Blue Colla Make Ya Holla (76 page)

“You vindictive bitch!” my father shouts, making me jump. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

“Oh my God!” I gasp, clapping one hand over my mouth.

“I’ll be damned,” Adam says, clearly amused that it’s reaping day in the Carter house finally.

“Desperation is ugly, Anthony.” Standing to her feet, my mother walks over and hands him a flash drive. “I know exactly what I’ve done and I even brought you a present! This is a copy of all the files that have been forwarded to the proper authorities who, according to what Martha just told me, are actually pulling up outside as we speak. I have also sent everything to my lawyer who will be filing for divorce Monday morning, along with putting the house up for sale. It’s over, Anthony.”

My father roars, sending things from his desk crashing to the floor. Adam yanks my arm, pulling me backward, safely shielding me behind him. The doors fly open and armed officers walk into the room accompanied by Martha. “Anthony Carter, we have a warrant for your arrest for suspected arson and fraud.”

After that, everything happens so fast I feel like I’m in a whirlwind. Clutching Adam’s hand, I blow out a breath as they cuff and lead my father out to the squad car, knowing that everything is going to be okay because I know without a doubt he isn’t going anywhere.

Adam

‡

Six Months Later

“Y
ou may now
kiss the bride.”

The moment the words leave the Preacher’s mouth, I smile wickedly at Ainsley. The strapless white cotton sundress she decided on, instead of a traditional gown, showing off enough of her sun kissed skin to have me ready to devour her whole. Taking her in from the tips of her beautiful bare feet all the way up to the beautiful blue eyes that render me speechless at times, I pull Ainsley to me with a growl and press my lips to hers.

The last six months haven’t been easy. With the media coverage not just exposing Anthony Carter’s dirty secrets, but the involvement of the Beckers as well, we were very relieved with his lawyer who put in for a change of venue for the trial and it was granted. We spent most of our time hiding away from the press at the cabin, while Julia retreated to the boat with Sebastio, who was more than happy pull anchor and head out to sea for a while.

Now that the town has gotten back to normal, it seemed like the perfect time to out a ring on Ainsley’s finger and make her mine forever. The fact that I am kissing her on the very spot I first fell for her, just makes it that much more perfect. There was never any doubt in my mind, once she said yes, that this was where I wanted us to stand in front of our friends and family and say our vows.

Ainsley’s hands arms wrap around my neck, her body molding against mine perfectly. The only thing I want to do is disappear with her and devour my wife for days.

“For God’s sake, Adam,” Sebastio shouts, “You plannin’ to make us grandbabies right here on the docks too?”

Pulling back, I glare at him just as Julia slaps his arm. “Would you stop that!” she scolds, but can’t hide her smile.

“What?” he asks throwing up his hands, his grin splitting his face. Walking up, he shoves his way between us, wrapping an arm around both Ainsley and me. “Am I not allowed to be a proud Daddy today?” Turning to me, his gaze hardens. “I don’t think it needs to be said, son. I expect you to treat my little girl right.” Leaning in closely, he grins. “I’m experienced in knot tying and I know exactly where to dump a body out there, boy.”

“Jesus, you’re insane,” I chuckle. “We really need to stop letting you out in public.”

“Whatever, man. I’m like oral,” Sebastio says with a wicked grin. “Sure, you can technically exist without me, but who the fuck would want to? Something would always be missing.”

“I always thought of you as a rash,” Our boss, Donnie, shouts. “You know… Once he’s under your skin, he may be a little irritating, but you figure out how to live with it because it’s better than cutting off your arm.”

“Thanks man,” Sebastio says, “You’re totally nice in a really fucked up way, I like that shit. It makes me want to throw you off a roof then buy you a beer.”

“How about, since Adam and Ainsley are the only two here that are legally married and the thought of anyone fucking you, let alone marrying you, makes me want to get anal from a nail gun, I say we go to the bar and get this party started,” Roxy says, cutting Sebastio off.

“Marriage?” Sebastio groans, clutching his chest. Staggering over to the rail, he clings to it for dear life. “No one will get these balls in a vise,” he teases winking at Julia.

Swooping Ainsley up into my arms, I grin when she squeals. “Caveman!”

Taking the steps down to the beach, I turn and look at Roxy. “See you up there in a bit.”

The sun is setting just as we make it to the blanket I set out earlier, the flameless candles scattered up the steps that lead up to the bar where our reception is no doubt kicking off without us. “Adam,” Ainsley gasps, taking in the beach in front of us. “What did you do?”

Settling her on the blanket, I follow her down onto it, bracing my weight on my elbows. My lips brush over hers and without hesitation, her hands slide up my arms and grip my biceps. “Do I need an excuse to steal alone time with my wife?” I ask, kissing down her jaw.

“Wife,” she whispers, testing out the words. I look down at her, my heart fucking ready to explode along with my cock. “I guess you’re stuck with me now, huh?”

Laughing, I nod my head and lean down so that my lips are almost touching hers. “Damn straight I am,” I reply. “I promised you forever, and I’m not wasting one more minute. We’ve got a whole lot of forever left, baby.”

