Read Because Naughty Holidays Can Be Oh So Nice 2015 Online
Authors: Nicole Edwards
Luke joined them a moment later. When he pulled the blankets back on his side of the bed, Sierra could feel the heat of his gaze against her back. A rumble escaped his chest as he said, “The shirt needs to go.”
Sierra smiled to herself as she worked the shirt off, then tossed it at him.
Luke turned off the lamp and crawled into bed, his warm body spooning hers as he crushed her between him and Cole.
“Love you,” Luke stated, his voice already raspy with sleep.
“Love you, too,” they both said in unison.
“Happy New Year,” Luke rumbled, getting settled as he moved his hand so that it rested on Cole’s chest.
Sierra placed her hand over his, then Cole rested his on theirs.
“Happy new year,” Cole mumbled, sounding half-asleep.
Another smile formed on her lips as she lay there, surrounded by the men she loved.
She’d made it through another year and was already embarking on the next, knowing she was truly blessed. She had two beautiful, healthy children, two amazing husbands, a fantastic group of friends and family.
What more could a girl ask for?
And now, as she drifted off, she wondered what the next year would bring.
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I hope you enjoyed spending time with Luke, Sierra, and Cole for their New Year’s celebration. I had so much fun catching up with these three this year. From the very beginning, there has been such an overwhelming response to these characters, and I hope you love them as much as I do. You can find more about Luke, Sierra, and Cole in the bestselling Club Destiny series. Read more about Club Destiny
here
.
If you want to read more about the characters you saw in this book:
Luke, Sierra, and Cole:
Logan and Samantha:
Ashleigh and Alex:
Xander and Mercedes:
Phoenix, Mia, and Tarik:
A Million Tiny Pieces - standalone
Travis, Kylie, Gage:
Travis
- Alluring Indulgence,
3
Grant, Grace, and Lane:
Betting on Grace
- Dead Heat Ranch, 1
Max and Courtney:
Beautifully Brutal - Southern Boy Mafia, 1
You can find all of Nicole’s books, along with links, at the back of this book or on her
website
.
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Bonus: Walker Brothers’ Fall Festival
Alluring Indulgence
Walker Brothers - 2014
This bonus scene was originally published in my newsletter in 2014 (around the time of Braydon’s release). I thought you might enjoy!
ZANE
“WHOSE IDEA WAS this, anyway?” Zane grumbled to anyone who would listen, although he realized no one really was listening to him. Not unusual.
“Hush,” V told him, squeezing his arm gently. “You’re gonna have fun and you know it.”
Zane smirked, unable to help himself. He was actually looking forward to the fall festival that they’d been roped into attending, but he knew everyone would expect him to protest a little. It was what he did, especially now that Travis was so freaking happy all the damn time. His oldest brother used to be the one to bitch and moan at every turn, but now he was just … happy. It was kind of freaky.
Speaking of Travis...
“Where is Travis, anyway?” Zane asked, glancing over his shoulder at Braydon and Brendon, who were following close behind with Jessie in tow.
“He was helpin’ Mom and Dad with their crap,” Braydon informed him.
“What crap?”
“They’ve got a booth this year,” Brendon said.
“What kind of booth?” Zane asked, spinning around to face his brothers.
“No idea. They wouldn’t tell me.”
Zane looked around at all the people milling about. Every year Coyote Ridge put on a fall festival, and it seemed that no matter what, the entire town generally made an appearance. Granted, Zane wasn’t usually amongst those in attendance because he frequently found a reason to get out of it. Not this year.
No, this year, Kaleb had insisted that they attend for Mason’s benefit. Since it was his nephew Mason’s first festival, Zane hadn’t been able to argue. Now that he was there, he was wondering where the others were.
“There’s Kylie and Gage.” Jessie pointed in the direction of her sister. The rest of them turned to follow where she was looking. Sure enough, Kylie and Gage were making their way over, and it looked like Gage had already made a stop at one of the concession stands.
“Turkey leg? Seriously?” Zane asked his brother-in-law. “And you didn’t think to get me one?”
“You’re a big boy. Get your own,” Gage said with a devilish grin. “Anyway, I got this one for my wife.”
“I bet you did,” V stated. “Kinda makes me question why you haven’t bothered to share it with her yet.”
“I’m holding out for funnel cake,” Kylie said. “He can have a turkey leg, but Travis is probably gonna have somethin’ to say about him not waiting for him.”
“What kind of booth are Mom and Dad settin’ up?” Zane asked, hoping someone could enlighten him. Why he wanted to know, he couldn’t say for sure, but he was incredibly curious.
“Pies,” Kylie said with a mischievous grin.
