C&A Novella (Marked Heart #2.5) by M. Sembera Read Free Book Online Page B

there I missed or are you just want me to start confessin' stuff?"
    With a loud huff, Charlotte tugged the bottom of her shirt and swiftly walked to her office, slamming the door behind her.
    She didn't have time to make it behind her desk, when the door flew open.
      Storming into the room, Auggie growled, "You listen hear woman, we are getting married day after tomorrow so either you tell me what you think I've done or save your imaginary reason's to argue 'til after the wedding 'cause I haven't made it this far for you to start givin' me hell now."
      Furious with him, she fussed, "Admit it, you want kids."
      "What in the hell? Where did you get that from?"
      Narrowing her eyes at him, she replied, "I saw the way you were smiling at me and Keylee."
    "You have got to be the craziest, crazy ass woman on earth!"
      "Is that right?"
      "Ya damn right, that's right. It couldn't of been because you were holding my niece and it was cute seeing y'all together. But I'll sure as hell keep a straight face from now until the wedding so I can wait out the last two days in peace."
      Seeing reason, but unwilling to give up the fight quite yet, she snapped, "Oh, please tell me how hard it's been to make it this far."
      Taking a step closer to her, Auggie griped, "I've been walkin' around for the last month with it so hard, I can touch you with it from two feet away."
      "Really? Two feet?" Charlotte questioned with a slight smirk.
      A hint of a smile threatened to break through as he added, "And a quarter."
    Glancing down, she curled the corner of her mouth into a smile before looking back up at him as he smiled back giving her a nod of assurance.

 
    17
    A steady stream of customers and congratulations kept Auggie busy behind the bar for most of the night. It was good having Kieran and Liv at the bar together. When Penny showed up with Braden, they squeezed in next to Liv and nothing but laugher came from that end of the bar even after the doors were locked.
    Closing up the bar Auggie smiled to himself, knowing the next time he opened it, he would be a married man. One more day. Never in his life, before Charlotte, would he have believed how happy something like that would make him.
    Stepping into the kitchen, he thought about how seeing Charlotte with Keylee made him feel. It was hard to explain, especially to himself, since he never thought about having kids of his own. Something about the way she was holding her and the look on her face as she smiled at his niece that caused his mind to wonder. Taking a moment before walking back into the main area of the bar, he let his thoughts drift to the impossible.
    It wasn't a kid thing, especially when Caffrey family babies were plentiful and there was always a new one popping out. It was a Charlotte thing. Making babies with someone wasn't something he would have considered particularly thrilling, but when he imagined Charlotte holding one with fiery red hair and her blue eyes, his chest involuntarily started to swell.
    Shaking off a smile as he walked back into the main area of the bar, Auggie stopped and stared at his brother. Trying to figure out what had happened in the minute he stepped away, He watched Braden moving towards Kieran with Liv in between them.
      "What's your drunk ass gonna do?" Kieran mocked as he stood up tall in front of Braden.
      "Little help here, Auggs?" Liv snapped, noticing he had walked back in.
      "Nah, let's see what he's got." Kieran taunted, provoking Braden to lunge at him.
      Quickly grabbing Braden from behind, Auggie held him back, warning, "Knock it off."
      With heavy breath, Braden shared, "He's been lying to Penny this whole time."
      Auggie immediately glared at Kieran as he said, "It's my shop."
    Right then and there Auggie knew Penny's apprenticeship was pointless.
    He was just as angry with Kieran as Braden seemed to be, but at the same time, Penny was in the back and she already had a broken heart, she didn't need to find out