JACE (Lane Brothers Book 3) (79 page)

The air is thick around us, filled with emotions that I’m struggling to assimilate as Dillon strolls into the room and smiles down at me, his eyes sparkling with an emotion I’m pretty darned sure is glee.

I feel Devon stiffen and I cringe, peeking up at him through my lashes when Dill wraps an arm around my waist and lays a fat, smacking kiss on me, his eyes so mischievous I want to bite his freaking lips and slap him upside the head.

No, Dill and I will never be an epic love story. We’re just not passionate enough about each other to be anything but really good friends and maybe a tepid marriage of convenience that sees us sharing laughter but not much chemistry.

I know this to my soul because I’ve come to accept that the only man who can make me burn is standing in front of me glaring at Dillon so violently I can almost see him pummelling him into the ground and then pissing on the left over bloody pulp.

But here’s the thing; I spent two months feeling like hell because I unconsciously went and fell for a guy I knew wasn’t even on the market. Those two months had been nights of crying into my pillow, crying in front of the TV while I watched an ad for Grooper’s super spicy mustard and basically anytime I couldn’t force myself to forget him.

When I wasn’t crying I was at work-okay so I cried there too sometimes - and then one day Dillon had spotted me at the supermarket and I hadn’t been alone. He listened to me whine about my stupidity and picked me up, dusted me off and forced me to start dating him.

Dillon and I are good together. Most days. He likes men and women, basically anything that he takes a liking to and never fails to make me laugh.

No, we’re no Romeo and Juliette but he makes me feel like I’m not some forgettable lump that no one wants and I like feeling that way. We’re friends and chances are we always will be so when he’d asked me to marry him to kill two birds with one stone-I get to be a married baby mama and he can finally get his father off his back with me as a semi-beard-I’d agreed.

We’d made a deal. He’d be my husband and take care of me and the kids, plural because he wants some of his own, and I’d be a buffer between him and his homophobic father.

Seems good enough. I’ve gone years without mind-blowing sex, I’m sure I won’t die if I never come again. So yeah, I’d said yeah, why not and I’m planning to tell my parents next week so that the news of my pregnancy won’t shock the heck out of them.

Although I don’t know who I’m kidding since my dad is probably gonna disown me when he finds out I quit law school and my job.

And now…there must be someone up their laughing their asses off at me because just when I thought I have a handle on things in walks Devon freaking Baxter and I’m right back to square one.

Screwed.

Because I know from that intense look on his face that I’m not going to marry Dill now. Devon won’t let me.

“I would suggest you get your hands and lips off my woman.”

Dillon grins before turning to Devon and scowling. I didn’t even know the guy was capable of anything but carefree mischief.

“Eh, I think you got your wires or something seriously crossed my man. Becky is my girl and we’re getting married. See? I even put this rock on her finger to prove it.” He purrs, kissing said rock and licking at my finger with a lazy smile.

The move makes me shiver, not in a good way but Devon interprets it differently and the next thing I know Dillon is smashed up against the wall and dangling from Devon’s fists.

He’s furious, like Hulk raging mad and I swear he’s going to kill him.

“Stop it!”

“No. I fucking warned you to get your hands off my woman.” He snarls and I shudder when Dillon grins and holds his hands up in surrender.

“Hey man, I told ya already. We’re engaged. I asked, she said yes and I got a rock on her. Your loss if you didn’t take your chance when you had it.”

Now he’s just got a death wish, I think, huffing out a sigh and grabbing at Devon’s arm. He’s built like a freaking line backer, a really hot English one whose ass I could probably bounce-

Focus Becky! Get the violent hunk off your fiancé and get a grip.

“Devon? Please stop trying to slam him through the wall and let him down.” I saycalmly, curling a hand around one of his fists.

He breathes out harshly and turns his eyes on me, his face so savage I gulp and blink to make sure I’ve seen right.

“He doesn’t bloody touch you.” He snarls, giving him another shake for good measure. “Clear?”

I nod once and narrow my eyes at Dillon, letting him know that his little display is not welcome right now. Later maybe but now, not after that…God, that speech was so freaking sweet and I’m still adrift in the moment.

