Chapter 11
CHELSEA
“ Didn’t think I’d get to walk you down the aisle again.” My dad smiles warmly as I grip his arm and look down the stairs at all of my favorite people.
“You’re not ashamed that I’m marrying someone so young?” I ask curiously.
He scoffs. “Your mom is older than me.”
“Two years is a lot different than twelve,” I say as we take the first step down.
“I wouldn’t care if it were twenty years, as long as he looks at you with that kind of love,” he declares.
I look toward the doorway of my family room where Tony is standing, looking at me in a way only he ever has.
“Ted never looked at you that way,” my dad says, echoing my thoughts before offering my hand to Tony.
When Timothy pronounces us husband and wife, Tony’s kiss is borderline indecent considering all the eyes on us, but I fall into it anyway, refusing to hide my love for him.
“I can’t wait to get you alone, wife ,” Tony whispers in my ear as we carry the last of the food to the huge farm table in my backyard.
“You’ll have to wait.” I laugh as he grumbles about waiting long enough.
His complaint is interrupted when my nephew approaches us with his date. He usually rivals Devon for the title of “life of the party” any time we have a large get together like this, but he’s been glued to his girl’s side all evening.
“Hey, Bobby…” I catch myself before he can correct me. “Tyler. I’m sorry. You know I’ll never get used to calling you by your first name. The family has called you Bobby since you were born.”
“It’s okay, Aunt Chelsea. I don’t mind when it’s just family.” He shrugs before admitting, “I just don’t want the whole town comparing me to Grandaddy. Those shoes are already too big to fill.”
We were all shocked when he entered the police academy—following his grandfather’s career path—instead of going to college.
“Well, Robert would be proud of you…no matter what name you use,” I say as I reach up to pinch his cheek like I’ve done since he was a baby.
“Quit it.” He bats by hand away. “You’re gonna ruin my rep in front of my friend.”
“I’m not your friend.” The girl beside him rolls her eyes. “You blackmailed me into being your date tonight and neglected to tell me that he would be here. If I’d known, I may have opted for the night in jail.”
I gasp at the thought of him extorting this girl after what his brother did to Skyler earlier this year. I turn to him with my hands on my hips, and at least he has the sense to look chagrinned when I demand an explanation.
“This is Ricki, and despite what she just said, I am trying to be a friend.” He shoots a glare at the girl next to him before meeting my eyes again. “I just wanted to give you a heads up that I’m going to introduce Ricki to Tracey and her friends. When I do, it may cause a scene. She’s been dodging this since she got into town even though it’s the whole reason she’s in Thorngrove.”
“Why would it cause a scene?” I ask.
Ricki straightens her shoulders. “My full name is Erica Hargrove. As in…Brady Hargrove’s little sister.”
“I didn’t know Brady had a sister,” I say, confused.
“Neither does he,” Tyler says just as Tracey and her friend group walk out to take their seats.
Tony
As soon as the last of our guests leave, I lift Chelsea into my arms and carry her up the stairs.
“Tell me what you want, Mrs. Grant ,” I growl my wife’s new name as she claws at the buttons on my shirt.
“I want to kiss…” She kisses my jaw. “My husband…” She kisses my neck. “ Everywhere! ”
She kisses every inch of skin exposed as I remove my shirt before dropping to her knees on the plush rug next to the bed as I reach for my belt. As soon as my zipper is down, she grips the top of my trousers and boxers, snatching them down impatiently before taking me into her mouth.
“You want to taste your husband’s cum?” I ask as I thrust into her throat, knowing I’m not going to last long. I’ve been hard since I saw her walking down the stairs. When she hums her approval, I pump my hips until I feel my balls draw tight with my oncoming release.
She moans around me as I spill into her throat, holding me in her mouth until my cock stops twitching before standing and kissing me hungrily before pulling back with a grin.
“Now that I’ve taken the edge off, I want to feel your beard on me… everywhere. ” She repeats the same words she said a decade ago and my heart leaps at how far we’ve come since that night.
I almost panic when I wake to the sun shining through the window and the bed empty beside me until I remember that even Chelsea’s Coffee House is closed on Christmas day. I pull on a pair of joggers and walk into the kitchen to find my wife piping red icing onto a tray of green cupcakes.
When Chelsea notices me watching her, she explains, “They’re Margarita cupcakes…key lime cake with strawberry cream cheese icing.” She puts one on a plate and pushes it toward me before walking to her coffee bar.
When she slides my favorite morning drink in front of me as my cat circles her ankles, I laugh. “Macchiatos, Margaritas, and Mistletoe.”