Page 84 of Bonus Daddy
I threw a piece of popcorn at him. “Of course it’s a compliment.”
He lifted one shoulder and let it fall. “The farm runs itself.”
Jenn snorted. “Farms do not run themselves. They’re financial sinkholes that drain people of their labor and spirit.” She sat forward in her chair. “You are a genius.”
“I didn’t do much. Just developed a few models, made some investments, and capitalized on market fluctuation.”
“Blah, blah, financial genius bullshit.” Eyeing me, she gestured to him with a thumb. “Do you believe this?”
“I do not,” I replied. “You’re amazing, and if your big sisters aren’t gonna tell you, who will?”
Before he could downplay his accomplishments again, the sound of an engine coming up the drive caught our attention.
“Jas?” I said, getting to my feet. “He’s back?”
Josh nodded. “’Course. You know how much he loves the girls.” He shifted forward and lowered his voice. “He’s been working extra shifts lately, so he’s constantly exhausted. Something is definitely up with him.”
Jas was young when we lost Dad, so he’d been raised by a grieving mother and his older sisters. I’d even go so far as to say that parenting tasks had mostly been crowdsourced. Several friends had helped out when they could.
And because of that—or maybe not; maybe it was just his nature—the boy was wild. Not dangerous wild, but fun wild.
Loved a party, found himself in all sorts of weird situations. Meeting celebrities, backpacking through countries I didn’t even know existed, that sort of thing.
And he was a notorious ladies’ man. The kid was the definition of charming. He didn’t take himself too seriously, and he possessed a one-two punch of dimples and a six-pack.
His car, a Mustang, was his pride and joy, so though one would expect him to tear down the driveway like a bat out of hell, he rolled slowly, careful not to kick up stones.
“Jessie,” he called as he climbed out.
I darted down the stairs and leaped into his arms, a piece of my heart locking into place. Jasper Lawrence was a goofy little kid in the body of a six-foot-three, heavily tattooed firefighter.
He spun me around until I shrieked, then put me on my feet and held my elbows to make sure I was steady.
“What is this?” I tugged at one side of his mustache. “What did you do to your handsome face?”
He ran his hands through his hair. “God, you sound like Mom. It’s just something I’m trying.”
“You look like a seventies porn star.”
Smirking, he rubbed his jaw. “Can’t grow a beard because of my respirator.”
“You can’t grow a beard at all,” Josh joked, gesturing to his own full beard. “Not man enough.”
Ignoring him, Jas gave me another hug. “I’m so happy you’re here, Jessie. Where are my nieces?”
“Sleeping in the princess suite Josh made for them.”
“Bummer. I rushed home hoping to catch them awake.” He took a seat next to me. “The Sticky Notes are playing at the Drip Line tonight.”
“Didn’t you date the lead singer?” Jenn asked.
He dropped his head back and rocked, huffing. “No, that girl sang with Mapleback, and she moved to New York.” Brow arched, he gave her a pointed look. “And you know I don’t date. But since you asked, the new bartender is super cute.” He leaned forward, eyeing Josh. “Wanna head over there with me? I’ll buy you a beer and teach you to talk to women.”
Josh shook his head, his expression serious. “Some of us have to get up and work in the morning. And I know how to talk to women. I just don’t want to.”
Jas stuck his tongue out, falling back into his role as the annoying little brother.
Jenn stood, her oldest sister instincts kicking in as well, and went inside to make him a plate of leftovers.
