Babies and promises a se.., p.1
Babies & Promises: A Secret Baby Romance (Breaking The Rules Book 2), page 1
Copyright © 2020 by Beck & Hallman LLC
All rights reserved.
Cover Image by Wander Aguiar
Cover Design by T.E. Black Design
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Contents
Blurb
1. Rhett
2. Rhett
3. Erica
4. Rhett
5. Erica
6. Rhett
7. Erica
8. Rhett
9. Rhett
10. Rhett
11. Rhett
12. Erica
13. Erica
14. Erika
15. Rhett
16. Rhett
17. Rhett
18. Rhett
19. Erica
20. Rhett
21. Rhett
22. Rhett
23. Erica
24. Rhett
25. Rhett
26. Erica
27. Rhett
28. Erica
Epilogue
Next in this Series
Roommates & Thieves Preview
About the Author
Also by the Authors
Sinful Secrets
Blurb
Rule #1: Always wear a condom.
Rule #2: Always leave them wanting more.
Rule #3: Always man up.
Erica Roberts was the maid of honor in my brother’s wedding and my next conquest. She was tone, tan, and sweet as pie. I should’ve known I’d end up breaking her heart.
Still, against my better judgement I took her, giving us both the best night of our lives. When I woke up the next morning she was gone, not a trace of what had happened between us, and I realized then I broke my number one rule: Always use a condom.
Two months later I get a text telling me I’m going to be a father. I feel a number of emotions, elation, fear, excitement, anger, but then she drops the biggest bomb on me. She says she doesn’t need me or want me. Now I’ve got to do whatever I can to keep us from falling apart. She doesn’t think I want the baby or can be a good father, while she’s about to find out just the kind of man I am.
1
Rhett
I walked into the church and immediately shook my head at all the wedding paraphernalia. Cody and Sophia had been planning their wedding for two years, but even after all that time I still had a hard time picturing my little brother as a married man. I liked Sophia a lot, and I was glad they were together. Why marriage, though? It only complicated things. They’d been together since their sophomore year in college and had done just fine without all this.
I brushed past an overfilled vase of flowers and ducked into a hall not so crowded with people and ridiculousness. Cody’s text had told me where to find him before the ceremony began. I spotted the right door and headed toward it, but a flash of blonde curls distracted me. Turning toward the woman, I tried to remember where I knew her from. She was stunning in the long, silver dress. The slit in the side went up to mid-thigh, accentuating her toned legs as she strode purposefully past me.
Before she could pass me, I remembered. “Erica,” I called out.
She turned, startled out of her thoughts. Her brows pinched together as she looked at me. “Rhett, right?” she asked. “Cody’s brother.”
I nodded, pleased she remembered me. We’d only met twice, and both times only in passing at events related to Cody and Sophia. I’d wanted to talk to her both times, and I couldn’t immediately remember why I hadn’t. Smiling like I did at all attractive women, I pointed casually at her. “Sophia’s friend, right? You’re the, uh, preschool teacher, aren’t you?”
“First grade, now, actually,” she corrected. “I got my teaching license last year. I was a teacher’s aide before.”
“That’s great,” I said, not really caring about the specifics of her job aside from making sure she was the right person I’d been thinking of when I first recalled her name.
I wanted to find out more about her relationship status and what she had planned after the wedding and reception, but Sophia stuck her head out a nearby door and called to her, waving at her to hurry up. “Did you find more bobby pins?”
Erica nodded and held up a small bag. Without even saying goodbye to him, she hurried toward Sophia and they both disappeared into the bride’s room with nothing more than a quick wave from my soon-to-be sister-in-law. I shook my head again, finding the title to be a mouthful. I wouldn’t like Sophia any more than I already did after she and Cody were married. Hopefully she didn’t expect me to start referring to her as my sister-in-law all the time.
Casting off any more thoughts like that, I found myself thinking about Erica as I took the last few steps to where Cody waited and pushed into the room. While Sophia looked stressed and anxious about everything going well, Cody and a few of our other friends lounged on sofas and laughed at something Derek had said. Cody motioned for me to join them. I sat next to him and waited for a break in the conversation.
When it finally came, I asked, “Erica, you know much about her?”
“Sophia’s friend?” Cody asked. When I nodded, he shrugged. “What do you want to know?”
“Is she seeing anyone?”
Cody rolled his eyes. “That’s it?”
I shrugged. “She’s hot as hell. Especially in that bridesmaid dress.”
“She’s also Sophia’s best friend,” he said with a light tone of warning.
That surprised me. “Best friend? How come she never hangs out then?”
Cody shrugged. “She’s not super social when it comes to groups, but the two of them go out to lunch a lot and do all that girlfriend type stuff like nails and hair and shopping.”
