A baby cooed, filling the stale air and capturing JC’s attention.
Jenny stood beside her with both babies slung on her hip. Their eyes locked. Jenny stepped between them, her steady gaze drifted back and forth examining the situation, locking firmly on JC.
“I—”
“JC, would you mind taking the baby?” Jenny nodded toward the hall, coddling Annie on her left hip and handing Andrew off to her. “The nursery is third door on the left.”
JC automatically reached for the boy. “But, I—”
“I need to escort my sister-in-law and her friend out and find them a ride home.”
Shit! As if things couldn’t get any worse the woman she’d nearly ripped in half was Sam’s sister. JC settled Andrew on her hip. Her eyes fell to the floor then back at Jenny, giving a small mortified shake of her head. “I’m sorry.”
Jenny caressed her baby girl’s arm, giving JC a small appreciative nod toward the hall again. “You’re fine, hun. I’ll be in, in just a minute.”
JC snuggled Andrew higher on her waist and wiggled her fingers at Jenny, indicating she could manage both babies. Jenny looked doubtful of JC’s babysitting skills.
“My brother and his wife have twins. I helped out a lot.”
Jenny still appeared hesitant, refusing to relinquish Annie.
“Oh, for crying out loud, I wouldn’t ask for her if I didn’t know what I was doing. I’m good with babies.”
Jenny settled the baby girl on JC hip.
Annie clung to her brother with a big yawn.
JC’s frayed nerves calmed as she ambled toward the nursery, never bothering to look back.
****
Andrew and Annie lay snuggled sound asleep, on each shoulder. JC hummed softly while gently patting their backs, rocking back and forth in the cozy rocking chair. The scent of chamomile in a nearby plug-in practically put her to sleep.
Jenny quietly entered the room, lifting the sleeping babies one by one and placing them in their cribs. JC rose to her feet with a stretch, moving toward the edge of the crib.
Jenny spoke in a hushed voice. “Reed was lookin’ for you. I told him you were helpin’ me put the babies down.”
“Thanks,” she whispered uneasily, adjusting the lightweight cotton blanket over the baby girl. “I guess I should apologize, I didn’t realize she was Sam’s sister. I just—”
“Honey, don’t you worry bout a thing. She had it coming.” Jenny kept her eyes locked on the crib, but a small grin of satisfaction and envy tucked into the corner of her lips. “I’ve been wantin’ to tell that woman off for years.”
“Does Sam know?”
“Umm hmm. He found someone to take her home after he gave her a talking to.”
“Great.” JC hung her head in shame.
“Don’t think twice bout it. Everyone knows how she is.” She gave an unapologetic shake of the head. “The only reason anyone puts up with her here is because she’s Sam’s baby sister and the fact their daddy is loaded.” Jenny motioned to a quieter location in the corner of the nursery with a rocking chair and loveseat. “That woman’s just jealous. She always had the hots for Reed and every other handsome man with means.”
JC snickered. “Did they...”
“No! Hell no, honey. Reed never gave her the time of day. Even if they had dated, Susie would’ve chewed him up, spit him out and moved on to greener pastures with deeper pockets.” Jenny scoffed with an irritated eye roll. “She’s just naturally horizontal, that one.”
JC sat on the edge of the loveseat, concealing her laughter in the palm of her hand so not to wake the babies. Her chuckles fell flat and her eyes fell to the floor with a scowl. Do they think I’m just naturally horizontal?
As if sensing her thoughts Jenny interjected somberly, “He seems awfully smitten with you, though.”
Heat rose to her cheeks. “He’s…umm….Reed’s wonderful.”
“That man’s as charming as the day is long.” Jenny sank back into the rocking chair with a sigh of relief that only an exhausted mother could make. “We grew up in the same neighborhood. He was like the big brother I never had. He set Sam and I up on a blind date when we were in college and I guess you already know Annie and I were best friends.”
Her chest tightened around her insecurities. It was one thing to stick up for Annie, but admitting she was the love of Reed’s life left her drowning in uncertainty. She cleared her throat in hopes of being able to answer, but only manage to bob her head.
