“If Ari was our daughter,” the next one in line said, “and she practically is—”
“We’d take you out to the woods,” the third in line said.
“They’d never find your body,” the fourth said.
“And I would provide the alibi,” the fifth said with a smirk.
Ariana was finally snapped from her trance and groaned. Not the passionate way either. “Jameson, meet Miles, Marshall, Cade, Cy, and Pierce Davies. Now you’ve done your uncle duty.”
“We haven’t done our duty until he’s on the floor, crying,” Miles said.
“Someone call Mo, Zain, and Gabe. It’s their right to cause the shedding of the first tear,” Marshall said with a cold smile.
“And hear the first pleas for his life,” Cy said. Now, when he smiled it sent chills down Jameson’s back.
“Save it for another day, guys. Tonight we’re just grabbing dinner and then have to get ready for the trip tomorrow,” Ariana said in her best princess power voice. Mo had one, too. It was their command voice. Jameson almost grinned as he realized he was getting to know them as well.
“Thanks for the warm welcome, guys,” Jameson said as he reached out and patted Miles’s shoulder before he followed Ariana to a table where a group of people were watching with amused yet curious expressions on their faces.
Miles growled, but Jameson didn’t look back as he followed Ariana to a table of people more their age.
“Hey, Ari. I see you have a new friend,” a guy in deep-red flannel, jeans, and cowboy boots said with a smirk. “Porter Davies,” he said, holding out his hand.
“Jameson Duke.”
“A duke, not yet a prince,” Porter teased as he shook Jameson hand—hard.
The man had the same build as one of the Davies brothers. “Which one do you belong to?” Jameson asked with a nod to the angry wall of men staring at him.
“The scary dude with the shaved head,” Porter said, patting the chair next to him.
Jameson took a seat as Ari sat down beside him and began talking to the person on her right. Porter’s easygoing manner dropped when he leaned forward and lowered his voice. “While I’m not as skilled as my father when it comes to torture, I can and will help him do unimaginably painful things to you if you hurt my friend. Understand?”
“And here I thought small towns were supposed to be quaint,” Jameson said, not answering Porter.
“You see that woman over there in the khaki pants and the ironed button-down shirt?” Jameson nodded. “She was the president of the PTA for eighteen years. She kills people with her car. We might be quaint, but only to those we like. You come in here, mess with one of our own, and we will hunt you down like a rabid animal and skin you alive.”
“I should have guessed that when I met Ahmed. The Rose sisters with the gun should have been another hint. I don’t know, Porter. I kinda like it. My family always said I was different.”
“Different how?” Porter asked, narrowing his eyes.
Jameson leaned forward and dropped his voice. “My parents were lawyers. They fought in suits and ties. Off the top of my head, I can kill you twenty-three different ways.” Jameson’s eyes dropped to the glass of water in front of Porter. “Thirty-one.”
Porter sat back in his chair and laughed out loud, big booming laughs that had everyone in the café looking at him. “I think I found a cousin we didn’t know about.”
The small athletic woman next to Ariana laughed. “So many cousins. You could just join the herd and no one would realize it. Hi, I’m Camila Davies. Your new cousin by marriage.”
The Irish lilt to her voice surprised him. What was someone from Ireland doing in a small town in Kentucky? “Jameson Duke.”
“Nice to meet you. This is my husband, Wyatt Davies.” Camila waited for them to shake hands. “You met Porter. There are more cousins. Just shout ‘Cuz’ and someone will answer.”
The other woman at the table snickered. “It’s only funny because it’s true. I married into y’all and even though it’s been almost a year, I still think I’m missing some. Hi, I’m Stella Davies. This is my husband, Jace.”
Jameson shook his hand and looked at the other two guys at the table.
“I’m Colton Davies and this is my little brother, Landon,” the tall guy with wide shoulders and a gray fleece with a red fireman logo on the chest said.
“Then there are the Parkers. They’re still Davies, though. Their mother was a Davies,” Landon told him after shaking his hand.
“Greer, Jackson, and Ryan, right?” Jameson asked.
