Caught Up (Windy City, #3)

by Liz Tomforde

“You’ve got a cute kid.” You’ve got a cute everything, is what I want to say in response.

“Oh, well that’s good. I mean, that’s not good. Or maybe it is good? Who am I to say? Goddamn, this elevator is taking forever.” She slaps a palm over her mouth, her eyes darting to Max. “I mean, gosh dang it.” That finally makes me chuckle, a small grin sliding across my lips. She softens a bit. “He does smile.”

“And Ace,” he calls out. “Keep your dick in your pants. We all know how fucking fertile you are, and I’m too young and too goddamn attractive for someone to be calling me Grandpa.” “Jesus Christ,” I huff, leaving his room.

“Oh my God,” Rio chastises my silence. “He didn’t even try to deny it! I am going to be the only single one left. I’m going to have to move into my best friend’s house and grow old with Ryan freaking Shay.” Zanders makes a plate for Stevie as we all take our seats. “You don’t sound all that upset by that.” Rio pops his shoulders. “Never said I was.”

“Overalls again, huh?” She’s got a different pair on, and this time they’re baggy and full-length, covering her thighs I tend to daydream about. “They’re easy.” “You know who else wears onesies?” I gesture to the baby monitor in my hand where a sleeping Max can be seen. She huffs a laugh. “Shut up.” “Seriously though, those seem like the biggest pain in the ass to take off.” “So, you’re thinking about taking them off of me?” “No—” “At least get me inside first, Baseball Daddy. We’re in public.”

“If you’re as terrible of a listener in the bedroom as you are in real life, Miller, I can promise you this, you wouldn’t be allowed to come.” Those pretty lips part, jade eyes wide. “Two can play this game, Montgomery. Now, let’s go.” I nod toward the other side of the house once again. Her lips press together, holding back a grin. “You keep talking like that, Kai, and I’ll be ditching the ‘baseball’ part and just be calling you ‘daddy.’”

“If you’re going to start coming to my games, I better see Rhodes on your back and I’m not talking about my brother.” “Is this some athlete kink you got? Need to see a girl in your jersey?” The old flirty side of me that I’ve kept hidden and locked down for the most part since Max came into my life is itching to break free. I pop my shoulders. “I like to see pretty girls in my jersey. Like to take it off them too.” Miller’s lips part, a shocked and satisfied grin lifting on the corners. “Well, with that kind of promise, I’ll be sure to wear it next time.”

“You okay? You were so confident only a minute ago. You’re not going to gag, are you?” I pop my shoulders. “Hopefully later.” He shakes his head—his typical move when I’ve said something that’s caught him off guard. “You flirting with me, Montgomery?” “Have been since we met. You gonna start flirting back?”

“Then do something to make me your problem.” Fuck me. I’m so frustratingly into this woman, so I do just that. I make her my problem. There’s nothing soft or sweet about the way my mouth crashes onto hers because there’s nothing soft or sweet about Miller. She aggravates me, pushes me, challenges me. And according to the way her mouth yields to mine—she wants me.

I simply fist the sheets and squeeze my thighs in response. “Mmm,” he hums, vibrating my entire core. “Yes, baby. Suffocate me.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter if you see me or not. You’re going to feel every inch of me. I’ll be so deep, you’ll be able to feel me in your fucking throat, and I can promise you, Miller, your body won’t let you forget me.”

“I’m a big fan of you guys!” she calls over her shoulder. “Same here, sis!” Indy shouts. Damn, drunk girls really do become best friends by existing in the same room.

“Malakai is the best person I know. He’s my best friend and the best dad to his son. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve begun to realize everything he’s done for me. No fifteen-year-old should’ve been left to raise their sibling. He got me through our mom’s death. He got me through high school. He taught me how to drive. Hell, the guy even took me to buy my first pack of condoms.” He chuckles to himself. “Which is ironic now, seeing as he’s the one who ended up with an accidental pregnancy.” We find those two, Max tugging at the flips of dark brown hair curling out from Kai’s hat. “What I’m trying to say is that my brother deserves the world and for him, you are the world.”

“Miller,” he says, making sure my attention is on him. “If you ever decide to stop running and make a home…” His eyes are begging, pleading. “Make it with me.”