Finding You, page 17
“Yes. I had the funniest cat named Tom, but he ran away a few years ago, and we never found him. We definitely know what we’re getting into and will treat him––or her––like royalty. My kids have been begging for almost a year to get another cat, and we heard this was a great place to adopt.”
“It is,” Anthony interjects. “Were you looking for a boy or a girl?”
With a soft hand on his forearm, I stop him, surprising myself as much as him as I say, “Actually, the little girl is reserved, but we have two adorable little boys available, if you’re still interested.”
Opening his mouth to argue, I squeeze his arm and give him a pointed look that suggests he keep his mouth shut for a few minutes. By some miracle, he catches the hint and bites his tongue.
Danielle drops her gaze to her kids who’re busy giving her puppy dog eyes. “I’m gonna go ahead and say that won’t be an issue. A little boy sounds great,” she replies, smiling down at her children.
“Yes!” Brittanie, the eight-year-old, adds while bouncing up and down like an Energizer bunny.
Anthony releases his hold on my waist and motions for them to follow. “Great choice. We have two little boys who love to play. Either of them will make a great pet for your family.”
Walking into the family room, he pulls out the males and sets them in the center of the room before grabbing Clover and sauntering toward me while Danielle’s family all take seats on the ground to play with the kittens.
With his brows pinched in confusion, he rubs his thumb against Clover’s ear and murmurs to me, “You didn’t tell me she’d been reserved. I know we talked about not being able to keep all of them and stuff. But man…I didn’t think I’d be so bummed.” He looks down at his little girl, his shoulders slumping in defeat.
“I know that you raised her––”
“I did. But I understand your point too. I just didn’t think it would be this hard.”
Licking my lips, I explain, “I know I told you we couldn’t keep all of them, and I still stand by that. But Clover? She’s our lucky charm, Anthony. Hell, she’s kind of the reason you and I got together.”
His eyes widen in shock before turning into a smoldering grin. “Are you serious right now?”
“Sure am,” I murmur, taking another peek at the family to see them all playing happily.
He shakes his head and grabs my attention as Clover purrs in his hand. “You just wanted to see me with my shirt off and used Clover as an excuse.”
“Guilty,” I quip, unable to hide my grin.
“So…Clover’s ours? You’re okay with that?” His voice drips with disbelief, and my chest blossoms with another wave of affection and gratitude. That he could love me and my lifestyle. That he could accept both even with their flaws like litter boxes and missing uteruses.
My eyes gather with tears before I admit, “I couldn’t be happier, Anthony. To have you and our little life together. I can’t wait to see where it leads.”
“Do I detect a subtle hint of planning in your voice?” he teases, putting his arm around my waist and pulling me into a side hug. After another quick glance toward the sweet little family who are currently snuggling both kittens with giant smiles, I turn back to Anthony.
“Why, yes. Yes, you did. But only because I love you.”
“I love you too, Swayze Girl. Thanks for showing me the importance of spontaneity.” He leans forward and brushes his lips against my cheek. I squeeze my eyes shut to savor the feeling.
“What do you mean?”
“I saw the way you jumped when I asked if they wanted a girl or boy. You weren’t planning on keeping Clover. Am I right?”
My cheeks burst into flame. “Maybe.”
“Called it. Thank you, though. You really are the most generous person I’ve ever met.” He drops a swift kiss to my forehead in an attempt to keep things PG-rated.
“Well,” I hedge, looking up at him. “I guess if we’re thanking each other for things, I should probably mention how planning for the future isn’t exactly a bad thing.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yup. So, ya know, if you ever wanna make any big plans with me, you can count me in. No questions asked.”
“No questions? Not even ones that involve rings?”
I smirk. “Okay, maybe some questions.”
With a laugh, he tugs me closer and plants a lazy kiss against my mouth, completely forgetting we have company in the room with us. It’s just as toe-curling and all-consuming as the first.
And I kind of love it.
Epilogue
Sway
“I can’t believe you talked me into this,” Anthony mumbles under his breath as he paces in the front entryway.
“Oh, come on. It won’t be that bad.”
His brows nearly reach his hairline as he gives me the look. “Really? Posing without my shirt on while holding a few kittens is bad enough, but having your sister be the one taking the pictures?”
With a snort, I cover my face in an attempt to hide the fit of giggles that’s threatening to erupt.
“See?” he shouts, waving his arms at me and making me lose my battle against the giggles.
“I’m sorry,” I laugh. “It’s just so funny. I can’t believe you actually agreed to this.”
Rolling his eyes, he takes a step toward me and gets right in my face. “It’s all your fault,” he accuses me as his breath fans across my cheeks. “You know better than to ask someone to do something stupid right after they’ve had sex. I would’ve agreed to anything!”
“Exactly,” I quip. “Plus, you still owe me for knocking down my sign six months ago.”
With a narrowed gaze, Anthony leans forward and surprises me when I’m gifted with a gentle kiss that pulls a soft sigh from my lips. I mean, that’s not exactly what I was expecting when he gave me a dirty look, but you won’t hear me complaining. I shift my weight onto my tippy-toes to get a little closer and slip my tongue into his mouth when he pulls away and gives me a devilish grin.