“Crap. He’s not even in the family and he knows more cousins than I do,” Camila muttered before the table broke out laughing.
“These are my best friends,” Ariana told him. “We’re some of the younger siblings. Jace is the town doctor. His wife, Stella, owns a nursery and garden center. Colton is the fire chief. Landon is training to be a chef. Wyatt is a vet and owner of Wyatt Farm. His wife, Camila, is the trainer, and Porter is a rodeo rider. He and his brother, Parker, own a rodeo stable.”
“It’s nice to meet you all. I’m looking forward to getting to know you all better at the wedding. Are you all going?” Jameson asked.
“We are,” Porter answered for the group. “I think the better question is how you know the Parker part of the family, how you met Ariana, and how, in the couple of days she’s been out of town, she went from single to getting X-rated in the middle of the café.”
“You want to tell them, Princess?” Jameson said as he leaned back. He knew she hated that pet name but she said they should act as a couple. His smile grew when she rolled her eyes at him and let the whole table see it.
“Jameson and I met in New York. We ran into each other right after I got off the plane and we’ve been inseparable ever since,” Ariana told them with the story they’d come up with and practiced on their horseback ride.
“You mean he was your personal protection agent and guarded you upon your arrival?” Porter asked innocently.
Well, crap. There went their cover.
Ariana groaned and slumped back in her chair. “Y’all know?”
“Ari, the whole town knows,” Porter said with a chuckle. “You can’t be involved in an active-shooter situation, have Greer kill two guys, and then get almost blown up without the entire town knowing everything. Including the name of the guy who saved your life. Twice.”
“I guess we don’t need to keep up the ruse,” Ari said. Jameson loved the way she sounded disappointed.
“Oh no,” Kenna said from the nearby table. She was completely unabashed at her eavesdropping and Jameson remembered her from when they arrived at the airport. “You must practice. Really get into the role so you can convince everyone in Bermalia. I agree with Dani. It’s the best way to keep Ari safe.”
“Thank you, Aunt Kenna,” Ari said as if she were used to Kenna butting into her life.
“Yeah, it might be a fake relationship, but that kiss sure wasn’t. Hence the bets. Now, what can I get you for dinner?” the waitress asked.
“Two Hot Browns, please. And Poppy, this is Jameson. Poppy and her sister, Zinnia, run the café for the Rose sisters,” Ariana said as she introduced them.
“Nice to meet you,” Jameson told her before she took the rest of the orders.
Jameson sat back and rested his arm across the back of Ariana’s chair as their tablemates fell into easy conversation. Not just easy, but fun. They teased each other, told stories about growing up together, and made sure to always include Jameson. He had to admit, this was a perfect first date and Keeneston sounded like the life he’d always wished for.
18
Ariana was up before the sun. She showered and thought of Jameson. She got dressed and thought of Jameson. She finished her packing and thought of Jameson. That kiss! Ariana could still feel it on her lips and all through her body.
Then her heart would stop its pitter-patter when she remembered it was all fake. But … it couldn’t be. That kiss
was unlike anything she’d ever felt. It left her heart and soul laid bare before him. She thought about it and what really hurt was how perfect the night had been. Her friends had loved him. He’d loved them, too. Their ride home had been filled with laughter and his touch. The way he placed his hand on her thigh as he drove. The way his thumb drew a little circle on the inside of her thigh drove her wild. She couldn’t stop thinking about it.
“Honey! It’s time to go. The bus is coming up the drive,” Ari’s mother shouted.
Ari grabbed her bags and flung open the door only to find Jameson standing there. “Morning, Princess,” he said before leaning forward and putting a soft kiss on her lips. “Let me grab your bags for you.” How did he constantly steal her breath?
