Page 39 of Handling Skylar
Now it was her turn to be all clueless and innocent.
“What?”
There was a mixture of amusement and patience in my voice. “Youknowwhat. The Belles. Really, River?”
“She’ll fit in and Sutton women have always been Belles. It’s mandatory. In fact, she’d make a great leader. Don’t you think?”
“Sutton women.” That made my heart hammer a little harder. “Oh, damn.” I shook my head. “I’ll just be glad I stopped you from committing murder at this point.”
“Ha! Me, too. I’ve got to run, but let’s have dinner soon. And, would you throw my husband a bone. He’s grumbling about you getting all touchy-feely with yourself, he’s not getting to punch you as often as he would like.”
I threw back my head and laughed. “Tell that huckleberry he wishes and we’ll get something together.”
***
It was just past six-thirty when I got home, but Sky wasn’t there yet. Gave me time to shower and change. I went into the kitchen, not having a clue what to even start because I really hadn’t cooked a day in my life. I decided to suggest we head over to Outlaws.
She walked in fifteen minutes later and I was almost asleep, nodding while I was going over some contracts on my laptop. The slamming of the door woke me.
“Where’s my big, beautiful man?” she called out then stopped when she came into the room. “What’s up. You look like hell.”
“Well, thanks, sugar. You look great, too.”
She gave me a cheeky grin, but her eyes were concerned. “How’s the grove progressing?”
“Good. I’m going to get there probably the middle of next week.”
“Very nice. How are you doing?”
“Still sifting, struggling.”
“You love what you do, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I think I do. I wake every morning thinking about it, eager to get to it. But I’m not sure if that’s real or imagined.”
“Yeah, I get that. I know you’ll figure this out, Jake. It’s important to me that you be happy. That’s all. You’ve had so little of that in your life. I’m aiming that you have a lot more.”
“Is that right? You going to rein me like a horse? Be careful with those spurs, cowgirl.”
“I know how to ride you, Varsity, so don’t be too cocky.”
“I thought that’s what you loved about me?” She choked on her laughter as she chuckled and slipped her hands up my chest to wrap around my neck. “You’re enjoying yourself here, right?”
“Yeah,” I said, pulling her close with a groan. “You’re my sunshine, babe.”
“Are you in pain?” she asked, pulling away.
“Some.”
“Did you take something for it?”
I looked at her blankly. She sighed. “Typical male.” She rose and came back with a glass of water and two extra-strength tablets. “Take. I’ll get dinner started.”
“I thought we could go to Outlaws.”
Her eyes brightened. “Oh, that sounds really good, but Brax has Zydeco on Saturday nights. I suppose you don’t feel up to dancing.”
“A few dances won’t do me in, especially if some of them are slow ones.”
