The Trouble with Bree (Spotlight #1.5) Read online

  “This is what I’m talking about,” he said as he leaned down to take my nipple in his mouth, he flicked it with his tongue, bringing it to attention before he nipped it. His hand cupped my other breast as he sucked. I pressed him close to my body, nervous if he got a good look at me—when I sat up my boobs sagged from breastfeeding, I still had the belly pooch, branded with stretch marks—he’d run for the hills. If he had any objections, he was keeping them to himself.

  I fumbled with my jeans, they needed to go. Josh rolled off of me, smiling as I tried to wriggle out of them. “I fail at sexy,” I said, pushing them down off my hips.

  “No, you don’t.” Josh hooked his thumbs into my panties, and swept all the fabric away from my legs. He was going to say something else, but stopped when he took a look at me. I couldn’t meet his eyes. One arm was on either side of my body, and he brought his lips to my ear. “You are the most effortlessly sexy woman I’ve ever met.”

  He looked down at my thigh, now fading to pink and yellow, and ran his finger lightly along the damage. “Does this still hurt?”

  “Only if one of the boys crashes into it.” My breath hitched in my throat.

  Josh slid his boxers off, his body ready for mine. The knee was back between my legs as he leaned back over me, tipping my face to his. “Don’t be shy, Bree.” One quick kiss before he pulled away.

  “I guess you’d never believe I haven’t done this before?” I chuckled.

  Josh bit his lip to conceal his smile, but it didn’t work. He glanced back to the wall we shared with my sleeping boys and then back to me. “Not for a second.” His fingers landed on my sex, massaging it until I was hot, slick, and writhing in rhythm with his touch. He slipped them inside me, and my muscles pulsed around him like crazy as he massaged my inner walls. A flame was building at my core, threatening to explode.

  I took his cock in my hand, running my fingers back and forth along the length of his shaft. Josh squeezed his eyes shut and his mouth opened in an O. I circled my finger over the glistening tip, and then down to the spot that unglued every man. He froze, his fingers sliding out of me, and I flipped over, crawling to him on hands and knees. Then I pushed him back on the bed so I could take him in my mouth. Cupping his sack as I licked and sucked, I laughed as Josh moaned.

  “Fuck, you’re good at that,” he hissed between clenched teeth, hands tangled again in my hair. I couldn’t answer him, for obvious reasons. Instead, I flicked my eyes up to meet his. He’d been watching me, slack jawed, and when our eyes locked, my body felt like it had been struck by lightning. When he pulled my head away from him, I kneeled beside him, and he sat up to meet me with a kiss, but then stopped. “My bag is in the living room.”

  “Why do you need it?” My body was throbbing, needing him to come inside, and there was no fucking way I was letting him out of this room right now.

  “Because,” he panted, “I like your kids a lot, but I think two is plenty right now.”

  “Oh.” I laughed, leaning over with Josh following my body so I could take a condom out of nightstand. This girl knew better than to rely on her guests to bring party favors. I ripped open the packet before handing it to him. “You came to the right place.”

  “And you said you’d never done this before,” he scoffed as he rolled it down over himself and then straddled me, leading my back down to the mattress once again. “Liar.” The words were crushed against my lips.

  “I wanted to surprise you,” I said once I squirmed free of him. “Because then you wouldn’t have any expectations.”

  Josh was holding himself up over me with a wicked look on his face. “I changed my mind.”

  “What?” Fuck. I knew this guy was too good to be true. Instead of answering me, he flipped me over so I was straddling him, his cock hot against my stomach. He guided my hips up so my core hovered over him, and then let go.

  I lowered myself down on him, relishing the beautiful burn as my muscles stretched around him, welcoming him inside me. Once he was all the way in, I steadied myself with my hands on his shoulders, and started moving back and forth. Josh thrust up inside me as my body pulsed and clenched around him, not wanting to let him go. The explosions started to go off somewhere deep inside me, my skin beading with sweat as I rested my forehead against his, my whole body going limp as the fire came to the surface, threatening to swallow me whole.

