What the fuck was I doing?

The question was becoming as redundant as Elizabeth Taylor's wedding marches. I reached for the bouquet of colorful flowers and the wine bottle in my passenger seat. Wait. Did her parents even drink wine? Anyone else and I wouldn't give it too much thought or care. But this was a pastor's family. Would I offend them? Were the flowers enough?

Why does it matter?

I knew I should have canceled. It would have been so easy to call Anne Hart with a kindly worded excuse about something coming up with work. But I couldn't do it. Not after Grace gave me a way out and I'd rejected it. Grace would see right through it and call me on the cowardly act. And for reasons that I still didn't want to explore, her opinion mattered to me. So here I sat parked in my car in front of her house, behaving like a nervous schoolboy sitting outside the principal's office.

Oh, fuck it. I grabbed the wine and the flowers and started up the sidewalk. I could hear laughter and playful shrieks coming from behind the house. Before I could knock, the wood door swung open.

"Well, hello there, handsome. I was wondering if you were expecting curbside delivery." A stunning blonde leaned against the frame, arms crossed.

I grinned, liking her straightforwardness. She had to be another of Grace's sisters. "I figured that option was off the table when I didn't see a squawk box to talk into."

She laughed and stepped aside to let me in. She spied the wine in my hand. "Oh, it's like you know me or something! That's one of my favorites! I like you better already. Would you find me rude if I opened it before dinner? After the day I've had, I could use it."

Laughing, I handed her the bottle. "As long as you don't get me in trouble."

"I promise I'll take all the blame. I'm Angela." Her pretty blue eyes scanned me up and down. "My sister said you were good-looking." She winked at me.

Hmm. Interesting. "Grace said that?"

She laughed again. "No, Faith did. Grace said you were more of an ass."

I shook my head, amused and disappointed at the same time. "Yeah, that sounds like her. She seems a little fond of that word concerning me." I darted my eyes around, looking for her.

"If I were her, I'd be more interested in looking at your ass." Angela's voice dropped, sounding flirty, even a little seductive. She laid her hand on my bicep and angled herself to look behind me at the topic of discussion. "Maybe after dinner, we can spend some more time getting to know each other better."

I tried to step away, but her hand tightened its grip as she moved closer still, enough her generous breasts hugged my arm.

"Faith said she thought Grace was maybe into you. I love my sister, but between you and me, she's pretty straight. Doesn't like to party. A bit boring, actually. And you definitely won't get her to have the kind of fun I bet you're interested in." She winked at me.

Holy shit! Was she coming on to me? In her parent's house? To her sister's friend, for lack of a better word? Did she even know her sister? Her description of Grace was way off.

I firmly removed her fingers from my arm and took a step back. "I think Grace is perfect the way she is. She's fun, witty, and has a warm and caring nature like no one I've met before. And I have to say I think she deserves more loyalty from you."

Her narrowed eyes focused on mine. Things certainly weren't off to the best start. I wondered if it was too late to make my excuses and leave.

A movement in the corner of my eye distracted me from our visual standoff. Oh, God! Please don't let it be her dad! It was a legitimate prayer.

"Angie? Everything okay?" Grace walked into the entranceway where we were standing. Her brow furrowed as she glanced between the two of us.

I smiled. She looked fresh and beautiful in a dark pair of jeans and a soft looking sweater and bare feet. Like she was at home. Well, technically she was, but more than that, she looked like home. Like somewhere I'd want to spend every day and maybe never leave. "Everything's fine. I was just getting to know another Hart sibling."

Angela cut in. "It's more than fine. Operation Cobra was a success. Actually, it was a complete home run."

What the hell did that mean? More confusing, she was beaming and looking at me with friendly eyes, not the 'let's-fuck-after-dinner' look she'd just been giving me.

Grace's reaction was even more interesting. "No. Tell me you didn't, Ang," she said as she covered her face with her fingers, shaking her head.

“Of course, I did. After what you said—"

"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph," Grace. "Here I was worried about Daddy, and you turned out to be the snake in the grass." She uncovered her face to glare at her sister. "Pun intended."

Angela didn't bat an eye. "I was just looking out for you."

"Well stop! We're not teenagers anymore."

"You're still my little sister."

What were they talking about? Was this whole family nuts? "Um, I'm a little lost here."

Angela lifted the bottle of wine like a salute. "Grace'll fill you in, I'm sure," she said laughing. She looked at the flowers. "I'll take those for you, too." She grabbed them from my hand when I didn't offer them to her, still stymied by whatever the hell was going on here.

