by Robin Kaye
“I think you’re right. You’ll feel better once we get you home.”
So much for him wanting her back. She wanted to curl up on the bed and just disappear.
“Sit down, and tell me what’s yours.”
“Just the clothes.” Jessie sat on the edge of the bed, wrapped her arms around herself and rocked, trying not to cry.
“Okay.” He gave her shoulder a squeeze. “I’ll take care of it. Do you want some tea and toast first?”
“I don’t have anything but fruit, and after last night, I don’t think I’ll be able to eat another orange or lemon for a while.”
“That’s understandable.”
Fisher was even the perfect ex—just watching him fold her clothes hurt. Within a few minutes, everything was packed.
“I’ll go put these in the car, and we can go.” Fisher shouldered the bags. “You need to get some food into you.”
Jessie followed him down the hall and watched him carry her things out the front door. God, how was she supposed to drive away from him?
Her head pounded, and she went to the kitchen, needing to sit and get a grip before she dissolved into a puddle of tears. She grabbed the coffee Fisher had poured her and took a tentative sip, sat at the table, and flipped open Andrew’s binder to see what he was working on. Anything to stop thinking of Fisher packing her car for the long drive home. The title jumped out at her. Call Me Wild, by Jessie James. The lukewarm coffee she held slopped over her hand.
“Hey, be careful with that.” Fisher took the coffee from her and wiped up the spill. “That’s my only copy. You’re really a fabulous writer, darlin’, but there were a few inaccuracies.”
“You read it?”
“Every word.” He sat beside her and threw his arm around the back of her chair. “The story was riveting, but Seth wasn’t really a closet knitter.”
“No?”
“Maybe he was after Jenny dumped him, but he’d only taken a knitting class because he lost a bet with his brothers. You see, he’d been in kind of a funk, and they bet him he couldn’t pick up a woman on Ladies’ Night at Hannah’s. It wasn’t as if he couldn’t. He just wasn’t interested, and he was never the kind of guy who was only out to get laid. He lost the bet and found himself signed up for three beginning knitting classes.”
“That makes sense, knowing Seth’s brothers. Those guys will bet on anything.”
“Exactly.”
“And Seth had it bad for Jenny, well before his little sister tricked him into going to the cabin.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. Jenny was beautiful. That first day when they ran into each other at Starbucks, he looked into her eyes and saw a woman who was so strong, so self-assured, but had no idea how amazing she was. She pushed him and challenged him and had him tied up in knots. He was so busy trying to catch her that he’d fallen in love without even realizing it. When he figured it out, it scared the hell out of him. You see, he’d never met a woman he could picture spending his life with.”
Fisher tore his eyes away, took a deep breath, and straightened his back, as if gathering his courage. “Jessica, I’d never met a woman I could picture spending my life with until I met you.”
“Yeah?” She turned to him and crossed her arms, her fingers digging into her biceps. “Then why did you pack my bags so I could go back to my parents’ on Long Island?”
“I packed your bags so you can go home. With me.”
“Your home? But Fisher, I don’t want this to be a temporary research thing. I want this to be a permanent gig.”
He stood and picked up her coffee cup. “Okay.”
She stood too, and tossed the napkin on the table. “Okay what? What is okay?”
“Okay, I’ll marry you. Call it research for your next book.” He tapped the top of the manuscript. “Darlin’, this one isn’t going to print.”
“What did you say?” She dropped her arms and stood nose to nose with him.
“I said,” he spoke through clenched teeth, “this book isn’t going to print.”
“No.” She pushed on his hard chest. “Before that.”
“The part about you coming home with me?”
“No.” She pushed him again. “After that.”
“Dammit, Jessica. Marry me.” He grabbed her hand and held it to his chest. “I can’t go through this again. I lost it when you left. My house went to shit. I’m surprised it wasn’t condemned by the health department. It got so bad Karma did my laundry. Now, everything that I owned that was white is pink. I puked on Trapper’s boots. Do you have any idea how much it cost to replace them? I knit three six-packs of beer cozies and a scarf long enough to hang myself with. And I’ll be damned if you’ll ever have another research partner. You got that? I don’t think I can take it.”