“I only caught the tail end of your conversation.” Jenny gave a slight nod of gratitude. “It was awfully nice of you to stick up for Annie that way.”
Their eyes caught briefly before JC’s stare drifting aimlessly to the window blinds. Her heart pounded in painful beats. All of the answers to every question JC needed to know about Reed sat right in front of her. If I don’t ask, I’ll never know.
JC sank back into to worn denim material, lowering her defenses. “She must have been an amazing woman,”—she chewed nervously on the inside of her cheek, unsure of how much to say—“if she was lucky enough to marry Reed.”
JC’s comment seemed to take Jenny by surprise. She slowly rocked back in the chair. “They were both pretty lucky. Reed’s one hell of a man.”
“He doesn’t talk much about her, but his eyes always light up when he does. So I assume she must have been one hell of a woman.” JC repeated Jenny’s words with a hint of Texas swag. “The love of his life?” The compliment slipped from her lips more like a question than fact.
“Yeah,” Jenny agreed cautiously as she rocked back and forth, staring at JC for a full thirty seconds. “He was the love of her life. I know that much for certain.”
JC remained quiet. The air gathered in lungs escaped slowly in defeat.
“But he seems different with you.”
Her heart rate flew in anticipation from zero to sixty like Reed’s Camaro. “Different?” she questioned casually. A glimpse of optimism heated her cheeks, dusting a hue of blush over her neck and chest.
“Different in a good way.” Grinning at JC’s reaction, Jenny confessed, “I was all prepared not to like you. I poked around on the Internet and Lord knows you’re in a few magazines laying around the house, but seeing the effect you have on Reed, it’s hard not to.”
“The effect I have on him? I thought it was the effect he has on me.” She scoffed candidly.
“Honey, that man hasn’t laughed in three years. Not like today. You could fit the whole state of Texas in his smile.”
Sentiments bit at her nose with a stinging sensation. JC’s shoulders lifted with a shrug, damn near jumping with excitement to her feet. Sam appeared in the doorway with a glass of wine in his hand. Without making a sound, he entered the room, leaning over the railing of the crib to check Annie’s forehead with the palm of his hand for fever. Turning his attention to Jenny, he offered a tender smile, helping her to her feet, relieving her of the baby monitor and replacing it with a glass of red wine. “Everybody’s already left, sweetheart. Let’s go out back and visit.”
The three of them crept out the door. She found Reed waiting under the patio on the rattan sofa. They spent the next hour chatting over a glass of wine. Feeling completely at ease, she snuggled into his masculine frame while his fingers chased up and down her arm.
On her third yawn, Reed suggested they had better take off and let Jenny get some sleep. After passing out hugs and promising to return soon, they moseyed to the truck. Reed opened the driver’s door and she scooted into the middle of the bench seat.
They’d been driving for twenty minutes in almost complete silence other than the country music on the radio. The day replayed through her thoughts. JC attended hundreds of parties over the last few years and hardly, if ever, did she feel this comfortable. The smell of BBQ, the couples she’d met, the expansive backyard filled with kids of every age. A casual get together. A party. A huge picnic filled with the sounds of music, laughter, kids crying, parents laughing an
d hollering at their kids. The sounds of JC’s childhood.
As they pulled onto a gravel road, JC was deep in thought. “Family. That’s the difference,” she stated out load with an affirming nod.
Reed chuckled. “Now you’re talking to yourself and answering your own questions?”
Her hand rested on his heavily muscled thigh and she squeezed with a smirk. “Yes, I guess I am.” She giggled self-consciously. “I was just trying to figure out why I’m so comfortable here. Usually I’m nervous when I don’t really know anyone. Today reminded me of my family. It wasn’t a social party or a charity event, just families hanging out and enjoying each other.”
The truck came to a halt at the end of a gravel road. “Today was a business meeting. We’ll come back and visit for a real Texas style BBQ.” A chuckle simmered from his chest as he stretched behind her to grab a borrowed quilt from the back seat. He opened the door and assisted JC from the seat, brushing a kiss on her forehead. “This is one of my favorite spots in all of Texas.”
