by Robin Kaye
“Um… they’d never have asked. We didn’t have—” She stalled with her mouth open and her hand moving as if trying to gather the invisible Scrabble letters necessary to come up with the right word.
Karma took pity on her and helped her out. “You didn’t have the connection you have with Fisher. You didn’t love them. Hate to tell you, but you’re head-over-running-shoes in love with Fisher. Jessie, welcome to the family.”
“But—”
Karma picked up the cooler she’d brought food over in. “Wish I could stay and chat, but I’ve got to get to work.” She waved on her way out. Her work here was done. “Karma has left the building.”
***
“I thought I heard Karma’s voice.”
Fisher was right behind Jessie, so close she felt his breath on her cheek. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been standing there. Staring at the closed door. In shock. Waiting for Karma to come back laughing, saying she was just kidding. But Karma didn’t come back, and Jessie knew damn well Karma hadn’t been joking. She may be wrong, but Karma didn’t think so—complete certainty about everyone and everything seemed to be a Kincaid family trait. As much as Jessie wanted to deny everything Karma had said, that little voice in Jessie’s head kept telling her that Karma had a point—several in fact.
Fisher wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her back against his big, warm body. “Is there a particular reason you’re staring at the front door?”
“Karma just dropped off some food and left.”
“That still doesn’t answer the question.”
“No, no reason.”
“You want to move this starefest somewhere more interesting? Sometimes I stare into the refrigerator until I figure out what to eat. We can try that. Or we can stare at the TV together. We can even turn it on first.”
“Okay.”
“Jess, are you feeling all right, darlin’? You’re beginning to scare me.”
She was beginning to scare herself too. “I’ll live.”
“You’ve been working too hard. Come on.” He steered her down the hall toward the den. “Let’s see what’s on ESPN. That will cheer you up. I’ve got all five of them. I’m sure you’ll find something you want to watch.”
Jessie sat beside him on the big leather couch, pulled her legs up, and curled into him. Closing her eyes, she inhaled the scent of Fisher—Ivory soap, Right Guard, pine, and something intrinsically him. She knew it so well, she could pick him out in a lineup blindfolded.
She’d never noticed what any of her other lovers smelled like. She never noticed how their voice deepened and pupils dilated, changing colors when they got excited, or even what color their eyes were. Hell, she couldn’t even remember how they kissed, or what they looked like when they came. But with Fisher, she knew, she watched, she noticed, and she felt.
“We can watch SportsCenter Flashback.”
“Okay.”
He lifted her and set her on his lap like she didn’t weigh a hundred and forty-five pounds. “Jess, what’s the matter, darlin’? I’ve never seen you so agreeable, not that you’re not agreeable. Shit. I didn’t mean that. Maybe ‘placid’ is a better word. Yeah, you’re definitely not placid, ever, well, except for now.”
“Fisher, do me a favor?”
“Anything.”
She looked him in the eye, and she knew it was true. God, he really did love her. No one in her life had ever looked at her that way before, well, except maybe Andrew… She shook her head. But Andrew loved her like a sister. And with Fisher, she was willing to bet a six-figure book deal that what he felt was the furthest thing from brotherly. “Kiss me.”
A slow smile spread across his face, and that damn dimple winked. “And I thought you were going to ask for something difficult.”
Jessie took a breath a second before his lips touched hers—familiar, exciting, warm. She’d probably kissed Fisher more than any other person on the planet—a plus in her book, since he was one hell of a kisser.
He held her like a delicate flower, and in his arms, she felt like one. He didn’t rush, didn’t take. He teased and played until she sucked on his tongue. And then, it was as if she flipped a switch—or he stepped into Superman’s phone booth. Gone was the easygoing beta, and in his place was a hot, demanding, determined alpha.
Fisher’s hold tightened, the kiss deepened, and he groaned, sending shivers through her heart, her mind, her body. It should scare her, but all she could think of was that she wanted more.
