WMIS 06 Tied With Me (22 page)

“Caleb!” Nic grins widely, happy to see my brother.

“Hey, pretty lady.” He leans his elbow on the counter and winks at her. “How you doin’?”

Nic laughs and shakes her head at Caleb. “I’m fine. Are all the Montgomerys charming?”

“Nope, just me.” Caleb winks again and sets the bag on the countertop. “This is for you.”

“What is it?”

“I ordered you lunch,” I reply.

“But I’m working.”

“I can handle this. You need to eat.”
 

She stares at me in surprise, looks between Caleb and I and then kisses my cheek before taking the bag into the back.

“I won’t be long!” she calls out.

“Take your time,” I reply. “Thanks, man.”

“No worries. How is she today?”

“She’s fine.”

“Scared us all yesterday.” Caleb peruses the glass case full of goodies. “Hand me a carrot cake.”

I pass him the pastry and hold my hand out for money. “She doesn’t work for free, asshole.”

“Jesus, I brought food. A man can’t get paid in cupcakes?”

“No.”

He hands me a five, and I don’t give him his change.
 

“Bastard.” Caleb laughs.

Chapter Thirteen

~Nic~

A lot has happened in the past twenty-four hours.

Okay, that might be the understatement of the freaking year.

I focus on eating the sandwich Caleb brought me and sipping the juice I poured, eager to get right back to work.
 

Yesterday
was
fun. Matt’s family is huge and a bit overwhelming. They’re all beautiful and successful and so fun. Hilarious.
 

Loving.

I don’t know what it is to have a family like that, and a large piece of me longed to settle in and belong there for a long, long time.

Jesus, you’re pathetic.

I take the last bite and walk back out of the kitchen.

“We want you both to come,” Caleb says. “Oh good, you’re back.”

“Caleb just invited us to dinner with him and Bryn tonight.”

“Oh,” I reply and frown in thought.
 

“It’s not a requirement, but your reaction isn’t great for my ego, sweetheart.”
 

I laugh and shake my head. “Thank you for inviting me.” I turn to Matt. “I have a standing date with Bailey every Sunday afternoon. We walk down to Vintage for a glass of wine and appetizers.”

“That’s cool.” Matt shrugs, as though it doesn’t bother him in the least. “You should go hang out with Bailey.”

“Really?” I ask skeptically.

“I don’t need to monopolize all of your time, sweetheart. Just most of it.” He smiles wolfishly and kisses me square on the mouth. “Why don’t you meet me at Caleb’s later?”

“That will work. Matt will give you our address.” Caleb boosts himself up on the counter so he can lean across it and plant a kiss on my cheek, earning a low growl from Matt, which only makes Caleb laugh. “See you both later.”

He waves and walks out just as Bailey walks in, checking out Caleb’s ass as he leaves.

“Holy shit, did you see that?”

“That was my brother,” Matt confirms with a grin.

“And you must be Matt,” Bailey guesses with a flirty grin and holds her hand out to shake. “We’ve crossed paths now and again but have never really met. I’m Bailey. The best friend.”

“Pleasure,” Matt responds with a charming smile. “I’ve seen you around.”

“And as the best friend…” Bailey begins.

“Bailey,” I warn her, but she doesn’t even acknowledge me as she continues.

“I can say if you hurt her, I’ll make your life a living hell. I don’t give a shit if you are a cop and a Dom. You don’t scare me.”

Matt’s eyebrows climb, and then he walks around the glass case and pulls Bailey in for a big hug, much to her surprise.

“You’re supposed to be wary of me, not hug me. I threatened you.”

“Thank you for loving her so much,” he murmurs in her ear. He kisses her cheek and pulls back then circles back around to my side. “Do you have it handled from here, little one?”

“Um…” I have to clear my throat past the knot that’s formed there. Bailey also looks shell-shocked. “Yeah, I’m good.”

He tilts my chin back with his finger and lowers his lips to mine, gently nibbling, sweeping his own soft lips across mine, then sinks in and slips his tongue between my lips, kissing the breath right out of me. When he pulls away, he has to hold my shoulders firmly until I regain my balance.

“Wow,” Bailey mutters with a chuckle.

“I’ll see you tonight.” He drags his knuckles down my cheek and then turns to walk out through the kitchen. “See you soon, Bailey.”

“See you!” She watches him leave with shining eyes.
 

I walk to the front door and lock it and then begin the process of cleaning up so I can leave for the day.

“I’ll be ready to go in about twenty minutes,” I inform her, as though the hottest man on earth didn’t just kiss me senseless.

“He’s hot,” she says casually.

“You knew that already.”

“His brother is hot, too.”

“And married.”

“All the good ones are.” Bailey pouts. “What are you guys doing tonight?”

“Can we talk about this over wine?” I ask with a sigh. “There’s a lot to tell.”

“Oh God, please hurry. The suspense is now killing me.”

She helps me clean up and get organized for tomorrow, dancing in place as if she has to pee, making me giggle.

“You’re crazy,” I inform her.

“I’m impatient,” she corrects me. “Let’s go. Hot waiter Dan is waiting for us.”

I toss my apron in the hamper, fetch my wallet and lock the back door behind us. Bailey links her arm through mine as we walk down to Vintage
.

“It’s gorgeous today.” I pull in a deep breath of summer air. I can smell the salt from the Puget Sound just a few blocks away. Families are out, pushing strollers and carrying toddlers, enjoying Seattle on this sunny Sunday.

“We are having a great summer,” Bailey agrees with a smile. She leads me into Vintage and offers Damn Hot Dan a flirty grin. “Hey, handsome.”

“Hello, ladies.” He nods at the hostess and seats us himself. “Your usual?”

“Yes, please,” we say in unison.
 

