by Lori Foster
“What?” Kevin asked, shifting in his seat.
“I’m just proud of you, that’s all.”
Suspicion brought his brows together. “Proud? Why?”
“And you,” he said to Tonya. “Damn, but you’re both pretty special.”
Tonya and Kevin shared a look, prompting Jesse to laugh.
He wrapped a hand around Tonya’s neck and pulled her in for a loud smooch. “I know you want to do everything you can for him.”
“Of course I do. We’re‒”
“Family. I get it.” Next he clasped Kevin’s shoulder. “You get it, too, right?”
Still frowning, Kevin nodded.
“Great.” Jesse squeezed his shoulder and then sat back in his seat. “I was sixteen before I got my first job, so I’d say you have a little time for anything too consuming, but cutting grass is a great idea. I remember how terrific I felt earning a little money of my own.”
Tonya started to protest, but he cut her off.
“He knows you love him, honey. That doesn’t mean he can’t lift a finger. Look at him. He’s healthy as a horse. Cutting grass won’t hurt him.”
Kevin straightened his shoulders. “I was going to make some fliers and hand them out on our street.”
Pride swelled inside her. “I think that’d be pretty awesome.” She braced herself and said, “I’ll need to walk with you when you do.”
Kevin went still, his gaze darting helplessly to Jesse. “When I do what?”
“Hand them out.”
Brows going high, he asked, “Why?”
“Because you’re only twelve, and while I know the people right next door to me, I don’t really know anyone else and‒”
“I’ll be careful.”
“And so will I.”
Flummoxed, he again looked at Jesse.
Jesse shrugged. “When I was sixteen‒sixteen, Kevin‒I started working at the grocery story. I remember my mom came up every day to buy something, just to make sure I was okay.”
That only left Kevin more horrified.
“One night,” Jesse said, “I had to bring in carts from the parking lot. It was raining.”
Tonya grinned, just knowing where this story might be headed.
“Yeah,” Jesse said with a shake of his head. “She and my dad came up with raincoats and insisted on helping.” He laughed. “Back then, it embarrassed me. Now, I just appreciate how much they cared.”
Like a bottle of cola that someone shook up, Kevin looked ready to explode. But he still had the lid screwed on tight.
Too tight, Tonya decided.
Keeping her tone soft, she told him, “You can get mad, you know.”
Showing just a hint of mad, he glared at her. “You want me to be mad?”
“No, of course not.”
Jesse took his shoulder again. “She’s just saying it’s okay if you are. I got mad at my mom and dad, but it didn’t change anything. They still loved me, and still insisted on doing what they thought was right.”
The pressure built. Kevin worked his jaw. “She’s not my mom.”
Tonya was about to address that‒she had no idea how‒when a knock sounded on the kitchen door. She twisted to look behind her and found Brick and Merrily standing there, both smiling hugely. Knowing it was dinnertime, they’d crossed the backyard rather than walk around to the front door.
“Are we interrupting?” Merrily asked through the screen.
“Nope.” Jesse stood to let them in. “We just finished dinner.”
“We did, too,” Brick told him. “A celebratory dinner.”
“Yeah?” Jesse lifted Love to give the chair to Merrily. “What are we celebrating?”
Too excited to sit, Merrily clapped her hands together. “We bought a house.”
Tonya had been about to stand, but that had her dropping right back into her seat.
“I know, I know,” Merrily rushed to say. “You’re a Realtor. But it was for sale by owner and you’ve had your hands full, so we didn’t want to bother you.”
“We paid for a house inspection,” Brick explained. “All good. It can use some updating, but I’ve enjoyed helping you here, and we’ve already got some ideas, so‒”
“Count me in,” Jesse told him.
“You’re moving?” Tonya felt Jesse rest his hands on her shoulders. “You’re really moving?”
Bubbling over, Merrily clapped again. “Yes, and I’m sorry because you know I love you, and I love it here, and you’ve been the best landlord ever. But I also love, love, love the house we found. It has more space and a fenced yard and it’s only five minutes from here so we can still visit often and‒”
To shush her, Brick kissed her, making Jesse laugh.
Now that she’d subsided, Brick picked up the explanations. “We’re getting married one week after we close on the house. The honeymoon is on hold until Merrily has a break in her classes. It’s going to be crazy enough just getting everything moved over.”
Merrily smiled at Tonya. “Be happy for me.”
“I am!” She jumped up to draw Merrily in for a big hug. “So very, very happy for you.”
“You don’t mind that we’re moving out?”
“I’ll miss you, and no other tenant will ever be as wonderful as you, but all that aside, I’m thrilled to see you so happy!”
Jesse nudged Brick. “To hear them talk with all that landlord and tenant stuff, you wouldn’t know they were friends.”
“The best of friends,” Tonya corrected, and she hugged Merrily again.
