by Candis Terry
Laughter tickled her chest as he leaned forward, shoved his hands up her thighs beneath the skirt, and grabbed hold of her underwear. “Jake, don’t tear—”
“Oops.” He laughed as he pulled the torn undies off. “Too late. And look,” he said, holding up the plain cotton French cuts. “They’re the industrial kind this time.”
“You really don’t expect me to wear a thong at work under this short skirt, do you?”
“Doesn’t matter.” He stuck the panties in the back pocket of his jeans. “I picture you naked under there anyway.”
“Are you starting a collection with those, or what?”
“Or what.” He began to unbuckle his belt. “How about we add mine to the stash?”
Of course, everyone knew it was nearly impossible to tear a pair of black stretchy boxer briefs with your bare hands. So all Annie managed to do was tear them off his magnificent body.
The rest, as they say, was history.
Chapter 14
Late afternoon burned hot in the sky as Jake rolled up to the house and parked by the barn. The first thing he noticed was his mother sitting in the red rocker on the front veranda, holding a cardboard box. The second thing he noticed was Miss Giddy and her kid playing on the grass beneath the shade of the largest oak tree next to the barn. Hank was in attendance and refereeing the festivities with a bark whenever the kid bounced out of line.
Jake got out of his truck and walked over to the melee to give them all a little attention. For his efforts, he received a tail wag by Hank, a bleat by Miss Giddy, and a misguided head butt to the leg by the little kid, which toppled her onto the grass. She popped up and hopped across the lawn. Then she was back with another head butt to his leg.
Jake chuckled, still feeling good from his afternoon spent in Annie’s arms. “Better learn your strength before you pick on someone bigger than you.”
“She’ll learn. But at this point, even Wee Man can take her down,” his mother called from the porch. “Won’t be long before she’ll have him on the run.”
Allison’s Jack Russell terrier had springs on his feet and could take anything smaller than a rabbit down with one hop.
Jake helped the little kid to her hooves.
“You need to name her.”
“Me?” Jake laughed, watching the baby goat hop around Hank. “She’s your goat.”
“That’s questionable.”
“Well, based on watching her right now, I think I have the perfect name for her.”
“And that is?”
“Popcorn.”
The baby goat hopped in a circle around Hank again.
“Perfect.” His mother chuckled her approval.
“It fits.”
“Indeed it does.”
Jake gave Popcorn, Hank, and Miss Giddy pats on their heads before he joined his mother on the veranda. “How come you’re sitting out here?”
“I was waiting for you to get home.”
“You could have waited inside.”
She looked up at him. “This is your house now, son. In fact, I want you to get the locks changed so your brothers don’t charge in on you at inopportune moments.”
“The locks changed? That’s pretty harsh. Why can’t I just tell them to stay the hell out?”
“Really?” She gave him a look. “You think that will work?”
“No.”
“Then get the locks changed.”
“I don’t want to keep you out. Just in case.”
She stood and set the box in his hands.
“What’s in here?”
“Miss Giddy’s ribbons. It’s your turn to keep her in style.”
“Mom. I’m not playing dress-up with a goat.”
Playfully, she smacked his arm. “Oh, don’t be such a Mr. Stuffypants. You’ll hurt her feelings if you don’t dress her up. And I promise I won’t tell anyone you’re doing it.”
“You know, if the brothers ever find out, I’ll never live it down.”
She held up two fingers and made an X across her heart.
“Okay,” he said. “But if you spill the beans, I’m dressing that goat in camo.”
“I won’t tell.” She laughed. “And don’t worry, there won’t be any just in case.”
He cocked his head, not for the first time losing the train of her thoughts. “What?”
“There’s no worry about me needing to move back in,” she clarified. “Martin and I are doing great. We really do love each other. And we’re looking forward to the next chapter in our lives. Together. So don’t you worry.”
“I do worry, Mom. And you can’t stop me.”
Melancholy shadowed her face. “You know, I remember when you were a little boy. You’d run around making sure everything was going okay. Especially when your brothers would get into a big wrestling match. Your daddy and I used to call you the worrywart.”
“Nice to be related to a skin fungus.”
A bark of laughter danced between them. “You know what I mean. Which is why, I guess, I’m never surprised when you take such a big weight onto your shoulders.”
“They’re pretty broad. So I don’t mind.”
“I’m glad you’ve found someone to share a little of that burden with.”
“There you go being all mysterious and assuming again.”
“Mmmhmm. Well, this mother’s got great eyesight even if you and your brothers did manage to pull one over on me once in a while. And I know when I see you smiling like you were when you pulled up in your truck just now, there’s a reason behind it.”
“You’re imagining things.”
“And does this thing happen to have beautiful blond hair, stand about five-foot-four, and have a darling little boy named Max?”
“Maybe.”
“I’ll take maybe.” She reached up and patted his cheek. “Especially when you have lipstick on the side of your neck.”
His hand shot to the telltale sign of where he’d spent the afternoon. His mother’s hand stopped him.
