"Out of all my kids, he's the one I worry about the most," Will said a moment later, breaking the easy quiet between us. "He's always been the most sensitive. Covers it well by focusing the conversation back on you and cracking jokes, but I see him." He glanced my way, his gaze assessing. "I think you do as well."

  I swallowed, giving one nod.

  "Mm." He turned to watch the frantic game. "I know what you're thinking—how'd a spring chicken like myself end up with seven kids."

  I chuckled, some of the tension loosening in my gut. "It did cross my mind."

  "Hayden, my eldest, was the result of a busted condom. Pregnant at seventeen, married the same year, divorced at eighteen." He raised his beer, taking a swig. "His mom wasn't ready for kids and I wasn't ready for marriage. We parted ways and I got full custody of Hayden."

  "Must have been tough."

  "Sure. You're terrified for twenty-three hours out of every day, and in an exhausted sleep for the other one. But I wouldn't trade it."

  I watched Sam and Jay pretend to fall over, Janeane immediately jumping on them while Karrie tried to referee.

  "Why fostering?"

  "My parents. We lived with them for the first few years of Hayden's life and they were emergency carers. One kid, I'll never forget him, he came to us full of piss and fire ready to burn everything down." Will tipped his beer bottle toward the backyard. "When they said Jay needed a longer-term arrangement, I stuck my hand up."

  "Jay said you adopted four boys?"

  "Yep. My older boys are grown and off living their lives."

  I looked to Jay, finding him with hands on hips, his gaze flicking between me and his dad. I raised a hand, sending him a little wave and a reassuring smile. He relaxed, blowing me a flourishing air kiss, then jumped back into the melee, allowing Janeane to tackle him to the ground.

  "Why not Jay?"

  "His birth mom never relinquished her parental rights. Then he aged out." Will shook his head. "Doesn't matter what his surname is, he's family."

  I grinned, loving that Jay had Will's guidance in his life.

  "Frankie." Will turned to me, his expression serious. "Don't take this the wrong way but there's something I need to say."

  I braced, readying myself for Will's judgment.

  "I know it's soon, but I sincerely hope you consider loving my boy. He's work, no doubt about it. But he'll make your life rich."

  I relaxed, glancing over at the man pretending to be beaten up by a five-year-old.

  "He already has."

  "He's got demons. His past is a veritable minefield of triggers. But if you work hard and keep holding his hand, he'll come through the other side."

  I cleared my throat. "I appreciate the heads up, but I think this is straying into a conversation that should be between Jay and I."

  Will gave me an approving look. "True. I'll shut my mouth but just want to say this—it's good to see him happy. "

  Will stood, stretching.

  "Now, you any good at the wonderful game of Bullshit?"

  "Never heard of it," I lied with a wink.

  Will laughed. "I like you. You'll fit in just fine."

  My heart full, I followed him into the house thinking the feeling was entirely mutual.

  22

  Jay

  "Dad, have you seen Frankie?" I asked, tossing a kitchen towel over my shoulder as I stepped onto my back deck.

  "She said she was getting something from her car," Sam called frowning at the cards in his hand. "Bullshit."

  "Damn it!" Karrie slapped the cards on the table. "I give up. What am I doing wrong?"

  "Your face is too honest."

  I left them to it, walking around the side of the house in search of my woman, eager to share a stolen moment with her.

  Rounding the house I caught sight of her on the sidewalk, pushing down the street.

  "What the fuck? Frankie!"

  I kicked into a run, jogging across the yard to where she'd stopped in front of my neighbor's house.

  "Where are you going?"

  Even in the twilight of the evening I could see the blush on her cheeks.

  "The rec center."

  Something sinister hatched in my gut, clawing its way up my spine. "Why?"

  She glanced away. "I need to grab something."

  She's lying, a voice whispered in my ear.

  "Get what?" Blood rushed to my head, my voice sounding distant.

  "Nothing. Just—nothing. Don't worry about it." She shifted in her chair, her face flushed. "How about you go back inside and I'll—"

  "Are you meeting someone?" The question whipped out, cracking the air between us.

