Page 30 of Whisper of Surrender (Whisper Lake 2)

CHAPTER 9

“If there’s any relationship that actually makes me think about giving love a second chance, it’s your parents.” Brynn stood beside Jess in her parents’ kitchen, helping her put the cards in order for the Not-So-Newlywed Game.

Jess looked up and saw her mom and dad mingling with their friends out on the deck. Her dad had his arm around her mom’s waist and he kept whispering things in her ear. Probably telling her how cute she is, if I know him, Jess thought. It was his go-to compliment. At least the go-to compliment that was PG enough to say in public.

Their anniversary celebration was going off without a hitch. It was a beautiful, sunny day and it seemed like the entire town had turned out for her parents’ festivities. The party began at noon and had no end time. She’d expected people to stop by for an hour or two and then leave, but it seemed like everyone was staying much longer than that.

There were probably close to a hundred people milling about her parents’ backyard. Thankfully, her childhood home sat on two acres of land. The house had been her grandfather’s, and he’d had a small working farm when her dad was growing up. But when Jess was growing up, the only animals she’d had were two Collie dogs named Sonny and Cher. Both pups were no longer with them. However, they had a litter of six puppies, the six-pack, her dad called them. The original plan had been to give them away but her mom hadn’t been able to part with any of the adorable bundles of fur. When the decision was made that they’d be keeping the bunch, Jess got to name them. So Ross, Rachel, Pheobe, Joey, Monica, and Chandler were running around the backyard and seemed happy to have so many visitors.

“Do they ever fight?” Brynn asked, in awe of the couple of the hour.

Not the first time Jess had been asked that question and she knew it probably wouldn’t be the last.

“Of course they fight. Not like screaming matches or anything, but yeah, they disagree.”

“I don’t think your dad was too happy about the game.” Brynn set the cards with the answers that she’d collected from Jess’s parents down on the table.

“He’ll get over it.” Jess wasn’t worried about her dad. He would do anything for her mom. “Let’s head back out.”

Jess grabbed a couple of bags of chips and Brynn grabbed a fresh veggie tray, and the duo stepped back outside. They were refilling the refreshment table that Jess had set up next to the deep end of the pool when Ali bopped up.

“Okay, what is going on between you and the good sheriff of Naughtyham?” Ali looked proud of herself for her play on words.

Jess grinned. “Not to rain on your punrade, but I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Come on,” Brynn said as she leaned in close and lowered her voice. “The man can’t take his eyes off of you.”

“What are you…” Jess turned and saw that sure enough, Ethan was standing at the other end of the pool, beer in hand, not paying any attention to the group of people around him. His deep brown stare was pointed directly at her just like it had been every time she’d looked his way today.

She’d been trying to ignore him, but he just looked so damn hot. He was wearing the same basic outfit that most of the guys at the party were. Plain T-shirt, shorts that fell below his knee, flip-flops, and a baseball cap. But for some reason, her body was responding like she was Marilyn Purroe and he was catnip. He was just so damn sexy.

That was nothing new, of course, but since their talk, her hormones were in overdrive. Since they’d agreed to a fake relationship, the real things that she’d been fantasizing about him doing to her, and her doing to him, were making her blush.

Feeling her cheeks heat again, she turned away from the source of her flush.

“He’s been watching you like a hawk. And not just in his normal, worried about you way. He’s been watching you.” Ali wagged her brows as she did her best Mae West impression, “If you know what I mean.”

“I do, actually.” Jess deadpanned. “You’re not being subtle.”

She was happy to see Ali being her goofy self again. After Patrick died, Jess had been worried that Ali would always be a shell of herself. But Kade didn’t just bring himself back when he returned to town. He brought Ali as well.

“So, what’s the deal, banana peel?” Ali posed her question playfully.

Jess wasn’t prepared to answer questions about Ethan yet. They’d agreed not to start their “relationship’ until after her parents’ anniversary party. Jess hadn’t wanted to take any of the attention off of her mom and dad’s day. At least that’s what she’d told Ethan. Honestly though, she’d just been nervous and needed some time to prepare.

Was it ridiculous that she’d broken out in hives over a relationship that wasn’t even real? Yep. But there wasn’t a whole lot she could do about that.

They’d also decided not to let anyone in on the fact that it wasn’t real. That discussion started when she said that she’d have to tell her parents and Ali. Ethan then pointed out that if Ali knew then she’d have to tell Kade, and if the twins overheard it they might let Ryder in on it, who would most likely say something to Brynn.

Her solution was simple. She’d tell her parents, Ali, Kade, and Brynn. His response had been a stare that told her what she already knew. If all those people knew, the chances of them all being able to keep the secret were slim to none. And if everyone knew that it was a fake relationship, what was the point in doing it?

So, it wasn’t just that she was stressed about what being in a relationship, fake or not, would be like. She was also stressed about lying to her friends and family.

“It’s complicated.” That was true, so technically she wasn’t lying. Yet.

When she turned her attention back to her friends, she saw that they were both staring at her with their mouths hanging wide open.

“What?” she looked back over her shoulder, convinced they were reacting to something behind her.

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