Taming My Whiskey

by Melissa Foster

  “Mia’s first name is Jocelyn. Mia is her middle name. She rebelled in sixth grade, refusing to be called Jocelyn. She’s been Mia ever since.” Jennifer nudged Dixie and said, “Let’s get back to your badass biker brothers. Are they single?”

  “Christ, Jen,” Jace said. “They’re all taken, and the last thing you need is a biker.”

  Jayla’s eyes widened, and she said, “Careful, Jace. You’re going to ruin your chances with Dixie.”

  “Oh, I know just what your brother is like.” Dixie met Jace’s annoyed gaze, and sparks burned right through the annoyance. She quickly shifted her focus to Jayla opening the gift Jace had brought.

  Jayla opened the box and held up a tiny black leather jacket. There was a collective “aw” from Dixie and his sisters.

  “This is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen! Thank you, Jace!” Jayla set the box down on the coffee table and Mia snagged the jacket from Jayla’s hand.

  “Look!” Mia turned the jacket around, showing them the Silver-Stone logo on the back, and they all laughed.

  While his sisters gushed over the jacket, Dixie silently swooned over the joy in Jace’s eyes as he ate up his sisters’ happiness.

  “The little dude needs to be kept in style,” Jace said casually. “Where is my little buddy?”

  “Rush is upstairs changing Thane. They’ll be right down. Can I get you drinks?” Jayla asked. “I made sangria.”

  As if on cue, a tall, handsome man with short brown hair and bright blue eyes descended the steps with a baby in his arms and said, “Sounds good to me. If you wait a sec, I’ll help you, Jay.”

  “Good to see you, man.” Jace pulled his brother-in-law into a manly one-arm embrace, careful not to squish the baby. “Rush, this is Dixie Whiskey, the new face of Silver-Stone.”

  It was weird to hear herself described that way. Was that how Jace saw her now? As the face of his company above all else? Maybe he was holding back because they were working together. That made her even more nervous about them and the photo shoot.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” Rush said. “It’s easy to see why Jace is so stoked about you doing the calendar.”

  “Thank you. I’m not a model or anything; it’s still a little nerve-racking,” she confessed.

  “Jay and I have both done loads of advertisements and commercials for sponsors,” Rush said. “Want my best advice?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Rush cocked a grin and said, “Tell yourself you’re a teenager again, showing off for your biggest crush. It’s amazing what happens when you allow yourself to revert to feeling invincible in the way you did before you were forced to grow up and realize you’re only human after all. Jay and I both found that if we mentally put ourselves back to that stage of our lives, we could pull off anything. Hell, I still use that tactic when I’m nervous.”

  “It really works,” Jayla said. “Of course, Rush was my teenage crush.”

  Rush said, “And Jay was mine.”

  Dixie glanced at Jace, and a wave of memories hit her. At eighteen she’d strutted around Jace, taunting him with her nubile body, believing with her whole heart that she could have him. She remembered how he’d described what she did to him back then, and a burst of invincibility hit her. Damn, Rush is right.

  “Thanks. I’ll definitely try that.” Dixie looked at the precious bundle in his arms and her heart melted. “Oh my goodness, look at this little guy.” She reached out to tickle the baby’s foot and said, “Hi, Thane. You are just the cutest little thing.”

  “Relinquish the little dude,” Jace said as he took the baby from Rush’s arms and cuddled Thane against his chest. He brushed his nose over the baby’s forehead, and a soft smile lifted Jace’s lips.

  “He’s such a baby hog,” Jennifer teased.

  “Who would have guessed?” Dixie’s insides turned to mush at the sight of him loving up the baby, pushing her worries about why Jace was holding back out of her mind. Seeing him with that tiny baby brought all sorts of strange new warm and fuzzy emotions.

  Jace lifted his eyes to hers, and the electricity that had been buzzing between them morphed to something softer, deeper. Oh boy. This side of him might be even more potent than the animalistic side she knew he was keeping tethered.

  “Do you have kids?” Jayla asked, snapping her from her reverie.

  “No, but I have lots of nieces and nephews. I love babies.” She put out her finger, and the baby wrapped his little hand around it.

