Chapter Two
Jacey
“Hey, Jacey.” My sister-in-law Leah flopped down on the sofa behind me and nudged me with her foot. “Everything okay down here?”
“It sure is.” I leaned over, bending nearly in two as I buried my face in the soft rounded belly of my six-month old niece and blew raspberries there, making her squeal with infectious baby giggles. “Emma and I are having some quality bonding time. She’s telling me all about her evening with Nonna last night, having fun while we were at the wedding.”
“I’m so glad she behaved well for your mom. It was the first time we’ve left her for longer than a couple of hours, and I was a nervous wreck.”
“Of course, she was a good girl. She’s the smartest and the prettiest and the most advanced baby who ever was!” I scooped her up and nuzzled her neck before I glanced back at Leah. “Did you need me to do something?”
“Why, because entertaining my daughter so I could catch a nap isn’t enough?” Leah grinned. “Nah. Actually, I wanted to see if you were interested in going over to Samantha and Max’s house with me. They’re doing some kind of post-wedding gathering, eating leftovers and just hanging out while they open wedding gifts. Just close friends, Sam said. And she told me to bring the munchkin. I thought maybe you’d want to come with me.”
I considered before I answered, closing my eyes as I breathed deep of Emma’s scent. I’d avoided any questions the night before about where I’d vanished for over an hour during the wedding, mostly because my brother Kade and his lovely wife were so happy to be out for a rare night without the baby. They’d been too wrapped up in each other to notice that I’d gone AWOL. But going to a smaller get-together now could be awkward if Owen was going to be there, too.
I hadn’t had any real plan when I’d snagged that bottle of wine and followed the hot guy from the wedding party when he’d left the tent. The truth was that I’d been a little bored and restless; although I’d met the bride and groom—along with several other members of the wedding party and a couple of the guests—the weekend that my brother had married Leah, I didn’t know them well enough to be invested in their celebration. I’d enjoyed the dinner and all the traditions, but then, as everyone seemed to divide into couples when the dancing got underway, I’d felt suddenly alone in the crowded tent.
As my eyes had wandered over the party, they’d inevitably come to rest on the tall, dark-haired soldier who’d seemed particularly uncomfortable sitting at the head table. The closer the bridesmaid next to him had gotten, the more he’d shrunk away. And when the woman had stood up and moved away from the table—to visit the restroom, I assumed, from the direction she took—tall, dark and hunky hadn’t wasted any time in bolting in the opposite direction and leaving the tent.
I hadn’t even stopped to think. Leah and Kade were dancing, with eyes only for each other, and the only other people at my table were absorbed in conversation. They hadn’t even noticed when I’d escaped and taken the just-opened bottle of wine on the table with me.
As it had turned out, up close Owen Hughes was even more attractive than he’d been from a distance. And our chemistry had been incredible. I’d felt my pulse pick up and thrum the first time he touched my hand, accepting the bottle of wine I’d offered to share. When our playful conversation had taken a serious turn, I’d realized quickly that from what I could tell at that point, I really liked this guy. He was quirky and funny, easy to confide in and quick to reassure, not judge.
But it had been when he’d kissed me that I’d come completely unglued. Holy mama hot lips! It had been the best first kiss in the entire history of first kisses, I was positive. His hands on me, the words he’d murmured as he touched me and kissed me . . . the whole package had made me more than eager to jump his bones right then and there, wedding guests nearby notwithstanding. The cap on his package as a total winner of a dude had come when he’d let me know that he was just as eager and hot, but that out of respect for me—and for the plans he had for us at a later date—he was willing to step back and cool it, at least until we could have the time and space we needed.
Still, I wasn’t naïve. I’d given him my phone number, but there had remained deep inside me a small voice, warning me not to expect anything. After all, it could have been the ambience of the wedding, the fact that I’d followed him and shared my wine, or any number of other reasons that explained why we’d clicked last night. When he awoke in the harsh light of morning, it was more than possible that he’d forget he had my number.
But he hadn’t. In fact, he’d texted me that night, just as Leah, Kade and I were walking in the door of their house. My brother and his wife were more interested in talking to my mom and finding out how Emma had done while they were gone than in what I was looking at on my phone, so I’d had a few moments to bask.
This is Owen . . . the guy who you met tonight, the guy who can’t stop thinking about you.
