Mr. Unlucky (13 page)

It was going to be so much fun.

She had a neat satellite radio for Maddie’s truck, and she knew the dads had a sweet little set of colts hidden away in the barn for Mads, too. She couldn’t wait to see Maddie’s reaction to that, because these colts would be champion barrel horses. They came from amazing bloodlines.

Her cell rang, and she put everything on the counter, grabbing it.

“Hey, cowboy. How’s things?”

She steadfastly ignored Daddy’s snort.

“Good, good. I was on my way over and I thought I’d see if y’all needed anything.” Did Bodie sound nervous? Poor baby.

“Daddy? You need anything else? Bodie’s on the way.”

“Nope. You tell him just to come on.”

“We got everything we need, cowboy. Just head on out.” She smoothed her little top over her belly, making sure she was tucked in.

“I’ll be there in two shakes, then. See you soon, honey.”

“Good deal.” She hung up, then felt her cheeks heat as Daddy Chris gave her that look. “What?”

“You’re smitten.”

“What?”

Her daddy grinned, eyes crinkling up at the edges. “You, my angel baby, are stupid for that cowboy. I’m not sure you’re allowed to hook up with one of us. We’re bad news.”

“Bodie is a rancher, not a rodeo cowboy. That was good enough for you.” She was going to burst into flames.

“Ranchers suck.” Daddy put the lasagna in the oven, then leaned back, barely holding the laughter back.

Her dad, Brandt, laughed out loud, popping Daddy Chris on the ass. “And blow, and pull and ride and all that good stuff.”

“Dad! Gross!” She cracked up, shaking her head.

“But true.” They cackled like a couple of blackbirds, and Daddy Chris slapped her dad’s hand when he reached for a sautéed mushroom.

“Addison is in love with that cowboy, lover.” Daddy Chris looked so serious.

“Well, I guess that’s that, but she needs to be careful.” He held up his hands when she stared at him. “I don’t mean his rep. I mean losing two women he cared about that much has to leave scars. Have I mentioned that?”

“It’s not like he’s going to ask me to marry him, y’all. We’re having a good time.” She was having the time of her life, in fact. “And I’m using birth control, so don’t ask.”

“Okay, kiddo. Just remember we’re your dads.” Brandt kissed her cheek. “Happy birthday.”

“Thank you, Dad.” She hugged him tight, lips near his ear. “I just like him, you know? So much.”

“I know, baby girl. And sometimes that’s all you need for the time being.”

“Yeah.”

He squeezed her waist. “Now. Let’s make a salad.”

“You hooligans get away from my kitchen. I’m cooking for my babies.” Daddy Chris wielded his spatula like a sword, chasing them out of the kitchen. They were still tromping around the front room, pretending they were a marching band, when Maddie came in.

“Are we having a birthday parade?” Maddie’s hair was wet, braided, the girl’s t-shirt clinging.

“Lord, couldn’t you dry off?”

“Fuck off.”

“Madison!”

“Sorry, Dad,” Maddie said, flipping her off.

“Happy birthday, you evil bitch.” She winked over.

“Happy almost birthday, baby sister. Do I smell Daddy’s lasagna?”

“Yes!”

Maddie squealed and headed in, and they heard Daddy Chris’ laugh booming out. She and her dad chuckled, knowing how Mads loved that stuff. That was when the knock came on the door.

“I’ll get it.” She opened the door, Bodie standing there in what she knew was his best good shirt. It was blue with stripes on it, which made his eyes pop. He had his dress hat on, too.

“Hey, honey.” He smiled, and her silly heart flip-flopped a little.

“Hey, cowboy.” She pushed into his arms and took a chaste kiss, ignoring the way Dad cleared his throat.

Bodie smiled at Dad Brandt. “Hey, Brandt. Good to see you.” He held out a hand to shake.

“Glad to see you, Bodie. Come on in.” Dad nodded, nodded toward the couch. “Have a sit.”

“Thanks.” Bodie took a flat little box out of his pocket and put it on the table with the wrapped presents. He pulled an envelope out of his back pocket, too, but it was labeled, “Maddie”.

“Oh, what did you get her?”

Bodie winked. “A gift card for the feed store.”

“She’ll love that.” She nudged him. “What did you get me?”

“You’ll have to open it and see.” He kissed her again, just a light touch of lips. “Wanna sit with me?” Looked like he was a little nervous at being alone with Dad.

“Surely.” She plopped down, winked at Dad. “So are you going to play that whole mean dad thing or am I old enough to just avoid it?”

“Don’t make me beat you, child.” Dad just grinned.

Bodie shook his head. “How often does he get to do this? Just let him get it over with, huh?”

“I haven’t had to do this in years, man, and I never got to meet that Jim asshole.”