“Leave it,” she said. “It looks good on you.”
“You sure you don’t have eyes in the back of your head?”
“I have eyes everywhere, son. But just so you know, it helps when your brother calls to fink you out.”
He laughed. “I’d kill him, but then I’d have no one to beat up.”
“So the cat’s pretty much out of the bag about you and Annie. No use hiding things now.”
“I really wasn’t sure until now.”
“What changed?”
“Among other things, she got jealous.”
“Of?”
“Pauline Purdy told her that Jessica Holt is pregnant and that I’m the father.”
“Are you?”
His head went back. “Hell no.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because I haven’t been within a mile of her since I came home. Because as soon as I came home, I noticed Annie. And for me, that’s it. That’s all there is. It’s Annie. And Max.”
“They do come as a package deal.”
“Yeah. And I’m glad.” Jake inhaled the realization. “He’s a great little kid.”
“She’s an awesome mom.”
He couldn’t have stopped the grin that spread across his face if he tried. “She’s all that and more.”
“Are you in love, son?”
“I’ve never been before, so I’m not sure.” He lifted his shoulders. “How do you know?”
“Most folks would tell you it’s when your heart beats fast and you can’t wait to see that person again. But it’s more.”
“Well, spill it, Yoda.”
She laughed. When she sat back down in the red rocker, he knew it was going to be a long conversation, so he joined her, choosing the blue rocker and
setting the box of ribbons down.
“It’s when being with that person is the best part of your day,” she said. “When they’re the first person you think about when you wake up and the last person you think of at the end of the day.”
He definitely thought about Annie at the end of the day. Thinking of her was the only way he could forget about the bad stuff enough to get to sleep.
“It’s when you make their needs a priority over your own.”
He was pretty sure his mom didn’t mean those needs. But he was definitely seeing himself starting to do that with Annie. And Max. Letting himself get attached to her little boy when his heart was so guarded was a huge step for him. A good step.
“It’s when you love their imperfections.” Her chuckle sent a wave of tenderness though his heart. “I know you boys have always idolized your dad, and I’m glad of that. But he was as flawed as anyone else. He snored loud, his feet stunk after a long day, and he tended to grumble when he woke up in the mornings. And I loved every loud, stinky, grumbly moment with him.”
Jake shook his head. “Annie likes to argue.”
“So do you.” She nudged him with her elbow. “But then there’s all the goodness of making up, right?”
“So far.” He leaned back. His mom was batting a thousand with the way he felt. “How else do you know?”
“Well . . . I’d say that they make you a better person and that your feelings for them are unconditional.”
“Annie drives me crazy, but she still makes me smile.”
“Oh, then you’ve got it bad.”
“You think?”
She nodded, but her big blond hairdo barely stirred. “Are you thinking long-term?”
Yes. He shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Can you talk to her easier than anyone else?”
“Most of the time.” When he wasn’t trying to tear off her pretty little panties.
“Well, that all sounds real good as long as you remember something.”
“I’m afraid to ask.”
“I’m not offended that you are.” Her smile turned nostalgic. “Remember that life has its ups and downs. You’ll have perfect days and days you don’t want to lift the covers off your head. You’ll have arguments that will make your head spin and making up that will heal your heart. Just always remember to be the man she wants to wake up next to forever. Not just the man she wants to sleep with for a night.”
“That makes sense. But I’ve got a whole lot of—”
“Healing inside to do first?”
He nodded.
“Don’t you worry, sugarplum.” She reached across and gave his hand a motherly pat. “There’s an old Sinatra song that puts things in perspective.”
“What’s that?”
“The best is yet to come.”
Morning came with a cold snap, and Jake woke early to take advantage. The deck he’d built over the creek offered a special place to sit near the cool running water. But he’d decided the platform looked unfinished, so he chose to add a pergola and a small copper fire bowl filled with blue fire glass. The fire reflection on the water would give a special effect and add a little extra enjoyment. He’d just have to watch Max carefully because the little boy’s favorite thing to do was stuff objects into his mouth that didn’t belong there.
He knew he was putting a lot of features into the backyard that might strike fear in Max’s sexy mommy. But Jake had it figured out. Anything with any element of danger would be fenced off with wrought-iron, heavy-duty latches, and locks. No sense taking chances. Max had a pretty good grip on his heart—just like his mama. And that suited Jake just fine.
Beside him, Hank gave a wide yawn.
“Yeah. I know. Who’d have ever imagined I’d be thinking along these lines? Ever.”
Hank responded with a groan before he stretched all four paws and laid his head down. Jake guessed all of that was dog talk for, “Yeah, who’da thunk it.”
He stopped drilling the posts briefly to sip his coffee and enjoy the crisp, clear morning. In the distance, he heard the honk of a car horn. A signal the mailman was dropping off either a load of bills or the latest wad of junk mail. Jake carried his travel mug with him to the front of the house. For years, the mail had been delivered to a box out on the main road. About ten years ago, his mother had made a deal with the devil to get the post office to deliver directly to the house and not out on the main road. Quite an accomplishment on her part.
