Jarrett started to laugh at the table. “I’m sure Mom has been burning up the hotlines. It is big news, you know.”

  “It’s not that big,” he said. “Not too many people really care.”

  “I’ve said that,” Mac said, “but the women do care in this family.”

  He sighed. “As I’m learning. And how is my favorite sister-in-law doing? Taking care of my nephew in there?”

  Sidney ran her hand over her belly. “Mac wouldn’t let me not. But he knows better. I can care for myself and have for years.”

  “Sounds like what I’ve heard lately,” he said.

  His father grunted and stopped cutting into his meat. “There isn’t anything wrong with strong independent women in your life. Your mother had to be to put up with you three boys.”

  “Four,” his mother said. “You too, Bill. You have no clue the stress a mother or wife goes through when her family has the jobs that you all do.”

  He’d heard it a lot in his life. “We know what we are doing,” he said.

  “I know you all do,” his mother said. “But I still worry.”

  “Yes, me too,” Sidney said. “I know it’s a small island and crime is less here, not like in Boston, but it’s there. Stuff happens.”

  “That’s right,” Mac said. “Like your ex stalking you from England. Stuff happens in life, but we are all prepared. Remember that.”

  His brother’s voice had softened, his hand going to Sidney’s belly and resting there.

  Feelings he’d kept locked up for years were now filling Alex. More so when he’d looked over and had seen Griffin and Jennie standing together, Griffin pulling his younger sister closer and kissing her on the forehead. He figured that move was for him, especially since Jennie elbowed her brother, then kissed his cheek.

  He and Griffin hadn’t spoken yet and he wondered if it’d happen today. Jennie had told him to behave and he planned on it, but he wasn’t going to let Jennie get dumped on either.

  It was almost an hour later that dinner was starting to get cleaned up and the DJ had music going. People were on the dance floor. Others moving around. He hadn’t spoken to Jennie once, but they’d made eye contact multiple times.

  He wanted to get up and go talk to her but decided to wait and let her make the move.

  She’d been walking around talking to a few people. More like everyone was stopping her. She smiled or laughed a few times and finally made it to his table.

  “I was wondering if you’d get here,” he said. He wanted to kiss her but told himself to dial it back. There were already a bunch of eyes on them to begin with today.

  “I’ve been trying. No one wants to let me,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve talked to this many people in my life before.”

  “It’s being part of the family now,” his mother said.

  “I’m learning that.”

  “Let me introduce you to that family,” Alex said. “My brother Jarrett, Mac, and his wife, Sidney.”

  “It’s nice to officially meet you all, though I’ve seen some of you before.”

  “I’m sure you’ve definitely heard about us all,” Sidney said.

  “That too,” she said.

  The music changed to a slow song and Alex figured now was his chance to get her alone so they could talk. “Can I have this dance?”

  “Yes, you can,” she said, holding her hand out.

  He stood up and they made their way to the dance floor. As he expected, there were a lot of eyes on them. Some shocked expressions telling him the news hadn’t reached them yet and finally did or they were asking around to get the scoop.

  He pulled Jennie into his arms. “You took my breath away when you walked down the aisle,” he said.

  “I saw that.”

  Her soft laugh was giving his body ideas that he wasn’t going to be able to do anything about for a few more hours yet.

  He supposed he hadn’t done that great of a job hiding his reaction. Like his jaw dropping when she came out.

  Sure, he’d seen her in that black dress months ago at Eli’s wedding. It fit her well, her hair was down and loose and she had black heels on. She was simple, classy and sexy.

  Today, the dress was a blue that brought out her blue eyes. Her hair was pulled back exposing her slim neck and the girl-next-door features. Her makeup was more than normal but didn’t dominate her. More like accentuated her.

  The fit of the dress was as if it was created with her in mind. Her toned arms on display, a flash of her leg when she walked. Yeah, his eyes had landed right there more than once today.

  “It’s hard to hide it. Or the fact that I can’t wait to get you out of this dress later,” he said quietly. There were other people on the floor and though he was positive most knew they were dating now, he didn’t want to be inappropriate.

  Her hand came up and landed on his chest. He felt the heat of her palm through his shirt. “Tell me about it. I had to hide my reaction to seeing you when I was walking down the aisle. I only saw the top and then when I got to see the whole package...well, you look mighty fine in your fancy attire.”

  He laughed. “I don’t have a lot of suits. Just two, but I’ve been adding more shirts and ties because it seems there is a wedding in the family lately every few months now.”

  “Have you been to them all?” she asked. “I’ve got to imagine you or your brothers might be working for some of them.”

  “I’ve been to them all,” he said. “So have my brothers. We have enough notice to put in for it if we are scheduled. That is one thing about my family: we make appearances for these things.”

  “And you’ve got another one in June and Bode’s in November. I’ll be invited to Bode’s for sure.”

  “You’ll be at Hailey’s too. I’d hope you’d be going with me,” he said. He’d just assumed she was going with him, but it’s not like they had much time to talk. The invitation came last week and he hadn’t returned it yet.

