Kade blinked. “Then I’m following you over to her house.”
I couldn’t give a shit if they all came.
After a thirty-minute lesson by Donovan and surprisingly my brother Kross, who had enlightened us that he was thinking of buying a Harley, I took the motorcycle for a spin on the road in front of our house. My nerves were dancing. The nausea in my stomach gurgled. The helmet was constricting. The engine vibrating beneath me was a little intimidating. Yet all I could think about was Mandy’s accident then Jessie’s. I shouldn’t have been thinking like that as I kicked the Harley into gear.
I had to be diligent in making sure I knew my surroundings, and at the moment, trees banked one side of the road while our lush green lawn banked the other.
Sweat beaded on my forehead as I traveled toward the dead-end road close to the lake. The more I got the hang of shifting and stopping and keeping the Harley steady, the more I began to peel away the macabre thoughts swimming around in my head that I would end up wrapped around a tree.
By the time I returned to the top of my driveway where Donovan and my brothers were waiting with apprehension stuck on their faces, I was ready to head over to see Jessie.
“If you wreck her, you’re buying me a new one,” Donovan said. He didn’t say he would beat my ass, and that was major progress.
“One important question,” I said. “Is Jessie home?”
“Her and Lowell were in the shop when I left,” Donovan said.
Perfect.
Everyone piled into Kade’s truck, and then I led the way. Once I kicked the Harley into gear, adrenaline rushed through me. The open road, the wind at my face, and the freedom I was experiencing made me realize why Mandy and Jessie loved to ride.
I let up on the throttle as I slowed to a stop sign.
Kade beeped before he came up alongside me.
Kross rolled the passenger window down. “You good?” he yelled.
I raised my thumb. Better than good.
As I traveled through the back roads of Ashford, feeling as if I could fly, I realized that I should’ve gotten my ass on a motorcycle long before now. Maybe I could’ve avoided years of depression and feeling as though I would never love again.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Jessie
The inside of our shop looked as though a tornado had ripped through the place. Lowell, Roxanne, and I were sifting through boxes and parts and segregating the things we wanted to sell. They were actually doing most of the work. I was in one of Lowell’s manual wheelchairs. I’d been home from the hospital all of four days, and while the pain had lessened, I couldn’t stand for longer than fifteen minutes. My doctor had said to walk as much as I could but not to exert myself too much and that it could be well over a month or more until I was fully recovered.
But the physical pain was mild compared to the hurt, anger, sadness, and confusion over Kody. Night after night, I lay in bed, wide awake, going through our conversation in the tent and trying to understand if we’d rushed into declaring our love for one another. Was it the heat of the moment? Or are we even right for each other? I couldn’t be with someone who wouldn’t be there for me. I knew my accident had had a profound effect on him, which was why, after much deliberation during the last two days, I had decided that I would sell my Ducati. My mom had always said, “Sometimes you have to decide what you want more.” I desperately wanted Kody… if we could manage to work things out.
Regardless, accident or not, if his words, “You’re mine, Jessie Ryan. I want you. I need you. I am head over heels in love with you,” were true, then he should’ve been at my side no matter what. I wanted to knock some sense into him. But we both needed some breathing room, at least that was what I had told myself as I cried into my pillow every night.
The Zach Brown Band filled the shop with their song “Roots” until a car drowned out the music. I perked up, hoping I would see Kody. Then my excitement came to an abrupt halt when I spotted Mr. Robinson pulling into the driveway. We’d never had the chance to discuss a contract. But a contract and singing weren’t on my immediate agenda. I couldn’t sing, anyway. I needed my strength and my diaphragm to belt out a song.
Mr. Robinson stalked in dressed in a suit with his shirt unbuttoned at the collar and no tie. With a folder in his hand, he surveyed the place. “Are you moving?”
Roxanne blew hair from her eyes, and Lowell spun around in his wheelchair.
“No. We’re just making some changes,” I said.
