Dr. Travis, I Love You Page 10

  Besides, Bea and Janie are my life, and I like it that way. Never have I felt so fulfilled and content, trading in the sheer exhaustion of being a doctor a hundred percent of the time, to being doctor and family man. For what it’s worth, my sister was right. Why work your fingers to the bone if you never have an opportunity to enjoy life? It’s the loving that counts in the end, and I’d been missing out.

  Suddenly, a snick sounded in the lock and my heart leapt.

  It was Janie. My darling girl was home after a long day at work as an assistant editor at a major publishing firm. Never was I so proud when she got the job, and Janie was succeeding beyond our wildest dreams too. Even as a working mom, the publisher quickly saw her potential, and Janie’s been promoted twice in three years.

  So now I’m Mr. Mom on my days off, while Janie goes out to work. Quickly, I straightened out the collar of my shirt, primping like a fifteen year-old boy on his first date.

  The door swung open, and as always, my girl was as beautiful as ever. Somehow, the woman was getting better and better with age, that curvy form filling out even more so that there were overflowing handfuls in all the right places. Every time I looked at the brunette, she managed to take my breath away. Shit, how did I get so lucky?

  “Welcome home,” I rumbled, striding forwards and easing the coat off her shoulders. “How was work?”

  “Good,” she answered, giggling a little. “What’s gotten into you Travis? Why is your hair combed and why are you wearing a nice shirt?”

  I grinned. I’d primped a little for her arrival, wanting to look my best.

  “It’s your birthday, baby. Is it a crime for me to want to look nice for my best girl?”

  “No, I guess not,” Janie murmured, slinging her arms around my neck and pulling me into a kiss. Throughout the years, she’d remained her shy self but occasionally, the girl came out with a flair of boldness that took me by surprise.

  I liked it. And desperate for her touch, I pushed her against the wall, our lips colliding together in a passionate kiss. She pulled at my hair as our tongues fought for dominance. My hands wandered all over her body, fingers digging into her flesh, craving every inch of her. Her lips were divine, sweet and delicious, and I realized I was an addict who’d never be able to get enough.

  But all too soon, we heard the pitter-patter of small feet as our daughter peered around the corner. Beatrice couldn’t be subtle if she tried, it’s one of the cutest things.

  “Mommy!” she screamed, rushing forward, hugging Janie’s leg.

  Leaning down, Janie lifted Beatrice into her arms, holding her tight. “Oof, you’re heavy sweetheart. What’s my big girl been doing today?”

  Beatrice giggled, curls bouncing merrily.

  “I made you a present for your birthday,” she boasted.

  “Oh? Let me see.”

  She wiggled out of her mother’s embrace and ran to the coffee table before picking up a black velvet box, small and discreet.

  Janie’s eyes went wide, swinging to my big form. There’s only one thing that comes in boxes like these, and Janie had my heart. But Bea was here, and we had to indulge her.

  “You made this sweetheart?”

  Bea nodded furiously.

  “See?” she said, pointing to a sticker she’d pasted on top of the velvet. It was pretty funny, a picture of a cartoon rabbit. “I made,” she announced proudly.

  And Janie looked at me again, those caramel pools wide and filled with emotion. Because yes, I want to be with her forever. These last couple years have taught me what true happiness is, and I want to keep Janie by my side permanently, before the eyes of man, god, and the law.

  Slowly, the brunette’s fingers opened the small case, trembling as she inhaled sharply.

  “It’s beautiful, Travis,” were her breathless words, taking in the three-carat diamond solitaire set on a platinum band. “Absolutely gorgeous,” she smiled, eyes filling with tears.

  “Aw sweetheart, don’t cry,” was my rumble. “You’re so beautiful when you cry. But honey, this is supposed to be a happy day. Because will you be my wife? Will you stay with me forever, and make me an honest man?”

  My own throat was filled with a lump that seemed the size of Mount Rushmore, the air in my lungs disappearing suddenly. And when Janie nodded, eyes shining brightly, I swept both my girls into my arms.