God, she loved it when he went all alpha on her. “I guess that explains the outfit, so okay.”
“Okay what?” Fisher looked like he was about to strangle her.
“Okay, I’ll marry you.” She wrapped her arms around him. “I love you, Fisher. Let’s go home.”
***
Fisher carried Jessica into his house and let out a breath as relief rushed through him. Andrew must still be upstairs. He carried Jessica back toward the bedroom and closed the door behind him. He kissed her and set her down on the bed and straightened. “I’ll get you something to eat. You just rest.”
She got on her knees and scooted toward him, tugging on his T-shirt. “I’m not hungry—for food.”
Fisher just about groaned. “Darlin’, we have a houseguest, and I wouldn’t put it past the whole family to show up. They have a sick sixth sense about these things.”
She kissed him hard and long, and when she slid her hands into his pink shorts, he’d forgotten what he was saying.
“Fisher? Do you love me?”
“God, yes.”
She kissed a path from one nipple to the other, and licked her way to his fly, and he swallowed hard. His shorts hit the floor.
“I want you so bad it scares me. I need you. Inside me. Now.”
Fisher was lost in a frenzy of rediscovery—her taste, her scent, the texture of her skin fascinated him. He licked and teased and played, until she begged for mercy. He floated on sighs of pleasure and passion, on nips of temptation, and the heady freedom to love Jess freely with nothing withheld.
Jess stared into his eyes, unflinching. When he entered her, it was if the last piece of his heart fell into place. They moved as one, and together they rode the crest and flew and shattered, holding tight to each other.
“I’m crushing you.” Fisher rolled off her and spooned his body around hers. Her long hair draped over his arm, his hand against her stomach.
Jessica’s snuggled closer, and he followed her into the first good sleep he’d had in days.
***
“I have a bad feeling about this, and I called Mom.” Karma stood on Fisher’s front lawn, crossed her arms, and looked at Hunter and Toni. “I’m not gonna take the fall for this one, Hunter. I’ve joined MA—Meddlers Anonymous. I think you should leave Fisher alone.” She shot Toni an I-can’t-believe-you-let-him-talk-you-into-this look.
Toni just shrugged and looked away as Hunter gave Karma his patented pesky-older-brother pout. “You always were a snitch. The neighbor called me because she was worried. She said there was a strange man here last night. We have to at least check it out.”
“What do you think? That Fisher’s batting for the other team?”
“He did swear off women that night at Hannah’s.”
“Get real. Maybe he just has a friend over from college or med school. You know, he does have a life.”
He headed toward the porch and threw that same look over his shoulder. She was tempted to kick him. She would have, if she didn’t know mom was on her way.
Trapper walked up beside her and rocked back on his heels. “Don’t even think about it, Karma.”
“I can think about all I want.” She
put her hands on her hips, rolled her eyes, and stuck out her tongue just for good measure. “I just can’t do it. Hunter’s acting like an ass again, and he won’t listen to reason.”
“Hi, Toni.” Trapper kissed her on the cheek.
“I tried distracting him.” Toni fingered her studded collar. “But he was acting like a nervous nanny all night.”
Hunter shrugged. “I’m getting some pretty strong mixed signals. I don’t understand it. I’ve tried calling him, but he must have his phone off. It goes straight to voice mail.”
“Or maybe—” Karma pushed his chest. “He just doesn’t want to talk to you.”
“I’m worried, Karma, Something big is happening, and I’m not in the loop.”
Brothers, you can’t train ’em, you can’t shoot ’em, but damn, she did love ’em. “Now, you know how Fisher’s felt ever since you and Toni got married. Something big happened, and he wasn’t in the loop either. It’s enough to throw off any twin’s game.”
“Yeah, well, his game moved to a whole other conference if you ask me.” He pointed to the mango-green Karmann Ghia convertible with California plates. “Do you know any straight man who would be caught dead in that?”
Maybe not in Boise. “Sure, I do. Anyone in LA. Not everyone needs a four-wheeler to feel like a real man.”
