Page 72 of Be Mine Forever

“I’m standing right here.” Jo sliced her hand through the tension-thickened air. “I’m not a child, Walsh.”

“I know that, Jo. Of course I know that.” Walsh toggled a glance between Jo’s and Cam’s obviously less-than-dressed figures. “I only want what’s best for you.”

“Spare me your misplaced paternalism, cuz.” Jo rolled her eyes and cocked one hip even farther out. “You have no say in my love life. You’ve always thought you could dictate to me, but you can’t.”

“I’m not trying to,” Walsh said. “I just think…I’m concerned about your happiness.”

“And his happiness?” Jo waved between the two men. “Were you concerned about that?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Walsh, we’re all ecstatic for you and for Kerris and for the girls, but your happiness came at a price. And in many ways, Cam paid a lot of it.”

Walsh met Cam’s eyes, and all the awkward guilt and hurt they’d spent the last year and a half chipping away at rose between them.

“And yet, he was at your house at Christmas. Trying,” Jo continued. “You call him and ask him to check on his ex-wife, pregnant with your twins, and he’s there. He had to watch Kerris in labor with your girls. Do you think that made him think about the baby girl he lost? Maybe just a little bit?”

Walsh’s eyes, resting on Cam, clouded with all the things they’d put behind them.

“Man, I didn’t even think about—”

“My point is, he deserves to be happy, too. And I know you find it hard to believe, but I make him happy.”

“Of course. I don’t find that hard to believe. I—”

“And he makes me happy.” Jo firmed her mouth and pointed a finger in Walsh’s direction. “You will not ruin this for me with your irrational overprotectiveness. I’ve put up with your cock-blocking half my life.”

Was anyone else uncomfortable with Jo’s father hearing this? Maybe that was just Cam…

“If you think I’m going to tolerate—”

“Jo.” Cam kept his voice quiet and even, despite the battle royal of emotions warring inside. “Stop.”

Mouth still open, the next set-down stymied on her tongue, she turned to him.

“Don’t let him ruin us.” She said it so softly he wasn’t sure anyone else heard it, but tears stood in her eyes.

This was difficult for him, yes. Facing Walsh’s displeasure and her father catching them grinding on each other in the kitchen—it was uncomfortable, all of it, but she was worth it. She needed to know that.

“Hey, why don’t you go get dressed? I don’t want you to miss your pampering today. Mani-pedi,” he leaned down to whisper, letting her feel his lips curve against her ear. “The lady garden.”

She rewarded him with a shy smile and pink cheeks, so at odds with the virago attacking Walsh moments before.

“Okay. You’re right.” She nodded, pulling the robe a little tighter around her before tipping up on her toes and kissing his cheek, heedless of the mini-growl that escaped Walsh’s lips behind them. “I have meetings all afternoon. Will I see you tonight?”

“Of course.” He turned her by one silk-covered shoulder toward the back staircase. “You go on up. I want to talk with Walsh for a little bit.”

Jo shot one more glance Walsh’s way, a warning and a defense. She parted her lips like she was ready to unleash on him again, but Cam pressed one finger over her mouth and pointed to the staircase. Without another word she went upstairs.

Cam turned his attention to the two men standing in the kitchen. Their mouths hung open again, just like when they’d walked in minutes before. If anything, they looked more shocked now than then.

“What?” Cam grabbed his coffee, wishing he had Dr. Jack Daniel’s to make this scene easier.

“You just managed Jo,” Unc said, a smile overtaking the shock on his face. “I don’t even want to know how you did it, but I feel like I just witnessed a solar eclipse. No telling when we’ll see that again.”

“I did notmanageher.” Cam frowned, not liking to think in those terms. He loved Jo’s independence and fire. He was the last person who wanted to squelch it. “I reasoned with her. You should try it. Unless you wanted to hear about Walsh cock-blocking your daughter some more?”

“No, I think I’ve had enough of that.” Unc dumped his coffee in the sink, rinsed out the mug, and placed it in the dishwasher. “Actually, I’ve had enough of all of this. I’m jet-lagged. Going to catch a nap before this meeting.”

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