The Key West Anthology (17 page)

Chapter Forty-One

Jett

Helpless
.

That was the best way to describe the feeling I had. Nothing felt worse than watching the girl you love fall apart and not being able to do a damn thing about it.

She was zoned out, quiet, and distant. She barely said two words during the first twenty-four hours following her mother’s death. Over the next forty-eight, she stood at her father’s side, planning the funeral.

I felt as if the support I was trying to offer wasn’t enough. I was lost when it came to what to say, or what I could do to ease the pain.

I sat in the backseat of my parents’ car with Harper at my side. My entire family had gathered to pay our respects. I stared out the window at the passing cars, dazed. I knew that today would be hard. I wasn’t sure I was prepared to watch Quinn fall apart once again. It felt as if with each tear she shed, my heart broke a little more.

We slowed to a stop in front of the funeral home. I looked up toward the entrance and an overwhelming sense of family washed over me. There, just to the left of the open door stood the people who had become, to me, every sense of the word. Jude, Kade, Callie, and Easton. I didn’t even think about the fact that they were here and not at the restaurant. All I could do was respect that they were here to support Quinn. That meant the world to me.

“Thanks for coming, guys,” I said as I stepped up next to Jude. “I know she’ll appreciate it.”

“She’s our family too, from the moment she started at Jett’s,” Jude stated without hesitation.

My heart seized at the firmness of his words. There was no doubt about it, they too loved Quinn.

“How’s she doing?” Callie asked.

Things still remained tense between the two of us. She had been standoffish, and I had given her the distance I knew she needed.

“Lost.” One word. It was the best way to describe her current state of mind.

We all made our way inside, and everyone stood in line, working our way toward the front. Not many people had come, but each one stopped before Quinn, offering their condolences.

I watched as she inched closer to her father, attempting to gain just a small amount of security. The scene only caused my throat to grow tighter. I stepped out of line, worked my way around the room, and slipped in behind her. The moment my hands came to rest on her hips she curled into my hold. I kissed her temple and held her close, offering her every ounce of strength I had.

“I love you, baby,” I spoke against her ear.

Avery reached out from my left and gave my arm a reassuring squeeze. She was telling me that I had made the right choice by coming to Quinn’s side. It was where I belonged, the place she needed me most.

***

It’d been two weeks since I watched Quinn fall. Two weeks of hearing her cry and looking into her empty eyes.

She got an offer on the house and accepted it. Beau—Quinn’s father—and I cleaned it out. We both felt it was too soon for Quinn. I volunteered both Easton and Kade as our honorary packers, so it went fast.

Quinn’s room was definitely off limits from their eager eyes. The moment I rounded the corner and found Kade smiling mischievously, holding up a skimpy pair of Quinn’s underwear, that shit came to a stop. The overpowering urge to punch his bright, smiling face was hard to push down. He still went on about barely-there piece of pink lace every time we were in the same room. It was to get a rise out of me, I knew that, but that shit worked.

***

Harper had picked up Quinn, and they were meeting me at my parents’ for dinner. Alexis and my brother-in-law Colt were in town with the kids, and a night with the family may be a good thing for Quinn. I was running behind; a problem with the permits for the new location had hit me right as I was ready to leave. After close to an hour on the phone, I finally got everything ironed out before rushing off to see my girl.

Chapter Forty-Two

Quinn

“I’m so sorry for your loss,” Colt said as he hugged me. “I wish we could have been here to pay our respects.”

Alexis, Jett’s sister, was a sweetheart. Her husband was a true Southern gentleman and pretty fun to look at, if I had to say so myself. Jett was drool bait for sure. It was hard not to trip over my own tongue sometimes when it came to the pure sexual desire that ran through me when he was near. Colt, well, he made a girl’s temperature spike just enough to make you feel the burn. She was one lucky woman.

“I understand,” I told him. “Thank you both for the flowers and the card, though.” Alex had even called me to offer her sympathy, which was truly unexpected.

Their daughter Maddison was a mini Harper in the making. You really couldn’t help but laugh at her; she said what was on her mind without a second thought.

Baby Colton was slobbering all over Alexis’s shoulder as she swayed from side to side, his chubby little legs kicking with excitement.

For the first time in two weeks, I could feel myself relax. They were a true family, filled to the brim with love and support for one another. They welcomed me into their home and lives without a second thought.

“Do you mind holding him for just a few minutes?” I looked up to see Alexis standing before me. “I really need to go grab a new shirt. I feel like I’ve had a spit bath.”

