Whipped (Hitched, #2)

She walks out, slamming the door shut behind her, and I collapse on the bed. I'm going to need to make things up to Vi. I try to think of a peace offering, but fuck it, my head hurts too much, so I just think of Vi. Her full lips, her thighs. The curve of her ass. And now my cock comes to life.

An unfamiliar feeling enters me. I can't quite name it. Whatever it is, I know one thing.

I really hope Vi is single.





CHAPTER 5





VI


Zoe is still giggling about Lachlan as we close up the store. "Think he'll still shop here?" she asks, her big anime eyes glistening from mirthful tears.

"I have no idea," I say, unable to suppress my own laughter, because the whole thing is just ludicrous. "Hopefully he does. I think he's single-handedly kept our little venture afloat the last few months."

While not specifically true, he's definitely contributed to the profit margin.

We reach our cars and hug. Her smile fades as she gets in and I know why. "Henry still?"

She nods and now those tears in her eyes aren't from laughter. "He wants to marry me so we're not living in sin, but I want to wait until we've resolved our issues."

"Marriage won't make things better."

She starts her engine and sighs. "I know. That’s what I told him."

"What did he say?"

"That I'm too much of a temptation and he has to put his faith first. I told him if he really feels that way then maybe we shouldn't live together. But he doesn't want to move out, either. And since we live in my house, that I own, I'm not leaving. We're at an impasse."

Asshole. "You could always kick him out."

She shrugs and gets into her car. "I'm not there yet."

I frown, and she flashes a small rueful smile as she pulls out of the spot next to mine. Waving, I climb into my cherry apple red '97 Camaro. My car purrs to life and I sigh happily as I press the gas.

Leaving behind my worry for Zoe, my mood shifts as I drive out of town to my best friend Kacie's house. There's much squealing, hugging, and pecking of cheeks as I lug a bag of gifts into her spacious and beautiful home.

"You look so good," I tell her as we hug one more time. "I feel like it's been forever since we've seen each other."

She tosses a lock of blond hair off her shoulder and smiles, her blue eyes so happy. "I know. Babies and work. That's my life in a nutshell." But she's grinning madly when she says it, and I know she loves every minute.

"I hope there's time for Dr. Sexy in there somewhere?"

As if on cue, the man walks into the living room. "Oh, I make sure of it," Sebastian says as he kisses his wife's head. She grins and wraps an arm around him.

"You two are to-die-for cute, you know that?"

They both nod as Sebastian kisses her one more time, this time full on the lips. "Work called. I've got to check on a patient, but I'll be back in a few hours. I trust you ladies will survive without me?"

Kacie laughs. "We'll manage somehow. But hurry home. I have plans for you later."

I mock groan and leave them in a liplock as I go in search of my godbabies. I find them upstairs in their nursery, just waking from a nap. Adele and Daniel. The two cutest twins in the entire planet both smile up at me from their shared crib—they refused to sleep apart— and I reach for them both, dropping a kiss on each fuzzy head before picking up Adele to change her diaper. Switch, repeat, and it's go time.

With one baby in each arm I make my way down the stairs. "I have presents for you both!" I tell them, smiling. "Do you want to open presents?" The babies coo excitedly at my tone.

Once Sebastian leaves and the babies settle into our laps enjoying the discovery of their fingers more than any gifts I could bring, Kacie and I juggle cups of coffee and catch each other up on everything we've missed in the last few weeks.

"Hitched is taking off faster than we can keep up," she says. She and her twin brother, Tate, run a premiere bachelor and bachelorette party planning company here in Las Vegas, which got major exposure when they snagged a party for a prominent magician in town and he told all of his celebrity friends. This was right before Kacie and Dr. Sexy, the prominent pediatric surgeon Sebastian Donovan, got engaged after a crazy summer following a drunken night that led to marriage.

You know, because Vegas.

"I'm thrilled for you! And the babies are getting so big. I have to come over more or I'll show up one day and they'll be in college." We switch babies so I can hold Adele for a while.

"Stop it. Don't give them ideas. I swear they conspire with each other behind my back on how to take over the world."

I laugh. "I'm sure your mother felt the same way about you and Tate."

"Ha! That's probably true. And look at us now. Guess she was right." She sips her decaf coffee and my heart goes out to her. Nursing is a sacrifice. "Now, enough about me. Tell me about you! How's Whipped, how's life, how's Zoe, how's everything? Details, woman!"

I tell her all, saving the best for last. Lachlan.

Her mouth forms an O as I talk about last night.