by BJ Harvey
Jamie puts a hand on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “Are you happy?”
“She’s amazing.”
“Good. You deserve that too. And school?”
I take a drink and grin. “It seems my former lawyer is not just a pretty face. She advised the faculty of our relationship before there was even a relationship to exist.”
Jamie’s eyes go wide before he nods approvingly.
“And Joey Blackman is presiding over her grades to ensure there’s no room for any accusation of favoritism.”
“That simple?”
“Well, we’re not getting it on in the middle of campus.” Just making out in my office. “But as long as we get through this semester while I’m her teacher, there shouldn’t be any issues.”
“Good,” he says, with a nod. “So nice talk and all, but I’m itching to wipe that cocky grin off Cohen’s face.” His grin is huge.
“He is a confident wee sprite, isn’t he?” I reply with a smirk. “I might even take pleasure in knocking him down a few pegs.”
“We can call it fulfilling our brotherly duty,” he says, holding out his bottle and touching it to mine. His expression turns serious for a second, our eyes locked. “Let me just say one thing, then we can forget we ever had this gossip session.”
“It’s not exactly a—” I stop talking because Jamie isn’t smiling anymore. Guess it’s time for him to impart some big brother wisdom, something he’s done numerous times during my life.
“Just take your time. There’s no rush to go from zero to one hundred in the blink of an eye.”
“Too late for that,” I mutter.
His eyes flash. “Yeah, I know. And thanks for that. You christened the guest room before we could. You owe me.”
“I’m hoping April told you and not Mom, because—”
“Mom?” he asks, his brows shooting so high they almost touch his hairline. “Do I wanna know?”
“Probably not.”
“It was April. Those two women tell each other everything. But Ronnie’s parents are a piece of work. She was under their thumb for so long, and I get the impression they don’t like her being out from their control. So if this is going in the direction I hope it goes for you…” Damn, I love the big oaf. “…then just keep that in mind. April admires the hell out of Ronnie for living her own life now, and we want you both to be happy. If it’s with each other, then that’s an added bonus, and you’ll have our full support whatever happens.”
Needing to break the mood, I lean forward. “Are we done pretending we have vaginas now? ’Cause I dig it, and I appreciate it, but this is getting kind of ‘Kum-bay-ya-esque,’ and I’m gonna feel the need to build stuff or smash stuff to reclaim my masculinity soon.”
He throws his head back and barks out a laugh. “Alright. Let’s go kick some ass.”
“Now that I can do.”
I grab the beers and turn toward the stairs.
Jamie’s hand on my shoulder stops me in my tracks. “Oh, and a message from April. Don’t fuck it up or she’ll have your balls for breakfast. And take it from me—she absolutely will.” He tightens his grip and I swallow hard, nodding my agreement.
“Sure thing. But for the record, Ronnie is the best thing that’s happened to me, and I’m an idiot for avoiding her for as long as I did so I can promise you—and April—I’m not planning on fucking anything up, especially this.”
He releases me and steps back. “Right. Good talk. Let’s go,” he says, walking ahead and starting up the stairs.
We end up coming first and second, Ezra and Bryant getting onboard with our plan as soon as they realize we are determined to beat the golf shark baby brother once and for all. Especially since that means it is Cohen’s turn to pay for dinner afterward.
A win–win for the rest of us.
13
Jax
“Why are you nervous?” I ask a tense Ronnie from the driver’s seat of her Prius as I drive us to Axel’s eighth birthday party. I had offered to take her on my motorcycle but she’s been on edge all morning, so I made the executive decision that today would not be a good day for our first bike ride together.
“I’m not nervous,” she replies, sounding far more indignant than she should.
I reach over and give her leg a gentle squeeze, and she jumps like a jackrabbit on edge. I shoot her a skeptical side glance which earns me slumped shoulders and a sigh.
“How do you know me so well already?” She huffs, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Ah… confession time?”
“Okay…”
“I may have been avoiding you for almost a year, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t watching.”
“What?” she gasps.
