by Lori Foster
Fresh excitement curled in her belly, then spread heat out everywhere. “Yes.” She had no doubts she’d like that. A lot.
“Don’t move,” Jesse told her as he stood. “I’ll be right back.”
She watched him walk out to the bathroom, heard the water run, and in less than half a minute later he was back.
Expression intent.
Wicked smile in place.
Good thing she hadn’t moved.
* * *
SPRAWLED ON THE bed on her stomach, Tonya tried to catch her breath while Jesse trailed his fingertips down her sleek spine, down to her sexy tush. God, she was amazing.
And he wanted her still.
He wanted her always.
Squirming, she murmured, “Mmm. That took the edge off.”
Jesse cupped one cheek in his palm. “You think so?” Her open thighs drew his attention, and he went to one elbow to look at her anew. “Because I think it only stoked the fire for me.”
Groaning, she opened one eye to peek at him. Gathering herself, she pushed up to her elbows too, in a pose guaranteed to make his blood burn.
“Really?” Her gaze went over him. “Well, then maybe—”
With a loud meow, Love came to the door.
Most of her “cat sounds” were loud, maybe because she was deaf. But this time was different.
Jesse sat up and found the cat staring toward him anxiously. He and Tonya shared a look.
Almost as one they scrambled out of the bed and began pulling on clothes.
Jesse checked the clock. “Kevin will be home in an hour. Damn, I hope she holds off until he’s here.”
Tripping herself while pulling on panties, Tonya asked, “What do we do?”
He shucked up his jeans and grinned at her. God, she was sweet. And serious. And so incredibly loyal and bighearted.
Not to mention amazing in bed.
Long ago she’d lost her braid, and now her long blond hair tumbled everywhere. He took his time smoothing it down, then tucking it back behind her ears.
Just...touching her.
After the afternoon they’d had, he should have been sated, and in some ways he was.
In other ways, he knew he’d never get his fill of her.
Twice he’d brought her to climax, once with his mouth, then again with his fingers, before using the second condom and joining her in a release so strong it had pretty much rocked his world. A world he wanted to share with her.
“Jesse?”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “We don’t do anything except make sure she’s comfortable.”
“Okay, I can do that.” Tonya looked around. “Oh my God. Where did she go?”
“I can guess.” And sure enough, Jesse found her in her nook—on Kevin’s old shirts. “Hang on, Love. Kevin will be home soon.”
It was a guess who was more distraught—Tonya or Love. The cat knew what to do, and she went about it naturally. But Tonya was a woman who needed to help, only she was totally out of her element now.
“You’ve never seen kittens born?”
She shook her head, her worried gaze remaining on the cat as Love occasionally cried, shifted, squirmed. “My parents didn’t allow us to have pets, not when they already had their hands full with Cissy. And after I moved out, well, it never seemed fair to have an animal when I put in so many hours.”
“Then you’re in for a treat.” Jesse prayed there wouldn’t be any problems. He wasn’t sure Tonya, or Kevin, could handle it.
Not much later, when he heard the bus, Jesse went to the front porch to wait for Kevin. Soon as he stepped off the bus, Jesse said, “Love is giving birth. Hustle!”
At first Kevin froze, then he busted into a run up the driveway and through the front door. He dropped his backpack in the living room on his way down the hall and didn’t put on his brakes until he reached the bedroom door.
Eyes enormous, the boy stood there staring. Jesse could almost see his heart thundering. When Love meowed, he bolted into the room the rest of the way and dropped hard to his knees.
Tonya smiled at him, rubbed his back. “I’m so glad you got home in time.”
“Yeah.”
Poor kid could barely breathe. Jesse knelt down beside him. “You can pet her a little if you want.”
He did, his touch gentle, his eyes still round as saucers.
Love had just finished cleaning the first kitten when she started squirming, cried a few times and another slid out.
Kevin withdrew his hand. With awe, he said softly, “That is so gross.”
Jesse couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, especially watching her clean them up.”
“Yeah.” Kevin’s lip curled, but he went back to carefully petting the cat. “How many will she have?”
“No idea,” Tonya said, her expression almost identical to Kevin’s. “But she’s going to have at least three, because I see the third one coming now.”
“Wow.”
