Bedded Bliss (Found in Oblivion #1) - Cari Quinn Page 0,108

asking.”

“I know. I’m your husband though. I get to spoil you and to make sure your friend is taken care of today since we’re inconveniencing her. Right?”

There was no argument that she could make. “Yeah, I suppose.”

“Good.” He took out a wad of cash and tucked it into her front pocket. “Give the guys instructions, then take her out to lunch. You guys go…wherever kids like to go for the day. Make sure it’s an awesome day for the Ax-man.” He dug his fingers lightly into Axl’s side until he was laughing again. “Since we’re changing his whole life today, Mama. Remember?”

“Like I could forget.”

“Right. So you have a great day with your friend and we’ll figure out the home stuff tonight. Okay?” He bent down until their faces lined up. “Okay?”

“Yes.” She hated it with the power of a thousand suns, but it would be better to take Lori out for a fun day than to sweat over her house. She looked over her shoulder at her side of the duplex with the pansies that were dying because she didn’t have time to water them. No matter how much she wanted to remember, they fell by the wayside next to double shifts and spending every spare moment with Axl.

He slid an arm around her hip and hauled them both into his chest. “For once, just take care of your family and let me figure out the details. The bonus? I get to be your family now too.”

She hooked her arm around his neck and dragged him down for a kiss. How the hell else was she supposed to say thank you? There were no words for the emotions pinging around in her chest. Her heart was beating hummingbird fast.

Just like it always seemed to do around this man.

Michael smiled into the kiss, then impulsively smushed one into her son’s cheek. “Take care of your mama for me?”

“Mama,” Axl said. He clunked his big head against her collarbone.

“Ouch, careful.” Michael stroked the back of his knuckles down her face. “Do easy.”

Her eyes pricked. How many times had she said “do easy” to Axl, just like her dad had said to her as a kid?

Axl patted her face. “Easy.”

“There you go.” Michael grinned down at her. “I’ll see you guys tonight. I won’t be late.”

“Okay.”

He backed up toward his car. “No working, just ordering your minions.”

She laughed. “You really don’t want me to get used to having minions.”

“You’re a queen, of course you should get used to it.” He rounded the hood of his car and got in with a wave.

“You’re a queen,” Lori said from the porch.

“I hate you,” she called back. She sighed and looked at Axl. “Want to go to the boardwalk?”

“Rides!”

She hugged him close and headed up to Lori’s door. “Rides it is.”

Chapter 25

Chloe had lived with a man before. Sort of.

Snake had needed a lot of alone time to figure out lyrics or…well, she didn’t really want to think about just what kind of other things he’d been doing when he wasn’t with her. There had been a lot of passing each other in the night.

Most of the time it was because she was working so much. She’d paid for much of the utilities as well as the apartment they’d lived in. Snake was always bouncing between manic highs where he was jamming with friends, and lows where she wasn’t sure he would come home. And often didn’t for days at a time. More than a few sessions in rehab hadn’t helped matters on that end.

The good days, he’d been attentive and romantic. Forever spinning stories about what their life would be like when he made it.

Needless to say, that hadn’t allowed him to keep a job for very long.

Living with Michael Shawcross was very different. For two weeks she’d been certain she was going to kill him. Not because he snored—he did, but only when he was really tired. After rather brutal practice sessions with his band, or a stressful show, those were a few of his darker moments.

But a dark moment for Michael was a grunt when he came in the door, followed by a long thorough kiss. He’d sigh, say her name in his dreamy grumble. Dreamy was her word. He’d die if she ever said that to his face. Then he’d take a shower and her Michael would be back.

Grins and silly noises for Axl as he sprawled on the floor to play with him before bedtime. Long, leisurely conversations on the