Hearts and Arrows Box Set

by Staci Hart

  Paul jerked his chin, still smirking. “Later, Jojo.”

  They left the station, and Josie let out a breath once they stepped onto the sidewalk. “I’m sorry.”

  “What for?” He grabbed her hand as they headed for the subway entrance.

  “They’re over-zealous about my dating someone. I don’t want you to feel like you have to do anything with my family. They’re a little intense.”

  He squeezed her hand. “I don’t mind. But don’t let them pressure you. I’m not going anywhere, so whenever you’re ready, we’ll take that step.”

  She smiled and shook her head.

  “What?” Jon smiled down at her.

  “You’re perfect. It’s not really fair, you know.”

  He snorted. “There’s no such thing as perfect.”

  She bumped him with her arm. “You know what I mean.”

  Jon stopped and pulled her into him, their necks straining as they smiled at each other. “Josie, I want to be with you. I want to make you happy. Just tell me what you want, and I’ll give it to you. I’m not perfect, and it probably won’t always be this easy, but I want to be with you. That’s the bottom line.”

  She couldn’t even argue, just reached up and kissed him. “Thank you,” she whispered when she pulled away.

  Jon watched Josie chew on her lip as they approached her parents’ place that night. They’d spent the afternoon at the firing range, and she’d officially asked him to dinner, much to his surprise. He wondered how much of it was her wanting him there and how much was the pressure from her family. Either way, he backed her up, but as they made their way to the building, he wasn’t sure she was ready for it after all.

  Josie took a step up toward the building door, but he tugged her hand, pulling her to a stop. She glanced back over her shoulder before turning to face him, looking confused.

  “I don’t have to go up there, Jo. I can head home, and the Campbells would be none the wiser.”

  Her face softened. “I want you to come.”

  “I just don’t want to add any stress.”

  Josie scoffed. “Well, they’re stressful whether you’re there or not. You’ll have to meet them eventually, may as well be now. Rip that Band-Aid off.”

  She was eye level with him, those velvety brown eyes smiling. He didn’t miss that she’d said eventually, or that she’d said it so easily, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Whatever you want, Jo.”

  Her arms slipped around his neck. “That’s easy. I want you.”

  Jon rested his hands on her hips, feeling like a million bucks as he pulled her against him, smiling as he grazed her lips. “Whatever you want, Jo.”

  They made their way into the building, her fingers squeezing his a little tighter than felt casual. She paused for a second in front of the door, taking a deep breath before she turned the knob and dragged him into the Campbell’s living room.

  Laughter floated in from the kitchen on the wings of some glorious smell, like meat, garlic and — he sniffed — carbs … bread and pasta. His mouth watered.

  “Hey,” Josie called to her family as she let his hand go and pulled off her jacket. He did the same as the entire crew filed into the living room.

  Hank approached him with an outstretched hand. “Figured we might see you tonight,” he said with a wink.

  “I bet you did.” Josie shook her head as her mother wiped her hands on her apron and pulled Jon into a hug.

  “Bring it in. I’m a hugger,” she said, and he leaned down to embrace her, smiling over at Josie as she watched them. “Nice to meet you, Jon. I’m Laura. We’ve heard so much about you.” She leaned back and rested her hands on his biceps, assessing him with approval.

  “Pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”

  Her cheeks flushed just like Josie’s. They had the same coloring, same copper hair, same porcelain skin and deep eyes. She took over the introductions. “Well, I know you’ve met Hank and Paul. This is Josie’s other brother, Mike.”

  A broad shouldered, red-headed high schooler with an amiable smile stuck out a hand. “Good to meet you.”

  “Same here.”

  Laura laid a hand on a teenage girl’s shoulder, who looked at him like he was a pop star. “This is Josie’s little sister, Liz.”

  “Hi,” she squeaked with a small wave and cheeks on fire.

  He smiled and waved back. “Hey.”

  “This is my soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Gia.”

  Paul wrapped his arm around a dark haired girl, who leaned into him and smiled. “Hi, Jon.”

