Page 79 of Slash & Burn

Joey: At the hardware store.

I shook my head, showing Jill, who looked slightly less amused than me at the change in plans.

Grady: On our way

“He’s always up to something,” Jill muttered, letting me take her hand as we turned in the other direction.

“Well, it can’t be that bad,” I joked. “If he’s still planning on killing me, he already has a shovel to bury my body.”

The side-eye Jill gave me only made me laugh harder, so I tugged her toward me, bringing her hand to my lips. It was subtle, but things were different now. There was an ease between us, as if what had happened—what hadfinallyhappened—had shifted things. It was a good shift, like the last barrier had been knocked down and now all that was left was to enjoy each other.

Seeing Jill naked, watching her face crumble as pleasure ripped through her body—those were the exact kinds of things I should not be thinking about as we walked up to her brother in the lumber section of the local home improvement store. One look at Jill, and Joey was mean-mugging me like he knew I’d fucked her senseless.

“Oh, thank goodness,” LeAnn sighed, wrapping Jill in a tight hug. “You can help settle this.”

I shook Joey’s hand, his grip comically tight as he muttered hello. For all his help the other night with Adam, he still wasn’t quite ready to see me with his sister. I shouldn’t have laughed at that, but I did. And his glare told me he knew exactly what I found so funny.

“I don’t think I want to get in the middle again,” Jill said, warily eyeing her brother as LeAnn pointed to their cart.

“But he picked out fire truck wallpaper,” she moaned, holding up the roll of cartoon fire trucks on a gray background. Little bear firemen with ladders and hoses smiled brightly as they worked to put out orange and gold flames. “The poor kid is going to have nightmares about the house burning down around him.”

Jill tucked her hand back in mine and squeezed, but her eyes were on her sister-in-law. “Who even makes wallpaper like that?”

“Well,” Joey grumbled, “they don’t make police officer ones.”

Jill cackled, earning her an absolutely scathing stare from Joey. “Bro, come on. That’s ridiculous, even for you.”

“What’s wrong with that?” he mumbled, taking the paper from LeAnn and walking away from us to put it back.

I coughed, trying to hide my laughter as I let Jill’s hand go and followed him.

“Hey, how’s the renovation checklist going?” I asked, falling into step beside him.

He glanced over at me, blowing out a breath. “You heard about that?”

It hadn’t seemed like a secret I should have kept, so I shrugged. “Yeah, Jill mentioned you’re getting a lot done before the baby. If you need help, I’m happy to come swing a hammer or something.” I was better with tools than Joey, but I wasn’t going to say that and poke the bear any further.

He stopped in front of the wallpaper display, shoving the roll back in the holder. “Yeah, sure. I’ve got to get some new kitchen cabinets installed in a couple of weeks. I could use an extra set of hands.”

A relieved sigh rushed out of me. “Happy to, just text me when you’re ready.”

He nodded, pausing when he went to turn and walk away. “The Adam thing is cleared up. He’s not going to do anything about it.”

It was probably a sign of arrogance that I hadn’t thought about Adam pressing charges for a single second after we’d walked away that night. Or maybe I just knew Joey would have my back.

“Thanks. I appreciate your help.” I was about to say I wouldn’t let Adam push my buttons like that again, but I knew the truth; if he came near Jill again it wasn’t likely I’d be any more controlled. I was trying, but fucking with her meant fucking with me, and I might have wished I was better at just walking away—but I wasn’t. Not where she was concerned.

“I just wish the dick would go back to his hot shot job out west. Him being here . . . she doesn’t need that.”

It would have been foolish to argue with Joey about it, but from where I stood Jill was doing better than he gave her credit for. Adam was a sore spot, sure, but she wasn’t on the brink of losing it anymore. I could see that. I think LeAnn saw it too. But I wished her brother had the same kind of faith in her.

As we headed back I spotted something out the side doors, and stopped short. “I’ll be there in a sec,” I said, moving for the garden center with a grin on my face as Joey waved and went back to where we’d left the girls.

Outside under the harsh late-July sun were hundreds of plants, most of them flowering. An array of colors and shapes lined the tables the full length of the store and I started pulling one after the other. My arms got so full I had to grab a cart, loading it up until I couldn’t fit anymore.

“What on earth?” Jill said, coming up beside me with a confused look on her face. “Grady, have you lost it? Is this your cry for help?”

Smartass. “No.” I bumped her with my shoulder. “This is your menu.”

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