Chapter Eleven
Bella
I walk into the house behind my sister and drop the armloads of flowers I’m carrying so they scatter all over the floor.
“Scher and I are getting married,” Stick is saying.
Scherri, ahead of me, sets the box of ribbons and glass jars she was carrying carefully on the counter in the kitchen then snuggles under Stick’s huge arm.
“Tomorrow actually,” she says. “You arrived just in time and we’re so happy, aren’t we baby?”
“Yeah, absolutely dude,” Stick says.
The man on the floor playing with an enraptured Pebble is gazing right through the two lovebirds nestled into each other, staring straight at me. If I could tear my eyes away from his, I’d note six very satisfied little faces lined up behind him. Jacket seated on the ground is almost as tall as most of the aunties standing.
What the hell is he doing here in my parent's house? Stick’s house really – that’s how Scherri and I still think of it, knowing him living here since we were kids. Before our mother ever got together with Mr GreenGross, Stickie’s dad.
The gorgeous, confident hunk is sitting on the floor, filling the available space. His long legs all tangled up with hyperactive dog paws. And he’s looking at me as though both amazed and delighted and stunned and more than slightly aroused.
“Come in, Bella,” Dottie calls out.
“Yes, come and meet Jacket,” Scherri turns to say.
Then she notes the mess of flowers at my feet, all strewn around, their blooms tangled in stalks. I’m standing there rigid as a corpse and unable to unfreeze. Every limb feels like I’m a zombie not yet quite finding the will to shift into unsteady movement. Jacket’s gaze does that to me, I’m forever held motionless until he releases me. Which he seems unwilling or unable to do.
We’re both gob-smacked at seeing each other here. But Jacket, beaming out his glittering smile and petting a frisky dog has me at a disadvantage. All I have are breasts swelling so my bra seems three sizes too small and embarrassingly rock hard nipples
Jacket follows Scherri’s dismayed gaze then leaps up from the floor. He’s beside me and down on his knees again before Scherri has uncoupled from Stick’s solid arm around her shoulders. As one unit, the aunties move across the room to stand around Stick. He towers up from the middle of his swarm of followers and they all gaze at Jacket, on his knees in front of me – again – carefully picking up each one of Scherri’s wedding flowers.
“Isn’t it romantic?” Matilda says.
“Babe, aren’t you going to introduce them?” Scherri whispers, tipping her face up to a stunned Stick.
She turns back to look at me with an inquiring demand I can’t face. My knees are suddenly jello for too many reasons and I sink down, coming knee to knee and face to face with the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. Who also just happened to ram his tongue inside my pussy last night.
Now shaven with his hair clean and brushed back so the length is behind his ears and curling at he nape of his neck, he looks incredible. And I am a complete idiot for running out on him last night.
“Jacket, this is Scherri’s sister, Bella,” Stick says, with an undue emphasis on the word sister, like that’s my only claim to be here. “He was in my unit.”
But the aunties are all chattering at once over top of him.
“Yes but now he’s a special ops.” Matilda announces.
“I thought he was a spy in Europe,” Giselle objects.
“It’s so wonderful that you made it back in time after all.”
“Yes, how long has it been since you saw each other.”
“It’s been months, she already told us that. You never listen Amelia. Mother always said that.”
“You two know each other?” Scherri asks, frowning.
“Of course they know each other,” Dottie tells her
“Their reunion is fragile, not the moment for joking, Darling,” Matilda admonishes her, probably the only auntie that can hear my sister’s confused low voice. “He’s come all this way to escort his fiancee to your wedding.”
I wince so hard the whole household must have witnessed it.
“Shush, Amelia.”
“You shush.”
Jacket on the other hand doesn’t flinch or ever flicker an eyelid. He continues gazing at me with the same kind of awe I’m seeing from the aunties looking at him in admiration. Or any other woman he passes, for that matter.
“We aren’t supposed to say anything,” Gracie hisses.
“Say what?” Scherri asks, “You’re engaged, Bella?”
Her face is even more gobsmacked than mine and with a look of betrayed annoyance clouding it. “To Jacket?”
Now what?
I’m uncovered, as lies always are sooner or later.