If Kade and Leah had been paying attention to me, they might have been curious about the huge smile on my face or the deep sigh that I just couldn’t hold back. As it was, I was able to slip away to the guest bedroom I was currently sharing with my mother and enjoy a few minutes of giddiness before Mom came in to get ready for bed.
I’d responded to Owen’s text, and we’d gone back and forth a few times before I fell asleep. This morning, he’d sent me a message saying good morning and talking a little bit about how loud the barracks were in the morning. He hadn’t said anything about seeing me again, but maybe he didn’t want to push me too soon.
It was crazy how much I liked this guy already. I knew it didn’t make any sense, but we’d connected immediately on a level I’d never experienced before . . . which made me feel more than a little guilty that I hadn’t been completely forthcoming about who I was. Or more accurately, to whom I was related. Not telling Owen that Kade was my brother hadn’t actually been intentional, but when I’d realized he didn’t know who I was, the temptation to keep him in the dark was huge. After all, it had been a long time since I’d met anyone who didn’t already know me as Kade Braggs’ baby sister. Even in our hometown in California, I often was introduced to new people as “the Braggs boy’s sister.”
But I knew I had to come clean sooner rather than later. I didn’t want Owen to find out from someone else. Besides, keeping that kind of secret sounded like the plot of a ridiculously cheesy romance novel.
If I could help it, though, I wasn’t going to tell him over text, where tone and intent could be misinterpreted. Which brought me back to Leah’s question.
“Uh, who all is going to be there?” I shifted the baby onto my shoulder. “Just their friends? I don’t want to intrude.”
“You wouldn’t be.” Leah shook her head. “It won’t be that many people. Some of the guys, probably, and Sam’s friend Harper, if she’s off work today.” Tilting her head, she gave me a sunny smile. “Please? The truth is, Kade can’t come because he got called in to deal with one of the men in his company. I really don’t want to go by myself. I mean, I know all these people, and they’ve been so wonderful to me, but I’ve never gone to any social thing around here without him. And I asked your mom, but she said that she just wanted to stay home and veg today.”
Grinning, I patted Leah’s leg. “Something tells me you could more than hold your own, but I get it. I’ll go with you. Just let me get changed.”
Leah leaned down to give me a quick hug and then stole the baby from my arms. “Gimme my kid so you can get ready. You’re the absolute best sister in the whole wide world, you know that?”
An unfamiliar glow of gladness enveloped me. Leah wasn’t a particularly demonstrative person. She’d grown up in the foster care system, and before she and my brother had linked up, she had been used to being on her own. When we’d met, days before their wedding, when she was already hugely pregnant with Emma, I’d recognized that prickly armor for what it was: insecurity and fear. And in my typical Jacey way, I’d barreled through it, hugging on her and talking non-stop, not giving her any chance to hold me at arm’s length.
But I’d never been certain whether or not she really liked me until recently. Having Emma—and being loved by Kade, who was clearly and unashamedly besotted with his wife—had softened Leah, making her more open and vulnerable. I was thrilled at how frequent her hugs and affection were nowadays.
“Yeah, you’re all right, too.” I winked at her. “I’ll be all set in about ten minutes.”
* * *
Samantha and Max lived in a townhouse a few miles away from my brother’s home. When Leah and I pulled up, there were already several cars parked in the driveway and along the curb. I wondered if one of them belonged to Owen.
After Leah unbuckled Emma from the car seat, we made our way to the front door and rang the bell. Seconds later, the beautiful bride herself opened the door.
“Leah! I’m so glad you could make it. Oh, and you brought Jacey, too. Wonderful! Come on in.” She stood aside, and we stepped across the threshold into the foyer. From there, I could see into her living room, where people—mostly women—were seated on sofas, chairs and the floor, balancing on their laps paper plates of food and plastic cups of wine or bottles of beer.
“Max and I were just about to start opening gifts. Why don’t you grab some food and then find a seat in here with us? Everything’s set up in the kitchen. It’s totally casual, so help yourself to whatever’s there.”
Leah shifted Emma to her other hip. “Thanks. You’re sure you don’t need help with anything?”
Samantha waved her hand. “Not at all. This is all for fun, so we don’t want anyone stressed by set-up or clean-up. We’re going to send home whatever we don’t eat now with anyone who’ll take it, and the rest gets tossed. We leave tomorrow morning for Maui.” She grinned. “Honeymoon time. I can’t wait.”
My sister-in-law smiled. “Lucky you. I know you’re going to have a blast.”
