All In: Playing the Fool (Gambling With Love) (28 page)
Read All In: Playing the Fool (Gambling With Love) Online
Authors: Lane Hart
Joe Montgomery
Saturday morning I was stoked to be heading down the highway on the way to see Lacy. I'd missed her living with me in my house, even though she'd only stayed with me a few weeks. I was still happy for her and Will, and knew they were going to be together for the long haul. He'd do anything and everything to make her happy, and Lacy deserved a good guy like him. Now if only I could figure out how to have the same thing.
As soon as my and Chad's car doors shut Lacy appeared at the front door of her townhouse. A second later she was coming down the steps and jumping into my arms.
"Hey, and I missed you too," I laughed, picking her up so her legs could wrap around my waist. She pressed her face to my neck and it almost felt like she was leaving behind moisture. Oh shit, was she crying?
"What's wrong?" I asked as I carried her up to join Will on the porch. She shook her head but didn't answer. "Is Will being an ass? I'll set him straight," I teased. "It was a joke, Will. Jeez, relax," I told him when I noticed his solemn expression.
"Hey, Chad," Lacy said, looking behind me.
"Hey, Lacy. Will," he replied.
We didn't make it inside before another car pulled into the parking lot. An expensive sports car.
"Holy shit! Is that Zack Bradford? What's he doing here, Lacy?" I asked, recognizing the incredibly famous quarterback.
"Wow," Chad said. I think he was in lust as the big man got out of his car and walked toward where we all waited at the front door.
"Lacy, what the hell is this about?" he barked. Wow, what an asshole.
"Sorry to waste your precious time, Zack, but it'll only take a minute," she told him, climbing down from my arms.
Lacy led the way into the living room with all of us following. After Will sat down on their cream colored sofa, she curled up on his lap while I took the seat beside them, and Chad and Zack sat down in the two matching brown leather chairs.
"So, um, the reason you're all here is to tell you, well, you all need to know that I'm ah, pregnant," Lacy said quickly.
What the fuck? Oh shit.
"Will's the father, right? I asked, jumping up from my seat after it felt like I'd been sucker punched.
"We don't know. That's why you're all here," Lacy responded, and I felt all the blood drain from my face.
"Oh fuck," Chad muttered.
"You're shitting me, right?" Zack asked.
"Nope, not shitting you."
"How the fuck did this happen?" Zack yelled getting to his feet.
"Calm down," Will told him. "Lacy lost track of time when her mom passed away. She had a lot on her."
I stood as frozen as a statue listening to them argue.
"More important things than not getting knocked the fuck up? What the hell Lacy? You don't even have an idea of which of the
four
of us is the father?" Zack continued his tirade.
"It's probably Will's, but…"
"Oh God," I said when understanding hit. There were four men here, so there was a one in four chance that Lacy was pregnant with
my
baby.
"Joe, you okay? You look pale. Maybe you should sit down a minute," I barely heard Lacy through the blood pounding through my head.
I finally nodded and sat back down beside her and Will. Oh shit, I bet Lacy was freaking the hell out. She had a baby growing inside of her. And it might be mine. I gently pulled her onto my lap and wrapped her tightly in my arms.
When I could finally ease my grip I kissed her, soft and slowly. "How are you doing with all this?" I asked her, resting my forehead against hers. Lacy's eyes watered and she only shrugged in response.
"You just sit there and let him do whatever the hell he wants with her?" Zack asked Will.
"No," Will responded coolly. "
Lacy
lets him do whatever he wants with her. It's her decision to make, not mine."
"So you just put up with her fucking other guys?"
"If that's what makes her happy, then yes. What she does with him doesn't change how she feels about me."
What would make me happy at the moment would be stripping down and rolling around in the sheets with Lacy. I hadn't been with her in weeks and I'd missed her. I'd missed the connection we have that isn't a romantic type love but an easy friendship with seriously great fucking.
I kissed Lacy again, showing her with my tongue what I wanted. She understood and said a quiet, "Please." I stood up from the couch with her in my arms and started down the hallway.
"We're going to go fuck now, so you can leave, Zack. I'll let you know when the baby's born in February if we need to do a DNA test for you. I really hope it's not yours," Lacy told the arrogant man.
