Hammer & Nails (14 page)

~
Thirteen
~

~ Harley ~

I’m going to kill Nolan. Nice and slowly. I’ve never in my life been so overly pampered. He sent me to this salon to get ready for the Bruisers Benefit for Breast Cancer, which is tonight. I thought I was just getting my hair and makeup done. Oh no! He signed me up for the works - hair, nails (fingers and toes), leg waxing, facial, and makeup.

Okay, I will say that the facial is really nice. And my nails look pretty, even if I will be destroying them when I go back to work. Having my hair and makeup done is no biggie; I can handle that. What I can’t deal with, and I refuse to do ever again, is having my legs waxed. Hell fucking yeah, they are smoother than glass, but
goddamn
did that hurt! I will get my revenge on Nolan for that one. My legs weren’t that bad and I totally could have shaved. I’m going to get him when he least expects it. Like when he’s sleeping. I’m going to get some of those pre-waxed strips and I’m going to slap them on his legs and yank them the fuck off, see how he likes it!

After I get all prettied up, I go home to get dressed. I walk in the front door just as Nolan steps into the living room in his tux. The song from OneRepublic
- Stop and Stare
- plays in my head because that is exactly what I’m doing. I can only stare at Nolan, who looks ridiculously handsome in his fitted black tux and bow tie. He smiles shyly and buttons the tuxedo jacket before smoothing his hands down the lapels.

“How do I look?” he asks, holding his hands out.

“I’m trying not to jump your bones right now, so what do you think?” I rasp.

Nolan chuckles.

“Your hair and makeup look amazing,” he says.

“Yeah? Well, I have a bone to pick with you later about all this,” I growl, motioning with my hand to my body.

Nolan bites back a smile. “You’ve got a lot of bones on your mind, don’t you?”

“Dick,” I bite out as I shove past him. “I have to get dressed so we won’t be late.”

I hear him snicker as I slam the bedroom door shut. I smile and shake my head to myself. It only takes me a few minutes to put on my dress. I look at myself in the mirror. I must admit that I look very sexy. I slip my feet into my work boots and open the door. I find Nolan in the kitchen, drinking a glass of water

“Well?” I prompt, making sure my boots are showing.

Nolan’s eyes immediately go to my feet and he chokes on his water. He has to spin around and lean over the sink as he sprays water out of his mouth. He coughs hard a couple of time before grabbing a paper towel and dries his face. I can’t help but laugh.

“Harley! You better be joking!”

I give him an innocent look. “You mean I can’t wear my boots?”

“Babe, come on, put your heels on so we can go.” He smirks.

“Ugh, fine!” I huff. “But you’re massaging my feet when we get home.”

I go back into the bedroom and put on the four-inch heels that Nolan bought for me. I’ve been wearing them when I get home from work so that I can walk like a normal person in them. And I have got to say, I’ve gotten pretty damn good in them. I can even run in them. Of course, that was thanks to Nolan chasing me around the house with a Nerf gun.

When I walk back out into the living room, Nolan smiles. “Much better. You look gorgeous.”

I smile. “Thank you.”

He steps up to me and places his hands on my hips. He leans down and gives me a kiss on the cheek.

“I don’t want to mess up your lipstick,” he murmurs quietly. “And this…” He runs a finger between my breasts, where my cleavage is very exposed due to the dangerously low V cut of the dress. “…is going to drive me crazy all night,” he says gruffly.

“Maybe if you’re a good boy I’ll let you fuck me in a broom closet,” I purr, snaking my hand down to cover the hard-on that he’s sporting.

Nolan closes his eyes. I see his nostrils flare and his jaw clench. “Babe.” He warns.

I abruptly let him go and back up. “Come on, let’s go,” I chirp and start for the door.

Nolan groans and follows me out the door.

When we get there, Nolan hands his keys to valet then holds out his elbow for me. I slip my arm through his and let him lead me into the venue. The benefit is being held in the ballroom of the Massachusetts Convention Center.

We walk into the ballroom and I’m blown away by the elegance of the decorations. There is a dance floor in the center, which is surrounded by tables. There is a long main table on a dais, which seems to be where all of the head honchos are sitting; Nolan’s dad being one of them. At one end of the room is a large buffet and food display, along with a bar. The DJ is on the other side of the room in a booth set up in one corner. And since the benefit is for breast cancer, all of the decorations are done in different shades of pink. I look at Nolan.