Jesse put his arm around Kevin and drew him into the group. “Just let us know how we can help.”
“Thanks,” Brick said. “Because I’m counting on you to help haul boxes and furniture.”
“We’ll be there.”
Merrily smiled at Kevin. “Weeeelll... I was hoping Kevin might help out with the animals while we move and get set up. Not overnight or anything, but of course the front door will be open a lot and‒”
“I’ll do it.”
Merrily mussed his hair. “Thank you, kiddo.”
“I’d offer to take you to dinner to celebrate, but we just finished,” Jesse said.
“No need,” Brick assured him. “We’re heading over to see Evan and Cinder next.”
There was another round of hugs that this time included Jesse and Kevin, and then they were alone again. Tonya wanted to get back to Kevin’s earlier comment, that she wasn’t his mother, but Jesse derailed her.
“So.” He didn’t sit at the table with her, choosing instead to stand there, arms crossed and feet braced apart. “You’re going to have the other half of the house open.”
“I’m sure I’ll be able to find another tenant.”
Far too serious, Jesse watched her. “Maybe you could hold off on that.”
Shrugging, she said, “The rent is a big part of my monthly budget.”
Slowly nodding, he turned to Kevin. “Would you mind having me around more?”
“What?” Heart pounding, Tonya pushed back her chair. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m asking Kevin if he likes me enough to have me around more.”
Put on the spot, Kevin hoisted his shoulders. “I like you a lot more than I liked my mom’s boyfriends.” He laughed without humor. “A lot more.”
“No comparisons, okay?” Jesse braced his hands on the tabletop. “Forget all that, and just think about us. About this.”
His ears went red again, but Kevin nodded. “I like it when you’re here.”
Beaming, Jesse turned to Tonya. “I love you.”
“You...?”
“Love you.” He winked at Kevin. “Love him, too. And I love the idea of us as a family.”
&n
bsp; A million responses went through Tonya’s mind. She wanted to squeal in excitement. She wanted to grab Jesse and kiss him senseless. But she became aware of Kevin’s stillness.
Cautiously, he came out of his seat.
“You want to marry her.”
“Yes, I do.”
Hearing it confirmed sent that jumbled elation spiraling through her again. “Jesse.”
“You’ll get married and have more kids.”
Pretending nothing was wrong, Jesse told them both, “I wouldn’t mind that. We could open up the other side of the house and use all the space. There’d be more than enough room.”
Kevin backed up a step. A kitten clung to his jeans, and he bent to quickly pry the tiny claws loose, then set it aside.
It came right back.
Smiling, Jesse told him, “You’d make a terrific big brother.”
“Cousin.” Face pale, he lifted the kitten again and this time just held it. “I’d be a cousin.”
“Technically,” Jesse agreed. Then he narrowed his eyes, his expression intent. “But mostly you’d be a big brother.”
Kevin shook his head, and his voice went thin. “You’re not my dad.”
“No.” Jesse took a step toward him. “But I wish I was.”
Face crumbling, Kevin took off down the hall and into his bedroom.
Tonya and Jesse both heard the door slam.
When she started to go after him, Jesse caught her to him. “First things first.”
She fretted.
“It’ll be okay, honey. Will you believe that?”
He looked so confident, so strong, that she nodded. “We can make it so.”
Pleased, he lightly kissed her. “Yes, together we’ll make it so.”
Oh God. Hugging him tight, Tonya said, “I love you, Jesse. So much.”
“Finally.” He pretended weak knees, making her laugh while grabbing for him. Just as quickly he straightened, lifted her high in his arms and turned a circle while kissing her. “You ready to go tackle our first priority?”
Tears stung her eyes. Happy tears. She nodded.
Jesse set her back on her feet, took her hand, and together they went down the hall. She knocked on Kevin’s door.
“Go away.”
Hearing the break in his voice, she and Jesse shared a look. But despite her breaking heart, she smiled. “We did tell him it was okay to be mad.”
“That’s something, I guess.”
The cat wrapped around her leg. Tonya looked down to see the other two kittens had also followed them.
“Kevin,” she said through the door, “Love wants in.”
The seconds ticked by and then, reluctantly, he opened the door. Immediately Love pushed her way in, and naturally the kittens followed.
It devastated her to see the tears in Kevin’s eyes.
She started to reach for him, but he turned away, going to his desk and dropping into his chair.
Jesse propped a shoulder in the open doorway. “I know you won’t believe this, Kevin, but it’s okay to cry.”
“I’m not!” He scrubbed both fists over his eyes. “I’m not a baby.”
“No.”
“I’m not a wuss, either.”
“I would never say you are.”
Kevin stared up at him with red eyes and a watery nose. “Mom said only babies cried.”
Tonya loved Jesse even more when he said with conviction, “You’ll never hear me say it.”
