Chapter Nine #2
This woman had consumed every free moment for the last six days. Had his week not been so busy, he would’ve caved and invited her out on a weeknight. But his schedule wouldn’t allow it. Most nights he didn’t get home until close to eight. Tonight was an exception.
He walked up the back-porch steps and into the mudroom. Usually, he stripped down, tossing his clothes in the hamper. However, he wasn’t alone today. Her car had been parked in front of the house when he pulled in the driveway. It was her usual day, but she’d stayed long past the average time.
Jonah walked into the kitchen and found her standing beside the table, folding laundry. She glanced up with a welcoming smile.
“Hey there, sugar.”
SueAnn. She’d been a staple with the brothers for years. An extended part of their little family. There wasn’t a blood relationship, and they hadn’t known her all their lives. But SueAnn was family, nonetheless.
“You’re here later than usual.”
She dipped her brows and flattened her lips. “Would’ve been on my way thirty minutes ago had I been prepared for the war zone upstairs.”
He grasped his hips. “Cord?”
“Some interesting finds in that boy’s room.”
Oh shit.
“Is there gonna be an extra charge this month?” Jonah was only half kidding.
SueAnn glanced up at the ceiling as if weighing her options. She sighed, with a small smile playing on her lips. “I’ll just save the stories for my memoir and make my money that way. Cord would probably get an entire chapter in my book.”
SueAnn had been with them for years. She lived halfway between their old town and Houston.
He thought for sure when he announced their move it’d be the end.
But she insisted it was the same distance.
It was in mileage, but not in time. It took twice as long to get around the city.
Still, she insisted, and it would’ve been a devastating blow for the boys to lose her.
And me. She was one of the few constant parental figures in their lives since their parents died.
“I made a chicken pot pie. It’s in the freezer. Let it thaw on the counter and cook it for forty minutes at three-fifty. Easy-peasy.”
Jonah opened the fridge, grabbed a beer and settled against the counter, eyeing the woman. He’d been through this before with her, but she rarely followed any of his rules.
“How many times have we been over this? You don’t have to cook for us, SueAnn.”
She waved her hand, resting the laundry basket on her hip. “I don’t have to do anything, sugar. I do it because I want to. And not you, or any other man, is going to dictate what I can and cannot do.”
Jonah chuckled, shaking his head.
She narrowed her gaze. “You hear me?”
“I hear you.”
“Good.” She widened her eyes and lifted her chin. “Now, let’s talk about what I heard. You had company recently. A lady-friend?”
Fucking Holden. That kid had the biggest mouth, and nothing was sacred. He was worse than the old guys at the coffee shop, gossiping like it was their job. He took a long swig from his beer, hoping to bypass the inquisition. Not with SueAnn.
“Well, I don’t have all day, sugar.”
Jonah shrugged, glancing out the back window at the garage. “Fixed her car.”
SueAnn hummed, and he turned, folding one arm over his chest and taking another sip from his beer.
This wasn’t over. Clearly, she had more to say, and she was never one to keep her opinions to herself.
It was one of her most respectable traits, the first being her kindness and love toward him and his brothers.
“So, that’s it? Just fixed her car? Not going to see her again?”
Ah fuck! It should’ve come as no surprise that she’d want details. Jonah hadn’t dated in years and never spoke about his casual arrangements with anyone. It was the one thing he’d kept all to himself.
“Don’t I get any privacy?” Jonah was trying to deflect, but she was having none of it.
SueAnn laughed and pointed at him. “That’s a yes.”
Yes, it is.
She hiked the basket on her hip, smirking.
She had more to say, but fortunately, Cord came through the back door.
It was the best timing. He tossed his keys on the table and slipped past Jonah, heading straight for the refrigerator.
No greeting. Jonah was accustomed to it, especially when his work and school schedule were heavy.
Cord wasn’t the most pleasant person to be around when under pressure. Most days, Jonah let it go.
SueAnn did not!
“Hello?” She scoffed, shaking her head and narrowing her gaze when Cord looked at her. “I was just washing your damn dirty drawers, and I can’t even get a hello?”
Cord didn’t have the best attitude, especially with Jonah, but he always softened for her. His younger brother smiled, slamming the fridge door closed and walked over, stretching his arm over SueAnn’s shoulder. He towered over her by at least a foot. Much as they all did.
“Hello, SueAnn. How’s my favorite woman?”
She rolled her eyes and playfully slapped his stomach. “I pity these girls who have to put up with your lines.”