  “And this,” Laura said as she moved to an older woman, “is Josephine, though most of us call her Mom or Gran.”

  Her hair was creamy white and cut like Jackie O, effortlessly stylish with the apples of her cheeks high and brown eyes twinkling as she extended a hand. “Lovely to meet you, Jon.”

  “The pleasure’s mine, Josephine,” he said as they shook.

  “Dinner’s almost ready. Hope you brought your appetite, Jon.” Laura said as she turned and the family made for the kitchen again. “Boys, set the table. Josie, I could use your help in the kitchen.”

  She shot an apologetic look at Jon, and he winked at her, hoping he looked comforting.

  Josie followed the women of her family into the kitchen, bracing herself for a full-on grilling. The swinging door to the kitchen closed, and all four of them whirled around.

  “Oh my God, Josie,” Liz gaped. “He is so cute.”

  Josie laughed. “I know.”

  Laura shook her head, smiling. “He really is, Jo. He’s so tall. And that accent. I never thought I’d see the day where I’d swoon over someone calling me ‘ma’am.’”

  “Just wait,” Gran said with a flourish. “Those days will come more often.”

  Laura laughed. “I’m sure, Mom.” She waggled a finger at Josie. “I’ve been bugging your father about getting Jon over here, so did the effort pay off?”

  Josie sighed. “Thanks for that. Dad put me on the spot at the station today when we went to pick up the wedding stuff from Paul.”

  “Oh, God, Josie. I’m sorry,” Gia’s touched her lips. “I didn’t know you’d have Jon with you. Hopefully Paul was bearable.”

  “Mostly.”

  “That’s the best we can hope for.” Gia smiled. “Please tell me you’re bringing Jon to the wedding. I have got to see what that man looks like in a suit.”

  Josie laughed. “We’ll see.”

  “Well,” Laura turned to the oven and pulled the door open. “I’m glad he’s here. I wanted to meet this boy who’s got you all of a sudden too busy to call. You blush like a schoolgirl at the mention of his name. I couldn’t imagine the kind of man who’d have you so worked up, but it’s all very clear to me now.”

  “Just go easy on him. For me. Please?”

  Laura waved a hand. “He’ll be fine and so will you. It’s his induction. Inductions are never easy, Jo. Where would the challenge in that be?”

  Josie snorted.

  “Like when you brought Hank home for the first time,” Gran smiled and took a seat at the bar. “Your father scared him nearly to death.”

  Laura laughed as she pulled out the lasagna. “He was cleaning his rifles when Hank walked in, and I swear I thought he was going to bolt. But he stood his ground, as he does, and he won Dad over easier than any of us thought was possible. Dad was a pusher, too. See, honey?” She gestured at Gran. “It’s genetic.”

  Gran smiled at Josie. “Jon will survive, just like your father did. He doesn’t seem like the flappable type to me.”

  Laura handed a stack of plates, napkins, and silverware to Josie. “Take these to the boys and make sure Jon’s still standing.”

  Josie shook her head, annoyed and giddy all at the same time. The Campbells were a stubborn lot with big hearts and bigger mouths. But they approved of Jon so far. Not that she doubted him. In fact, she wasn’t sure how anyone could disapprove. It was impossible not to like him, but that ha
dn’t stopped her from being worried that it could happen.

  She pushed the door open with her back and made her way into the dining room to the sound of the men laughing at something Jon said, she assumed. He stood near the center of them, smiling as they all leaned back and howled.

  Josie slid the stack on the table and grabbed the silver to set the table.

  “Pauly, go get the glasses, would you?” Hank jerked his chin to the kitchen as he unstacked the plates.

  Jon stopped next to her and grabbed the napkins, following her around the table, having a full conversation in the form of a shared, contented smile.

  The Campbell women marched out of the kitchen in a line with salad, two trays of lasagna, and buttery garlic bread. Jon waited until everyone had claimed their seats to take his own between Josie and Laura.

  “So, Jon,” Laura said as she dished out lasagna. “Josie tells us you’re from New Orleans. What brought you to New York?”

  “Partly work, but mostly I wanted to see a bit more of the world than Louisiana had to offer.”