I hesitantly took her son and held him in close. It had been so long since I had held a baby, I was worried about him breaking out in tears from my lack of experience. He squealed and kicked his legs as he grabbed for the collar of my shirt. Slobber continued to run down his chin, pooling on my chest.

“Mommy said he’s like a faucet. He always has spit and snot. Boys are just gross.” Maddison took a seat next to me and popped her blue sucker back into her mouth.

I laughed at her obvious annoyance with the drool machine I held. “I don’t know, he’s cute, don’t you think?” I said as I trailed my finger over his cheek.

“Yeah, I guess. He looks like Daddy Colt,” she stated. Colt was not her real father, but the man loved her like his own. He showered all three of them with enough love to make anyone on the outside of his little circle envious.

“You should have one,” she said nonchalantly, shrugging like it was as easy as that.

“Maybe one day,” I said, smiling back at her. A sadness washed through me as I realized my mother would never have the chance to hold my children.

“Uncle Jett likes babies,” she said before biting her sucker. Small pieces fell from the corners of her mouth and landed on the floor under her. “I don’t know how babies get in your tummy, but I know that Aunt Harper told Mom that Colt’s spunk makes beautiful babies.” She paused and bit her sucker once more. “Maybe Colt will give you some spunk.”

My eyes grew wide and I know my jaw fell open in shock. I had no idea what to say in response. The worst part about it was looking up and finding Jett and his mother standing directly behind Maddison. The heat rising to my cheeks made me feel as if the temperature had just gone up twenty degrees.

***

After I explained the conversation that had led up to Colt and his magic spunk, it became a way to harass poor Colt. He rolled with the punches and sat up proudly, squaring his shoulders as if he was the king of the world.

Maddison was off coloring in the living room, which meant we had free reign to tease and taunt. Harper of course ran with it. She was actually pretty lethal at times—funny, but lethal. She thought it was amusing that Jett was becoming territorial, so she continued to fuel his fire.

Jett placed his arm over the back of my chair possessively during the conversation about Colt supplying baby batter for everyone to use, obviously not liking the joke my earlier conversation had instigated.

“The only one that will be supplying Quinn will be myself,” he stated. “My babies will be the only babies she’ll be carrying.” His voice boomed through the dining room, resembling a damn near growl.

Twisting my head to the side, I looked up at his serious expression, unable to not smile at his possessive ways. “Oh, is that a fact,” I taunted a little more, completely enjoying the way his domineering attitude made me feel. I loved his caveman tendencies.

With a small grin pulling at the corner of his gorgeous lips, he leaned in a little closer. “A definite fact,” he stated. “You’re mine, Quinn Tucker. It’s time to face it. No man will ever get anywhere near this body. It’s mine, which means any chance of breeding will in fact only happen if I’m the one planting my seed.”

His mouth covered mine before I could speak, overpowering me, causing my toes to curl. A loud whoop followed by clapping and a squeal filled the room.

Nothing felt better than being possessed by Jett. He had an ability to make everything but the two of us seem unimportant. He was right; I was his, completely.

Chapter Forty-Three

Jett

“So is Quinn ever coming back to work?” Jude asked as I stepped into the kitchen. “I miss her feistiness. Oh, and those puppy-dog eyes. She has the ability to melt a man, no matter how cold he is on the inside.”

“Oh Jude, come on, you’re not cold,” I assured him as I chuckled at the sarcasm in my voice. He knew that I knew better. Jude is in fact one of the coldest bastards I knew, but he had reasons to be. Reasons that weren’t mine to share.

“She’s taking classes, finally doing what she was intended to do,” I replied. “You’ll see her around, though.”

Quinn had enrolled in the local college, and after a long fight with both her father and me, she gave in and let us help. Turns out her father has some money no one knew about. His parents had not only left him his childhood home, but a pretty chunk sitting in the bank as well. I also wanted to help, so between the two of us, she was now enrolled in college and working toward her dreams.

“She’ll be here tonight for dinner, around five. She’s meeting me.” I held an order ticket and he took it from me. “That is our order, her favorite dish. Can you have it ready then?”

His gaze met mine and his face showed nothing.

“I bought her something, and I want the night to be perfect when I give it to her,” I informed him.

“You think you two are ready for that step, boss?” he asked. “I know it really isn’t any of my business, but proposing this soon may not be your smartest move.”

I think I just about swallowed my own tongue from his words. “No one said I was proposing, shit, Jude. I bought her a gift, not a ring.” Not that I didn’t someday want to ask Quinn to marry me, it just wasn’t today. Neither of us were ready for that yet.

