Chapter 27
The next day, it’s exactly four-thirty when I pull up to Jade’s house.
She must have been watching for me, because she came outside before I even put the truck in park.
She bounds her way down her steps, and fuck, she’s wearing another one of those tantalizing tiny summer dresses.
This one is purple with white flowers. My eyes snag to the bra-like bust. Whatever the fuck it’s called, it has the rounds of her breasts pushed up, and I feel myself thicken at how fucking easy it would be to hike that little dress up and tug those cups down and get to see all of her.
The truck door opens, and I shift in my seat before she can see my boner through my jeans.
“Hi,” she greets, getting inside.
I bend across the console and kiss her.
“Hi, beautiful,” I say, making her blush. “You have a good day?”
“I did. I met Sarah for breakfast at Misty’s and then came home and got a lot of household chores done. It was nice. What about you?” she asks as I lace her fingers through mine, pulling out onto the road.
“It was good. Fished off the dock for a while and got some more wood chopped for the fireplace.”
When we get to the big farmhouse, we’re greeted by Ma in the kitchen, who pulls Jade in for a hug. “Jade, It’s so good to see you, dear. It’s been a while since I’ve made my way into the bakery. How are you doing?”
“I’m good, thank you. And thank you for inviting me for dinner.”
“Oh, anytime, hunny!”
“Hey, kiddos. What you got going on here?” I ask, looking into the bucket Hudson is carrying, and the stains all over their faces and clothing as they come running into the kitchen.
“We were picking berries for dessert!” Maysie says excitedly, glancing at Jade. “Who’s this, Uncle West? Is she your girlfriend?”
Jade gets down to eye level with my niece and holds out her hand. “Hi there. My name is Jade. I sure like your dress.”
I look at my niece, who’s wearing a berry-stained belle dress, and hide a chuckle.
“Thanks! I like yours too. I don’t have boobs like you, but someday I will. Nice big ones,” Maysie says, and Jade’s eyes go wide.
“Maysie, hunny.” Ma shakes her head, and Maysie leans closer to Jade to whisper, except we can all hear.
“Daddy said I’m not allowed to talk about having big boobies.”
Jade looks at me, and I just shake my head not sure what to say.
“Well, Maysie, it sure was nice to meet you.” She turns her body to Hudson and smiles up at my nephew. “And who must you be?”
“This is my brother, Hudson,” Maysie says for him.
I watch as my nephew adjusts the glasses on his face and looks at Jade curiously. “Was Maysie right? Are you Uncle West’s girlfriend?”
Jade smiles and looks up at me. I give her a nod, and she turns back to the kids. “I am,” she says.
“Are you going to get married?” Maysie asks.
“Okay, you two. Why don’t you set the bucket of berries up onto the counter and go wash up. Off you go.” Mom shoos them, saving us from further questions.
The kids take off, and as they leave the kitchen, I hear my nephew mumble, “Girls are gross. What does he need a girlfriend for?” under his breath, and I chuckle.
“Do you need help with anything, Mrs. Donovan?” Jade asks my mom.
“Oh no, dear. And please, call me Astrid.” Mom turns to me. “West, hunny. Why don’t you take Jade out to gather your father and brothers up. Wren should be here shortly. I’ll just add these berries to the top of the dessert and then everything will be ready.”
“Sure, Ma.” I brush a soft kiss against her head and grab Jade’s hand, taking her outside to the barn.
Inside, we spot Hayes busy putting saddles away. “Hey, man.”
He turns, and when he notices Jade’s hand in mine, a smirk rises on his face. “About damn time, big brother.”
I squeeze Jade’s hand. “Where’s everyone else?”
“They should be back any second. A fence was down out in the pasture.” His eyes scan up and down Jade’s body, and I want to throttle that damn smirk off his face. I clear my throat and step forward, raising my eyes in warning.
He gives me a smirk that says trouble before turning his gaze back on Jade. “Just as pretty as I remember,” he says in a thick drawl, stepping forward and grabbing her free hand and placing a kiss on top.
“Okay, that’s enough.” I scowl, taking the hat off my head and swatting him with it.
“What?” He chuckles. “Worried she’s going to ditch your old ass for a much younger and better-looking Donovan?”
“Fuck off. How’s Sarah?”
The smile on his face vanishes, and he shakes his head, turning back around to the saddles.
The sound of a side-by-side catches our attention. “Mom said to gather everyone up,” I tell him before leading Jade back outside.
“Well, well, well. Who is this beautiful young woman?” Dad asks, stepping out onto the grass.
“Dad. This is Jade. She co-owns Lemon and Lavender with Sarah. Jade, this is my dad, Beau.”
“Nice to formally meet you, Mr. Donovan,” Jade says, sticking out her hand for him to shake, but like Ma, Dad pulls her in for a hug.
