Chapter 8
Jack
Kennedy stiffened, drawing my attention to the others. Harrison’s eyes were wide, his jaw muscles clenching. Meanwhile, Gran’s eyes sparkled with amusement I’d have noticed even without the grin that took quite a few years off her.
“How long has this been going on?” Harrison asked, waving a hand in our direction.
The moment Kennedy went to move, I gripped her hips and whispered, “If you move, it will only make it worse.” I pressed my hips forward just enough to remind her of my predicament.
“By the horrified look on your sister’s face, I’d say not long enough.” Gran raised a flask that I’d missed into the air. “Here’s to great-grandbabies!”
“Gran!” Kennedy yelped and covered her face.
While I was nowhere near ready to become a father, the idea of adding a child to their family wasn’t fear inducing. The image of Kennedy’s belly round with my kid sent a possessive streak of emotion to run through me.
Harrison stuck his fingers in his ears. “I don’t want to hear that. Grandbabies means they’d be having sex, ugh!”
Kennedy peered back, her gaze dropping to my softening erection, before she stepped toward her brother and smacked him upside the head. “I’m no virgin, Happy! You realize I’ve had sex? Lots of sex? Sorry, Gran.”
Gran raised her flask again and sipped. “Attagirl!”
“Ugh! Don’t call me Happy! And no, as far as I’m concerned, you have no interest in sex and don’t bump uglies with anyone!”
“Hey! There’s nothing ugly about—” I stopped, remembering Gran was sitting mere feet away.
She studied me with a mischievous grin. “Harrison, there’s nothing ugly about Jack from where I’m seated, and I’m sure our Kennedy would enjoy exploring that man and everything he gave her.”
I pressed my lips together to hold back the laughter threatening to burst free. I’d clearly stepped into an alternate universe. The woman was something else for sure.
“Gran! You’re making this even worse!” Kennedy said into the hands covering her face.
“No, Kennedy Lee Baker. You are. There are no children in this house, and yet all I hear is whining. You and Jack are two grown adults who are attracted to each other. Life is short, and if you two want to partake in hot, sweaty sex... Do it! Harrison, you have no control over anyone’s sex life but your own.
” Gran scooted to the edge of her seat, and I hurried over to help her up.
“Thanks, dear. I’m going to refill my flask, and when I get back, we’re all going to return to behaving like the adults we are. ”
No one spoke while she walked out of the room. I could feel Harrison boring a hole into the side of my head, regardless of Gran’s speech. The moment she was out of sight, he was next to me and giving me a hard shove.
“Seriously? My sister?” Harrison hissed and received his own shove, courtesy of Kennedy.
I stepped between the siblings, not wanting to stir any more trouble between them.
Feeling Kennedy step to my side, I reached behind me and pulled her arms around my waist, her breasts pressed against my back.
“Hare, I am attracted to Kennedy, but I was never trying to hide it. I also wasn’t going to talk about something I didn’t understand. ”
Harrison pressed his fingers between his eyes and shut them. “This is so fucking weird.”
“Only because you’re making it weird,” Kennedy hissed at my back. “We’re just flirting, and you’re turning it into... into—gah! I don’t know what you’re turning it into.” She tugged her hands free and stormed out of the room.
Torn between following her and smoothing things out with my best friend, I locked my fingers behind my neck and stared at the ceiling. Neither of us spoke, allowing the situation to stew in our minds.
Finding Harrison’s sister sexy as fuck hadn’t been on my radar. But it was more than her looks. The feisty woman was calling to me in a way no other had.
Lighter footfalls returned, and I looked down in time to see Gran’s annoyance broadcasting on her face. In one hand she carried a mug filled with hot tea, and in the other was her flask.
“Harrison, make yourself useful and get the garland up over the doorways and the mantle,” she said, pointing a crooked finger toward the fireplace.
“Yes, ma’am,” Harrison said and made his way to an unopened tote we’d dragged out earlier.
I followed him, and we silently detangled the garland. Once we figured out how many we had and where we’d place them, we got to work.
About halfway through the process, Harrison muttered, “She’s my sister.”
“I know.”
“She doesn’t need protecting, but for the record, I’ll kick your ass if you break her heart.”
I pinned the end of the garland to the wall and chuckled. “And I wouldn’t expect anything less, but what if she breaks my heart? Are you going to kick her ass?”
“I guess I’ll have to hide the coffee.”
“Ouch, I think kicking her ass might be a lighter sentence,” I said and paused, my brows raising to my hairline. “You weren’t kidding when you said she had coffee flowing through her veins.”
“It was no exaggeration, dude.” Harrison shook his head as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, I can’t get rid of her because she’s my sister. But I’m going to be pissed if I lose you. I already have you broken in, and I don’t want to go through the training process all over again.”
My head fell back with laughter. “You’re such an asshole sometimes. You know that, right?”
Harrison shrugged. “What does that say about you?”
I flipped him off and remembered we weren’t alone. Looking over my shoulder, I spotted Gran setting her new paperback down in her lap. “Sorry!”
She popped open the flask and poured a liberal amount into her mug before tucking it between her thigh and the seat. Remembering the heavy hand Kennedy had had when making my hot toddy the night before, I realized who she’d learned it from. “Are you two done kissing and making up?”
