All In: Betting on a Full House (Gambling With Love) Read online

  "They are going to be thrilled to be grandparents. And if you want, you can ask Jonathan and one of his friends to come along too. There's plenty of room, and we could all go to the Appalachian football game Saturday night."

  "Okay. That sounds so … normal."

  "I'm a lucky SOB that my family has always been so normal."

  "Yeah you are," she said sadly, and I knew what she was thinking. That her family was shitty, and she doesn't want our kids to grow up in a house like her and Jonathan's.

  "Regardless of how things turn out Jess, these kids are going to have a great fucking family. We'll make damn sure of that."

  Her eyes watered and she nodded, but I knew she wasn't convinced. Not yet. I'd have to work on that.

  "You better get to work Officer."

  "I wish I could stay with you," I told her, kissing her one last time. "Can I see you here tomorrow?"

  "Same place?"

  "Yeah, but we don't have to … you know … if you don’t want to."

  "Tyler?" she said, looking up at me sweetly.

  "Yeah."

  "Believe me, I really, really want to. Actually, I want to more and more nowadays. I don't know if it's the hormones or … you."

  "Me?" I asked.

  She smacked my chest playfully. "You know you're hot."

  "Says the woman men paid good money to see take off her clothes."

  "Whatever. As long as there's tits and ass, men don't care what the rest looks like."

  "Bullshit. You are a beautiful, sexy woman, and I'm glad I'm the only one that gets to see you strip now."

  "Although you haven't seen me naked in a while."

  "Oh baby, that's going to change Friday."

  "Sure is. Now go arrest some bad guys so Joe can keep paying my salary."

  Chapter Eighteen

  Jess

  Jonathan was in the living room, playing a racing or car theft video game of some sort when I walked through the door.

  "Hey, sis. How was work? Did you have any moments of forgetfulness? Start unbuttoning your blouse?" he joked.

  "It was great. And no smartass, I didn't forget where I was."

  I needed to tell my brother he was going to be an uncle, but I was dreading it. I was supposed to be his responsible older sister, setting an example for him. Not be his reckless sister that got drunk and got knocked up. Not that I'd tell him that I’d been drunk at the time.

  "So Jonathan, can I talk to you for a minute?" I asked.

  "Oh shit. What's wrong? Whenever you say that it's always bad. Do we have to move again?" he looked almost panicked.

  "No, we're not moving. Well, not anytime soon anyway." We'd have to eventually unless I could fit two cribs in the living room.

  "What do you mean?" he asked.

  I sat down beside him on the couch and he paused his game.

  "I'm, ah, pregnant."

  "Yeah, I know," he responded immediately without even blinking.

  "You knew? How?"

  "I saw the test boxes in the trash can. Combining that with your crazy moods, throwing up several times a day, and a new job where you don't have to take your clothes off…well sis, it didn't take Sherlock Holmes to figure it out."

  "Shoot. I thought I'd been careful too."

  "Not careful enough. It's Tyler's?" he asked.

  "Yes."

  "Are you keeping it?"

  "Them, and yes."

  "Them?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

  "I'm having twins."

  "Holy fuck!" he exclaimed.

  "Language, sir."

  "I think this is a time where profanity is the only appropriate language."

  I couldn't help but laugh. "Pretty much." If the worst thing my baby brother did was have a potty mouth, I'd consider my raising him a success. Wow, it hit me that now that I'd gotten my brother almost to adulthood, I was going to have to start being a mother all over again. With two babies.

  "So does Tyler know?" he asked.

  "Yeah, since yesterday."

  "How does he feel about being a daddy?"

  "He seems pretty happy, all things considered."

  "Really? Well, that's good I guess," he responded.

  "Yeah, and he wants us to go up to the mountains this weekend to meet his parents and tell them the news."

  "Us?"

  "Yeah, you and me, and Nathan or one of the guys if you want to bring them along. Tyler said we could go to the App football game up there Saturday night."

  "You know, if someone had to knock you up, I'm glad it was Tyler."