  “I’d like that,” she said. “By then we will be old news. Someone else might be on the hot seat.”

  “Most likely,” he said. “Not sure who, but there are a lot of single family members in the room so it could be anyone.”

  He didn’t talk to everyone or not many often. Mostly those on the island. Hunter and Hailey’s side of the family he probably had the least communication with only because he didn’t see them often with half of them living in Boston or their paths not crossing.

  His eyes had landed on many in the room that were single and he wondered if he could pick out who would be next, then told himself he didn’t care all that much.

  He was positive no one thought it’d be him if they cared to think of it as he was.

  Not that his family looked down on him. He knew that wasn’t the case. It’s just guys didn’t tend to get caught up in it all.

  “I’ve never had to worry or even think of that,” she said. “Only Griffin and me.”

  “And we know you haven’t talked much over the years,” he said.

  “No. It’s different now. We are both trying. He hasn’t talked to you yet today?” she asked.

  “No. It’s fine. I won’t seek him out.” They turned and he looked around the room and caught Griffin’s eyes on them. “But he’s watching.”

  She turned so that she could see and picked her hand up and waved at him. He could see Griffin shake his head and almost try to smile. “I find it’s better to put him on the spot. He’s in a good mood today. Which he should be since it’s his wedding day.”

  “Should we go over and say hi?”

  “We should,” she said. “Might as well get it over with.”

  He wasn’t sure he liked her choice of words but then saw the smile on her face. He grabbed her hand and threaded their fingers together. If anyone was in doubt in this room that move might seal it for them.

  Then he wondered why he cared so much other than he’d like to not have the playboy reputation hanging over his head anymore.

  “Alex,” Griffin said.

  “Congrats,” he said to Griffin, then turned to Penelope. “You too.”

  “Thank you,” Penelope said. “I finally got a ring on his finger.”

  There was laughter from those around. He even thought it was funny. “About time,” Jennie said, winking.

  Griffin looked at the two of them. He could tell the big man wanted to say something else, but only said, “Enjoy the party. We’ll talk later.”

  He was pretty sure it was directed at him, but Griffin was looking at them both.

  “What does that mean?” he asked, moving away.

  “No clue. I’m sure he was being cordial.”

  “Did Eli say anything to you during the dance?” he asked.

  “He did,” she said. “He told me to give Griffin time but not too much. Or go easy on him but not too easy.”

  “Sounds confusing and exactly what Eli would say,” he said.

  “I saw Eli talking to Griffin shortly after too. I’m sure there is more going on but nothing that I’m worried about and you shouldn’t be either.”

  “I’m not,” he said.

  “Let’s go back to your family’s table. I don’t want to sit up here by myself or feel like people have to come entertain me.”

  “I don’t think anyone feels that way,” he said.

  “Then let’s just say I’m much more comfortable with your family.”

  Which was the best thing she could have said to him when he wondered in his life if he’d find someone to feel that way.

  Someone that wasn’t looking at his name and wondering how to get to others in the family that had more or wished he did and leaving when they found out the truth.

  Not Jennie. She only wanted him and for once he believed that from a woman.

  21

  Feeling Accepted

  “I was not made to wear high heels,” Jennie said when they got back to her place.

  The first thing she did was slip off the heeled sandals that she’d had on and drop them in the entryway.

  They’d gone to Penelope’s first on the way here to pick up her car and now they were in for the night.

  “I could say the same about dress shoes,” Alex said, toeing his off.

  She glanced down and saw the multiple-colored socks he had on. At least they were gray, black, and white, but different stripes.

  “Those might be the tamest socks I’ve seen on you,” she said.

  “I wanted to wear a pair with red in it to go with my tie but knew my mother was going to check and give me grief.”

  She frowned over that. Alex was in a black suit, a gray shirt, his tie was a mixture of black, gray and pops of red in it, his shoes black.

  “Your mother checks out your socks?” she asked.

  “I’ve always loved funky socks. My brothers didn’t. This was a way to make sure they didn’t get mixed up in the laundry room or no one stole them. But it drove my mother nuts when I didn’t match them to anything.”

  “Which I’m sure you did on purpose,” she said, pulling his tie off as they talked, then taking his hand and bringing him to her room.

  It was only six, but she was ready to go to the bedroom and not just get out of this dress to change, but to get naked. Then they could put shorts on and chill the rest of the night.

  “There is no fun in it if I didn’t plan it that way,” he said.

  “No more sock talk,” she said. “No more talk at all unless it’s what you’re going to do to me when you get this dress off my body.”

  “I can handle that,” he said.

  She dropped his tie on the chair in the corner of the room, then pushed his jacket off of him and went for the buttons of his shirt.

  When they were all undone, she pushed it off his shoulders. “Do you know I dream of this chest at night?”

  “I had no idea,” he said. “Turn around.”

  She did, his fingers going to the zipper and lowering it down to her hips. His hands slid in and removed it from her shoulders as they watched it drop to the ground.

