The Jackpot Screwer: Enemies to Lovers (Love In Dayton Valley Book 2) Page 12

  “What?” Ellie cried. “Are you turning soft on me, Delaney?”

  “No, no.” He frowned and shook his head. “I just think there’s much better things we can burn him with.”

  He shot a gaze at me, a look that said this wasn’t over. I knew that as soon as his proposal to Ellie was out of the bag all bets were off. Me shitting myself on the way out of my mom’s cooch was not something that would go away.

  Ellie shrugged and took a swig of her beer. “I guess so. The fact that he’s ginger is enough.”

  “Hey,” I cried. “There’s nothing wrong with being ginger.”

  “Hmm,” Ellie mused. “I kinda disagree. I mean the color is nice and everything, but everyone knows when it’s you who was the last one to use the soap.”

  Hunter and Dad bust out laughing while Mom looked a little perplexed.

  “How’s that, sweetheart?” she asked.

  “Really, Mom?” Ellie rolled her eyes. “You seriously don’t get it?”

  She shook her head as Dad put an arm around her shoulders. “It’s to do with the color of his pubes, honey.”

  Mom looked at him for a beat and then gasped. “Ellie, that’s disgusting. And don’t give your brother crap about being ginger. His hair is beautiful. Anyway, I’d call it more titian than ginger.”

  “I don’t care that I’m ginger,” I cried. “Who wants to be a guy with boring brown hair.” I looked pointedly at the handsome bastard standing next to me with his arm around my sister.

  “Quite right,” Dad agreed with a wink. “Besides you have so much more to look forward to than the guy with boring brown hair.”

  “Like what?” Ellie asked, brushing a hand over Hunt’s hair and smiling at him with a soppy loved up look on her face.

  “White hair,” Dad cried followed with a roar of laughter that everyone except me joined in with.

  “Very funny,” I growled but with a sly grin on my face. You had to love my family.

  Still chuckling to himself, Dad started to put the steaks on the grill when the side gate into the yard opened. The first sight I saw was the best birthday gift I could ever want; Bronte. She was dressed in denim shorts and a pink flowy top with cute little sleeves that did nothing to hide the bump she had her hand resting on, while the other held a gift bag. Behind followed her mom, dad and brother Austen.

  “Hey everyone,” her sexy voice called, but her eyes were on me.

  As soon as she took a step onto the patio, Mani looked up from his chew toy and ran toward Bronte, yapping his delight at seeing her.

  “Oh baby,” she crooned, handing the bag off to me and dropping to her knees to give him a belly rub. Mani obliged by rolling over onto his back and kicking his legs with joy. “You miss me?”

  My heart thudded an extra beat. He wasn’t the only one, I’d barely seen her in the week since the day I’d paid for her groceries and we’d spent the evening watching a movie.

  “Carter, he’s grown so much.”

  I looked down at her and nodded. “I know and he’s really missed you, Lollipop. You should come to the apartment to visit with him a little more.”

  She grinned and carried on scratching away at Mani’s sweet spot. “Yes, I will. I’ve just been so busy this week with the salon.”

  When she looked up at me, she literally took my breath away. I exhaled what little air I still had left in my lungs and felt a crackle of electricity between us, as her big blue eyes blinked slowly. Her chest rose slowly up and down and her hand on Mani’s belly trembled. We still had that connection, that sexual chemistry, but I had to prove to her that I could be the man she needed and the father our baby deserved.

  “We’ll eat as soon as Jefferson and the aunts get here,” I said around clearing my throat.

  “Oh. Yeah, no problem.” Her eyes darted back down to Mani and the connection was broken.

  It was at that moment that the silence between us was broken by the rest of the Delaney clan arriving.

  A couple of hours later, all the food gone, everyone seemed to be pretty relaxed and having a good time. As far as birthdays went my twenty-seventh was turning out to be pretty good. I was spending it with everyone I cared about and I just hoped the following year, with my kid there, would be even better.

  I’d had some pretty great gifts too, but the best had been a really cool digital stethoscope from Bronte. She knew mine had just been a cheap one I’d got when I first entered vet school, and I’d been promising myself a new one for ages. The fact that she’d remembered, had to mean something, didn’t it?

