Ever After Page 2

  “Yes.” Janice squeezed her hand. “Yes, we do.”

  3

  Molly was in the kitchen putting together a salad and chatting with Janice when Dom came after getting Brian down for his afternoon nap. He leaned over to kiss her shoulder and looked around.

  “Is this all the food?”

  She arched a brow. “You planning to eat more than usual? There’s a big roast, mashed potatoes, candied squash, salad, bread—”

  “Yeah, but some of the gang is coming over and you know how Toli eats,” he said, referring to one of their closest friends.

  “This is Toli’s first Christmas with Tessa,” she said slowly, cocking her head. “We were all together last night and he didn’t say anything about coming over.”

  “I don’t know,” Dom shrugged. “But he texted me and said they were going to drop by and asked if it was okay if Zakk came too.”

  She frowned. “I should text him. I think—”

  “I think you need to throw in a pan of that awesome baked ziti you make,” he said. “That way we’ll be prepared if the gang comes over and if they don’t, you know I’ll eat it cold, for breakfast.”

  “Well, I’ll just call Suze and—”

  “Would you make ziti for me? Please?” He wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her close. “You know it’s my favorite.”

  “I thought you were cutting carbs?” she asked in confusion.

  He rolled his eyes. “It’s Christmas, baby. Come on.”

  She laughed. “Okay, okay. If that’s what you want, I think I’ve got everything...” She began rummaging in the refrigerator.

  “What was that about?” Janice asked as Dom left the room.

  “Apparently he’s hungry and we’re having more company,” she laughed. “I love to cook so our house is the big gathering place. And these guys can eat. Wait till you meet Zakk—he’s six-feet-seven-inches and probably two hundred and sixty pounds?”

  “Oh my.” Janice’s eyes widened. “Good looking?”

  Molly giggled. “Oh, just wait. Zakk is really, really good-looking.”

  “I might enjoy you being married to a hockey player,” she laughed too.

  When the doorbell rang at 4:30, Molly thought she was prepared. She had a second roast in a crockpot, two large pans of baked ziti in the oven and half a dozen bottles of champagne chilling in the refrigerator. Aunt Janice had disappeared into the guest room to take a nap, but she’d wandered downstairs a little while ago and was in the living room playing with Brian. Dom had been busy with Brian while Janice was asleep but now had changed into dress pants and a button down shirt and was hovering in the kitchen trying to help Molly, though he was mostly getting in the way.

  “What’s the matter with you?” she asked, brushing her lips across his before heading towards the front of the house to open the door. “Aunt Janice loves you and she’s going to love our friends.”

  She threw open the door and paused, her eyes narrowing slightly as she stared at the group of people standing there. Strangers, she thought curiously, and wondered if they were going to sing carols or something.

  “Merry Christmas, Molly.” A man with pure white hair and sparkling blue eyes held out a bouquet of white roses and smiled.

  “Uh…thank you?” She wasn’t sure why this man was giving her flowers.

  “What’s the matter, Molly-Dolly, have I gotten so old you don’t remember me?”

  Molly’s mouth fell open and she gaped at the man. “Uncle Sam?!” The old nickname flooded her with memories and she let out a whoop of laughter. “Uncle Sam. Merry Christmas!” She hugged him tightly. “Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re here.”

  “Your wonderful husband set it all up. He got your aunt on a plane at the crack of dawn so you could see her first and have a little time to get used to everything. The rest of us met at the airport in San Francisco and a limo picked us up here in Vegas.”

  “The whole family?” She was shocked, staring out at the smiling faces. Her cousins—Mitch, Sherri and Jane—were now more easily recognizable and she assumed the adults beside them were their spouses. And their children. So many children, ranging in age from what appeared to be late teens to a toddler that clung to Jane’s hand.

  “And Evan,” the oldest teenage girl said with a grin. “He’s my fiancé, but we only got engaged last night and then I wasn’t gonna come but Grandma said she would pay for his ticket and then we couldn’t get him on the same flight so—”

  “Okay, Honey, she doesn’t need to hear the whole story standing on the stoop,” Uncle Sam said gently.

