Red Haught: Haught Brother's Book 4 Page 9
“Maybe you guys will be the next to use The Haught Spot as a reception room.” Gemmi called out lightening the mood of the room a few degrees.
“Whoa. We just said we were agreeing to openly dating we’re not ready for marriage. Talk to True and Karessa. They are the next ones on the chopping block.” Rosy said as she pointed to the women she’d mentioned.
Red looked at the two couples Rosy had talked about and saw them looking very guilty. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Well,” True started off with a word that was entremely long and he knew that this was a small procrastination tactic. “Alec and I are already married. He is so freaking impatient and didn’t want to wait. I didn’t want to have a big wedding, but we are going to have a reception…one day.”
“What?” Gemmi shouted out sounding scandalized.
“Yeah. We didn’t tell you because it wasn’t incredibly planned.” Alec told her while eating his food.
“Who was your witness?” Karessa asked.
“I think it was Elvis.” True said with a chuckle.
“That’s good. At least you went to Vegas we went to the justice of the peace.”
“WHAT?” Gemmi looked like she was going to have a full blown meltdown.
“We were planning to have a reception and invite everyone.” Karessa said looking at Beau. “Right, babe?”
“Sure.” Beau said like he hadn’t a care in the world. “Look guys we wanted to be married as soon as we came home from France so we stopped in South Carolina where you can get a marriage license in a day.”
“I can’t believe you.” Gemmi looked outraged.
“I’m sure you’re upset but we were apart for 8 years. I asked her to marry me, she said yes and I wanted to get a ring on her finger as quickly as possible.”
Gemmi looked around at everyone at the table and squinted her eyes at Rosy. “I’m going to be keeping my eye on you. We talked about weddings at the beach since we were little so I expect to see you in a white dress on the sand.”
Rosy looked at Red and tried to hold in her laughter. “Think if we get that far we can find a sandless beach?”
“For you, I’d put up with the sand.”
“Thank you Mr. Haught…excuse me. Dr. Haught.”
“I like the way that sounds. Get your co-pay ready I think tonight you’re going to need a check up.”
She hugged Red with all she had. If he hadn’t have pushed she’d never have tried this. “I think I’ll just use the barter system.”
“Even better.”
Epilogue – 10 years later
A beach vacation with the Haughts was an all out event and took almost a whole year to plan. They usually went somewhere with an amusement park but this year everyone wanted something different.
Camden and Gemmi had Grace, Gavin and Gilligan, Karessa and Beau had Ella and Karlee, Beau and True had Ace and Bella and rounding it out was Draven and Rosy’s kids Zachary and the sisters they’d adopted Sarah and Angel. If you were counting along that’s 18 people. It was pandemonium but Rosy loved each and every minute of their loud, crazy family.
“There is something going on. We were all given these dresses and told to come out to the beach. I think the guys have put together a photo shoot for all of us. I’ve been asking for that since who knows how long ago.” True said as they walked to the specified places they’d been given.
“Whatever it is, we all look amazing,” Rosy said to all her sisters in law.
“Maybe they’re planning a reunification ceremony.” Karessa clapped her hands as she moved over the sand.
“Well since we all are married and two of us, Rosy and Gemmi both got a big wedding it probably isn’t that.” True said as they all trudged on.
They all turned the corner and saw the four Haught men dressed in Tuxedos and walking their way. Even the man who didn’t like sand. He was there for her. It’s how it had been since they’d decided to give this relationship a chance. It hadn’t been all peaches and cream but they’d worked through it. Her life was so much more than she’d ever thought it could be.
“On a scale from one to ten how shocked are you?”
“I’ll rate it like I’d rate my life…over the top 12.”
“I love you Rosy. I want the next 100 years to be like this last ten.”
“We should have known when the dark secret and the black sheep got together it was going to be a whirlwind of a life.” Red grabbed her hand and headed up to the elegant make shift gazebo in the sand.
