Corps Security: The Series (93 page)

For more information on mental illness and suicide prevention please visit:
http://www.afsp.org

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

(An unedited compilation of thank yous)

It’s hard for me to even fathom that this is the THIRD book I’ve written. What an amazing ride. I’ve been blessed beyond my wildest dreams during this process, and I wouldn’t even be here without the help of every single reader that decided to take a chance on my books.

First- Thank you to my family. My husband for dealing with the mess the house becomes when I jump head first into my book world. My kids who deal with mommy talking to herself constantly and not freaking out when I walk you to the bus wearing my sweats and having my hair all over the place.

To the bloggers, reviewers, and every reader that’s picked up my books—THANK YOU. When I started ‘Axel’ I had no expectations, just dreams, and y’all have made them come true.

To my betas, Amber, Angela, Becky, Elle, Danielle, and Debi. I love y’all. It’s true. You ladies are hands down the best team ever. You keep me going, tell me when I’m shit, and tell me when I rocked it. With love, of course! I couldn’t even imagine what it would be like to write a book without you ladies!

Katie Mac—Don’t hate me for not letting you edit these, but come on . . . you need some surprises! You’ve opened your arms and welcomed me and my words. I love you hard and your support and love keeps me going when I feel like throwing in the towel. You’re the rock behind me and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.

Brenda- My formatting queen, blog tour master and friend . . . we’ve been through some crazy turns together and sitting back now we can laugh at all the crazy that we’ve been through together. Thank you for everything, and I mean everything, you have done for me.

Meli- Where do I even start with you, girlfriend? It was by chance that we met and you best believe I’m thankful for that day we first messaged each other. Not only do you bend over backwards to make sure I’m happy with everything that you create for me, but you doing it with so much love and care! Even if I pass out too early and leave you in an emotional book mess . . . I still love you! LOL! I can’t wait for future books and the beauty you create.

Toski- Girlfriend, you rock! Thank you so much for taking a few comments and getting me exactly what I wanted! Everyone should have a Toski in their life.

My three musketeers. Angela, Katie and Kelly. I don’t know how you girls put up with my crazy. My round the clock messages, talks about zombies, and half naked men pictures. Well, okay, I know how you deal with the men pictures. You girls help keep me calm when I start freaking out and have no issues telling me when I’m acting stupid. True friends that I am so thankful for each day.

To Chelcie- I love you . . . hardcare, Babe! Thank you for EVERYTHING. You are an incredible friend that I thank God for daily.

To every other single person that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with. The authors that have opened their arms and welcomed me into this world and still love me when I freak out like a fan-crazed idiot.

When it comes down to it . . . this is for the readers and I LOVE YOU ALL.

UNCAGED PLAYLIST

I And Love And You—The Avett Brothers

Lucky—Jason Mraz

You & I—One Direction

How Long Will I Love You—Ellie Goulding

All of Me—John Legend

Collide—Howie Day

Mine Would Be You—Blake Shelton

Faithfully—Journey

I’ll Make Love To You—Boyz II Men

Wherever You Will Go—Charlene Soraia

Gravity—Sara Bareilles

Look at Me—Carrie Underwood

Small Bump—Ed Sheeran

God Gave Me You—Blake Shelton

Make You Feel My Love—Adele

To the girls
that make up the Indie Romance Author Chicks. For keeping me motivated, helping me push through the dreaded writers block, and making me laugh when I really just wanted to throw my computer against the wall.

And . . . for Tumblr Inspirations.

CHAPTER ONE

Greg

Early Spring

I’ve been sitting in my truck, staring through out the windshield without seeing a thing. My skin feels tight, my blood too hot, and my heart is beating too fast. The smile on my face though? It feels like it will never leave. Never—not once—did I ever think this would be reachable. When I pictured my future, it was always with the acceptance that I would just be cool Uncle Greg, and maybe if I were lucky, I would find someone compatible enough to spend my life with. I didn’t expect love. I had given up that hope years ago.

Then I met Melissa, and everything I could have settled for went flying out the window. Poof—in an instant, I met my future. I crave her. The feelings she gave me and the love I knew would come from her was all that mattered.

We haven’t had an easy time of it. There was the time when we almost lost Cohen that I thought I would once again end up with nothing. When I first met Melissa’s nephew, Cohen, that boy had me wrapped around his little awesome finger. Melissa and her mom had raised him since his mom—her sister—had passed away. He was her boy. And now? Now he’s
our
boy.

We both went through a tough time after Cohen’s kidnapping. Not only was there a period when I didn’t know if I would get him back, but in the mess of things, we also lost Melissa’s mom.

But my girl is strong. We overcame together. My girl . . . My wife, and our beautiful little boy. And now? Now we have a bright future ahead of us. Nothing could top those two in my life. Not a damn thing.

Until last weekend.

I’ll never forget the day she came home from visiting her sister and mother’s graves. Normally, that would be something all three of us would do together. Cohen likes to spend time talking to his angels, and I know it gives Melissa some peace to have a place where she feels they are. Somewhere tangible so she can still be with them.

I watch out the corner of my eye when I hear a car pulling into the driveway. Cohen and I were kicking some serious ninja ass, rolling around in the front lawn, and just enjoying some man time. Melissa has been gone for a while now, so I know before even looking at her beautiful face that she’s home.

I finally detach Cohen’s small body from where we just conquered our last ‘bad guy.’ Somehow, that fight had turned into a wrestling and tickling match. Hell, I don’t care what the reason is. If my little dude is laughing, that’s all that matters.

Finally getting loose, I turn and spy Melissa through the windshield. She’s been sitting in her car, just watching us with her blinding smile fully in place. My heart picks up speed when I look into her eyes so full of love for her men.

