Lucky Strike (20 page)

“Do you like it?” I ask, looking up at Ryder through the mirror. His eyes glued on my side.

“Like it, I fucking love it.” He leans in and kisses my cheek. “And I love you.” He turns on his heels then hops up on the table. “Let’s do this, Viv.”

“You look so damn sexy riding my cock.” Ryder's hand glides between my breasts. His cock buried deep inside me.

“You look fucking sexy with my name on you.” I gaze down at the Lucky etched across Ryder’s rib cage. Knowing that he’s all mine and I’m all his only turns me on even more. I spent my life pushing away the one thing that mattered to me the most and settled for a man that almost destroyed me because I was too afraid that Ryder could never love someone as broken as me, or that I could ever love him as much as he does me. I was so wrong, thanks to Ryder’s love I’ve found myself. Discovered a new side of myself that Ryder set free. He says the day we met was his lucky strike, well it was also mine.

Ryder is my lucky strike, my wish come true.

He’s my everything.

Nine Months Later

Just as the click from the photographers camera rings in the air, the dark gray clouds hanging low in the sky open up, pouring down rain. It’s a good thing they say rain on your wedding day is good luck. Otherwise, I would be worried by now. The photographer packs up her camera then leaves to go set up in the church for the ceremony.

It’s my wedding day, my freaking wedding day. The old Lucky never would have thought in a million years this day would ever come, or that her groom to be would be Ryder. That me no longer exists. I’ve been reborn into a woman who believes all the mushy happy ever after stuff really does exist and that she now deserves her happy ending. I never would have gotten here if it wasn’t for the love Ryder has shown me. He took all the broken pieces of my heart and stitched them back together. He brought me back to life.

“Lucky, you look gorgeous.”

I look over and see Brooke standing in the doorway of the church bridal room. She looks stunning in her red satin strapless mermaid dress.

“You’re looking good too there little momma.”

“Thanks. Just so you know, Brian has been pinching my ass all morning thanks to this red dress. Who does a red and black wedding on St. Patrick’s day?” she asks with a giggle as she steps further into the room.

“You and I both know Brian would have been doing that whether you were wearing red or not,” I reply, giggling with her. “Besides green would have clashed with my tattoos.”

“Speaking of not keeping their hands off someone, Ryder is going to want to rip you out of this dress the moment he sees you walking down in this smoking hot dress.” Brooke joins me over by the window and straightens the red crystal poppy brooch in my hair.

I love my dress. The moment I saw it in the window, I instantly imagined myself in it. It’s a cream trumpet style, with black lace hand sewn around the top and bottom hems of my dress. It hugs every curve of my body perfectly, especially my ass—Ryder’s favorite part of me. I know it’s unconventional to wear black on your wedding day, but Ryder and I have never been very conventional.

“Where’s Lucy? She was supposed to bring up some champagne so we could do a little toast before the ceremony.”

“Bailey accidentally stepped on the hem of her dress and ripped it, so Lucy is frantically trying to repair the hem,” she replies.

“I thought you were going to say Hunter and she were making out in one of the confessionals,” I say trying to hide my giggles.

Now that Hunter and Lucy have come clean about their affair they no longer hide their affections for each other. Not that they were doing that great of job of that before anyway. I’m just glad she finally told Brooke the truth about what was going on. She had nothing to worry about, Brooke’s in total support of Lucy being with Hunter. I feel relieved not to have to be carrying that secret around anymore.

“I warned those two horndogs to keep it in their pants until after the ceremony.” Brooke looks me over in the mirror and wraps her arm around my shoulder. Just then I feel a pang of sadness hit me. Here she is for me on my wedding day even after I so callously ran away before her big day. I can feel the tears beginning to well up in my eyes. I really wish I knew how to turn these damn things off.

Brooke’s eyes meet mine in the mirror. “Oh no you don’t. We’re not going to have this I-feel-bad-for-not-being-there-for-you moment. It’s in the past where it belongs and where it shall stay. And you more than made up for that by being with me on the day my son was born. So no more sad tears.” She softly smiles.