As Sam turned to go back into the living room, I felt a twinge of sympathy for Leah. She and my brother had never had the luxury of a honeymoon; she’d been so pregnant when they got married that travel had been out of the question. And since Emma’s birth, both of them had been too busy learning to be parents and struggling through life on limited sleep to consider a trip. I suspected that at this point, for Kade and Leah the ideal honeymoon would be days to sleep as long as they wanted, whenever they wanted.
“Leah, why don’t you go find a place to sit down and get the princess settled? I’ll get food for both of us.”
“Thanks, Jacey.” As though she felt my empathetic vibes, Leah gave me a quick sideways hug. “That would be very helpful.”
In the kitchen, plastic catering containers covered just about every surface. A small bar was set up on the counter near the fridge, with a variety of wine bottles, liquor, soda and beer making up a motley crew of adult beverage options. Two guys were in there, too, both piling their paper plates high with food. I recognized both of them. Before I could decide the best way to play this situation, one of the soldiers spotted me.
“Hey, Jacey!” Jake Robinson greeted me, licking some kind of sauce off his thumb after it had dripped from his plate. “I thought I saw you last night. Kade says you’re in town for good now?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I watched as Owen, who’d been dishing up twice-baked potatoes, glanced over his shoulder and then did a double-take. His eyes flashed with pleased surprise at first, and then, as he took in Jake’s words, the pleasure faded into confusion.
“Uh, not sure. Maybe. Right now, I’m just taking everything day by day.” I pointed to Jake’s food. “That plate doesn’t look like it’s going to hold any more. You might want to take it in the other room to share with Harper before it ends up all over Samantha’s kitchen floor.”
Alarm flitted across the man’s face. “Yeah, you’re probably right. And I need to stay on Samantha’s good side, if I want to stay on my girl’s good side, too.” He snatched up a handful of napkins and moved toward the doorway that led into the living room. “I’ll catch up with you later on.”
“Sure.” I waited until he was out of sight before I pivoted to face Owen. “Hi. I know you’re probably a little confused right now. I want to apologize upfront about that, but if you’ll give me just a minute to explain—”
Owen rested his ass against the edge of the counter and crossed his arms over his broad chest. I couldn’t help noticing the way his thin white T-shirt stretched across those muscles. The word mouthwatering totally applied here.
“I’m listening.” His voice was neutral, but his face was stiff and expressionless. “I’d love to hear why you didn’t tell me your real name and why you lied about who you are.”
“And like I said, I want to explain. I was hoping to see you here today to do just that. But can you give me just a minute? I promised my sister-in-law that I’d bring her some food. She’s got her hands full with the baby.”
Owen’s eyes softened a little, and he nodded. “Yeah, sure. Here, let me give you a hand with it.” He pushed away from the counter and slid a plate from the stack next to him. “You get the cold salads, and I’ll heat up some chicken for her. It’s only lukewarm now.”
“Thanks.” We worked alongside each other in silence for a few moments, until Owen had carefully added the chicken croquette to the plate that held the rest of Leah’s food. He handed me a napkin along with a plastic fork and knife.
“I’ll be right back. Wait here, okay?” I hoped he wouldn’t run off, insulted by what he assumed were my lies or hurt that I hadn’t been straight with him.
“I’m not going anywhere.” He resumed his position, and with a forced smile, I hurried to find Leah sitting on a wide wing chair with a matching ottoman. On the floor by her feet, another woman with long dark red hair was holding Emma, playing peek-a-boo with my niece.
“Thanks so much, Jacey. You’re a lifesaver.” Leah accepted the plate from my hands and settled it onto her lap. “You remember Delia, don’t you? I think you met some time in the past week.”
“I’m sure we did,” I laughed. “I’ve been introduced to so many people, it’s hard to keep them all straight. Nice to see you again.” I flickered my eyes to my sister-in-law. “Do you need me to wrangle the princess while you eat?”
“No.” Leah shook her head. “As long as Dee doesn’t mind holding her, I think we’re all right. Go get yourself some food.”
“On my way.” I hesitated. “Uh, Leah, if I don’t come right back, don’t send a search party, okay? I sort of need to talk to someone, too, while I’m getting my grub.”
Curiosity flooded her face. “Talk to someone? Who do you know here besides me—and maybe Sam and Max, who seem to be a tad busy just now?”
“Can I explain later?” I whispered, feeling my face heat.