I stomp my foot in frustration. “What was that?”
“That was me reminding you that two can play that game.”
“Not fair!”
“Says the girl who just admitted to using sex to get what she wants. And bringing up the sign? Low blow, Swayze Girl. Low blow.”
“Hey,” I soothe. “I was kidding about the sign. If you didn’t run your car into my yard, we never would’ve met. Plus, it’ll be a great fundraiser. Cut me a little slack.”
With a smirk, he says, “No deal. You’re not the one that’s going to look like an idiot and have it documented in front of his girlfriend’s sister and have the object of humiliation hung up and staring at you for the next twelve months.”
I laugh. “Well, when you put it that way––”
Charging me, Anthony throws me over his shoulder and starts spinning around while his other hand tickles my ribs in torture. When I’m seconds away from peeing my pants from laughing so hard, the bell on the front door rings.
As soon as my feet touch the ground, I raise my hand to my forehead and pretend to wipe away a sheen of sweat. “Phew! Saved by the bell.”
Anthony rolls his eyes then reaches for the lock and opens the door to reveal Skye and a six-year-old little boy named Brody who scampers in as if he owns the place.
“Hey guys! Sorry I had to bring Brody. His parents decided to take an impromptu trip to the Bahamas, so he’s hanging out with me for the week.”
With his eyes popped, Anthony turns to me and mouths, “The Bahamas?”
“Skye’s a nanny, remember?”
“Well, yeah, but I didn’t know it was for a family that’s loaded.”
“You have no idea,” I admit. “Thankfully, Skye’s been with them long enough that Brody hasn’t been too tainted by his crappy parents.”
“His older brother, however,” Skye interrupts, her gaze on fire, “Is hopeless. The asshole just got back from traveling around the world, and I’ve never met a more conceited individual in my entire life.”
Tilting my head in confusion, I ask for clarification. “Brody has a brother?”
“Half-brother, technically. He’s from Mr. Davis’s first marriage. I think he’s a couple years older than me or something? I dunno, but he’s been hanging around Brody’s house since he got back, and I’m two seconds away from strangling him, I kid you not.”
My mouth quirks in the corner. “So you like him, then?”
With a gasp, Skye shoves me toward the family room. “Hell. No.” She grimaces and looks around to confirm Brody didn’t overhear her. When she finds the room blessedly empty, she continues. “Heck no. Seriously, the guy…. He…gah! He drives me insane. The sooner he goes back to wherever he’s been, the better.”
“Sure, it is.”
Giving me a final glare, Skye turns to Anthony. “Alright, Anthony, strip down and show me the goods. We’ve got some pictures to take.” She lifts the DSLR camera that was hanging around her neck before motioning to the room. “Let’s see whatcha got.”
Like a petulant child, Anthony does as he’s told, and I have to stop myself from drooling as he reveals inch by lustrous inch of the muscles that cover his torso.
“Sweet baby Jes––” I shove Skye in the shoulder.
“Stop ogling my boyfriend.”
Bouncing her eyebrows up and down, she turns back to a half-naked Anthony. “Not too shabby, Anthony. Now let’s get the kitties!”
Forty-five minutes later, I’m waving to Skye as her car disappears down the road when a pair of arms wrap around my waist, and a set of lips pepper kisses along my neck.
“You owe me,” Anthony murmurs as his teeth nibble my earlobe.
“Is that right?”
Turning me around, he slides his hands into the back pockets of my jeans and squeezes. Hard.
With a laugh, I drag my hands up his bare chest before resting them on his shoulders.
“And how will I ever repay you for such a sacrifice?” I ask in the most damsel in distress voice I can muster. It’s high pitched and breathy, sparking the exact reaction I was hoping for.
Throwing his head back, he laughs before looking down at me with the softest of smiles. “I love you, Swayze Girl.”
“I love you too.”
“Thank you for letting me in.” It’s the vulnerability shining in his gaze that makes my knees weak, and my heart stalls in my chest.
“Thanks for making me.”
With a gentle tug on the back of his head, he lets me pull him down, and I kiss him for the millionth time. But the funny part? It still holds just as much promise as the first.
* * *
The End
Chapter One
Skye
As we pull up to Brody’s home, I purse my lips and study the unfamiliar car parked out front. It’s a flashy, red BMW, though I can’t tell you what the model is for the life of me. My favorite six-year-old squirms in the back seat, grabbing my attention. With a glance in the rearview mirror, I shove my SUV into park and focus on more important matters. Like preventing urine from seeping into my leather seats.
“Do you need to go to the bathroom?” I ask Brody. I’ve been his nanny for a couple of years, and it’s pretty much the best job ever. He has a mop of dark, curly hair on his head, and a set of dimples that lets him get away with murder. Most of the time, anyway.
With a brisk nod, Brody unbuckles his seat belt and slides toward the back passenger door like his pants are on fire.
That’s what you get for not going before we left my sister’s house, I want to say, but I keep my lips zipped. It doesn’t matter how many times I tell the kid to listen to me, if he doesn’t want to, he won’t. And rubbing in the fact that I’m right won’t help matters, either.