Lowell and I had wavered on whether we had made the right decision to give up on our dad’s dream. Sadly, we didn’t see any way around our financial predicament. Not only that, we were both ready for some changes in our lives. Besides, the money we would earn on selling the inventory would make a nice dent in paying off some of our bills. Then Lowell’s plan was to look for a job where he could work from home or even a close-by office job.
Roxanne lowered the volume on the radio.
Mr. Robinson held up the folder. “I wanted to leave this offer letter with you, Jessie. It’s a letter of intent. When you’re ready, we can go over the contract in more detail.”
Lowell angled his head. “Letter of intent? Are you afraid Jessie might sign with someone else?”
Mr. Robinson shrugged. “I can’t say I haven’t thought about that. But the letter of intent is standard practice for us until the lawyers can iron out the contract language.” He handed me the folder. “You’ll find a signing bonus in there as well.”
I placed the folder in my lap as though it held trade secrets.
Lowell wheeled over to me. “Can I see?”
No doubt the signing bonus had sparked his curiosity. I had to say, it did mine too. But I didn’t want to come off as a desperate person even though Lowell and I needed the money.
I lifted my hand, and Lowell tore into the folder. He sucked in a sharp breath as his head jerked up. “For real, Mr. Robinson?”
One side of Mr. Robinson’s mouth quirked up.
Roxanne sidled up to Lowell and read the sheet. Then she covered her mouth with a dirty hand.
Before I could look, Lowell shoved the paper in my hands. I quickly scanned the document until my eyes landed on the fifty-thousand-dollar figure. I sucked in a breath before I whipped my head up at Mr. Robinson with tears surfacing.
The famous record producer gave me a radiant smile. “We want you that badly. We also want to get started on recording your first album as soon as you’re able.”
I lowered my gaze to my lap. I wanted to jump up and down for joy then get in my car, speed over to Kody’s place, and give him a huge hug. Well, maybe more than a hug. I would’ve never had this great opportunity if it weren’t for him. As much as I kept thinking he wasn’t the guy for me, I knew I was kidding myself. I wanted him more than anything in this world. It was time for me to make the first move and at least get some things off my chest with him.
Roxanne came over to me. “He’ll come around.”
Lowell bristled. “Is Kody Maxwell part of the deal?”
Roxanne, who stood in between Lowell and me, swatted at my brother. “Be nice. The man has some issues.”
Mr. Robinson widened his stance. “This letter of intent is for Jessie only. But Jewel Records will be signing Kody and Jake as part of Jessie’s band. Is that a problem? Is there something you want to tell me, Jessie?”
I didn’t want to bring Mr. Robinson into the middle of Kody and me. If Kody and I couldn’t work things out on a personal level, then I would find a way to work with him on a professional level, although that would be extremely difficult.
Before I could answer Mr. Robinson, the familiar ear-piercing sound of a Harley roared into the driveway. I didn’t need to glance out to know that Mack had returned. So I took a closer look at the document. When I read the second word in the first paragraph, Roxanne tapped me on the shoulder.
Instead of craning my neck up at her, I caught a glimpse of Lowell’s open jaw.
“What the
hell?” Lowell breathed.
As if in slow motion, my head moved in the direction of the driveway like an elephant swinging his trunk to one side. When my eyes landed on the man on the Harley, I lost my breath. Then my brain tried to unscramble and figure out why Kody, who despised motorcycles, was straddling Mack’s Harley. He had a determined look in his sexy blue eyes as he drilled his gaze my way.
A car pulled in behind Kody. Immediately, Mack got out and gave me the most heartwarming smile.
“What’s happening?” I asked no one.
“It seems your man is showing you how much he loves you,” Roxanne muttered next to me.
Kody had never said he knew how to ride. He cut the engine but didn’t move. Mack ambled up to Kody and whispered something. Then Kody flicked the stand like an expert rider and swung his leg over before he was on two feet.
Mack sauntered up to me, his expression soft.