A wicked grin curved her lips. “Sure, you can. As long as you promise to do it in vivid detail. From the look on your face, this isn’t a job opportunity you need to discuss with someone.”
“You’re not wrong.” I gritted my teeth. “I’ll be back in a few. Let me know if you need me before then.”
She shrugged. “Go, do your thing. We’re good.”
Returning to the kitchen, I felt my stomach tense. I hoped I knew what I was doing here. And I hoped I could come up with a good way to explain why I’d gone incognito last night when I wasn’t even entirely sure I knew that myself.
Owen was still standing where I’d left him. His gaze tracked me as I came to a stop in front of him and took a deep breath. But he spoke before I could.
“Your name’s not Jacqueline, then.”
I tilted my head. “Actually, it is. Jacqueline Christine Braggs is on my birth certificate and my drivers’ license. But everyone’s called me Jacey my whole life, for my initials. So that wasn’t precisely a lie.”
“It wasn’t precisely the truth, either,” he retorted. “And why didn’t you say something about being Kade’s little sister?”
Wincing, I sighed. “For that exact reason. You just pigeonholed me as someone. Kade’s little sister. If I’d told you that your buddy Kade was my brother, what would you have done last night when I approached you?”
It was Owen’s turn to look uncomfortable. “I would have . . . I don’t know.” He ran a hand over his short hair. “I probably would’ve shared the wine with you, and I guess we would’ve talked, but if your point is that most likely I wouldn’t have kissed you, that’s accurate. Making out with my friend’s baby sister is a definite violation of the bro code, and I would’ve been seriously uncomfortable.”
I flipped over one hand, in a see what I’m saying? gesture, but Owen only scowled at me. “But you didn’t give me the choice, did you? Maybe you can make a case for the fact that you didn’t outright lie to me, but you damn well didn’t tell me the truth, either. You talked about friends you were staying with, not family.” Closing his eyes, he shook his head. “Fuck. How the hell am I going to look Kade in the face now? He’s not here today, is he?”
I rolled my eyes. “No, he’s not here. And you’re acting like we live in some bizarro society, where I’m my brother’s property or under his guardianship or something. I’m not. I’m my own person, no matter what anyone else might think, and I’m old enough to know my own mind and make my own decisions. You didn’t deflower me or anything like that, Owen. So we kissed and made out a little in the dark. You don’t need to feel guilty around Kade. He has nothing to do with what happened between us.” Tears of frustration were beginning to sting behind my eyelids, which only made me angrier. I hated this tendency of mine to cry when I was super pissed or annoyed. I never wanted to be that girl, the one who used a weepy face to manipulate a guy.
“You just don’t get it,” Owen insisted. “You’re not a dude, and you can’t understand this. I know that you don’t belong to him or any shit like that, but it’s still not how we do things. If I had a sister, I don’t think I’d want her dating one of my friends. It would feel weird.”
“Fine.” I threw up my hands. “Then just forget about it, Owen. Chalk last night up to a mistake made under the influence of a decent bottle of pinot noir, and don’t think about it again. I’ll pretend I don’t know you, you can pretend you never met me, and we’ll just go on with life being vague acquaintances.” Turning my back, I pressed the heels of my hands to my eye sockets, willing the threatening tears to retreat.
“Hey.” Owen’s big hand fell on my shoulder, and with gentle pressure he urged me back to face him. “Please don’t cry.”
“I’m not.” I spoke through a clenched jaw. “I’m not heartbroken, I’m just fucking pissed at you.”
He sighed. “We really can’t have this conversation right here. I really don’t feel like explaining anything to anyone who walks in. Come here.” He gestured for me to follow him out the kitchen door and onto a small deck at the back of the townhouse.
Dim late afternoon sunlight dappled the wooden floorboards and rails. There were two wicker chairs at a small, round table, next to a cozy glider that looked perfectly suited for two people. I avoided it and dropped into one of the chairs to collect myself.
“I’m not really mad at you. I guess I’m more mad at myself.” I drew my knees up and wrapped my arms around them, staring across the back lawn. “I knew I should’ve been totally straight with you last night, but you have no idea what it’s like to grow up as Kade Bragg’s little sister. It’s all I’ve ever been, for my whole life. Even after he left to go to college and then to be in the Army, everyone looked at me as the sister of the guy who’s serving our country. I knew coming out here to stay with Leah and Kade would mean more of the same, but dang it, despite everything, I love that doofus brother of mine. I figured I was old enough to be my own person, finally. And last night, when you didn’t know me, it was so perfect. You didn’t look at me as the less-successful Braggs kid. You saw me.” I paused. “Or at least it felt like you did.”