“And what a life it is.” Rosy said following in her husbands wake.
“I wouldn’t change a single solitary thing.” He was pulling her in the direction of their future…onward and upward.
The end
Are you all caught up with the Haught Brothers?
You can start in the beginning…with Camden
A Haught Date – Haught Brothers Book #1
Chapter 1
Gemmi shifted on the bar stool, tipped her wrist and checked her watch. He was twenty-seven minutes late. Three more minutes and he would hit the magic thirty-minute mark and she would officially be stood up.
Blowing out a sigh, Gemmi swirled the straw in her cola with cherries and glanced around, scanning the patrons of the jazz bar. Her gaze again landed on the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. Standing under a light. It was almost as if he were being showcased. Not that anyone needed any extra prodding that a man of his caliber was in the vicinity. He was leaning on the wall, seemingly unaware of all the attention he was gathering from the women around him. What the hell was she doing here anyway? She loved her boss slash good friend True, but she should have never allowed herself to accept her offer of help.
It wasn’t the first time she questioned her sanity as it pertained to this matter. That would be when she had lied to her matchmaking mother about having a boyfriend. Now, the yearly family reunion was approaching, and her mom expected her to bring the new man in her life with her. A year ago, at the last get together, her cousin, Rosalyn—and once upon a time best friend—slept with her boyfriend. Gemmi had been devastated by the betrayal of two people she had loved and trusted and hadn’t found a date for herself since. That situation caused a full force family campaign that should have been titled “Somebody Please Date Gemmi”. She’d been set up with plumbers, attorneys, teachers, and more. If her family knew of a human with a penis attached, then he was a qualified candidate for the campaign. When the over fragranced, loud talking, carnival clown had shown up and discussed taking her on the road with him she decided she’d make up a boyfriend and save everyone the burden of trying to replace what she’d lost. But the gig was up, and everyone wanted to meet her “boyfriend”. She either had to produce one or it was back to the phone calls that began with, “I know this guy who would be so perfect for you…” Nope, not going to happen.
Bringing her attention back to the beautiful specimen of manhood, as he leaned against the wall. She could see from where she sat that he had dark hair, a strong jawline, but what kept her gaze coming back to him was the confidence that was practically an aura around him. He was a man that was hard to look away from, but when she did somehow, she found herself turning back to watch him again. Gemmi thought of the number one lesson her fickle boyfriend and her beautiful cousin taught her. Don’t date anyone too deliciously good looking. Granted, that wasn’t the only reason her last boyfriend had cheated. Some of the reason was her fault. She hadn’t looked past the pretty exterior. There were many inner warning alarms his attitude and demeanor set off, but she ignored them. She should stay in her own lane when it came to overly attractive men. A lesson she thought she learned well, but if the way her gaze kept returning to the most stunningly attractive man she’d ever seen was any indication, the humiliating experience was dissipating.
The overly polished bar top—in a swanky jazz lounge she’d have never entered if True hadn't set her up with a blind date—had dim lights around the perimeter. It was a beautiful place
and she would’ve been able to enjoy it more if she hadn’t been so nervous.
She’d known relying on True to set her up with a guy who wasn’t too hot or too charming was a lousy idea, but she let herself be talked into it anyway.
It’ll be great, True had said. What could go wrong?
Gemmi wasn’t sure how it was going to go, but she thought she’d have gotten farther than this. Maybe he’d already been here, saw her plain face and “you don’t go on dates much” outfit, and booked it the other direction.
She took another peek at the man who’d entered a few minutes ago. Yes, she’d noticed when he got here, just like almost every other woman in the room. His short black hair had a bit of a wave to it—she’d always been a sucker for a man who wore his hair a bit like Superman. Call it a fetish. His strong, square jaw had just a hint of a five o’clock, or rather seven thirty-one shadow, and it made him look like a bad boy attempting to be good. She wondered what that scruff would feel like brushing the skin between her thighs or below her ear. Wow, this guy turned her thoughts toward foreplay immediately. She’d thought about sex in the abstract during the last year, but there was nothing like someone who embodied the word to bring her desire from abstract to concrete.