"Wow," was all I heard him say before we made it to the guest bedroom.
Our mouths stayed joined when I laid her down on the bed and covered her body with mine. My hands went up her shirt, removing it, and then tugged down her shorts. I wanted to kiss and touch her everywhere.
"I've never been with a pregnant woman before," I said, making Lacy laugh. "Oh shit, look at your gorgeous titties." My mouth sucked each of her incredible, heavy breasts while my hand went between her thighs. I'd barely touched her when she came.
"Well, that was easy," I laughed.
Lacy cringed and closed her eyes. "That's me alright. I'm slutty and easy."
"Lacy, you know that's not what I think. Look, just tell everyone the baby is Will's. After he or she is born we'll all figure it out and then it can just be our secret. No one else has to know."
She nodded. "It's probably his, but I'm scared that it might not be."
"There's nothing we can do about it now. So stop worrying and let me fuck you. No, since you're a delicate pregnant woman I better make love to you," I joked, earning a small smile.
"I've missed you. Move to Charlotte," she said looking up at me with sad blue eyes.
"I've missed you too, but I can't. Even if I had a job down here…I…"
"You're still trying to woo Katie. I know and I want that to work out for you, I'm just selfish and like having you like this," she explained.
"I love being with you like this, but you know it's not enough for me."
"I know. You deserve more," she said.
I didn't want to think about how I'd just completely crashed and burned at work this week with the woman I'd give anything to have.
"How are you and Will doing with this news?" I asked. Some strange, "My seed is stronger," macho bullshit desire had a part of me wishing this baby was actually mine. So I couldn't even begin to imagine how tough this must be on Will.
"He's too good to me," she sniffled. "And I'm just a pregnant slut that keeps hurting him." That’s when Lacy started sobbing uncontrollably, and I had no idea what the fuck to do.
"Will!" I yelled, hoping he knew how to make her tears stop.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Will asked when he appeared in the doorway.
"We were talking and then she just started bawling," I explained in a panic.
"She's been like this all week," he said, climbing into bed and pulling her against his chest.
"Lacy, remember what I've told you?" he asked, rubbing a hand through her hair and one down her bare back. "This is my baby too, and I don't care what the paternity test says. I can share you, and I can share our baby. So stop blaming yourself and feeling guilty, because I'm not going anywhere. Ever."
Lacy cried softly for a while, then it sounded like she said, "You're my plastic rose," between sniffles.
Will laughed and kissed the top of her head. "I'm the toughest motherfucking rose ever made, sweetheart."
I had no idea what the hell they were talking about, but I knew it sounded pretty damn incredible. I also knew that if I wanted Katie, I’d have to find a way to let Lacy go. That was going to be almost impossible to do, especially if their baby was mine.
Zack Bradford's ego is so big that it can barely be contained in the stadium where he plays professional football. The quarterback previously named Rookie of the Year and deemed the Sexiest Man Alive is on top of the world. Or at least he was, until he gets hit by a scandal that could end his career. To keep his multi-million dollar contract with the family oriented Wildcats, Zack has to improve his playboy image, starting with settling down with one woman…and he must do so in less than a week's time!
Natalie Adair's life changed dramatically when she found out she had breast cancer at the young age of twenty-one. Deciding to dedicate her second chance at life helping others, Natalie accepts a job at one of the nation’s largest breast cancer foundations, devoting her time to helping other women find and treat cancer early on. The organization's most lucrative fundraiser every year is the auction of autographed team merchandise by pro football players, and this year Natalie's in charge of the event. Not only is it a great cause, but the event provides Natalie with the opportunity to get up close and personal with incredibly hot players, including the quarterback from college who swept her off her feet with a kiss of epic proportions. After her and Zack Bradford's kiss in their sophomore year, Natalie went right back to being invisible…that is, until their two paths cross again.
Zack can't believe his luck when a beautiful saint, one that actually works for a cancer charity for Christ’s sake, practically falls into his lap. She is just the woman he needs to save his job. The only problem? The tiny, feisty, and somewhat familiar blonde flat out turns him down. Zack welcomes the challenge of having to actually work to woo a woman for once, but he warns Natalie that once he decides he wants to play, he only plays to win.
