Caught Off Guard (11 page)

“Gretchen Mackenzie.”

“Graduating with a dual degree, both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Business Administration, Zoey Mancini.” said the dean of the college of Business Administration.

We cheered hard as we watched my lovely wife cross the stage. She glowed, and we could not be happier for her. She smiled as she received her diploma and shook the hands of the deans and special guests. I growled when I watched a giant buff guy in a cap and gown help her down the steps. Duke was standing not far away and helped her to her seat. I calmed down, in the last seven years of us being married my jealousy hadn’t lessoned.

I calmed down eventually, but it wasn’t easy when she had to attend classes with really hot young guys. She always came home to show me how much she missed me. She did manage to take some online courses which helps when we had three kids to care for.

Now my brilliant wife was going to assist me in the office with the day to day tasks, but I warned her ass that no more than a few hours a day. She was a stubborn woman. The only way I could get her to listen to me was to show her who’s the boss.

I sat through the next hour of names trying hard not to fall asleep, if it wasn’t for my little man asking me a hundred questions, I would have.

“Daddy, why does mommy have those things around her neck?” Mikey asked. I wasn’t sure, but I asked the lady next to me, and she whispered it to me. Hey sometimes you got to suck it up that you don’t know everything.

“That is a stole and a cord. It is because she is very smart.” I answered my eldest son, Mike Jr.

“Yes mommy is. She taught me how to tie my shoes.” said Eric, my five year old trouble maker. He was going to be the one I had to watch out for, he was brilliant and devious. Mikey was my serious one. I was glad that I had both of them. We kept my youngest, George at home with Milo and April and their four kids. I couldn’t handle them all at once by myself. I don’t know how Zoey does it. She has them all at once, all the time. Grandma Claire and Grandpa Will were here, and I still had a hard time managing them. I started grinding my teeth when Eric was tugging on my suit sleeve, “Daddy, daddy, I want candy. How do they make candy?”

“Not now, Eric. I am looking for mommy.” I said gruffly.

“Grandma, we’re stressing daddy out again.” Eric said with a bit of attitude.

“Yes you are. Maybe you can sit here for five minutes and be quiet. You see here? Grandma has a lollipop, if you are quiet that long, you can have it.” She winked at me, and I breathed a sigh of relief. They spoiled all their grandchildren all the time. Right now I was grateful the woman had a never ending purse. I didn’t bring anything to entertain a five year old. I was so panicked about Zoey’s security that I forgot his bag of toys and books. My son was staying quiet for two whole minutes and when I looked down the poor boy was drooping over in his chair. I took Eric in my arms, so he was comfortable. We were going to leave him at home, but he said he was a big boy and would behave.

They were brilliant kids, which made them curious about everything. At home it wasn’t a problem, but when we were in a crowd like this, my old fears of someone trying to attack Zoey were always with me. It made me insane with worry, and thankfully everyone in our family understood my nuttiness and helped me make it through. She would laugh at my paranoia, but she had no idea that she was my world. I couldn’t do without her. That’s why I had a whole team of security around, today. It sucks that I was so far away from her and it was putting me on edge, especially with baby number four on the way.

With Mikey she gave me a heart attack, her water broke in the middle of a movie theater. I think I could have been considered mentally insane at that moment. I carried her out of the theater and drove like a mad man to the hospital. She was the one in pain and was soothing me. I have been worried all morning that she’d be bringing my son into this world during the ceremony.

Once the torturous ceremony was over, I took my boys and my in-laws to find my wife.

“Congratulations my princess.” I said as I walked up to center of my universe.

“Thank you my handsome hubby. Are you doing okay?”

“I’m better now.” I smiled as I tugged her close. I just needed to feel her.

“Let’s go and celebrate. How is my little guy in there doing?” I asked, as I rubbed her swollen belly. I felt the difference, this little guy was coming soon, and I looked at her as she tried to hide it from me. My brave wife, I loved her so much. I wonder how long she’s going to play off the pain. I could tell it wasn’t rough yet, but I knew it wouldn’t be long before my sweet, loving, and protective wife cursed me out like a drunken sailor facing a hurricane.

Oh god it is finally over, I thought, as I blew out a deep breath. This was the longest few hours of my life. Damn, I need to get us out of here before Mike loses his cool, or I do.

I felt the cramping this morning, but I didn’t want to miss this moment in my life with my family. Even with the crowd, Mike was thrilled about it. He had never gotten his college education, so this was a new experience for him, too.

“Grrr…” I growled.

“Zoey are you okay.” One of my classmates asked.