“You did all this?” I ask in awe.

He shrugs humbly. “Brock helped a lot.”

“This is incredible,” I tell him. “Your mom would be so proud of you.”

Nolan gives me a small grateful smile before leading me over to a small table with the place cards. He grabs our names then leads us to the table just off to the right of the head table. Brock and his wife are sitting there, sipping on flutes of champagne. 

Brock smiles at us. “Hey, guys!”

He stands and shakes Nolan’s hand before giving me a peck on the cheek. “Hey, Brock. Hi, Marie! Good to see you again,” I say giving her a hug.

“You, too, Harley!” she replies.

“Everything going smoothly?” Nolan asks Brock.

“So far.” He nods.

“Good.”

I glance around the room. I look up at the main table to see Mr. Hammerstein shooting daggers at me. I just roll my eyes. Whatever, old man. The other tables are occupied with a mixture of players and their spouses, and people I don’t know, but they are probably people who work with Nolan. I catch sight of Roman. He’s talking to a couple of guys that I don’t know. He sees me and sends me a smirk and a wink. Greaaat. That’s just what I need, Roman flirting with me.

~ Nolan ~

I watch Harley and Marie as they dance their little asses off on the packed dance floor. After a few glasses of wine and a glass of scotch, plus being here a couple of hours already, I’m in need of a bathroom. I let Brock know where I’m off to before leaving the table. It only takes me a few minutes to take a piss and come back into the ballroom. In that short amount of time, I can see that Roman has swooped in to try to sweep Harley off her feet. He’s got his arms around her waist, his big hands practically engulfing her ass. I can see that she’s pushing against his chest and turning her face away as he leans his large frame down to talk to her. He must be hammered. I make my way through the crowded dance floor toward them. I come up behind Harley, pull her out of his arms, and tuck her against my side.

“Get your goddamn hands off of my girlfriend, Borovsky,” I bark at Roman.

Roman gives me a bitter smile.

“I really don’t know what you see in his guy, Harley,” Roman says and motions toward me.

His eyes are glassy and he’s swaying on his feet a little bit. Definitely drunk.

“Harley is too good for you, Hammerstein. Come on, Harley, I’ll forgive you for punching me in the balls if you leave here with me,” Roman says with a smug smile and holds out his hand to Harley. 

Harley rolls her eyes and gives an exasperated sigh. “Really, Roman? You’re making me want to punch you in the balls
again
.”

Roman’s smile is gone in a flash. His eyes blaze furiously as he glares at Harley. “Listen here, you little twat, you’re lucky I even showed you any attention with being as manly as you are…” Roman snaps, pointing his finger at Harley, who gasps in outrage.

“Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to, Roman?” I growl, stepping up to him.

I wish I were a couple of inches taller so I could get in his face. He would have to bend down for me to do that right now.

“I’m not talking to you, Hammerstein. I’m talking to your boyfriend,” he snarls, looking at Harley over my shoulder.

I glance over my shoulder when I hear Harley burst out laughing. I raise an eyebrow at her. What the hell is she laughing about?

“I’m sorry.” She giggles, waving a hand in front of her face. “I just found that funny.”

“You think it’s funny that I called you a man?” Roman asks in confusion.

“Well, that. And the fact that you’re getting all pissy and calling me names because you’re not getting something that you want. What are you... five? Grow the hell up and leave Nolan and me alone,” she says, her tone turning serious at the end.

I smile proudly at my girlfriend. I love that she doesn’t take any bullshit from anyone and stands up for herself.

“Aw, Nolan, your boyfriend is sticking up for you because you’re too much of a pussy to fight for him, how cute,” Roman taunts.

My temper rises fast and furiously. My fists ball at my sides and it’s taking every ounce of control I have not to swing at him, because I know if I do, I’ll be the one knocked the fuck out. Harley grabs my arm and gives it a tug.

“Come on, baby. He’s not worth it,” she says softly.

I let her pull me away while still glaring at Roman. 

“He’s just jealous because my dick is bigger than his,” Harley says loud enough for Roman and a few of his teammate who were watching to hear.

