Free Hammer's Fall (The Breakers' Bad Boys) by Laurie Roma

need.
    “Jared…”
    “Yeah, baby?”
    “I love kissing you.”
    “Thank fucking God for that.”
    She chuckled as she wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him again. He wanted to take her. To shove his pants off and slam her body down onto his cock, but he forced himself to hold back. He would take this time slow if it killed him, and the way she was rocking her body against him made him think it just might.
    The phone rang in the background, but they both ignored it. Needing to be inside her again, he was about to carrying her into her bedroom, but froze in place as the answering machine clicked on and the voice of an irritated woman filled the room.
    “Kalista Rose? It’s your mother. I just got off the phone with your cousin Bethany, and she is very upset. I think it is very inconsiderate for you to insist on bringing someone with you to the wedding, considering we both know how unlikely it is for you to be able to find another date in time.”
    Hammer felt Kali stiffen in embarrassment and he felt his own anger spring to life. How dare her mother speak to her that way!
    Kalista’s mother’s sigh could be heard over the line. “Really, darling. You could never hold onto a man like David if you don’t take care of yourself. I tried to warn you that eating all those sweets was just going to make you fatter. It’s such a shame that silly little shop of yours has damaged the only real chance you had at finding someone. Anyway, I told Bethany that I would make sure this date of yours isn’t just one of you girlfriends you decided to bring along. Really, it’s very selfish of you not to think of my sister and your poor cousin on her big day. They have to worry about paying for all the dinners and it’s not like they have a trust like you do. Speaking of, your father and I think it’s time for you to reconsider signing over the trust to us. It’s obvious you haven’t been making very good decisions on your own, and we worry what you are doing with all that money. Call me back.”
    The message ended and Hammer was surprised he wasn’t shaking with the rage coursing through him at the sight of the tears in Kali’s eyes. Going with instinct, he said the first thing that came to mind. “How the hell did you turn out so sweet with that crazy bitch as your mother?”
    Kalista let out a laughing sob as she threw her arms around his neck and burrowed closer to him. His arms immediately wrapped around her, hugging her close, and he took the throw from where it was draped over the back of the couch and pulled it around her trembling form. She felt him press his lips to the top of her head as he stroked her back in a soothing motion.
    “I’m sorry you had to hear that,” she whispered against his neck.
    “I’m not.” Shock had her pulling back to look at him. He lifted his hands to gently wipe away the tears that had fallen onto her cheeks. “You warned me that your family wasn’t nice, but honey, that woman sounded pure evil to me. Like wicked witch material if I ever heard it.”
    She gave him a shaky smile that tore at his heart. “I try to avoid them as much as I can.”
    “I don’t blame you. Sometimes…” Hammer paused as he tried to choose his words carefully. “Sometimes words can hurt more than a fist.”
    Kalista nodded, desperately relieved that he understood. Her lips trembled, and she took a shaky breath. “Still want to go to the wedding with me?”
    He drew her back into his arm and held her tight. “Baby, you aren’t going without me.”
    She let out a little sigh and stroked a hand over his chest. “Thank you.”
    “See if you still want to thank me after I punch your ex in his stupid fucking face.”
    She had to laugh at that. “You swear a lot.”
    “Sorry.”
    “It’s okay. I don’t really mind. Especially when we’re…”
    He tilted his head down so he could look at her. “When we’re, what?”
    She could feel herself blush. “You know.”
    He pressed his hand over