“Yes I’m good. The baby is just giving me a hard time.” I said.

“Well you should go home and rest. The sun is rough today.”

“Thanks Rosa, Congrats!” I gave her a hug and walked back with Duke at my side.

“Don’t say a word until we get to the house. I don’t want Mike freaking out. We will never go out in public again.”

“He is not that bad, but you are right. I won’t say a word. Are you sure you are going to make it, though?”

“Yes. Now let’s go be cheerful, then we can get me to the hospital later.” I breathed deeply and tried to relax, so Mike wouldn’t notice my labor starting.

We met up, and I got a big hug from everyone and the look on my mother’s eyes told me she noticed.

“Come on let’s get to the house. My old bones are getting tired.” she said. The woman was slick.

We got to the house and thankfully the pain hadn’t worsened yet. I needed to hang on long enough for him not to be telling me I told you so. He asked me this morning if I was feeling well, and I tried to play it off. I thought it worked, but I started to realize that he left to the truck several times during the party.

Worn from the steady pain I started to dose off an hour into the party. My eyes had just shut when I heard him come to sit down next to me.

“How you doing baby? How long do you want to wait before we go to the hospital?” he asked sweetly.

“You know?” Damn he caught me.

“Honey, I love that you are protecting me and my sanity, but I’ve loved you for so long that I can tell when you are in pain. The kids are being taken right now to Caleb and Sophia’s, while the rest of us get ready to welcome our new baby. Now I’m going to let you sleep on me and when you are ready, you just let me know.” I smiled with my eyes closed as I laid my weary body on his. My belly was cradled in his lap with my head on his shoulders. I felt the little tremors and tightening for the next hour. I could also feel Mike rubbing me every time they came. “I love you Mike. You are the best man in the world. I wanted to tell you now before I tell you how much I hate you later.” He chuckled and kissed my forehead. “I love you Zoey. I don’t care what you say, I just hate seeing you in pain. Are you ready little momma?” I was too tired to say anything so I nodded and we were off.

Six hours later we got a welcomed surprise, little Claire was born. I guess we should have gotten a second ultrasound after the twenty weeks. At the time the baby wouldn’t give us a peek, we just assumed it was another boy. My darling was just being modest. “A true lady,” Mike said. She already had him wrapped around her little chubby finger.

Everyone came to see the baby and me. Caleb and Sophia brought our boys to meet their sister, although prying her from Mike’s grip had been a challenge. “Mike, we get to keep her, you can share.” He shook his head no, and looked just like the boys when they didn’t want to go brush their teeth.

“Yeah daddy, sharing is caring. I want to hold my sister.” Mikey said sternly, as he took his position in the chair and held his arms out. Mike finally loosened his grip and gave Mikey the baby, while squatting next to the chair, just in case.

“We love you little sister.” Mikey said, as my boys crowded her. Mike smiled at his babies then back at me. This always gets him to forgive me for calling him “a fucking gorilla asshole who makes giant baby gorillas with big heads.” I get a little crazy when I get ripped in half, so sue me.

Caught in a Lie

Book 3 in the Caught series

C.M. Steele

EXCERPT:

Mike asked me to look into the new security girl at the Blake compound. I trusted my brother when he said something wasn’t right about her. I have watched her this past day and a half and I can’t figure out what it is, but she is lying about something. It’s hidden in the insanely bright Irish green eyes. Now, all I can think of is getting in her.

She is here at the party dressed in a finely tailored pant suit matching the rest of the security team and some of the wait staff too. She was in a dark corner just observing. Yet, for some reason she stood out like a sore thumb. I believe it’s her beauty, the luscious red hair tied in those messy bun things that I didn’t find attractive, until now. I didn’t like my women to be a sloppy mess, until after I was done with them and walking out the door. 

I saw my brother across the room attempting not to kill a punk kid, but he had more restraint than I did, he was good. Besides the boss man, himself, gave me the order to check Miss Monroe out. I walked over to where she stood and some little punk beat me there. Anger was getting me in the chest. What the fuck? No teenager was going to out man me, so game on, I thought.

I walked up slowly and listened to his line, “Do you know what thousand dollar sheets feel like?” She indulged him with just a shake of her head, “Well, you will tonight.”

I wanted to intervene, but she responded, “Little boy move along. You may have thousand dollar sheets, but I bet they are full of stains from your mother’s lotion and your jerk off juice.” I started laughing in his face as I stood next to her.

“Damn, I think I’m in love!” I said as I grabbed at my chest. I gave the pipsqueak a look and he split. I could smell her natural scent and it was making hard.

“With me or him?” She asked, with a wry smile.