"Those are for your mother," I called after her. I wasn't quite sure I trusted her not to keep them for herself.

"Of course, they are." She spun back around. "If they were for Grace, they'd be purple peonies.” She winked. “In case you need that kind of intel." She smiled broadly while Grace mumbled something under her breath. "I'll be out on the deck with the rest of the family. Don't take too long or it will be Daddy in here next. Tootles!" She turned and headed through the living room. About six steps later, she turned back to Grace who was glaring at her. "Home. Run," she mouthed.

Several seconds of silence passed. "Still confused as to what the hel...eck happened here," I commented.

She glanced at me with pink cheeks. "No, Hell's about right. You did just escape its outer layer, after all." She bit her lip and cocked her head slightly. "You don't happen to have any siblings, do you?"

I hesitated, then shook my head. "No."

"Maybe consider yourself lucky."

If she only knew. "Couldn't say for sure."

"Well, my sisters and I are very close. Sometimes a little too close, like just now. I'm afraid you were a victim of a test of sorts that we used to do years ago to vet prospective dates."

I raised my eyebrow. "Do tell, Ms. Hart. This sounds interesting."

Her cheeks grew redder. "Well, if a guy appeared interested in one of us, one of the other sisters would flirt with him to see how loyal he was to the specific girl. We found a few snakes that way. Eventually, our efforts became known as Operation Cobra. And you were just struck."

I snickered. "And here I was worried you were going to say you used to compare the snake in their pants for qualifications."

She rolled her eyes, but a grin peaked around her lips. "Is that all you think about?"

"Not all the time.” I leaned in closer. "But for the record, he's more like a python." I heard her sudden intake of breath and the five seconds it took before she breathed it out. I deliberately didn't pull away, inhaling her vanilla scent while entertaining thoughts that weren't so "vanilla."

"So," I said, needing to distract myself, "did any snakes still sneak through?"

Grace blanched, causing me to wonder what had happened. "A couple, one in particular that managed to fool us all."

"So, I passed?” It was a stupid, childish desire for acceptance, but for some reason it was important to me.

"You passed with flying colors according to Angela." She poked my chest. "That's her opinion, though. I'm capable of making up my own mind."

I caught her finger and brought it to my mouth, catching it between my teeth, then soothing it with a kiss. I felt a shiver run through her as her eyes widened. I liked that she wasn't immune to the attraction the zipped between us so strongly it ceased my rational thoughts that I shouldn't be touching her like this.

"Don't worry," I whispered, "my bite isn't poisonous."

"Doesn't mean it's not dangerous," she whispered back. She didn't step away, however.

She couldn't have been more right or more wrong at the same time. The gesture that had only been meant to tease quickly morphed into something more stimulating. Something more animalistic. I wanted to mark her as mine, cage her within my arms until she surrendered to me, whatever it took. And that's why the only truly dangerous thing here was her; because "whatever it took" meant being willing to yield to terms I'd never allowed before, ones I wasn't sure I was capable of.

I didn't let go of her finger. Instead, I used it to pull her hand to my mouth, where I pressed another kiss on the pulse on the inside of her wrist before placing it on my waist and holding it there. The fast beat I felt beneath my lips assured me I wasn’t the only one caught up on the moment.

My eyes never left hers as my other hand drifted to the side of her head and tangled in the silken strands of her hair. Her fingers tightened on my waist as she stepped closer, as if in a trance. Her ribcage rose and fell a little faster, each inhale causing her breasts to rub against my chest. Everything in me tightened as I resisted the urge to drop us to the couch behind her.

"You're so beautiful, Grace," I rasped. She smiled shyly in return.

My fingers dragged along her cheek. She blinked slowly, and when she reopened her eyes, the blue was nearly hidden by her dilated pupils. Her tongue darted out to lick her lower lip. My heart pounded as my head lowered to take over the taste with my own. She tasted sweet, addicting.

Her breath hitched. Our lips met. Desire exploded.

Her arm left my hip to wrap around my waist and clench the material of my shirt just above my belt. The other slid up my chest and around my neck, holding my head to hers. I nipped her lower lip, and when she instinctively licked it, I seized the moment.

Whatever resolve I'd had earlier to resist this girl went flying out the window. If the way she melted into me was any indication, her resistance was flung right alongside mine. Her foot had risen on my leg, hooking around the back of my calf. Something that sounded like a whimper hung in the air as my hand slid along her ass and thigh until it reached the back of her knee, holding her as she ground against my upper thigh.