His teammates all chuckle while Roman tells them to shut the fuck up.

Harley pulls me out of the room and into the hallway. She turns to face me and puts her hands on the sides of my neck then pulls me down to give me a soft kiss on the lips. “Don’t listen to him, Nolan.”

“He just pisses me off.”

“I know. But he’s an asshole, nothing we do or say will change that.”

I sigh. “I know.

Harley kisses me again then uses her thumb to rub off the lipstick she transferred to my lips. I smirk.

“How about I give my little speech and then we can get the hell out of here?”

“Ugh! That sounds fantastic! I’ve got to get out of this dress and these heels!”

I laugh and take her hand. I lead her back to the table and have her sit with Brock and Marie while I go to the DJ booth for a microphone. I give a little speech every year just thanking everyone for coming and donating.

As I make my way to the dais where my father is sitting with the other higher ups, the DJ kills the music. I stand in front of the long table and bring the mic up.

“Good evening, everyone,” I start will a small smile. “I just want to take a moment to thank everyone for being here and supporting this wonderful cause. As you all know, it’s very close to my heart as my mother passed away from breast cancer.”

I glance at Harley who gives me an encouraging smile.

“I’ve worked for the Bruisers organization for almost eight years now. My father has kept me under this thumb by offering me shit tons of money…”

“Nolan!” my father bites out in warning behind me.

I give him a bored look before continuing. “What I really wanted to do and what I went to Harvard for, was to help find a cure for cancer. I’ve finally…
finally
built up the courage to look for a new job, working in the field that I went to college for. I’ve finally realized that money doesn’t mean everything to me.” Looking at Harley again and giving her a loving smile. “I’ve finally realized that money will not make me happy. So dad, I quit.”

I turn to look at him to find him absolutely fuming in his seat. I wouldn’t be surprised if his chair burst into flames. I give him a look that says, “Sorry, not sorry,” and shrug.

“Hammerstein out,” I say in parting into the mic before dropping it onto the table in front of my dad.

I jump down from the dais and grab Harley’s hand, pulling her to her feet. The silent room erupts in a round of applause, whistles, and cheers as Harley and I flee from the room.

Outside, I wrap Harley in my arms and swing her around. She squeals and hugs me tightly around my neck. I set her back on her feet and she screams excitedly.

“Oh my god! That was epic, Nolan! Hammerstein out,” she mimics.

I laugh. “I don’t know what came over me!”

Harley shakes her head in awe before she plucks at the shoulder of my tux jacket and says, “Can’t touch this.”

I burst out laughing as she breaks into MC Hammer’s
Can’t Touch This
. I’m so fucking happy that I join her. We start doing the Hammer dance and the running man while singing. We’re laughing so hard that we have tears running down our cheeks. The valet guys are staring at us like we’re insane.

This night will be one that I always remember and I have only one person to thank…Harley Jameson.

~
Epilogue
~

~ Christmas, One Year Later ~

~ Nolan ~

“Nolan, can you get the door?” Harley calls from the kitchen where she’s making breakfast.

I just grunt my reply. It’s way too early for this, but Harley insists on having her family over for breakfast on Christmas Day. She says that it’s tradition and they usually do it at her dad’s, but since this is our first Christmas in our house, she wants to have it here.

I open the front door only to have a warm dish shoved into my hands by Nate. “Morning, fucker,” he grumbles, looking even less awake then I am.

He pushes past me and goes straight into the living room where he collapses onto the couch on his stomach. Jason is next to walk in; he just rolls his eyes at his brother before clapping me on the shoulder as he walks by. Shane gives me a nod as he carries in a tower of wrapped presents.

“Hey, man.”

“Hey,” I grunt.

John is the last one in the door. He smiles and places a hand on my shoulder as he shuts the door behind him. “Hey, Nolan, how you doing?”

I just mumble incoherently, making him chuckle. He takes the plate from my hands and brings it into the kitchen. The house turned out amazingly. Harley and I absolutely love it. And I absolutely love her. I love living with her. It’s gone much better than I expected.

I go and shove some feet out of the way so that I can sit on the couch, too. Nate kicks me.

“Shouldn’t you be in the kitchen helping Harley cook?” he mumbles, his voice muffled by a couch pillow that he’s lying on.

