“Mama loves you,” he told her as he turned into his parents’ driveway. Like him, they lived on the outskirts of town. They had about one hundred acres, where they’d both retired to after his father had sold him J.T. Contractors.
Just the thought of the family business made his stomach clench. He still hadn’t told Kassie the truth. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to come clean, but more that the timing never seemed to be right. But he knew that his time was running out. He’d have to face the truth or run the risk of hurting the woman he loved. He couldn’t bear to do that.
“I hope she does.” Kassie squeezed his fingers back. “Because I love her son.”
He’d never get tired of hearing those words. He and Kassie had fallen into an easy pattern. They spent their nights and weekends together. He’d shown her every inch of the town he’d grown up in, sharing with her all his favorite places. He’d taken her swimming in the ocean before the water temperature had cooled for fall. They’d hiked on the beach to a nineteenth-century lighthouse. They’d spent days in bed, having sex and drinking wine, getting up only to eat takeout and then start it all over again.
Being with her was the best experience of his life. Hands down. “I love you too, baby,” he said.
“Let’s just hope the rest of your family loves me too.” She laughed then. “I brought a pie, so that should take care of Slade.”
He laughed. “I know what will cheer you up.”
“What?” She sounded suspicious.
He hit the gas on his truck, the modifications he’d had Slade make to it kicking in, taking them from slow to sixty miles per hour right now. He had a five-inch turbo back exhaust kit and an H&S Black Maxx Tuner, which resulted in massive speed for a big truck like his. Black smoke billowed out behind them, and there were few things in the world that made a country boy happier than watching the cloud of exhaust coming from his truck. Kassie’s fingers closed on his.
“What was that?”
“That,” he told her, grinning as he slowed back down, “is called rolling coal. It’s what we Southern rednecks do with our diesels.”
She was grinning back at him, the nervousness zapped right out of her. “I think it’s safe to say I’ve never seen anything like that before.”
“Certainly not in New York,” he agreed. “Any regrets leaving the big city?”
She was quiet for longer than he would’ve liked as he slid his truck into park alongside Connor’s Porsche. “No,” she said quietly.
“Good.” He hoped liked hell that she meant it. When it came to her, he didn’t want to take any chances. He turned off his truck and hopped down, skirting the front to come around the side and open it for her. His mama had taught him that every woman loved a gentleman, and he’d never forgotten it. He helped Kassie down and then retrieved the pumpkin pies from the rear of the quad cab. They smelled awesome. He handed her one to carry and kept the other for himself.
“I hope the pies are okay,” she worried as they walked together up the paver-lined path leading to his parents’ sprawling house. “Someone was distracting me while they were in the oven.”
He grinned, thinking back on the spur-of-the moment sex they’d had. “We were done by the time the timer went off.”
She cast him a sidelong look that made him want to kiss her. “Barely.”
“I didn’t hear any complaints.”
“Jax,” she protested as they reached the front door. “No talking about that.”
“Talking about what?” he asked, enjoying watching her squirm a bit. He couldn’t help it. She was just too damn cute.
“Sex.”
As she said the word, the door popped open to reveal his beaming mother. He swore he could hear Kassie gulp. He hid his chuckle behind a smile. “Mama. You look beautiful as always.”
His mother had dressed to match holidays ever since he could remember. She was wearing an autumn, leaf-dotted sweater with a big turkey on the front, and it looked ridiculous. But she was still his mama, and he would never tell her about the sweater as long as he lived.
She beamed. “Oh this? I found it at the department store in Salisbury.”
In the grandmother’s section, no doubt. He leaned in to give her a hug and kiss, and then she moved on to Kassie.
“Kassie, sweetheart, I’m so glad you could join us.” She wrapped Kassie in a welcoming embrace. “Your parents weren’t upset, were they?”
“Oh no.” Kassie smiled at him as she hugged his mother back. “My mother and stepfather always go away over Thanksgiving. Mom’s not much of a cook. Everything I know about cooking I learned from my grandmother.”
“Jax tells me she was a good teacher.” His mama winked at him as she stepped away from Kassie and took the pie from her. “He loves your cooking. Come on in, you two. Everyone else is here already.”
He wrapped an arm around Kassie’s waist, leaning into her and pressing his lips to her ear. “I love your cooking in the bedroom and out of it.”
She rewarded him with an elbow to his ribs. “Jax,” she hissed.
He knew how to distract her from her nerves. Rile her up. It worked every time.
They followed his mother from the foyer to the kitchen, where all three of his brothers were gathered around his father, drinking beers and laughing together. Everyone turned to them as they entered, wearing smiles. Except for Connor. He looked as if someone had pissed in his grits. Par for the course when it came to his big brother, who always thought he knew best.
“Kassie,” his dad greeted. “So good to see you again.”
“You too, Jax,” Slade added, grinning. “But we’d rather see Kassie. Especially since it looks like she brought pies.”
Everyone exchanged greetings and Kassie was introduced to Levi, who looked as if he probably still had a load on from the night before. At least there wasn’t a beach bimbo here with him. Lord knew they’d all had to suffer through more than their fair share of Levi’s girlfriends.