The End

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Christina Tomes

‡

“A
nna! Get your
butt over here! Look at the hottie outside!”

Anna Mara sighed and pushed away from her desk. The ladies she worked with were all sweet, but she doubted their taste in men. They were all at least five years older than her twenty-five years and married with kids. Their version of “hot” was a man who did dishes without being asked.
Not like little ol’ Bowling Green, Kentucky has a great of selection of single men, anyway
, she thought.

Crowded around the one window were her six coworkers, all breathless. Anna pushed into the small opening between the two women who were closest to her age, Sam and Liz. Liz simply pointed in the direction of the line of bushes that separated their office parking lot from the next.

“Oh holy shit,” was all Anna could say. Edger in hand, ears and eyes covered with protective equipment, and shirtless was a landscaping god.

“You need to tap that,” muttered Sam, “because I might be tempted to if you don’t. Mamma has one free pass that hasn’t been used, and I would use it on that man.”

Anna watched as the man’s back tattoos rippled and danced over his muscles. His arms were also covered in bright designs. When he turned, more tattoos framed his chest and left his flat stomach bare. Flashes of silver glinted from two nipple piercings. His bronze face was lightly dusted with a light-brown shadow along his jaw and topped with sun-bleached, cropped brown hair that flopped carelessly over his safety glasses.

Anna’s heart flipped in her chest, and she had to resist the urge to pet the window where he was showcased.

Liz bumped her hip and giggled in her ear. “He looks like a rock bad boy!”

Anna agreed. He did look like a bad boy, but that was what she liked.

“Hey! Were you just saying earlier today that you wished someone would come by and mow your lawn for you?”

Lesa and her big mouth. The mother of four grinned at Anna. She knew what was going to happen next.

All the other women turned towards her with matching looks of devious planning.

“Umm…yeah,” she answered nervously.

“I have the landscaping company’s number. I thought maybe I would call them myself, but now I think you should.” Lesa’s grin turned into something wicked.

“But I don’t think I could afford a landscaper,” Anna mumbled, knowing it was a flimsy excuse. The ladies were giving her a valid reason to call Mr. Tattooed Landscaper instead of just calling like a creeper.

“Bullshit. It’s cheaper than buying a lawnmower,” another woman piped up.

Anna grasped for more excuses. “But what if I call and they don’t send him out to my place?” It sounded bad in her own ears.

Sam was the one to counter this time. “You have a proven landscape company coming out to your house then. Your yard gets mowed by someone other than you. Gonna call now?”

Glancing one last time out the glass, Anna reached towards Lesa’s outstretched hand, already holding a sticky note with a number on it. “Damn it. You guys are a bad influence.”

Hoots of laughter filled the room as Anna pulled her phone from her pant pocket. She dialed the number and continued to watch the man outside. To her surprise, the man jumped just as her phone started ringing. Stopping the edger and pulling off his ear protection, he picked up the call just as the ladies around her calmed down.

“Wilson’s Landscaping, this is Kyle. How may I help you?” The deep voice was pleasant in Anna’s ear.

She smiled, now knowing his name.

“Hello, Kyle, my name is Anna Mara. I need someone to mow my yard.”

She saw a bright smile light up Kyle’s features.

“I can help you with that, ma’am. Give me just a second to walk back to my truck, and I can look and see when I can come over to give you an estimate.”

“Okay!”

“So in the meantime, how did you hear about my company?”

Anna felt a blush creep up her neck and cheeks. She felt like a stalker, calling him like this.

“Umm, I work at one of the buildings you landscape for…”

“Uh hum, which one?”

She watched him walk closer to his white truck, almost out of view from her vantage point at the window.

“Healthcare Solutions.” Anna mumbled her reply.

Almost immediately, Kyle’s head whipped towards the huge window where they were all standing exposed.

Anna groaned as her coworkers yipped and ran away from the window, caught ogling.

“I guess you are the one they wrangled into calling then,” he laughed, obviously amused.

“Ahh…yes? But I really do need my lawn mowed.”

They made eye contact through the window, and Anna marveled at how wide and nice his smile was.

“I bet.”

She watched as he turned back towards his truck and out of her view.

“Seriously. And sorry we got caught creeping. Promise I am not a stalker, but we are a collection of bored medical billers. Any distraction is a good distraction.”

A very masculine chuckled sounded in Anna’s ear and pulled at something inside her.

“You are too noticeable with that bright red hair to be much of a stalker. Besides, sometimes a guy likes having pretty women ogle his body. I don’t mind.”

Anna breathed a deep sigh of relief. “Thank you for not taking offense. We don’t behave badly often.”

“I am sure your version of behaving badly and mine are completely different.”

“Maybe. Maybe not, but I am still sorry. We were acting like horny teenagers.”

Kyle let out a burst of laughter.

“Grown women acting like kids. Love it. Anyway, Anna, how does next Tuesday afternoon sound?”

Anna grinned to herself and set the appointment with Kyle. Now all she had to do was make it until Tuesday.

‡