“Nope!” Harrison said as I said, “Yeah.”
She picked her book back up and waved it into the air. “Please tell me Annie and Damon are getting a book.”
They would, if they’d finally cooperate for me when my mind wasn’t focused on Kennedy’s luscious body. Feigning surprise, I asked, “Really? Annie and Damon and not Annie with Benny?” I knew the question would screw with her, as I’d laid plenty of groundwork with the couple.
Gran’s eyes widened before she glared at me. “Jack Halliday! Benny is obviously in love with Erik! The chemistry between them is hot! You’re going to have to write them next, or I’ll never forgive you!”
I laughed as I left Harrison to finish the last of the garland. “So I need to write Benny and Erik’s story next, not Annie and Damon’s? Because I can’t have you upset with me.” She wasn’t wrong. Those two would get their happily ever after, but I was currently in the trenches with Annie and Damon.
“Stop playing with my emotions, young man! I don’t have much left in this one, and my greedy little heart wants to read Annie and Damon’s story. Those two are going to have a hell of a time at it, won’t they?”
Pressing my lips into a tight line, I shrugged. “I guess you’ll have to patiently wait because I don’t kiss and tell.”
At the thought of kissing, I winked at Gran and padded out of the room in search of Kennedy.
Enough time had passed since she’d stormed off that I was hoping she’d be in a better mood.
Having her brother react so strongly hadn’t helped and, I wasn’t entirely sure I’d handled it well.
The emotions and attraction between us were new and confusing, but only time would tell me if it was worth pursuing.
“Whatcha making?” I asked the moment her eyes met mine.
With her coffee-free hand, she pointed a thumb backward toward the pot on the stove. “Tomato soup.”
At least three kinds of cheeses were spread out on the counter, with a loaf of bread to the side. “With grilled cheese?” A grin split my face as my stomach growled with approval. “I haven’t had that since I was a kid.”
“Well, if you’re complaining, there’s the fridge. Plenty of things to make yourself,” she snapped, misunderstanding my words.
I snagged her by the waist and grabbed her coffee as she pushed past me to get to the cheese.
Her hands balled into fists on my chest as I set her mug on the counter, but she didn’t push me away.
“Baby, I love tomato soup and grilled cheese.” Cupping her face, I forced her to look me in the eyes. “Thank you for making lunch.”
Her lips parted as she sighed, “Oh.”
Dipping my head, I brushed my mouth against hers. The kiss was feather light, meant to tease her, but it just as powerful as the ones we’d shared the night before. When I pulled back, my gaze moved to the counter and back. Kennedy was also staring at the spot where we’d made out like horny teens.
“The only regret I have is being interrupted.” I studied her face, watching surprise blossom in her features.
She looked down at her hands. “I don’t know how I feel about any of this.”
Brushing a strand of hair that had become loose behind her ear, I sighed. “Neither do I.”
Her face fell, and I wondered what I’d said wrong. When she pressed against my chest to leave my arms, I squeezed her hips and held her a moment longer.
“Not knowing doesn’t negate the fact I feel something.”
She scoffed and bumped her hips against the chub forming in my pants. “All men feel something.”
My muscles hardened with frustration, and her gaze flew to mine, a flash of worry in her expression. “That’s a shit thing to say,” I said. “Men aren’t heartless creatures being run solely by their libido. Sex isn’t the only damn thing on our minds. We fear being hurt as much as any woman.”
This time it was me who pulled back. When she swayed at my sudden departure, it took everything for me not to steady her.
“That’s not what—” She paused at the hard look I shot at her. “I’m sorry. You’re right, and it wasn’t fair of me.”
“No, it wasn’t. That’s twice now you’ve judged me solely based on the fact I was born with a dick. I know you’d chew any man’s ass out for doing the same to you.”
She took a hesitant step toward me and closed the space between us once again. One of her hands wrapped around my bicep, her hold loose and unsure. “You scare me. This attraction... scares me. I don’t know you, and it all feels like a lot.”
I dragged my knuckles along the soft skin of her cheek. “You and me both.”
Against my better judgment, I dipped down and captured her mouth with mine. I couldn’t ignore the magnetic pull to the woman. She yielded under my touch and groaned as our tongues slid along each other.
She tasted like coffee with a dash of whiskey, an intoxicating mixture I’d always associate with Kennedy. Tipping back her head, I kissed her deeply, taking everything I could get.
Blood rushed through my veins, making me almost dizzy with the need to fuck this woman. I didn’t know what it was about her, but I was desperate for every taste and touch.
I walked her backward until she hit the counter, then lifted her onto it.
One of my hands found the hem of her shirt and explored the sliver of skin that had driven me nuts while decorating the tree.
My fingers danced along the soft and warm flesh, inching their way up until my thumbs brushed the underside of her breasts.
“Seriously? Fucking hell! My food goes there!” Harrison yelled from somewhere behind me.
Kennedy and I snapped apart, our ragged breaths filling the air. A beautiful blush coated her cheeks and her eyes were as dilated as I expected mine to be.
Groaning, I pressed my forehead to Kennedy’s shoulder. “Harrison, you really have shit timing.”