Redeeming (Red Lips & White Lies Book 2)

Orgasms are like baking. I can do it myself, but I’d much rather have someone do it for me.

—Caitlin’s Secret Thoughts

“Knock, knock.”

Everly looks up from her sketch pad and puts down her colored pencil as I walk into her office, coffee in hand. “Bless you.” She smiles and pops her grabby hands into the air and takes the raspberry-mocha-caffeinated goodness from my hands. “I swear your mother is a goddess.”

She’s not wrong.

Sweet Temptations, the bakery my mother has owned my entire life, is just a few doors down the street from Everly Wilder Designs offices and flagship showroom. Callen’s niece is one of the hottest wedding gown designers in the last five years. Needless to say, I jumped when I was offered the chance to work with her after graduation.

She can have the brides. I focus on bridal party couture and formal wear.

I also dabble a little in styling on the side. When you have friends as high-profile as I do, it’s fun to dress them for everything from a low-key photo op to the ESPYs. Most of the clueless athletes in my life send me off with their credit cards and let me update their wardrobe whenever I think they need it. Like real life Ken dolls. In some ways, I enjoy styling more than designing.

Clothes can tell you almost everything about a person.

Like today, my clothes are like a shield from a shitty day.

My heels are high. My skirt is short black leather, and my white blouse is perfectly starched. It also makes my boobs look significantly bigger than they are.

Thank God for push-up bras.

I carefully cross my legs as I sit in the icy-blue velvet chair opposite Everly’s desk, careful not to spill my black coffee. I like my sweets in the form of food. Not drink.

Caffeine should be strong and dark and freshly ground with a splash of cream.

Not give you a cavity like Everly’s will.

“You look terrible, Cait. Did you get any sleep?” She leans back in her chair and hums as the caffeine hits her bloodstream. “Ohh . . .” A calculated smile stretches across her face. “Or did you not get any sleep because you were busy?”

“Excuse me? Glass house meet stone . . . I do not look terrible. I look tired, thank you very much. I didn’t sleep well last night.” It’s not like I can tell her I didn’t exactly sleep alone for the majority of the night. Not with how close she is with Callen and Maddox.

I swear this whole damn town is interconnected.

And gossip spreads like wildfire.

Next thing I know, the Kroydon Kronicles will be talking about it.

Whatever it is.

I think back to my fight with Callen and the complete lack of sleep I got after and wonder, for the millionth time, what I could have done differently.

The answer is everything.

How the hell did this weekend go so wrong?

“Listen . . . I have three kids keeping me awake at night.” She picks up her sketchbook and tosses it my way.

A dark, deep purple ball gown is sketched, but nothing about it looks at all like one of Everly’s typical wedding gowns. “What’s this?”

She raises a perfectly arched blonde eyebrow.

“I swear to God, Everly. If you say a design, I’ll make sure my mother never serves you another cup of coffee again.” That’s basically the seventh level of hell for my overly caffeinated boss.

The bitch laughs.

“I hate you,” I quip back, joking. Well, for the most part. I don’t hate her. I grew up in constant awe of her and her twin sister, Grace. They were pretty and popular with a million friends, and Maddox and Callen adored them. The twins were allowed to do everything with the guys, unlike me.

But that’s what happens when your moms are best friends.

My mom actually saved her mom’s life when she was pregnant with Everly and Grace.

What can I say . . . my mom’s a great shot.

I mean, I’m better. But with Amelia Beneventi as a mother, it’s expected.

“You make it so easy, sometimes, Caitie.” Everly laughs, and I bristle. Not many people can get away with calling me Caitie. Everly is one of the few. “It’s an idea. My cousin Lilah called me yesterday. She’s agreed to do a short stadium tour. It’s going to be her last one for a while. She’s getting tired and wants to spend some time home . . . But first, her label wants her to spend the next six months touring the world, and she wants us to design every costume for the show. Every dancer. Every performer. Every costume she wears. And she wants to kick it off in three months.”

“Holy shit,” I whisper. This is huge. Lilah is basically the biggest pop star in the world. My hands itch for my pencils already. “Where do we start?”

“I was hoping you’d say that. Lilah will be coming in for a meeting at ten this morning. You ready for this?” she challenges, and my skin prickles with excitement.

“Are you?” I counter, and Everly nods as I hand her back her sketchbook, suddenly wide-awake and brimming with excitement. “Am I pulling any fabric samples for the meeting?”

“Purple is the only input she’s given me.” She hands me one of our swatch sample books. “Go get inspired and bring you’re A game. She wants it all. Gowns and dresses. Short. Long. Tight. Flowy. It’s to promote her Sixteen Dresses album.”

“What’s the name of the tour?” I ask as I pull out my phone to capture a few notes and ideas I already have.