  Looking over to her, I was happy that she seemed okay. She was sitting with the rest of the women sipping on a glass of Mom’s homemade lemonade and there was a big smile on her face. I’d done everything I could all day to make sure she didn’t have to move or lift a finger. The fact that she looked relaxed meant I’d done my job.

  “Hey, son,” Dad called from the fire pit where he was talking with the guys. “Can you check if there’s any more beers in the refrigerator inside and bring them to the outside one.”

  I nodded and walked toward the house. As I rounded the corner, I heard giggling and whispering and pulled up short, wondering who the hell it could be. I’d have put money on it being Ellie and Hunt, but I’d just seen them both in the yard with everyone else. Creeping quietly, I poked my head around the corner of the house and there outside our back door was Austen, making out with a girl. Not-so-little-any-longer, fourteen-year-old Austen who was well on his way to second base as his hand hovered over the girl’s chest.

  “What the hell is going on?” I cried.

  Two heads parted, Austen’s dirty blond one swung around to me while his hand still hung in the air over the boob of the black-haired girl who was desperately trying to bury her face in his chest.

  “Carter,” Austen gasped, his deep voice proving his balls had finally dropped. “It’s not what you think.”

  “What that you were just about to get to second base. I bet not.” I took a step closer to them and realized it was Doc Browning’s youngest daughter, Peggy, who he’d been sucking the face off. “And you, Peggy, do your folks know you’re here?”

  The Doc and his family only lived a couple of blocks away, but it was almost dark, so I doubted whether she’d asked for permission to visit.

  Peggy’s head shot up. “They think I’m still over at Vicki’s house two doors down. Please don’t tell them.”

  Austen looked down at her and his face softened. “Carter won’t spill, he’s a good guy.”

  I kinda preened a little that Austen would say that about me, but even I knew he was probably playing me.

  “Austin, I think you better make sure Peggy gets home, don’t you?”

  “It’s okay,” Peggy cried, grabbing hold of Austen’s hand. “My dad is on his way to pick me up.”

  “You won’t tell, will you, Carter?” Austen asked, his eyes begging me. “She’s only been here a few minutes.”

  “He’s telling the truth,” Peggy added. “I was visiting with Vicki when Austen texted me that he was here.”

  Damn, they looked so scared and I was a sucker for young love.

  “I won’t say anything, but you best go wait for your dad.” I nodded toward the gate leading out to the driveway. “Austen make sure Peggy gets into her dad’s car—maybe, without him seeing you.”

  He nodded and grabbing her hand dragged her away from the house.

  I was still smiling to myself when a few minutes later, Austen sidled up beside me.

  “Can I ask you something?” He winced and scratched his head.

  “Sure, but did Peggy’s dad come get her?”

  “Yeah, I waited but he didn’t see me. So, can I ask you?”

  With my beer paused at my mouth, I nodded, happy that he’d seen his girlfriend safe.

  “How do you know if you’re ready for sex.”

  The beer that had only just entered my mouth came shooting straight back out.

  “You don’t a
t fourteen, dude.” I coughed, swiping at the beer dripping down my chin onto my tee.

  “Yeah, but I’m kinda getting the feelings,” Austen hissed putting his mouth closer to my ear. “You know, down there.”

  I blinked twice and then blew out a breath. “I… ah… I’m not sure… I guess.”

  “What’s going on guys?” Hunter came between us and slapped a hand on each of our backs.

  Looking at Austen, I pointed at him and blew out a breath before scrubbing my hand down my face.

  “I’m asking Carter for advice,” Austen whispered. “About s-e-x.”

  Hunter took a step back and looked at me. “You gave him advice about s-e-x.”

  “You do know it’s my twenty-seventh birthday today,” I cried. “You don’t have to spell it out for me and why the fuck are we spelling it out anyway?”

  “Hey, douchebag,” Hunter growled and poked me in the ribs. “Kid on board.”

  “I’m fifteen,” Austen replied. “I know cuss words.”