  "What?" Her head jerked up, her gaze snapping to meet mine. "Why would you ask that?"

  "Answer the question."

  "No!"

  "Then what are you doing? Why else would you be going to the fucking rec center at fucking nine at night?"

  "Because I need to use their accessible toilet!" She tossed the words out, her hands pointing at my house. "I can't fit in your bathroom. The chair doesn't fit and I'm not going to ask you to fucking carry me. I thought, rather than go home, maybe I could pop down to the center with no one the wiser." She scrubbed at her face, tears glinting on her lashes. "I'm sorry. I should have told you. I—"

  I crouched at her side, wrapping her in my arms, holding her close. "Fuck, Frankie. I'm so fucking sorry. I should have known better. I should have fucking realized."

  She relaxed against me, her head resting on my shoulder. "No, it's my fault. I should have said something. I don't know why but bathrooms are a trigger for me. I let my pride get in the way of a good night."

  "It's still a fucking great night." I pulled back. "Do you want me to walk you?"

  "To the rec center?" She laughed. "No, I'll be fine." She gave me a little shove. "Go distract your family for five minutes so they don't notice I'm gone and think I've abandoned them."

  I stepped back, watching her wheel down the sidewalk, guilt churning in my stomach.

  "I'm a fucking idiot."

  "Son? You okay?"

  I turned to find Will watching me from the porch, hands stuffed in his pockets.

  "Do you happen to have your tools in the truck?"

  Dad's eyebrows rose. "Always."

  "Got a sledgehammer by any chance?"

  A slow grin began to creep across his lips. "Yes."

  "Great. You get yours, I'll look at the wall."

  "We doing some demo?"

  I glanced down the road, watching Frankie turn into the center's parking lot.

  "Yep."

  Frankie

  I returned to find Jay's truck parked on his lawn, Sam tossing plasterboard into the bed.

  "What the hell happened?" I asked, staring at the load of garbage.

  "Jay decided to remodel his bathroom. He's knocking the wall down between the toilet and his bedroom." Sam lifted a shoulder in a half shrug. "He does this sometimes. Just gets a bee in his bonnet and decides it has to happen right now. We go with it."

  My heart expanded, filling my chest, a warm shimmery feeling settling in my bones.

  Sam looked me over, tossing a piece of wood in the bed. "You think you can swing a hammer?"

  I grinned. "I can. I'm also able to cart garbage and am occasionally known to moonlight as a cleaner."

  He grinned. "Want to clean my room?"

  "Not on your life, buddy. I have a brother. I'm well aware of the biohazard breeding in teenage boys' bedrooms."

  Inside we found Karen and Janeane sitting on Jay's bed supervising and calling encouragement as the men broke through the wall.

  They ripped through the last panel, both stopping to wipe sweat from their brow in a mirrored movement.

  I crossed my arms, a small grin playing on my lips as I stared at the man who made me feel like a queen.

  "I leave you alone for five minutes…."

  He shot me a smile, his face covered in a fine layer of white dust. "Sometimes a man sees an opportunity and has to take it."

  "It's true," Karrie called from the bed, her fingers busy braiding Janeane's hair. "Will always says he'll get to it but rarely does." She sent me a wink. "The joys of being married to a handyman."

  "What can I do to help?"

  Jay lifted his shirt to wipe his face, the move revealing yards of delicious abdomen.

  If I lick him that means I own him, right?

  "Nothing. Sit over there and let the men flex for you."

  I started to protest but stopped when Jay leaned in to kiss my forehead.

  "I appreciate your offer but I don't want you getting your outfit dirty." He leaned in until his lips were in line with my ear. "I want it in perfect condition for when I tear it from you later."

  I sucked in a breath, my hands moving to my push rims. "I'll just be watching over here with the rest of the warrior women."

  "Is that us?" Janeane asked.

  Karrie laughed, kissing her daughter on the head. "Absolutely."

  We watched, commentating and calling out suggestions as the men labored, Janeane burrowing into the blankets until she finally fell asleep and the men called it a night.