“Dad.” She didn’t want to talk about Jim.

“What? It’s the truth. I hear he’s in town, looking for you.”

“Maddie and I took care of it,” Bodie said, spreading his hands. “And, hell, if he comes back I’ll just kill him.”

“Only if I don’t get that sorry motherfucker first.” Daddy Chris stood in the kitchen doorway, hands on his hips. “Hitting my baby girl. I can’t believe you didn’t tell us.”

“Guys.” Lord have mercy. “This is our birthday party.”

“Happy happy birthday!” Maddie bounced in wearing a clean, dry shirt and a pair of ridiculous yoga pants with a giant flower on one leg. “Woo.”

She looked at Maddie, then cracked up, laughing so hard that it felt like something inside her was going to strain.

“Oh, good lord. You got the girls giggling again, brother?” Uncle Mark came in, an exceedingly pregnant Carrie Ann waddling along behind. “Look who I found outside! Some little lost redneck girl.”

“I think I’ll have to beat him,” Carrie Ann grumbled, holding out a pair of wrapped boxes.

“I’d love to see you try.” Mark looked just like Dad Brandt, except taller, older, and rounder. Maddie was grabbed and squeezed, then those dark eyes landed on her. “Come give me a hug, Carrot Cake.”

She hopped up and went to give him a bone-cracking hug while Maddie assaulted Carrie Ann. Bodie stood, too, motioning to the couch. “Sit, Carrie Ann, before you pop.”

“Hey, Bodie. Have you met Mark?”

Dad nodded, eyes rolling. “My older brother. Much older.”

“Fuck you, Brandtley.” Uncle Mark delivered her into Bodie’s arms, before shaking Bodie’s hand hard. “Hey, man. Mark Grainger. How goes?”

“Good. Good. How are you?” Bodie was more at ease every second. She approved.

“I am celebrating the birthday of the most beautiful nieces in the history of the world and hoping that Mr. Chris made lasagna.”

Just on cue, Daddy Chris came in, beers in hand. He passed them out, handing Carrie Ann a bottle of Sprite.

“Thanks.” Carrie Ann sighed. “I’m not sure if I’m up to all that tomato. Sorry, Daddy Chris.”

“Au contraire, Missy. I made you a couple of lasagna noodle rolls with a nice, mild parmesan cream sauce.”

“Oh, Daddy Chris, you are made of win.”

Maddie looked at her, and Addie looked back, winked. They had good dads. It was easy to understand why they wouldn’t settle for the first guy who came along. Like Jim.

Bodie hugged her, then settled in one of the side chairs. He was a good guy, too, giving up his seat.

Addie perched on the cushion arm rest, and Maddie sat next to Carrie Ann. Uncle Mark looked at Bodie. “Ain’t you that unlucky fella? The one with the dead girlfriends?”

Addie rolled her eyes. Jesus. Seriously?

Bodie just nodded, keeping it light. “I’ve had two up and die on me, yes sir.”

“That sucks, man.” Uncle Mark shook his head. “Well, iff’n you kill off Addison, you can have Maddie next. They’re twins, you know.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Maddie’s the good one, after all.”

“Hey! Hands off,” Maddie said, snorting.

“Come on, all of you.” Daddy Chris waved them toward the kitchen. “I got little munchies.”

Addie grinned. “That means bacon wrapped jalapenos for me!”

Carrie Ann snorted. “And grape jelly meatballs for Mads!”

“Well,” Bodie said, “meatballs are Italian.”

She looked at him. “This is our birthday dinner. It doesn’t have to go together.”

“Oh. So, is this traditional, then?” He lifted her like she weighed nothing, setting her on her feet.

“Yep. I fell in love with Daddy Chris’ jalapenos when I was five.”

Daddy Chris nodded, handing out paper plates. “She ate the whole damn pan—bacon, cheese, peppers and all. I thought for sure she’d have a tummy ache, but she never so much as belched.”

“She’s a stud, our girl.”

“They both are,” Bodie agreed easily, following her to the kitchen. He waited until everyone had gotten a plate to fill his.

God, he was a good man.

Genuinely.

Maddie caught her looking at Bodie, and Addie’s cheeks heated. Lord have mercy. Maddie winked at her, just plain as day.

Yeah.

Yeah, this was it for her, no matter what she’d told the dads. She knew it, deep down, even before Bodie put an extra jalapeno on her plate.

“Thanks, love.”

He grunted, one hand on the small of her back, and she saw her dads look at each other, nod.

Lord.

They made it through all the appetizers, through Daddy Chris’ lasagna and salad. When every last bit was demolished, Carrie Ann was napping in her chair, and Uncle Mark was groaning.

Maddie slapped her hand on the table. “Presents, please.”