Kassie, seemingly in her element now that she’d passed the challenge of arriving and being outnumbered by men two to one, offered to help his mother finish preparing the table. Everything was going perfectly, he decided, accepting a beer from his dad. He couldn’t have asked for anything better than sharing the holiday with his family and with Kassie, who he fully intended to make his family if he had anything to say about it. He knew he’d have to wait a bit before the timing was right, but there was no doubt in his mind.
Seeing her mingling so effortlessly with his family only confirmed what he’d been feeling deep down inside. That Kassie was the one for him. The real one. The right one. He couldn’t imagine his life without her in it. Didn’t want to. And if he had his way, he’d never have to.
* * * * *
Kassie looked down at the feast-laden plate before her. Jax’s mother had outdone herself, making enough food to feed a small army. There was turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce and a million other mouthwatering holiday delicacies. She hadn’t even touched three quarters of the portions on her plate yet, and she was already full.
Despite her initial attack of nerves on the ride over, she had felt completely at ease ever since Mrs. Taylor had enveloped her in a warm hug at the door. Jax’s dad was sweet, with a great sense of humor that seemed to lighten the day for everyone. Levi, his arm still in a cast, had been more than kind and sweet. He was young. Only in his early twenties unless she missed her guess. Slade was just as kind as before. Even Connor had been polite. Guarded, but polite.
It all seemed almost too good to be true. She loved the Taylor family, so much that she caught herself hoping she’d one day get to be a part of it.
Wow.
Nothing like putting the gas pedal straight to the floor.
The unmistakable sound of metal scraping china echoed through the companionable silence that had fallen over the table. Kassie glanced up to realize that Jax, seated to her left, was already finished with his meal. So was Sl
ade at her right. In fact, all the men had cleaned their plates. She looked to Jax’s mother, relieved to find that she was still eating as well.
She grinned at Kassie, and Kassie knew where Jax’s easy smiles came from. “Don’t worry, Kassie. Eating is a competitive sport for these four. I’ve gotten used to it over the years.”
“Time for football,” Slade announced with relish.
Four sets of chair legs hauled back on the tile floor at once.
Kassie raised a brow, watching as the Taylor men stood. Jax met her gaze. “Family tradition, darlin’,” he explained. “We boys know how to finish our plates.”
You could say that again. If she had consumed even a quarter of the Thanksgiving feasts that he and his brothers had devoured, she would have gained ten pounds before she left the table, she just knew it.
“The boys always turn on the football game while I put away the leftovers,” Jax’s mother explained. “I’d love having some company for a change.”
Jax’s mom was really making the effort to connect with her, and Kassie was grateful. In addition to the way to a man’s heart being through his stomach, she had a sneaking suspicion it was also through his mother. She’d take all the bonus points she could get.
“Do you mind, baby?” Jax asked close to her ear as he caressed her shoulder.
“Not at all,” she said easily. “I’ve never been a football fan.”
“I knew she was too good to be true,” Slade said with a good-natured smile. He winked at Kassie. “If you liked football on top of baking the way you do, I’d have been fighting old Jax here for you.”
Jax elbowed his brother. “Keep dreaming, little brother.”
“I’m pretty damn sure that Jax would take you in a fight, Slade,” Levi said wryly.
“I’d like to see him try,” Slade scoffed.
“I could kick all of your sorry asses,” Connor interjected. “Especially you, Levi.”
“Hey, keep me out of this.” Levi held up his uninjured hand in a show of surrender. “I need to be whole for Summer.”
“What happened to Leslie?” Jax’s mother asked.
“Leslie who?” Levi returned with a grin.
Kassie couldn’t help smiling. Jax and his brothers certainly were never short on entertainment. Seeing them all interacting, joking and laughing with one another warmed her heart. She’d never been close with her own family. Sure, she spoke with her mother on the phone every other week, but aside from the time she’d spent in Pennsylvania after she’d left New York, they’d never shared time together as adults. There was something heartwarming and infectious about the Taylor family.
Still laughing, the men filed out of the dining room, leaving Kassie and Mrs. Taylor alone.
Jax’s mother shook her head. “Don’t let the boys scare you off, Kassie. They’re a handful, but they have good hearts.”
“I know.” She smiled. “How did you manage, being the only female in an almost all-male household?”
“Extreme amounts of patience.” Mrs. Taylor winked. “And a whole lot of prayer. Even though they’re all grown and flown from the nest, I still keep an eye on them. I keep telling myself that one day, they’ll all settle down with nice girls and I won’t have to worry about them anymore.”
Kassie’s cheeks warmed at Mrs. Taylor’s knowing stare. She had a feeling that there was an underlying message to Jax’s mother’s words. “I’m sure they will,” she said, secretly hoping she’d be the one Jax settled down with. It was too soon for her to expect anything, of course, but everything seemed to be moving in the right direction.
“At least it looks as if I’ll have one less to worry about now,” Mrs. Taylor said before patting her belly. “I don’t know about you, dear, but I’m stuffed.”