I suppose that made sense. Sophia was very social, though, so it surprised me that her closest friend would be so reserved. Not that it really mattered to me any. Refocusing, I repeated my earlier question. “Is she single?”
Cody shook his head at my single mindedness. “As far as I know, but you better tread lightly or Sophia will go ballistic.”
“Tread lightly?” I scoffed. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Looking suddenly serious, Cody turned to face me. “Leave her happy and satisfied.”
“I always do,” I said with a grin.
Cody didn’t laugh. “I’m not talking about sex, you asshole.”
Sex was all I was talking about. I shook my head, not understanding.
“Make it clear that you’re not looking for a relationship. Treat her right and make sure she walks away with no regrets.” His gaze was pointed and held no humor. “Got it?”
“Sure,” I said, surprised by his protectiveness. Maybe it had more to do with making sure Sophia didn’t get an earful about me that would then turn into him getting chewed out on my behalf.
Cody sighed. “Good.”
For a few minutes, I considered leaving Erica alone. Then I remembered the way the silver fabric of her dress hugged every curve of her slender, fit body. I knew we could have a lot of fun together, and that wasn’t the kind of opportunity I liked to pass up. Besides, Cody wasn’t asking anything unreasonable. I always treated women like a gentleman would outside the bedroom and like a fiery goddess inside the bedroom. I also always made it clear I was interested in sex and not a relationship. Women left my bed satisfied and wanting more. Why would Erica be any different?
I was pulled from my thoughts some time later when an usher stepped into the room and asked us to follow him. I hadn’t been able to make it to the rehearsal dinner the night before, due to a meeting with my boss running ridiculously late, so I hadn’t a clue what I was supposed to do when I was told to line up for the processional. Looking around for Cody, I saw that he was being led into the chapel while the rest of the guys stayed behind.
I couldn’t remember the last wedding I’d been to, or how these things usually progressed. Turning to Derek, I elbowed him and asked, “What are we doing?”
“Waiting on the women,” he said with a chuckle.
Understanding flickered to life. I remembered Sophia saying something about the best man, me, being paired up with the maid of honor for the walk down the aisle. What I couldn’t remember was who she’d chosen for her maid of honor. I generally left the room or tuned her and my brother out when they starting talking about the wedding.
Happy female voices drifted from the hall, and I turned to look for Sophia. She appeared a moment later, grinning from ear to ear and looking as though she were floating in her puffy white dress. I think she’d called the sheer white fabric organza, or something like that, and that she felt like a princess in it. I had to agree with her on that. She was gorgeous, and I was glad to see her so happy even if I didn’t understand the point of all of this.
I watched as her father stepped up to her and kissed her cheek. Cody was lucky to be getting such great in-laws. Sophia’s parents were one of those couples that considered everyone family and always made you feel welcomed. I was pretty sure Cody was as close with them as he was our own parents.
“So, it looks like it’s you and me,
Turning, I was surprised to see Erica waiting expectantly. “What?”
“Best man,” she said, pointing at me. Then she reversed the direction of her finger to point at her chest, where her ample breasts peeked seductively from the silver fabric clinging to them. “Maid of honor. We’re supposed to walk down the aisle together.”
I frowned at her phrasing.
“For the processional,” she said with a laugh, “not marriage.”
“Right,” I replied, kicking myself. “Marriage and I do not go together.”
Erica scoffed. “So, I’ve heard.”
Curious, and not at all turned off by her banter, I moved in closer to her. “Oh yeah? What have you heard?”
“That you’re a Class A player who doesn’t have a moral bone in your body.” A smirk twisted her lips, but not in disgust.
“I don’t need someone else telling me how to be moral. I have rules I live by, and that’s always worked just fine for me,” I said.
Intrigued, Erica smiled. “Rules, huh? What rules?”
Stepping close enough to run my fingers over the curve of her hip, I leaned forward until my mouth brushed against her ear. “Would you really like to know?”
I could hear her breathing pick up and feel her breasts pulsing lightly against my suit coat with each breath. Her voice, however, was all silk and seduction when she said, “I’m interested.”
“Interested enough to come back to my place after this?”
She chuckled at my boldness, but didn’t stop me when I slid my hand more firmly onto her hip, my fingertips teasing their way toward the curve of her ass. “Let’s see how the rest of the night goes before I answer that question,” she said.
My lips slid into a slow grin. “It only gets better from here.”
She ran her finger down the buttons of my dress shirt. “I’ll be the judge of that.”
My smile widened. I liked this girl. For all Cody’s worrying, I didn’t think I’d have to worry about Erica needing anyone’s protection. Not being social didn’t mean she didn’t know how to play. Bringing my lips to hover next to her ear again, I said, “Challenge accepted.” Then I drew the edge of her earlobe into my mouth and sucked for a split second before stepping back.
