up our blanket under it. It was still in full bloom of the pink flowers and it was breathtaking as we laid back and stared up at the sky.

  “When are you going to tell your parents that you’re going to be a dad?” I asked, laying in the crook of Avery’s arm.

  “I’m not,” he said, playing with the ends of my hair on my shoulder.

  “You’re not?” I asked, raising my head.

  “Why should I?”

  “Because they’re your parents.”

  “Babe, we both know that Jimmy and Jane are my parents.”

  “I know, but still.” I sighed.

  “I haven’t really talked to my parents in over five years. The last time I talked to them was when Easton and I were in L.A. If they couldn’t come see me when I was a little over an hour from them then they don’t deserve to know about my life.”

  “I understand.”

  “You know, some days I wish they were normal parents. But they’re not. When they wrote me off, I was an adult. If I didn’t have Jimmy and Jane, then I would have been fucked up, but those two treat me like a son and that’s all I need. I know they’ll love our baby just as much as they love Cheyenne.”

  “I know they will. I really like them.”

  “Good because they’ll be the grandparents.”

  “Okay.” I smiled and then kissed his lips softly.

  We laid there for a while before grabbing our sandwiches and eating them. Laying in his arms was where I wanted to be forever.

  After our picnic lunch, we packed up and drove home. It was Friday night and Easton’s night to tend bar. I was looking forward to date night with my baby daddy.

  “Bethy called in sick. I have to work tonight,” Avery said, coming back into the living room from the kitchen.

  “Okay,” I sighed.

  So much for date night.

  “Call Brooke. Easton’s working too,” he said, walking into the bedroom to change. “Hang out with her. Cheyenne’s at Jimmy and Jane’s.”

  “I will.”

  While Brooke was going through radiation, I barely saw her. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to, but she was tired most of the time. When we did see her, it was at dinner at their house or mine. Now that Brooke was done with radiation, I hoped we’d hang out more because I needed her. I couldn’t wait to introduce her to my baby. I was already in love with her and I hadn’t held her yet. There was something about knowing that I created a miracle. Childbirth was a miracle if you thought about it; we had the power to create another life form. Crazy!

  Avery left, kissing me goodbye, and I decided he was right, so I sent a text to Brooke.

  Me: What are you doing tonight?

  Brooke: Going to Halo

  Me: To spy?

  Brooke: What else would I do?

  I smiled as I texted back.

  Me: Drink?

  Brooke: Well, that too. Chey’s at Jimmy & Jane’s, so I don’t want to stay at home alone.

  Me: Avery had to work because Bethy called in sick.

  Brooke: Come!

  Me: I’m preggo!

  Brooke: So? Come hang out with me. I bet we can win some money.

  Me: All right. Come pick me up in thirty.

  I dressed in a short black skirt, a purple tank top with sequins all over it, and black high heels. I did my make-up perfectly and straightened my blonde hair. Avery and Easton had to flirt to get bigger tips, and Brooke and I were about to steal their tip money.

  “What’s the plan?” I asked Brooke as she drove us to Halo.

  “The first time I did this, I pretended Easton wasn’t my boyfriend and made a hundred bucks.”

  “Didn’t Avery tell you not to do that again?” I laughed.

  “Well, we don’t have to do it for money. We can bet something else.” She chuckled.

  “Like?” I questioned, looking over at her.

  “Maybe we can bet that we can get the bartenders to kiss us. We know we’ll win.”

  “Are we going to tag team them?”

  “Let’s see what the scene is like when we get there.”

  “All right,” I shook my head in agreement. I liked the new Brooke. She was different since leaving Jared. She was fun and sassy and even though she had a traumatic experience, she was still happy. She was the strongest woman I knew.

  We walked into Halo, saying hello to Gary, the door bouncer, before we entered. The music was blaring and as expected, the boys were behind the bar—flirting.

  “How am I going to pull this off? Once Avery sees me, he’s going to say hello or something.”

  “Don’t let him see you until the time’s right.”

  “Whatever that means.” I chuckled.

  “That blonde he’s talking to really looks like she’s laying on her charm—thick. I bet you can think of something.”

  I stared at Avery and the fake blonde and watched. Avery was laughing, leaning towards her and listening to whatever she was saying as she flipped her hair. Then I saw my in. As Avery turned to do another order, the girl reached into her purse, pulled out a pen and paper and began to write something down.

