Page 51 of Make Me Crazy (Loco, Texas 2)

“No, just things. Why, do you want to back out? Because if you do-”

“I don’t want to back out.” He sounded gruff and irritated.

“Okay.”

“In fact, when do you want to do it? I guarantee you we’re not getting into this thing with just a trip to the courthouse, not if my mother has anything to say about it,” he teased.

“I don’t want a lot of pomp and fuss.” The last thing she needed was to have the whole town showing up to goggle at her.

“Fine. What if we did a small ceremony at the church and held the reception here,” he asked.

Covering his hand with hers, she smiled. “That’s great.”

“Do you want to do it this weekend?”

She caught her breath as her heart skipped and stumbled. “So fast?”

A deep chuckle ruffled her hair. “Were you wanting to hold out for a better offer?”

“No.” She whispered softly. “There’s nobody better than you.”

Silence stretched between them and she felt his lips brush against the back of her neck. “Miranda Coleman, that was downright romantic.”

Normally, she would have told him to shut up, but for the first time in her life, her trademark waspishness failed her. “I was just stating the facts.”

Jake stroked Rand’s side, listening to the soft snores emitting from her lips and trying to fight the warm glow her words had caused.

There’s nobody better than you.

Rand had always had his back, but she was never the type to be overly affectionate, yet in the last few weeks, he’d watched her soften. She’d really started to open up and blossom and though he was happy to be a part of it, it also sent a part of him into panic mode. The last thing he wanted to do was let Rand down.

Jake woke up Monday morning and checked his phone. His mother had called a couple times and if he knew her, she was ready to call the police.

Heading into the bathroom, he called his assistant manager, and asked her to open for him before he called his mom. He definitely felt better, but he wasn’t quite ready to work a ten hour day.

As he dialed his mom’s number, he wasn’t surprised when she picked up on the second ring shrieking. “Dead! I thought you were dead!”

“Believe me, there were a few times I thought I was dying,” he said.

“What happened? Were you in an accident? Why didn’t they call me?”

“I was sick, Mom. Rand’s been taking care of me out at her place. And besides all that, you do know I’m a grown ass man?”

“Of course I do! Doesn’t mean I won’t kick your ass up one side and down the other if you ever scare me like that again!”

Jake chuckled. “Alright mom, I won’t. Is that all you called for?”

“No, your brother called me yesterday. He’s coming home.”

Jake’s stomach dropped out and he gripped the cell to his ear. “When?”

“He’s driving out today.” There was a pregnant pause on the line. “He’s bringing his son with him.”

Jake sucked in his breath. “When did that happen? Last time you talked to him he was in the middle of the fucking desert.”

“Watch your language. I guess he met a girl before his last tour and they had a fling. She sent him a letter months later with a picture and since then, she’s kept him updated and he’s spent his leaves with them. When he came back the last time and said he was getting out, he moved them in with him on base and was going to marry her, but she took off and left her son with Dustin.”

“Is he even sure he’s his?” Jake asked.

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