  Josh wasn’t done, he flipped me over again like I was a rag doll and continued to thrust deep inside me as the world rained down around me. His shaft swelled inside me as he came while he kissed me, tiny little nips on my lips, my cheeks, and my eyelids.

  He lay beside me, neither of us talking for a long time, but we still couldn’t take our hands off of each other like we weren’t convinced that really happened. Every so often, he’d lean in and kiss me. “I could never have anyone sleep over when I was a kid,” he said, breaking the silence, his eyes sad.

  “Me neither.” My mother never wanted anyone in the house.

  “I think it was better that way.” His face was close to mine, his fingers just below my lips. “Because I appreciate it more now.”

  I nodded, putting my head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around me and I was back in the place where nothing could ever hurt me.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Don’t worry about it. Anyone who thinks there’s no sex after kids is full of shit,” I reassured Daisy as I helped her get ready for the party this weekend. Party was a loose term. Everyone had been invited to Ev’s wedding, and the family decided to keep the day and use it as a memorial and a shower for her baby, JR, who was almost ready to come home from the hospital instead. Daisy’s parents thought that Ev would want her to take him, and Daisy was understandably nervous about everything. Finally, I was an authority on something. It was best to put her mind at ease about the easy stuff first. “If that were true, nobody would have more than one kid.”

  “But the kids are always around.” Daisy said as she tied a ribbon around a mason jar, her eyes sad as she adjusted the bow. Ev had had a very specific vision of how she wanted this day to be, and we didn’t feel right changing anything. It didn’t make it any easier. “Doesn’t it make things hard? Or awkward?”

  “No. It’s actually way hotter.” Josh had been sleeping over a lot since that first night, to the point that my wretched bitch of a neighbor wanted to know if he’d moved in. She’d like that too much. It would automatically be the end of my housing benefits. No such luck. “All those little looks and touches and things that you say in passing that you can’t do anything about in front of the kids add up, and it reaches a boiling point. As soon as the kids are asleep, we’re pretty much slamming each other against the wall because we can’t wait another second.”

  “Nice.” Daisy laughed. I hadn’t been sure about her moving in with Cam because she’d only known him for like a month. I thought it was too soon, but I’d been wrong, it was just what she needed to move forward. Cam planned to stick around for the long haul, they’d been busy decorating a bedroom for JR in his house. “But you’re not worried about having Josh around the kids? I mean, you guys have only been together for a couple weeks.”

  “I know. And I do worry. But if I hadn’t let him meet the kids, we were never going to be able to see each other. I haven’t talked to my mother since she asked me what I did to make Troy kick my ass, and then told me I needed to clean my house in the next sentence.” If Josh wanted to break up with me, I could handle that. But it would destroy the boys. They couldn’t stop talking about him. Daisy wasn’t the only one dating a rock star.

  “And for a minute I thought your mother might be getting less nuts.” Daisy rolled her eyes, then tossed the ball back to Lucas. They’d been playing in the yard as we worked, and they were getting anxious for us to join them. “What happened with Troy? Did he go to rehab?”

  “Yeah. He’s there for at least three months.” I could rest easier with him in treatment. The panic attacks I had every time I pulled into my
parking lot since that night had finally stopped. “I hope it helps.”

  “Me, too.” Daisy shook her head sadly. “Sorry I haven’t been able to help out lately.”

  “Don’t you dare apologize to me.” She’d just lost her sister and found out she was going to be someone’s mom. I didn’t factor in on the to-do list, but God, I missed her. “But I was thinking of asking a little favor, when you’re ready?”

  “When do you want me to watch them?” It was the only thing I ever asked for.

  “Monday nights?” I smiled hopefully. “I actually want to try those pole dancing classes.”

  “Really?” Daisy couldn’t hide her surprise. I’d never been overly excited about any sort of exercise.

  “Yeah. All the stuff I’ve read talks about it being an amazing workout, and how confident all the girls feel. And it’s sexy. I want up my game a little bit.” I put the last of the decorated mason jars back in the box. “Josh could have any girl, you know?”