  "Yeah, me too," I agreed. It could have been a one-night stand where I never saw or heard from the guy again, or a complete jackass. But it was Tyler, the most caring, protective man I've ever met. He'd be a good father, and I couldn't see him ever yelling at his kids or hitting them. But at what cost? Would he be miserable after getting tied down with an unexpected family? What if he changed after a few years of being stuck with me and two babies? I pushed the thought away, trying to think on the bright side.

  "So are you in?" I asked Jonathan. "I understand if you want to just stay here this weekend."

  "No, I want to go. It'll be nice to meet the in-laws."

  "Whoa!" I exclaimed. "No one said anything about marriage."

  "Not yet. But you know Tyler's thinking about it."

  Of course he probably was, because he was a reliable, stand-up guy who'd want to take responsibility for us now that'd we'd been sprung on him.

  I sighed and leaned my head back against the couch. "He may be thinking about marriage, but for all the wrong reasons. Then he wouldn't be happy, he'd be stuck."

  "You think he'd marry you just because you're his baby's mama?"

  "Well, yeah. What other reason is there? He doesn't love me. We'd only start hating and resenting each other, and it would make for a shitty home for two little kids."

  "But what if he did love you, and you didn't ever start hating or resenting each other? That would be a pretty awesome home for two little kids," my brother, ever the optimist, opined.

  …

  After a quick but ridiculously hot meeting with Tyler on Thursday afternoon, Friday evening finally came around. I headed straight home after work, showered, and packed an overnight bag. I couldn't wait to get to Tyler's new apartment and see him for more than ten minutes at a time.

  When he opened his apartment door I doubled over laughing. He was completely naked, wearing only his sexy as fuck smile.

  "Are you coming in or are you going to stand out there and stare all night?" he joked, asking me the same thing I'd asked him a few weeks ago when I'd answered the door in my birthday suit.

  "I hope I'll be coming," I teased as I ran a fingernail from his Adam's apple, lower between his pecs, down the line bisecting his abs, all the way to the tip of his cock.

  He groaned and grabbed my arm to drag me in and close the door. "Hell yes you're going to be coming, but you're wearing too much. Let's fix that," he said.

  His quick and nimble fingers undid the sash on my knee length coat to reveal ... nothing underneath.

  "Oh, fuck me," he said as he pushed the coat down my arms.

  "That's pretty much the plan."

  "Damn right. Let me give you the tour. First stop is the couch, then the kitchen table, then I might show you my bed," Tyler said as he closed the distance between us. His hands went to my ass to pull me against him, his erection thick and hard against my stomach.

  Our lips met and then we were devouring each other, our hands grabbing on eager and needy. Suddenly we were moving. Tyler carried us to the couch and sat down so I was straddling him. I couldn't wait any longer, and sank down onto his cock, letting him fill me. My hands around the back of his neck held his mouth to mine, while he gripped my hips to grind me up and down his length.

  Even though I wanted to keep my mouth on his, I needed to see him more. I pulled back to watch him, to take in his gorgeous face that he usually wouldn't show me while we fucked. His in
credible blue eyes were dark with arousal. The hunger in them was palpable when they connected with mine.

  "You're so damn beautiful," he said softly.

  Before I could even process his words my orgasm exploded out of me. I grabbed onto his shoulders until my body stopped shaking in ecstasy. I knew when Tyler came by the molten heat of his release spilling inside of me. Relaxing against him, his arms went around me, hugging me against his chest while we recovered.

  "Fuck, I've missed you," he said through pants.

  "I've missed you too. My bed's felt so empty."

  "Tell me about it. I sleep better when I'm with you. At least we get a whole weekend together."

  "Yeah, that is nice. While we're at your parents, can we … will be able to ...?"

  "Oh hell yes. Baby, you're knocked up, so the secret is sort of out on the fact that we've been fucking each other."

  "Yeah, but won't it be sort of awkward?"

  "No. The house is big enough that no one will hear us as long as we keep it down, and my parents really don't care."

  "Have you fucked other girls in your parents' house?" I asked curiously.