“Like, apple pies?” Jessie questioned, but even Zane could tell Jessie was in on the joke.
“Yes. Sort of.” Kylie nodded her head, her eyes wide.
Oh, hell.
“Who’s helpin’ them with this booth?” Zane asked, not sure whether he wanted to hear the answer to that question.
As though on cue, his cell phone rang. He snatched it from his pocket and looked at the screen. It was his dad.
“What’s up?” Zane greeted his father, his stomach churning because he suddenly knew exactly what the phone call was about.
“Your mother and I need you to come help us with the booth.”
“Why?” Zane asked, knowing he should’ve just kept his mouth shut. “I thought Travis was helpin’ out.”
“He’s done his part. Now it’s your turn.”
“My turn? Why not Kaleb? Or Sawyer? Or Ethan?” Zane looked at the twins. “Or the twins? Why’s it have to be me?”
“You won the coin toss. Now get over here, boy.”
Zane shoved his phone back in his pocket when his father disconnected as he peered around at his family. They were all looking at him knowingly.
“Son of a bitch,” he grumbled.
A chorus of laughter erupted, and then he was being ushered away from the concession stands by Braydon and Brendon. When he tried to dig his heels in the dirt, Gage lent a hand, and he had no choice but to keep moving forward.
“Y’all just remember that payback is a bitch.”
“We know. Why do you think you won the coin toss?” Gage asked, chuckling.
“Me? What the hell did I do?” Zane tried to think about the last stunt he’d pulled, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t come up with anything.
This was not going to be good. He could feel it now.
TRAVIS
“IS HE ON his way?” Travis asked his father when the old man disconnected the call.
“Yup,” Curtis replied, a small smile curving the corners of his lips.
“’Bout time,” Sawyer added. “He’s gonna be pissed, y’all know that, right?”
“He’ll get over it,” Beau chimed in.
Travis glanced at Ethan, who was standing beside Beau, the two of them looking more content than Travis had ever seen them.
“You lucked out this year,” Travis told Ethan.
“Me? What the hell did I do? I’ve been good all year long,” Ethan said, his serious tone belying the grin he couldn’t seem to hide.
“Right. And what’s the new definition of good? I’m gonna need to make sure I’m up on this new terminology,” Sawyer said smartly.
“Careful,” Ethan warned Sawyer. “As I look around here, I think I can count at least two dozen women who’d love to see you in Zane’s place.”
Sawyer turned and looked around as though trying to eye those women Ethan was referring to before looking back at him. It wasn’t hard. There were literally about two dozen who had Sawyer in their sights. The guy was a fucking chick magnet.
“Probably. Not gonna happen, though,” Sawyer said confidently.
“It might,” Curtis added. “You never know.”
Travis laughed, trying to hide his grin when he noticed Brendon, Braydon, and Gage pushing Zane toward them, Kylie, Jessie, and V walking a few steps behind them, grinning wildly.
“What is goin’ on?” Zane asked when he approached, his eyes widening when he looked at the table that had been set up and the stand behind it. “Oh, hell no. No way, man.”
“Watch your mouth, boy,” Curtis growled. “There’re ladies present.”
“Yes, sir,” Zane mouthed. “But seriously. Y’all cannot do this to me.”
“We can. And we did. You’re up,” Travis said, gesturing toward the booth.
“I thought y’all said this was somethin’ to do with pies.”
“It is,” Travis confirmed, stepping back out of the way, allowing Zane to see the boxes that were stacked behind him.
“What are those?” Zane asked, confused.
“Pies. Just like we promised,” V confirmed.
“So why do I have to do that?” Zane pointed to the dunking booth that they’d set up behind the table.
“It’s our new marketing strategy,” Sawyer answered Zane. “We figured we’d sell more pies if we let each person who buys one get a chance to dunk you.”
Zane’s forehead wrinkled and he glowered at all of them. Travis had to admit, the idea had been rather brilliant. Unfortunately, he didn’t get to take the credit for coming up with it.
“Whose idea was this?” Zane questioned, looking at each of the faces staring back at him.
“Mine.”
Travis laughed as their mother stepped forward, taking full credit for coming up with the idea. And she had, too. Granted, she hadn’t nominated Zane to be in the booth, but they’d all figured he needed some payback for something.
“Why me?” Zane asked, pouting.
V moved up beside him, wrapping her arm around him as she smiled.
“Actually…” Lorrie paused, causing all eyes to turn to her. “Every one of my boys is gonna get a chance in that booth today.”
Zane smirked.
Travis frowned.
“Hold on a minute,” Travis addressed his mother. “That wasn’t the deal.”