“Coming right up.” He winks at Bailey and walks to the bar.

“He likes you.”
 

“He’s adorable.” Bailey sighs. “And painfully young.”

“Dude, he’s probably in his mid-twenties.”

“Too young. I need someone with more life experience for what I’m looking for.” She waves me off, sits back when Dan delivers our drinks and takes our appetizer order, then eyes me over the rim of her glass. “Talk to me.”

“I really need you to help me get my head back on straight. Talk some sense into me.”

“Okay.” She nods.
 

“I can’t fall in love with him.”

“Right.” She wrinkles her forehead in confusion. “Wait. Why not?”

“Because, we’re just having fun together, remember?”

She nods slowly and then shakes her head. “When did we say that?”

“He took me to meet his family,” I begin. “And they’re great. Did you know his brother-in-law is Luke Williams? Like,
the
Luke Williams. The one whose poster was on my wall when I was a teenager.”

“Wow.”

“And Luke’s sister is with Leo freaking Nash, Bailey. Not to mention, his brother is Will Montgomery, the football player. So, I was at this pool party with celebrities and beautiful people, and they’re all really, really nice. And so damn funny.”

“That’s cool. Can I get an invite next time?”

“It’s not funny, though. My sugars crashed because I was stupid and didn’t eat enough yesterday, so Matt found out about the diabetes…”

“You hadn’t told him?” she asks with a deep frown.

“And then he was mad at me because I hadn’t told him.”

“He’s a Dom, Nic. Of course he was pissed.” She takes a sip of her drink and digs in to the food when Dan delivers it.

“And then he let it slip that he’s in love with me.”

She slowly lowers a chip to her plate and stares at me in shock. “What did you say?” she asks with a squeak.

“Nothing.”

“
Nothing.
”

“It was in the heat of the moment. I’m not even sure he realized he said it. It was when he was mad about the medical stuff.” I wave that off, unable to think about it because it makes me a quivering mess all over again. “But I’m becoming too attached to him, Bailey.”

“Why?” she asks, completely confused.

“He should have kids,” I whisper softly. “You and I both know I can’t give him that.”

“You are so ridiculous.” Bailey groans. “You don’t know that.”

“I’m pretty sure. I can’t fall in love with him. I’m not the girl for him.”

“Right, so, he has an amazing family, a good job…” She’s ticking his attributes off on her fingers. “He’s not a freeloader or a loser, he’s loyal and good with kids, and he’s fucking amazing in the bedroom. That bastard!”

“Ha ha.”

“So, you went from not wanting him because he’s a Dom to not wanting him because he might want kids one day?”

“You make it sound so dumb.” I laugh. “I’m trying to guard my own heart here, Bailey. I’m not trying to hurt him. Or me.”

“You’re such a worrier. Just keep doing what you were doing in the beginning. Enjoy him and cross the kids issue if and when he proposes.”

I choke on my drink at the mention of proposing, my eyes watering as I cough and sputter.

“Okay, so the idea of marriage scares you,” she mumbles. “I was kind of joking, Nic.”

“Don’t even say that!”

“Honey, I just witnessed you two together. That was a smitten man.”

I start to reply, but she holds her hand up, stopping me. “And you were just as smitten. I know it’s early days, but Matt isn’t going anywhere. Just enjoy him.”

“He is amazing in bed,” I concede.

“Oh sure, rub it in. You’re cruel. I stuck up for you back there and threatened a man of the law, and all you can do to pay me back is remind me that you’re getting laid and I’m not?”
 

I giggle and pop a chip in my mouth. “It’s really, really good sex.”

“I hate you.”

***

“You made it!” Brynna exclaims as she opens the door to me.

“I almost didn’t find you,” I admit with a rueful smile. “You’re kind of tucked away here.”

That’s an understatement. Caleb and Brynna live in a beautiful house in the Alki Beach neighborhood of Seattle. This is one of my favorite parts of the city, especially in summer. There are shops to browse, excellent restaurants, including my favorite pub, The Celtic Swell, and miles of paths to walk and admire the Seattle skyline.

“Well, I’m glad you did find us.” She pulls me in for a hug, and I have to stand on my toes to reach her.
 

Brynna is tall, with long dark hair and gorgeous dark eyes.
 

“The guys are out back with the girls, who are currently trying to talk us into a later bedtime.”
 

“It’s summer.” I shrug like this is a normal thing. “How are the girls?”

“Great. Let’s go see them.”

She leads me through the house and out back, where a one-eyed dog is barking happily and Caleb and Matt are both doing pull-ups on a metal bar.

“Holy crap,” I mutter and stop in my tracks, watching as both men steadily raise and lower themselves on the bar. They’ve both taken off their shirts, and their backs and arms are riots of pure muscle.
 
Caleb has a tattoo on his shoulder, but I can’t read it from here. They’re both covered with a light sheen of sweat, and they’re calling out taunts to each other.

“Uncle Matt is at twenty!” Josie calls out.

“Daddy has nineteen!” Maddie adds.

“I’m going to beat you, little brother.”

“Bullshit,” Caleb replies.

“Daddy has to put money in the Swear Jar!” Josie announces.

“Seems they distracted the men with pull-ups to get out of going up for bed,” Brynna says and crosses her arms over her chest, watching her man. “They make quite the pair, don’t they?”

“Good God, it should be illegal to look like that,” I agree. “How do you keep your composure at family events, Bryn? Seriously, I thought I was going to have a heart attack yesterday.”

She laughs and drapes her arm around my shoulders, hugging me to her side. “It is a bit intimidating in the beginning, but they’re all just normal people, Nic. Will farts like crazy and blames it on Meg. Jules’ hormones are so crazy right now, she snips at everyone and then cries and begs for forgiveness. It’s the usual sibling stuff.”