“Me too.” Kassie stood. “Thank you again for inviting me to dinner. Everything was delicious.”
Mrs. Taylor waved a dismissive hand in the air. “Please. I’m just so happy to have another woman here on a holiday. You have no idea.”
So Jax had never invited his ex-almost-fiancée to his family’s Thanksgiving dinner, then. She couldn’t help but be gratified by the revelation. This was something meaningful for him then. Not every woman in his past had been allowed into his close-knit family circle. Good.
She picked up her plate first, then Jax’s empty one. “Let me help you clear the table.”
“Jax was right.” His mother beamed. “You are a keeper.”
“I hope so,” she said honestly, following Mrs. Taylor into the kitchen.
“Oh, my. I know Jax would kill me if he knew I was about to say this,” Mrs. Taylor said, stopping to deposit some dirty dishes in the sink. “But I’m so glad he’s found someone genuine. His ex was not a very nice woman. It’s sad to say, but I think she just wanted him because he owned a successful business. She thought he could give her a certain lifestyle, but in the end, even that wasn’t good enough for her.”
Kassie wasn’t bothered by Jax’s mother’s mentioning of his ex. Not at all. She too had a past. But something about what his mother had just revealed stuck out at her like a fox in a henhouse. “He owned a business?” she asked casually, scraping the remnants of her plate into the garbage disposal.
“Still does. J.T. Contractors,” Mrs. Taylor elaborated, confusion developing on her friendly face. “It was his father’s business and his grandfather’s business before him. I’m proud of the way Jax has built it though, making it his own.”
Kassie was silent, the implications of Jax’s mother’s revelation sinking slowly into her. His mother must have sensed the troubled direction her thoughts had taken, because she touched Kassie’s arm, her expression pinching with worry.
“Wait just a minute. Didn’t he tell you, dear? He said his men were doing a renovation at your house.”
His business. His men.
Suddenly, everything clicked into place and began to make sense. Awful sense. Even the initials spelled it out for her. God, she should have known. The tricked-out vehicles, the freedom to drop in at her place during the day, the house in the country with her dream kitchen. The fact that his parents owned a horse farm and everyone in town knew the Taylors.
All this time, she’d assumed that Jax worked for the renovations company. But he was actually the owner. And he’d never bothered to tell her. Her heart thumped a rapid beat in her chest. Why? Hadn’t he trusted her? Did he think that she, apparently like his ex-fiancée, would merely be after his money?
His mother’s question returned her to the present with a jolt. Didn’t he tell you, dear?
No. Of course he hadn’t told her.
She met his mother’s gaze and summoned up a smile she didn’t feel. No need to make a scene now. She was in the midst of a private family function. She’d simply have to wait it out, confront Jax after they left. Even if her stomach felt as if it were about to reject all the turkey and stuffing she’d so recently consumed.
“I guess he didn’t have a chance to mention it,” she said lightly, all the while her heart reminded her that it was a lie. He could have told her. He’d had three damn months to tell her. He could have corrected her assumptions.
But he hadn’t wanted to.
“I’m sure it slipped his mind,” his mother said. “Now if I know my boys, they’ll soon be ready for that scrumptious-looking pumpkin pie you brought. Would you like to help slice it?”
Kassie swallowed down the unease swirling through her. “Of course, Mrs. Taylor.”
“Call me Lane, dear.” Jax’s mom still looked ill at ease even through her smile. “Sooner or later, you’re going to have to.”
She hoped Jax’s mother was right. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe this happy Thanksgiving and sense of belonging was all a mirage. That it wasn’t meant to last.
* * * * *
The minute Jax’s truck came to a stop back at his house, he turned to her, a wary look on his face. “Are you going to tell me why you’re being so damn quiet?”
The last few months of her life had been the best she could recall. She’d thought she’d truly found her footing in Atlantic, that she was secure. Happy. That she’d found a place where she belonged, here in this sleepy coastal town where everyone knew everyone else and the pace of life was slower than slow. She hated to damage the precious sense of contentment they’d built together. But once again, she didn’t have a choice. She couldn’t let something like this go between them. The issue was too glaring, too telling. He hadn’t shed his old baggage. And maybe she’d been fooling herself to believe that she had. She didn’t know the answers to anything at the moment, but there was one thing she did know. She had to bring everything into the open between them.
It was now or never.
“Your mother and I had an interesting conversation while you guys were watching football,” she said slowly, unhooking her seat belt.
He stilled, his gaze searching hers. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.” She bit her lip. “She told me that apparently I’ve been under the wrong assumption this whole time. That you own J.T. Contractors.”
His jaw tightened, but he nodded, not bothering to deny it now that the proverbial cat was out of the bag. “I do.”
She didn’t know what she’d expected, but somehow his calm admission rankled her all the more. She grabbed her purse and opened the passenger door, not bothering to wait for him.
“Kassie,” he protested as he hopped down from the driver’s seat and slammed the door, rounding the front of his truck to stand before her. “Why are you so upset?”
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