Fuck, but I wanted this girl! Beneath her sweet and funny surface, she was full of fire and passion—for life. For me.

It was exhilarating. It was terrifying.

Deep down I knew this was wrong, but I wanted her too fucking badly to stop.

Somewhere in the distance, a door slammed. The noise jolted us apart. As awareness crept in, Grace stumbled several steps backward until the couch stopped her. My arms felt empty, bereft of her warmth and touch. She swallowed hard as her hands flew to her cheeks as if she could contain the flood of color that infused them.

I wanted to say something, anything, to remove the look of regret I thought I saw in her expression. "It's like they have some kind of radar," I mumbled as I ran a hand on top of my hair to smooth out where her fingers had rumpled it. Her lips crept a fraction upward, but it was far from the bright smile I was aiming for.

"Jaxson, dear, you made it!"

Offering Grace one last apologetic look, I turned to greet Anne. I had to bend low to accommodate her warm hug.

"I'm glad you came," she announced. "Aren't you, dear?" She beamed at her daughter as she settled between us. Resting her hands on my and Grace's backs, she nudged us forward. "Come. Everyone is out back. I'd have been in sooner, but I was on the phone with a client who has a problem with peeing in the house."

My brow wrinkled as I glanced down at her. Huh?

Grace rescued me. "Mom trains dogs, usually service dogs, but people call her all the time for advice on training." She glanced at her mother. "Context, Mom. Seriously, it helps."

Anne shrugged and laughed and led the way through the room to a sliding door that opened to a deck with a large backyard. I realized I never stood a chance at declining dinner. This woman was a mini force of nature, directing people how and where she wanted them while simultaneously charming the shit out of them.

Outside, I recognized Faith who was sitting on a chair next to Angela, both of whom had a glass of wine in their hand. The matching bottle that Angela had wheedled away from me sat uncorked on a table beside them. I'd remember that label for next time.

Wait! Next time?

Another man stood on the other side of the deck, fingers flying on his phone. I recognized him as the same man who only took an interest in me once he discovered who I am. And out in the spacious yard was Grace's dad throwing a baseball with the same young boy attached to Faith last Sunday. His smile fell to a flat line as he glanced up and saw us.

"Jax, dear, you remember Faith, and I believe you met Angela." They both looked up and smiled. Angela winked then resumed talking with her sister. Faith suddenly sat up, choking and laughing as she wiped at the wine the dribbled out of her mouth. She looked at me with eyes that were much like her younger sister's. They were dancing with mirth, and I suspected my introduction to Angela was being retold.

Anne pointed toward the man who I started to believe had a stick up his ass. "You probably recall Adam, Faith's husband,” she said dryly.

Wow. Poor Faith. Seems like she could do so much better. Yet Adam had been accepted into the family, while I was greeted with suspicion by everyone but Anne.

Anne's eyes rolled. "Adam, dear," she called, disdain tainting her voice, "can't you give that a rest? There's plenty of time to work, but now isn't one of them." She shook her head when he darted a glance at her and frowned. The memory of a similar statement made by my mother at the wedding hit me. I hated I had something in common with someone who seemed like such a prick.

I'll do better, Mom, I vowed.

Adam opened his mouth as if to argue, but when Anne folded her arms, he tapped a couple more buttons then tucked the device into his back pocket. It seemed yet another male fell to doing what Anne Hart bid them.

She turned back to face the yard, and her face softened as she watched the scene before her. "And that's Faith and Adam's son, Caleb, and my husband. Ev!" She made a waving gesture at the cute little boy and the grumpy looking man I'd already identified. "Come on over."

Dressed in jeans and a white button-down shirt, he strode across the yard like a soldier ready for battle. "This is Jaxson Carter, Carolyn's son."

"Please, call me Jax," I responded, holding out my hand. He accepted it with a true man's grip, but I didn't flinch, giving as good as I got. If I wasn't mistaken, I saw a slight life of his mouth on his otherwise stoic face.

"Everett," he replied and dropped my hand. It seemed Grace's dad was a man of few words. I bet his parishioners loved his sermons.

Anne kept up the conversation in a cheery voice. "So, tell us, Jax, how do you like living here in Passion?

"It's been great. It's made Mom happy being back."

"Oh, it has, I can tell, and I know Julie was thrilled. What made you decide to return with her?"