  “I got it,” I said, walking towards the bar. “Just have my back, this may get ugly,” I shouted over my shoulder as Brooke walked behind me.

  “Nic, you’re pregnant and this is all for fun.”

  “I know.” I gave a wicked smile.

  I squeezed between the blonde and the chick next to her before Avery came back over. I looked down and she had written her phone number on the piece of paper.

  Perfect.

  “Is that for the bartender?” I asked, motioning to the small piece of paper with my head and then over to Avery.

  She looked up at me and then back to her piece of paper. “Yeah.” She smiled. “He’s so hot, huh?”

  “Yeah, he is.” I smiled back then over to Avery making sure he hadn’t seen me.

  “I’ve been coming in here for a few weeks flirting with him and I finally have the courage to give him my number.” Poor girl.

  “Interesting. I’ve been doing the same thing,” I said. Both Avery and Easton were on the other end of the bar still helping customers. Neither one had seen me or Brooke. I looked over my shoulder at Brooke then back to the fake blonde. “Want to see whose number he’ll take first?”

  “Like a bet?” Fake Blonde asked.

  “Yeah, like a bet.”

  She laughed. “What do you want to bet?”

  “I think the prize would be him, no?”

  “Touché. Okay, you’re on.” She grinned. Like she had a chance.

  The only way for this plan to work was if Avery didn’t spoil it by showing that he knew me. The spot on the other side of FB opened up and Brooke slid in, caging FB in between us. I leaned back, Brooke leaned back, and I winked.

  Damn, why didn’t we do this every weekend? This shit was fun!

  “So how does this work?” FB asked, her eyes glued to Avery’s ass as he poured a drink away from us.

  “I think we just let him come back over here and we flirt our asses off. Then we offer him our number like you were planning on doing.” I shrugged.

  “Okay.” She nodded.

  I still didn’t know what I was going to say as Avery turned around and started making his way back down the bar towards us. I became nervous as he got closer. I wasn’t nervous about him taking FB’s number, but that the plan was going to backfire.

  “Ready?” I asked.

  “Bring it.” She laughed.

  I laughed too. She had no idea who she was messing with.

  Avery stopped in front of us, looked me straight in the eye and my eyes got b
ig in warning. He titled his head a little, silently asking me what was wrong. I nudged my head towards FB and waited.

  Dear God let my man be smart!

  “Ladies.” He nodded. “Can I get you another drink?” he asked FB.

  I breathed a sigh of relief. My man was smart!

  “Sure.”

  He looked back over at me and I smiled. “Hi, I’m Laila,” I said, sticking my hand out.

  He looked down at my hand, smirked, and shook it. “Laila. That’s a pretty name. Nice to meet you. Can I get you something to drink too?”

  “We’re not together,” FB said with a little too much bitchiness. “I’m Tisha.”

  “My mistake.” Avery grinned. “Nice to meet you, Tisha.” Avery shook her hand, but pulled back right away and I smiled.

  Avery started making Tisha’s drink, looking up at me a few times and grinning as he shook his head. After he was done pouring the green concoction, Avery gave Tisha her drink, took her money, and then came back to me. “Now, can I get you something to drink, cutie?” he asked, stepping in front of me.

  “Vodka cranberry.” Avery went to object, narrowing his eyes at me. “But I like a splash more cranberry.” I smiled.

  Just give me a glass of cranberry juice, Babe! Geez. Catch on already!

  I grabbed cash from my pocket and when Avery put the drink in front of me, I handed him the wad. “Keep it. It’s on the house.” He winked.

  “Seriously?” Tisha asked.

  I smirked at her and Avery started to walk away. I grabbed a hold of his wrist, not letting him leave. “Thank you for my drink,” I purred.

  “Why does she get a free drink?” Tisha asked, still pissed I was getting special treatment.

  He looked down at where my hand held his wrist, neither of us answering or looking at Tisha. “Careful now, my girlfriend doesn’t like other women touching me,” he said, raising his eyebrows when he looked back up to my eyes.

  “You have a girlfriend?” Tisha asked.

  “I do,” he said, not looking at her.

  “Your girlfriend has good taste,” I said, not removing my hand.