Owen had parked himself on the glider and sat leaning forward, his elbows digging into his knees. “Of course, I did. Or . . .” He frowned. “I saw the person you wanted me to see, I guess. But since you didn’t give me all the information, right now I’m feeling a little . . . deceived.”
“Everything I told you last night was the truth.” I counted off on my fingers. “My name really is Jacqueline. I did move out here from California to stay with friends, but they just happen to be related to me, too. I’m between careers. I was a makeup artist on the West Coast, but I didn’t love it. My clients tended to be women who were searching for a boring kind of perfection, instead of a more interesting individual look. Kade called me a few weeks ago and asked if I’d consider coming to stay with them for a little while, because Leah has two more classes to take before she can finish her law degree. She’d been putting them off because of the baby, but Kade wants her to have those credits under her belt before they have to move to another duty station. I said yes, because honestly, I just wanted to start somewhere fresh.”
“I knew that.” Owen fidgeted a little. “Kade told me his sister was coming to stay with them, but I never gave it enough thought to put two and two together.”
“Well, I guess it doesn’t matter now.” I sucked in a deep breath. “I won’t say anything to Kade or Leah. You don’t need to mention this to my brother, either. It was a fluke. We were at a wedding, we’re both single, and we succumbed to the romance of the evening. It’s done now.”
Owen stared at me, and something in the intensity of his gaze made my insides go liquid. “But what if I don’t want it to be done?”
I blinked. “What’re you saying? Aren’t you the guy who just ranted and raved about bro codes and betraying a trust and me being your friend’s little sister?”
“Yeah, and all that’s still true. But I’ve got to be honest, too. Jacque—Jacey, I couldn’t stop thinking about you after last night. I was going to text you after I left Max’s today and see if you’d go out for coffee with me. Or a late dinner, or really, anything. I just wanted to see you again and make sure you really were as amazing as I remembered from last night.”
“What the hell am I supposed to do with that?” I stood up from the chair and stalked to the end of the deck. “Are you trying to make me feel even more guilty about misleading you? Or more miserable, thinking that maybe we really could’ve had something if only I hadn’t had the bad luck to be your bud’s sister? Mission accomplished, Owen. Because I was thinking all of those things, too. I couldn’t stop smiling after I got your text last night. I knew I had to tell you the whole truth, because I knew that I wanted more than just a one-night fling with you. At first last night, when I followed you out of the reception, that’s all I was looking for—like we both said, a little fun. But then you kissed me, and for some reason, it felt like everything changed.”
“Because it did.” Owen reached for my hand as I paced in front of him. “I felt it, too. I couldn’t wait to explore that with you. To see if maybe . . . I don’t know. Maybe I’d found someone who could be more with me. Then I saw you come into the kitchen just now, and it was like fate had given me a little reward, that you were here, too. I didn’t have to come up with an excuse to see you again. But when I heard what Jake said, I knew right away who you were. I remembered what Kade had told us. And I guess it stung, the idea that what I’d been so excited about might be off-limits to me.”
“It’s just stupid,” I muttered, trying to ignore how his fingers felt curling around my forearm. I was struggling to resist the urge to sink down into his lap.
“Yeah, maybe it is. And maybe we’re getting bent out of shape over nothing. I mean, maybe you’re right. It could’ve been circumstantial last night. The wedding, the setting, the wine . . . all very romantic. It’s possible that here, in the cold light of day, we’d find out we really don’t have that spark.”
I swallowed hard over the lump rising in my throat. “Maybe.”
“But we really should find out. It would be irresponsible of us not to test this theory.” With just the slightest tug, Owen had me tumbling down to land across his knees. “If we don’t, the possibilities could end up torturing both of us needlessly.”
“I don’t like torture,” I whispered, unable to look away from the heat in his eyes.
“I only like it when I know it’s going to eventually lead to something good.” He brushed a kiss over my cheek. “You know . . . like if I were to suck your tits for a really long time, it would kind of be torture to both of us, but then when I slid my dick into you, all that torture would be worthwhile.”
“Um.” My mouth had gone so dry that I couldn’t form words.
“Jacey . . .” He nibbled down my neck. “Can I kiss you so we can find out once and for all?”
