CHAPTER THIRTEEN
JJ—
Rebecca paces the living room, talking to someone who I have deduced to be her sister. “Yes, Amanda, I will be there. Have I ever missed one of her performances? Of course I’m not coming alone.”
My gut clenches with distaste at the thought she’s going out with someone, and I feel something I’ve never felt before.
I think I might be fucking jealous. The thought of another man touching her has my blood boiling.
She’s not mine. She’d be the best thing that ever happened to me, but I’d be the worst thing that ever happened to her, and I can’t let that happen.
But I also don’t want her to be with anyone else.
I run a hand down my face. What is wrong with me? This girl, that’s what.
“I’ll see you tonight at six.”
I glance at my grandfather’s watch, which I’ve worn like an old habit. It’s four thirty now.
“Love you, too.” She disconnects, and I immediately straighten from where I’ve been sitting watching her pace back and forth.
She turns toward me and wrings her hands. “I have this thing tonight. Actually, it’s my niece’s choir concert.”
“Okay.”
“I kind of told my sister I was bringing someone.”
“I heard. Am I going to meet the lucky guy?”
“Well, actually, I was hoping you’d go with me.”
And just like that, the anger and jealousy I’d felt only moments ago evaporate.
“Me?”
“Yeah, my sister has been hounding me to get back out there, and I don’t want to hear them berate me about it.”
“So, I’m pretending to be your date?”
“Um, yeah, sorta… I don’t know.” She brushes her hand over her face and plops down on the couch next to me. “Never mind, I’ll just—”
I stop her with a hand on her thigh. “I’ll go. No need to stress, darlin’.”
“Really?”
“I’ve got you.”
“Thank you.” She gives me a sweet smile. “I need to go change. It’s at Holy Family Catholic Church, so you may want to put on a sweater or dress shirt or maybe the outfit you wore in the couple’s ad.”
I nod, and we both move off to get ready.
She comes out wearing a burnt orange sweater tucked into a flowy floral skirt that falls to the top of her knees and some black leather knee-high boots that about make me drool.
The couple of inches of bare skin that peek out from between where the skirt ends and the boot begins just make me want to see more.
“You look gorgeous.”
She smiles brightly. “You don’t look too shabby yourself.”
It’s not long before we’re pulling in at the church—a place I haven’t stepped foot in for years.
“Do you go to church?” Rebecca asks as we climb out of the car.
“Not this kind.”
“Will you burst into flames?”
“Ha ha.”
“And what do you mean ‘this kind’ of church?” She puts her fingers up, making air quotes.
“I go to church all the time. Club church.”
“Ahh, the club.”
As we approach the door, the priest’s eyes connect with mine, and he makes a beeline straight for us.
“This should be good,” I mutter.
Rebecca follows my gaze.
“Hello, JJ.”
“Father Tom.” I nod in greeting.
“I just want to remind you that the holy water is not for drinking or pouring Kool-Aid into.”
“Understood.”
Father Tom turns and walks through the door.
Rebecca raises her brow. “I thought you’d never been to this church.”
“My grandparents—well, mostly my grandma—dragged us to church every Sunday when we’d visit. But I haven’t stepped foot in here in years.”
“And you messed with the holy water?”
“I may have turned the water red when I was young.”
“You didn’t!”
“Technically, it was me and David, but it didn’t go over well.
It looked like blood. Father Tom tried to play it off as if nothing was wrong, but when he dried his hands on the towel it came out looking like he’d smeared blood on it.
” I chuckle, and tears form in the crinkles of my eyes.
“My grandma about fainted. Father Tom’s hands were dyed pink for a week.
Grandpa throttled me good that night. David too.
That was the thing about Grandpa. He didn’t give David special treatment.
We both got off, or we both got a whooping. Package deal.”
“Let’s not mention that to my sister.” She shakes her head at me like she doesn’t know what to do with me.
“Rebecca!” A woman with shoulder-length brown hair waves from a pew.
We slide in. Rebecca hugs the woman and then leans forward and waves at the tall man sitting next to her.