“And how do you know that?” Lorrie countered. “If I remember correctly, you boys didn’t help us make those pies.”
Travis looked at Kylie. She was smiling sweetly, apparently enjoying this new turn of events.
“We all got together and had a discussion,” Kylie informed him. “While we were making pies.”
Damn.
He wasn’t sure how he was going to be able to get out of this one.
ETHAN
ETHAN WATCHED THE others, trying to figure out just how he had managed to get pulled into this.
“Hey, wait a minute. I did help make those pies,” he said, ignoring Beau, who was laughing over his shoulder.
“You’re right, you did,” Lorrie replied. “Which is why we’ve nominated Beau to go in your place.”
Ethan laughed, looking back at Beau. He laughed harder when the smile on Beau’s handsome face immediately fell and he sputtered something unintelligible.
“I like that idea,” Ethan said.
The look Beau gave him offered his own brand of retribution, and Ethan laughed but managed not to say anything. He could take anything Beau had to dish out. And he’d gladly take it, at that.
“So, I’m first, huh?” Zane asked, his expression reflecting just how unhappy he was with that idea.
“Yep. You’re up,” Gage told him.
“And how did you get out of having to do this?” Brendon asked Gage.
“Lucky, I guess,” Gage replied.
Ethan wondered just how he could go about changing that. In all fairness, if Beau had to get dunked, Gage should have to, as well.
Watching Zane as he moved toward the booth, Ethan listened to the chatter around them. They’d drawn a crowd, there was no doubt about that. Then again, he wasn’t sure there was a person in Coyote Ridge who wouldn’t want to take a chance at sending one of his brothers into a pool of water. Honestly, the idea of selling pies—all of the money from those sales would go to the church—and giving the purchaser the opportunity to dunk one of them had been rather brilliant. He kind of wished he’d been part of that discussion. But at least he wasn’t going to have to be in the booth.
Zane made his way up the steps after discarding his boots and his hat, handing them to V while she giggled uncontrollably.
“You better watch yourself, woman,” Zane told V, smiling. He glanced around to ensure their mother wasn’t in hearing distance before he continued, “Paybacks are a bitch. And honey, you’re first on my shit list.”
V laughed. “Bring it on, cowboy,” she taunted.
“Oh, sweetness, I plan to.”
Zane took his seat, his feet dangling above the water as he stared down at the tub beneath him. All eyes were on him, including Ethan’s.
Lorrie placed the sign on the table, reflecting the price of her homemade apple pies and the fact that all money was going to the church. Curtis then stepped up beside her and announced just how it worked. Within seconds, a line had formed, at least thirty people deep. First person in that line was… Of course. Beau.
Ethan watched the man he loved as he handed over a few dollars, not taking a pie, though. Apparently he was willing to pay for the opportunity to dunk Zane, leaving the pie for someone else to buy. Ethan never took his eyes off Beau, although he wanted to watch his brother go down. He just couldn’t seem to tear his gaze away from the hottest cowboy he’d ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on. And to think, Beau was his.
All his.
Beau wound back, verbally taunting Zane for a moment before he launched the ball at the target, hitting it right in the center. The next sound was Zane’s big-ass body hitting the water followed by hoots and hollers from the crowd gathered around. Ethan found himself clapping and hollering right along with them. He was tempted to go right up to Beau and kiss him, but he settled for standing next to him, their arms touching, while he listened to the deep, resonating tone of Beau’s voice. That was about as good as Ethan got with public displays, but the point was, he was with Beau, and honestly, that was all that really mattered.
KALEB
WATCHING ZANE TAKE a quick dunk in the booth, and now Braydon making his way in, was sending Mason into a fit of giggles. Kaleb tightened his grip around the little boy as he laughed at his brothers, enjoying the hell out of their misery. Granted, he knew he would be going up there soon, but that was a small price to pay, especially if it put a smile on Mason’s face like the one plastered there now.
“Are you havin’ fun, buddy?” Zoey asked Mason, coming to stand beside them.
“He’s lovin’ it,” Kaleb told her.
“Just wait till it’s your turn. He’s gonna love seein’ his daddy in there.”
“We’re waitin’ to see Uncle Trav, aren’t we, Mason?”
Travis, who was standing just a couple of feet away, shot Kaleb a menacing glare. Too bad the crinkles at the corners of his eyes gave away his amusement.
The line was moving at the table now, everyone purchasing a pie, but really, Kaleb believed they were more interested in their chance to dunk one of them in that booth. Heaven knew there were plenty of reasons for the town’s residents to want to see it. They were a rough-and-tumble bunch, had been all their lives, and this was probably the first time their neighbors had been given a chance to get them back.