My tongue darted out to run over my lips, and slowly I nodded. “Please.”
Last night, his kiss had been soft and inviting at first. Today, it wasn’t that way. Today, his lips demanded more of me, seeking parts of me I never shared. They forced mine open, and his tongue swept over me, exploring and daring. I answered him with a soft moan, meeting each thrust and touch. His hands, which had been loose on my hips, traveled to cage my ribs, his thumbs just barely teasing the underside of my boobs.
God, I wanted him to touch me everywhere. The fire that he’d kindled inside me last night roared back to life, and all I could think were single syllable words: More. Hard. Now.
I could feel his stiff erection under my ass, and I wanted to wriggle down to my knees on this hard porch, settle myself between his legs and take what felt like a cock of promising proportions into my mouth. I wanted to hear him groan my name, feel his fingers in my hair as he guided my head up and down—
“Jacey.” Owen murmured my name against my lips. “Honey, I think we have our answer.”
“Hmmmm?” I was too lost in pleasure to follow what he was saying.
“The spark. It’s still here, and if anything, it’s bigger and hotter.”
I ground my ass down on his dick, where it was outlined under his jeans. “Bigger and hotter were the exact words I was thinking.”
“Yeah.” He closed his eyes and hissed in a breath. “So . . . what do we do about this?”
“I have some really good ideas that involve us, a room with a locked door and nudity. Lots and lots of nudity.” I nuzzled his neck, pressing light kisses to his jaw, enjoying the feel of his scruffy day-off beard against my lips.
“I’m on the same page, but I was thinking more of the Kade issue.”
And just like that, my bubble popped. My brother’s name turned out to be the perfect bucket of cold water tossed into my happy place.
“Ugh. You had to bring him up, didn’t you?” I dropped my forehead to his shoulder. “Here’s a hint for the future: when you’ve got a girl all hot and bothered on your lap, saying her brother’s name isn’t exactly sexy talk.”
Owen chuckled, but I didn’t miss the underlying strain. “I get that. And if all I wanted from you was a quick tumble that we could swear Kade could never know about, that we’d agree to keep it a secret, I’d be dragging you to the nearest no-tell motel. But the thing is, Jacey, I’m not sure that’s what I want.” He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. “We don’t know each other really well yet, but I’d like to change that. I want to take you to dinner and find out what you like to eat. I want to talk about the movies and books we both like or hate. I want to hear about your plans for the future, about where you see your life going, and tell you the same about my plans.”
Warmth filled me. I’d been afraid to even think about these things, but what Owen said was exactly what I wanted, too. “I’d like that. I mean, I want to bounce on you naked, too, but the getting to know each other outside the bouncing . . . it’s what I want.”
“But how can I tell your brother that I want to date his little sister? And if I don’t tell him, how can I face him knowing that I’m lying to one of my best friends?”
I drew in a deep breath, considering. “It’s not really lying, unless Kade comes up to you and asks directly. In that case, you’d have to be truthful. No question. But you know, maybe it’s like the spark.”
When Owen frowned, I rushed to explain. “Hear me out. It’s like just now, when we had to test to see if we really did feel the same today as we did last night. What if we make a big deal about telling my brother, and then we go on a date and figure out that we have nothing in common? It would be a lot of fuss and upset over nothing.”
“Ah.” He nodded. “I see what you’re saying. You might have a point. We could go out and see how it works before we say anything to Kade.” Owen held up one finger. “But if we decide that we’re going to keep seeing each other, we have to face the music and tell him. I’m not going to hide from my friend, and I’m not going to put you in the position of lying to your brother.”
“Deal.” I stuck out my hand to shake on it, but Owen grinned and pulled me closer.
“An agreement like this needs more than a handshake.” He wrapped his arms around me and covered my lips in another all-consuming kiss.
I’d just twined my arms around his neck and opened my mouth to him when I heard a voice behind us.
“Oh, my God. No. Just no. Oh, my eyes . . . they burn. I’m not really seeing this, right? This is a hallucination, right? Brought on by something I drank last night?”
We jerked apart, and I twisted to see Jake standing just outside the door to the kitchen, one hand covering his eyes and the other extended toward us, as though he was blocking us from his view. I slid off Owen’s lap, landing with a bump and a bounce on the webbed seat of the glider.
“Dude, you scared the shit out of me.” Owen ran his hand over his face, exhaling long. With his other hand, he reached for me. “You okay, Jacey?”