  “Good,” I murmured in my fiancée’s ear. “Because I love you, Janie Richards,” were my fierce words, “and I’m never letting you go.”

  The brunette kissed me softly, even as Bea tugged on her hair. But surprisingly, Janie had a gift for me too even though it was her birthday.

  “Travis, I have a surprise for you,” she murmured, pulling back slightly with a sweet smile on her lips.

  “Nothing could be better than what I have now,” I swore vehemently, claiming her plush pout in another deep kiss. “Nothing.”

  But Janie giggled slightly, her eyes full of mischief.

  “Are you sure? Because I’m pregnant again, big guy … and this time it’s with twins.”

  My jaw dropped so far you could have picked it up off the floor. Because was this true? Were we going to have numbers two and three in short order, two more children that were the manifestation of our love?

  Janie nodded again, eyes sparkling.

  “That’s right, we’re going for broke this time. And by the way, Dr. Travis, I love you too.”

  And with that my fate was sealed. I belong to the curvy girl and she belongs to me. With the engagement, our daughter, and now two new babies on the way, what could possibly go wrong? A lot, frankly. After all, there were two careers thrown in the mix, plus the incessant demands of parenthood. But we’ve come so far since that first day when Janie knocked on my door … and now that I have the curvy girl in my arms, I’ll never let her go again.

  THE END

  LIKED WHAT YOU READ?

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  My Friend’s Dirty Uncle

  ~A Second Chance Romance~

  © 2018

  By Sarah May

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  DEDICATION

  To all the girls who’ve loved someone off limits.

  This one’s for you!

  NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

  Hi! Thanks so much for reading My Friend’s Dirty Uncle. I hope you enjoy Dani and Hunter’s taboo story.

  Happy reading!

  Love,

  Sarah

  ABOUT THIS BOOK

  My Friend’s Dirty Uncle: A Taboo Second Chance Romance

  Dani’s a small town girl visiting her wealthy cousins for the summer. But when she meets the uncle of one of her friends, things take an unexpected turn because Hunter Maddox is rich, powerful, and sexy, with an eye for the curvy teen.

  But is that enough? Or will things go off the rails once the summer ends?

  My Friend’s Dirty Uncle is a 30k novella which will make you squirm in your seat! Get ready for panty-wetting action that will leave you wanting more!

  Chapter One

  Dani

  As I stepped off the bus and looked out to the shoreline, I couldn’t believe my luck. Readjusting my bag, my eyes took in the horizon above a sandy beach. All that appeared was a pure blue sky filled with the endless possibilities of summer.

  I couldn’t contain my joy.

  “Dani!” a voice called.

  I turned to the left, shielding my eyes. A girl with sleek blonde hair and a designer purse waved her hands wildly at me, and I couldn’t help but smile.

  “Justine!” I called back as I ran over to her. She flung her arms out as we liter
ally crashed into each other, panting and laughing.

  “I can’t believe you’re finally here!” Justine giggled. She pushed a smooth lock of hair off her forehead. “Are you ready for the best summer of your life?” There was a wicked grin on her face.

  I smiled back at her. “It’s what I’ve been looking forward to all year.”

  Justine looked around. “Is this all you brought?” she asked with a frown, pointing at the only bag on the sidewalk.

  I looked down at my fairly large duffle and back at her. Putting my hands on my hips, I cocked my head.

  “Why? Should I have brought more?”

  “It’s fine,” Justine replied. She giggled. “We can go shopping then, it’ll be fun,” she added with a squeal as she looped her arm with mine. “How is your mom by the way? I still can’t believe she let you come. We’ve been working on her for so long that I thought it would never happen.”

  I sighed. “She’s fine. I think Susan’s more okay with me coming now that I’m finally eighteen. She knows it’s my last summer of freedom. Who better to spend it with than my cousins?”

