Page 124 of A Little Naughty

“That doesn’t make it right.” Terra rolls her shoulders back, lifting her chin. “The way you stepped up and helped this single mother and that little girl shows what a good man you truly are. Here’s a jar of pickles from my best batch.”

She holds out a big jar of her award-winning pickles, and I take it as Monay sashays up with Harold. “Terra Belle, I had no idea we went to the same hairdresser. Come sit by me, and let’s get to know each other.”

Terra inspects Monay, and she’s clearly impressed. “Lead the way. Have I got some stories to tell you…”

Aiden looks up from where he’s turning hamburgers on the grill and gives me a chin lift. I look down at the enormous jar of pickles I’m holding, and Julia hurries over to give me a hand.

“I’ll put them in the kitchen for you.”

“I can’t believe we’re all pregnant at the same time.” Piper waddles up looking like she’s about to give birth right here. “We’re going to be outnumbered.”

“Speak for yourself. I’m done.” Britt has her cotton-topped little girl on her hip, and I can’t help projecting into the future.

This time next year, that’ll be Jemima and our baby. It makes me hug her close again.

“Raif, you are some kind of talented,” Piper continues. “This place looks amazing. Is there anything you can’t do?”

“I’m sure there’s something.” I laugh, feeling very much on the spot in front of all these nice folks.

Thankfully, Ryan runs up holding an iPad. “Look, everybody—Look! Look!”

Jemima clasps her hands when we see it’s Nikki on the screen. “Nikki!” she coos.

It’s not unusual—we FaceTime with her at least once a week, and we’ve already planned for her to come for a visit.

“Hey, everybody!” She waves hard, and I see Porkchop sitting beside her. “Watch what I taught Porkchop to do!”

She jumps up, grabbing a frisbee, and we watch as she throws it far down a long park. Porkchop runs like a greyhound and jumps in the air with more grace than I ever knew he had, catching it easily in his mouth.

All of us break into cheers and applause. I tell her how impressed I am.

Even Owen reluctantly says, “He looks more natural doing it than Edward does.”

Britt passes the baby to her mom, and I wave at Bender, who’s down in the yard standing beside my dad. Dad looks really good. He’s healthy, smiling, and talking to Ben like the old friends they are. We’ve been having him over for dinners every Thursday, and it’s really good.

I’m about to jog down to them when Alex catches my arm, pulling me away from the group. “Can we talk for just a minute?”

“Sure.” I stop, and he motions for me to follow him inside. “What’s up?”

“I want to run something past you. See what you think.”

I look around Martha’s well-stocked kitchen. I’ve never been inside her house, and she’s got every kind of herb and spice you could imagine. Some I’ve never even heard of.Grains of paradise…

“What’s on your mind?” I look over at Alex.

“You know Ben stops by the distillery for a drink every now and then, and we shoot the shit.” He slides a bottle of his most expensive bourbon onto Martha’s shelf like it’s a surprise gift. “We were talking the other night, and he said you have an idea for turning these damn hogs that are taking over down here into free-range pork and selling it to specialty meat stores.”

Leaning against the counter, I cross my arms. “That’s the idea. I’ve had a little setback with the accident and then my startup money sort of fell through.”

He doesn’t need to know my startup money was going to come from that job with my brother.

“I have capital to invest. What if I gave it to you to help you get on your feet? Of course, it would be an investment, so you’d pay me back from your first profits. Or, alternatively, I can continue as a silent partner and earn dividends as you become more successful.”

His eyes hold mine expectantly, and it’s one of those strange moments when I want to look over my shoulder to make sure he’s talking to me.

“You want to give me money?”

“For your business.” He takes a brown folder off the counter and hands it to me. “I had my lawyer draw up a contract. Take it home and read it, and let me know what you think. I’m prepared to advance you twenty thousand to get things up and running.”

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