  "I think that's our cue," Karen whispered, handing a limp Janeane over to Will. "Lovely to meet you, Frankie."

  "You too."

  Jay and I waved them off from the porch, his fingers tangled in my hair.

  "You know," I said as their truck disappeared from view. "You didn't have to do that."

  "I absolutely did."

  I tipped my head back, looking up at him. "I was fine using the rec center."

  "Babe, the rec center closes at eleven and opens at ten."

  I cocked an eyebrow. "And?"

  "Where are you gonna go after I fuck you at 2 am? Home? Fuck that."

  A delicious shiver ran up my spine. "Who said I was staying?"

  His fingers tightened in my hair, his body bending, his lips hovering above mine.

  "Me."

  I licked my lips. "Jay?"

  "Mm?"

  "I want you to come down my throat."

  "Fuck!" His free hand moved to his fly but I brushed it aside.

  "No, let me."

  Sweaty, dusty, and looking infinitely delicious, Jay fucked my mouth in the shadows of his porch while Harold the raptor watched on.

  The taste of him still fresh on my tongue, Jay swept me into his bedroom tying my hands to his bedhead, fucking me until I came again and again and again before his control broke and he came roaring my name.

  All in all, a perfect end to a near-perfect night.

  23

  Jay

  I lay panting and wrapped around Frankie, the last sizzle of arousal still heating my skin. Her alarm had woken us an hour earlier, and instead of getting out of bed, I'd decided to get into her.

  It'd been over a week since I'd knocked down my bathroom wall and Frankie had spent every night in my bed.

  "Well, that was—"

  "Did that just—?"

  We both huffed out tired laughs.

  "I think I scratched you," she said, turning her head.

  "Like a raptor," I agreed.

  "You sound happy about it."

  "I am."

  Everything felt amazing. Every single part of my life felt fucking perfect.

  "God, Jay." Frankie closed her eyes, stretching. "If only I didn't have to go to work."

  "Call out. We can stay in bed and make love all day."

  She kissed her fingers then pressed them to my mouth. "I'd love to but I have clients. And bills. And I'm pretty sure I need to eat at some point in the near future. Not to mention my shoe collection."

  "Ah, yes." I licked her hand, laughing at her squeal. "The near heavenly shoe collection."

  "Don't you disparage my babies!"

  Her cell rang, the ringtone the one she used to identify clients.

  "Shit, give me a second."

  I watched a professional mask falling over Frankie's face as she kicked into work mode.

  "Hello, this is Frankie."

  I rolled out of bed while she spoke to her client giving them privacy. In the kitchen I made her toast and a large to-go coffee knowing she'd be dashing out the door.

  "I'm late!" she cried, scooting through the house, hair in a floppy bun, blouse buttons mismatched, the waistband of her jeggings folded down to reveal a stretch of skin. "Jay, I'm—"

  "Late." I laughed. "I know." I held out her thermos of coffee and napkin-wrapped toast. "I'll organize dinner tonight if you need to work late."

  She accepted the thermos, dropping the toast in her lap to catch my hand and pull me down for a kiss.

  "You're incredible," she whispered against my lips.

  I tasted the mint of her toothpaste on her tongue.

  "Thank you."

  I brushed off her praise. "Least I can do after making you late."

  "Mm, worth it." She pressed a last kiss to my lips, then pulled back. "I'll see you—"

  Her cell rang again but I didn't recognize the ringtone.

  "Who's that?"

  "No idea." She handed me back the thermos, answering the call. "Hello, this is Frankie Kenton, how can I help you?"

  She listened for a moment, her gaze snapping to me, her eyes growing wider and wider as she stared at me, her mouth forming a little O.

  "Yes," she stammered. "I'd absolutely love to. Thank you. Thank you so much."

  She hung up, staring at the cell.

  "Frankie? You okay?"

  Her head slowly rose, her cheeks a pretty pink. "I'm a finalist." She giggled, her hands pressing against her cheeks.

  "Rainbow, I don't under—" I stopped, realization slamming into me. "Shit! The Poddie?"

