Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Speedy had his arm along the back of Violet’s chair, listening to her and the other women laugh and giggle. He’d made sure that when they came back, Violet was on his side of the table so he could keep any unwanted hands off her from the dance floor.
“Hey, Halligan, I haven’t got to see your code. Come closer,” Emerson yelled, motioning him over.
Glaring the whole way, Halligan walked over and then turned his back to the group. Emerson scanned the code and then chuckled.
“Oh dear, I’ll just read it since you all need to hear this while Halligan is close.
WANTED — Woman to be the partner in my life.
I love gaming and work. In fact, the gaming can be a plus for you because I never listen to what anyone says, but I always agree.
If you ask me for a new car while I’m gaming, yep, you get a new car.
But I’m kind and love my family. To be my woman, you’ll need to put up with betting, pranks, and a whole lot of testosterone from myself and my eight cousins.
To be the partner I need, you’ll need to be a fierce woman who doesn’t mind letting me take care of you and lead you on crazy adventures.
Willing to give blowjobs wouldn’t be a bad trait either.
If interested, please contact Vivi, Ellie, or Ry because we’re not letting mean girls into our family.
“Why do I feel like you changed yours? Willing to give blowjobs doesn’t sound like something Vivi, Ellie, or Ry would write,” Emerson said.
Halligan’s reddening face told Speedy all he needed to know. Speedy enjoyed hanging around Halligan and all the cousins. They treated their women like treasures, which was exactly how Speedy planned on treating Violet.
“Hey, Vivi, did you know Halligan changed his wording for his code?” Beth Franks yelled across the bar.
Speedy chuckled along with everyone else as Vivi walked over.
“What do you mean?” Vivi asked.
“Well, did you include that the person needed to be willing to give blowjobs as a trait?” Beth asked.
Vivi pursed her lips, turned to Halligan, and stared. He fidgeted and then held his hands up.
“I mean, it is a good trait to have and important in a relationship,” Halligan said.
Speedy was glad he and Violet had come tonight, though he’d had a hard time leaving the kids. It was never boring at Nelson’s, and he owed Halligan for forcing Speedy to tell Violet how he felt.
He didn’t want to get maudlin tonight, but after losing his parents, he knew up close and personal that life could change in a moment. The loved ones that you couldn’t imagine your life without could be gone in an instant. Nobody was guaranteed tomorrow.
When Halligan had come close to Violet, the urge to pound Halligan’s face and warn him away from her had overwhelmed him until he had to act. If he was warning men away from Violet, then he owed it to her to tell her his feelings.
Speedy wasn’t someone who was very vocal about his feelings. Sure, he’d told his mom and dad he loved them and hugged them when he’d leave. But now, with the kids—he didn’t want them to ever doubt how much he loved them.
He wasn’t sure how it had happened so fast, but he was in love with them and would do whatever it took to keep them safe and with him.
And Violet—he’d been attracted to her, but now he couldn’t imagine his and the kids’ lives without her. And not as the kids’ nanny but as their mom.
He wasn’t sure if tonight, when they got back, was too soon to make her his, but if she wasn’t ready, he at least wanted to hold her through the night.
He leaned close to her ear so she could hear him and restrained himself from licking along her sexy, sweet little earlobe.
“Do you want another hot cocoa?” he asked. They’d be leaving soon, and he wanted to make sure tonight was perfect for her.
She turned her face close to his and he stared into her gorgeous brown eyes.
“Yes, please, but just the regular. I want to be able to hold onto you on the way back,” she said.
“Okay, be right back,” he said, dropping a quick kiss on her mouth before walking toward the bar. He deserved a friggin’ medal for not doing more because Violet was temptation personified.
He stood waiting for Ry to wait on him.
“What would you like, Speedy?” she asked.
“Two regular hot cocoas, please,” he said.
“Got it. Nice job with Violet. She deserves a good man, which I know you are, and congratulations on the kids. What a Christmas season it’s been for you,” Ry said, handing him the drinks. He pulled out his wallet.
“Nope. On the house. You lifting Halligan up and then tackling him will be gold to tease him with. Thank you,” Ry said, grinning.
Speedy made his way back, handing Violet her hot cocoa and sitting down.
Stone was beside him and had been quiet. He was always quiet, but it seemed a little different.
“You doing okay?” Speedy asked.
Stone nodded. “Yeah, just thinking. I’m glad we came here. The girls are thriving.”
Speedy guessed Stone was talking about Emerson, Frankie, and Harry, who weren’t girls anymore, but Speedy could understand being gone for twenty years, Stone probably still saw them as the young girls he’d left. He’d come home to adult women. It would be a tough transition.
“You have any time soon to do some ink for me? I’m thinking I’d like something with the kids’ names, Violet’s, and maybe the time of year. Not sure yet what,” Speedy said.
Stone nodded. “Let me check the schedule and I’ll also think about some ideas.”
Speedy didn’t say anything else. Stone had spoken more in the last couple of days than Speedy had heard him in the months since he’d come to Bluff Creek.
Stone wasn’t the only one who had found a home at Bluff Creek.
Speedy was thankful for the friends he’d made and the woman he’d found.
He thought this would be his saddest Christmas after losing his parents.
It would be different without them, but he had a family to make this their best Christmas ever.