“Don’t tell me. Another freaking dress-up British tea party?”
He says that because the last time he was over, Naomi forced him to be a guest at one of her parties. Tiara and all. Beckett put his foot down when Naomi asked him to wear one of Lula’s necklaces to complete the look. I nearly died laughing. He was such a good sport about it. Naomi loves him to bits.
“Wash your mouth out with soap. It was high tea.”
“Ah. You can take the girl out of London, but London seems to stick to the girl like glue,” Beckett says.
“Tell me about it.”
We both laugh.
“In any case, since I barely had time to kiss her goodnight after dropping her off at Mrs. Talbot’s and rushing off to the awards, tonight was special.”
“I’m glad you and Jace found Mrs. Talbot.”
“She’s a godsend.”
After a rough few years in London—where I was building my presence in the European market—I’m back home. I have a solid team there now and since it was a struggle to find a nanny Naomi and Luna trusted, I’m glad to be close to family.
Alyssa Talbot is a veteran. She used to be a nanny until she got married. Fast toward twenty-two years, she’s now a fifty-two-year-old widow with two grown sons. For the past three months, she's been Ryder—Jace’s five-and-a-half-year-old—and Naomi’s full-time, almost-live-in nanny. Jace’s property came with not one, but two guesthouses. Lucky bastard. Mrs. Talbot lives in one of them.
“Mrs. Talbot must’ve had her hands full with Naomi, Ryder, Bridgette and the dogs.”
Jagger’s twelve-year-old daughter Bridgette has a regular sitter—Kimberly is seventeen—but Mrs. Talbot is okay with him dropping off her from time to time.
“Actually, it was only Naomi and Luna.”
“The Halsey brothers were MIA at the awards?”
“Yeah. They couldn’t make it.”
“Why?” Beckett asks.
“God knows what the little guy ate, but by the end of the afternoon Ryder was puking his guts out. The school called Jace and asked him to pick up his son early. He didn’t want to leave Ryder with Mrs. Talbot. Bridgette twisted her ankle at basketball practice. Jagger stayed home to take care of his little girl.”
“Talk about a double whammy.”
“I know. Kids come first. Knock on wood, Naomi is healthy. I checked up on both cousins after the award show last night and the little ones weren’t doing too good. Luckily, Ryder and Bridgette were feeling much better this morning. Ryder went to school, but Bridgette stayed home with Jagger.”
“Thank God the kids are okay. I’ll have to give them a call when I hang up with you.”
“That’d be a good idea. So all that to say, both Halseys were on daddy duty last night.”
“Are you telling me it was an open playing field for you?” Beckett asks.
“What are you talking about?”
I know exactly where this is going.
“We know Jagger looks, but doesn’t touch. After so many years, I wonder if his cock still works––”
“Beckett,” I scold.
“His soldiers must be eager for some action––”
“Beck––”
“Moving right along. Jace, on the other hand, is all about touching. And feeling. If Jace Halsey didn’t attend, the selection of gorgeous women must’ve been plentiful. How many pussies did you wreck?” Beckett bursts into laughter before I can answer. “I know, I know. You have too many responsibilities to bother getting your cock wet. Mr. Dad prefers his fist to a warm hole. Maybe I should buy you one of those robot lifelike dolls they’re selling at ten thousand a pop? It’s not like the real thing, but close.”
He loses it again.
“Keep that up and I’ll hang up on you.”
“Sorry. Celibacy sounds like an absolute bitch. I don’t know how Jagger and you do it.”
I keep my mouth shut.
“Holt? Are you still there?”
“Yeah, I am.”
“Why aren’t you throwing your standard answers at me?”
“Standard answers?”
“This is the part of the conversation where you remind me you and I have different priorities in life, hence why fucking has dropped to the bottom of your list, while it still tops mine.”
“We are at different stages of our lives.”
There’s a long pause before he speaks again.
“You’re usually a straight shooter. Why do I feel we’re doing this weird dance?”
I let out a long sigh. “I wasn’t all that celibate last night.”
“What?” Beckett shrieks on the other end. “You had some pussy?”
“I met someone,” I correct him.
“Whoa. What kind of language is that?”
“The way you said it is disrespectful.”
“What’s gotten into you? That’s usually how we call a once and done.”
I remain silent.
“Holy shit. Are you telling me she isn’t a one-night stand?”
I ponder on my words. “I want to see her again.”
“Who is this Melisandre who has you speaking a foreign language?”
To this day, Beckett remains a die-hard Game of Thrones fan.
“You’re an idiot, you know that?”
“Yeah, yeah. Why don’t you answer my question?” he challenges.
And just like that, I flash back to last night.
Everly was gorgeous the first time I laid eyes on her at her shop.
Breathtaking in her tuxedo.
Stunning tied up and under my control.
A goddess when she came the first time all over my cock.
Sexy as hell when she begged me to tie her up again.
But, sleeping soundly nestled inside my arms, naked and a little vulnerable, she was magnificent.
Unfortunately, it had come to an end. I made a promise to Naomi and I don’t break promises to my child. Ever.
“Holt?”
Beckett’s voice brings me back to the present.
“I’m still here.”
“I know this isn’t a video call, but it feels like you just traveled across the world just there. This girl must be something else.”
“She is, Beckett. She’s nothing like most women in the industry. In fact, she didn’t know who I was even after telling her the name of our band.”
“So she isn’t a groupie or a wannabe?”
“Far from it. Everly is sexy, smart and sweet. But, there’s a whole other feisty side of her that’s also very attractive. In other words, she’s a breath of fresh air.”
“Wow, that’s quite the impressive list. Was last night the first time you guys met?”
“No. I met her last Friday. Had it not been for a chaotic morning, I still wouldn’t know this amazing woman lives in LA.”
“What happened last Friday?”
I tell my brother about the cupcakes.
“That’s funny. Did you hookup at her place last night?”
I share with him the highlights, keeping the most sensual parts of the story to myself.
“As you know, I never spend the night––”
“No way. That sets a precedence,” Beckett practically growls.