  “But he wants you.” Daisy put her hand over mine before she took the box from me. “You’re bringing him to the party, right? I can’t wait to meet this guy.”

  **

  “Whatever you do, you can’t tell Daisy’s dad that you like the Yankees.” I almost forgot to tell Josh one of the most important things about meeting Daisy’s family. “He’d be far more accepting if you told him you were a professional arsonist.”

  Josh laughed. “Yeah, it’s a pretty unpopular opinion up here. Go Sox.” He pretended to gag. “Bree, relax. Everything’s going to be good.”

  “Daisy’s been my best friend since second grade, and you’re the first guy who’s ever been invited to their house with me.” I twisted my hands together in my lap. “It’s a big deal. I want them to love you.”

  “I understand that.” Josh pulled behind another car on in front of Daisy’s house and cut the engine. I’d already unbuckled myself, the boys were anxious to start partying. He turned to me, making no effort to get out of the car. “But the important thing is that I love you.”

  My body tingled, frozen. “No one’s ever said that to me before.”

  He leaned over to kiss me, and the boys ooooooed in the back seat. I stuck out my tongue at them, then went back for another kiss. “That’s because they’re all stupid,” Josh said against my lips. “But I’m okay with that, because that means I get to keep you.”

  I melted. “I love you, too.”

  I knew today wasn’t going to be easy. It was a strange mix, all the beautiful decorations that Ev had made, the taco truck, the margaritas, but no Ev. The only person I could find in Daisy’s immediate family was her dad. “Remember what I told you,” I whispered to Josh before I left the two guys together to find Daisy.

  There was only one place she could be, and I knew she needed a margarita. I found her on the floor in her old bedroom, next to the box that held Ev’s wedding dress, crying her eyes out.

  “Come on, Dee. Everyone’s asking where you are.” I downed my margarita as soon as I sat on the bed.

  “Did you tell them?” She wiped her face with the back of her hand. “And I thought you didn’t drink in front of the boys.”

  “Not unless I have to. And Josh is keeping an eye on them.” I wanted to tell her about our conversation in the car, but not yet. Anyway, I think she’d figure it for herself out pretty soon. If only I could get her to the party.

  The boys were all over Daisy as soon as she came downstairs. She kissed them, and then stood up and looked at me like she didn’t know where she was. Daisy had trouble with crowds. I led her over to the head table, the place where Ev should have been sitting, and a couple of people approached her immediately. I wanted to scream at them to go away, but Daisy was the guest of honor today, whether she liked it or not.

  “She okay?” Josh mouthed to me from behind her chair. I shook my head, and he sat down as soon as Daisy’s aunt left. We had her surrounded now, so she’d have a chance to catch her breath.

  I fell into his lap with the margarita giggles. “Isn’t he hot?”

  She rolled her eyes, but I finally got her laugh. “Yup.” I turned back to Josh, who I’d never seen blush before. He still looked hot.

  “Your dad’s quite the sports fan.” Josh had heard all about Daisy, but this was the first time he’d actually met her. It was crazy how much everything had changed this summer. “I couldn’t hang. He’s the real deal.”

  “You didn’t tell him you like the Yankees, right?” I asked. Oh my God, please let him have not said that. He didn’t have any visible damage, so I doubted it. “I told you not to. Now you get it.”

  “He didn’t. I can tell.” Daisy laughed again. “If he did, he’d be across the street, eating his tacos alone.”

  Cam had been missing in action, along with Daisy’s mother, and her anxiety was coming back. There was no reason for either of them to be anywhere but here. My eyes widened when I saw Cam turn the corner to the backyard, and he put his finger over his mouth to make sure I didn’t ruin the surprise. Secrets had never been my strong point.

  He leaned down and kissed Daisy, trying to lure her to the front yard. Whatever was out there had him absolutely beaming. I bounced in Josh’s lap, dying to know what was out there. Daisy wasn’t having any of it. “Bree can be my representative.”

  Cam wasn’t giving up that easily, but there was no swaying Daisy. “Tell me what it is!” I insisted. I don’t know how she played it so cool.

