Page 54 of Just Say When

“Take a slow breath, not too deep,” a voice rumbled from far away.

And shit, I knew that voice.

My gaze locked on the black army boots on my front porch. I followed those up to the fatigues and then, finally, to his face.

“Jack,” I heaved. “You asshole.”

He thumped my shoulder. “You’re fine. Walk it off.”

I was about to tell him what he could do with that advice when I was interrupted by an ear-splitting shriek, followed by the slap of bare feet on wooden floors, and a flurry of color as Essie raced by me and hurled herself into her brother’s arms.

“Jack!” she shrieked. “You’re home!”

He twirled her around, making her laugh, before setting her down again. “I had some vacation days to burn. Mom said you went and got yourself married to this jackass.” He jerked a thumb in my direction. “Is that true?”

Essie looked at me and blinked slowly, apparently noticing for the first time that I was not looking my best. She turned back to her brother with a frown. “What did you do, Jack?”

Jack looked beyond her to meet my gaze head on. “Nothing he shouldn’t have seen coming.”

I couldn’t argue with that.

“Jack!” Essie slapped his bicep, then slapped his other arm for good measure. “Don’t hurt my husband.”

My husband.

I straightened up so fast I nearly went light-headed again.

She had never called me that, not once in our four weeks of marriage. She had never called me anythingeverexcept Brax or prig, or Braxton if I was really getting under her skin. It might piss Essie off to know that I was actually quite fond of her little nickname for me. But this…this might be my favorite.

My husband.

I grinned at Jack and his eyes narrowed.

“Why don’t you go back inside, Essie, and give Brax and me a chance to catch up?” he suggested, his eyes never leaving my face.

Essie folded her arms under her chest. “Seeing as this isn’t 1950, no. I don’t think I will.”

They looked at each other in that way twins had. Essie and Jack had always been able to have entire conversations without saying a single word out loud. I had the feeling if this was an argument, Jack was about to lose.

Sure enough, ten seconds later, he shook his head. “Fine. We’ll all go inside.”

But when Essie stomped by me, I caught her by the elbow. “You mind if I have a word with your brother first? I owe him a conversation.”

Her head tilted as she considered. “Fine. I’ll allow it. But don’t be dumb, Brax.” Then she tossed a smirk over her shoulder. “Nothing below the belt, Jack. I’m particularlyfond of that area.” With a wink at me, she sashayed into the house.

I swallowed a chuckle at Jack’s stricken expression.

He scrubbed a hand over his face. “She’s fucking with me.”

“Of course she is,” I agreed. We both lowered ourselves to the top step and sat down shoulder to shoulder. “She wanted to piss you off and she knew exactly how to do that. But…” I hesitated. There was no polite way to sayI’m railing your sister every chance I get, and she fucking loves it.

Jack whipped to face me. “Mom said it was because of a horse. You two got hitched so Essie could ride some horse you own in a competition?”

I nodded slowly. “That’s right.”

“Why didn’t you just sell her the horse? Or make her a part owner?” he asked.

“That’s a good question.” I rubbed my chest.

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