  The girl flushed. “Sorry.”

  “That’s Nicky,” Uncle Sam grinned. “She talks a lot.”

  “Oh my gosh.” Molly turned, tears momentarily blinding her, looking for her husband. “Dom?”

  “You always wanted a family to cook for, and I don’t have one I can give you, so I found yours,” he whispered, pulling her close.

  “This is better than any present under the tree.”

  “You know the only thing I want in life is to make you happy.”

  “I am happy. And I love you!”

  “I love you too.” Dom cupped her cheek with his palm.

  “Is there a bathroom?” a little boy inquired. “I gotta go!”

  Molly spun around, startled. “Of course! Come in, come in. I’m a terrible hostess.”

  Everyone was ushered inside and introductions were made. Molly hadn’t seen her cousins since they were young and she felt waves of nostalgia washing over her. Her cousin Sherrie was just a year younger than she was and they’d been close in high school, though Janice and Sam had moved the family to San Francisco when Molly was fifteen. The others were virtual strangers, both younger than her, so she nodded and smiled as they introduced spouses and children. All in all, there were fifteen of them and they filled the living room, dining room and kitchen.

  Dom helped her pass out appetizers, but mostly he just watched the happiness on his wife’s face. She laughed and cried, hugging the adults and getting to know the children. Her youngest cousin, Jane, was only thirty-two and had a two-year-old who immediately got into Brian’s toys. There were shouts and tears and laughter as everyone got plates and gathered all over the house to eat, drink and reminisce.

  As the evening wore on, Molly collapsed on Dom’s lap in the den, wrapping her arms around his neck as they watched her family make themselves at home.

  “Our house is big,” she whispered, “but not big enough for everyone.”

  “I got them rooms a few miles away at the Marriott,” he chuckled. “Your aunt and uncle are staying here, but I figured the rest of them might need a little privacy, especially with all the kids.”

  “I don’t even know what to say,” she said, staring into his handsome face. “I’m so happy and grateful and overwhelmed.”

  “You don’t have to say anything,” he said simply. “I’m hoping this was the only thing missing in your life.”

  “There was nothing missing in my life,” she said firmly. “Not a damn thing. This is wonderful—amazing—but just a bonus. As long as I have you and Brian, there is nothing else I’ll ever need.”

  “Now you have it anyway.” He tenderly kissed her lips, savoring not just her touch but letting her happiness wash over him like a soft, silky blanket.

  “I love you, Dom Gianni.”

  “I love you, too, baby.” He gently ran his hand along the length of her arm. “And I intend to spend the rest of my life doing things to show you how much.”

  She sighed happily. “If my reward for putting up with Tim for twenty-two years was you, I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

  ***THE END***

  Hide the Salami

  Las Vegas Sidewinders Book 4.1

  1

  “Girls’ night out?” Toli blinked at his fiancee. “What does that mean?”

  Tessa arched her eyebrows. “It means the girls are going out and I wondered if you would mind babysitting so I co
uld go too?”

  Toli frowned. “I don’t mind babysitting but I guess I never thought about you going out with your friends as something with a formal name. When me, Zakk and Jamie go shoot pool we don’t call it ‘Guys’ Night Out.’ Is this different than something like that?”

  Tessa was thoughtful. “I don’t know. I don’t think so, but that’s what we call it so I guess I just go with the flow.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “We’re getting tickets to ‘Thunder Down Under.’”

  “What’s that? A movie?”

  She chuckled. “It’s a male strip show—really hot Australian guys dancing around half-naked.”

  He cocked his head. “Does this mean you’re going to come home really worked up and horny?”

  She laughed. “I think that’s a definite possibility!”

  “Then I approve.” He leaned down to kiss her. “Do you want me to drive you?”

  “No, Kate’s the designated driver so she won’t drink.”