The sound of a running stream seized her attention and she ambled through tall blades of grass to stand along the edge of running water. The full moon cast a glow over the pastureland, highlighting mountains in the far off distance.
Pings of curiosity played on her heart. “I bet you bring all your girlfriends here?” she probed with a teasing voice and a playful bump to his hip. Dense trees rustled in the breeze and bullfrogs sang along with the soft music still playing on the radio.
“This is where my dad used to bring me and Andrew fishin’. This was his honey hole. He swore it was the best spot on the river to fish. This little bank of the river holds some of the best memories I have of my brother.” Not missing her slight hint of inquiry, he added with a wry smile, “I have brought a few women fishin’ here once or twice.” He clasped her fingers bringing them to his lips. “But I had something a little different in mind for you.”
Her heart played chorus for the bullfrogs. JC wanted to be different for him. She needed to mean more to him than any other woman in his life. The picture in the hallway of Reed and Annie with their arms around each other dug holes of doubt in her dreams, hindering the possibility he could offer all his love. She’d always expected love to be a journey two people took together.
All day long the idea of wanting to fit in with the couples surrounding them nagged at her subconsciously. Life was not a crystal ball. She had no clear vision of their relationship or their future, but knew wholeheartedly she wanted to experience the irresistible, undeniable feel of adoration. For the first time in her life, she craved to be loved by a man. This man.
Her chin quivered and she nervously scratched at the heat prickling her neck. Anxiety built like an elephant sitting on her chest. She inhaled through her nose, hoping to catch a grip on her nerves. Will he love me as much as her? Is he capable?
The sounds of the outdoors and Reed’s laughter brought her back into reality. So infused in her own thoughts, JC hadn’t been listening. She attempted to focus on his story about the moon and why the Native Americans call it a strawberry moon in June in order to keep track of their crops.
Her mind continued to drift. I want him to love me - like I love him.
Her nose burned, tears of joy and confusion threatening to spill.
I love him.
She let out a sniff.
Reed stopped mid-sentence, tilting his head to glimpse at her face in the moonlight. “Are you cryin’?” He gathered her into his arms, pressing his jaw to her temple. He scowled, holding her out at arm’s reach to take a closer look. “What’s wrong, darlin’?”
Unable to speak, she shook her head.
“Oh hell.” He led her by the elbow toward the tailgate of the truck, motioning her to sit.
JC wafted her hand in the air, suggesting he sit while she held her stomach, gasping for air.
He backed against the tailgate, but clutched her hands, turning small circles on her palms. “Did something happen, sweetheart?”
Blood rhythm pounded in her ears and her voice caught in her throat. JC couldn’t answer, but wrinkled her nose between huffs at the term sweetheart. She held up her finger and shook her head. “I need to,”—sniff sniff sniff –“tell you s..something,” she croaked.
Reed’s face fell sober like he’d been kicked by a horse. He bowed his head and gave the ground a swift kick with his heel. “I shouldn’t have brought you here. I was afraid it might be too much for you.”
JC wiped the back of her hand over her cheek, shaking her head. “That’s not it.” She unloaded her lungs, blowing out a huge breath of air. “I like your friends. I had a great day. It reminds me of my family. All the laughter and kids running around.”
Tears flowed freely.
Tugging gently, he pulled her closer between his thighs. His big hands trailed down the length of her arms. “How come you’re cryin’? Are thinking about your daddy again?”
She shook her head and leaned in, resting her cheek on his chest. They stood under the strawberry moon, holding each other, stroking one another. Reed waited patiently for the words to come. Tears soaked his shirt. He lifted it overhead and tenderly dabbed her damp face.
“Now, what is it you need to say?” he asked apprehensively.
Shadows of dancing leaves played against his naked chest. A rush of sensation flowed through her core, causing an ache between her thighs. His enticing scent played havoc on her senses. Her mouth watered merely looking at him.
JC wanted to show him how much she loved him. She reached for the buttons on his jeans, wanting to taste him, devour every inch of the man she loved.
Reed clasped her face in his hands, lifting her face, bringing her eye to eye. “No way.” He gave an adamant no with raised brow. “Not gonna happen until you say what’s on our mind.”