More of Fisher—the nice guy who cooked and joked, taught her how to fly-fish, held her while she cried, and shared everything with her. More of the animal who’d grabbed her, tossed her over his shoulder, and took her to heights she’d never imagined existed. The same man who, even when he had a hard time standing, stood against his brothers and shielded her, had her car towed, and somehow got it fixed without her ever figuring out how.
She straddled him, and then she was the one to groan as his hands grabbed her butt and pulled her tight against him.
Fisher raised his hips and looked into her eyes. She knew that look. “God Jess, you slay me. You test my control—hell, you shatter it. I’ve never lost it before, but with you…”
It was the same for her. She’d cried on him—twice. She never cried, and never in front of anyone, not even her parents—well, not since she was six and broke her arm. With Fisher, after the mortification, and the fear that comes along with possible insanity, she’d felt safe, cared for, cherished. She’d felt loved.
Love—a four-letter word that spelled disaster.
Love—that scary, crazy, thrilling feeling she’d had since she’d met Fisher, the same one she’d had all those times she’d looked at Jamie Babcock, and wondered why he was with her and not the other half-dozen girls falling all over him.
The voice in her head screamed to run, but the look in Fisher’s eyes held her captive. So steady, sure, and possessive, that alpha thing worked like a virtual tattoo, branding her.
Fisher’s phone rang and broke the spell. He picked it up and cringed. “It’s Karma.”
Fisher watched Jessie blanch and wondered if Karma had said something to upset her. He wrapped his arm around Jessie to keep her on his lap and answered, “You stopped by and didn’t even say hi to me?”
“I had to get to work. I’m not allowed to lounge around in bed all day with servants to deliver my meals and take care of my every need.”
“Don’t push it, Karma. I’m off bed rest in a few hours.”
“Oh good. Look, we have a Humpin’ Hannah’s softball game tonight, and you were supposed to play.”
“I’m feeling almost back to normal, but I’m not up for playing softball. Sorry, kiddo.”
“Fisher, I know that. I’m not an idiot. I was just thinking that Jessie could stand in for you. She’s probably a better ballplayer than you are anyway.”
“You’re probably right. Hold on. I’ll ask her.”
He held his hand over the speaker. “I was supposed to play softball tonight, and Karma wants to know if you’ll stand in for me.”
“Sure. Are you going to be okay here alone?”
“I’m off bed rest today, so I’ll go along and watch.”
She gave him an odd look. “I don’t know.”
“Oh, come on, Jess. I’ve been lying around all week. I’m going nuts. Sitting on the bleachers is no more strenuous than sitting on the couch, especially if you’re out of reach.” He waggled his eyebrows and got a laugh out of her.
“Okay, fine. I’ll play. You watch.”
He took his hand off the phone. “Jessica said she’d play.”
“Great. Just give her your shirt to wear. See you in a couple of hours.”
Fisher tossed the phone down and picked Jessica up. She wrapped her arms and legs around him. Yup, he was definitely feeling better.
“Fisher, put me down. What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Just following doctor’s orders. I’ve got a few mor
e hours of bed rest, and I want to put them to good use.”
***
Trapper had watched Jessie walk Fisher to the stands before the game started. Damn, Fisher had it bad. If Trapper ever acted like such a lovesick pinhead, he hoped someone would put him out of his misery and just shoot him.
Maybe that conk on the head did some real damage. Trapper had seen Fisher with plenty of women over the years, and he was the least possessive person Trapper knew. Hell, half the time he’d have his head stuck so far in his books, he wouldn’t even notice when the woman left. With Jessie, it was as if he scanned the crowd, ready to take out anyone who so much as looked her way.
Gramps took a seat, sandwiching Fisher between him and his mom in the bleachers.
Trapper almost felt sorry for Fisher. He was right in the line of fire and had no way of escaping. From the look on mom’s face, she was on the warpath. She probably called Gramps on running off to the snack shack for hot dogs again.
Karma sat next to Trapper on the bench. “Fisher’s acting like a jealous freak.”
Trapper sat back and crossed his legs. “Yeah, someone’s gotta talk him off the cliff before he jumps. He looks like he’s just itchin’ for a fight. If he doesn’t watch it, he’s gonna end up with his ass in jail, and Jessie on the Tomahawk Trail. She doesn’t strike me as the kind of woman who would put up with much bullshit.”