“I scared you?” Jake was almost yelling, and I wanted to tell him to keep it down, but I was afraid that would only make him louder. “I’m the innocent party here, Owen. I wandered out here onto the deck, blissfully ignorant, looking for Jacey because Leah was wondering where she’d gone. And what do I get an eyeful of? This. The two of you . . . groping each other. Making out. Lip-locked.”
“Jake, buddy, no offense, but I happen to know that you’re not exactly a virgin. Those eyes of yours have seen much worse than two people kissing.” Owen threaded his fingers through mine and squeezed.
“Maybe so, but I didn’t expect to find one of my friends hooking up with our other friend’s baby sister.” Jake pointed at Owen. “When did this happen, and why didn’t you tell me?” He shifted his accusing finger my way. “And you. You just got to town, what? A week ago? And already you’re bumping uglies with this guy?”
“Jake, calm down, please.” Owen sighed. “Seriously. You’re making a much bigger deal of this than it is. I met Jacey last night at the wedding. We talked a little bit, and we liked each other. Neither of us knew the other was going to be here today, but we took advantage of the chance to talk a little more.”
“I’m not an idiot, Hughes. What was happening here when I walked out wasn’t exactly talking. You might have been using your mouths, but not for idle chit-chat.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m assuming Kade and Leah don’t know what’s going on.”
“We don’t know what’s going on. Not yet.” Owen braced his feet against the floor of the deck. “We’re exploring possibilities, Jake. We’re getting to know each other. There’s nothing to tell Kade yet. So we’d both appreciate it if you’d keep this to yourself for now.”
“Dude, listen to me. I know what it’s like to keep a big secret from your friends. I’ve been there, remember? When Harper and I hooked up, and then we realized that we had Max and Sam as friends in common, hiding what we were doing together was tough. And we weren’t even really dating then, we were just messing around together.”
“I remember.” Owen slung an arm around my shoulder. “I was there when you first met her, and I was there when Max figured it out. But there was a reason you two didn’t announce your . . . whatever you called what you were doing. You didn’t tell us, and Harper didn’t tell Sam. Tell me again why you didn’t do that?”
Jake shrugged. “Because we knew everyone would make a big deal out of something that wasn’t. It was important that it was just between us.”
Owen cocked his head and raised his eyebrows.
“Okay, okay. I get it.” Jake put his hands on his hips. “I understand what you’re saying. But this is different. Harper is Samantha’s friend, not Max’s sister. You know the code, bro. Sisters are off-limits.”
“That’s fucked up.” Owen stood up and faced his friend. “I mean, when you stop and think about . . . if you had a sister, wouldn’t you prefer it if she were dating one of your friends, one of the guys you trusted to actually treat her right and be a stand-up man instead of some stranger who might break her heart . . . or worse?”
Jake’s brows knit together. “Hard for me to say, because I only have brothers. But I think I see your point. Only you have to consider it from Kade’s point of view, too. He’s seen you pick up girls and have fun with them. We were all each other’s wingmen there for a long time. It would be kind of weird to think that what he knows you did with other chicks, you’re now doing to his sister.” He wrinkled his nose. “If I had a sister, I wouldn’t want to think about anyone doing the nasty with her, let alone one of my best buds.”
Owen started to respond, but I cut in. “Hey—sorry, but remember me? The sister here? The potential . . .” I’d been about to say girlfriend, but maybe that was jumping the gun. “Uh, the other involved party? Might I have a say in this?”
Jake scowled at me. “No, actually, you don’t. Little sisters don’t get a choice. They do what their brothers—and their brothers’ wise friends—tell them to do.”
“Ha! If I hadn’t known you were sister-less, I’d know it now. Little sisters rarely do what their bossy big brothers say. And just for your information, I’m a grown woman who makes her own decisions. I don’t need the approval of my brother or anyone else—including his nosey friends—to tell me what to do. If I want to go on a wild sex spree with Owen, that’s what I’m going to do. And not one person is going to tell me different.”
Both of the men grimaced. “Listen, Jacey, whatever you do, please don’t use the words ‘wild sex spree’ when you’re talking to Kade about me, okay?” Owen sank down next to me again, hunching forward, his hands hanging between his knees. “You’re right. What you do is your own decision and your own business—and if it involves me, it’s between us, not anyone else. But Jake’s got a point, too. Out of respect for Kade and my friendship with him, I need to be honest and come clean. Even if we just end up going to dinner one night and finding out that we only want to be friends, we can’t keep that from your brother. It’s not cool.”