“Nice to meet you, hun. You can call me Beau. It’s about damn time one of my boys brings home a woman.”
“Hey. I’ve brought home plenty,” Hayes says, joining us.
“Shut up, boy,” Dad says, rolling his eyes and making Jade giggle.
“Hi, Jade. I don’t think we’ve ever formally met either,” My brother says, sticking out his hand. “I’m Cade.”
“Hi, Cade. I met your children back in the house. They are sure adorable.”
“Thanks.” My brother smiles with pride.
“Nice to see you again, Jade,” Colter says.
“You too.” Jade smiles.
“Well, welcome to the fam, hun. Now, who’s ready to eat?” Dad asks, taking off towards the house.
“So, Jade dear.” Mom smiles from across the table. “Why don’t you tell us a bit about yourself?”
I feel Jade stiffen next to me, and I know based on the pieces she’s given me that her story isn’t one she likes to share easily.
Resting my hand on her thigh under the table, I give her an encouraging squeeze.
“Well, as you already know I co-own the bakery with Sarah.” She smiles.
“And you met Sarah in college, is that right?”
Jade nods, taking a sip of water before answering. “Yes. We were roommates.”
“So, is your family close by then?” Mom asks, and Jade jerks.
Steering the conversation, I interrupt, which I’m sure will get me a scolding later, and turn to my niece. “Hey, Maysie Daisy, how’s dance going? You have a recital coming up, don’t you?”
My niece slumps in her chair, and her face falls. I look at Cade, who shakes his head. I’m afraid I just stuck my foot in my mouth.
“I don’t want to dance anymore.” Her little lip wobbles.
“How come? You are such a beautiful little dancer. Are you not enjoying it anymore?” I ask my niece softly.
“No. I love dance,” she says as a tear falls.
“But some of the girls were making fun of me for not having a mom. They said I wasn’t allowed to come to the year-end mommy and me dance because I don’t got one,” she says, and my fucking heart breaks for her.
What kind of asshole children are these parents raising?
“Maysie,” Jade says, taking Maysie’s hand. “You know, my mommy is in heaven too,” Jade tells her, and the whole table goes silent, watching the interaction.
“She is?” my niece asks, looking up at Jade.
“Mhm. And so is my best friend’s mommy.”
“Really?”
“Yes. And you know what? When I was in college, they had a father daughter dance, and because my daddy is also in heaven with my mom, I didn’t have a dad to take.”
“So did you go?” Maysie asks her.
“I did.” Jade smiles. “Instead of a dad, I took a really great man that was like a father to me instead. And my friend? She brought her grandpa. So you see, just because you don’t have a mommy here on earth, it doesn’t mean you can’t go to the mommy and me dance.
” She smiles at my niece, and I glance at my parents, who have smiles on their faces.
“I’m sure your Grandma or Aunt Wren would love to take you,” Jade tells her.
“That’s right, kiddo. I’ll come, and we will show those girls who the real losers are,” Wren says, popping a potato in her mouth.
“Jade is right, sweetheart. I would love to come to your dance with you,” Mom says with a tear in her eye.
I swallow a lump in my throat because I know how hard that was for Jade to talk about. I look at Dad, who’s watching me, and when I meet his eyes, he just nods. He feels it too. Jade belongs here.
“Hmm. My friend Calla has two mommies. She gets to bring both. Does that mean I can bring Grandma and Auntie Wren?” she asks, hopefully.
“I think that’s a lovely idea, Maysie,” Mom says.
Cade mouths a thank-you to Jade, and we go back to finishing our meal on a happier note.
“Thanks for supper, Ma. If it’s okay, I’m going to take Jade outside and show her around.”
“Of course,” my mom says.
“Thank you so much for including me tonight, Mrs. Donovan. Everything was delicious.”
“It’s just Astrid, dear. And of course. You are welcome back anytime. I hope we get to see more of you,” she says to Jade with a smile.
“I hope so too.”
Grabbing our plates, I take them back to the kitchen before hauling Jade outside.
“So?” I ask. “What do you wanna see first?”
She scans her surroundings, taking it all in, then says, “How about we just walk?”
“Sure.”
We walk hand in hand around the farm as I point out the animals, my mom’s garden, the tree line that Hayes’s house sits on the other side of, and everything else you’d expect to see on a farm.
“What’s that pen over there?” She points to a pen on the side of the barn that’s smaller than the others.
“Oh, that’s the paddock Hayes used to use for practice until he got his own yard.”
“Is that where Wren had her accident?” she asks as we get closer, coming around the side of the barn so it’s right in front of us.
“It is.” I nod.
Walking her over to the wall of the barn, I spin her so she’s facing me and cage her in. One arm above her, the other still entwined with hers. Lowering my head, I bring my lips to hers.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you all night,” I tell her.