Episode 57
Episode 57
Emotional Blackmail
SUMMER
After our make-up sex night, we spent the next week cooking meals together, fucking like rabbits, and talking about our respective businesses. I learned that Jack owned shares in Johansen Brewing and had taken over as CEO early on, while the primary owner, Erik, his best friend, was more interested in the artful beer brewing side of things.
Jack had an incredible mind for business, marketing, finance, and claimed the power behind their success wasn’t just a great product. It was in the people they hired and their combined talents that made up the secret sauce to a profitable and smoothly functioning company.
Once Jack and I had talked through all the ins and outs of Humble Buds and reached out to his PR team—who took the information of our impending marriage in stride—we fell into a really comfortable togetherness. Something I hadn’t experienced with the other men in my past. Usually, my anxiety and general awkwardness, or my unique family and the deep connection we shared would turn them off. Jack seemed to appreciate those things most about me. Maybe not the anxiety part, but that was a demon I battled internally every day. Having someone who was a good listener and helped to logically work through a situation fended off a lot of my day-to-day anxiety. And of course, regular cannabis use helped tremendously.
I stared at his bare, muscular back as he flipped half of the omelet over to cover all the cooked veggies and cheese he’d placed on one side. He repeated the process with a second omelet cooking on another burner. The man knew how to cook, and it had become something we enjoyed doing together.
“You know, my mother has some crazy intense plans for our wedding,” I said while cutting a cantaloupe into bite sized cubes.
He chuckled, looked over his shoulder at me and grinned. “I am not surprised by this information. When you say intense, I’m thinking Halloween themed with witches, pumpkins, ghouls, and other ghosties.”
I looked him dead in the face and held the most serious expression I could without bursting into laughter.
His grin slipped away the longer my expression didn’t change. Suddenly his eyes widened in what could only be horror. “No. She wouldn’t dare…” he gasped.
I held off as long as I could until I exploded with laughter. “Boy, I had you!” I chortled and giggled so hard I had trouble catching my breath.
He shook his head and pursed his lips in a playful pout. “You’re going to pay for that one, solskinn . Just you wait.” He lifted both pans off the flame and tipped them until each omelet slid perfectly onto the plates next to him.
“Oh, come on, that was too easy. But I wasn’t kidding. She does have some wild ideas.”
“Such as…” He reached for the paper towels and pulled off two, then grabbed both plates and set them on the table.
While he went to refill our coffee cups, I scooped the fruit onto each plate.
“She was definitely thinking a harvest style wedding, and she did mention pumpkins, but not the stereotypical Halloween decorations. We don’t observe Halloween in our faith. We celebrate Samhain, the Pagan new year, or the end of summer and the harvest.”
“Okay, so what would a harvest wedding entail?” he asked as he sat down in front of one of the plates.
I slid into the seat next to him and picked up my fork. “Mostly earthly things like hay bales, cornucopias, orange, red, yellow flowers and decorations. Candles, some rustic wooden tables for guests, fairy lights and such.”
He shrugged. “Sounds great. Do we know which day we’re thinking? I’ll need to get invites out to my extended family.”
I frowned, uncertain of what he meant when he’d made it clear he didn’t have blood relatives and had been raised primarily in foster homes and a school for boys.
“The Johansens. Erick and Savannah of course, but also his parents have been the adoptive parents I never had. I’ll want to invite the Goodalls and their entire clan, Memphis Taylor and his fiancée, Jade Lee, Alana and Christophe, the Castellano family, and of course, Ellen and my favorite little human, TJ.”
The way he mentioned the child’s name made me smile like a loon. “You love that kid, don’t you?”
He cut a piece of his omelet and poked it with his fork. “I do. He’s the closest thing I have to Troy.”
“And Troy was the friend you lost in the…um… helicopter crash.”
He sighed. “Yeah. Two and a half years ago. Not long before TJ was born. And Erik was in the hospital practically in a full body cast, lost to his grief. We were what Americans call “The Three Musketeers”. Inseparable friends for many long years.”
“I’m guessing that meant it was up to you to help Troy’s wife through it all.”
He swallowed his food then leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest. “Why are you bringing this up?” His tone was shockingly raw and accusatory.
I lifted up my hands in surrender. “Jack, I meant no ill will. I just want to know you. The good and the bad, honey,” I hedged.
He groaned, dipped his head and combed his fingers through his hair. “Sorry. It’s not easy to talk about that time in my life.”
“Usually, the complicated things aren’t easy to talk about,” I agreed. “Tell me more about Ellen and TJ.”
Mentioning the two people still living had his frown turning upside down.