“Forgive me if I don’t take your word for it.” Hunter put his hands on his hips, his feet spread, doing his macho-man-of-the-mountain impression. “I still haven’t recovered from Fisher’s last stint in the psycho-city jail. I ruined a perfectly good pair of gloves cleaning up the disaster that losing Jessie created. And Steph at Starbucks said that Jessie’s quit and is moving back home, so I can guaran-ass-tee, it’s not her. Besides, she drives a red Mini Cooper.”
Trapper smiled. “I ended up getting two pairs of really nice boots out of the deal. Not bad for a few hours of work.”
Gramps’s White Lincoln pulled up to the curb, and Mom rushed out, followed closely by Gramps. “Who called this family meeting?”
Karma and Trapper pointed to Hunter. Karma stepped up and gave her mom a kiss on the cheek. “I’ve been trying to talk him out of it.”
Mom gave her a sideways glance. “No, you just don’t want to get blamed for it.”
“Hi, Mom.” Trapper tipped his cowboy hat back and leaned in for a kiss. “Who else is coming?”
“Ben and Gina are on their way.”
Karma sidled over to Gramps. “What’s this I hear about Jessie moving home?” she whispered behind her hand.
Grampa winked. “Don’t you worry, girly. I’ve got it all under control.”
Ben and Gina walked hand-in-hand across the lawn, Gina’s five-inch spikes sinking into the grass.
Hunter looked around. “Everyone ready?”
Mom stopped at the door as Hunter grabbed his key. “At least knock first.”
“Yeah, we wouldn’t want to give the burglar a fright,” Hunter snapped, and both Mom and Toni smacked him on the head.
Hunter knocked twice and unlocked the door. The whole family swarmed in.
***
Jessie called Fisher, trying to get him back, but it wasn’t her voice she was hearing. “Fisher Michael Kincaid.”
She opened her eyes. God, it was happening again. It wasn’t a dream.
The door to the bedroom slammed open, and she jumped.
“We’re staging an intervention.”
Crap. That was Hunter—damn him, and his twin thing.
“Don’t tell me that body next to Fisher’s is Jessie’s. I know for a fact she went back home to Long Island.”
Jessie could swear she heard the sound of pictures being snapped. And her clothes were strewn all over the floor.
“Karma, put that camera down.”
Kate was there? In the bedroom? Could this get any more embarrassing?
“If it’s a guy under that sheet, I sure hope he can play baseball as well as Jessie.”
Oh God no, not Trapper too.
Grampa Joe laughed. “Well, if it is a man under that sheet with Fisher, he wears a bra.”
Fuckity, fuck, fuck, fuck. Her face flamed so hot, she was surprised the sheet wasn’t smoldering. Jessie made sure everything was covered and poked Fisher. “I know you’re awake. Do something. They’re your family.”
“No,” he whispered, “they’re our family.” Her head was on his shoulder, and even with the blackout shades, Fisher had the sheet pulled up over their heads. He inched it down, uncovering both their faces. Keeping his arm around her, he sat up, forcing her to join him. God, the whole family was there, and one tiny woman she’d never even met before.
“Hunter, if you say another word about my fiancée”—Fisher’s arm tightened around her—“I’ll kick your ass, and Jessica will help me. Believe me, you don’t want to get on her bad side.”
Gramps picked up her bra with the rubber tip of his cane and tossed it onto the bed. “Sounds like we’ve got some celebratin’ to do instead of interventin’. You two take your time, and come out whenever you’re ready. We’re in no rush.” He winked at her. “I knew you’d figure it out. I’m gonna have me some exceptional great-grandbabies soon. I can feel it.”
Kate took a tissue out of her sleeve and patted her eyes. “Okay, everyone out. Let’s give them time to get dressed.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Fisher said as she herded the crew out.
Jessie fell back onto the pillows. “That’s it. We’re changing the locks and putting one on the bedroom door. This is ridiculous.”
“I told you they had a sick sixth sense, didn’t I? Welcome to the family.”
***
Karma ducked her head as her mother slapped her and tore the camera out of her hands.
“I can’t believe you took pictures.”
“Well, at least we have a memento from the day Fisher got engaged. Jessie looks cute with her hair a mess and her face all red.”