  Jayla sidled up to Jace and said, “You hear that, Jace? Dixie loves babies.”

  “Good Lord, Jay, don’t push her in that direction.” Jennifer shook her head. “Trust me, Dixie, you don’t want to go there with Jace. I’ve been with guys like him. It’s work first, second, and third. He’s also the hardest man to get in touch with, and when you do, he’s all wrapped up in his own head. That’ll never change.”

  “Hey,” Jace warned.

  Mia scowled at Jennifer. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Jace would be a great father. He was always there for us.”

  “He even changes diapers,” Jayla said. “He’s a great babysitter. When he has time, I mean. Of course he’s a busy guy. He runs a huge, successful company.”

  Dixie felt like she was listening to a debate about the pros and cons of Jace Stone. Not that she needed to hear it when she had her own list.

  “I’m not saying he’s a bad guy,” Jennifer explained. “I mean, he does have that scholarship program for underprivileged kids, and he’s a great brother.”

  “He’s right here,” Jace said.

  “Scholarship program?” Dixie asked.

  “It’s nothing,” Jace snapped.

  “He’s so modest. As soon as Jace was in a position where he could do it, he started a scholarship program for underprivileged kids who want to study engineering,” Mia explained. “He also awards internships and he started a mentoring program within Silver-Stone that he takes part in.” She glared at Jennifer and said, “As I said, he’s a great brother, and he’d make a great father. Just ignore Jennifer’s comments.”

  “What are you talking about?” Jennifer shot a look at Jace and said, “You have always said you were married to your business, am I right?” She didn’t give Jace time to answer, and his annoyed expression gave nothing away. “I’m just warning Dixie not to get her hopes up because you’re charming when you try to be. You know you’re not going to settle down and become a baby daddy any time soon.”

  Holy cow. What did they think was going on between her and Jace? She was as blown away by that as she was at learning about the programs he’d set up.

  “How do you know he’s not? Priorities change,” Mia snapped. Then, softer, she said, “Although you are getting old, Jace. If you want kids, you should probably get on the stick. You’ve already blown the life plan I had for you.”

  Jace glowered at her.

  “Whoa.” Dixie waved her hands. “Jace and I aren’t dating. We’re just doing this calendar together.”

  His sisters exchanged a confused look.

  “Oh,” Jayla said. “I’m sorry. The way you two were looking at each other just now…”

  “Enough,” Jace demanded, turning a displeased stare on his sisters. “Aren’t we here for dinner?”

  Rush chuckled and said, “It’s times like these that make me glad I have only one sister. We should get dinner on the table before Dixie bolts or Jace loses his cool.”

  “I’ve got three older brothers who harass me all the time,” Dixie said. “It’s nice to experience what it’s like when the tables are turned. Although I could use some of that sangria you mentioned.”

  “Make it tequila,” Jace said, giving her another dark look.

  “Yes!” Jayla bounced on her toes and then she grabbed Mia’s arm, pulling her toward the kitchen as she lowered her voice to say, “I love her! We’ll get them drunk and learn all their secrets.”

  “You have to excuse Jayla,” Jennifer said. “Ever sin
ce birthing that adorable spawn, she’s been on a mission to marry us all off. I’ll go keep them in line.”

  “And I’ll keep her in line.” Rush followed Jennifer into the kitchen.

  “I HAVE A feeling it’s going to be a long night,” Jace said, although he’d known it was going to be a long night when Dixie had come downstairs from her bedroom wearing a black leather miniskirt, skintight knit tank top, and spike-heeled knee-high boots.

  “I love your sisters. I wonder how different my life would have been if I’d had sisters.” Dixie brushed her hand over Thane’s forehead with a tender gaze and said, “Do you think they’d mind if I held him for a minute?”

  “Of course not.” Jace handed her the baby, and his heart squeezed as she nuzzled against Thane’s cheek.

  “I love the way babies smell,” she said softly. Then she looked at Jace and said, “What did Mia mean when she said you blew her life plan?”