“Shit. I mean, it sounds creepy, but it’s not as bad as that. It’s just I—”
A snort escapes her mouth as I bring the car to a stop just down the road from Jamie and April’s house, the street already filling up.
I turn toward her and freeze at her beaming grin. When I narrow my eyes, she bursts out laughing. I’m talking about the folded-over, rocking-back-and-forth, losing-it kind of giggling.
“What’s so funny?” I ask, leaning against the steering wheel and eyeing her suspiciously.
She eventually sobers to a snicker, shaking her head and wiping her cheeks before facing toward me. She lifts a brow and smirks at me. “Jaxon Cook, do you think I don’t know that you took photos of me when you thought I wasn’t watching?”
My eyes bug out, my mouth dropping open. I would’ve guessed she knew I’d watched her—I’m sure I’ve admitted as much before—but the photos? Only Bry knows about those… or so I thought. “Did Bry rat me out?”
“No,” she says with a giggle. “But now I wanna know how he knows.”
“It’s a—”
“Twin thing?”
“And he’s caught me and told me I’m a perverted old man, and that people have been arrested for less,” I say, my lips twitching.
She releases her seat belt and leans over, tapping my cheek like an adult does to a child. “It’s okay, I won’t tell anyone, but only if you show them to me later. It’s kinda hot.”
“Really?” I splutter.
“Yeah,” she says with a nod. “Are there any upskirt shots?”
“Fuck no. But if you’re offering now…”
She tilts her head and gives me a “duh” look. “I’ve never been photographed by a professional before. I think showing his photos to me is definitely something my professor should do.”
“Do you know what this professor really wishes he could do to you right now?” I say.
Her eyes drop to my lips before she slowly meets my gaze again. She’s close to panting. “You said not until you knew you’d won the chase,” she whispers roughly.
“And I won’t. But that doesn’t mean I can’t go out of my way to drive you absolutely crazy with want.” I inch closer and place my hand on her bare knee. “And need.” I bring my mouth to the corner of her lips, causing her to whimper. “Until you do have to go upstairs…” I sit back and grin. “Then Mom will really think you’re a sex fiend,” I say with a shit-eating grin.
Her mouth drops open. She releases a small gasp, then narrows her eyes at me. “You wouldn’t.”
I shrug. “Try me. I’ll have a lot of fun teasing you.”
“And I’ll have a lot of fun teasing myself next time we have a sleepover and I’m in the shower… alone.”
If she didn’t already have me riled up, that would’ve done it. Images of her naked and moaning and playing in my shower when I’m a room away and not able to help her out? That would be the most painful torture.
I need to stop this before we drive each other crazy. “Truce?” I ask, holding my hand out for her and accepting defeat. She’s far better at this game.
“I’ll think about it,” she says quickly, before turning away and jumping out of the car.
I growl, making her laugh, but I’m the one smiling as I r
ound the truck and meet her on the sidewalk because all the tension she was carrying has disappeared.
Once I win the chase, I’ll work out her nerves in far more enjoyable ways, but engaging her in an entertaining back and forth works just as well, since my physical remedies aren’t yet on the table.
The moment we step onto the path leading up to the house, I realize Jamie wasn’t kidding when he said they were ready for the party.
Over the stairs is a big hand-painted, totally awesome sign saying “Axel Construction.” On the patio beside the door is a rack of plastic hard hats with names on them.
I ring the doorbell and a few moments later, a grinning April and a fully kitted out Axel are standing in front of us, April holding a clipboard and pen in her hand.
“Hi. I’m Axel, the site foreman for my eighth birthday flipping party.”
Ronnie burrows into my side, giggling as she wraps her arm around my waist.
“Hey! Aunt Ronnie is my girlfriend. Get your hands off her,” Axel says with a frown.
“Ax,” April says, “Jamie and I told you that Uncle Jax and Aunt Ronnie are dating now. Like when Mommy and Jamie started going out to dinner and golf and stuff.”