“The Captivating Tour.”

Callen

I’ve had concussions that didn’t mess up my head the way it is today.

Thank fuck we don’t have to be at the practice facility for a few hours.

Yeah . . . it’s gonna be a shit day.

I throw on shorts, grab my sneakers, and chug a vitamin water, ready to go for a run and sweat the whiskey out of my system, right along with a certain five-foot-four blue-eyed beauty when my phone vibrates in my pocket.

I consider throwing it across the fucking room when I see who it is.

Nattie

Hey, little brother. Heard you talked to Dad last night. How are you doing?

Leave it to Nattie to mother-hen me when even my mom hasn’t done that today.

Murphy

He’s fine, Nat. Don’t baby him. Dad is going to be fine. We’re all fine.

Nattie

None of this is fine, Murph.

Cooper

How about you all stop saying fine. It makes you sound psychotic.

Declan

Fighting about it isn’t going to help, guys. Dad’s gonna get through this, and we’re all gonna help him do it.

Nattie

I don’t doubt that, Dec. I just wanted to check in on Callen. And maybe to remind him we haven’t told the kids yet. So maybe don’t mention anything to them. Okay?

Callen

Really, Nat? The kids? Most of your kids are in their twenties. And Dad asked us not to say anything. Did you really think I was gonna run my mouth?

Sometimes having such a big age gap with my siblings isn’t the worst thing.

This isn’t one of those times.

Carys

Callen . . .

Callen

Don’t, Carys.

They love to baby me.

Always have. And I get it.

But seriously . . . Now’s not the time for that shit.

Cooper

Dad said business as usual until he announces his retirement. We’ve got our orders.

Nattie

Some of us aren’t former SEALs used to taking orders, Cooper.

Murphy

Should have played team sports, Nat.

Nattie

Shut up, Murph.

Carys

Aiden Murphy! Don’t be a bully.

Nattie

Declan – when is Dad announcing his retirement?

Declan

He’s not sure yet.

Nattie

Okay. Well I think we should all take turns checking on him.

Murphy

Uhhh . . . He’d hate that.

Callen

And Mom’s there. I don’t think he needs us acting like he’s sick.

Nattie

He is sick, guys.

I stare at my sister’s words as they eat away at me like acid.

He. Is. Sick.

I’m not sure if it’s the hangover or the way Cait left me spinning last night, but I can’t wrap my head around those three words.

He didn’t look sick.

He looked the same.

Strong. Healthy. Immortal.

You meet a shit-ton of guys with daddy issues when you play football. Some guys have dads who tried to relive their glory days through them. Those guys resent the sport.

Some felt like the only way to get their old man’s attention and approval was through the game. They’re generally douchebags with a chip on their shoulders. They make great defensive line guys. They’re angry. Anger works on the field.

I’ve met a few who’ve used football as a giant fuck you to their father because they didn’t want to be the doctor or lawyer their parents expected them to be, and this was the best way to get away from the expectations.

It was never like that for me.

There were constant expectations, but they were the kind that make you a better athlete and a better man. If you’re going to do something, you give it everything you’ve got. There’s no such thing as half-in. If you’re in, you’re 100 percent in. And I was in from the first time I held a football in my hand.

Late-night practices? Bring it on.

Extra time in the weight room? Works for me. Strength makes everything better.

Study tapes? I’m gonna study those fuckers until I know how many fucking freckles the dude lined up across from me on game day has. I’ll know every play. I’ll know plays they haven’t come up with yet. No one is ever going to accuse me of being unprepared. And they’re sure as hell never going to question my right to wear the Kings black and gold. It’s the only colors I’ve ever wanted to wear.

When Declan was drafted to the Kings, he resented the hell out of it. I’ve heard the stories. The press used to say it was daddy ball. Yeah . . . that lasted one season until Dec took that ball and shoved it down all the doubters throats during the Super Bowl.

Dad likes to talk about the legacy you leave.

Our legacy is dominance.

Joe Sinclair took a mediocre team and created a dynasty.

One I’m proud as hell to be a part of.

Football is the greatest sport in the world, and I’m one of the best to ever play it.

I didn’t do it for my father or my brothers.

I did it because I fucking love it.

I’ve played battered, bruised, and injured, and there’s never been a single moment in my career where I haven’t wanted to be on that field . . .

Until today.

What happens when you take three hot hockey players and add one bad boy baller?

Well . . . every woman and more than a few men sitting at West End tonight were treated to the sum of that very equation when four incredibly gorgeous Sinclair men had dinner while the rest of us mere mortals sat wiping drool from our chins.

What is in the water in Kroydon Hills, and how do I get some?

#WhatsInTheWater #IdLikeToBeTheSumOfThatEquation #KroydonKronicles