Outmatched - Kristen Callihan Page 0,116

little nose busted.”

“You bust my nose, Morgan, and I’m busting your nuts.”

Laughing, I swung her up and cradled her against my chest. She was so tiny compared to me but fit just right. And though she glared, she was also smiling as she wrapped her arms around my neck. “Brute,” she said.

“I’m the brute? You’re the one threatening my nuts.”

Her nose wrinkled. “That was a tactical error on my part, I agree. I need your bits in good working order.”

I dipped my head and nuzzled her neck. “Maybe we should do an equipment check just to make sure.”

She snorted but her lids lowered in that way that told me she’d be ready for me. “I never actually hit your nuts, Rhys.”

“I won’t tell if you don’t.” My hands slid to her pert ass, under her shorts where her skin was hot and silky. “You wet for me, Parker?”

She hummed, wrapping her legs around my waist to rock into me. “You’re the one who wanted to do an equipment check—why don’t you see for yourself?”

Growling, I was prepared to do just that when my brother’s voice cut through my lust-filled fog like a chain saw.

“My eyes,” he said dramatically. “Would you two have some care for the youth around here?”

I stopped, not putting Parker down, and turned to glare at him. “We’re in my apartment.”

Since the gym was in the middle of a remodel, there was too much dust and paint fumes downstairs, so we’d taken to working out in my loft’s small home gym. Parker had been spending most of her time here over the past few months, and I was planning on asking her to move in.

A year ago, I might have thought moving in with a woman was too much of a commitment. Now, I couldn’t wait. I wanted my things mingled with hers, to wake up to her face every morning and to kiss it good night for all the rest of mine.

“Consider this an educational moment,” Parker added, clinging to me like a monkey.

I laughed. “Yeah, always remember to knock before entering.”

Dean shook his head. “You’re both hilarious. Really.”

I finally let Parker down. “There a reason you’re invading our privacy, Dean?”

His eyes crinkled at the corners, reminding me yet again of our mother. “Brought you some light reading.” He tossed a folded-up copy of the Boston Globe my way.

I caught it midair and unfolded it. At my side, Parker gasped as she caught sight of the headline and picture of Franklin Fairchild.

A grin spread over my mouth. “So, the weaselly little fuck got indicted for fraud, huh?”

Parker grabbed the flopping edge of the paper and read over my arm. “Not just that. Sixteen counts, including embezzlement, tax evasion, and money laundering.”

“I shouldn’t gloat over someone else’s misery but …” I trailed off with a shrug. Because fuck that guy.

Parker’s gaze was alight with mischief. “Bet he’d rather deal with sand snakes now, eh?”

When we both started laughing, Dean frowned. “You two are weird, you know that? You’re morphing into a hive mind.”

My arm wrapped around Parker’s slim shoulders, and I drew her close. “You should be so lucky, little bro.”

He scowled as though he’d sucked a lemon.

“He’s making a face,” Parker said sotto voce. “But one day it will happen to him, and we’ll be there to remind him.”

“Never,” Dean vowed with the confidence of the ignorant.

I tossed down the paper. “For now, why don’t we go out for a drink and celebrate?” Without waiting, I leaned down and slung Parker over my shoulder. She squealed loudly and slapped my ass.

But I knew she loved it when I carried her around–mainly because she told me, repeatedly. I lightly tapped her sweet ass in return and strode out of the room.

Dean followed with a sigh. “Okay, but tone it down when we’re in public. People aren’t supposed to be this happy.”

That’s where he was wrong. Being in love—being happy as fuck about it—was something we all deserved. I just didn’t know it until I had it. And now that I had, I was never letting it go.

Acknowledgments

While publishing isn’t a solitary endeavor, for the most part writing always has been, so it’s been a fantastic experience to have someone to share the process with. As fans of each other’s books we found ourselves discussing co-writing together, which turned to excitement for the challenge and the decision to go for it. That shared respect and admiration for each other’s work, and understanding of each other’s process, made writing OUTMATCHED a pure joy. We hope you see that and smiled your way through the pages!

We want to thank our editor Jennifer Sommersby Young for diving into this collaboration with us to help make sure Rhys and Parker’s story is its best self. On that note, a huge thanks to Tammy Blackwell and Kati D for beta reading and providing us with invaluable notes. Moreover, thank you to Melinda Utendorf for proofreading and helping to make the story as polished as it can be.

A thank you must be given to Dan Eager, who not only allowed us to use his PhD and career as that of Parker’s, but who is an all-round fantastic human being making a difference in the world. Thank you, Dan!

The life of a writer doesn’t stop with the book. Our job expands beyond the written word to marketing, advertising, graphic design, social media management and more. Help from those in the know goes a long way. Thank you to every single blogger, instagrammer and book lover who has helped spread the word about our books. You all are appreciated so much! On that note, a massive thank you to Nina Grinstead at Social Butterfly PR for agreeing to jump into this new venture with us. You’re fantastic!

To our family and friends, for always encouraging and supporting us.

Also to Hang Le, for creating an adorable cover we love. You’re so talented!

As always, thank you to our agents Lauren Abramo and Kimberly Brower for coming together to help us with this collaboration, and for making it possible for readers all over the world to find our words. We’re so grateful to you.

And finally, the biggest thank you of all, to you our readers. Thank you for coming on this new adventure with us. We couldn’t do it without you.