“So your errand was Kody?” I asked.
He kissed me on the forehead. “Maybe.” Then he went to stand by Lowell. “Be nice.”
I wanted to vault out of the wheelchair, wrap my arms around Mack, then run to Kody. That wasn’t happening, and not because I would hurt myself, but I would swear I was cemented to the seat.
Kross, Kelton, and Kade hopped out of the truck, watching their brother intently. When they did, Roxanne muttered, “Kill me now.”
I laughed.
Lowell powered his wheelchair out of the shop, and Mack hurried behind him.
“I’m not sure if I want to punch you or hug you,” Lowell said to Kody.
“I deserve anything you want to give,” Kody said as he kept his attention on me.
Mr. Robinson walked out and up to his future son-in-law, Kade.
Kody patted Lowell on the shoulder then slowly closed the space between us.
“I’m going to introduce myself to the rest of the Maxwell brothers,” Roxanne said in a light voice.
I’d never had a chance to tell her they were all taken. Well, she knew Kade was. I also wanted to shout out to her not to forget about Hunt. She had a date with him coming up soon. But her boyfriend problems went by the wayside as the pitter-patter of my heart grew. Boom. Boom. Boom.
Kody’s chest heaved with every breath until he was squatting down in front of me. He scanned my face that had tears cascading down. My own breathing was a little labored.
He gently placed his strong hands on my thighs. “I’ve never felt freer than when I was riding over here on the Harley.”
I snorted, but that wasn’t my intention. “I didn’t know you knew how to ride.” My heart was bursting with love and shock. Those feelings seemed to quiet the anger I’d held since he walked out of my hospital room.
“I would do anything for you. I’m so sorry I haven’t been at your side. I needed time. When I heard you crashed, I seriously thought my life was over.” The dark timbre of his voice coated me like a soft blanket.
Flattening my palms on his rough beard, I searched his face. “You can’t run anytime something bad happens. You’re all about family, and if we love each other, then we’re family. Think about how you would feel if I weren’t at your side if you’d gotten into an accident.” My voice was up and down and all over the place.
He lifted my hands to his lips. “I fucked up. I promise you on Karen’s grave that I will always be by your side no matter what.” He gave me his puppy-dog look.
I knew Karen meant the world to him, and I believed him. “Do you think that batting those big blues will work?” I asked as seriously as I could.
He peppered kisses on both of my hands. “Is it working?”
I lifted a shoulder. I couldn’t stay angry. I couldn’t cry myself to sleep every night. Above all else, I couldn’t imagine my life without him. “I’m selling my Ducati.”
He levered back. “Why? Please don’t because of me.”
“I would do anything for you, Kody Maxwell. Well, except move right now. I might bust a stitch.”
He leaned his forehead against mine. “I got you, baby doll. I want to take care of you, love you, and cherish you. That is if you’ll have me.”
“I’ve never wanted anyone as strongly as I want you,” I whispered in between sniffles.
He sighed. “Before I kiss the fuck out of you, one question. How about you sell the Ducati and buy a Harley?”
I giggled. “You got the bug?”
“Aside from being with you, riding over here was the best damn feeling I’ve ever experienced.”
Then his tongue was in my mouth. I saw us chasing fallen stars and catching fireflies. I saw our future. I saw happiness, and for the first time in forever, I was in love with a man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
Epilogue
Kody
Big, fat snowflakes fell from the sky.
“Are you guys ready?” I called out as I packed Christmas gifts into a bag.
I’d moved in with Lowell and Jessie in September just before Jessie had had her double mastectomy. Lowell and I had wanted her to wait and make sure she’d recovered well from her motorcycle accident before she had the surgery. But she’d wanted to move ahead before we started recording her first album in January. Plus, her surgeon had given her the thumbs-up that she was safe to have the surgery done anytime.
Mack came through the front door, dressed in black pants, a blue button-down shirt, and hair slicked back with gel. “Do you think your mom will approve?”