  Hank chimed in. “Our family has called Hell’s Kitchen home for nearing seventy years. Have you lived here since you came to New York?”

  “No, sir. I lived in Tribeca for a while before moving over here a few years ago. In fact, Tori and I just live a few blocks away.”

  Laura glanced at him, though she didn’t stop plating lasagna. “You live with a woman?”

  Josie stiffened next to him, and he put a hand on her knee. Her fingers covered his, and she squeezed. “Yes, ma’am, my roommate.”

  Paul muttered under his breath, “Yeah, now.” Gia elbowed him, glaring. “Ow, what?”

  Laura’s eyes narrowed. “And what was she before?”

  Josie opened her mouth to speak, but Jon beat her to the punch. It was his mess to explain, not hers. “She was my girlfriend, but now she’s only a friend and roommate.”

  “And where do you sleep?” Laura asked.

  “Mom—” Josie warned.

  “No, it’s okay, Jo,” Jon answered. “On the couch, ever since she and I parted ways.”

  “Doesn’t seem like you parted ways if you still live together.”

  “Mom!” Josie sputtered with her mouth hanging open.

  Jon squeezed her hand again. “We’re both saving up to move out now, just takes a little time is all. We’re better friends than lovers. It had been over for some time before we decided to end things, and was over before I ever asked Josie out.”

  Laura looked like she didn’t believe him. The only movement was the passing of plates around the table, and the only sound was the scrape of the spatula in the casserole dish.

  “I know it’s unconventional, but I want you to know that I care for Josie. I like to think I’m an honest man, and I don’t have anything to hide from you all or her.”

  Laura’s flat lips softened, curving into a smile, but it was Gran who spoke. “It’s none of our business, Jon. We have a hard time keeping our mouths shut about most things, so you’ll have to forgive us for being nosy and judgmental. We mean well, not that it’s any excuse, but the good news is that you’ll always know exactly where you stand.”

  “I’m an open book, ma’am, and I’d rather you all ask me outright than assume too much. Josie and I have known each other a long time, and I wouldn’t ever lie to her or any of you.”

  Hank smiled down at his plate, and the rest of the family looked appeased. Gran lifted her crystal glass of sherry. “If you survive a Campbell Sunday dinner, you can likely make it through anything.”

  Paul snickered. “Just watch yourself, Landreaux. We’ve got our eyes on you. And combined, we’ve got a lot of eyes.”

  “Paul, don’t be rude.” Laura punctuated the sentence by pointing the spatula at him.

  But Jon only chuckled, and Gran leaned forward to catch his eye. “Welcome to the monkey house, Jon.”

  The conversation shifted as everyone began to eat, telling old family stories to enlighten him on the inner workings of the Campbell family. Throughout the meal, he felt Josie relax next to him. He hadn’t been nervous and wondered if that hadn’t been a mistake. But he figured, based on what he knew about Josie, if he was transparent, there’d be no reason for them not to accept him. The gamble paid off, and by the end of the meal, the men were exchanging stories about chases and investigations, laughing as the women cleared the table and made their way into the kitchen. Jon had tried to help, but they shooed him off, and Josie smiled at him one last time before carrying a stack of dishes away, disappearing behind the swinging door.

  Josie sighed as she deposited the dishes into the soapy water. Gran tied on her apron and picked up a sponge. “He’s a dreamboat, Josephine.”

  She smiled. “Isn’t he, Josephine?”

  Gran chuckled. “He doesn’t seem ready to run screaming, which is more than I can say for most people after having to handle your mother and Paul.”

  “Small miracles.”

  “Oh, I don’t think miracles have anything to do with it. Seems pretty apparent that he cares about you. Why else would he have put up with the barrage of questions?”

  “To be polite?”

  “He’s very well-mannered, that’s for sure, but I get the feeling that it’s more than that.”

  “I can’t believe Mom went there about his ex.”

  Gran raised an eyebrow and handed her a wet plate. “Oh, you can’t?”

  Josie laughed.