***

“Hey, beautiful,” I whispered as I leaned in and softly kissed her lips. “How was your day?”

She wore a pair of skinny, cropped pants and a shirt that hung off her shoulder. High-heeled sandals graced her feet and gave me thoughts of her wearing just them and nothing else.

“Long. I forgot how exhausting school was, actually,” she replied.

I pulled the chair out and slid it in slowly after she took a seat. Once I was seated across from her, I couldn’t wait any longer. I reached under the table and pulled out the box from beneath it. Her puzzled stare focused in on the silver-wrapped box with the red bow.

“I was gonna wait until after dinner, but I can’t hold out any longer. I need to see your face when you open it.” The excitement rushing through me was unbelievable.

I passed the box across the table and watched as she began removing the paper. Quinn carefully lifted the lid, and her eyes lit up, a huge smile spreading over her lips. “Is it—” She stopped midsentence when she looked up at me.

I nodded. “Yeah, it’s the camera you wanted. The salesman said it was perfect for a serious photographer. I thought it would be easier for you to share your talent if you had the best. There are a few different lenses as well. A bag to hold it all in and a strap too.”

Quinn placed the camera back in the bag, stood from the table, and walked around the edge. The moment she was next to me, she bent forward and threw her arms around my neck.

“Thank you so much. You’re so good to me.” She kissed my neck and I pulled her onto my lap. I knew we were on display, but I needed her close.

“You deserve it, baby,” I replied.

She leaned back and I kissed her softly.

“I love you,” she whispered against my lips.

“I love you too,” I said in return.

***

A clicking sound followed by another pulled me from my sleep. I was still exhausted from last night. Quinn was extremely thankful for her camera and spent the evening repeatedly showing me just how much. A smile pulled at my lips as I thought of just how many times we had made love. I could feel myself growing hard over the images in my mind.

Another click as the bed dipped next to me. I was sleeping on my stomach with my arm thrown up over my head, resting on the pillow. I slowly opened one eye and peeked up toward the clicking sound. Quinn hovered above me as she continued to snap picture after picture of me.

I groaned, grabbed the pillow, and placed it over my head.

“Stop hiding,” she protested.

“Why I thought getting you a camera was a good idea is beyond me,” I complained as she tugged against the pillow still covering my head.

“Because you love me,” she stated.

Before she could prepare herself, I rose from the bed and flipped her body beneath mine. I took the camera from her hand and held it out to the side.

“Give it back,” she said as she tried to wiggle out from my hold.

I pinned her under me as I hovered above her, snapping pictures in return. She covered her face with her hands and giggled.

“I’m a mess, stop,” she squealed, wiggling around.

“Okay, I’ll stop taking pictures. I think I already have over a hundred anyway.”

I leaned over and put the camera on the nightstand. When I returned, I lowered my body over hers and pinned her hands above her head. “I’m thinking I should have placed restrictions on the use of that camera. Ya know, no pictures of me.”

Quinn licked her lower lip as she spread her legs and wrapped them around my waist. “I love looking at you, though. You shouldn’t be so handsome.”

The lust filling her eyes made my playful manner change instantly. A strong urge to take control washed over me. “That camera of yours may be fun to play with,” I whispered as I skimmed my lips over her jaw. I paused just next to her ear and sucked gently on the lobe. “I would love to capture the look on your face when you’re turned on,” I whispered. I heard her take in a breath. “That look happens to one the sexiest looks I have ever seen.”

“Jett,” she moaned when I pressed my hardness against her center. The only thing separating us was her thin silk panties. “Please.” I could hear the need in her voice.

“Please, what?”

“I want you.” She was already tugging at her panties, trying to lower them down her legs. I fought the smile pulling at my lips. She was my little wildcat, and getting her worked up was a huge fucking turn-on.

“You need me?” I asked.

“Yes,” she whimpered once she felt the tip of my erection sliding through her wetness. “Oh yes, please.”

“Is this what you need?” I asked. “Do you need me inside of you?”

She nodded and lifted her hips, rocking against me. “Fuck me,” she groaned.

I almost laughed at her demanding tone. I pulled myself up and back, then drove forward in one hard thrust. Quinn gasped and threw her head back. She wanted me to fuck her. She didn’t want it slow and sweet. She needed hard and fast, and I was game.

Our bodies glistened with moisture as we moved together, the bed knocking against the wall, our breathing erratic. We were both lost in the intensity of the moment.

“Mine,” I growled. “All mine.”

She was all I wanted, all I needed. Things with Quinn made sense. She was the girl I saw my future with. The one I pictured by my side. In time I would make that official.