  “There’s going to be drinking?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Do you not drink when you go to strip clubs?”

  “I can’t remember the last time I went to strip club,” he protested.

  “Yes, there will be drinking. Otherwise, we’d just stay home and watch TV or knit.”

  “Since when do you knit?”

  She rolled her eyes. “I was being facetious.”

  “Oh.” He looked a little lost.

  “Are you sure it’s okay for me to go?” she asked softly. “You look kind of funny? I won’t if you don’t want me to.”

  “No, of course you should go.” He stroked her cheek. “It’s been so long since I’ve lived with a woman, I really haven’t given much thought to us doing things separately. I know it’s ridiculous considering how much time I’m on the road, but I’m figuring it out as we go. It’s not a problem.”

  “I never used to do anything when I was with Bobby,” she admitted, referring to her ex-husband. “I was always home with Raina unless he and I went out, which was rare. Now that I’m here with my friends, I want to have fun again. Is that okay?” She looked up at him earnestly. “Because you’re my priority. You know that, don’t you?”

  “Absolutely, and it’s silly for you to even think twice. Yes, go out with your friends and come home ready to jump my bones.”

  “Thanks, baby.” She pressed a quick kiss to his lips and then headed down the hall digging out her phone.

  He watched her disappear into the bedroom with the phone at her ear and cocked his head thoughtfully. He had no problem with her going out with her friends, watching her daughter, or even that she was going to a show featuring male strippers. It was just weird because so many things had happened so quickly and he was still adjusting to not being single anymore. She moved in, they got engaged and were planning a massive summer wedding all within a few months, and though he’d known he would become a stepfather to her two-year-old daughter, Raina, he hadn’t really had to deal with it much since they’d moved in.

  His best friend and roommate, Zakk, was Raina’s favorite person in the world and whenever he was home Raina went to him for everything. Toli was more like her occasional big brother who played with her while Tessa was out shopping or read her a bedtime story once in a while. It wasn’t intentional, but with him on the road so much with the team, there wouldn’t be a lot of opportunities for bonding until the season was over. At least there hadn’t been. Tonight, apparently, would be an excellent time for him to practice being a stepfather. Toli loved kids and wanted more of them, so on one hand he was looking forward to it, but on the other, he didn’t know anything about little girls. Hopefully, she would be good with watching TV and some cuddles before bed. Otherwise, he was going to be in trouble.

  2

  Tessa was in the bedroom getting ready to go when Toli heard the key in the lock. He looked up in surprise when Zakk came in and gave a friendly smile.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked.

  Zakk tossed his keys on the counter. “Last time I checked, I still live here,” he laughed.

  “It’s a Friday night,” Toli said. “And you’re single.”

  “I’m half single,” Zakk muttered.

  “Well, your half-girlfriend is going out with my fiancée for girls’ night out,” Toli said. “So you’re free to get wild and crazy.”

  “Nah.” Zakk sank onto the couch. “Even though I don’t know what’s going on with me and Tiff, I’m not interested in hooking up with someone else. I can’t even look at another woman. You know that.”

  “You’ve got it bad,” Toli remarked quietly.

  Zakk shrugged. “Not really. Kinda. Yeah.” He sighed.

  “There’s good news, though,” Toli said with a grin.

  “What?” Zakk looked up, his green eyes narrowed suspiciously.

  “If you’re not going out, you can hang out with me and one of the cutest girls on the planet.”

  Zakk smiled. “We’re babysitting my girl Raina?”

  “It looks like it, doesn’t it?” Toli laughed. “I think she has a tea party planned. Would you like to join us?”

  “Oh, hell no,” Zakk laughed. “I’ve done tea party duty enough—it’s your turn.”

  “Traitor.”

  “You need the practice since you’re going to be her stepfather.”

  “You need the practice since I already have a kid and you don’t.”

  “You need—” Zakk stopped talking as Tessa came out of the bedroom. His mouth opened slightly and he snapped it shut before cutting his eyes to Toli. “You’re letting her go out without you looking like that?”

