Page 49 of Average Joe

Sweet Jesus, those tone legs and tight ass. Flawless. Delectable. My stomach growled, and all the blood in my body raced toward one destination, my uncomfortable morning wood breaching the point of excruciating.

“It’s not here.” With tender care, she inspected each dainty dish. “They’re all empty.” She reached for the second shelf but came up shy.

“Here, let me help.” I moved behind and reached over her head, my arousal pressing against her backside because, shit, there was nowhere else for the damn thing to go.

Marley stiffened. I didn’t move. Was I a jackass? Sure. But I loved to fuck with her, and that sweet body was warm and inviting, and…

What was I doing? Marley didn’t want me; she’d reminded me time and time again.

Only, that slight arch in her back told a different story. The little firecracker felt me. Deep. Were I to caress a tit or venture lower between those gorgeous thighs, she wouldn’t ask me to stop.

My hips rolled, seeking the friction, and her head fell back against my chest. Sweet hell.

A thump sounded upstairs, followed by the patter of tiny paws overhead, then the click of nails on the staircase.

Marley whipped around, nudging me out of the way, and I’d bet my life that was a moan of frustration that fell from her lips.

A whimper came from the hallway before Ginger barreled our direction, tail spinning, paws seeking purchase on the smooth floor.

“There’s my lazy girl,” I cooed. “Finally decided to roll outta bed?”

Marley’s laugh set my soul at ease, and when she squatted to catch my wriggling little furball, I turned back toward the cupboard, willing my dick to deflate while biting back my smile.

Marley wanted me despite demanding the opposite. My spirits rose to the sky. I’d just been cock-blocked by a mutt, but I’d never been happier.

One by one, I checked the first row of cups. All of them came up empty. I started on the second row, sliding a finger across each bottom of the smooth glaze. Nothing.

I had no clue why anyone needed a full cupboard, four shelves high, full of teacups. The collection of fine china was one part of the house I’d yet to disturb. They’d been Alice’s treasures, some of which I’d gifted her over the years. Seemed wrong to upset their resting place.

“Wanna grab that stool?” I asked, but Marley was ahead of the game, setting the unfolded stepladder at my side.

Couldn’t help my chuckle. “You must really want that key back.”

Even her eye rolls revved my engine.

She set my wiggling pup on the floor and leaned against the counter. “I can make a hundred spares at the hardware store, but I figured I’d return this one. It has to belong to a door or lock somewhere here.”

I climbed higher for shelf number three. Inside the first cup, I found an old gold pin—two birds with long tails, their feet and wings tangled in a fight or passion, I couldn’t be sure. The trinket was heavy and nothing I’d ever seen Alice wear, not that I had paid much attention back then.

“Funny place to store jewelry.” I handed the piece to Marley and continued my inspection, amused to find each cup contained one or two pieces of, in my opinion, ugly and probably ancient broaches, earrings, and necklaces, some gold, some silver, or pearl. A few with stones of varying colors inlaid.

“Joe,” Marley whispered. “These have to be worth a fortune.” She held another broach in the air, inspecting its underside. “There’s a name stamped on the back, but I can’t make out the letters.”

“They’re probably junk.” I frowned down at her from my perch. “Alice wouldn’t keep this shit in cups on a shelf if they held any value.”

“We both know Alice was an oddball, bless her heart. Trust me, you need to get these appraised.”

I climbed onto the next step and started on the top shelf. First cup in, my gut knotted. The rose-pattern porcelain was filled with plain gold rings almost to the brim. The next cup was filled with much the same, only gold with diamonds.

By the time I reached the fourth, I was slick with sweat. What had Alice done? Gold rings, diamond rings, diamond bracelets, earrings, necklaces.

The shit must be hot. Had to be the work of a Kaine man. Alice never would’ve been involved in my uncle’s illicit shenanigans.

“What the hell do I do with this?” I mumbled, mortified that Marley was a witness to the Kaine circus. She’d never believe I wasn’t a criminal if she knew whose blood I shared.

Marley laughed.

But I found no humor in the situation. If the jewelry was stolen, I wanted my neighbor far away from the threat of implication.

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