I belted out a laugh. Mack was now part of the family, attending Sunday gatherings with us. At first, it had been awkward to see him sitting at our table, but he’d turned out to be a good guy. My brothers had even warmed up to him, albeit not as easily at first.
“My mom adores you, dude. You could wear a bunny suit, and she would still think the world of you.”
He grinned just as Jessie sashayed down the stairs.
Mack and I jerked our heads up.
She gave us a shy look.
My balls tightened.
She stepped off the bottom stair. “How do I look?”
Mack nudged me with his fist.
She was wearing a tight-fitting, brown, V-neck sweater that accentuated her breasts. Whether they were real or implants, no one could tell. I knew she was asking us how her breasts looked. She’d been a little self-conscious about them, and understandably so considering she’d had the surgery three months ago. It was a state-of-the art surgery that had been performed all in one day. They’d removed her breasts and did the implants immediately after. According to her surgeon, not all women were candidates for the procedure, but Jessie had been.
“You’re beautiful,” Mack said.
Lowell wheeled into the living room, dressed in his Sunday best, complete with a bow tie. I wasn’t into bow ties, but the look suited Lowell. “I second that,” he said.
Jessie set her chocolate gaze on me.
I ambled over to her. “You’ve never been more beautiful.”
She cupped her tits. “And my breasts?”
Mack and Lowell snorted.
I grinned. “Perfect.” They were. Even when she was naked, I couldn’t tell she had implants. Her surgeon had done a fabulous job. Jessie was still healing, so we hadn’t made love since before her surgery. In fact, between her motorcycle accident and the breast surgery, sex had been limited, which was fine by me. I would wait forever for her.
Her smile made my dick jerk.
“We should go,” Lowell said. “The snow is getting heavier.”
Not only that, if I ogled her any longer, I just might take her up to our room. Lowell was right, though. My parents’ house wasn’t that far, but it was Christmas so the snowplows would be minimal, and the van didn’t have four-wheel drive. I would have preferred to take my truck, but the van was set up for Lowell’s wheelchair.
“Meet me at my apartment,” Mack said then tore out of the house.
He had moved into the shop that Lowell and Jessie had renovated with Jessie’s signing bonus,
and he was paying rent. He’d gotten a job with a car dealership in town, working on vehicles. As for me, with the money I was making from playing gigs at Rumors and from signing the contract with Mr. Robinson, I was also helping them financially.
We gathered the bags of presents and piled into the van. Lowell took his position in the passenger spot, I drove, and Jessie sat in one of the two buckets seats in the back.
Mack trudged out of his place with a huge stuffed bumblebee in his arms.
“Raven will love that,” I said as Mack slid in.
“Or maybe her future sister will too,” Jessie said.
Ruby had announced at our Sunday dinner last week that she was pregnant. My mom was over the moon. But that news only meant more pressure for my brothers and me, especially Kade. Mom kept asking him when he was going to pop the question to Lacey. All of us in the family had been wondering. Anytime any of us had asked Kade, he’d said he would let us know after he proposed. He was planning a surprise of sorts, and he didn’t want us spilling the beans. I could understand. I wasn’t ready to propose to Jessie, but when that time came, and it would, I wouldn’t tell anyone until I dropped down on one knee and she said yes.
I drove slowly through the snow-covered streets, and before long, we were in my parents’ driveway. I stopped close to the front door so it would be easier for Lowell to go in. Dad was going to have a ramp installed when the weather cooperated.
I glanced in the rearview mirror at my gorgeous girl. “Jessie and I will be right in.”
She tilted her head. “What are you up to?”
I lifted a shoulder. I’d been dying to give her the present I’d bought her for two weeks now.
Once Mack and Lowell were out of the van, I drove down and parked beside Kelton’s truck. Then Jessie and I hopped out. She headed for the deck, when I grasped her hand.
“This way.”
The Maxwell Series Boxed Set - Books 4-6 Page 55