  Justine smiled and squeezed my arm. She looked so different and yet so much like I remembered her. Justine is my cousin – her mother is my mom’s sister. We’re the same age and we were pretty close when we were younger. In fact, up until I was seven, we lived right next door to each other.

  But everything changed after my dad got sick. He’d been a renowned chef with people coming from all over to eat his food. And after he passed away, there was a mountain of debt left over that my mother couldn’t recover from. It was a terrible time for our family, going from relative comfort to sudden emotional and financial devastation.

  So my mom did what she had to do. She sold the house and most of our possessions, moving us to northern California where she took a job as a secretary for a small insurance office. Susan didn’t make much, but it was enough for us to get by. But it was a lonely life. Mom and I had a few friends, and hardly ever went out.

  Despite that, Justine and I had never lost touch. Although I hadn’t seen her in years, we’d always written to each other. A few years ago, I’d successfully convinced my mother I needed a cell phone, and immediately, I’d started texting with Justine. Last summer we’d developed this plan. We would spend the summer together.

  All we had to do was convince our parents.

  Justine’s parents were no problem. Aunt Melanie and Uncle Craig had always talked about me coming to visit – it was my mother who proved a challenge because things changed after Dad died. Mom was worried that if I spent time with Justine, I’d come away different somehow. After all, Justine’s family still had all of their money, and well, we didn’t.

  In the end, I never knew if Mom agreed to let me go because she thought it was a good idea or because I wouldn’t shut up about it. But I was here now, and grateful for the chance to get away from my small town.

  As we neared Justine’s car, my jaw dropped to the ground.

  “This is yours?” I gasped, staring at sleek black vehicle which looked brand spanking new. I couldn’t tell the model, but I knew it had to be pricey. It just oozed money from the flashy chrome bumpers to the leather interior that gleamed.

  Justine stared at the car and shrugged. “Dad gave it to me for graduation. Now get in, we don’t have any time to waste.”

  As I hopped into the vehicle, all I could think about was how unprepared I was for this summer.

  Driving down the highway to her house, I looked over at Justine. Her short blonde hair was messy in that tousled, sexy way, and large sunglasses hid sky-blue eyes from my view. She looked so different from the young girl I remembered, but then again, I was different from the young girl I used to be, too. Justine was definitely more upmarket from the sparkling diamonds on her wrists to the designer clothes hugging her body.

  I, by contrast, was dressed modestly in a plain blue sweater and an older pair of jeans. But I didn’t mind. I’ve never been as into fashion as Justine, and finding clothes that fit my curvy body has always been a challenge.

  “Where are we going? I didn’t think your house was far away from the bus stop,” I said as I looked around. Salty air from the ocean made my hair an unruly mess and I frowned in the side mirror. Next to Justine, I looked like a chubby teen with unsexy plain brown hair.

  “I’m driving to our house, where else?”

  “But is this the way?” I asked, baffled. Somewhere in my head, I had a faint memory of winding roads and modest homes – not huge mansions with towering hedges.

  Justine laughed.

  “We moved a couple years back, silly. My dad wanted a gated community, so he and my mom picked this new house. It’ll be fun!” she giggled. “You’ll have your own room, even though we’ll share a bathroom.”

  I nodded, looking at the passing neighborhood with wide eyes because it was really fancy. But then again, what did I expect? Justine’s father was a businessman. He was successful when I was younger, and his fortune had only grown with time. I followed his business mostly in the media, but we weren’t close ourselves. My mother would talk to my Aunt Melanie from time to time, and from what little I had overheard, I knew that they were very well-off.

  Sometimes I wondered if Aunt Melanie had offered Mom any money after my dad died. Mom would never have taken it though, and I couldn’t blame her. Justine’s talk of shopping had already made me anxious. I didn’t want her to spend too much money on me, but I had a feeling she wasn’t going to give me a choice.