“Fine, fine, just put me down already, your manly heroics are turning me on.”

Christ, really, he wants to mess around right now?

“Shut up Dill, before he breaks your arms. Devon, let him down. Please.”

The door bursts open and three blondes come barrelling in followed by the golden haired Logan. They all screech to a halt and watch as he slowly lowers Dill, the muscles in his upper arms bulging beneath the short sleeves of his light blue polo shirt.

“Well this is interesting, ain’t it lads? What’s doing Dev, this wanker giving you trouble then?” David asks, pulling money out of his pocket and waving it around. “My money’s on the old man!”

“Oh shut up! Would all of you just calm down and do something?” I yell, losing my temper.

“Who is he?” Logan asks suspiciously and I roll my eyes, knowing no help will come from that quarter.

Despite his broken heart Lo is a total romantic and since he’s looking at Devon like he’s the next coming or something I don’t think he’s about to help me out.

The other three clowns are grinning and egging their brother on, laying freaking bets for cripes sake! They remind me of my own brothers and I feel a grin pull at my lips till Logan whips out a hundred and gets in with the action.

“Oh for God sakes! Dillon is my-”

“Say it and I will put him through this fucking wall imp.”

“Friend.” I go with the safe option since the look on Devon’s face tells me how very little he’s fucking around right now.

“A little more than that.” Dillon protests, wincing when Devon shoves him back into the wall. “Alright, alright! Becky, do something.”

“Well, this is decidedly awkward but I quite enjoy it. Indeed I do. Are you still going to beat his face in old man? I have a hundred on you and I’m aiming to win. Any popcorn imp?”

That’s David.

“Don’t be a bloody animal Davy lad!” Garret mutters, punching his shoulder. “You eat popcorn at the
cinema
, wanker. Got any Lager for this imp?”

What!

“Shut up both of you and stop egging him on. Devon, put him down. Now. Garret, you and the terrible two go sit on the sofa and Logan, I swear to God if you go on laughing and don’t help me I will skin you.” I hiss, stomping my foot impatiently.

“Now imp, don’t stomp my seed loose from its perch. In your womb. Where
I
planted it. Please.” Devon growls, giving Dillon one last shove before walking my way and pulling me to the sofa, the one not occupied by three, nosy idiots who make me want to smile.

I end up squashed into Devon’s side, one of his arms anchoring me close which no amount of struggling can change so I give up with a snort and stick my nose in the air. Logan follows and takes the chair, his eyes twinkling when Dillon huffs and flops down on the beanbag left over from college.

“Okay, so let’s get things straight before Goldilocks gets eaten by papa bear. One; you’re planted with his kid. Ah, ah ah, shut up Goldi. Two; you’re going to marry the father of your kid or I’m calling mama and telling her what’s up. Three; looks like you just got yourself a family. Hey Goldi, do me a favour and hit the road so I can go home.”

This is all so, so-

“Hey! This is my apartment and my life, if I wanna marry Dillon I will!” I yell, doing my damnedest to wrestle out from under Devon’s arm.

“Uh, scampers, I think you may wanna wait till the guy’s safely out of reach before you piss Dev off.” Logan warns, bumping his chin at the ogre keeping me pinned to his side.

I’m so pissed off right now I could spit nails, after chewing them to dust, but one look at the fire raging in his eyes has me stepping back for a re-evaluation.

“Er, Dill go home. I’ll call you tomorrow.” I chirp.

He shrugs and grins, giving Devon a chin bump before going to the door.

“Don’t wait by the phone; she won’t be seeing you again.”

“Devon-”

“Rebecca! Choose your battles imp.”

I sit back with a huff and try not to snuggle into his heat. The scent of his citrusy aftershave wraps around me and calms the racing of my heart as the five guys sit quietly, waiting for what I don’t know.

“Can you all go home or something?” I say when the silence gets uncomfortably long and Logan keeps grinning at me like he’s won a bet or something.

“Yeah hun, just as soon as ya go pack a bag so we can get home. Don’t relish taking this tosser home without ya.”

“What? I am not going home with you people! Get out of my apartment now.” I growl, shoving at his arm when it tightens around me.