He looked comfortable leaning on the wall. She watched as woman after woman sauntered by or stopped to say something to him. All who approached him had been turned away. He must have been polite about it, because there was no fuss, and although most of them looked disappointed, none of them appeared to feel rejected. For a few moments she’d hoped this guy was the one True sent, but that would be way off the mark and nothing like she requested.
He had a drink in one hand and an easy smile on his face—confident, beautiful and undeniably sexy. She was at once amused, aroused and intimidated. This is how she’d gotten into trouble before. She so needed to learn to stay in her own lane.
She knew what most people saw when they looked at her—an average woman, curvy with a few extra pounds, black curly hair, and brown eyes. Someone you could easily meet one moment and later claim you’d never seen before. Background noise, that’s what she felt like. Someone who was there but not actually seen, heard, or thought of again once your eyes passed over them. This guy seemed to notice her and that made her want him even more. She could feel his regard like a warm breeze blowing over her body. She’d never be able to walk over and introduce herself to a guy like that, so she should just stop the daydream in its tracks. She’d love to thank him for the little confidence boost, but she didn’t want to look too closely at this or be wrong. He could be gazing at the sultry singer or some other woman who was sitting in the same area. She needed to find the bathroom, freshen up and get home.
She took a moment and thought about what it would be like if she took this man home to her family and presented him as her boyfriend. No, he was stunning. Nobody would believe she’d kept this man a secret for the last six months and when it was time to break up with him on her terms…well it would be a harder sell. A nice normal man. That’s all she wanted. The man against the wall could turn the world on with or without a smile. Perfection. Nothing about that man was average, so he was out of the question. Ha…like he was an option. Was there alcohol in this drink? The way her thoughts were going someone may have added a splash without her knowledge.
She found herself looking again. His lean body told her he worked hard, but not necessarily worked out. His shirt stretched over his well-formed chest and his thick sculpted arms completed the look of healthy, fit male. All of that was topped with a smile that made her feel at ease and aroused simultaneously.
She missed having a good time, being spontaneous, and just doing something for the sake of fun. Try as she might, Gemmi was having trouble forgiving Rosalyn and the ex-boyfriend for a lot of things but making her too self-conscious to put herself out there and for making her doubt she has what it takes to keep a man interested was the hardest to get over.
She looked at the hottie again. His smile got bigger and he raised his glass slightly. What the hell did that mean? If he was interested why didn’t he come over? She wasn’t dumb enough to walk over there and be rejected in front of all these people like the other women had. She was done. Her drink was finished, and her elusive date’s time was up. She’d continue her hunt for a fictional boyfriend tomorrow. Sitting here pretending that something was going to happen with this man was ridiculous. That didn’t stop her from feeling reckless—and more than a little aroused—she kept her eyes on him as she took the cherry out of the glass, slid it between her lips and then used her tongue to bring it the rest of the way into her mouth.
He had been about to sip his drink when she’d started her antics, but the glass never made it to his mouth. It came up half way and halted as he watched her throughout her performance. When his gaze snapped back to hers, his eyes were filled with hunger and the comforting smile he wore all night turned wickedly sexy. She knew how to flirt and silently patted herself on the back before getting up in search of the bathroom. It would have been nice to invite the beautiful eye candy with her. That would make this night not so much of a bust, but she wasn’t that bold.
The bathroom was classy; it looked like something out of an elegant home. There was no stall just a clean, well decorated bathroom for one. After she finished she almost didn’t want to leave, it was so cozy. She opened the door wondering if she should call True to let her know the guy she tried to set her up with didn’t show, but then decided to do it when she got home.
