“Thanks, Mom. Bye.”
By the time he made it over to Luke’s garage, Luke and James were just locking up. When he pulled to a stop and crawled off his bike, he could tell by the look on his brother-in-law’s face, he knew something was bothering him.
“Hey, Zane. What’s up?” Luke asked, giving him a concerned look.
“I need to talk to you about something,” he sighed. “I need to talk to someone with better instincts than mine.”
Luke snorted but nodded his head just the same. “I’ve always known your instincts to be pretty good. That’s one of the reasons you’re such a good cop.”
“Well, right now, I’m not sure this is something I can trust my instincts on. And I don’t want to make the wrong decision.”
“Does this have something to do with Amanda and her situation with Austin?” He nodded his head in answer, figuring with Luke that was more than enough. He probably didn’t really need an answer of any kind.
James’ eyebrows shot up his forehead out of surprise. He spun around, heading toward his truck. “I think you are better left in his hands. I’m out of here.”
“Love you too, Man,” Zane shouted back, for the first time finding something to laugh about in what had turned out to be a very long grueling day. Even if only for a split second.
James turned around laughing and threw his arms wide. “Hey, love you, Man. I just don’t figure I would be of any help. I can tell, just by the tone of your voice, this is Luke’s department.”
“Yeah, whatever,” he chuckled. “See you later.”
Luke waited till he turned back before asking, “Are you okay with Mindi hearing this?”
He nodded yes, following him around to the side of the building where the stairs to the second floor were located. “Yeah, I figure you’ve already told her about our conversation at the lake. Her opinion could prove useful in all of this as well.”
The second he walked in the apartment behind Luke, Mindi gave him a concerned look. “I thought I heard your motorcycle pull up. Is everything okay?”
“I guess that remains to be seen.”
“Well, that’s cryptic,” she mumbled, stepping over to hug him before heading to the kitchen. “Do you want something to drink? Tea or lemonade, maybe. I think I’ve got some orange soda left. Sam likes it,” she mumbled, trying to hide a blush.
“Yeah, blame it on my nephew,” he chuckled. “I remember you drinking a lot of orange soda with ham while you were pregnant with Sam. And you grumbled a lot because Luke wouldn’t let you eat the ham cold.”
The second she flushed bright red, he chuckled. “I knew you were pregnant again, already.”
“Yes, but don’t tell anyone. We want to wait a little longer.”
He held his hands up as if in surrender. “It’s your job to tell everyone when you’re ready. I won’t say anything. Where is Sam, anyway?”
“Lisa has him, so he and Andrew can play together. Luke and I will go and get him in a little bit. She had him today while I was at work,” she answered. “Wait till Amanda’s pregnant with your first one. I’m sure she’ll have some interesting cravings.”
When he didn’t say anything back, she turned around to see what was going on. When she noticed all the color had drained from his face, she immediately got the wrong impression. “Is she already pregnant?”
He shook his head, moving to sit down on the couch. “No. I honestly wish that was what is going on. I would know how to deal with that.”
“Oh, really?” she asked, raising an eyebrow before turning back to the fridge to grab him a can of soda. “How would you deal with that?”
He looked her straight in the eyes when she turned back, giving her a very serious look. “Marry her, of course.”
Mindi grinned back at him. “Good answer.”
Luke, who had been quiet through their entire exchange, finally chimed in. “So, what’s going on that you wanted to talk to me about? This doesn’t read like we’re here to just talk about your feelings for her.”
“No,” he answered, leaning his head against the back of the couch and closing his eyes. “Honestly, I had decided to ask her to marry me once this mess with Austin was over.”
Luke gave his wife a rather surprised look before asking, “Why does it sound like those plans might have changed?”
He sighed, looking his brother-in-law in the eyes. “I’m starting to get the feeling this mess with Austin is never ending.”
“Why?”
He sighed heavily, rubbing his hand over his face. “Because I’m in love with her. I have always been in love with her. And Austin knows it.”
When her brother uttered those words without blinking an eye, Mindi realized just how right, once again, her husband had been. For whatever reason, Zane had always believed Amanda wasn’t in love with him. They all could have ended this misery a long time ago. All they would have had to do was lock the both of them in a bedroom together, over-night. Maybe two nights. Her brother, annoying as he may be at times, had a very strong sense of honor. Her lack of experience would have been a definite roadblock.
“What does Austin knowing how you feel about her have to do with any of it?” Luke asked, taking a seat in a chair across from him.
“The reason he’s been making her life miserable is to get at me,” he sighed in obvious frustration. “I think he let me in on the secret to try and get me to walk away from her, to protect her.”
“Oh no you don’t,” Mindi exclaimed, jumping back up from the chair she had just sat down in.
Zane sat forward looking her in the eyes. “Why? Wouldn’t it be better for her if I left her alone, so he’ll leave her alone?”
“No,” Luke answered for her. “That’s exactly what he wants. If he realizes you’ve been in love with her since high school, I think even he’s smart enough to know you’re not going to get over her just because he’s throwing down speedbumps.”
“That’s what I thought, but I was afraid it was just my trying to justify keeping her with me.”