  Jace glanced into the kitchen, catching his sisters watching them like hawks. The girls startled, turning and bumping into each other. Jace chuckled, glad they liked Dixie, though he’d known they would. “Mia’s a big-time planner. She’s had all of our lives planned since she was a teenager. I think Jennifer and I both blew her plans, although Jayla and Rush turned out just like she’d anticipated. They’ve been best friends since they were kids.”

  “They’re lucky to have a foundation of friendship.” She glanced into the kitchen.

  Jace followed her gaze, seeing Rush’s arms around Jayla as he lowered his lips to hers. “They’re good together.”

  His sisters started carrying platters of food to the table.

  “Why did they think we were together?” Dixie asked.

  He lifted one shoulder in a halfhearted shrug. “Maybe because I haven’t brought a woman to dinner since I was a teenager. Now I remember why.”

  “That’s not why,” Jennifer called from the dining room. “It’s because we’ve heard about Dixie for years.”

  “Always off-the-cuff,” Jayla added, waving them into the dining room. “As if the comments were no big deal. He’d say something like, ‘You wouldn’t catch Dixie putting up with that crap.’”

  “My favorite was while he was looking for a model for the face of Silver-Stone.” Mia lowered her voice an octave. “‘That girl’s got nothing on Dixie Whiskey!’” She pulled out a chair and sat down as she said, “We always had a feeling there was something more there.”

  “We?” Jace asked.

  All three sisters waved at him, and then Rush raised his hand and said, “Me too, bro. Sorry.”

  “You all have wild imaginations,” Jace grumbled, trying to remember if he’d ever said those things. He knew he’d thought them, but he hadn’t been aware he’d ever said them to his family. “You all made that shit up.”

  “No we didn’t,” his sisters argued.

  Dixie was watching him with an expression he’d never seen, like she knew his secrets. Until this very moment, he’d thought he’d kept them close to his chest.

  “Sorry, not sorry,” Jayla said to Jace. “Dixie, why don’t I put Thane in the swing so you can eat?”

  “Okay, but just one more snuggle. He’s the sweetest little guy.” Dixie hugged the baby, nuzzling against him with her eyes closed, before handing him to Jayla.

  Jace pulled out a chair for Dixie, and then he sat beside her and said, “Sorry about all this.”

  “I’m not. It’s all very enlightening.”

  He wanted to kiss that sass right off her lips. Instead, as everyone filled their plates with lasagna, he focused on catching up with his siblings and said, “Jennifer, did you get your dishwasher fixed?”

  “Yes, finally,” Jennifer said with a sigh.

  “Good. And did you handle that situation with those boys who were getting in trouble just so they would be sent to your office?” His sister had always had a trail of teenage boys following her like panting puppies, and she was pretty good at shutting down the ones who got too big for their britches, but he liked to keep tabs on the situation. “They need to find a better outlet for their hormones.”

  “Yes, I handled it,” Jennifer said. “Remember when you had the hots for Ms. Malone, the French teacher? You were just as bad.”

  “Exactly. That’s how I know you need to shut it down,” he said sternly. “What about your summer vacation? Have you decided if you’re going away this year?” Jennifer didn’t earn much money, and because of that, she didn’t always take vacations.

  “Not yet. I’m pricing out different locations, trying to decide if I should go someplace all inclusive or not.” Jennifer glanced around the table and said, “I guess it doesn’t really matter. Give me a sandy beach and hot cabana boys and I’m good.”

  “Just—”

  “I know.” Jennifer rolled her eyes. “Let you know my flight plans and text you every day so you know I haven’t been absconded with by some psycho.”

  Dixie leaned closer to him and said, “This is what you call giving your sisters space? You’re just as bad as my brothers.”

  “I am not,” Jace argued. “If I were your brothers, I’d handle those teenage boys myself, I’d have made arrangements for her dishwasher to be fixed the second I’d heard about it, and I wouldn’t just ask for a text—I’d show up at the beach.”

  “Whoa, do your brothers do that?” Jennifer asked. “That would drive me crazy.”

  “Pretty much. They’re very protective of me,” Dixie said. “I’m working on getting out from under their watchful eyes.”