The aunties are bickering with each other over who said what and shouldn't have, going back decades in their stored memories. I’m glad that my humiliation isn’t going to be witnessed by them as I own up to my lie. But Jacket’s gaze is – wow seriously? – it’s nothing less than adoration smothering his face. Well, that’s about to be wiped away, when I own up.
“Bella?” Scherri demands.
“Yeah, she is,” Jacket announces, his smile spreading wide.
I have to remember to force my jaw closed so it doesn't drop to the floor with the flowers. Except he’s picked them all up now and is cradling them gently in his big arms. He shifts them into mine as gently as though he’s handing over a newborn, then he takes hold of my hand.
Just like last night, he powers his thighs like a pro to lift himself, and me in his palm, to standing. Then he wraps me under his wing, tugging me into his side like I’m seeking the protection of a God and together we face my incredulous family.
“You never said a word about this,” Scherri murmurs, her eyes searching mine, then turning to seek some answer from Stick.
Is she blanking Jacket?
Her eyes go skittering across him like she can’t look at him now.
Or am I imagining that?
“She didn’t want to steal any of the limelight off your day,” Dottie says, fortunately filling in the gaping hole of silence as I’m still too stunned to utter a word.
My lips are Novocained into silence, refusing to form so much as a gasp.
“And we won’t do that, will we Babe?” Jacket says. “We’re here to celebrate friends and family.”
I nod dumbly, clinging to the flowers like a life-raft and crushed against his solid curve of muscle. His heavy arm like a steel band around my shoulders, I've never felt tinier. I feel as birdlike as one of the weeny aunties. I just hope I can maintain as vivid a personality as each of those life-embracing firecrackers.
“Where’s your luggage?” Scherri suddenly blurts out.
She hasn't congratulated me at all. In fact her eyes barely manage to contain a hint of fury. I’m surprised at her. Because she isn't usually a spotlight hugger and would normally be jumping up and down with glee for me. Perhaps she’s mad that I didn't tell her. I didn't know myself until three minutes ago.
“You know me,” Jacket tells her. “Playing his part for the aunties brilliantly, like she really does know him. “I travel light. My duffel is out on the bike.”
“Ooh, you ride a Harley?” Dottie squeals, peering through the window at the machine at the curb. “Will you take me for a spin?”
“I’d love nothing more,” he says, looking down at me and squeezing me harder into him.
“Me too,” Amelia pleads.
“And me.”
“I asked first.”
The aunties are off again and as Dottie walks into the kitchen talking about lemonade, they all follow her, bickering like sextuplet children. Jacket appears to be in his element, only the three of us left in the living room with him are still gaping in stunned silence.
“Where are you staying?” Scherri asks him, but pointedly looking at me.
“He’s staying here obviously,” Gracie interrupts, reentering the room and removing the flowers from my grip. “These old blooms could do with a drink and so could she.”
She twitches her head in my direction and twinkles up at Jacket.
“Mom will have a bird,” Scherri says. I guess because she was never allowed to sleep in the same room with Stick.
“Nonsense. We all have to move with the times, not stay stuck in the zone. Isn’t that what you say?”
Gracie directs her question at Jacket. Like he’s some magus with the answers to everything.
“Definitely.” He grins. “If Bella wants me here of course I’ll stay.”
“Wants you? She’s been pining away since she got here, haven't’ you darling girl?”
Damn. Thanks for outing me Gracie.
“Is that right Baby?”
Jacket squeezes me even tighter under his arm so my free hand reaches up to rest on the swell of his chest before he crushes me right through his skin. Holy cow I have never felt anything so firm and vigorously pulsing with energy.
“Did you miss me last night?” he grins.
I nod weakly, too inanimate a mollusk to so much as move my lips. Until that is, they spark into life when Jacket tips down and plants the most amazing forceful kiss on them. I almost suction him into my mouth, unwilling as he is to release our connection even though everyone is staring. Sparkles of electricity fly through my tummy straight down to my thighs and a pulsation picks up between them.
He breaks the kiss with the biggest smile yet, Giselle is dancing around on her toes and clapping. And I realize I’m so soaking wet, my panties need wringing.