“While I know you never want to give her up, any more than I want to give up your sister, you have always, and will always, put her safety first. Your need to protect her is woven into the very fiber of your being,” Luke jumped up, feeling a need to pace. He wasn’t sure if it was Zane or Mindi’s nervous energy he was feeding off of, but there was no way he was going to be able to remain seated. “You’re protective of your mom and sisters, but you are so much worse when it comes to Amanda. I am truly afraid you might rip Austin’s head off if this mess doesn’t end soon.”
Mindi gave her brother a curious look. “Can I ask you a question?”
“You just did,” he smirked in answer.
“Well hi, Zane,” she smirked. “It’s nice to see you finally showed up. That other guy was being such a serious drag, the last few minutes were almost painful.”
He chuckled, shaking his head at her. “I feel like I can finally relax a little bit. I was afraid I was going to have to let her go, and I honestly don’t think I could have.”
“No, you can’t. It would have killed you. Maybe not physically. But you are so close to having everything you want, if you lose her now, you won’t be the same person,” Luke said, giving him a look of concern. “Don’t think because you’re not playing his game, he won’t try something else. You’re going to have to keep your guard up.”
“You don’t have to tell me that,” he grumbled, running a hand over his face. “My next question is, do I tell her about this. I’m afraid she’ll end up hating me.”
Mindi shook her head vigorously. “Zane, she’s not going to hate you. She would never blame you for what Austin has done, no matter his reasons. She loves you.”
“I’m not going to believe that, until she tells me herself.”
“Well, you might need to start with telling her how you feel,” Luke grinned.
“Like I said, I was planning on asking her to marry me. If I ever get the chance, I’ll start w
ith ‘I love you’,” he sighed. “That still doesn’t answer my question. Do I tell her?”
“If it were Mindi, I’d say yes,” Luke shrugged. “She would probably want to know, but you’re going to have to make that decision for yourself. No matter your decision, Mindi’s right. She’s not going to hate you.”
Chapter 15
Thursday, August 14
“Mom, it’s hot outside. Why are we having chili in the middle of August?” Zane was standing at the stove, stirring the chili when he heard his younger brother, Michael grumble his question. He shook his head, chuckling and waited for his mom’s response.
“Ask your brother. He’s standing over there at the stove,” she answered, automatically passing the buck.
When Michael turned to see who was standing where she had indicated, he grumbled again. “Seriously, Zane? Do you not ever want something other than chili to eat?”
“I like a good steak now and then. What’s your problem?” he smirked. “Don’t you like chili?”
“Sure, I like chili, but it’s too hot.”
“Michael, Mom and Dad keep it sixty-eight degrees in this house during the summer,” he snorted. “It is not hot in here. Most of the girls are wearing long-sleeved t-shirts.”
Mindi had walked in a few minutes earlier and was mixing up cornbread. Michael pointed at her with an ah-ha expression. “She’s wearing shorts and a tank top.”
Mindi chuckled and shook her head. “I don’t count.”
“Why not?” the younger boy asked with a confused look.
“She’s pregnant,” Zane chuckled.
Their younger brother took a step back in surprise before asking, “What’s that got to do with it?”
“Pregnant women are always a little hot. They’re incubating a baby,” Zane chuckled when his sister smacked him on the arm.
“Wait, you’re pregnant again, already?” he asked, sounding surprised.
“Yes, but don’t tell anyone. Zane just happened to figure it out on his own. He wasn’t supposed to say anything. No one else knows.”
“I wouldn’t bet on that,” her older brother chuckled. “Dad always knew when Mom was pregnant before she told him. And I don’t think I need to explain to you why I think Mom probably knows.”
She turned to look at him only long enough to give him a dirty look but ended up relenting. “I’m sure you’re right, but don’t mention it, just the same.”
“Whatever you say, Sis.”
“Yeah, you said that the last time.”
He shrugged and went back to stirring the chili. Somehow, he always ended up in the kitchen with his mom on chili nights. He figured it was because it was one of his favorite foods, and no one else wanted to mess with the amount she made when she made chili. Besides the fact, she usually only made it in the winter, unless he asked her for it.
He was off in his own little world, remembering the last time he had kissed Amanda when she walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around him. “Hey, Sexy. You got that chili stirred yet?”
Zane groaned when he heard his sister giggle. He turned enough to glare in her directions. “Mindi Rae, don’t encourage her. She doesn’t need it, I can assure you,” he growled, sounding almost a little panicked. “Where did Michael go?”
“Oh, I told him I would help, and he could go on and play video games with the others,” Amanda chuckled. She had been doing the best she could to make him crazy for the last week, after deciding she wasn’t angry at him anymore, over his sex life. “How’s that chili coming along?”
“Still working on it,” he said, doing his best to sound normal. He was getting to the point, the most innocent touch was enough to make him hard, and she had her arms around him with her body pressed up against him. “I really need you to not touch me right now.”
“Why?” she asked, running her hands down his washboard stomach.
He cast his sister another glare at her obvious enjoyment at his situation and managed to catch Amanda’s hands just before they strayed past his belt buckle. “That is definitely not helping.”
