Sweet Sins (3 page)

Monnique covered her face and tried not to laugh.

“White, wheat, or sourdough,” he said with a straight face.

“Oh.” My mind was in the gutter. “Sourdough.”

“Bacon or sausage?”

How many damn choices where there?
“Bacon.”

He turned to Monnique and took her order.

I felt my face blush when I replayed that interaction. I made a total idiot out of myself. Couldn’t he have walked over just a moment later?

When he left, Monnique kept grinning at me.
“Sorry.”

My cock was still hard. “That was just bad timing.”

“Well, then I probably shouldn’t say anything else…”

Now my curiosity was killing me. What did she mea
n by that? My skin prickled at the suggestion. My thoughts were running wild. “No, you should say.”

Monnique’s cheeks tinted slightly. “I want you to get through your meal without the waiter thinking you’re dyslexic.”

“Did you just hear me? He already thinks that.”

She laughed then sipped her water.

“Come on, baby. You can tell me anything.” I already suspected what she might say but I had to know.

She played with a strand of hair before she tucked it behind her ear. “I’m commando right now.”

I stuck my fist in my mouth because that was so hot. I stifled my moan so no one else would hear me. God, she was killing me.

She had a playful look in her eyes. “See? Now you’re never going to get through breakfast.”

“Let’s take it to go.” My mind was deep in the gutter. Deep. I wanted to take things slow with her, but she looked so damn gorgeous sitting across from me, and then she had to tell me she wasn’t wearing any panties. Talk about torture.

“It can wait.” She had a mischievous smile on her face.

Ugh, she was killing me. I was the one who wanted to wait, but she turned the tables on me. I tried to focus on something else so my cock wouldn’t break through my jeans.

“Have you spoken to anyone since you got back?” she asked.

“Just Scarlet.” Good, talking about the gang would calm me down.

“I haven’t either. They probably want to leave us alone.”

Which would be fine if I was fucking her in the bathroom. I shook my head, trying to shake the thoughts away. I wasn’t being a gentleman at all. “Excited about the wedding?”

“It’s going to be so much fun. I’m happy for them. Those two are soul mates.”

“They are.”

“Did you miss the bachelor party?”

I nodded. “But I understand. I didn’t expect them to postpone it for me. They really had no other option.”

“I’m sure they missed you.”

“According to Scarlet, it sounded like they were running away from women the entire time. I probably didn’t miss much, except Ryan getting slapped by some girl.”

She laughed. “I wish I had seen that.”

“That makes two of us.”

The waiter returned with the food and gave me an apprehensive look.
Yeah, he thought I was a douchebag, and he’d be right for thinking that.

We ate quietly. I dipped my French toast into the syrup and tried not to think about Monnique’s ass, how curvy it was, and how beautiful she looked naked on my bed. I tried not to think about her in a sexual way when we were broken up because it was wrong, but now she was mine and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Why did she have to wear that dress? Why did she have to tell me she was commando? Unless she wanted me to become puddy in her hands.
Well, mission accomplished.

“What are you thinking?”

Her question dispelled my thoughts. “This is good French toast.”

She smiled. “Sure…”

Damn, was she a mind reader?

When we were finished, I paid the tab and she didn’t even bother trying. She understood me well enough to back down. I’d never change my mind about that. She was my girlfriend and she didn’t pay for anything. I knew her savings account was overflowing because of my stubbornness. Call me old-fashioned, but a guy took care of a girl.
I wouldn’t be with anyone unless I could take care of them.

Hand in hand, we walked back to her apartment.

“I talked to my old boss. He said I could have my job back since I was only gone for a week.”

“Good.” Not really. After I heard about her episode protecting a child, I wanted her to stay home. Maybe when she moved back in with me, I could get her
to quit. I shook my head. That would never happen. She was way too stubborn.

She watched my face. “But I can quit and stay home.”

What? Did she just say that?
“Sorry?”

She kept her small hand in my mine. “If you prefer me staying at home, I can.”

Was this the same Monnique?
“Is this a trap?”

She laughed loudly then shook her head. “No. I’m being serious.”

“So, you would just quit and move in with me? Stay home all day and hang out with your friends?”

“Yes.”

This was too good to be true. “Why?”

“I know it’s what you want.”

“But what do you want, baby?”

“I want to make you happy.”

I should just take her offer because it sounded so thrilling. It was my dream to have her stay at home. I would know she was safe and no one was bothering her or gawking at her. She wouldn’t be tired at night, able to please me as much as I wanted. She could have my kids and raise them. But I knew that wasn’t what she wanted. And I would never take that away from her. “No, it’s okay.”

She eyed me suspiciously. “Why have you changed your mind?”

“I know you love your job.”

“But I love you more.”

I sighed. “My request is selfish. I just want to hide you from the world and keep you all to myself.” It was the truth.

“But I want to make you happy.”

“You do, baby. You don’t have to sacrifice your dreams for me just because of…everything we’ve been through.”

“We can get a house in the country with Scarlet and Cassandra. I could go over there every day and help with the kids. When you came home, dinner would be on the table, and I would be dressed in slutty lingerie…”

She was doing a good job of tempting me. “Go on.”

She chuckled. “We could have our own kids and raise a family. I wouldn’t be around infectious diseases, working late hours, being in dangerous…it’s everything you want.”