“Or me.”
“I should miss her,” Kevin insisted.
“And you will,” Jesse told him. “There will be memories good and bad. Unresolved feelings. But Kevin? You have to know, you’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever met.”
Fretfully, Tonya held back as Jesse strode in and stood over him. “I mean that. I have a lot of respect for you. Respect that I hope is mutual. Crying won’t change that. In fact, I’d say you’re past due.”
Suddenly the dam broke and Kevin curled in on himself, his head to his knees, elbows over his ears, rocking back and forth.
Rushing in, Tonya embraced him, holding him as tight as she could, so tight she heard his protesting grunt‒and still she didn’t loosen up. “I love you, Kevin. I love you so much.”
He tried to draw a breath, choked and said, “I feel so bad.”
She rocked him, her hands locked around him. “About what? Tell me and we’ll work it out.”
“I’m happy here.”
The whispered words stole her strength, and she slumped, letting him put a few inches between them.
Sniffling loudly, angry and defiant, Kevin pulled away. “I like all this.” He waved a hand‒at everything. “All of it.” He stabbed a finger toward Tonya. “You.” And then at Jesse. “Him.”
“You like me?”
His bottom lip quivered before he clenched his jaw and nodded.
Such an amazing gift. She tried on a gentle smile. “It’s okay for you to be happy.”
He shook his head hard, shoving out his chair and turning his back on them. “It’s so much better here. I like it so much more.” He scrubbed at his face with his forearm. Choking out the words, he said, “I love you guys.”
Looking pretty solemn himself, Jesse said, “We love you, too.”
“Mom never did any of this.” He faced them again, his shoulders bunched in insistence. “She cared, though!”
“Of course she did,” Jesse said. “It’s just that people are different.”
“How could she not?” Rubbing his shoulder, Tonya said, “It’s okay for you to cry. To get sad and mad.” Needing him to believe it, she kept her voice firm. “And it’s more than okay for you to be happy.”
Unconvinced, he swallowed. “It’s not that I’m glad she’s gone.”
She nodded her understanding. “I honestly tried my best to save Cissy. I really did. But it was never enough. Now you’re mine, and I need you to know that however the situation worked out, I’m so glad you’re here with me. I will never, ever let you go.”
He surprised her again by giving her a big hug, his skinny shoulders shaking only a little. “Thanks.”
“Thank you.”
Awkwardly, he pushed away and dragged in a strained breath. Using his shoulder, he wiped his eyes. When he realized Love was staring up at him, he bent to give her a pat, whispering, “Sorry, Love. I’m okay now.”
Tonya hoped it was true, that he was okay. “We’re a family.”
“Yeah.” He straightened again, slanting an embarrassed glance at Jesse.
Jesse put his arm around Tonya. “So what do you say? Okay if I marry her so I can be an official part of the family?”
This time it was his nose Kevin scrubbed with his forearm. When he finished, he caught a broken breath, quirked a smile and said, “Guess that’s up to her, but I hope she says yes.”
Tonya took her time fixing Kevin’s hair, then she kissed his cheek, turned to Jesse and said, “Yes.”
Jesse surprised her by pulling both her and Kevin into a group hug. The awkward laughing, reciprocal hugs and overall sense of well-being left her heart full.
Love nudged her way in, and Kevin scooped her up along with a kitten. Tonya picked up the other two.
Jesse watched them both, his satisfaction plain.
“Guess you were right,” Tonya told him.
“Glad to hear it,” Jesse said. “But about what?”
“I know.” Even though Kevin ducked his face against the cat, Tonya could see his smile. He shoulder-bumped her, then went to put the cat and kitten down in their nook. “There’s always room for love.”
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from UNDER PRESSURE by Lori Foster.
Look for related stories by Lori Foster,
Available now from HQN Books!
LOVE UNLEASHED (in the LOVE BITES anthology)
LOVE WON’T WAIT (in the TURN UP THE HEAT anthology)
And read on for a sneak peek
of UNDER PRESSURE,
the first book in Lori’s new
BODY ARMOR series!
New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster returns with an explosive new series featuring sexy bodyguards who’ll do anything to protect the ones they love. Don’t miss the sizzling Body Armor series!
Under Pressure
Hard Justice
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Get ready to be swept away with twice the heat, twice the conflict and twice the romance in
Don’t Tempt Me
Full of witty banter, hot neighbors and everlasting love... you won’t be able to put this one down!
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Hard Knocks (e-novella)
No Limits
Holding Strong
Tough Love
Fighting Dirty
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Be sure to also catch the deliciously sensual Love Undercover series available now!
Run the Risk
Bare It All
Getting Rowdy
Dash of Peril
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When You Dare
Trace of Fever
Savor the Danger
A Perfect Storm
What Chris Wants (e-novella)
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