  She nodded. "I'm in the finals. They want me in Cape Hardgrave for the awards. Jay—" She stared up at me, tears glistening on her lashes. "It's happening. It's all happening. They want me to be on panels. They've asked me to be there for the full week. Jay—" She broke off, shaking her head. "I can't believe it."

  "I can." I threaded fingers in her hair, peppering her face with kisses. "Proud of you."

  "Will you come with me?"

  "Of course. Just try to stop me." I kissed her slow and long, tangling our tongues.

  "Now." I reached down to cup her breast and give it a playful tweak. "Get to work."

  "Fuck! I'm late!"

  I handed her the thermos and watched her race for the door.

  "Frankie?"

  She paused in my entry, her eyes frantic.

  The words I love you hovered on the tip of my tongue.

  "Jay!" She laughed, hand on the door knob. "Spit it out!"

  I swallowed my feelings. "Have a good day."

  She blew me a kiss. "You too!"

  I stared into my coffee mug for far too long after she left, trying to figure out what came next.

  "The Poddies." I decided. "I'll tell her in Cape Hardgrave over wine, food, and in a bed big enough for eight."

  Anxiety hit me, doubts whispering in my ears.

  I ran a hand over my beard. "But maybe I'll tie her down first—just in case."

  Decision made, I shoved aside the doubts, downed my coffee and began what felt like a good fucking day.

  24

  Jay

  "When do you leave?" Mai asked, twirling a hotdog over the open fire.

  Frankie and I had agreed to cater the Friday night feast after Noah had been called out to a job at the last minute—meaning he'd be late to his own party. With a key to his house and an overabundance of confidence, we'd assured him we had this, but—in a surprise to no one—we'd managed to burn Noah's roast, and been forced to resort to store-bought hotdogs, buns, and brownies.

  "Tomorrow," Frankie answered, sending me a grin. "We're road-tripping a day early so we can hit some of the local tourist spots before the festival officially starts on Monday."

  "I've heard Cape Hardgrave has one of the best bookstores in America." Annie licked ketchup from her thumb. "Are you going to check it out?"

  "Of course." Frankie released a moan, her head lolling back dramatically. "I can't wait to see it. I'm gonna buy all the books."

  "Jay, fair warning," Noah said from his position on the other side of the fire. "My sister is a book hoarder. You thought the shoes were bad." He shook his head. "She's a lost cause."

  I glanced at Frankie cocking an eyebrow. "And where exactly do you keep these books, Dr. Kenton? I haven't seen any evidence of hoarding at your house."

  She flushed, glancing down at her fingers mumbling something.

  I cupped my ear. "What was that? I didn't catch it."

  She cleared her throat. "I store them in Noah's attic. My place doesn't have enough space."

  I glanced over at the massive house considering the layout and rapidly calculating possible available space.

  "Noah, what are we talking here, man? Is it bad? Do we need to stage an intervention? Is my girl too far gone?"

  He grinned, his teeth flashing in the firelight. "A twelve-step program wouldn't go amiss. I couldn't fit a surfboard up there last year."

  Frankie snatched up a marshmallow tossing it at her brother. "Liar!"

  "Fine, it's only like ninety-nine-point-nine-nine percent Frankie's shit."

  "That's it," she declared, crossing her arms over her chest, nose in the air. "You're dead to me. I disown you." She twisted, glaring at me. "And if you think you're getting lucky tonight you can think again."

  I chuckled, leaning over to hook an arm around her neck, pulling her close to playfully smooch her cheek. "You're adorable when you're feisty."

  "Frankie, do you have many meetings lined up for this week?" Flo asked, from her spot next to Ren, both of them picking from a plate of brownies balanced on his knee.

  "A few."

  I shuffled my chair closer to Frankie, keeping my arm draped around her shoulders.

  "Who with?" Annie asked, her back stubbornly to Linc who sat on the opposite side of the firepit.

  "Green Media, Ross and Co Broadcasting, and SuperNick."

  "Are you thinking of selling the podcast?" Linc asked, slowly rotating his hotdog over the fire.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16