Page 46 of The Wayward Son

Jade shook her head. “Gross. No. He doesn’t smell like a sweaty boxer, even when he’s a sweaty boxer.” She took a moment. “In my limited point of reference.”

Sawyer looked at his bear claw. “Yeah. Let’s talk about something else.”

A few minutes later, J.T. brought the box of pastries over, then brought everyone a cup of coffee. He sat in the other chair with a bear claw.

“So how is ‘he’s so nice’, Xander this morning?”

Jade laughed. “He is quite nice. I actually met him once.”

Sawyer pointed at her. “The horse thief.”

“Yes.”

“I’d forgotten about that. Granddad said if he hadn’t intervened, you might’ve caused some serious damage with the pitchfork.”

J.T. shook his head. “Hold on. What’s this?”

Jade relayed the incident again for J.T.’s sake. He seemed to have no memory of the event, though he was probably told about it at the time. “How old were you?”

Jade shrugged. “Around eleven I think.”

“Jesus. You went after him with a pitch fork?”

“I was very protective of you O’Connells.”

“I guess. How’d you remember him, though? I’m sure he looks a lot different now. He was seventeen or something at the time.”

Jade glanced at Sage. “His smile.”

Sawyer groaned. “Shit. How much smiling could he have done while being threatened by a pitchfork?” He reached for another bear claw. “Good thing that guy has five kids, or every woman in town would be after him.”

“Hmm. I think he only has eyes for one woman.”

Sage frowned and shook her head.

J.T. looked at her, then at Jade. “We’ve noticed.”

“And I suppose you two have gone all big brother about it.”

Sawyer took a sip of his coffee. “The man has five kids.”

“That doesn’t make him any less desirable.”

He laughed. “Great. You and Sage can fight over him.”

J.T. finished his bear claw, then stood up. “I need to get home.” He looked at Sawyer. “Will you bring Jade by later to see the place and meet Finn and Joey?”

“Sure. Your place or the inn?”

“Both.”

“We’ll be by this afternoon.”

“Just text first to see where we’re at. Once we pick Finn up from school, we’ll probably be at the inn getting ready for more snow.”

“I’ll shoot you a text.”

J.T. left, then Sage sighed. “Well, as much as I’d like to stay here and harass you some more, I have a song to work on. And I have groceries to put away. So, I need to go, too.” She looked at Jade. “Do you want to stay here? Or come back to the house with me?”

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