“The kid owns my heart. He’s exactly like Troy, even at such a young age. He’s inquisitive and curious about everything. Can be shy around new people and loves to laugh. When I take him out, people think he’s mine.” His cheeks tinged pink at the admission.
I smiled. “How so?”
“He has dark hair like his father and I, similar coloring too. But his eyes, they are all Ellen. A bright blue that will stop you in your tracks.” His gaze traced my features. “Actually, a lot like yours as well.”
“Sounds like a cute kid. You get to see him much?” I plopped a piece of fruit into my mouth.
“Couple times a week, well, until now. I’ve been getting up in the wee hours of the morning to have video calls with him while you’re sleeping.”
My mouth dropped open. “You’re kidding!” I chuckled, having been completely oblivious to his early morning chats.
He shook his head. “He’s so young and growing fast. I don’t want him to forget me.”
“He’s really important to you.”
“I love him and Ellen as though they were my own blood. She doesn’t have any family either. I brought Troy and Ellen into the fold. They had been in the same childcare system I was. Troy was my bunkmate back at the home for boys. Ellen was in the girls version of the same. They met at one of the co-ed dances that were put on. And the rest was history.”
“Sounds like you were all meant to be friends and family.”
He nodded. “Erik had it all compared to the three of us, but he never threw it in our faces. He and his parents welcomed us into their home so often they became our family too.”
“I love that. Blood isn’t required to make a family. I can’t wait to meet them.”
“They’ll be here for the wedding; I’ll make sure of it. And of course, you’ll fall in love with Erik’s wife Savannah. She’s sweet like you and has been through a lot herself. Being in the auction, marrying a Norwegian brewmaster automatically gives you both something in common.”
“True! And the pictures I saw of her, all that wild red hair, my goodness. I’m surprised you didn’t steal her from your bestie,” I teased.
His gaze lifted from his breakfast to meet mine. He looked me up and down and then licked his lips sensually. My heart started to pound, and I swallowed at the intensity within his eyes.
“I prefer blonde, tanned, with legs that make my mouth water, and eyes I could drown in. Not to mention, quirky, funny, and unbelievably kind. You, Summer, are the perfect woman for me. Don’t ever get the idea that I could ever desire someone else when I have exactly what I want right in front of me.”
I fanned my face, arousal flooding my veins and making my panties damp. “You keep that up, and I’ll be on my knees in front of your lap, gorging on your cock instead of this delicious breakfast.”
His eyes blazed with lust as he gripped the edge of the wooden table and pushed his chair back. The sound of the legs scratching across the floor sent a shiver down my spine.
“I’m all yours, solskinn . Do your worst,” he said in a tone that held a challenge.
I’m competitive. If a challenge is presented, I’ll best it or die trying.
Without another thought, I stood, leaned forward, and planted my hands on his knees. I glanced at his lap to find his erection already tenting his lounge pants. Brazenly, I licked my lips and slid to my knees between his spread legs.
I cocked a brow and issued my own dare. “Take off your pants and show me what you’ve got.”
He slid down his pants and they pooled around his ankles, his hard length pointing up toward his abdomen, his arousal already wetting the tip.
I wrapped a hand around the base and stroked the steely velvet just once. He hissed and grabbed the sides of the wooden seat.
“Now sit back and enjoy the show, baby,” I said and then swallowed his cock.
* * * *
We walked hand-in-hand through the cannabis fields behind my parents’ house. “This is a newer strain we’re testing. See the little furry hairs on the buds?” I pointed down to the flowering part of the plant.
Jack got close, inspecting the plant.
“This is an indica variant. Designed to give the end user a relaxed, chill experience. On average, many of our users suffering from anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, burnout, and more prefer this strain. However, if the THC content is too high, our users might experience what I like to call “couch lock”.
His brows furrowed together. “Couch lock? What does that even mean?”
I chuckled. “It means basically the body is so relaxed, they can’t do much other than chill on the couch and prevent it from levitating. That type of response can happen a lot with higher dose edibles.”
“That sounds awful.” He shook his head. “I can’t imagine allowing something to take over my body and mind like that.”
I shrugged. “I enjoy it, depending on my mood. If I need to ignore the world, letting go of it all is a pretty stellar option and nobody gets hurt. I’m not out drowning my sorrows in a vodka bottle, then getting behind the wheel and driving.”
“I see,” he murmured.
Over the last week, Jack had gotten a lot more comfortable with my chosen business and preferred method for combatting my anxiety disorder. He was now working with me to figure out the best ways to delegate business needs internally while still expanding.
“Have you considered working with a lobbyist to legalize cannabis federally?” he asked.
I groaned. “Ugh, I hate politics.”