  We turned off the road into a small street with another gate. Justine clicked a button and the gate opened. She pulled through, and then entered what appeared to be a very exclusive lane. Each house was bigger than the next and all I could do was marvel at their incredible sizes. We passed a few with large ornate fountains in front, not to mention the luxury cars parked out front. I had never seen so many gorgeous homes before. It was completely overwhelming, like something from a magazine. We took a few twists and turns until finally, Justine pulled into a large driveway.

  “Finally home,” she chirped, killing the engine and unbuckling her seat belt. I stared at the home in front of me.

  For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. This wasn’t just a house, it was a manor with at least three stories and large white pillars in front. It looked like something you would see in a movie. Justine started to walk up the front steps before she realized I wasn’t behind her. She turned around and looked at me.

  “Coming, silly?”

  I nodded my head, grabbing my duffle and dutifully walking up the steps. Justine led me into a huge entryway. I looked up and saw a golden chandelier that was dripping with diamonds. In the reflection of the marble floor, my bewildered expression stared back at me. In front of me was a long golden staircase that traveled up to the second floor, seemingly to another open area with large couches. The foyer alone was bigger than our humble kitchen and living room combined back home.

  “Justine, is that you?” A few seconds later, an older woman appeared. “Daniella! My, how you have grown!” said Aunt Melanie as she walked over and hugged me tight. After a few minutes, she backed away, holding me at arm’s length. “You look so much like your mother was at this age. It’s uncanny.”

  “Thanks Aunt Melanie,” I said as I took in her features. She looked no different from when I had seen her more than ten years ago. The only evidence of the lapsed time was a few wrinkles around her eyes.

  She smiled wider, as she took me down the hallway under the giant golden staircase. “So tell me, how is your mother?”

  “Susan’s fine,” I said as I looked around the hallway. It was full of pictures of their family. My eyes landed on a few photos that seemed to showcase family trips. Justine in front of the Eiffel Tower. Aunt Melanie and Uncle Craig holding each other on a gondola in Italy. My twin cousins Joey and Emma enjoying ramen in Japan. The whole family on camels in front of an Egyptian pyramid.

  I felt a pang of jealousy as I gazed at the
pictures. I remembered a few years ago Aunt Melanie had implored my mother to let me travel with them, but my mother had refused. I knew she was trying to do what was best for me, but I couldn’t help but wish she had given in at least once. I would have loved just one of these exotic holidays.

  “Well, I’m glad you’re here. I hoped your mom would come down as well, but knowing my sister, I’m not surprised. I’ve been wanting you to visit these past couple of years.”

  “Thanks,” I said awkwardly. “That means a lot, Aunt Melanie.”

  “We prepared a special dinner for you tonight,” my aunt continued as she stood in front of what looked like the kitchen. “Chef Mona has gone all out in your honor.”

  I could feel my eyes widen. They had a personal chef? “You didn’t have to go through such lengths,” I said, chuckling and feeling even more awkward. My hands started to fidget. It was what I did when I was nervous, but Aunt Melanie didn’t seem to notice. “Oh, it was no trouble at all! It’s such a special occasion.”

  As I opened my mouth to reply, Justine came up to my side and grabbed my arm. “Dani has had a long trip. I thought I could show her to her room so she could rest for a bit before dinner?”

  “Of course,” Aunt Melanie said comfortingly. “You must be really tired. Get some rest, sweetheart.” She looked down at her watch, which was encrusted in diamonds. I felt almost blinded by the light. “It looks like we have an hour before Craig gets home with the twins. Be sure to be ready by then.”

  “Of course, Mother,” said Justine, as she started to drag me down the hallway past the kitchen. “We’ll be sure to be down by then.”

  I turned to wave at my aunt before Justine took a sharp turn, taking me down another hallway leading to another stairway. “Wait, more stairs?” I asked in awe.

  “Yes. These stairs lead to mine and the twins’ suites. The front stairs are to the master bedroom and a few of the recreation rooms.” She turned and pointed to another hallway. “There’s another hidden stairway at the end of that hall. They lead to staff housing.”