“Definitely not with the jerk off king! I’m Milo Mancini.” I stuck out my hand, but she didn’t shake it, she just responded with attitude.

“I know who you are. I already met your brother. I’m surprised it took this long for you to speak to me. Have you run a background check, yet?”

“No. Afraid I’ll find something?” I asked suspiciously. My brother was on the money, something about her doesn’t fit. I don’t know what it is, but I’ll find it out.

“No, it’s that your brother doesn’t trust me, so I knew he would check up on me.”

“Yeah, well sweetheart, between the two of us he’s the trusting one. So tell me why he doesn’t trust you.” I growled at her. I hated that she was hiding something. Something about her made me want to know more and not just for the job, but I hated liars.

“You’re a real charmer, aren’t you? Well big boy there isn’t anything to tell. So go away.” she said sternly.

“No.” I replied.

No?” I was getting to her now.

“That’s right. You aren’t going to get away that easy. You are a beautiful woman and unlike the kid my sheets are clean, for now.” I could tell she was attracted. Even through all those clothes she had on, I could still see her nipple pebble with excitement. The strangest thing was that it pissed me off. What if another one of these fucks noticed them? They were mine to look at, I thought. Where the fuck did that thought come from?

I turned to look around to check out who was looking at her and that was when I saw my brother. I knew he needed my help to calm his ass down.

“Excuse me, I’ll be right back.” I winked at her and walked up to my brother. My brother wasn’t in the talking mood and followed after Zoey Blake the birthday girl.

I came back to my beautiful security girl and she just sent another boy packing. Damn I couldn’t leave her alone for a minute. I may have to make this happen soon before she gets someone who she is actually interested in.

“Wow you know how to handle them, but I’m not sure you can handle me.”

“I could handle you and then some, but I don’t want to even bother.”

“You know you want me and I know I want you. It will happen.” I winked.

“Please you are almost as bad s them. At least they have teenage idiotic egos. What’s your excuse?”

“I have the hottest woman I have ever seen in my sights and besides I’m trying my best not to scoop you up, toss you over my shoulder and up to my room.” I was being honest as fuck. After the shit that went down, honesty is the best policy. I’d been blunt with women lately, but it hasn’t worked in my favor.

“Does whatever bullshit you just spewed really work?”

“It’s called honesty, sweetheart. I don’t know, usually I don’t have to try and pick up women, they come to me.”

“You and your brother are cocky as hell, but he didn’t look so cocky a minute ago.” she said, as smiled gleefully. Mike said she didn’t care for him at all.

“Yeah well he is into little Miss Blake. I don’t know what is wrong with these guys falling for young girls. I prefer my women to be real women. So tell me how old you are.”

“Not that you didn’t look at my employment file already, but I’m twenty four. How old are you?”

“I’m thirty one. Is that too old for you?”

“Yes you are and I’m not interested. So don’t even bother to try and change my mind.” It was like she was challenging me. Her body language was the exact opposite of the bullshit she was spewing.

“I don’t have to change your mind. You are more than interested. I spent seven years in the FBI sweetheart, I can read you. I can see that you are squirming. Your thighs are rubbing together and you’re good at hiding it, but I’m better at seeing it.” I ran my hand down her slender neck feeling her pulse race.

“I can feel your need.” I pushed her against the wall, my hands pressed against the wall on the outside of her shoulders. I pressed my body against hers as I whispered in her ear. “I know you can feel mine.”

I needed to kiss her, so I did, and it was like lightening. I couldn’t fight the jolt as our mouths connected. My hand tugged at her hair while the other grabbed her sweet ass. She mewed as I gave her a squeeze and pressed harder against her.

The experience was fucking intense, so fucking intense that we didn’t notice we had company until we were interrupted by the head of the home security team. I pulled away from her and she looked amazing sexy with her eyes glowing with lust her hair. Hair that I somehow manage to dislodge giving her that just fuck looked that I hoped to see again very soon.

I didn’t appreciate the interruption, but I guess this fuck didn’t appreciate his employee practically getting nailed to a wall at a party.

“Miss Monroe, I’ll have a meeting with you tomorrow morning. Don’t think this will go unnoticed.” The dick said. I wasn’t worried I would get her out of this. It was my fault anyway. Before I could say anything she pushed me away and ran off in what looked like tears. I turned to the fuck and growled, “How dare you make my woman cry. You will not be having a meeting with her. If you do you will find your ass out on the street, hoping that you could get a job as security at a grocery store.” I walked the fuck away pissed. What happened between April and I wasn’t over, not by a long shot.