They didn’t talk much as her whole family descended on the large charter bus that pulled up to the house. Everyone piled in as luggage was loaded. Ari smiled and greeted the people already on board and introduced Jameson to them. It took thirty minutes and she felt like she was back on a school bus as they drove toward town, stopping at every house to pick up people. The excitement was only temporarily dampened when they went to pick up Father Ben only to learn that he was sick. Father James was coming out of retirement to help with the ceremony. He was so excited to be marrying Addison, whom he baptized, that the disappointment over Father Ben missing the ceremony was soon replaced with excitement for Father James.
Then they were on the way to the airport once again. Jameson held Ari’s hand in his as everyone talked around them. By the time they reached the airport, Jameson had met nearly everyone in town and they’d all met him. Even though he didn’t need to act as the boyfriend since everyone knew he was her protection agent, it felt so natural to continue acting as if they were dating.
“Oh my stars,” Aniyah gasped as they climbed out of the bus and looked up at the enormous plane waiting for them.
Jameson picked up his and Ari’s carry-ons as they followed Aniyah and her husband, DeAndre, onto the plane.
“Now this is what I’m talking about!” Aniyah shouted in delight. Ari smothered her laugh. The plane was decked out in cheetah print.
Everyone took a seat and then they were off. Within minutes, the pilot let them know they could move around the plane as flight attendants assisted everyone with drinks, food, and finding areas of the plane to relax in because this wasn’t a regular plane. It was a completely customized plane. Up front was a master bedroom with a full master bath. There were even three other full guest bedroom suites, one of which was being used as a nursery for all the Keenestonites with babies.
As Ariana and Jameson walked toward the back of the plane to find her friends, they saw multiple semi-private sitting areas for six to twelve people, a dining room, a movie room, and around forty regular seats lined up for the masses. These weren’t standard airplane seats, not by any means. First, they were covered in cheetah print crushed velvet. Second, instead of three rows of three seats each that were attached to each other, there were simply four oversized chairs that spread out across the width of the fuselage. Each could swivel and recline, plus there was room to walk around each one. The townspeople already occupied most of the seats and she didn’t see Greer, Jace, Colton, or Parker there either.
“Miss Lily, have you seen Greer?” Ari asked when they stopped at the chairs the Rose sisters occupied.
“She’s in one of those seating areas in the back so she can stretch out her leg more comfortably.”
Ariana thanked her and continued the slow progression toward the back of the plane. It wasn’t like they could just walk by without stopping. Everyone was saying hello, meeting Jameson, wanting to talk about the bombing, wanting to talk about the wedding, or the most common question, “What do you think of this plane?”
“Oh, sugar!” Aniyah called out as they passed by. “Could you be a dear and get me a blanket?”
Jameson smiled at her in her cheetah chair and looked up to the sleek cabinets above that ran the length of the chairs.
“Baby, I could get that for you,” DeAndre told her.
“It’s okay. I’m right here,” Jameson said, reassuring DeAndre.
Ariana listed to Aniyah profess her love of the plane’s luxurious décor as Jameson opened the cabinet at the same time they hit a slight bit of turbulence. From the corner of her eye, Ari saw items fly from the cabinet and gasped.
“Did I just get hit in the face by gold dicks?” Jameson asked as he took a deep breath.
“I didn’t know they vibrated!” Aniyah said excitedly.
Ariana looked down at the floor at three gold-colored dildos buzzing and writhing on the floor.
“You should feel very fortunate. Those aren’t just any dicks. They are replicas of Draven’s royal member.” Ariana struggled to not to laugh at Jameson’s horrified expression as he stared down at one that was kind of jumping around on his foot.
“Mine!”
“No, mine!”
“Ash! Cricket! Put those down right now!” Sienna yelled at her toddler son and sister-in-law as she rushed forward. Cricket had been an “I thought I’d been through menopause” baby for Tammy and Pierce Davies, so she was close to two decades younger than Cassidy, the previously youngest child in the crew. She was nearly the same age as Tammy and Pierce’s first grandchild, Ash.
“Honey child, these here are my toys. Let go now,” Aniyah said. She yanked on the vibrating royal member as Ash held on tight to the other end.
“Mine!” he cried as his mother scooped up Cricket, pried one of the “toys” free, and shoved it at Jameson who practically leaped backward and into Ari.