“She kicked me out of the kitchen because she said I was grumpy,” I snort.

“Oh, good for you, stay grumpy.” Shane snickers.

I smirk.

Ten minutes later, John calls us all in to eat. The kitchen is big enough for all of us to fit, so we can eat in there. After we tear through an insane amount of pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, and french toast, we go back into the living room where the tree and all of the presents are.

Harley bounces excitedly on the couch, clapping her hands together. “Who wants to go first?”

“I will,” I say.

I move over to the pile of gifts that are for Harley and pick the one that I want to give her. I’ve wanted to give it to her for months now, but I wanted to make this a little special, and I wanted her family to be here to witness it, too.

I walk over to Harley and “accidentally” drop her present on the floor at her feet. “Shit,” I mutter and get down on one knee and pick it up. When I look up at her, she’s smiling excitedly. Harley LOVES Christmas. Loves it! Our house is so heavily decorated that I don’t think we can fit one more decoration anywhere.

I glance at John, who is smiling knowingly. He gives me a wink and a small nod. Yeah, I knew he would approve. He’s pretty much my father now, since mine has disowned me. I hand Harley the box and she tears the snowman wrapping paper off as fast as she can. She gasps and covers her mouth with her hand when she reveals the trademark blue Tiffany’s box.

“Nolan,” she breathes, lifting her eyes to mine.

I smile at her. “Open it.”

Harley slowly opens the box, revealing the one-carat heart shaped diamond ring. Her eyes widen and she gasps loudly, her hand clamping over her mouth.

“Baby, you had to know this was coming.” I chuckle. “I love you. You’re my everything and I can’t imagine my life without you. Will you marry me?”

Harley lifts her teary-eyed gaze to mine and nods. “Yes!”

She throws herself in my arms, propelling us to the floor. I land on my back with an “oof” as Harley lands on top of me. She plants a hard kiss on my lips. I can hear her dad and brothers laughing behind us. After a couple more kisses, Harley lets me up. I take the ring from her and slip it on her finger. She holds her hand out and gawks at it.

“It’s so beautiful,” she says in awe.

“Congrats, sweetheart,” John says, sounding a little choked up as he pulls Harley into a big hug.

With the congratulations done and over with, Harley goes to the pile of presents. “Okay, it’s my turn!”

She grabs five boxes that all look about the same.

“You have to open these all at the same time,” she says as she hands us each a box.

I tear off the wrapping paper and lift the lid off the standard sized clothing box. Inside is a t-shirt. I lift it out and open it up. It doesn’t register right away…what it says. I blink a few times before looking around at everyone else. They are all looking at their shirts the same way.

“Harley, are you pregnant?” Shane finally asks.

She grins and yells, “Surprise!”

Pregnant? Harley is pregnant? With my baby? Holy shit! I look back down at my shirt, which says: #1 Daddy. Oh my god, I’m going to be a daddy!

“Nolan?” Harley’s hesitant tone has me snapping my head up to look at her.

“How far along are you?” I ask softly.

“11 weeks,” she answers.

I nod. “Thaaat explains a lot.” I chuckle and stand, pulling her into my arms.

“I’m sorry, I would have told you but I wanted it to be a surprise for all of you together,” she says.

“This is incredible,” I breathe into her hair.

“So you’re happy?” she asks.

“Ecstatic, babe,” I murmur and kiss her passionately.

There are a couple of groans from her brothers but I don’t care. My fiancée is pregnant with my baby! Harley pulls away breathless and swats at my chest playfully. “That’s how this happened in the first place.”

I laugh.

John pulls Harley out of my arms and into another bear hug. “Oh, sweetie, I’m so happy for you! And I can’t wait to be a grandfather! I thought I was going to have to wait forever because none of these assholes are even dating anyone,” John grunts and sends his sons a pointed look.

They all grumble to themselves, which has me snickering.

“Let me see your T-shirts,” I say to them.

Nate, Shane, and Jason hold up their T-shirts. I laugh when I read what’s on them. Nate’s says, “The Cool Uncle,” Jason’s says, “The Nerdy Uncle,” and Shane’s says, “The Smart Uncle.” I then ask to see John’s T-shirt, which he proudly holds up. It says, “What happens at Grandpa’s stays at Grandpa’s!”

The End.