“Life doesn’t get any better than this, C-Man.”

Cohen turns, his big brown eyes twinkling with happiness. “Yeah it does. If we had some pizza!”

I laugh but turn my attention back to Melissa when I hear the car door shut. Cohen doesn’t say anything else, but hell, even he gets stunned silent when she walks into our path.

She takes her time walking over to us. When she gets close enough, Cohen jumps up, runs and gives her a big hug before he starts dancing around the yard in a battle only he understands. His little arms flap around, his legs kick out, and the biggest grin spreads across his face. She doesn’t even pause. Instead, she walks right up to me and plops her fine ass down in my lap. My arms wrap around her body, and I pull her against my lap, fighting the urge to throw her down and take her hard.

She laughs, wiggling against my growing erection. Yeah, she knows exactly what she’s up to. She turns, her smile lighting up her face, and leans in and kisses me.

Resting her forehead against mine, her eyes still holding her smile, she whispers softly words that touch me to my very soul.

“If it’s a girl, maybe we can come up with something to honor both our sisters.”

A statement. Not a hypothetical ‘if we have one in the future’ kind of statement.

I come out of my daze, my smile wide enough that my face hurts, and get ready to climb out of my truck. I know that the second that I step foot into the office the guys will take one look at me and know. They may not know what’s got me smiling like an idiot, but they will know something significant has happened. It’s not easy keeping something so life changing to myself. But with news like this, I can’t wait to share. Hell, I would be screaming from the rafters, taking out ads in the local paper, maybe even a few billboards if I could.

I lock up the truck, and before I can even take a step, I hear him.

“Gregory!”

I smile at Sway and walk over to where he’s standing outside of his shop.

“What’s going on, Sway?”

“’What’s going on,’ he says? Oh nothing much, you gorgeous man. Just sitting here, minding my own business, when I see you pull in, park, and just sit there with that delicious smile happening. That’s what is happening, Gregory! Blinding me with all that yumminess all the way into my salon.”

He’s standing there, hands on his hips, tapping one red leather-booted foot, his long blond hair falling over his shoulder and the ever-present naughty gleam in his eyes. No shame at all in the fact that I’m pretty sure he just took all my clothes off as I walked across the parking lot.

“Stop thinking about me naked, Sway,” I guffaw. “I got some good news this weekend. You can’t wipe this smile off if you tried.”

“Oh, Gregory . . . That sounds like an invitation to try.” We both laugh, but truth be told, I doubt there is anything that can knock me off my high. “Well? Are you going to tell Sway what has you all happilicious?”

Happilicious? The hell?

“You’re something else, Sway.” I laugh, shaking my head. “Melissa told me this weekend that we’re pregnant. Well . . . she’s pregnant, but you know what I mean.” Even saying it out loud brings a fresh round of pure fucking joy to flush through my system.

My girl. Pregnant.

“Ohhhhh! A baby!” Sway starts going on and on about Uncle Sway this, baby showers that, and that is when I take my cue to leave.

Right when I open my mouth to tell him bye, I hear it. Clapping coming from behind me. Turning, I find them. Axel, Beck, Coop, and Maddox are all clapping like demented seals with smiles front and center. Even Maddox has a grin on his normally stoic face.

“Congratulations, brother. Didn’t know it was possible with all those holes and rings you have through your dick,” Beck spouts.

“Would have thought with as many as he’s rocking, that those little swimmers wouldn’t have a chance,” laughs Axel.

I start to chuckle until I hear a gasp of pleasure coming from behind me.

“What! Gregory, what is
this?
” I turn to see Sway dramatically fanning his face, his eyes zoned in on my crotch.

Isn’t this just lovely. I was apparently wrong; there is something that could wipe the smile clear off my face.

“Nothing, Sway,” I say, trying my best for a stern voice while leveling the four morons with my hardest ‘shut the fuck up’ look.

“Gregory Cage, do you have
piercings?
” he practically pants.

Shit. “Thanks a lot, jackasses,” I grind out. They all laugh. Even Maddox is laughing so hard that he has tears in his eyes.

“How far of a stretch is it that you’ll forget you heard that?” I ask Sway.

“Oh, darling. I’ll forget that juicy piece of yum the day that pigs learn to fly. And to think, I thought you were the straight-laced one of the bunch. Who knew you were hiding all of that?” His eyes roam over my body before landing right on my crotch again.

Jesus Christ.

“Sway, I’m a married man now. Stop thinking about my dick.”

Really, as annoyed as I am with the idiots still laughing by the door to our office, Sway’s face really is comical. A mix between shock and awe.

“Plus, Maddox has one too. Lust over him. He’s single.” I laugh before pushing my way through the group. They’re all laughing even harder now—except for Maddox.

“Oh my gosh! Congratulations, Greg!” Emmy screams when I walk through the front lobby. She politely ignores the fact that the whole state of Georgia may know about my piercings now. “I bet you, Melissa, and Cohen are thrilled!”

“Thanks, Em. We couldn’t be happier.” I give her a warm smile and hug. We chat for a few minutes before I continue down the hall. It doesn’t take long before the four amigos are filing in. I should have seen it coming. No way they would leave it all at the door. Literally.

“Well?” Coop asks.

“Well, what, asshat?” I throw back before dropping down in my chair.

“Congrats, man. Izzy told me last night,” Axel interrupts, at least having the decency not to mention my junk again.

“Well what, my ass. All the shit you have jammed through your dick and you still knocked her up?” My answering growl is enough to have Coop shut his mouth and hold his hands up. “Just asking, dude. I thought Dee was full of shit when she mentioned all that party you are rocking in your pants.” He laughs and wags his brows at me.

“You really need to learn how to shut up. Or maybe buy a filter,” Beck says in a loud whisper.