Page 72 of A Little Naughty

I shift the ball cap on my head. “We don’t want to wait.”

“Marriage is a big step.” Piper’s tone is more measured. “Are you sure you’re ready for it?”

“I’m sure about Jemima.” Her eyes meet mine, and I give her a wink.

“Can we be sure about you?” Monay watches me closely, and I don’t know which of us would win in a fight.

My money’s on her.

“Yes.” I meet her gaze without hesitation. “Jemima wants this, and I want it. I guess we have as good a chance as anybody else, and I intend to take care of her. You don’t have to worry about her with me. Ever.”

“Oh!” Britt puts a hand over her mouth, and she looks like she’s going to cry.

I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but Piper nods. “Cass might not agree, but you sound all right to me.”

Jemima walks to where I’m standing and slips her hand into my arm again. This time she couples it with a kiss on my cheek, and I feel good. I feel happy.

And I push back on those other feelings building like gray clouds on the horizon.

CHAPTER19

JEMIMA

Cass stands in front of a mint-green Cuisinart mixer in the middle of her pristine, white kitchen in Alex’s big house outside of town.

My sister is an excellent baker—she used to have her own business making cakes until she said it took over her life. I did not inherit that skill, or at least I never learned it.

Today she’s mixing icing to go on her signature snickerdoodle cake, and I feel like I’m under the interrogation lamp. “You barely even know him, Jemima! He could be a drug dealer for all you know.”

“He’s not a drug dealer.” I slide my finger across the screen of her iPad, where we’ve been looking at Mardi Gras decorations for the gala. “I’ve interviewed him for the paper, I’ve asked him all kinds of questions, he got cups for the kids?—”

“Drug dealers don’t tell you they’re drug dealers. They simply do what they do, then you both get gunned down in a dark alley one night because somebody didn’t get paid or something went wrong or somebody’s trying to move up in the hierarchy.”

“I think you’ve been watching too muchOzark.” I lean forward to dip my finger in the icing bowl. “Where’s Pinky?”

“Alex took her to Julia’s. She has a playdate with Crimson, and that’s not whatOzarkis about. It’s about money laundering.”

“I thought it was about drugs.” I shrug. “Anyway, I’ve known him long enough. I know what drug dealers are like, and he’s not one. He’s a hard worker, he’s very goal-oriented. Piper’s mom loves him.”

“I guess. Who am I to judge?” She sighs, turning off the mixer. “Aiden said he’s never been in trouble, and I guess how well do you ever know anyone these days?”

“See!” I hold out my hands. “It’s all good.”

“It’s not all good. I still think it’s too fast.” She puts both hands on the countertop beside the mixer. “Are you pregnant?”

“No!” I laugh. “Everybody keeps asking that. I’m not pregnant. We’re just in love.”

The words fly out before I have a chance to catch them, and my throat tightens.Are we?Thatwouldbe too fast… Wouldn’t it?

“Really?” Her voice takes on a hopeful pitch, and my insides squirm.

Up to this point, I haven’t really been lying to anyone.

“Yeah.” I smile, blinking down and doing my best not to appear guilty.

She walks over and takes both my hands in hers. “Okay, then.” She pulls me into a tight hug. “Starting now, there’ll be no more negative talk. I’m so happy for you, especially after all you’ve been through. I want you to have all the good things in the world, and that includes marrying the man you love.”

I swallow the lump in my throat and manage to squeak out a thanks.

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