Page 61 of A Lonely Road
I groaned against his neck and grumbled, “Not important.”
That only piqued his curiosity. “Oh, now youhaveto tell me. Come on. It’s cute.”
“It is not cute.” Jake waited with his usual patience, so I huffed in frustration. “Fine. My dad used to send me little teddy bears from wherever he was stationed. The year I turned ten, he was supposed to be home for my birthday and something happened, I guess he got delayed. Whatever the reason, I was pissed, so I set them all on fire in the backyard.”
“You didn’t,” he breathed, sounding both impressed and appalled.
“My mom didn’t even know I’d gone outside. Fire trucks showed up, it became a big huge thing. He shortened it to Bear, but for the first couple years after that, I was known all over base as Bonfire Bear.”
Jake’s shoulders shook with laughter beneath my head. “Oh my god. You’re right, that’s not just cute, it’s the most freaking adorable thing I’ve ever heard in my life.”
“It’s not adorable and definitelynotfunny,” I muttered, poking him hard in the ribs.
“Oh, Nora. It isfunny, because I can just picture a prickly little version of you in the glow of a burning heap of teddy bears.” He laughed even harder as he said it, wrapping his arms tightly around me. “Oh, shit. You have to tell Sam this story.”
An annoyed hmph was my reply, but then my head popped up. “Well, now,” I drawled, “if dinner tomorrow results in a sufficient number of embarrassing stories aboutyourchildhood, I might be willing to share it.”
“That’s a deal I will take.” Jake grinned, clearly picturing his sister’s reaction. Then, like he simply couldn’t resist, he teased his lips across mine. “I am completely crazy about you.”
My expression softened at the sweet way he said it. “I’m pretty crazy about you, too,” I replied, a little shyly. It still felt foreign to make those admissions.
“Can I ask you something?” He brushed a wet tendril from my cheek, gazing down at me until I nodded. “When’s the last time you told someone you loved them?”
My eyes widened as I tried to remember. “Aside from my parents, I assume you mean,” I said dryly. “Ah . . . never, actually.”
Jake’s lips curved until that dimple twinkled at me like a beacon. It was distracting enough that I spent a solid minute just staring at his mouth before I realized he hadn’t responded to my answer.
“What? Why are you smiling like that?”
“No reason. That just makes me extraordinarily happy,” he murmured against my lips as he kissed me again.
When the kiss ended, I shifted to face him as I resettled myself on his lap. “Then I’ll just have to give you a chance to show me how happy you are.”
Jake, as always, was more than willing to rise to the challenge.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Jake
Midwaythroughanotherequallyproductive morning for both of us, Sam texted to suggest inviting Nora’s dad to dinner that evening. I knew my sister well enough to realize something must be going on, so I called her on speaker while Nora cuddled up against my side on the couch.
“Tell me what you’re planning, evil twin,” I said without preamble.
Sam heaved a sigh. “Why would you think I’m planning something other than a nice backyard barbecue for my darling brother and his hot new girlfriend?”
A strangled laugh slipped from Nora’s lips, but I was undeterred. “Because I’ve known you my entire life, Samantha. What. Is. Up?”
“Mom and Dad got home this morning and they’ll be at dinner tonight,” Sam said in a rush, like that would prevent me from understanding the ramifications.
It didn’t.
A meeting of the parents, that was what it would be.
On one hand, what better time than when John Cassidy happened to be in town? On the other, I felt like I’d already been run through the wringer, as had Nora. I rubbed my forehead and raised a questioning brow at her.
She only shrugged, so I said, “Fine, we’ll invite him. No promises, though. And Sam?”
“Yes, brother dear?”