Davy shrugs and winks at Ryan while Garret rolls his eyes and gives Logan a chin bump.

“Did her mum drop her when she was a baby?”

“Because she’s playing dumb.”

“And throwing in some attitude that this situation just don’t need mate.”

The three of them chirp, finishing each other’s sentences were the last left off. I should be mad and kick all their asses but the truth is I am so taken with these boys I can’t think straight for the need to laugh.

That doesn’t mean I’m letting them walk all over me so Devon can get what he wants, but I have to say I really like them. All of them. A lot.

“Shut up you cheeky buggers. Go wait in the car while I pack some things and talk to my woman. Thanks Logan, Grey said you’d be a better bet than him. Looks like he’s right. Now bugger off the lot of you.”

I watch slack jawed as the three boys hop to, followed closely by a grinning Logan and I’m soon left alone with a grinning Devon.

“Don’t start.” He warns, lightly slapping my hip where his hand rests. “You have two options imp. Come home with me so we can start planning a wedding or come home with me so we can start planning a wedding
after
I go see your parents and tell them you’re trying to marry another bloke and keeping my child.” He warns and it’s only now that I see the anger he’s been holding back in front of Logan.

“What about the third option!” I yell, flinging his arm away and jumping to my feet. “What about what I want! You think you can make me feel like something dirty and walk away and then just pop back in here when you want your child?” I ask, breathing heavily through the lump of anger wending its way through me. “I am not going to be a casualty just because of the baby.”

I stomp to my room and start running a brush through my tangled hair and throw on a pair of low riding jeans and one of Grey’s Henleys that I stole-one of many.

“You are not-”

“Spare me okay. You didn’t give me a moment’s thought until I called you and told you I might be pregnant and then next thing I know you’re on my doorstep with your pack of misfits and you’re proposing.”

That seems to hurt him and he draws back, looking at me in a way that seems more hurt than angry.

“You don’t want the lads?”

“No. Yes. Of course I love them dummy; they’re exactly like my asshole brothers. That’s not what I meant. I’m saying you can just decide you want me all of a sudden just because of this.” I mutter, waving at my belly.

Dev

I want to say something to her like ‘I want you for you’, ‘I’ve been fighting myself since I sank my dick in you’. Maybe something romantic like ‘you’ve ruined my dick for other women’, because I haven’t so much as tried to sniff at one since I made love to her.

Love, I snort at that and shake my head. What the fuck do I know about love? The one woman I wanted to try with just told me she’s marrying some other wanker while carrying my child.

My first instinct is to close myself off and barrel right over her, take what I want without giving anything in return. But I won’t. I want to love this woman, want her to love me and build something with me.

So I’ll just have to be sneaky about it and get her to fall for me. After I’ve put a ring on her finger and have her in my home.

“You have two minutes to gather some things and be in the car or I’m ringing you father and telling him everything.”

I walk out and slam the door behind me, ignoring the feelings of guilt as I make my way downstairs and to the car waiting for us. I can’t win her if she’s not with me and having two teenagers with dicks for brains and a college student with ambitions to become the next Don Juan, I already have my hands full.

And then I still have to run my business.

So she absolutely has to be with me, even if it offends her delicate sensibilities.

“Where’s our lass?” Garret asks, looking out the window as I slide in behind the wheel.

“Coming, she needed some time to get her things together.” I grumble, unsure and starting to sweat buckets as the minutes tick by with no sign of her.

“Don’t think she’s coming old chap.” Davy huffs, glaring at me from the back seat. “Told you, you should have let us talk to her. You’ve got absolutely no game old man.”

“Shut your yap. She’s coming.”

“Uh, if by that you mean she’s driving away in a little Fiesta, then certainly, you’re right.”

And then all three jackasses pack up and start howling when I do indeed see my imp fleeing from the scene of what I will henceforth be considering her crime.

“Fuck.”

***

Becky

“No! Absolutely not.”

I scowl at Dillon where he’s lounging on the patio of his swanky penthouse apartment, doubled over with laughter even as he shakes his head and studiously ignores my pout.

“But Dill, he’s gone all possessive psycho on me!”