“Demanding little beast.” Daddy Chris leaned back, boot heels on the floor. “Did we get the girls presents, Brandt?”

“I can’t remember. Maybe not.”

“Well, I can go get the ones we all brought,” Bodie said, standing and heading to the front room.

“I like him,” Uncle Mark rumbled. “He’s a good ‘un.”

“He is.” And he had an amazing ass.

Amazing.

Tight and hard and…Okay. Okay, focus, Addie.

“He’s okay.” Maddie chortled when Addie gave her an evil glare.

“He’s hot as hell, Addie, and you’d make pretty babies.” Carrie Ann massaged her belly. The woman was all about the offspring.

“Did you hear that, baby?” Dad Brandt said to Chris. “Grandbabies.”

Daddy Chris hooted. “We could spoil them rotten.”

“Oh, would y’all shut up!” God. Bodie was just going to run away. He was baby phobic, right?

“This one says Mads and this one Adds, so here you go.” Bodie was back and handing over Carrie Ann’s boxes. He gave Maddie the envelope she’d seen him bring in, then handed her the flat jewelry box. “Am I missing things?”

“The buttheads are all just teasing me.” She opened the box. Nestled inside was a lovely gold rope chain with a gold charm at the end. Addie chuckled when she made out what it was. A delicate golden horseshoe with a four leaf clover in the center. She’d never seen anything so pretty. “Oh, Bodie. It’s beautiful.”

She kissed the corner of his lips, then pulled the necklace out. “Put it on me?”

“You know it. You’re my lucky charm, honey.” He unhooked it, draping it around her neck and fastening it behind her head. It fell just at the top of her cleavage, which was perfect.

“Oh, that’s pretty, Adds.” Maddie gave Bodie a quick grin.

Carrie Ann had gotten her an iTunes gift card, Maddie a beautiful new competition shirt. From Uncle Mark there were matching boxes—little sapphire earrings. They had nearly forty pairs between them. Apparently in Mark’s world, nieces got earrings for birthdays. Sometimes for Valentine’s Day, too. There would be watches for Christmas every year. Or bracelets.

Bodie was grinning like a fool when Maddie opened his card. “Kickboxing lessons? You are a turd, Bodie Reaver.”

“That’s just what she needs, for fighting in the bar,” Addie grumbled.

“Hey, there’s a gift card for the feed store, too.” Bodie winked, just looking tickled with himself. “The lessons are from Ty.”

“Excellent!” Maddie bounced and clapped. “Thanks, y’all.”

Addie went around to the edge of the counter and handed Mads the bag with the radio. She’d even paid for the installation, down in town. Maddie handed her a box, too, the devil glinting in her eyes.

Oh, God, it had to be underwear or something.

She looked at her sister, distrustful. “Should I wait to open it?”

“Nah. It’s not obscene. Much.”

When she tore open the box she found adult-sized Wonder Woman underoos. Of course, there was also a picture of a camera, one she’d been lusting after for months. “I had to order it,” Mads said. “They’re shipping it.”

“Dude.” She held the Underoos up, the crazy sports bra making them all crack up.

To quote Carrie Ann, Maddie was made of pure, unadulterated win.

Then it was the dads’ turn. “Maddie. You’ll have to go to the barn for part of yours. The yearling barn,” Chris said.

“Oh. Oh, yeah? Now?”

Bodie chuckled softly. “That girl likes her horses, does she?”

“She does.” Addie leaned into him, watching everyone else troop off to the barn. It was adorable, like a little cowboy parade.

She took advantage of the sudden privacy, turning to offer Bodie a kiss. “Thank you for my necklace, cowboy. I love it.”

“Yeah? I was hoping you would.” He bent, kissing her mouth long and hard. “Happy almost birthday.”

“If you’re a very, very naughty cowboy, you can tell me happy real birthday tonight.”

“I like naughty.” His lips touched hers again, slower this time, more of an exploration.

“I know. I like you.” She cupped Bodie’s jaw, fingers sliding on the freshly-shaved skin. He’d even put on smell-good for her.

“Oh, honey, I like you too.” His arms slid around her, and he held her tight, this time curling her toes with his kiss.

“Tell me we get a private celebration at your house tonight, lover?”

“I got Shelly at the bakery to make éclairs. I got that champagne you like. Beer. Pork rinds. Movies.”

“Oh, you do love me best.” Éclairs. Watching her eat éclairs turned Bodie on, she knew it. Not to mention she loved them as much as ice cream cake but refused to share them with Mads. He was also made of win. Far superior to that jerk Jim, who she’d almost tied herself to. She sure hoped that asshole had left town once he got out of the county jail. Shit, after getting his ass handed to him Addie figured he’d just slink back home, crunch a shitload of numbers for folks with more money than sense, and move the fuck on.