He gave a wave to the departing mail truck and pulled open the hatch on the big metal box.
Discount pizza coupons. A new local window-washing business announcement. A catalog for the New Braunfels Smokehouse. And a letter from the Headquarters of the United States Marine Corps.
The temptation to rip open the envelope was huge. But Jake refrained. He hadn’t achieved the status of lieutenant in the Marines by jumping at the first indication of his blood speeding through his veins. Then again, he’d been stripped of the lieutenant status and callously removed from the Marines owing to his ineffective leadership. They could blame it on his injury all day long, but he knew the truth. He’d heal.
They just didn’t want him anymore.
He shoved the envelope into his jeans pocket and continued toward the backyard, focusing instead on the five-dollar-off pizza coupons.
Anything the military had to say to him could wait.
Bud’s Diner had been busier than usual with city-council meetings, garden-diva coffee klatches, and an impromptu assembly of the PTA at the corner table. Annie stuck her hand in the pocket of her apron as she walked toward Jake’s front door. Fortunately for her, whenever large groups gathered and consumed copious amounts of caffeine, they were usually generous tippers. She wrapped her fingers around the wad of bills. Their generosity had just afforded her the ability to buy the cute little push buggy for Max. His love of cars was already apparent, and since the buggy looked like a little blue sports car, she knew he’d be thrilled.
Knocking on the front door, she was greeted on the veranda by Miss Giddy and Popcorn. The usual formalities were exchanged, but Annie couldn’t help pick up the cute baby goat and give it a nose nuzzle. Growing up, she’d never had pets. Her parents hadn’t allowed it. Her sister was making up for lost time taking in strays and neglected pets to her rescue center. And Annie hoped that one day she could give Max the kitten or puppy of his dreams. Maybe even two or three. In the meantime, the baby-goat nuzzle would have to do.
When no one answered the door, Annie looked around. Jake’s truck was parked near the barn, so he must be home. At that moment, Hank skidded around the corner of the house and barked in a “Hey, how’s it going, what’s up, good to see you,” tail-wagging way. And then he took off back from where he’d come. Annie followed. Wherever Jake was, Hank was never far behind.
The goats followed her to the back of the house, where she saw Jake in the distance, shirt off, muscled, tanned skin gleaming with sweat beneath the sunshine. Tight, thick muscles flexed, and she had to take a breath to still her racing heart. The man was magnificent—clothed or not.
Especially not.
She watched as he cautiously climbed up the ladder and set the huge piece of lumber in place, then screwed it into the posts. When he came down the ladder, she made her presence known.
After all, that climbing up and down had to be making his leg ache. Maybe he needed a break. “That’s looking really beautiful.”
He turned, and his face lit up with pleasure. “I’d tell you to get over here for a hug but I’m all sweaty and stinky.”
“Oooh.” She grinned and headed his way. “I love sweaty and stinky.” When she wrapped her arms around him, she discovered that indeed he was. But that didn’t stop her. Didn’t stop her from kissing him either even though he had sweaty streaks of dirt across his face.
“You’ve been working hard,”
she said.
“Just trying to keep out of trouble.” He reached into the ice chest, pulled out a bottle of water, and guzzled it about half-empty.
“I think it will take more than building a patio to keep you free and clear. But if you insist on pushing the envelope, I can put Max to bed early tonight.”
“I’d be happy to take you up on that offer.” He leaned in, gave her a quick, salty kiss, then picked up the plans and construction dimensions he’d sketched out.
When he leaned over, she tore her gaze away from his delicious muscles and noticed the paper sticking out of his back pocket.
“Speaking of envelopes, whatcha got going there in your back pocket?”
“A letter from the Marines.”
She squinted against the sun and noticed the immediate frown on his face. “What’s it say?”
“Don’t know.” His broad, bare shoulders lifted. “Haven’t looked.”
“But you’ve been carrying it in your back pocket all day?”
“Yep.”
“What if it’s important?”
“They said everything they had to say to me when they gave me my discharge papers.”
“Jake”— she laid a hand on his back—“you were injured.”
“But I’m better now.” He stood up straight as if to prove it. “Look at me. I’m climbing ladders, riding horses, and carrying my girl up the stairs. There’s no reason I couldn’t have fulfilled the rest of my contract.”
“So you feel like they kicked you to the curb because you took a bullet to the thigh, and you still had more to offer?”
“Yes.”
“And you’d rather have left on your own terms.”
“Yes.”
A breath pushed from her lungs. She didn’t quite know how to deal with this. She’d never had to face such a sensitive subject. She knew Jake had his pride, and it had been damaged. But the truth of the matter was she was glad they’d given him an honorable discharge. His oldest brother had been killed in action. Jake had taken a bullet that nearly killed him when it barely missed his femoral artery.
She was done with the damn war.