"I'd been considering moving anyway, but opportunities here were limited. When I learned about the lithium discovery, I anticipated the economy here would turn, and I decided to make the jump."

"So, you're an opportunist?" Everett finally spoke. He crossed his arms as he stared at me.

There was no mistaking the challenge. I chose my words carefully. "I'd say more of a business strategist."

"A risk taker, then."

"More like an entrepreneur."

"So, it's all about money?" His gaze grew even harder. I wondered if this was how spontaneous combustion happened.

"More like recognizing an opportunity to grow and diversify. I'd say it's paid off for the community as well as myself. I'm proud of my contributions to the revitalization project."

"You think you're pretty smart, huh?"

"Well, sir, at the risk of continuing this argument, I'll stop here and say I agree with you on that point."

Everyone appeared to hold their breath. Everett held my gaze for exactly eight seconds—I was counting. Suddenly he burst out laughing and slapped me on the back. "Very good. You can stay. Anne said I'd like you." He continued to chuckle, and I drew my first deep breath since the interrogation began.

"From what I've met of your wife, sir, I'm not sure you had a choice."

He snorted and drew his wife close, tucking her under his arm and pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "You've taken her measure well."

Laughing alongside us, Anne herded her family into the house for dinner. I looked around for Grace. She was standing off to the side, silently studying me.

Angela nudged me with her elbow as she passed. "Impressive. But I think the person you need to convince the most is still over there."

Convince of what? I wanted to ask, but she'd already walked away.

Grace stepped to my side. "Is there a Round Three coming up that I should be aware of?" I asked dryly. "Is your mom going to offer me a drink laced with truth serum during dinner or anything?"

She sighed. "I love my family, but they can be a little nuts. I told you that you should run while you could. I knew it would be like an interview process, probably because they don't think I'm capable of making good decisions anymore."

I wondered what it was she'd done that she kept making a vague reference to. She came across to me as someone smart and dependable, not someone who'd make rash decisions that needed to be kept in check. Then again, this was the same woman who impulsively lured me to the teen center. Look where that had gotten me—a troubled boy that I now had to find work for. Not that I minded, if I was completely honest with myself. Something about him resonated with me, and I liked that I was able to help him. He was kind of a cool kid. Not that I'd tell him, though!

"Maybe they're just looking out for you," I offered. I hated the defeated roundness of her shoulders.

"Yes, I'm sure that's how they see it. I feel like I'm ten years old again. I made a mistake, granted a big one, but I'll never finish apologizing for it. My dad's the worst. He's so protective it's embarrassing. I didn't want you to have to suffer through it because he misunderstands our connection. You're not my boyfriend. You're not even a candidate."

Zing! Her words pierced me with a sharp bite of reality. Is that what Angela had meant? I wasn't a suitable candidate. Her dad was right to treat me with suspicion. I wasn't here because Anne had invited me. I was here because I had the hots for their daughter. I was here because I couldn't get her out of my mind and needed to figure out why, even if it meant enduring a family function, something I'd never done for another woman.

With almost anyone else, I might have thought all this was a ploy to get me to consider 'how good it would be if we were together. And yes, there had been some matchmaking efforts by our moms. But Grace wasn't looking at me with a coy smile or furtive glances. In fact, she looked embarrassed. This girl tried to shield me from an overzealous family. Despite my past treatment of her, she hadn't sold me out.

Huh. Was that what was different about her? I could count on one hand the number of people who'd put me before themselves and still have a couple of fingers left over.

"Be careful, Ms. Hart, or I might begin to think you like me," I teased, trying to shove aside the little warm fuzzies that blew through me like dandelion seeds, soft and gentle but determined to take root.

She snickered and bumped shoulders with me. I clenched my fingers not to reach out and pull her to me. "Well, let's not push it, but you're growing on me. Plus, your skills with a hammer might prove useful again in the future."

"Noted. Continue to impress you with my... pounding abilities. I have more talent where that comes from if you're ever interested." I teased her just to see if I could make her smile. For some reason, that felt important to me.

Blue eyes rolled, but a smile tugged at her rosy lips and lit up her beautiful face. Success!

"You're terrible," she said over her giggles.

"Never said I wasn't." I laughed along with her, wanting to internalize the warmth I felt with her, so I could recall it when those cold, dark shadows threatened to consume me at night.

"Grace? Jaxson? Are you coming?" Anne's voice came from inside the house. I was grateful for the interruption before I did something stupid like confessing how much she was growing on me as well.