The sharp intake of breath I heard her make was a good indication of how her judgment would play out. If I hadn’t been standing there in a tux waiting to participate in my brother’s wedding, I would have dragged her away to the first empty room I could find and shown her exactly what I could do. Instead, I was forced to step away and will my body to calm down.
A few minutes later when we were all directed to line up, I was at least somewhat under control. Until I looked over at Erica and found her playing with the neckline of her dress. Her fingers slipped under the edge of the fabric and ran up and down the swell of her breasts out of nervousness, which surprised me. It distracted the hell out of me, too.
“If you want to make it down the aisle without a scene,” I whispered, “you better stop doing that.”
She glanced up at me, “What?”
I hooked one of her fingers, my knuckle pressing against her flesh. “That,” I growled.
Rather than be embarrassed, Erica’s brow rose and her smirk returned. “Oh, is that bothering you?”
“Not at all,” I said in a low voice. “But it’s tempting the hell out of me.”
Erica’s lips slid into a smile that told me I was going to be leaving as soon as possible. I’d be lucky to even make it out of the church. Erica’s expression said she might not be opposed to that. Looking up at me, she asked, “What else do you find tempting. So I can try to avoid tempting you. If at all possible.”
Staring down at her full lips and lust-filled eyes, I shook my head slowly. “That’s a long list, baby.”
Her smirk widened into a grin. “This should be fun then.”
It certainly would be.
2
Rhett
I sat down after toasting the happy couple and my foot started tapping immediately. How much longer was this thing supposed to last? Erica called me a Class A Player, but she was an expert temptress. Every time I caught her eye during the ceremony, she was biting her bottom lip, running her fingers down her neck, adjusting her dress in a way that reminded me of what the fabric was hiding, anything that kept me struggling to tamp down my desire for her.
As she stood to make her toast, she hooked her finger on the necklace she was wearing and kept toying with it as she spoke. I watched her fingertips brush against her breasts and had to adjust myself. Who knew what she was saying, but I was mesmerized by her full, red lips as she spoke. There were plenty of places I wanted those lips. If we could ever get out of here.
Finally, Erica ended her toast and sat back down next to Sophia. We sat through several more toasts and obligatory rituals before the band started playing and tables emptied as guests made for the dance floor. I slid my chair back, my gaze intent on Erica. Before I could stand, Cody’s hand clamped down on my knee and he gave me a hard look.
“Remember what I said,” he grumbled.
“Got it,” I said, before shaking off his hand and standing.
Erica caught sight of my movement and watched me approach, a slow smile spreading across her lips. She stared up at me when I reached her and raised an eyebrow. “Did you need something?”
“A dance,” I said, taking her hand.
She grinned when I yanked her up from the chair and barely managed a quick wave to Sophia before I pulled her away. I led her deep into the crowd of dancers, out from under the gazes of either Sophia or Cody. Once we were shielded enough to have a little privacy, I pulled Erica tightly against my body. She slid her hand up my chest and curled her fingers around the back of my neck. The motion pushed her breasts more firmly against my chest.
“Have you made your judgment yet?” I asked her. “Do we torture ourselves staying at the reception for another two hours, or are you ready to play for real?”
Erica feigned shock. “Do you really expect me to bail on my best friend’s wedding reception?”
“They’re leaving in twenty minutes,” I reminded her. “Plane to catch.”
Originally, they had planned to leave for their honeymoon the day after the wedding, but the small airline that would take them out to the island they were staying on had a conflict in schedule and they’d been forced to rearrange all their other flights. Rather than cut the reception short, they had decided to slip out and let their friends and family party without them.
Desire shone in Erica’s eyes, but she said, “What if I’m still only interested…not convinced?”
Leaning down, I pressed my mouth to the curve of her neck, sucking lightly before continuing my way up to the tender spot behind her ear. I whispered, “Then I’ll just have to convince you.”
She arched into me when I kissed her neck again. Her hips pressed against my erection, her breath catching slightly. I let my hand slide from her hip to her ass, pressing her closer and letting her feel how much I wanted her in that moment. She responded by slipping her hand under the edge of my suit jacket and grazing her nails against my chest. The pressure of her touch excited me even more, and I knew I was reaching my limit for remaining in public.
Yanking her against me, I growled, “Are you convinced yet?”
“Almost,” she breathed. Then she surprised me by pulling out of my grip and grabbing my hand.
We were suddenly making our way through the other dancers, Erica towing me along behind her. I had no clue where she was leading me, and I didn’t care. The only other thought in my head aside from how great her ass looked in that dress was trying to keep anyone from noticing the bulge in my slacks. I may not have been a fan of weddings, but I didn’t want to embarrass Sophia and Cody either. I was relieved when we made it to an empty hallway.