He chuckled. “Most people do, but as a businesswoman, you cannot shy away from the things you don’t like simply because they are difficult. If this were my business, one of the first things I’d do is hire a lobbyist. If there’s too much involved in fighting the governmental restrictions on cannabis at the national level, then start with the state level. Work within the communities and states already trying to make change. Filter money into their causes and campaigns. Become the voice of legalization everywhere. You’re already one of the top distributers, why not take it to the next level?”
He made complete sense, but that didn’t change the fact I had zero interest in political anything. My entire family avoided political discussions and debate. My father even had to drag my mother and sister kicking and screaming to the voting booths every year. Mostly because you can’t gripe about what isn’t working in the world if you’re not actively using your right to vote to make changes in your own backyard.
“Because I don’t want to get in front of a camera or speak at rallies,” I trembled even imagining such a thing. It was hard enough being on stage at the auction, but there, I didn’t have to speak, which made the experience doable. “I’m a horticulturist, Jack, not a politician or a community activist.”
“Ah, but you are an activist in your own way.” He emphasized his statement with a pointed finger. “You constantly go through the list of benefits and medical conditions your product aids when challenged by those who don’t know any different.”
“That doesn’t mean I want to do it in front of an audience or a camera.”
“We could easily have the lobbyist do that on your behalf, but in order to go fully nationwide and eventually global, you have to start where you can have the biggest effect on your business. And it seems the only problem you have now is the state and nationwide restrictions.”
I slumped against his side. “I just want to play with my plants and help people heal,” I griped.
“And I just want to drink the beer we brew, sit on the porch with you, and rake in the profits. Unfortunately, that is not how it works.”
“Lame. We can talk to Dad about the idea of hiring a lobbyist at dinner tonight.” My stomach took that moment to growl.
Jack laughed, kissed my temple, and led me back through the long lines of plants toward my parents’ house.
When we made it to the porch and up the back stairs, my mother was already setting out dinner. Instantly the scent of garlic, tomatoes, rosemary, and oregano hit my nose. “Oh baby, you are in for a treat tonight,” I said as Mom set a platter of baked breaded eggplant onto the table. Behind her, Dad carried a pot that I knew by scent alone held Mom’s homemade soy Bolognese sauce.
“Eggplant parmesan?” Jack licked his lips and held my chair for me.
“Something like that,” my mother said and smiled. “Good evening to you, my son.”
I rolled my eyes. “Mom, he’s not your son-in-law yet, and what happened to saying ‘Hi, Sunny.’”
“You shush and leave me to my manifesting,” Mom quipped.
Jack sat down very slowly, taking in the environment as though he could lay eyes on the magical fairies that messed with him last week.
Autumn snorted as she set down a tray of bread.
“Is that your…”
“Garlic-infused homemade ciabatta? It sure is.”
“Is something happening? Why are you all bringing out the big guns. Mom’s eggplant from the garden, her soy Bolognese, Autumn’s mouthwatering bread.” I snagged a slice and bit into the warm doughy goodness.
“We thought maybe we should share some of our favorite dishes with Jack. Show him how great it is to be here, eat fresh from our garden, live close to your parents…” Mom’s voice trailed off as I thought about what she wasn’t saying.
“Mom…” I warned.
“What? I’m not doing anything but making sure Jack knows how welcome he is here. How happy we are that the two of you are finding your place in one another’s lives right here in Eureka.”
“Mom…” I growled. “Don’t.”
Jack’s gaze volleyed between me and Mom.
“So Jack, tell me, have you thought about where you and Summer will settle in? The Pink Lady is such a great, historical home, and so close to the business. And then there’s us of course, always here to share a meal with at the end of a hard day or week. You know, whenever you like.” She fluttered her lashes and smiled prettily.
“Mom, stop.” I ground my teeth together. I knew exactly what she was doing.
“And if the goddesses should choose to bless you with little ones sooner rather than later, I’m ready and willing to take care of the precious angels while the two of you work. You know it would be my honor, and who better to watch over such a treasure than their very own grandmother…”
“Is she…” Jack hooked a thumb in my mother’s direction.
“Trying to guilt you into staying in Eureka instead of us moving to Norway? Yep, that’s exactly what she’s doing.”
“Dammit, Sunny! I am not.” Mom snapped.
“You’ve never been a liar, Ann…” Father butted in.
“Ugh. Okay, so I want the two of you to live here. Sue me! So what’s it going to be? I must know. Are you moving right after the wedding?”
I looked at Jack and then at each of my family’s suddenly sad faces. This was emotional blackmail at its finest.
“Honestly, Ann, we haven’t talked about it.” Jack answered.
“Excellent, let’s do so over dinner,” Mom said and loaded our plates with delicious guilt-filled food.