Will Natalie be able to resist Zack's persistence and charisma, or will she overcome her insecurities and end up falling for the player?
&
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Sam West
I pulled the pillow tighter over my head. I was trying ineffectively to block out the sun shining through my bedroom window, and the alarm clock screeching out a horrible pop song. I don't know why I leave it on this shitty radio station, except for it beats waking up to
beep-beep-beep
.
I blindly reached over to the nightstand and slapped my hand around until I found and hit the snooze button, giving myself ten more minutes. Work begins for me at the ungodly hour of eight a.m., and since there were bills to pay and video games to buy, the next time my alarm went off, I'd make myself get up.
I felt the dip in the foot of my mattress an instant before I heard his annoying voice.
"Get up jackass. I'm hungry, and you're going to be late for work."
I grabbed the pillow and swatted at the fat-ass orange and white tiger-striped cat to knock him off my bed.
"Get the fuck out of my room Chris!" I yelled at him. I have got to remember to lock my damn door!
"I bet a slash across your face will get you moving,” he threatened.
"I'll feed you in ten minutes if you'll leave me the hell alone! But I swear, if you scratch me with your filthy shit covered claws, I’ll snap you in half!”
"That reminds me, you need to change my cat litter too, asshole," he said as he finally gave up and sulked away.
"You know how to use the fucking toilet!" I screamed after him.
"I know, but my claws slip and I fall in. Then I have to spend the whole damn day licking piss water off myself," he whined.
Chris had been annoying the shit out of me for years, but he was one of the few friends I had. Five years ago he'd been on the run from the D.R.A and turned himself into a cat. He'd been one ever since because the idiot didn't stir the counter-spell before transforming. It wasn't the cat part of him that bothered me, it was his non-stop mouth. Why the stupid spell left him with the ability to talk was just my luck.
I really should give the guy some slack though. There didn't seem to be an end in sight for his feline days. He'd showed me how to do the spell reversal, and we’d tried it at least a dozen times, but using his kitty blood was always a no-go. Dumb ass.
When the alarm went off again I finally rolled out of the warm cozy bed and headed to the bathroom. I did remember to lock the bathroom door before I found my way to the toilet. My eyes were still closed as I took a piss then turned on the shower and got undressed.
As soon as the steaming water in the shower hit me I finally started to wake up. I washed my face then scrubbed my head with shampoo, feeling more and more like myself. Then I really woke up as my washcloth grazed my morning wood.
Finishing that task only reminded me of my lack of a love life, but it's hard to form lasting relationships with women when you're a disgusting leech.
I grabbed the plush green towel from the rack beside the shower and ran it over my body before using it to dry my dark blonde hair. Damn, I was in desperate need of a haircut, but I just didn’t give a shit. I could use a shave too, but didn't feel like wasting the time on it.
I brushed my perfectly straight white teeth, pulled on the clinic's white logo polo, a pair of jeans and my grey New Balances, then I was out the door.
Shit! My foot was hovering on the first step of the porch when I remembered I didn't feed Chris. I reluctantly turned back around and unlocked the front door, heading to the kitchen. He could just rip open the bag of food with his claws if he got hungry enough, but then I'd be the one who'd have to eventually clean up the mess.
"Hey, Chris," I yelled. "Do you want bologna or cat food today?"
A second later he came bouncing all nimbly-pimbly into the kitchen from his bedroom, directly across from mine. "Bologna! And make it two slices," he answered.
Since he’d been a cat, his food preferences had tended to be that of a regular feline, which was fine with me. Bologna and cat food were cheap, and saved me a shitload of money at the grocery store.
"Fine. Here," I said as I threw the slices on a plate and sat it down on the floor. I hated when he ate on the counter, getting his little white and orange hairs all over everything.
"Thanks man. See ya' after work," he told me.
I turned on the TV in the living room for the poor bastard, then went back out the front door again, this time actually making it to and sitting down in my blue trash filled Mazda 3 Sport.