“Maybe you should put your shirt back on.” She set the shirt on his lap and paced back and forth, crunching the gravel beneath her feet. She came to an abrupt halt, staring at the moonlight glimmering on the stream.
Being the second love of his life is better than not being loved by him at all.
He stood behind her, crossing his arms beneath her breast from behind. The warmth of his breath on her neck set her flesh on fire. “It’s okay, darlin’. Just tell me,” he whispered with a kiss.
She shifted in his arms twisting to face him. Just say it.
Circling her wrists over his shoulder, JC’s gaze fell to his chest. “Reed Rider,”—finding the courage, her gaze bore into his ice blue eyes turned stormy under the night sky—“I love you.”
He wretched back in surprise, shocked by the revelation. Reed blinked repeatedly. “Oh.”
The aching rasp of his voice curled through her on a wave of uncertainty. JC’s belly burned and she frowned at his reply. The air around her turned deafeningly silent, muting to the sound of her thrashing heartbeat hammering in her ears. Anxiety swelled. Her knees bobbled waiting for his response.
The entire world seemed to stop as she searched his eyes, the window to his soul, for a reaction. She fidgeted with the locks of hair curled at his nape. Say something! Please say you can love me. Her chest heaved against his. JC’s chin crumpled as disillusionment mounted to the surface.
“Oh hell.” Pulling her closer to his frame, he clamped his mouth over hers. She twisted away from his kiss. Reed clasped the sides of her jaw, lifting her face to the moonlight. “It is about damn time, woman.”
Her shoulders slumped as she exhaled. A sweet smile of relief floated across her lips. “Have you been waiting for me to say that?”
“Well hell yes! And patiently I might add. I’ve loved you from the first moment I laid eyes on you.”
“I’m sorry.” She nipped his chin. “What did you say?”
“JC Mathews,” he mocked her playfully, “I love you too.”
Abandoning her defenses, she crushed her lips to his, molding herself to his solid form. He licked into the depths of her mouth, their kiss almost bruising
in force. The ravenous kiss carried on and on, binding them as they moved and breathed together as one.
“Easy darlin’.” He slowed her down, swaying to the soft music, stroking and caressing her face, allowing her to take in every nuance of the moment. Ever so patiently, he traced the contours of her neck and shoulders with the pad of his finger. “Just let me love you tonight.”
She knew he wanted control. “No way.”
The warm scent of his skin danced erotically around her senses. The moon’s glow cast across the masculine features of his face would stay forever etched in JC’s memory like a charcoal drawing.
“I’ve waited all my life to fall in love with you. If you had a hat on your head, you’d need to hold onto it tonight, darlin’.” Her lip twitched with the sensual promise.
An understanding grin broadened across his face. Reed clutched her hips, hinging at the waist. JC’s head dropped back. Her long hair swung freely in a light gust of wind as he dipped her. “You can do whatever you’d like to me. I’m all yours.”
Heightened senses of adoration lit her heart on fire. He clasped her face, demanding the heat of her mouth again. The kiss was soft and slow, filled with passionate and erotic cravings. Reed eased his fingers beneath the straps of her summer dress, pausing to lift the dress above her head, freeing her aching breasts with a bounce. He tossed the dress to the grass and cupped the supple weight in his palm. Turning his undivided attention to her breasts, he gently twisted the tight pink nub between his thumb and finger.
Looping her thumbs into the waistband of his jeans, she wriggled them past his hips. She moaned into his mouth, struggling to keep their footing while he kicked off his shoes and kicked his pants to the side. His hot breath tickled the curve of her neck while she stroked the hard sprung length of his cock. His hips bucked forward and she gripped firmly, allowing him to pump beneath the pressure of her hand. A low croon of approval riddled through the night air.
JC cast her gaze downward. Lust and love tightened in her tummy. She was utterly lost in the splendor of his magnificent body. JC wobbled, but Reed was in full control. His powerful hands grasped the curve of her ass, lifting slightly, positioning himself between her thighs. Curling his fingers lower, he hunted for the thin material of her panties, slipping the wet lace to one side. He rocked against her, teasing her into near madness.
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