I quietly nod taking in a calming breath, trying to settle my nerves. I’m damn lucky to have a kindhearted and forgiving friend like Brooke. Friend is putting it mildly, she’s like a sister to me now.

“Don’t tell me the waterworks are starting already?”

I hear that familiar Irish brogue come from the doorway. Doreen, my former nanny turned surrogate mom comes marching her way into the bridal suite. Brooke gives me one last hug then leaves Doreen and me to go check on Ella and Matthew.

“My sweet, Nadine, you look beautiful. I can’t believe my little girl is getting married.” Her arms snake around my waist, her head resting on my shoulder, right on the first red poppy I’ve got tattooed on my left arm. The one I got for her. Doreen has been there for me since the day I was born. She fed me my bottles, changed my diapers, kissed me goodnight. She was the one that held me and rocked me to sleep when my parents would fight. She’s been there for every important moment in my life and now she’s here for one of the biggest in my life. I couldn’t get married without her being here.

“This day wouldn’t be the same without you. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, Doreen. I love you.”
And here come the tears again.

“Oh, damn it darling, you’re making me cry now.” She cups my face in her hands and looks me in the eyes, with tears rolling down her face. “It’s been an absolute pleasure and honor to watch you grow into the beautiful woman that you are. You’ve been like a daughter to me and I will always love you, my sweet girl.” She wipes my tears then reaches into the pocket of her dress. “Every girl needs a something old on her wedding day, and I made you a little something.” She opens my hand and places a square of fabric over my palm.

I look down at my hand and my eyes widen when I realize that it’s a handkerchief made out of the dress I wore on my first day at kindergarten when I met Ryder.

“This dress brought you luck once before and now it will continue to as you start your new life with Ryder.” Her sweet gesture warms my heart. Ryder said it was his lucky clover that brought us together, but I think it was both of our lucky clovers working together to bring us together.

“Thank you, Doreen. I love it.” I smile, bringing the fabric up to my heart.

“You’re welcome. I’m going to go find my seat. I’ll see you at the reception. Good luck up there, darling.” She places a gentle kiss on my forehead then turns and walks out of the bridal suite.

I take a few deep breaths and wipe my tears away. Turning to grab my bouquet from the dresser I spot Ryder standing in the room. Oh my God, he looks so handsome in his black tux. His hair is combed back and his dark blue eyes are popping. He looks like a dream. His smile as he looks me up and down is lighting up the room.

“You know it’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding?” I smile slowly walking over to him.

“We have more than enough luck working in our favor. Besides, I couldn’t wait another minute to see my Lucky Clover. You look stunning by the way.” He meets me in the middle of the room and snakes his arms around my waist. The moment our bodies come together I feel calm again.

“Are you ready for this?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

“Fuck yes! I’ve been ready for this day since the moment you opened the door back in San Diego. Are you ready to spend eternity with me?”

“Do you remember that day at the beach, when I made a wish?”

He gives me a sideways glance. “Yes. What does that have to do with my question?” he asks.

“It has everything to do with my response, because that day I made a wish and my wish was to spend my life with you.”

The stars were shining bright up in the night sky. The cool, crisp fall night making me snuggle closer to Ryder out on the roof of his parents’ house. My parents had been on the war path with each other since my dad got busted with his new secretary. It had been non-stop fighting for the past week and I needed to get out of that damn house. I couldn’t wait to turn eighteen so I could get the hell out of this town.

“Ryder, do you think we will always be friends?”

“That’s a stupid question. Of course, we will.”

“How can you be so sure?”

Ryder ever the optimist. I wish some of his optimism would rub off on me.

“Because you’re my girl. Lucky, you will always be mine.”

“Ryder Michael Callahan, get your ass up here
now!”
Lucky’s shriek echoes through our new house, and I quickly realize I forgot to turn the water back on in the bathroom after I finished installing the new shower head. Lucky was looking forward to taking her first hot shower after spending the past two months using the shower I rigged in the backyard with a hose. I warned her we shouldn’t have sold my apartment before the renovations were done on the house, but she pulled the I’m-not-high-maintenance-I-can-handle-anything card and here we are, living by candlelight and eating out of takeout containers. And her bitching how I never should have let her convince me to move so soon. At least, the crazy hot sex in every room of our new house gets her yelling in a way I can handle.