  “Honey, here’s the bottom line. If you’re okay with Jon’s living situation, then we have no choice but to be too.”

  Josie didn’t respond, just wiped the plate off with her eyes on the towel.

  “Are you all right with it?”

  “We haven’t really talked about it. I mean, he stays with me almost every night, so I don’t think about it all that often.”

  “And when you do?”

  Josie shrugged and set the plate down. “It’s strange, but I trust him. I want him to move out, but I get needing to save up. Living on your own here is crazy. And I can’t exactly have him move in with me.”

  “You just said he was staying over every night. Would it be that much different?”

  Josie gaped. “I can’t believe you would even suggest that.”

  Gran smiled. “And why not? Your grandfather and I were married after only six weeks, and we were married for forty years before he died. Would have been another forty, if we could have had it.”

  “But things are different these days.”

  “Oh, I don’t know about that. Love hasn’t changed very much, not since the beginning of time. It’s one of the few constants. Sometimes you meet a person who you are so compatible with, you could spend all your days with them. As long as you grow together instead of apart, it lasts as long as you do.”

  “How do you know?”

  “It’s something you feel down to your toes. It’s not a question. That’s how you know. Strip away what society tells you, or what you think is responsible or ‘right.’ The feeling you’re left with under all that is what’s true.”

  They fell silent, scrubbing and drying. It was true. She could be with Jon, knew him well over the years. It felt right, being with him. Her heart lurched at the thought that maybe she’d found her forever. But fear snaked around the feeling. Nothing in life came easy. Something would stop them, and she felt like she was waiting on the shoe to drop.

  “Thanks, Gran,” Josie finally said as she took a plate.

  She winked and bumped Josie’s arm as she buried her hands in the bubbles. “Don’t be silly. Dishes just happen to be one of my most honed life skills.”

  When they made it back to Josie’s apartment, Anne was gone. The stillness was serene as they took off their bags and jackets and sat down on the couch, content as they settled in. Jon pulled her feet into his lap and began unlacing her boots.

  “I still can’t believe you survived,” she said, admiring his profile.

  He didn’t look up, but one
corner of his lips rose. “It wasn’t so bad.”

  “It definitely could have been worse.”

  “They aren’t gonna scare me off, Jo.” He pulled off the first boot and dropped it on the ground.

  “They may try.”

  “I don’t think they will. But I better take good care of you, or the whole clan might hunt me down.” He pulled the strings of her other boot.

  “They have the resources to do it, you know.”

  Jon chuckled. “I do.” He pulled off her boot and dropped it next to the first before settling back into the couch with his hands on her calves. “Did it get worse when I wasn’t around?”

  “Not too bad. They have a lot of questions about Tori.”

  “I’m sorry for bringing her up. It’s just so natural, especially since I know the honest truth about us. I forget sometimes what it looks like from the outside.”

  Josie shrugged. “It’s all right. I’m surprised Paul hadn’t told her already, though I’m sure he and Dad have talked about it.”

  “I don’t know who I’m more afraid of, your mom or your dad.”

  “You should be equally afraid of both,” she said with a laugh.

  He shook his head. “I actually think your grandma is more terrifying. If she didn’t like me, she’d have a damn good reason. I don’t ever want to fulfill that.”

  “Well, you’d better watch yourself then.”

  “Oh, better I?” He smiled that crooked smile again and shifted to face her, moving her legs to his sides.

  “Mmm hmm.” She nodded, eyeing him slyly.

  He leaned forward to grab her thighs and dragged her into his lap. She giggled as she shifted to straddle him.

  “And how about you? I’ve never asked you how you feel about me living with Tori still.”

  Her fingertips trailed down his neck as she watched his lips, not wanting to meet his eyes. “I trust you, if that’s what you mean.”

  “Well, then believe me when I say that you’re the only one.”

  “I believe you,” she whispered and brushed her lips to his.

  The kiss was long and slow as her hands cupped his cheeks, slipped into his hair, and he found familiar comfort in her touch, the sweet promise of love and respect. It was like her skin was coded to transmit her feelings, and his was tuned to receive it.