Axel’s eyes widen in understanding. “Oh. Like sleepovers and stuff? When Jamie was in your bed with his big-boy boxers on?”
April snorts and I burst out laughing. Ronnie lets me go and bends down, putting her hand on a disgruntled Axel’s shoulder. “Don’t tell Jax, but you’re still my favorite.”
The boy’s face transforms in an instant, his eyes bright, his smile beaming. He leans in and kisses Ronnie’s cheek. “Good. Because Mommy says I need to learn to share but I don’t wanna share you.”
“Awwww,” both girls say in unison as I shake my head, grinning down at the little charmer.
Ronnie straightens, and I point my fingers at Axel. “I’m watching you, mister.”
Axel puffs his chest out. “I’m not worried. Mommy says I’m handsome and when I’m older I can marry any person I love, and I love Aunt Ronnie so I’m gonna marry her and Mommy.”
“Yeah, buddy, not sure I can let you marry Mommy because I’m doing that soon. Remember?” Jamie’s deep voice announces as he comes up behind April. His hand reaches out to ruffle Axel’s hair, and his amused eyes meet mine. “But unless Uncle Jax puts a ring on it, Aunt Ronnie is fair game.”
“Yes,” Ax says with a fist pump. The girls giggle, while I fight the urge to flip my big brother the bird.
“Has everyone signed in? You know they can’t come in until they do,” Jamie asks. Ax nods and takes the clipboard from his mom.
“Can you please sign in? Everyone has to sign in and the kids get to wear hard hats,” he says, looking all business with furrowed brows and a serious expression.
“Sounds good to me,” I say, taking the clipboard off his hands and writing our names down.
April and Jamie step aside just as Axel grabs hold of Ronnie’s hand and tugs her into the house.
“I’m watching you, Ax,” I call out as they walk away. Turning to my brother and his soon-to-be wife, I narrow my eyes. “Stop trying to steal my girlfriend for your son,” I joke.
“Oooh, girlfriend,” Cohen says, coming up behind me and slapping me on the back.
I shake my head, my lips twitching as I turn to look at our not-so-baby brother. “What are you, twelve?”
“No, but some parts come close.”
“I meant years.”
“I meant inches.”
I roll my eyes, letting him pass before following him inside.
“Where is Ronnie? I need to check she’s still of sound mind. I mean, she could’ve had Bryant or myself and she chose you,” Cohen asks.
“You’re an asshole, you know that?” I say with a laugh.
“Swear jar,” Cohen, April, and Jamie say in unison.
I roll my eyes. “I’m in credit.”
“Not anymore,” April says. “Swearing at an eight-year-old’s birthday party, pay the price.”
My head jerks back. “Says who?”
“We do,” Jamie replies. “And I’m the boss, don’t you know.” He grins, and I wonder whether I’ve ever seen him this happy. Thirty-six with a successful and growing business, a gorgeous fiancée on his arm, and her now eight-year-old son, both of whom we’ve adopted as one of our own.
Cohen and April move ahead, leaving Jamie and me behind. “Ready for the ‘meet the parents’ experience?” he asks.
“They already know her. It’s not like introducing a stranger.”
His lips quirk up, his eyes amused. “No. But not everyone has their now-boyfriend slash teacher’s mom walk in just after—”
“Shit.”
“Yeah.”
“And that is my cue to go save her.”
“Good talk,” Jamie says, chuckling behind my back as I rush off on a rescue mission. Knowing Mom, she’ll have a sex-toy catalog to give Ronnie for future inspiration.
A few hours of wrangling ten more eight-year-old boys later, the makeshift treehouse Jamie and I built for Axel during the week is covered in multiple colors and covered in wood offcuts, which us Cook boys helped them hammer in.
I make my way toward the women who are sitting around a big table covered in leftover party food. Walking around the back, I come up behind Ronnie, bend down and wrap my arms around her. I press a kiss to her cheek and pull away, straightening and looking down at her upturned face. “Hey.”
“Hey,” she says with a smile.
I look over at my mom, who is grinning at us. “Mom behaving herself?”
