Page 67 of The B!tch List

“Listen,” he said, leaning in close. “We both know we can’t stand each other, but for some reason we kinda like having sex with each other.”

“And your point is?”

He cocked his head on one side and let his beautiful blue eyes slide over my face and then my body.

“You don’t have a point,” I prompted.

“No, I do, but I got a little distracted.” He drew in a breath. “Do you have any idea how fucking sexy you are?”

“Is that the point that you wanted to make?”

My heartbeat notched up a level as Shaw took a step closer to me. I wanted him to kiss me and yet I hated the idea of it. If he kissed me then it would undoubtedly lead to sex because he was right, we did like having sex with each other. The problem was, while at first it had been all about the immense gratification that angry sex brought with it, each time chipped away at my intense dislike for Shaw. I’d already had my heart dented and my confidence annihilated by Minnesota, and I wasn’t sure I could take another hit. Then again Shaw wasn’t promising me a future like my ex-boyfriend had. He was just offering me really, really good sex.

“I’ll get you that vodka in a few,” Shaw said nodding toward the stage area. “I think Jefferson is about to do his stuff.”

My head shot around to look in the same direction and immediately a stupid grin broke out on my face. Jefferson, the normally confident and sexy rancher, was wiping his palms on his pants as Kitty laughed at something that Melinda was saying to her off to the side of the stage.

I spotted Tate give Dewey a signal to stop the music and then my eyes went back to Jefferson who was taking a deep breath. Hunter ran up to him and slapped his back before rejoining Ellie and Lily who were giving him a thumbs up. God, I wanted what they all had. Family was everything and I didn’t think I’d felt the loss of mine so deeply as I did at that moment. When the man of the moment cleared his throat, I shook my head of the memories.

“Hey everyone,” Jefferson started tentatively as Kitty rushed to his side and wrapped an arm around his middle. “I want to thank you all for coming to celebrate Kitty’s birthday, which,” he said with a grin toward his woman, “isn’t her fiftieth.”

Kitty rolled her eyes. “I told you that word isn’t to be mentioned ever again. Especially not this time next year.”

“I know, and I promise it won’t be.” Jefferson kissed her temple before turning back to the crowd listening intently. “Anyways, we’re glad you have you all here atourhome.”

My stomach swooped at his words and the way he said them; full of pride and love and gratitude that he was now sharing it with the woman he loved. I was beyond happy that both he and Kitty had been given a second chance at joy in their lives.

Jefferson blew out his cheeks and then continued. “There is another reason why you’re here,” he said, looking at Kitty. “Our kids and close friends know about this but not even Kitty is aware of what happens next.”

Kitty looked over at the people watching and mouthed, ‘what’s going on?’ to Tate who was beaming at her. He then nodded at Jefferson who hadn’t dropped to his knee but was holding out a black box. Kitty gasped and placed her hand on her chest, exactly where her heart was.

“Baby?” She gazed at Jefferson and then at the box.

“Kitty,” he started. “You came back into my life a little under a year ago and every day since then has been beyond amazing. You filled my heart with so much love I can’t express what it’s meant to me.” Kitty’s hands moved in front of her mouth, like she was praying, and I was sure I could see tears on her cheeks. “Everyone knows what I’ve been through, what Hunter and I lost, but you’ve done something that I never thought possible. You’ve made me feel happy and look forward to the future again.” I looked over at Melinda and Darcy who were hugging each other and both swiping at tears as they watched their friend lay bare his heart and soul. “We first found each other when we were just fifteen and then over thirty years later you made your way back here and back into my heart.” Jefferson looked up to the sky and then back to the woman he loved. “I kinda think someone had a hand in that, because she knew how much we needed you and how just how much you’d love us.”

“Aww shit, Pop,” I heard Hunter mutter, his voice breaking with emotion.

Jefferson looked at his son and smiled softly before continuing. “Katherine Louise Carmichael would you do me the honor of being my wife, and before you say no, I already checked with your dad, and he said yes, so that kinda means that you have to.”

Kitty’s head swiveled over to a table where her parents and her uncle Norm were sitting. There were two empty seats where Jefferson’s sisters Lynn-Ann and Janice-Ann had been, but they were now both hanging on to Hunter’s hands and gazing at their brother.

“Well?” Jefferson asked, regaining Kitty’s attention. “What do you say, baby?”

“I say yes,” she cried and practically jumped off the floor and into his arms, raining kisses all over his face.

“What about the ring,” Henry, Ellie’s dad yelled.

“Oh gosh, I forgot.” Kitty pulled away and held out her left hand.

Jefferson took the ring from the box which he then coolly threw to Hunter, before placing the ring on Kitty’s finger. Once it was securely on he took her into his arms and gave her one of the most romantic PG kisses that I’d ever seen. After what felt like was a real private moment in front of a hundred people, they pulled apart and Jefferson faced all the partygoers.

“Okay, folks, let’s continue with the party.”

Dewey started the music again and Jefferson and Kitty were suddenly surrounded by their families and friends. It truly was a beautiful moment and as I gazed at them, I was surprised to feel a warm, big hand take mine.

“Pretty cute, hey?”

Shaw’s breath whispered against my skin, and everything went on high alert. The beer mixed with the emotion of the evening and the feelings of loneliness were enough for me to decide.

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