“Hey, I got great lines. Gets me all the girls.”
SueAnn scoffed. “Well, I suggest you keep them out of your room because you’ll chase them off when they see what kind of slob you are. Would it kill you to put your clothes inside the hamper?”
Cord cocked his head, tugging her closer. “I will try harder.”
She snorted, knitting her brows. “No, you won’t. You were a slob, you are a slob and you’ll always be one.”
Jonah snickered, watching their banter.
“I love your motivational speeches,” Cord teased, kissing her head. He stepped away, and she shoved the basket against his chest.
“Save me a trip and put this on Holden’s bed.”
Cord grasped the basket, curling his upper lip. “You fold his clothes? You don’t fold mine.”
“He’s the baby. Now, shut your trap and do what you’re told.”
It wasn’t a surprise when Cord left the kitchen and headed upstairs with the laundry basket in tow. SueAnn arched her neck and stepped closer to the door, peeking her head into the living room. Seconds later, she popped back into the kitchen, staring at him.
“Well?”
“Well, what?”
“The girl.” She sighed heavily. “Who is she?”
Jesus Christ. He thought he’d escaped the interrogation.
At least she waited until Cord left the room.
Come to think of it, maybe that had been her plan.
Jonah was extremely private, but he’d opened up a little to SueAnn.
Years ago, she was concerned he wasn’t truly living life without a companion.
That wasn’t his priority. The boys and work were his only concern.
She had her opinions and made them known, which he respected, but it didn’t change his mind.
Jonah came with baggage and responsibilities that most people didn’t want to take on.
“Holden says she’s gorgeous. Like the kind of girl you see on magazines and in movies.”
Jonah flattened his lips. His brother usually had a vivid imagination, but he’d nailed his description of Roxanne.
“Is she?”
Why lie? Roxanne was probably the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
Jonah sipped his beer. “Yeah.”
SueAnn’s eyes glimmered, and she grinned, moving closer to the table. “And you’re seeing her again?”
Jonah sighed, hardening his stare. “You know, most of my employees don’t grill me about my social life.”
The corner of her mouth curled. “Because you don’t have one. Either way, I don’t give a rat’s ass what the others do. Now … are you taking her out for a proper date that doesn’t include beer and pizza in your garage?”
Christ, Holden. Did he tell her every detail?
“Dinner. Tonight.”
SueAnn’s face softened, losing all semblance of teasing. She circled the table, rubbing his arm as she passed. “Have fun with your gorgeous lady. You deserve it.”
He wasn’t sure if he deserved Roxanne, but he would enjoy spending time with her.
She was all he’d thought about most of the day.
Their kiss had consumed his mind, replaying over and over.
It’d been forever since he’d had an instant attraction to a woman.
If that’d been all there was to it, Jonah wouldn’t have reservations.
But he felt a connection with Roxanne. She was real, honest, fun, and easy to be around.
Playing with fire.
SueAnn had left by the time Cord came back downstairs and raided the fridge. Jonah hadn’t seen him for the past few days. He usually made a point of checking in with both his brothers, but as Cord got older, it got harder.
“Where were you last Friday night? Holden said you drove Kenzie home.” Cord glanced up, smirking. “Poaching Bogs’ woman? That’ll get your ass kicked.”
“I don’t poach women. I suggest you don’t either.” Jonah shook his head and sat at the kitchen table, sifting through the mail. Bills upon bills.
Fuck.
“So where were you? Holden said you didn’t come home until late.”
Where the hell was this coming from? Cord rarely asked him about his whereabouts. Then again, Jonah rarely went out.
“I dropped Kenzie off at T’s house. They had everyone over and invited me to stay for dinner and a few beers.”
Cord’s face paled, and his throat bobbed. “T Garrison?”
“Yeah.” The corner of his mouth hiked watching his little brother squirm. “Roxanne’s brother.”
“Was he pissed?”
T Garrison was always pissed at something. But Jonah wouldn’t torture his brother.
“Accidents happen, Cord. He knows that. Her car’s fixed. Now, you just pay me back for the money I fronted, and we’re all good.”
“So, how’d that go, anyway? With Roxanne.”
“Like I said, got it fixed.”
Cord slowly nodded, grabbing a plate from the cabinet and heating some leftovers.
He was unusually quiet, as if something was on his mind.
He was probably thinking of how he’d just used up one of his nine lives.
Jonah continued opening the mail, separating the junk from the bills.
He glanced up when a chair scraped the floor and Cord sat across from him.