  "Hmm. Yes, but not when they were home, and not in their current house."

  "How long have they lived in the mountains?"

  "About three years. When my dad retired they sold their house here and bought one at the beach, and one up there."

  Wow. Houses like that weren't cheap, which made me feel even more uncomfortable meeting them. His parents will probably think I'm just some slutty, white trash girl that he could do a hell of a lot better than. Which was the truth.

  "What's that frown for?" he asked.

  "Your family just seems … wealthy."

  "Well, they're sure as hell not rich, but my dad's investment business did well, and he retired with a nice pension and all. Don't worry, they're not uptight. They worked hard to earn what they have now. And they're going to like you."

  "How do you know?"

  "Because I like you. That's all they care about. Is your brother coming with us?"

  "Actually, he said he would like to come, him and his friend Nathan, if that's okay?"

  "Sure. I've already told my parents it might be four of us."

  "Six," I corrected, and he laughed.

  "Technically I guess, but these two won't need their own rooms just yet," he said, palming my stomach.

  "I'm already getting fat," I told him. My pants were all snug.

  "You're not getting fat. Our babies are just growing and need more room."

  "I guess that does sound better than saying I'm fat. Can you believe Jonathan already knew before I told him yesterday?"

  "He's a smart kid, and he lives with you, so he probably picked up on some of the clues."

  "Yeah, he did. He said he was glad you knocked me up."

  "What?" he laughed.

  "He meant that if someone had to knock me up, he was glad it was you."

  "Oh. Well, that's nice I guess. But you know, I don't regret it," he said, brushing the hair from my face.

  "You don't?"

  "No. I mean, if I could go back in time and do it over the only reason I'd tell my drunk self to use a condom is for your sake."

  "You want kids?"

  "Yeah. I wasn't planning on it so soon, but this might be my only chance. You never know, so I don’t regret it."

  "You might change your mind when you have two screaming babies to take care of."

  A look of sadness crossed his face and I realized what I'd slipped and implied again.

  "Am I going to be able to help take care of them?" he asked.

  "Tyler, I haven't figured out all the logistics of this yet."

  "What is there to think about? You're going to need my help, and it'd be easier for me to help if we lived under the same roof."

  "I don't know."

  "We could try it and see if it works. I know you don't want me around just out of obligation, but I want to stay with you. Sharing a bed with you every night would be pretty awesome."

  "Yeah, that might be nice."

  "So why don't we call this a trial period? We can stay with each other most nights, see if it works for us before the babies are born. If so, we’ll get a place big enough for all five of us."

  "Holy shit! I'm going to have to get a fucking minivan."

  Tyler laughed.

  "It's not funny. I'm too young for a minivan."

  "Come on, my young MILF, let me take your mind off minivans by christening a few more places in my apartment," he said, standing up with me and carrying me down the hall.

  "I like your apartment," I told him with a kiss to his cheek.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Tyler

  The three hour ride to my parents' house had actually been fun, talking football and video games with Jonathan and Nathan. Jess had been quiet. I knew she was nervous, and worried about my parents liking her, but she didn't have any reason to be.

  When we pulled up in the driveway of their mountain home, Jess let out a big sigh when we got out of the car. I threw our overnight bag over my shoulder and grabbed her hand, giving her a reassuring squeeze, which didn't seem to help.

  My overly peppy mom was opening the front door before we even made it to the porch, excited to see us. Her enthusiasm instantly made me feel bad for not visiting more often.

  "Hey, Mom."

  "Hey, sweetie," she said, giving me a hug, then turning to Jess.

  "It's so nice to meet you, Jess," she told her before going in for a hug. Jess looked surprised for a second before she hugged her back.

  "Mom, this is Jess's brother Jonathan and his friend Nathan. They're excited about tonight's game."

  "Oh, well your dad and I are too," she said, already wearing her App shirt. "But we've got a few hours, so come on in and make yourselves at home. Tyler, your room is all ready for you and Jess, and Jonathan and Nathan, you can have your own rooms or share one, whichever you'd prefer."