“Amanda, Eric, this is JJ. JJ, this is my sister, Amanda, and my brother-in-law, Eric.”
“Nice to meet you.” I lean around Rebecca and shake both their hands.
“Likewise,” Eric returns.
“How’d you two meet?” Amanda starts with the questions, but luckily the choir troops out in their white robes and silence falls over the congregation.
“Which one is she?” I whisper, scanning the nervous faces.
“She’s in the second row, next to the redhead.”
I spot a small girl who can’t be more than seven. She has long brown curls, just like Rebecca, and rosy cheeks.
The children sing several songs accompanied by the organ, and boy, does it bring back memories.
The children exit and change out of their choir robes.
When the little girl returns, she is in a fancy red dress with a big tulle skirt and comes bouncing down the aisle to our little group.
“Did you see me, Aunt Becky?”
“Of course I did, Sophia.” Rebecca leans close like she’s telling a secret. “And you were the best one up there.”
The little girl’s face lights up.
“How about we all go to The Frosty Spoon and get some ice cream? My treat,” Rebecca offers.
“Oh yes! Please, can we?” Sophia begs.
“Of course we can.” Eric shrugs into his jacket.
“Are y’all okay with walking? Getting some fresh air?” I ask as I hold the door open for them to pass through.
“That sounds lovely.” Amanda loops her arm through Eric’s.
We walk up Noel Street, twinkling lights and garland streamed across every window and doorway.
“How’s working the farm? How’s it going with your biker gang brother-in-law?” Amanda asks.
I chuckle, but Rebecca noticeably swallows, clearly nervous at being caught talking about me in not the best of light.
“Um, JJ and I are getting along just fine.” She looks at her sister pointedly.
“Wait! You’re the brother?” Amanda’s eyes widen.
“Amanda!” Rebecca snaps.
“I mean… no judgment.” She holds up both hands in surrender. “No judgment at all.” She waits half a heartbeat before continuing. “Except, his brother? Really, Rebecca? I thought this was a guy you were dating. Not your brother-in-law.”
Great, another person who doesn’t think she should be with me. Get in line.
“First off, he’s a nice guy. Second…” She taps her second finger as she makes her list. “I’ve met his club brothers, and they’re actually quite gentlemanly.”
I almost snort, and Rebecca shoots me daggers.
“Third, we’re not actually together together. He agreed to come to keep you from hounding me about a boyfriend.”
“I see.” Amanda purses her lips. “I guess that’s good. I can’t imagine what your family would say if you started dating your brother’s widow, JJ.”
I choose not to respond, and the subject eventually changes to all the things that Rebecca has been getting set up and started at the farm.
“Oh, and I’ve started selling classes for wreath decorating, too. Here. I have a picture.” She swipes through the photos on her phone until she comes to a beautiful wreath with red holly berry sprigs, ornaments in red, white and silver, and big fancy bows added to it.
“Those are to die for.” Amanda takes the phone from her to zoom in for a closer look.
“You know where those would look great?”
“Where?”
“On all these lampposts around the square.” Amanda points.
Rebecca studies them. “That’s a really great idea.”
“Who would we need to talk to?” I chime in.
“City Council.” Eric doesn’t skip a beat. “There’s a town hall meeting tomorrow. Y’all should go.”
“Are we there yet?” Sophia whines. “My feet hurt in these shoes.”
She holds up a foot and, sure enough, she’s in black patent leather shoes with little heels.
“There it is right there.” Rebecca points a few shops down. It sits between the Christmas Corner, which is a little gift shop, and the Drunken Elf, a rather inviting looking tavern.
Two scoops and a spoonful of sprinkles later, and Sophia has all but forgotten her sore little feet.
“So, tell me about these gentlemen bikers.” Amanda’s gaze shift from me to Rebecca.
I guess the grilling will continue. I can’t help but wonder if it’s due to us being business partners or the fact that my eyes keep straying to Rebecca’s legs. Damn, what I would do to have them wrapped around me.