“I’m guessing this isn’t her first litter,” Jesse said, hoping to reassure them both. “They’re coming pretty fast and easy.” Thank God.
True enough, within fifteen minutes, Love had given birth to three kittens. Kevin hadn’t moved, had barely blinked the entire time. And when Love looked at him, almost as if she wanted his approval, he scooted in closer and started talking to her, telling how great she’d done, that she wasn’t alone, how he’d take care of her and how much she meant to him.
He said all the right things, maybe things that had never been said to him, things most twelve-year-olds wouldn’t think to say but definitely needed to hear.
Damn, but he was a good kid. Despite his upbringing, or maybe because of it, he was gentler and more understanding than most adults.
Jesse couldn’t recall ever getting that attached that quickly to another human being. He wanted to be in Kevin’s life, now and always. That the boy was also a part of Tonya only sweetened the deal because, yes, he loved Tonya. Like, crazy-loved her.
Somehow he’d work it out, and in the end, he’d have Tonya, he’d have Kevin.
He’d have it all.
Rather than stay and watch Love finish cleaning up, Jesse made an offer. “How about I order pizza for dinner?”
Kevin scrunched up his nose and swallowed hard. “I was starving when I first got here, but now...” He rubbed his stomach. “I might need a little while before I can look at gooey pizza.”
Jesse grinned. “Bucket of chicken then? It’ll take me half an hour to go get it.”
“I could eat that,” Tonya said. “Kevin?”
“Sure. Thanks.” He went to his dresser and took out another old shirt. It was two sizes too small, stained, but clean. “Do you think she’d mind if I changed that bedding for her once she’s all done—” his face scrunched up again “—licking that up?”
Now it was Jesse who put a hand to his stomach. “I’m sure she’d appreciate it. Give her time to finish though. She might not want you touching them yet.”
Tonya nodded. “When she’s ready, I’ll help.”
Pausing in the doorway, Jesse surveyed them both. “You guys realize you have four cats now, right?”
Kevin looked at Tonya, but she didn’t miss a beat. “We’ll keep any that we can’t find good homes for. But first we’ll get them all fixed. No reason to keep them multiplying.”
Relieved, Kevin went back to reassuring Love.
“I think Merrily uses the same local vet as Cinder and Evan. Given their menageries, they probably get a discount.” And if they didn’t, Jesse thought, well then, he’d figure out a way to foot the bill.
He was an integral part of this family unit, whether Kevin and Tonya realized it yet or not.
CHAPTER FIVE
TO T
ONYA’S RELIEF, the following Monday went much the same, minus the drama of new kittens being born. She and Jesse spent the day in bed, burning up the sheets until it was time for Kevin to return.
Then Jesse took them all to dinner.
And so started their routine. Tonya knew that Kevin had quickly become as attached to Jesse and his visits as she had.
At least one day a week, usually Monday, Jesse switched his hours so he could spend the day alone with her. When Kevin got home from school, Jesse took them out to dinner.
Like a family.
Other days, he often came by after work.
He and Kevin worked on the attic around school, grill-outs, movies and a host of other fun activities that always seemed so new to Kevin and, because of that, felt new—or at least better—to her too.
Amazingly, one remodel led to another.
They no sooner wrapped up her office in the attic—which was truly a thing of beauty—than Jesse suggested a game room in the basement. By the time they were done with the plans, the space would be turned into a casual family room.
Brick donated a gaming system, saying he and Merrily had the same one and definitely didn’t need two. Evan brought by a laptop he said he no longer used. She planned to splurge on another television.
Jesse even said he could add in a second bathroom. At times it boggled her mind the amount of work he put into someone else’s house.
Her house. And Kevin’s.
Oh how she wanted it to be Jesse’s home too. But so far, as invested as he seemed in their relationship, he didn’t push for more.
Damn it, she sort of wanted him to push a little.
Six weeks went by, and it felt like things were falling into place. Kevin waited until they were all seated at the table, halfway through dinner, before he pulled a folded paper from his pocket.
Purring loudly, Love curled in the one empty seat with a kitten, and around Kevin’s feet, the other two kittens played, fighting over his shoestrings, occasionally climbing his leg.
Like Love, they each adored him. He’d named all three, kept them fed, their bedding and box cleaned, and never seemed to tire of playing with them.