It’s been a year since Lucky and I tied the knot. Lucky quit the coffee shop and started working for Vivian at the tattoo shop, and sells her paintings on the side. SWAT was the best move I ever made, besides marrying Lucky. My hours on the force are crazier now, I can get called out at a moment’s notice, but we’re making it work. We’ve had our share of ups and downs, but at least now when we fight, Lucky’s first instinct isn’t to run. Now it’s how quickly can she get out of her clothes, so we can have hot hate sex. We’re not perfect, but we are happy and that’s what’s most important.

I race quickly through the house and out to the backyard to turn the water main back on. Once the water is on I bolt back inside and up the stairs to find Lucky standing in our newly restored bathroom. Her back is to me and she’s leaning up against the sink.

“Hey babe, I’m sorry I forgot to turn the water back on. The hot water should be working.” I lean up against the doorway, hoping to get a good view of her stripping off her sweat and paint covered clothes. Might even join her so we can christen our new shower.

She turns around to face me, her eyes are searing into me. She looks pissed, but also a bit confused. I don’t know if I should be scared right now.

“You son of a bitch… you knocked me up.” Her pissed off look fades into a tiny smile while she holds up a white and purple plastic stick in her left hand.

“Are you fucking serious, babe?” I pad over to her and take the stick from her hand. My heart is beating out of my chest with excitement.
Can this really be happening?
I look down at the pink plus sign, my vision going a little blurry as I gaze wide-eyed and in complete shock.

We haven’t talked about having kids since that night in the hospital after Matthew was born. I knew Lucky wanted them, I just didn’t want to push her into having them before she was ready. It looks like this little bundle of joy has other plans.

I look up at Lucky’s face, trying to gauge her response before I scream from the rooftops how fucking happy I am right now.

“We’re having a baby, Ryder.” Her face erupts into a big beautiful smile.

I drop to my knees in front of her and lift her tank top up, exposing her stomach. Leaning in, I press a gentle kiss to her soft flesh.

My baby is growing inside her.

I’m going to be a father.

I can’t even begin to wrap my brain around it.

“Hi baby,” I whisper against her stomach.

Lucky looks down at me, running her fingers through my hair. All I can do is chant thank you over and over again. Like that my love for Lucky grows even stronger.

Lucky drops down to her knees joining me on the floor. Cupping my face in her hands, she presses her soft, warm lips against mine. I pull her into my lap, hands fisting in her shirt as I deepen our kiss. Just the thought of her carrying my baby has me so fucking hard. Now I get why Brian couldn’t keep his hands off Brooke while she was pregnant.

Lucky breaks from my lips, breathing hard. “You know what this means? Your ass needs to finish this house before this baby comes.”

“I will make this house a palace for you and our baby. Now let’s you get you out of these clothes and into a hot shower so I can fuck my baby mamma.” I pull off her tank, pleased to see she’s braless. She lets out a soft moan when I cup her in my hand, strumming her taut pink nipple with my thumb. My other hand tracing along my name tattooed just below her left tit.

“Are you going to think I’m so fuckable when I’m as big as a house?” she asks, gently grinding against my growing hard length.

“Mamma, you’re gonna have to beat me off with a stick.” I dip my head down, sucking her nipple into my mouth.

“The only way you’re going to fuck me right now is if we’re in our new shower.”

I pull her nipple between my teeth with a deep growl “Then get your ass in that damn shower.” I demand, giving her ass a hard smack as she climbs up off my lap.

She slowly slides her paint covered yoga pants down, bending at the hips, giving me a good view of her curvy ass. I crawl over to her and sink my teeth into her tender flesh. Lucky lets out a squeal.

“I see my beast is ready to play.” She giggles, running into the shower.

Shedding off my clothes, I catch her and scoop her into my arms and press her against the shower wall. I reach over and turn on the water, the warmth washing over us.

“I fucking love you, Lucky Callahan.”

“I love you too, Ryder Callahan. Thank you for making all my dreams come true.”