“I heard that, Jaxon James Cook.”
“Ooh, she full-named you,” Abi says, rubbing her baby bump. “She means business.”
Ronnie looks over at me. “Your mom is lovely.”
“I am,” Mom says, taking a sip of wine. “Besides, Ronnie and I are kindred spirits.”
My head jerks back. “What?”
Mom shoots Ronnie a wink. “Sometimes we have to take matters into our own hands.”
April snickers and Abi’s brows bunch.
“Mom…” I warn.
Her eyes jerk up to mine. “I bet you know all about that. Don’t you, son?”
Ronnie giggles and I breathe a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, Abi wades in. “Mom, leave Ronnie alone. I have it on good authority she wasn’t playing downtown DJ.”
April’s wise eyes dart to Ronnie before she bursts out laughing.
“Abi,” I groan. “You’re not helping.”
“I feel like we’re all missing something here,” my brother-in-law, Cade, says, taking a seat beside his wife.
“Never mind,” Mom, Abi, Ronnie, April, and myself all say in unison.
“Women,” he says, shaking his head with a knowing smirk.
Abi gasps. “Men who don’t want to ever get la—”
He quickly covers her mouth to shut her up. “Anyway. April, how’s the wedding plans coming along?”
“This conversation must be bad if Cade is willing to talk about my upcoming nuptials,” Jamie muses, wrapping his arms around April.
“Everything is on track,” April replies, her eyes going across the table to Ronnie. “All that’s left is finalizing our bachelorette weekend in Vegas.”
“Vegas?” Jamie and I say at the same time.
Ronnie shrugs. “It’s her last chance to live it up as a single woman.”
“In Vegas?” Jamie asks again, his disbelief leading me to think this is the first he’s heard of it. That makes two of us.
“So Bry, Cade, Cohen, Jamie, Vegas sounds good,” I call out, getting my brothers’ attention.
“I thought we were—”
Jamie’s face morphs into a huge smile. “Nope. Vegas it is.”
“Hey!” April says, turning around to face him. “That’s not fair.”
“It was our idea first,” Ronnie huffs, crossing her arms over her chest.
I lean down so my mouth is by her ear.
“Jase told me about this amazing sex club he went to in Vegas with Natalie. He says it has—”
“Oh alright,” she says, trying to sound annoyed but instead it comes out breathy.
Mom claps her hands excitedly. “And we’ll have the kids. Harry and Axel can have a sleepover at Nana Marcy’s house.”
My sister turns to her husband, reaching out to lace her fingers with his. “Vegas babymoon.”
“Saves money on a push present,” he says, unwisely.
“Oh no, buddy. You make babies with big heads. You better be getting me a token of your love and appreciation for my vagina if these girls are anything like their brother.”
The group goes quiet, the only sound Cade’s low chuckle, soon followed by Abi’s shocked gasp.
“So, girls then?” I say with a proud smile. Abi’s eyes go glassy as we all start clapping and cheering. The first Cook granddaughters and nieces are something to celebrate after all.
Ronnie stands and wraps her arms around my waist. Never one to miss an opportunity, I dip my head and brush my lips against her smiling ones.
“Girls?” she asks.
“Yeah. Another princess to spoil.” I smile down at her, loving the flash in her eyes.
Ronnie’s lips curve up. “I’m a queen, thank you very much.”
“Wanna sit on my throne?” I say, waggling my brows. She snorts and shakes her head. I cradle her jaw with one hand and kiss her again, longer and deeper this time. “Vegas then?” I murmur, still lust-drunk.
“Looks like it.”
“When is that going to be?” I ask, wondering whether we’ll have the house finished by then. It’ll be close at least
“We leave two weeks after I hand in my portfolio.”
“Eight weeks then?”
“The professor is a stickler for deadlines,” she says with a smirk.
My smile widens. “He sounds horrible.”
She pulls herself closer. “He’s a tyrant,” she sighs.
“Must be.”
“Lucky he’s hot,” she murmurs against my lips.