Tonya had already decided to keep them all, and not just because Kevin was attached to them, although that played a part.
In truth, she, too, was attached. And she loved watching Kevin with them. With Merrily and Cinder as examples, she knew multiple animals meant more work and expense, but also more love. And that’s what she wanted to fill her house with—love for the pets, for Kevin.
And for Jesse.
“Hey.” Brushing his hand up her forearm, Jesse smiled at her. “Best meal I’ve had in a long time.”
The compliment warmed her. “It’s just roast and potatoes.”
Mouth full, Kevin nodded. “Really good roast and potatoes.”
If there was one thing she didn’t like about Kevin, it was that he was too perfect for a twelve-year-old boy. Too polite. Too grateful. Too quiet and accommodating.
She wanted him to be comfortable enough to be himself. To maybe complain now and then, make a few demands.
Be a kid.
But she had no idea how to reach him, how to reassure him enough that he’d let loose and just accept his changed circumstances, so she returned Jesse’s smile instead. “Thank you both.” Hoping for some confirmation on their relationship, she said, “I could get used to this, getting compliments from my two favorite guys.”
Jesse gave her a quick glance, then winked at Kevin and said, “Anytime you want to cook for me, believe me, I’ll pour on the compliments. All of them sincere. Right, Kevin?”
“Heck, yeah.”
But Jesse went one further. “Long as you know Kevin and I don’t take your hard work for granted. Whenever you don’t feel like cooking, we’re fine with takeout.” And he said again, “Right, Kevin?”
Tonya loved how Jesse always included him.
Scooping up his last bite of mashed potatoes, Kevin nodded. “Sure.”
Watching him, Tonya could tell he had something else on his mind. She put her fork aside. “Everything okay?”
Startled, he looked up at her, blanched, glanced at the paper he’d put beside his plate, then nodded. “Yeah.”
“What do you have there?”
He smoothed out the paper, taking an inordinate amount of time to get a fold out of the corner.
Done eating, Jesse pushed his plate back and crossed his arms on the table. “What’s up?”
Loudly clearing his throat, twice, Kevin handed Tonya the paper. “I was thinking about, maybe, well...”
“Sports?” Tonya prompted, after glancing at the activity details. “Football or soccer?”
Jesse leaned around to see the athletic sign-up form. “You’d be terrific at either one.”
Appearing anxious and somewhat embarrassed, Kevin said, “I’ve never played.”
“No one could tell,” Jesse assured him. “You’re naturally athletic.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely. You can learn the rules, piece of cake. But you’re already fast and strong, and you have good moves. No one can teach you that.”
His ears turned red, but he fought a grin over the praise. “Thanks.”
“If you want, I can go over some of the basics with you.”
“For football or soccer?” Tonya asked him.
Jesse shrugged. “Whichever he wants. I played just about every sport through high school.”
That didn’t surprise Tonya. Jesse was definitely a guy’s guy, very physical and macho. But he was also incredibly intuitive and, at all the right times, exceedingly gentle.
Toying with his fork, Kevin avoided eye contact. “It’s kind of expensive.”
Tonya went back to the paper. Indeed. The sign-up fee, the cost of the uniform, did add up.
“Uh-oh,” Jesse said. “I think this qualifies as another one of those times for talking.”
Tonya elbowed him but said, “He’s right.” She tipped her head, giving Kevin a direct look. “We’re in this together, right?”
Kevin halfheartedly lifted one shoulder.
“We’re a family, and families have expenses. Like the school clothes, there will be dentist and doctor bills, school photos, sports, birthdays—”
Scowling, Kevin hunched his shoulders—his self-defense mechanism.
Jesse recognized it too, because he gave her a quick look. Tonya kept her attention on Kevin.
“There will be times when I need to budget things out. All families do that, Kevin.”
“My mom didn’t.”
“Your mom wasn’t well.”
His shoulders went tighter.
“I’m not her. I have a good job, and while we’re far from wealthy, I don’t ever want you to hesitate to bring things like this to me. Okay?”
He picked up a kitten and cuddled it close. “I was thinking I could try to get a job cutting grass or something.”
“Kevin,” Tonya said, wanting—needing—him to accept her in all the important ways.
Jesse grinned, drawing not only Tonya’s attention but Kevin’s too.
“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?�
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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 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.”