“Which means he’ll cut my freaking balls off if I let you do this. Really Becky, just stop being so damned difficult and give the guy a chance. We both know you wouldn’t have married me anyway so you can’t use that as an excuse.”

“That’s not true!”

“We both know it is or you would never have called him to tell him Beck. You want him to father his chid and that’s totally understandable and right. You’re just scared of letting him back in there.”

What a freaking understatement.

“No, I just thought he had a right to know. Are you going to marry me or what asshole?”

I’m half kidding since I know I can’t in all good conscience go through with it. Not only because it would hurt that nut sac Devon but because about thirty seconds after agreeing to Dill’s hairbrained scheme I’d started thinking about how he’s shortchanging himself.

He deserves to find someone, or someone’s as the case may be who he will love and who will love him in return, wholly and completely, not as a friend.

So yeah, he’s right, we can’t do this but I’m taking an inordinate amount of pleasure out of knowing Devon Baxter is squirming and has no control over this situation.

As for marrying the man, that is a total hell no! I can see getting to know his family and sharing my baby with them, heck I love the shit out of just the thought of seeing the guy with his kid-oooh tingles-but as loath as I am to short change Dill I am even more loath to do it to myself.

And that’s exactly what will happen if I just give in to the man.I’m not one of those naïve girls-well not completely-and I know that love isn’t always on the cards. Some people get married in lust, some just want security and some have to get married because of little hiccups like the one I’m experiencing.

I’d much rather have my wedding be for the sake of something as crazy as being head over heels in lust with someone than to have to wake up every morning knowing the only reason I got a rock on my finger is because of the nugget taking up space in my uterus.

Call me nuts, but I want to be wanted for me and me alone.

“That would be a no. The only reason I taunted the guy was to show you how hot he is for you, lucky bitch. Now it’s time for you to put on your big girl bloomers and decide what to do from here. You either make a go of things with him-I choose that option by the way, that man is fine with a capital F-or you go home and start-”

“He’s probably called dad by now.” I pout, swirling my lemonade around in my glass. “If I step foot out of your place they’ll be on me like white on rice. And dad still doesn’t know about my job or that I’m quitting my studies.”

Yeah, that is so going to be a fun conversation coupled with the fact that his unwed daughter got herself knocked up. Not.

“Becky, what is it you want? What is it you feel?” he asks when the silence stretches with nothing but my sighs to fill the air space.

“I want to be happy, for once in my freaking life, that’s all.. I spent college in my dorm room and the lecture halls. I spent three years working at something I hate and studying for something I hate even more and now…can we just play the engagement out till I have everything squared away?” I beg, not caring that I sound desperate and pitiful.

Dill sighs and runs a hand through his blonde locks, his expression so serious all of a sudden that I pause and raise my brows in question.

“The thing is that I really like you Becky, a lot. While we aren’t ripping each other’s clothes off with lust I am also not averse to doing you in any position my kinky mind can conjure. Marrying you won’t be a hardship and I certainly wouldn’t mind taking advantage of your vulnerability right now to do it. But you have to decide what you want first. So let’s leave this thing standing but I want you to at least go talk to Devon before we make definite plans.”

“Huh?”

He laughs and I feel my cheeks redden even as a giggle tries to bubble forth.

“Hell yeah Slade, you’re like bueno hot baby and very do-able. Plus, if my parents get wind of this…explaining shit might make things harder for me than they already are. So go, talk to your guy and if you can’t bring yourself to walk that path I’ll be here. Your very own sacrificial lamb, waiting to sex you up. Hey, is it true pregnant chicks get super frisky?”

“Oh shut up!” I laugh, throwing a potato chip at his head.

We laugh and I relax back into the lounger beneath me, but the pose is a mockery of what I truly feel inside. Inside I am tense and scared and a little empty at what I’ve done.

I snuck away like a thief, a coward and now I have to find him and…and I’m not sure that if I see him again that everything will okay, because the truth is that I have more than the hots for my baby daddy and I am terrified that if he tries hard enough, I’ll take whatever crumbs he’s willing to throw my way.

I don’t want crumbs, I want the whole loaf and a side order of cupcakes.

Greedy.