  “You’re fourteen,” Hunter and I chimed in unison. “And no,” I added turning to Hunter. “I did not talk to him about sex. He asked, but I didn’t say anything.”

  Austen kicked at the ground and pouted. “He was pretty lame actually.”

  Hunter chuckled and put an arm around Austen. “You really should have come to me, dude. Carter isn’t the guy to talk about,” he lowered his voice, glancing around the yard, “s-e-x with. I’m much more of an expert.”

  Austen raised a brow. “Well, he got my sister pregnant and he’s a vet, so it figures that he’d know. I mean no disrespect, Hunter, but you still live with your pop.”

  I couldn’t help the loud burst of laughter that busted right from the bottom of my gut. The great Hunter Delaney had been burned by a fourteen-year-old kid.

  “You know what,” Austen sighed. “I’m just gonna YouTube it, or maybe call Shaw at Harvard.” He started to leave and then looked over his shoulder. “I should’ve known better than to ask either of you two. You both suck balls.”

  As Austen joined everyone else, I looked to Hunter.

  “What the fuck?” He pointed to Austen. “He thinks YouTube is more informative about sex than us, the two hottest, most successful with women guys in Dayton Valley.

  He was walking away, shaking his head in disbelief, when Bronte appeared next to me clutching an empty glass.

  “Hey, Lollipop, you want more lemonade.”

  She gave me a small smile. “Yes, but I can get it.”

  “No, it’s fine. You go and sit, and I’ll do it.”

  As she passed me her glass my phone started to ring. “Hang on one sec.” I looked down at the screen to see it was Nancy Andrews. It had been the apartment block maintenance meeting with the building’s owner and superintendent that afternoon. I’d asked Nancy to raise the idea of putting a gate on the shared garden and adding a shaded area. I wanted to be able to take Mani out there and not have to worry about him running off. As for the shaded area, that was for when the baby came so they didn’t get too much sun.

  “Can I call you back?” I said as I answered the phone and looked up at Lollipop. I was anxious that I would be the one to get her lemonade for her. I wanted to do everything for her. “Or you could come around later?”

  Nancy said it was no problem and she would push a copy of the meeting’s minutes under my door and she then rang off.

  As I put my phone back into my pocket, I opened my mouth to speak to Bronte, but she was already walking into the house.

  “Hey, Lollipop, I said I’d get it.”

  She stopped and looked over her shoulder, her smile had gone, sadness in her eyes took me by surprise. “It’s fine.” She shrugged. “You’re busy and I have to get used to doing things for myself.”

  Before I had time to respond, she turned and walked away and I suddenly felt as though we’d taken ten steps back, all over one glass of lemonade.

  Things with Bronte most definitely had taken a step backward, since my birthday. We’d conversed only by text and she’d had her mom pick Mani up and bring him to her house for the day instead of visiting my apartment.

  Well, enough was enough. She couldn’t avoid me any longer. I pulled up to her house, with Mani and the list of things I’d bought for the baby. I hadn’t waited to check she was good with it; I’d just gone ahead bought the stuff and fuck the consequences. I was past giving her time; I was ready to take back what was mine.

  “Carter,” Bronte gasped as she opened the door. “What’re you doing here?”

  I raised a brow. “You’re having my baby and contrary to what you think, I care. Plus, Mani wanted to see you.”

  I held up the cute black and gold fluff ball with my hand under his butt.

  “Hey, sweet baby,” she crooned and tickled him under his chin.

  I felt slightly uncomfortable in the pants department as an image of her doing the same thing to my balls, flashed through my head. Ball and dick work were my girl’s specialty for sure. I often wondered how she’d gained her skills, I mean it wasn’t the kind of thing they taught at Girl Guides, was it?

  The door opening wider brought me back to reality.

  “You best come in.”

  Stepping into the wide hallway, I put Mani down on the floor and watched as he skidded on the tiles, desperate to get to Bronte. The little guy had taste; I’d give him that. She bent to pick him up and gave me a quick flash of cleavage, surprising me at how full and big her boobs were.

