Page 31 of Rules of Engagement

“Sure, anything.”

“Luke's spending the night here tonight because Sidney and me….” She elbows him. “Oomph.”

Then she takes over the sentence. “Had a date planned.”

Grayson continues where he was before the elbow. “… are making mom another grand-baby.”

She smiles as if he hasn’t said a word.

I take a long draw on my beer, enjoying the hell out of their playful love.

She, very professionally, asks. “Would you mind seeing that Jorja gets home safely?”

I look over at Jorja. She's taking a beer from Dylan, then they’re laughing. I smirk and look back at Sidney. “Go. I got Jorja.”

She slips her hand in Grayson’s. “Come on, Make Me Moan Malone.”

He looks back at me with a grin as they sneak out unnoticed through the gate in the fence.

Grady walks over to Dylan and Jorja, then leans over to watch the video. They all laugh, and Jorja cuts her eyes at me. I toast her with my beer, and she smiles, then excuses herself and heads over.

Watching her walk to me, happy, I marvel at the perfect way our reunion's gone down. Of all the hundreds of different scenarios I played out in my mind, a rescue wasn’t one of them.

Emerson says behind me. “Grant tells me you would like to continue jumping.”

I turn to her voice and nod as she steps beside me. “That’s right.”

She laughs as Jorja arrives. “It gets in your blood.”

“Yes, it does.”

“What gets in your blood?” Jorja asks.

“Freefalling.”

She gives us a look that clearly says we've lost our fucking minds, and Emerson quickly counters with, “I prefer skydiving or parachute jumping.”

Jorja tilts her head, unconvinced. “It doesn’t matter what label you put on it. It’s still too dangerous for me.”

Remembering her terror in the helicopter, I poke her. “Jorja is truly terrified of flying.”

She sticks her tongue out at me.

Needing as much as wanting to feel her body against mine, I take the bait, lunging for her. Squealing, she thinks about fleeing, but my arms wrap around her before she can take a single step.

Laughing, she thrashes, trying to get away. Her softness and scent plummet my senses, and my balls draw up, preparing for more.Mmmm, this is a bad idea in gym clothes.I shift her to a headlock and practice a little noogie love on her peanut.

She squeals giggling. “Emmy, help me!”

Emerson laughs. “Oh, hell no. You're on your own.”

“Ahhhhh.”

When I release her, I pull her uptight and press her curves into my body. She feels perfect there. Leaving my arm draped over her shoulders, I ask Emerson. “What were we talking about?”

Emerson beams at us as one of Jorja’s hand slips inside my T-shirt, tickling the arch on my back as she slides it around to rest on my hip, and her other hand rests on my abs.

“I was about to ask if you would like to participate in the exhibition jump on the Fourth of July?”

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