  “For what it’s worth, Jace was more of a hovering force when we were younger,” Mia said. “But he hasn’t been like that for years. He’s like the umbrella you keep in your trunk. You don’t really need him for day-to-day showers, but when that monsoon hits, you’re glad you’ve got it.”

  Dixie turned a warmer expression to Jace and said, “I guess I misjudged you. You really are different.”

  “You’ll never find another man like him,” Jayla said in a not-so-subtle nudge.

  Dixie’s leg brushed Jace’s under the table, and he found himself staring at her again.

  He tried to distract himself and said, “Are you girls done trying to sell me to Dixie?”

  “No,” Mia and Jayla said in unison.

  Jace reached into his back pocket and tossed an envelope to Jennifer.

  “What’s this?” Jennifer opened the envelope and pulled out a brochure.

  “Maddox’s relatives have a place on Silver Island. I got you a room for ten days. They’ll honor it until you feel like going, even if it’s not this year.” He put a forkful of food in his mouth as his sisters squealed. Jennifer popped to her feet and dove into him for a hug.

  “My brothers definitely don’t do that,” Dixie said, looking at him like he’d just hung the moon.

  “I’m googling that island.” Jayla pulled out her phone as Jennifer took her seat, and they passed the brochure around the table.

  “Nice, Jace,” Rush said. “Don’t let my sister know you did that or she’ll be tapping on my shoulder next.”

  “Wait a second, Jace. You’ve been Maddox’s partner for years, and this is the first we’re hearing about his family having a place on an island that just happens to have their name?” Mia pointed her fork at him and said, “Spill it.”

  “Nothing to spill. You know I don’t like mixing business with pleasure.”

  Dixie fidgeted with her napkin, and he realized what he’d said.

  “Oh no.” Jennifer pointed at him. “Did you set up some old man to hover over me? Because if you did—”

  “Relax,” he said. “I didn’t arrange any such thing. If you’d rather not go, give it to Mia or Jayla.”

  Jennifer pressed the brochure to her chest and said, “I want it! Thank you. It’s just…it’s a lot.”

  “It’s not, and you deserve it. You work your ass off at that school. I got you guys something, too.” He always tried to bring a little something if he hadn’t seen
his sisters for a while, but he was careful not to give them anything that would make them feel like he thought they couldn’t provide for themselves.

  He pulled out another envelope from his pocket and handed it to Jayla. “Mom and Dad massages. It was a package thing for new parents at that spa you like. I figured you and Rush could use some pampering. If I’m in town, I’ll watch Thane for you. I know you can afford to get whatever you want, but I also know that neither of you will put yourselves before your baby.”

  Rush squeezed Jayla’s hand, and they both thanked him.

  “Mia, you have a gift coming in the mail.”

  “I do?” Mia asked.

  “A pair of the Leather and Lace stilettos you’ve been bugging me about should arrive next week.”

  “Oh my gosh!” Mia gushed. “I’ve wanted those since you first showed me the designs! Thank you so much, Jace.”

  “You loved the heels. It’s not a big deal. How’s that new boutique at the Cape coming along?”

  Mia’s eyes lit up. “It’s going to be amazing. I leave in a couple weeks to get together with the designers at the Cape. I’m excited to see it all come together.”

  “The Cape? As in Cape Cod?” Dixie asked.

  “Yes. My boss is opening a new boutique in one of his brother’s resorts—Ocean Edge, in Brewster. Do you know of it?” Mia asked.

  “Not of the resort specifically, but I know the Cape. I’m going to Wellfleet next week. My cousin Justin is showing his sculptures at a gallery, and I’m going to the opening. I was there in the fall. My cousins and uncle are members of the Cape Cod chapter of the Dark Knights. Have you heard of them?”

  “Dark Knights?” Jennifer asked.

  “It’s a motorcycle club. My great-grandfather founded the Maryland chapter, and my relatives founded and are involved in other chapters, on the Cape and in Harborside, Massachusetts, in Colorado, and a few other places,” she explained.

  “Like a gang?” Jayla asked, her eyes skirting to Jace.

  “No,” Jace answered.