  “Do you like?” she asked, turning around.

  She had on pale blue silk panties and a matching bra. She wasn’t one for spending a lot of money on undergarments, but the day seemed to call for it.

  Actually, it’d been Penelope’s idea. She needed something blue for the day and since they had blue dresses, she thought it’d be fun if they all did it.

  It might have been corny to Jennie, but she’d never been included in things like that in her life and went along with it. Of course, Penelope asked earlier too if everyone did it. Since they all got dressed at Penelope’s it was hard to hide if she didn’t while she put her dress on and had to get help zipping it up.

  “Alex is going to be in for a treat tonight,” Penelope had said, giggling. “I’ve got a nice thong for Griffin. Your brother likes that.”

  She’d shaken her head and said it was too much information to share, but Penelope did that all the time.

  Again, feeling accepted when she never had before. Not as much as she felt with Alex’s family though and she had to admit that was a first when she was dating someone.

  “Shit,” Alex said. “I’d be crazy not to. I love it.”

  His hand came out and traced the silk around her breasts. The bra was squeezing and lifting, giving her small breasts some cleavage for the dress. She’d seen Alex’s eyes drop there a few times today too.

  “You’ve seen mine, time to let me see yours,” she said.

  She reached for his belt and undid it, then his button and zipper, him dropping it all down and removing everything but his boxer briefs.

  He could be on a sexy fireman calendar. Maybe she’d take some pictures of him just for herself and create one.

  When she started to laugh, he asked, “What’s so funny?”

  “I don’t want to tell you.”

  “I think you’re going to though,” he said, reaching for her. His hands went to her waist and he started to tickle her.

  Holy shit, no one had ever done that and she started to squirm and laugh. “Stop it. I’m going to pee myself. That’s not sexy then.”

  “Tell me,” he said, continuing the onslaught.

  “I was thinking I should take a bunch of pictures of you like this to make my own sexy fireman calendar.”

  He stopped what he was doing and stared at her. “What?”

  “You heard me. You’d look good on a calendar.”

  She didn’t know what to make of his laughter this time. “Guess you didn’t know there was one out there.”

  “Huh?” she asked.

  “A few years ago the two departments did it to raise money.”

  “Dressed or undressed?” she asked. She wasn’t so sure she liked the idea of other women looking at her boyfriend’s body and wondered where that jealousy was coming from.

  “In uniform, minus the shirt.”

  “I suppose that is fine.”

  “You suppose?” he asked, lifting her up and putting her on her back on the bed. “It’s in the past, no reason to get worked up.”

  “I’m not,” she said. “Especially since I get to see it all.”

  Her hands slid into his underwear, cupping his ass and bringing him close to her heat. The two of them were grinding against each other like teens might want to do when they weren’t ready to go all the way.

  He was braced on his hands and leaned back, looked into her eyes and said, “I want you to see it all.”

  It was the way he said it. Soft and quiet. Like he was unsure if he should voice the words or not.

  She didn’t get a chance to ask what he meant by that before his mouth closed over hers, his hands moving up and threading their fingers together.

  Their hips were rising and lifting, the barrier of the clothing too much. She wanted it to be skin to skin and she wanted it now.

  “Alex,” she said. “It’s been all day we’ve looked at each other dressed up. Let’s not prolong this.”

  He let go of her hands and rolled off of her to get a condom out of the bedside drawer where she was keeping some. She’d been thinking about birth control to have as a backup. She’d done it before when she was dating someone. Not that she’d ever gone without a man wearing a condom. It wasn’t just babies she wanted to prevent.

  Yet here she was thinking if she was on some kind of birth control right now they wouldn’t have to stop for a condom. And that was crazy knowing the reputation Alex had in the past.

  She’d been surprised by the jealousy she’d felt when she heard about the calendar but was honest when she said she got to see it all.

  And she was watching him now covered up and climbing back on the bed.

  “You didn’t remove all of your clothing,” he said.

  “I was too busy looking at you.”

  He smiled at her. All gentle and sincere like and her heart that had been cold for years was thawing bit by bit.

  He helped her out of her underwear while she unclipped and then removed her bra.

  There was barely a chance for her to do or say anything else before she found herself in the same position as before he’d gotten up.

  Their fingers interlaced again, his body on hers, this time nudging her legs apart and finding her opening, then sliding in.

  There wasn’t a speed that she’d thought would be there, but rather a slow and steady buildup.

  One where he was watching her face. Her eyes. Her entire expression.

  Her eyes closed though because the sensations were just too much as he slid in and out of her at a pace she hoped he could maintain until her orgasm.

  “Say my name,” he said.

  “Alex,” she whispered.

  He was moving faster now. “Louder.”

  “Alex,” she said again. Her body was building like it always did, but something told her it was going to be different this time.

  “Look at me.”

  She opened her eyes and saw his still boring into hers. “Tell me what you want.”

  “For you to keep fucking me.”