“He’s in love with her, Trap.”
Trapper tugged off his baseball cap and ran his hand through his hair. “Any idiot that looks at him can see that. So what’s the problem?”
“Jessie doesn’t believe in love—at least not romantic. She swears it’s disappearing faster than the incandescent lightbulb, because women have achieved total equality.”
Trapper raised an eyebrow. As far as he could tell, Jessie hadn’t taken her eyes off Fisher either. “How can she not believe in love? She’s in it.”
“I know that, and you know that, but Jessie thinks it’s lust—a temporary thing.”
“Damn, so that’s why he’s wondering which one of us is going to be his replacement. How the hell is Fisher going to talk her out of that nonsense?”
“I don’t know that he can. Hell, I’ve already tried. And if I can’t do it, nobody can.”
“Don’t you think you’ve caused enough trouble? The only reason Fisher hasn’t taken you over his knee is because one, he’s hurt. Two, you don’t fight fair. And three, you set him up with Jessie. The fact that he thinks you put her in danger still has you pretty high up there on his shit list.”
“How the hell was I supposed to know she’d climb a mountain when she’s afraid of heights? Damn, Trapper. I’m not psychic.”
He threw his arm around her. “I know you meant well, but you gotta admit, Fisher has a point. You knew Jessie was driving up in that windup toy car of hers. You knew she’d never make that last leg to the cabin.”
“So, I didn’t think it through. God, I was busy trying not to bust a gut over the way you jerks fell in line. You know, if you want me to stop messing with you, maybe you should all stop messing with me. I’m twenty-three years old, Trapper. I hardly need my brothers to threaten every man who comes within six feet of me. I have a fifth-degree black belt. I think I can take care of myself.”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t keep us from worrying.”
“And that’s my problem, why? It’s not like I don’t worry about you guys, but you don’t see me threatening your dates.”
Okay, so she had a point. It didn’t mean he had to like it. Trapper shook his head. “I sure hope we win the game in this inning. Jessie hasn’t stopped staring at Fisher the whole time he’s been sitting there. It’s like she can sense his anxiety. Good thing she’s not like that on the field.”
Jessica was up at bat and hit one right between second and third. She was off and safe at first. The girl ran like a gazelle. When the pitcher had his back turned, she stole second, and at the crack of the bat, she was heading toward third.
Trapper rose to his feet with the rest of the crowd. “Go, go, go!”
Jessica ran for home just as the outfielder bulleted the ball to Danny, the catcher. She hit the dirt. The girl had perfect form and no fear. She slid home, tagging the base before taking out Danny, who fell on top of her.
The ump threw up his arms. “Safe.” The crowd went wild. Unfortunately, so did Fisher. He shot out of the stands at a dead run, whipped around the gate, and skidded to a stop a second before Trapper arrived, just as Danny’s face lit up with definite interest. He slid his leg between Jessie’s, putting his weight on his arms, and raked his eyes over her. “Are you coming to Hannah’s after the game?”
Shit. There was nothing left to do but make sure Fisher didn’t get his ass arrested.
Trapper stood by while Fisher grabbed Danny.
“Get the hell off her.” Fisher tossed him off Jessie like a sack of potatoes, and when Fisher went after Danny, Trapper stepped in.
“Calm down, little brother. If you kill every man that asks your girlfriend out, you’re gonna land your ass in jail.”
“He was on top of her.”
“Yeah, and since she doesn’t have a ring on her left hand, or a tattoo that says ‘Property of Fisher Kincaid,’ Danny had no way of knowing she’s taken. She’s had a half-dozen offers since the game started and laughed them all off, so chill. She’s not on the prowl. You have nothing to worry about. Come on.” Trapper threw his arm around Fisher’s shoulder. “Go dust her off, and congratulate her on winning the game for us.”
Fisher turned to find Hunter had already helped Jessica up. Trapper joined Hunter and lifted her onto their shoulders. Jessica waved her hat, having the time of her life, paying no attention to the fact that both his brothers had their hands on her ass.