  “I don’t…” Toli’s voice trailed off as he turned to see what Zakk was talking about. Tessa was one of the sexiest women he’d ever known, but tonight she was even more breathtaking than usual. Although she took care to look nice for him, wearing makeup and cute clothes, because it was hockey season they didn’t have a lot of opportunity to get all dressed.

  Tonight, she was definitely dressed to go out. Her short blue dress was sleeveless and hugged her curves. The silver heels on her feet were at least four inches and made her legs look endless. Her hair was piled on top of her head in a wild, messy bun with sexy tendrils hanging down that Toli wanted to wrap his fingers around. There was deep red lipstick on her lips, accentuating the slightly bigger one on the bottom that Toli was suddenly imaging wrapped around his cock.

  “What’s wrong with you two?” Tessa demanded, turning to stare at them. “You act like you’ve never seen me dressed up before! Especially you.” She walked up to Toli and looked into his eyes. “Do you not want me to wear this, babe? I’ll change if you’re not comfortable with it.” She looked down at the swell of her breasts peeking out from the satin-lined V-neck and wondered if it was a problem for him.

  “No,” he said softly. “If I’m honest, I truly don’t want anyone but me to see you dressed like this, but that’s ridiculous—of course you should wear it and make those guys from Australia see what they’re missing. I trust you implicitly and I’ll never tell you how to dress or where you can go.”

  She smiled and reached up to put her arms around his neck. “That’s partly why I love you—and don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you when I get home.”

  “Yes, you will.” He palmed her ass possessively but put a chaste kiss on her lips so he wouldn’t smudge her makeup. “Be careful, okay?”

  “I will.” She smiled as a horn honked outside. “Okay, that’s Kate, gotta run.”

  “I’ll walk you out,” Toli said, taking her hand.

  “I’ll stay here with the baby,” Zakk said dryly.

  Tessa winked at him. “I’ll tell Tiff you said hi.”

  “Great.” He slouched down in the couch as they walked out. He didn’t even want to think about what Tiff was wearing. She was almost six feet tall and if she was wearing something as short as Tessa’s dress, men were going to be chasing her all over the hotel. It m
ade him a little crazy just thinking about it.

  “Jazzy?” Raina’s little voice startled him and he sat up.

  “Hey, darlin’.” He reached out his arms and she all but jumped into them.

  “Dolly?” she asked, pointing to the dollhouse that had taken over a corner of the dining room and rested on a folding table.

  “Uh…” He glanced in the direction Toli had gone. “Okay, come on.” He got up and let her lead him to what had become the play area. She handed him a Barbie with long blond hair.

  “Jazzy play?” she asked, her blue eyes meeting his.

  “I should be the boy,” he said patiently, reaching for the Ken doll.

  Raina frowned. “No, Jazzy girl! Raina boy!”

  Zakk sighed. “Okay, but I’m probably not a very good girl.”

  “Brush.” She handed him a doll-sized brush and motioned for him to brush Barbie’s hair.

  Zakk did as he was told, grinning as Raina took off Ken’s clothes, tossed them aside and began dancing him around the living room of the dollhouse.

  “Don’t you think he needs some pants?” Zakk asked.

  Raina shook her head vehemently. “Avocados love pants,” she responded.

  Zakk was used to her nonsense statements since she called everyone except her mother by the wrong name, but he could usually figure out what she was talking about. This time, he had no idea and he looked down at her patiently.

  “Barbie has pants,” he pointed out. “Ken should have them too.”

  “No pants!” She scowled at him, her lips pulled together in a thin line of displeasure. “Only avocados.”

  “Fine,” he said. “He can dance with no pants and avocados.”

  “Barbie eat Ken,” she suggested, wiggling the doll at him.

  Zakk cocked his head, trying to hide his smirk since his mind tended to live perpetually in the gutter. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “Ken eat Barbie?” she asked, her eyes lighting up with a giggle.