  “JR’s here,” he whispered in my ear.

  My jaw dropped. “Daisy, go with him. Trust me.” I actually had to pull her out of her chair, staggering backwards when she stood. “But can I come too? I want to see the look on your face.”

  “Fine.” She gave in. I was practically jumping up and down with excitement as we rounded the corner, and tears filled my eyes when I saw the car seat waiting for Daisy. Cam had covered her eyes, and she had no idea who was waiting for her.

  I lost it when she picked up JR, swaddled in a blanket and a blue knit cap. Cam stood next to me, rubbing my arm and barely holding in his own tears. JR was still so tiny, it still shouldn’t have even been his birthday yet, but he was here with us now. Home.

  “He’s so beautiful,” I said when she brought him over to me. Daisy looked shell-shocked, and I got it. When they put Landon in my arms for the first time, I didn’t know I was ever going to take care of him. It all worked out, but it didn’t stop me from having the same doubts with Lucas.

  I kissed Josh as soon as we came back to the yard. “Now we have something to celebrate,” I murmured. A crowd had gathered around Daisy, JR, and Cam, but we hung back. The advantage of being Daisy’s best friend was I was going to get to see all of them on a regular basis, once everything settled down.

  Josh pulled me in close. “I’m looking forward to getting to know these guys.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “No more pictures, Mama!” Landon walked out of the frame of my camera.

  “But you’re so handsome!” I followed him for a couple more shots, because his protesting face was adorable. “How else am I supposed to remember this day?”

  “Write it down in a story,” he said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

  “I will read it to you every night.” I threatened. I actually liked the idea. Daisy loved to scrapbook, and I had a pile of pictures that needed a home. “No more pigeon.”

  Landon looked horrified. I’d done it now. “Noooo!” It was hard not to laugh at him. “Can we go now?”

  “Yes.” I couldn’t believe my baby was starting school. Preschool, but this was going to be the longest we’d been apart on a regular basis ever. I groaned as I lifted him and Lucas into their car seats. I’d gone to my first pole dancing class this week. Daisy’s mom found out about it and agreed to watch the kids so I could go. I think she was secretly envious, since she was always at Zumba classes. Muscles that I didn’t even know I had hurt. But I’d had so much fun I couldn’t wait to go back when I could a
fford another class.

  “Remember what I told you about Josh?” I asked Landon in the parking lot as I put his arms through his backpack. He shook his head. “He’s going to be busy at work and he has to pay attention to all the kids equally. So if he treats you different at school than he does at home, that’s why.”

  I was so nervous about school, for so many reasons. I wanted everything to go well for Landon. Even though he was super smart, he could be a little pushy. I didn’t know how he was going to do in a classroom setting, even something that was more play based. I hadn’t seen Josh since the party, barely even talked to him, since he’d been getting everything ready for the first day of school. And Landon was in love with Josh. Four-year-olds were notorious for saying what was on their mind, and no amount of coaching was going to sway Landon on how he acted when Josh was around and I was not.

  “You must be Landon.” A girl not much older than me crouched down in front of Landon and handed him a bag after I checked us in. He nodded enthusiastically. “I’m Miss Kate. You’re going to be in my class. You can go sit with those kids over there.”

  I watched him go while Miss Kate asked me if I had any questions, I think, but Josh walked into the room. There was no doubt he was in charge, in his dress pants, crisp blue shirt, and tie. The stubble never went anywhere. God, he looked amazing. Our eyes locked and I froze.

  “Josh!” Landon called out, running over to him.

  Busted.

  Miss Kate stopped mid-sentence, confused, and turned around to see Landon hug her boss. “We’re friends.” I bit my lip as I downplayed the situation. The with benefits part was none of her business.

  “Oh.” She frowned, apparently that interfered with whatever she had in mind for Josh.

  Ignoring her as I stepped past, I went over to Josh. I was carrying Lucas, I held my free hand out to him and he squeezed it. “Good luck today.” He had sixty preschoolers showing up to this party. He was going to going to need it.