One step out of the bathroom, she saw the composition of the outer hallway had changed. What was once a quiet and near empty with a few people milling about was now filled with people. Sir Hot A Lot was now leaning against the wall opposite the door she was exiting. She could now tell his eyes were a light color and he was flashing that beautiful smile. Although Gemmi thought it looked amazing from her spot at the bar it was more devastating up close. She stood still for a second not knowing what to do, but then decided to take a step closer. His smile got brighter with each step she took. Nearer and nearer she drew to the sexy stranger, and that smile drew her right into his web.
“Are you following me?” she asked, then cursed her flippant tongue. He could be waiting to use the bathroom, or maybe he was waiting for someone in the other bathroom.
The way he looked at her made her want to preen and flutter her eyes—it was official; she had learned nothing about staying away from beautiful men. She stood in front of him now noticing the line of admirers that were littering the wall on both sides. Hot men made her stupid. She needed a T-shirt or at the very least a button stating the fact. He bent his head and leaned closer to her and she took that last step.
“Yes.” His voice was deep and sexy, like audible chocolate, and her mouth watered for a taste. A shiver of awareness snaked down her spine. She looked up at him almost forgetting what she had asked him.
“Why? Did you want something?” She knew it sounded like she was flirting and there was a good reason for that—she was.
He looked surprised…intrigued, maybe. “I do want something,” he said making her wish the something he wanted was her.
“Wait. Did all these women follow you back here?” Gemmi watched him look around and shadowed his line of vision. She took in all the women, like he did, and watched them smile and wave. When he looked back at her he had the decency to look chagrined. She bit back a groan, because she was not going to like this guy. No. Not going to happen.
“I’m not sure. I was trying to track you down,” he said. He looked earnest, but he could just be good at duping people. She wanted to figure out what was going on but then his quick smile broke out, and her stupid little heart started pounding hard.
“You’re like the Pied Piper of women.”
“It seems as though you’re right, but maybe you want to do a good deed for the day and save me?” This rugged man didn’t look like he needed saving. He looked like he could save them all with his eyes closed.
> “That’s not how the story goes.”
“You can always change the story,” he said.
A Haught Date – Haught Brothers Book #1
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D9F31GX
Too Haught – Haught Brother’s Book 2
Chapter 1 - Beau
What the entire fuck have I gotten myself into? Beau Haught walked into the dimly lit studio, trying to pull himself together. He’d been out of sorts lately, but that wasn’t unexpected, right? His baby brother’s wedding was in a few days, and his nerves were shot. He’d like to think it was because weddings in general made him slightly nauseated, and if anyone asked, that was what he would say. How could they tell him he was wrong?
Ouch. What the hell? he thought, somehow managing to hit his toe on a huge trunk that he would have seen if the mood lighting wasn’t on the too-damn-dim setting. Looking down, he saw the real reason he’d been out of sorts, and why his big toe was throbbing. Karessables Lingerie and Intimate Attire. The trunk was filled with sexy, exclusive unmentionables that would make his heart race and mouth water…just like their curvy creator. Beau shook his head to clear his thoughts, because lately that woman had started occupying ever-increasing space in his brain.
He hobbled around the heavy container, trying to keep the pleasant, calm demeanor he usually displayed intact, and that’s when he saw a door open. That had to be the room True was using for the boudoir photos she was creating for the bride, the groom, and all of the people in the bridal party. If the flickering glow was anything to go by, the room had several candles lit.
The sound of jangling keys and high heels clicking on tile flooring led him to believe that he wasn’t alone, but the speed of the footsteps suggested someone was trying to leave quickly. Was True leaving? With all those candles lit? He tried to make it back to the door, but the maze-like obstacles and dim lighting made it difficult. By the time he got to the entrance, he could only watch as True jumped in her car and drove off. Beau tried to open it, but it was locked, and he knew he needed a key to open it. He pulled out his cell, hoping this weird behavior would be explained with a simple phone call, but she had the nerve to not answer her phone.