Only Christmas

“She’s mine,” I grumble. Of course it’s not only the swinging dicks I have to watch out for when it comes to my new wife. Everyone wants her.

“I got that. I saw you together. Little heads up.” She leans forward. “Charlotte isn’t too happy about it, and she’s got fangs. Don’t let her sink them into sweet Aspen. She doesn’t need that bullshit.”

“Thank you,” I say, surprised the woman is telling me all this. And she’s right. That’s the last thing Aspen needs. She’s dealt with enough ugly in her life. She doesn’t need whatever bullshit Charlotte is pissed over to deal with.

“Webster!” I turn at the sound of my wife’s excited voice. She’s headed right for me. Her eyes aren’t on me, though; they are locked on the bartender. “What are you doing here?”

“I work part-time for a catering company.” The bartender steps out from behind the little makeshift bar to give Aspen a hug. I make myself stay where I’m standing, knowing my jealousy is really getting out of control. There is something wrong with me. “Haven't seen you in a few weeks and now you’re married?”

“Long story.”

“Long? That sounds like it should be short,” Webster teases her. “I take it you’re not working as a maid at the hotel anymore.” Webster cocks her head to the side. “Guessing that would be kind of awkward since you kind of own it now.”

“I don’t know about that.” Aspen ducks her head as she always does when she starts to blush or feel out of place.

Webster snags the drink I’d ordered for Aspen off the bar, beating me to giving it to my own damn wife. She glances my way and winks at me again. I shake my head and fight a chuckle. Mostly because Aspen is all smiles herself and talking to the woman. They must have worked together at the hotel. She’s actually relaxed with her, so I let it go.

Even if Webster wants my girl. Good luck with that. Aspen will be smelling like me until she showers next. I regret the thought as soon as I have it. My cock is starting to harden. The hell, I got off a few minutes ago.

“Can I steal you for a moment?” Edwin strolls over. My mother is nowhere in sight.

I actually haven’t seen Edwin all night, which is surprising. He’s normally close to wherever my mother is. I thought she said she was going to check on him, but now he’s here, and she’s not.

“I’ve got her,” Webster says. “It’s my break, anyway. They have cheesecake bites. Bunch of flavors. With you on my arm, I bet I could get into the kitchen and steal some.”

Aspen turns to me. “I’ll be waiting.” A smile lights up her face. I lean down for a kiss. “Not too far,” I whisper into her ear.

“I…” She pauses, seeming to think over what she’s going to say. “I’ll miss you.” Her words hit me right in the chest. I might be making it up in my head, but I think she had something else in mind to say, but I let it go for now.

“I’ll miss you too.” I lay one last kiss to the column of her neck before I let her go. For now. I watch as Webster leads her from the room.

“She’s beautiful,” Edwin says. I nod in agreement. “My office?”

“Lead the way.” I follow him deeper into the house. He opens the door, and we step into his office. The smell of cigars and leather fills my lungs, reminding me of my own father’s office. “Is everything okay with my mom?”

“Yes, she’s perfect. As always.” His eyes always soften when he speaks of her.

He’s the only one of the men my mother married after we lost my father that I ever cared for. I could tell he loved her. He was a self-made man. One that was content. He gained nothing from my mother financially when they married.

“How have things been?”

“If you were around more, you might know.” He walks over to a small bar that only has one bottle of whiskey on it. I don’t respond to his little jab because it’s deserved. He pours us both a drink. “Tell me this isn’t a game,” he says after I toss back the drink. “Charlotte told me Aspen works at one of the hotels.”

“Worked,” I corrected him. “Aspen and my personal life are not for you to worry about it.”

“When it affects your mother, it sure as hell is something I should be worried about.” I drop my glass down on his desk, checking my anger. A few days ago, I would have been pissed that Edwin would try to pry into my personal life, but I find I’m more understanding, putting myself in his shoes.

“It’s far from a game. Aspen is my wife and will be staying my wife, and one day soon she’ll be the mother of my children.” Edwin lets out a breath, visibly relaxing.