“Are you sure?” she asked, reversing her direction and running her hands up his chest and nipping him on his shoulder through his t-shirt.
“Don’t do that.”
“Why?” she managed to breathe in his ear. “Am I moving too fast for you?”
“Funny, Amanda. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were the one with all the experience.”
“Come on, Zane.”
“Okay, I don’t think I need to be hearing any of this,” Mindi said, chuckling again.
“Plug your ears,” he grumbled. “No,” he said, looking over his shoulder at the vixen. “I’m not taking advantage of you like that.”
Amanda sighed, punching him in the arm. “I’m doing my best to take advantage of you.” Zane groaned and stepped out of her arms. “I promise, Zane. I can take it. I know your rules.”
Zane turned around and looked at her. He didn’t think he could, if he actually got to make love to her and she wasn’t in love with him. He would just curl up and die when she found someone else. He’d never be able to touch another woman again. He knew he was ready to ask her to marry him, but he was no where close to being able to live through losing her if they actually went that far.
“No, you can’t,” he said, shaking his head and turning to walk out of the kitchen. Already knowing the game room wasn’t empty, he headed for the library. He was going to have to lock himself in there for a while.
He was also thinking if she followed him, he was going to be in serious trouble. She had managed to push him to the very edges of his control. She had been working on it, every chance she got, since he had got here after work. He figured, he would end up jumping her and having his way with her.
Amanda grinned at his retreating back. She thought about following him but decided to give him a little room for now.
“You better be careful, Mandy. He’s a lot more honorable than a lot of the people of this town might realize, but he is only human,” Mindi warned. “He’s been abstaining since you moved in with him. Not to mention, I’m pretty sure he’s done looking for substitutes for you. You’re going to end up pinned to the nearest flat surface with him on top of you, if you’re not careful.”
Amanda chuckled. “What do you think I’m trying to do?”
Mindi’s eyes grew huge with shock. “Amanda Renee, you’re a naughty girl. I wonder what Luke will make of this when I tell him.”
“Well, I’m done with the substitutes, as well,” she shrugged, not even batting an eyelash at the fact Mindi had just said she was going to tell Luke.
Mindi gave her a big grin, nodding her head. “Good girl.”
******
“So, Jenny, are you going to tell us what Mark got you for your twenty-seventh birthday?” Carl asked his daughter with a chuckle.
Jenny rolled her eyes at her dad. “I’m pretty sure from the grin on your face, I don’t have to tell you anything.”
He sighed, laying a hand on his chest in faux innocents before continuing with, “That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get a chance to tell everyone else.”
“Fine,” she said, finally giving in and laughing. “This isn’t news to Phillip and Luke, and most likely Zane, but Mark had my Roadrunner restored for my birthday.”
“Yeah, I know,” Zane smirked. “Luke let me test drive it before he sent it to Phillip.
“Hey, that’s not fair,” she exclaimed, throwing a wadded-up paper towel at her brother-in-law.
“Okay, enough of that, or we’ll end up having a food fight,” Jamie huffed, giving her oldest daughter a stern look.
“Would that be so bad?” Luke asked, giving her a mischievous look.
“That’s enough,” she barked before turning her attention on Mark. “Do you still want that old black couch in the game room?”
“Yeah, I do. Why?” he asked with a grin. Jenny’s face had gone scarlet when her mom mentioned the old couch, an
d he was having trouble not laughing.
“We’re going to get a new couch for in there. We’re going to get a sectional with a hideaway in it,” Jamie answered, doing her best to act like she didn’t notice how red Jenny’s face had gotten. “It’s supposed to be here sometime next week. You can take the black one when it gets here.”
Zane had been staring at Jenny, wondering why talking about an old couch would be so embarrassing. He finally looked over at Mark and asked, “Why are you attached to an old couch?”
“It was where Jenny and I first kissed, and we realized we were in love with each other,” he answered a little too honestly, earning a smirk from his brother-in-law, and an even redder, dirty look from his wife.
“Sorry, Angel,” he shrugged, as if to say it couldn’t be helped. “It is the truth.”
“I know,” she said, finally grinning at him despite her red cheeks.
“True or not, you are still a big sap,” Zane said, making gagging noises.
“Zane, what does sap mean?” Zoe asked, giving Mark a strange look.
“It means your brother Mark, is a big pus...”
“Stop, Zane. Don’t give her more words to ask about,” Jamie said, stopping him before he could make things worse. “Honey, all it means is that your brother Mark is very sentimental. He loves Jenny very much, and the couch means something to him.”
“Why do I think Zane’s explanation would have been funnier?” Michael asked with a smirk.
“Because Zane doesn’t think turned on and sentimental. He thinks horny and pus…,” Alex said, before his mom could get him stopped. He only cut the last word off like he did when he noticed the look on her face. He had been staring off into space and wasn’t using his common sense. Abby was sitting across from him, so his thoughts weren’t entirely clear. He hated the fact that ever since he had kissed her back in September, he had been hardly able to speak to her. Then the other day when he knocked her down and they went rolling across the yard didn’t help.
“Alex, I just managed to get Zane stopped in time. Thank you,” Jamie said, dripping sarcasm.
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