“I told you about the pumpkins. He called his brothers, and at a drop of a hat, they came to help.”
“So, they’re reliable.” She nods.
“And respectful. It was all yes, ma’am this and thank you, darlin’ that.”
I grin at her defense of them.
“And you want to keep doing this? This farm with Rebecca?” She turns her full attention to me.
“I told her I’d give it the year and see how it goes.”
“So, no commitment from you.”
“I’m committed to this for a year. I’m here, aren’t I?” There’s an edge to my voice, and neither Rebecca nor her sister miss it.
“I hope you’re here for more than just her. I hope you’re involved.”
“Amanda, why don’t you drop it for tonight?” Eric suggests.
“I want to know that my baby sister isn’t going to get left high and dry after she clearly poured her heart and soul into this farm.” She gestures in a vague direction, which I don’t even think is in the direction of the farm, but I get her point.
“We’re working through things as new business partners, and I’m trying my damnedest to give it a real shot.”
“Well—”
Rebecca quiets her sister with a hand on her arm.
“Stop. He’s doing everything I ask and more.
He dressed up and filmed an ad with me just the other day, and he bought us an old farm truck so I could have the photo op spot I wanted.
I appreciate the concern; I really do. But we’re both trying our best, so please stop putting him through the ringer. ”
Amanda seems to ponder this for a moment and then gives Rebecca a quick nod. “Okay.”
After that, the talk turns to Sophia and all the things she’s involved with at her school.
“It’s late and well-past this one’s bedtime.” Eric rubs Sophia’s head.
“Dad…” Sophia complains.
“And you have a soccer game in the morning.” Eric raises his brow.
“Oh, yeah.”
We make our way to the parking lot, and on the way, I swing into Bark Bakery for Dogs to pick up a treat for Buddy.
“You know that dog is yours, right?” Rebecca smiles at me.
“He is our logo.”
We wave goodbye to the others and head to the cabin.
“Thanks for doing this for me,” Rebecca starts after climbing into the passenger seat of her car.
“It was nice. And I got some ice cream out of it. Of course I had to defend all my life choices, but other than that it was nice,” I joke with her.
“Oh shush.” She slaps my thigh, and her hand lingers long enough to make my eyes snap to hers. “Sorry.” She pulls her hand away, and we ride the rest of the trip in silence. The entire drive, I think of all the reasons I should make a move and then all the reasons I shouldn’t.
After shutting off the engine, Rebecca flees from the car.
I catch up with her at the door as she fumbles with the keys.
“Rebecca,” I roll her name off my tongue.
She stiffens but doesn’t turn. The lock clicks, but before she can push the door open, I grab her hand and spin her around.
Her breath catches, and I step closer, and she presses her back against the doorframe. Her eyes flick to my lips.
“Fuck, you’re making it hard to resist you. I’m going to kiss you.”
I wait only a moment for her subtle nod, and then I tilt her chin up and do what I’ve been thinking about since the first time I laid eyes on her in that lawyer’s office.
I pull her face to mine and kiss her hard, my tongue delving into her mouth to dance with hers. She returns my eagerness and wraps her arms around me, which has me growling my approval. My hands drift over her curves until I squeeze that sweet round ass I’ve been dying to touch.
If I don’t stop, I’m going to pick her up and carry her straight to the bedroom. I want to keep her in my arms forever, but I’m no good for her. My brain finally catches up with me, and I break away. When I do, we’re both panting for air.
“We shouldn’t be doing this,” I growl, taking several steps back, trying to physically stop myself from pulling her into my arms again.
She looks confused and almost embarrassed by my retreat. “Yes, you’re my late husband’s brother and my business partner and in a biker club.”
It’s almost like she’s making a list for herself of all the reasons she shouldn’t be with me. Good. Then why do I want to refute each point she makes?
She dashes into the house and into her bedroom, shutting the door with a soft click.
Dammit. How am I supposed to go back to things as normal knowing how willingly she kissed me and how soft her curves are and how she sleeps only feet away from me?