Gina stepped over and looked. “Sometimes I’m really glad we live in Brooklyn. I wouldn’t want you storming into our bedroom.”
Hunter snorted. “Ben always locks it. I checked.”
Gramps sat on the recliner. “Some damn thing’s poking me in the ass.” He reached behind him and pulled out circular knitting needles attached to what looked like a tube of camouflage. “I never figured Jessie for a knitter.”
Trapper smiled and pushed the brim of his cowboy hat back. “She’s not. That’s Fisher’s.”
Gramps looked over at Hunter. “Well, shit son, no wonder why you were so worried about Fisher. When did he take up actin’ like a woman?”
At least Hunter had the decency to look ashamed. “When he lost a bet, Trapper bought him knitting lessons.” Of course, Hunter would blame it all on Trapper. Mom hit the both of them, so he got his.
“What the hell is he knitting, anyway?” Gramps examined the project.
Fisher stepped into the living room, tugging a very embarrassed Jessie behind him. “Camo beer cozies.”
Gramps got up, went right to Jessie, and threw his arms around her. “I’m so proud of you, girl. Welcome to the family.”
“Thanks, Gramps.”
He took her left hand in his. “Well, damn Fisher. Where the hell is her ring?”
“I don’t have one yet. It’s not like I planned this.”
“Shit, you’ve known you wanted to marry her for weeks now. You don’t ask a woman to put up with the likes of you without giving her a nice, big diamond. Haven’t I taught you boys anything?”
“Hey.” Hunter took his wife’s hand in his. “I had a ring when I proposed.”
Toni laughed. “Yeah, but he didn’t get down on one knee, and it didn’t look like an engagement ring, so I just assumed it was a sorry-I-acted-like-an-ass present.”
Gina laughed. “I got mine in front of the justice of the peace and my ex-boyfriend on our first wedding day. I wondered if it was a fake. I mean, who buys a real diamond for a sham of a marriage?”
Everyone turned
and smiled. “Ben,” they chorused.
Jessie’s phone rang, and she ran into the bedroom to take it. Karma didn’t think Jessie could look any happier, but when she came back to join them, she did. She whispered something in Fisher’s ear, and he picked her up and kissed her. “Jessica got the job with ESPN, and she’s based here in Boise covering the Northwest.”
Karma looked over to Gramps, who winked at her. She mouthed the words “thank you.” God, Karma loved her family.
She heard footsteps and turned to see a stranger walking down the stairs. “You must be Andrew.” How Jessie didn’t notice what Andrew looked like was amazing. No wonder Fisher was having puppies at the thought of Jessie staying with him. “I’m Karma Kincaid, Jessie’s future sister-in-law. Welcome to the family.”
Andrew smiled. “Congratulations, sugar.” Andrew gave Fisher a look, pulled Jessie into his arms, and gave her a smacking kiss on the cheek. “I’m happy for you.”
“Andrew, I got the ESPN job too. I’ll be based here in Boise.”
“That’s fabulous. I knew you’d get it.”
“Well, I don’t think I could have survived, and Fisher and I wouldn’t have been able to fix things without you.”
“Na, I didn’t have much to do with it.” He shook Fisher’s hand. “Congratulations.”
Fisher turned the shake into a guy hug. “Andrew, thanks for everything.”
Andrew nodded and backed toward the door. Karma knew an escape plan when she saw one. She stepped over, leaned against the door, shot Andrew a smile, and raised an eyebrow. Foiled again. “Everyone… this is Andrew Monahan, Jessie’s best friend since they went to Columbia together. Andrew, this is…” She started the introductions, and even remembered to introduce Gina to Jessie. When she looked at her watch, she cringed—she had to leave, or she’d be late for work. She really didn’t want to miss this. “Okay, I’m having an impromptu engagement party for Jessie and Fisher tonight at Hannah’s. After all, I’m the one who fixed them up together.” She pointed at Andrew. “And you are the only one from Jessie’s side, so you’d better show up.”
“I wouldn’t miss it.” He was friendly enough, but his eyes kept cutting back to Gina. He finally went over to her. “Excuse me, but do I know you?”