Looking at the clock on the dash I had a good five minutes to spare, so I made a detour for a caffeine and sugar rush. Luckily the drive thru lane at Donut World was short, and with four coffees and a dozen doughnuts for myself and my equally grouchy coworkers, I headed to the clinic. It would be my Happy Fucking Friday gift to them.
On blood drive days I'm supposed to check in at our headquarters downtown by eight a.m. to get everything packed up before we hit the road. I work at the local blood bank, but usually once a week we take our enormous blood mobile out around the community.
It was a little over eight years ago that I had the brilliant idea to go to school and get my certification in phlebotomy. Even as a vampire, I was one lazy son of a bitch. Having to go out and find my own blood sources was too stressful and tedious, especially when giving in to one lust usually led to the other.
Why go through all that trouble of finding someone to bite when I could just work at the place that always had a supply? It's like they were paying me to survive. I don't call taking a bag of blood here or there "stealing" per say. I know humans need the blood donated for accidents and surgeries and all that other blah, blah, blah. But what I do is a freaking public service. Besides, I try to only drink the bad shit.
Since I've been consuming blood for over fifty-eight years I can smell and taste the difference between healthy, sick, and really sick donor blood. Over the years, each and every time I've sniffed or slurped one of the closet deathbed cases, I've been a damn fine Samaritan. I get their phone number from their records, call them right up and tell them that our "laboratory tests" suggest they have an illness, and they should contact their doctor immediately. I've lost count of the number of lives I've possibly saved. Of course our tests will show when someone has HIV and a few other diseases, and the donor might get notified weeks or months after they donate. My way is much quicker.
I pulled into my parking spot in front of the rundown brick building almost ten minutes late, and noticed all three of my coworkers were already there. They overlooked my lateness however, when I walked in the door and they saw what was in my hands. All three ladies converged on me with a, "Thanks, Sam," to grab up breakfast and devour it at their desks so we could hit the road.
Doris was the oldest and shrewdest of my three female coworkers, and technically my boss. In her fifties with salt and pepper hair, spare tire around her midsection, and permanent frown, she scared the shit out of me until I realized she wasn't as mean as she looked.
Then there was Anna. She was in her mid-thirties and a single mom with two small brats. She'd given up on appearances and rocked her ponytail every day without the care or hope of ever finding a man. She’d only been here at the clinic a few years longer than I had, and she pretty much kept to herself, just trying to get through the daily exhaustion that was her life.
Finally there was Betsy, the anti-Doris. Always happy and pleasant to the point of annoyance, she was just out of college and still acted childish. She showed up to work today, just like every day, as if we were having a damn beauty pageant. Her face was caked with bright colors making her look like a clown, and her bad blonde dye job was sticking out and smelled like it held a can of hairspray. I knew Betsy had a thing for me but she was so not my type, and I didn't just mean her blood.
I wasted no time putting down my two doughnuts and coffee. Hell yes I still had to eat and drink regular food, even though I happen to be a bloodsucker. Then, since I was the only male in the building, it was time for me to start loading up all the heavy boxes and equipment onto the bus.
All three of the women were the stereotypical horrible drivers, so I took over the blood mobile’s huge steering wheel, and we made our way through honking rush hour traffic to one of the local colleges. I was all too familiar with the perfectly landscaped and picturesque campus of Madison University.
As every guy in this town knew, Madison had an overwhelming majority of rich bitches attending, most of them all caught up in their artsy-fartsy majors. Twice a year the sorority girls took a timeout from their partying and hazing to hold blood drives. It gave them the chance to put out signs and get on the local news, bolstering their "community service" image.
On a good day the school could usually get about fifty of the four thousand students to donate. Forty-five of those donated to get out of class for the entire day, and the other five gave just because they were decent human beings.
By nine-thirty we already had two takers, or givers as the case may be. The first went to sourpuss Doris, and the second to scatterbrained Anna. Since Betsy was still learning the ropes and mostly doing the administrative paper shuffle, it meant I was up next.
I was still arranging my supplies in the tiny cramped work area on the back of the bus when I heard Betsy tell our next contestant to come on down. I turned around with my professional smile to greet my first donor, then instantly frowned and let out a sigh. Of all the people that could walk through my blood mobile, it was just my luck that I would get stuck with her.