Trapper slid her down his body and gave her a kiss on the cheek before releasing her. “Damn, Jessie, you keep playing like that, and you can keep Fisher’s jersey and his place in the lineup. Come on back to Hannah’s with us. Your beers are on me.”
Trapper kept his arm around Jessica’s neck, his hand hanging too damn close to her breasts, as if daring Fisher to say something. Shit, this was Trapper.
“Are you asking for a broken arm, Bro?”
Karma ran right in front of Fisher and gave Jessica a hug. “Holy cow, Jessie! You were amazing. I’ll ride over to Hannah’s with you.”
“Sorry, but I can’t go. I’ve got to get Fisher home.”
He was just about to say he’d go too. Jess wasn’t the only one suffering from cabin fever. Then his mom came up beside him and put her arm around his waist. “Oh no. Joe and I will take Fisher home and get him all settled in. You kids go on and have fun.”
Jessie smiled at his mom. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“Not at all. You need a break after being cooped up with Fisher for days. It’s the least I can do.”
“Hey.” Fisher put up his hands. “I’m standing right here, you know.”
Jessie looked at him. “Yeah, we know from the green tinge to your skin. You’d better go home. You don’t look so good. It’s past time for your acetaminophen.”
“I’m a doctor, Jess. I think I know when I’m supposed to take my meds.”
“Well, okay.” She turned to Mom and Gramps. “I’ll check on him when I get home.”
Well, at least she was calling his house home, which was something.
His mother released him and stepped forward. Before he had the chance, she gave Jessica a hug. “Don’t worry about Fisher. He’ll be fine. Just have a good time.”
Karma grabbed Jessica’s arm. “I have your bag. Let’s go grab a pool table.”
“Great.” Jessica gave him a wave and walked away, leaving him with Gramps and his mom. Shit. Before she was ten feet away, she and Karma were surrounded by men.
Gramps rocked back on his heels and stared after Jessica. “You better keep that little filly on a tight rein, son.”
“That would be a lot easier to do if you
and Mom weren’t so damn helpful. Whose side are you on, anyway?”
Fisher saw the look in his mother’s eye and protected his head. “Uh, uh, uh. I have a concussion. No head smacks for at least a month. Doctor’s orders.”
When Gramps pulled into Fisher’s driveway, Fisher waved his mother back into the car. “Mom, I’ve been putting myself to bed for twenty-five years. I don’t need help doing it now.”
“I know, but I told Jessie I’d make sure you were okay. She didn’t see you toss that young man off her like I did. You’re just getting off bed rest. You’re hardly in any shape to try out for the WWE. What were you thinking?”
He was thinking that the guy was making a play for Jessica. That’s what he was thinking. He deserved to be thrown off her. “I was afraid she was hurt. That big guy landed right on top of her.”
“And I suppose that’s why you threatened to break Trapper’s arm too, huh, because you thought she was hurt?”
“You always did have great hearing.” He ran his hands through his hair. “Mom, Jessica’s special, and she has no clue how incredible she is.”
“Fisher, did you watch her? Jessica doesn’t even notice the attention.”
“Oh, she notices it all right. She just thinks they’re staring because she’s tall and muscular, not because she’s drop-dead gorgeous.”
“Well, I’ll be. Fisher Michael Kincaid, you’ve gone and fallen in love with that girl.”
Shit. Could this day get any worse? There was no lying to his mom. She had better radar than the air force. “Yeah, but unfortunately, I’m the only one on the love boat. Jessica doesn’t believe in love, and I have no idea how to prove it to her.”
“Well, acting like a jackass certainly isn’t going to help.” Gramps laughed so hard he had to hold onto the car door to keep from falling over. “Maybe you should borrow that book on dating that Hunter used. Just make sure she doesn’t find it like Toni did.”
Kate gave Fisher a hug and whispered in his ear. “As much as it pains me to say it, your grandfather’s right. And tomorrow, I expect you to call Trapper and apologize. Just remember, Fisher, Jessica’s a smart girl. She’ll figure it out eventually. Just be patient—give her time.”