Page 18 of Tactically Tied

Jami blinked, completely thrown off by this revelation. “I treated him like an enemy because I thought you didn’t like him.”

There was a beat of silence before Jacqui let out a surprised laugh. Jules joined in, the two of them chuckling at the absurdity of it all. Jami wasn't laughing.

She couldn't. As her sisters' laughter bubbled around her, Jami’s mind whirred, tracing back through the years, through the simmering tension between her and Jed that she’d always brushed off as annoyance. But now she understood—there was a thin line between love and hate. She hadn’t loved Jed back in high school, but she’d denied the pull she felt, denied it so fiercely that she’d convinced herself it wasn’t there.

But it had been. The attraction. The undeniable spark. She just never allowed herself to admit it, and it wasn't because of Jed—it was because of Jacqui. Jacqui, who apparently had been taking cues from her, following her lead in writing off Jed and his whole family. All this time, Jami had thought her dislike for Jed was because of the rivalry between their families. But maybe it was something else. Something she hadn’t been ready to face.

And now, knowing that Jacqui had only been mirroring her, a sudden weight settled on Jami’s chest. Had she known—had she let herself admit that the chemistry was real—would things have been different? Maybe, just maybe, she would’ve given Jed a shot. Maybe the kiss they’d shared back then would’ve led to more.

“Wow,” Jacqui said between laughs. “All this time, you were holding a grudge because of me?”

Their laughter settled, and Jami leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. She had spent years treating Jed like the enemy, pushing him away, all because of a misunderstanding. And now, sitting here as his wife, she had no real reason to dislike him anymore.

“So,” Jacqui said, giving her a curious look. “Where does that leave you two now?”

Jami sighed, feeling the weight of the question sink in. She didn’t know where it left her. All she knew was that after that kiss—after both kisses—she wasn’t sure she could keep pretending that marrying Jed was just a business arrangement.

CHAPTERELEVEN

Jed turned his car around the block, driving the short distance from his house to the Chou family’s front steps. His parents' old house was just a stone's throw away. The street he drove down was familiar, almost ingrained in him. He’d lived his whole life within a block of the Chou family, and now it felt wrong—wrong—to have a single street separating him from Jami.

His parents had retired and moved closer to his sister, who had dutifully given them grandkids. They weren't expecting any from him, not with the bachelor life he'd been living. But now things had changed.

He was married. Married. He should probably call his parents and tell them. He'd do that this weekend. First, he needed to collect his wife.

Jed pulled up in front of Jacqui’s house. He cut the engine and stepped out into the cool morning air. The house, like many in their small town, had the familiar look of well-loved charm. White siding, slightly weathered, lined with neatly trimmed hedges that ran along the front porch, Jacqui’s home was the kind of place that made you feel instantly welcome.

If you weren't a Winchester, that is.

The wide porch stretched across the front, complete with a pair of old rocking chairs that creaked in the wind. Jed remembered riding his bike down the street and watching Jami's mom sitting in one of those chairs. She'd looked pale and weak in her last days during her illness. Jed had wanted to take her a bowl of soup. He would've if he’d thought it would've been welcome. Not by Mrs. Chou, but by her daughters, who had never given him a smile.

Well, Jules had. But the youngest Chou smiled at everyone. Jed doubted the girl knew how to frown.

He made his way up the steps and past the rocking chairs. Flowerpots lined the steps, bright pops of color against the wood, adding a softness that contrasted with the rest of the sturdy, practical structure. The front door, painted a deep red, looked freshly cleaned—no dust, no smudges—just like everything Jacqui touched. Even the windows sparkled, their curtains drawn back, allowing the early sunlight to pour in, making the house seem even more open and inviting.

But to Jed, this place represented something different. A boundary. He clenched his jaw as he stared down at the door. It stared back at him like a guard post, reminding him he didn’t belong on this side of the street, in this part of Jami’s life.

He reached for the door knocker, then stopped himself. His jaw tightened further. He hated this. Hated that there was a door between him and Jami. That he had to knock to get permission, as if he were a stranger.

It grated on his nerves in a way he hadn’t anticipated, that he had to ask to see her. Last night had been their first night married, and they’d spent it in separate houses. That was the first and last time it was happening. He vowed right then that he would never again spend a night apart from her.

Bypassing the door knocker, Jed pressed the doorbell. The chime rang out. He winced, his ears catching the faint sound of footsteps approaching. He braced himself. It would be Jacqui—probably not thrilled to see him, ready with a list of reasons why he wasn’t welcome.

The door opened, and he straightened, expecting the worst. As luck would have it, Jacqui was standing there... smiling.

"Good morning, Jed," she said cheerfully.

Jed blinked. He knew Jules' smile. He’d been on the receiving end of it. He'd seen Jami smile, though it had been at that loser Ryan. He couldn’t remember a time that tough as nails Jacqui Chou had ever smiled. Definitely not at him. It unnerved him.

He glanced over her shoulder, catching Noah’s eyes. Noah looked just as bewildered as Jed felt. Noah gave a small shrug, his expression saying,Just go with it.

"Morning," Jed replied cautiously, not quite sure how to respond to this sudden change in Jacqui’s demeanor.

Before he could say more, Jami appeared in the hallway, and just like that, the world around him faded. She wore another sundress—this one in a soft lavender shade that complimented her honey-toned skin beautifully. The fabric alternated between hugging her curves and flowing over her limbs, teasing the eye with every move. Her hair was loose, framing her face, and she’d put on a touch of makeup that accentuated the up-tilt of her eyes, making them seem… inviting.

Jed swallowed hard, his pulse quickening. She was breathtaking. And all he could think about was how he had to tell her she couldn’t wear that. Not today. Not for what they were about to do.

"You look..." He paused, struggling to find the right words as his eyes roamed over her. “...incredible.”

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