She was making this damn impossible to say no.

“After everything I put you through, I want to give you everything you want.” She had a determined look in her eye. “I want a marriage and a happily ever after. Relationships are about compromise. I never negotiated anything with you in our previous relationship. I was stubborn and never saw your point of view. I want it to be different this time. I want to give you everything.”

I couldn’t believe she made such an offer. “You’d be willing to sacrifice your career just to make me happy?”

“You wouldn’t?”

I’d sacrifice anything for her—in a heartbeat. “You’re sure you want to do this?”

She nodded. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”

3

Mike

Sean came into my office, his hands in his pockets. The way he fell into the chair facing my desk told me he wasn’t there to discuss work. “So…you’re getting married in a few days.”

“Thanks for reminding
me,” I said sarcastically. “Totally slipped my mind.”

He studied my face. “Nervous?”

“Why does everyone keep asking me that?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. You’ve been playing house up to this point. It’s normal to get cold feet. It’s
not a big deal.”

“My feet arm warm,” I snapped.

“I’m not accusing you of anything or trying to start an argument, alright?” Sean crossed his legs. “This is just between us. Whatever you say to me stays between us.”

“And your wife,” I jabbed.

“I won’t say a thing to her. I don’t tell her everything, despite what you think.”

“You’re full of shit.”

“Okay…I do tell her everything. But I won’t tell her anything you say now.”

I shook my head. “I don’t have anything to say.”

He eyed me suspiciously. “Scarlet ran out on me.”

I remembered the story. At the time, I had no idea what was going on. I was outside helping my mom. I didn’t see Scarlet leave or return. “I’m surprised she came back.”

“My point is, even if you’re completely sure, there are still doubts.”

“Cassandra and I aren’t like you. I would never change my mind about her. I’ve been waiting for her my whole life.”

“Okay.” He seemed to back off. “Well, if you just want to talk it out, I’m here.”

“I don’t need to talk anything out,” I snapped. “I’m just fine.”

He held up his hands. “Okay. Sorry. Just trying to help.”

I opened my drawer and poured myself a glass of whiskey.

“Share the wealth.”

I poured him a glass then slid it across the desk.

He downed half of it in a gulp. “I can’t drink anymore because of Scarlet. I miss it.”

“You planning on breastfeeding?” I jabbed.

He glared at me. “I don’t want to remind her what she’s missing. I haven’t been drinking coffee either.”

“Cassandra doesn’t seem to struggle with it.” I took a drink
and felt the burn down my throat.

“You’ve been a promiscuous guy your whole life and now you’re committing to one woman for the rest of your life.”

I thought we were done with this?

“It’s a big change.”

“Yeah, I know. I realized that when I proposed to her.”
Did he want me to change my mind or something?
“Did you have doubts about Scarlet?”

“No. But she’s perfect. I’d be an idiot to run out on her.”

“And I’d be an idiot to run out on Cassandra.”

Sean drank from his glass and savored the taste. “Where are you going for the honeymoon?”

“Nowhere.”

“That’s romantic,” he said sarcastically.

“She can’t fly, dumbass.”

“Oh. I forgot.”

“Besides, we live on the beach. We’re good.”

Sean finished his glass then set it back on the desk. “I got everything ready. The suits are ready to go, all the food will be there on time, we got the cake and the guest list. Is there something else you need me to do?”

“No.”

He nodded. “There’s something I want to say but I’m afraid to say it…”

“That’s not vague.”

“With Cassandra’s history, do you think…are you scared she’s a flight risk?” He wouldn’t look at me after he said
it.

I rubbed my thumb over the glass. The thought had struck my mind. “No.”

“You aren’t?” he asked in surprise.

“No. She wouldn’t hurt me like that.” When she came back to me, her apologizes and desires seemed sincere. I didn’t think she only came back to me because she was pregnant. She wanted more.

Sean nodded. “I’m sure you’re right.”

“I know I am.”

“You want to stay at my place the night before the wedding?”

“No.”
Why the hell would I want to do that?

“Are you staying somewhere else?”

“No. Why would I?”

“Because you’re getting married the next day…you know how weddings work, right?”

“You’re one to talk. You and Scarlet slept together.”

“But we’re talking about you here.”

“I already knocked her up. I think staying in a different room is lame.” I refilled my glass and took another drink.

“Alright. Just wanted to check.”

“You got the rings?” I asked.

“Cassandra still needs to give me hers.”

“She’ll get it,” I said. “She’s hot, but she can be a scatter brain.”

“That
’s sweet,” he said sarcastically.

I smirked. “I want her to stop working but she’s being such a pain in the ass about it. Seriously, what’s the point of her making money when my income is so much more? It makes no sense. I make her yearly salary in a day.”

Sean rolled his eyes. “You’re asking the wrong guy for advice. Scarlet still runs her editing company.”

“But she’s home all day. If anything, that’s a hobby. I know being an accountant is not a hobby.”

My brother shrugged. “I don’t know what to say, man. We like stubborn women, apparently.”

“You can say that again.” I rolled my eyes. I loved her fiery attitude and her refusal to take my bullshit, but sometimes I wished she would let me win once in a while.

Sean stood up and fixed his tie. “I should get back to work…or play Pac-Man on the computer.”