Hustling to keep up with the kid, I search for the keys that will unlock his front door while eyeing the strange car curiously.
Brody reaches the front door first and shoves it open, making me drop my key-wielding hand to my side. If the door is unlocked, then that means a certain older brother is home. Well, half-brother if we’re being technical. I don’t know much about the elusive Liam Davis other than the fact that he has the same dimples as his little brother––and the same penchant for disobeying the rules. The guy has rubbed me the wrong way during every encounter we’ve had, and I’ve quickly learned to keep my distance if I have any hopes of keeping my sanity intact, as well.
“Yay, me,” I mumble under my breath before stepping into the gigantic foyer. The floors are covered with white and black marble tiles, and the fresh scent of bleach permeates the air making Brody’s house feel more like a sterile museum than a home.
Maybe Celia, the cleaning lady, bought a new car, and the asshat whom I refuse to talk to is still out man-whoring in the city.
Then I remember the make of the car, and my shoulders deflate. It was a BMW. There’s no way Celia could afford a BMW.
Dammit.
Expecting the blessed cool air to touch my cheeks, I notice it’s hot as Hades inside, and my brows pinch in confusion.
What the hell?
Brody’s parents are out of town, so it looks like I get to call a handyman to come fix the AC unit.
My ears perk at the unfamiliar sound of rap music coming from deeper inside the home, distracting me from the abnormal warmth accompanying me in the foyer. Following the noise, I glance into the dining room and find it empty before venturing further into the house. The family room is empty, as well as the kitchen. Curiously, I search the study when Brody’s voice startles me from behind.
“Hey, Skye. What’s this?” Dangling from his six-year-old fingers is a red, lacy bra, and my eyes nearly pop out of my head.
Reaching out, I tug the flimsy material from him before hiding it behind my back.
“Where the heck did you get that?” I seethe, my face turning hot with anger and embarrassment.
“It was on the couch. Is that…?” Now it’s his face turning bright red.
Digging into my back pocket, I pull out my phone and practically shove it into Brody’s chest. “It’s nothing. Here. Take this, stay in here, and play some games for a few, okay? Don’t come out until I come and get you. Understand?”
The electronic-addicted kid doesn’t even bother to answer before he unlocks my phone and dives into the first game his little fingers can find.
Satisfied he’ll be occupied for a few minutes, I stomp toward the rap music like a woman on a mission as the stupid bra swings from side to side.
When girlish laughter reaches my ears––along with the stifling heat from a crack in the back door––I grit my teeth.
Swinging it open with more gusto than I probably should, I march toward the steaming hot tub tucked toward the side of the house.
They don’t notice me at first. Clearly, the two people in the hot tub are both preoccupied. Still, it doesn’t stop me from taking in their precarious position. Mr. Asshat is lounging in the hot tub while Ms. Lacy Bra is straddling him…topless. His tattooed arms roam her back lazily while she peppers kisses along his neck. It takes everything inside of me not to avert my eyes or slink back into the house before they notice me.
Yet, somehow, I find the nerve to stay firm and yell, “Hey, Asshat! Mind if we chat for a second?”
The girl in his lap twirls around in surprise before pressing her bare chest into Liam’s.
Her shrill voice could break glass as she shrieks, “Who the hell are you?”
“She’s the nanny,” Liam answers her, his tone laced with indifference before he addresses me. “Is there a problem?”
I balk. “Yeah. I’d say so. Your little brother just found his first bra lying on the couch. Thanks for that, by the way. The back door was open, letting all the cool air out, so your house is like a freaking sauna. The music is so loud that I’m surprised the cops aren’t knocking down the front door for disturbing the peace, and don’t even get me started on the profanity that’s blasting louder than a foghorn. Do you really think it’s appropriate for a six-year-old to listen to this crap?” Waving my hand at the topless bimbo, I add, “And let’s not forget about your houseguest. What if Brody had seen this? Do you have any decency at all?”
I point to said bimbo. “And you! Do you have any self-respect? Do you know who this asshat is? I’d bet twenty bucks right now that he doesn’t even know your name. Yet, here you are, straddling the guy and moaning like he’s a freaking gift from the heavens. Give it a rest. Get some clothes on. And get the hell out of here before I make you.”
My chest is heaving by the time I finish my little monologue only to see Liam’s mouth quirked up in amusement.
“Anything else, Nanny?” he sneers.
Teeth gritting, I wad the bra up into the shape of a baseball and chuck it at his head. Bimbo squeals as the flimsy material narrowly misses her before landing on the side of the hot tub and slipping into the water.
Liam’s gaze darkens as he murmurs, “You missed.”
“Next time, I won’t.”
Turning on my heel, I rush inside, slamming the door behind me. My blood is boiling as I rest my back against the glass door and take a few deep breaths.
I hate him. I hate him. I hate him, I chant to myself.
“Everything okay?” Brody asks, making me jump.
“Yup,” I force out. “Just peachy.”
Fooling You
Also by Kelsie Rae
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