  "Thank you, Mrs. Evans," Jess told her.

  "Please call me Carol, and Tyler's dad Rob."

  My dad made an appearance about that time, giving handshakes instead of hugs, at least.

  "Hey, Ty. How's the shoulder and leg?" he asked.

  "Good as new," I assured him. I still had a few aches and pains, but I realized just how lucky I was that I hadn't been fatally injured or permanently disabled.

  "That's great, son. You all come on in and have a seat. Can we get you anything to drink or eat?" my dad asked.

  We all passed, but I had to assure my mom several times that's we'd stopped to eat on the way before she relented.

  I sat with Jess on the loveseat and her brother and Nathan sat on the couch. My parents settled into their recliners situated around the fireplace and the silence started to become uncomfortable.

  "So, Ty, how did you and Jess meet?" my mom asked.

  I decided to go with the first time I saw her instead of the first time we hooked up - when Jess asked Lauren if she could give me a blow job.

  "Jess and Lauren are best friends. We met several months ago when Lauren had her over for a movie night. We just started seeing each other a few weeks ago."

  "Oh," my parents said, then went silent.

  I knew they were still confused about what happened between Lauren, Caleb and myself, and there was no way I was going there. I hated disappointing my parents, and couldn't bear to tell them I'd screwed my best friend of twelve years girlfriend while he was at basic training for the Army Reserves. I figured they probably assumed Caleb was the bad guy, swooping in and stealing Lauren from me. I'd rather let him take the blame them admit I'd been the jackass.

  "How's the new apartment?" my dad asked, knowing I'd moved out after the unexplained fallout with Lauren and Caleb.

  "It's great. Jess finally got to come over and see it last night."

  "Yeah, it's really nice," she replied quietly, then there was nothing but silence. Jess was fidgeting with nervousness, waiting for me t
o make our announcement. I figured I might as well lay our news on them and get it over with for her sake.

  "So, there's actually a reason we came to visit, other than letting you meet Jess, Jonathan and Nathan,” I told them with a smile, then reached down to rub Jess’s lower stomach. “Surprise, you're going to be grandparents."

  Both of their jaws dropped as they looked back and forth between me and Jess. My mom recovered first and converged on us, hugging us both again. She even started crying. Happy tears I was pretty sure.

  My dad didn't seem as enthusiastic, but I think he was still in shock.

  "Oh my goodness! I can't wait to be a grandma! When are you due?" my mom asked. Shit, I didn't even know that myself so I had to leave that to Jess.

  "May twenty-fifth. I'm only about eight or nine weeks."

  "I don't know what to say it's so unexpected, but congratulations?" my dad asked hesitantly.

  "Even though we haven't been together that long we're still excited."

  "I just … I can't believe you’re going to have a baby," my mom muttered. Time to drop the other bomb.

  "Actually, it's not a baby. It's babies."

  "I'm sorry, what was that?" my dad asked.

  "It's babies plural, as in two of them. You know, twins."

  "Holy shit!" he exclaimed. If anything my mom just looked more excited.

  "Twins? That is wonderful!"

  "It's definitely going to make things more … challenging," I admitted.

  "So are you going to get married?" my dad asked, sending us right into awkward territory. Of course I'd thought about it, but I knew Jess wouldn't agree to that. At least not yet.

  "Dad," I warned, hoping he'd let it go.

  "This is so exciting. Your babies are going to be adorable. I can't wait to go shopping!" my mom exclaimed.

  "Do you know if we're going to have granddaughters or grandsons, or is it too soon?" my dad asked, seeming to warm up a little to the news.

  "It's too soon, but you'll know as soon as we know. And it could be one of each," I told them. "So, do you guys mind if we have a few minutes to get settled in? Jess is probably tired and could use some rest before we go out tonight."

  "Well sure. You go rest and we'll go whenever you're ready. I've got to call … well, everyone and tell them the news! Jonathan and Nathan, you're welcome to hang out in the rec room. There's a pool table, darts and some pinball games."