Jake nodded vigorously. “Exactly. And when you tell him, I want to be there. I can’t wait to see the look on his face when you tell him that you’re banging his little sis.”
“I’m not banging Jacey. We haven’t done anything but talk and . . . make out a little.”
“Whoa.” I made a T with my hands. “Time out. Again, I have to remind the two of you that this is between Kade and Owen and me. Kade’s my brother, so I’m going to be the one to tell him that Owen and I are going out.” I turned on the seat of the glider, facing Owen. “If you want to talk to him after that, fine. But this isn’t the Dark Ages, I’m not anyone’s chattel, and I can speak for myself just fine, thanks.”
Jake had the grace to look faintly abashed, but Owen only smiled at me, admiration and maybe something else in his gaze. “Damn. Okay, woman, your roar is clearly heard and acknowledged. Do you want us to talk to him together?”
My stomach clenched a little. It was easy to spout off about facing Kade in theory, but the reality did make me the tiniest bit nervous. “No. It’ll be better if I’m on my own.” I paused, considering. “Or maybe I’ll get Leah on my side first. She’ll understand, and I think she’ll see things my way.”
“Okay, then.” Jake glanced from Owen to me. “As long as you both are going to handle this the right way, I guess my work here is done.”
“Just what kind of work have you been up to?” A feminine voice, filled with amusement, floated out to us as Harper stepped onto the deck, shutting the door behind her. “I thought we were meeting out here for old time’s sake, babe. I didn’t realize it was a group thing. Kinky.” She waggled her eyebrows in my direction before she took in Owen next to me. Realization dawned on her face.
“I was just advising our friends here that keeping secrets from the rest of us isn’t cool. Right?” Jake looked at his girlfriend expectantly, clearly thinking that she would back him up.
“Oooooh, that’s a tough one.” Harper’s mouth curled a little, and I caught a wicked gleam in her eye. “I mean, remember when we were sneaking around, hiding all the sexy times from the others? That was hot. I think it amped up the passion every time we went to bed together. Or when we were in my kitchen, or when—”
“You’re not helping,” Jake interrupted. “Not at all. And that was different, because at first, we were a no-strings attached couple. Once we had the strings, we let everyone in on the secret.” He slid his arm around Harper’s waist and snugged her up against him. “And it’s much better this way. Much less stressful.”
“I guess, if you say so.” Harper winked at me around Jake’s back, but I didn’t miss the way her hand gripped the shirt at his waist. “Although, Jacey, if you decide to keep things under wraps, I can promise that both Jake and I will keep our mouths shut. Right, sweetie?”
“No way. I can’t—” Jake began before he caught sight of his girlfriend’s pointed glare. “Oh. Yeah, I guess it’s up to you two.”
“Also, if you need a place that’s private but also a little risky, a little out in the open, there’s this nook—”
“I think we’ve given them enough advice.” Jake’s face went slightly red as he gripped Harper’s arm and turned his back. “Let’s go inside.” He shot me a pointed stare over his shoulder. “Leah’s looking for you, Jacey.”
“Okay, I’m right behind you.” I pushed against the seat to stand up, hesitating before I followed Jake and Harper inside. “Listen, Owen, if you’re thinking I’m not worth the trouble that I might cause between you and my brother, tell me now. I won’t lie and say I wouldn’t be disappointed, but I’d understand. You probably would’ve given me the brush-off last night if you’d have known that I’m Kade’s sister.”
He rose to stand next to me, tipping my chin up so that he could touch his lips to mine. “I wish I could say that I’d have been that strong, but I don’t think I could have done it. That spark?” He cupped my cheek with his huge hand, rubbing his thumb over my skin. “It’s pretty irresistible, Jacey. And so are you. Yeah, we might have to survive a few bumps in the road, but I’m thinking you’re worth it. More than worth it, in fact.” He lowered his mouth to kiss me again. “Call me after you talk to Kade, and we’ll make plans for a date this week.”
“And if Kade freaks out?” I tried to keep the trepidation out of my voice.
Owen smirked. “Then call to warn me that he’s heading my way so I have time to get ready for that fight.”
I gulped over the lump in my throat and attempted a laugh. “Will do. I just hope you can run faster than my brother can.”