  “Shit, Lollipop,” I groaned. “You want me to bust my pants.”

  Straightening up with Mani in her arms, she narrowed her eyes at me. “You shouldn’t be looking.”

  “Yeah, and like that will happen. That’s like asking a kid not to eat just ice cream at an all you can eat buffet.”

  “My titties are not part of a buffet, thank you very much.”

  I tilted my head to one side and laid my eyes firmly on them. “At my imaginary buffet they are. In fact,” I said with a sigh, “I think they’d probably be my death row meal.”

  She rolled her eyes, but I didn’t miss the slight smile that stretched her pretty pink lips. A tiny movement but even so, it gave me hope that maybe I was back in the race.

  “Apart from bringing Mani to see me, and caring about the baby,” Bronte said as she moved down the hallway. “What is it that brought you around? Because I know you, Carter Maples. There’s something else.”

  Putting Mani on the floor next to a basket of dog toys, she looked over her shoulder at me and grinned. “I couldn’t resist getting them for when he visited.”

  Her words made my chest clinch. I didn’t want him visiting. I wanted him living with me; me, Lollipop and the baby. I got that she was being cautious, but I didn’t understand how she still didn’t trust my word that she and the baby were what I wanted.

  “He certainly looks happy.” I nodded to where Mani was playing, pushing away the words I really wanted to say.

  We both watched our boy for a few seconds, loving smiles on both our faces, until Bronte took a seat on the sofa and I plonked down next to her.

  “Okay, spill it.”

  I reached inside my jacket pocket and pulled out my list. “I got these things and wanted you to know, so that way you didn’t buy them too.”

  I passed the paper to her and watched as she read through everything.

  “Carter, this must have cost you a fortune. You didn’t need to get all of this.” Her mouth dropped open into a perfect o as she looked up at me. “That’s so generous but I figured we could just get a travel crib for your apartment. It’d be much simpler than you having to set up a nursery.”

  I breathed out slowly, trying hard to hold onto my temper. It was about time she realized this wasn’t a part-time gig for me. We were having a baby together—a phrase with no truer meaning.

  “We are having a baby,” I replied, my tone low. “The key word being ‘we’. That means us, together, which also means we are not doing this sep
arately. I don’t care whether it takes you until the moment that you’re pushing him or her out, but you will realize that we are a family. One way or another, Lollipop, when you leave the hospital with that baby it will be to come home to our apartment. An apartment that will have a cute little nursery for our child. You get me?”

  Inhaling slowly, she watched me carefully, her eyes staring into mine, reading the truth in them. I held my breath, the words of reasoning already formed in my head for when she denied me. Surprising me though, her blue and purple waves bobbed as she nodded once and then twice.

  “Prove yourself to me and it’s a deal,” she whispered, her pointy little chin wobbling slightly.

  I wanted to throw my arms in the air and scream that I’d surely done enough to damn well prove how much I wanted her and the baby. However, I’d learned enough over the past few weeks to know that wasn’t the way to deal with a hormonal Bronte.

  “I will.” Smiling, I expected her to at least give me one back. Instead, she burst into tears with a loud howl that shocked Mani into dropping his rubber chicken.

  “Hey,” I soothed, pulling her against me. “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t know,” she sobbed against my shoulder. “I just want to cry.”

  “That’s okay, honey. You just cry.”

  “But you don’t know what it’s like.” She pushed me away from her and I caught sight of one of the weirdest, crying faces that I’d ever seen. God, I loved that woman more than anything, but shit she was an ugly crier.

  “I have fat ankles, my back hurts, all I want to eat are canned peaches and licorice and I’ve never felt so horny in all my damn life.” Another howl left her mouth and as it did, I was a little bothered to see a snot bubble.

  Reaching inside my pocket I pulled out a napkin. Admittedly it was a little dirty as I’d used it to wipe tuna mayo from around my mouth, but if I folded that part over, she’d be good to go.

  Not seeing, or caring, Bronte snatched it from my hand and proceeded to blow her nose on it.

  “You got me into this mess,” she whimpered and gave another blow and a wipe. “And why can I smell fish?”