“Take it,” Sienna growled as she forced it on Jameson. “Ash, give Aniyah back her toy.”
“No, mine,” Ash cried and yanked as big crocodile tears began to fall.
“Jameson, so help me, you take this dildo and you take it now or I’ll hand off both kids to you and you can explain to my mother-in-law why her daughter has a vibrating replica of Draven’s royal member in her hand.”
Ariana lost her battle and busted out laughing as Jameson quickly took the dildo. Cricket burst into tears, Aniyah finally convinced Ash to give up his claim by trading him a scoop of chocolate. Ari looked at the container and then had to grab hold of Jameson to stop from falling over she was laughing so hard.
“What is that?” Sienna asked as Cricket dipped her finger into the jar and suddenly her tears magically dried up.
“Chocolate body paint,” Aniyah answered, matter of factly. “I even have some caramel body butter in here. Gives you the same taste without the sticky mess of caramel. That could be painful if you don’t wax, if you know what I mean.”
Sienna had initially looked horrified, but from over Jameson’s shoulder Ari saw her looking up at the ceiling and taking deep breaths. It didn’t work as tears rolled down her face and she gave in. She sucked in a giant breath of air and then laughed so hard she had to set Cricket on the floor.
“No one is going to believe me,” Jameson muttered through the chuckles he was trying hard to hide.
“Sure they will. I got it on video,” Cody called out. “I even put the dildos hitting you in the face in slow motion.”
“You and that freaking camera. How did you know to video that?” Jameson asked in horror as they watched the slow-motion impact.
“Anytime Aniyah’s involved, I just turn it on.”
Then there was the collective sound of text messages being received all at once. About three seconds later, simultaneous laughter erupted through the entire plane.
“Did he just send that to everyone?” Jameson asked Ari who was trying so hard not to laugh so she just nodded.
“I will get you back,” Jameson swore.
“I look forward to seeing you try to get me back,” Cody called back as Ari began to drag Jameson away from the dancing dildos.
“Is this what the whole wedding is going to be like?” Jameson asked as they found the sitting room with her friends in it.
&n
bsp; “Addison has tried to tame it down, but with Draven there’s no telling,” Ari said and tried not to laugh at his worried expression.
Ari looked around and saw an open seat and an open loveseat. What would it feel like to be that close to Jameson and would he join her there? There was only one way to find out.
“Did it hurt?” Porter asked in a very serious tone of voice as Jameson took the seat next to Ari and quickly slid his arm along the back of the loveseat and cupped her shoulder with his hand. The excitement of a new romantic interest sparked to life in Ari as she adjusted in the seat just enough to be pressed fully against Jameson’s side.
“Did what hurt?” Jameson asked.
“When Draven’s golden dildo fell from heaven.”
“I can’t even be mad at that one. That was good,” Jameson said as he laughed.
The jokes continued and then they talked about Landon’s desire to open a restaurant eventually, how Greer was feeling, Jace and Stella being an old married couple, and the upcoming rodeos Porter had lined up.
“Rodeo is hard on the body, isn’t it?” Jameson asked Porter.
“Yeah. Jace has told me one more major injury and I’m done. He won’t clear me to ride anymore.” Porter rolled his eyes at Jace, but Ari knew it wasn’t the joking matter Porter made it out to be.
“I met Porter when he rode his horse to Jace’s clinic and fell out of the saddle right in the middle of Main Street,” Stella told Jameson.
“Don’t worry, Stella caught me and saved me from another concussion.”
“Have you thought about what’s after you retire from the rodeo?” Jameson asked and Ari held her breath. This was a very touchy subject.
“I hope I don’t have to retire. I’ve started a breeding program and that’s taking off, so if I lose my medical clearance I hope I can still participate that way,” Porter told him with a shrug as if that day would never come, but Ari knew otherwise. Porter was a risk taker. He always had been. His twin, Parker, was, too. Although Parker saw the writing on the wall with so many injuries piling up and joined the US Marshals for his adrenaline fix.
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