Page 35 of A Lonely Road (Spruce Hill #2)
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Jake
M idway through another equally productive morning for both of us, Sam texted to suggest inviting Nora’s dad to dinner that evening. I knew my sister well enough to realize something must be going on, so I called her on speaker while Nora cuddled up against my side on the couch.
“Tell me what you’re planning, evil twin,” I said without preamble.
Sam heaved a sigh. “Why would you think I’m planning something other than a nice backyard barbecue for my darling brother and his hot new girlfriend?”
A strangled laugh slipped from Nora’s lips, but I was undeterred. “Because I’ve known you my entire life, Samantha. What. Is. Up? ”
“Mom and Dad got home this morning and they’ll be at dinner tonight,” Sam said in a rush, like that would prevent me from understanding the ramifications.
It didn’t.
A meeting of the parents, that was what it would be.
On one hand, what better time than when John Cassidy happened to be in town? On the other, I felt like I’d already been run through the wringer, as had Nora. I rubbed my forehead and raised a questioning brow at her.
She only shrugged, so I said, “Fine, we’ll invite him. No promises, though. And Sam?”
“Yes, brother dear?”
“John Cassidy is scary as hell, so I hope you’re prepared if he accepts the invitation.” That prompted laughter from both Nora and Sam, but I was feeling grim as I added, “And you better be ready to clean up a whole lot of blood on the off chance that he changes his mind about murdering me.”
When the call ended, Nora texted her father, then tossed her phone aside to drape herself across my lap. “I have to admit, I really like your Dude Lair,” she mused. “This couch is super comfortable and perfect for cuddling. And the rug looks fantastic, if I do say so myself.”
Wrapping my arms around her, I rolled so I was propped on my elbows, gazing down at her.
I lost myself in a vision of the soft shag rug under her back before forcing my mind back to the topic of our parents.
“I’m glad you like it. I have plans to get you naked on it while we roll around and appreciate it more fully. Are you okay with meeting my parents?”
The change of subject appeared to give her whiplash. Nora blinked at me for a second before replying, a faint tinge of pink in her cheeks that suggested she was on board with my plan for the rug even if she was considering that last question at the same time.
“Is there any possibility they’ll make me cry?”
“Not a chance in hell,” I said. “They’re going to love you.”
“Then it can’t be as bad as the risk you ran in meeting my dad, right? Unless they’re going to blindside me for putting you in danger. I may have to demonstrate my self-defense skills to prove that I can protect you.”
I dipped down to kiss her. “My dad looks like a teddy bear compared to yours,” I whispered, then gave her a teasing grin. “Just don’t set anything on fire, okay?”
Nora burst out laughing while I nuzzled her neck. “I already regret telling you about that.”
“What do you say we take the afternoon off from our respective projects?” I asked, gliding my lips along her collarbone.
A sweet, breathy sigh was her only response as she tugged my shirt up over my head and tangled her fingers in my hair.
I thought I'd managed to take Nora’s mind off of our dinner plans until we were getting ready, then she asked, “What should I wear tonight?”
Raising a brow, I pulled on a deep green t-shirt. “I have yet to see you in anything that didn’t look absolutely mouthwatering, even when you were actively trying to put me off. Wear whatever you want. This is a backyard barbecue, not a formal interview. You don’t have to impress anyone.”
Despite my reassurance, she stood there, staring into the tiny sliver of my enormous closet that she had claimed for her things. “I know. Sam always looks so nice, though. Is the blue dress too much?”
“That blue dress is never too much. I think it’s my favorite thing you own. Every time I see it, all I can think about is the first time I took it off of you.” My lips tickled her ear when I came up behind her and wrapped my arms around her middle.
“Am I going to distract you all evening if I wear it?” she asked sweetly, turning her head to bat her dark lashes at me.
“Yes, but then I have all evening to think about what I’m going to do when we get home tonight.
” I reached around her to pull the dress from its hanger.
“Anticipation sharpens the hunger, you know. By the time we get back here, it’ll be all I can do not to bend you over the kitchen table and have my wicked way with you. ”
Both of us needed a minute to regain our equilibrium after that, since we knew I meant every word of it. A little tremor ran through her, a tremor that tempted me to offer a quickie right now instead of waiting until later.
“Is that supposed to be a threat? Because it kind of sounds like a promise,” she murmured.
“Oh, it is definitely a promise.”
When I reached for her, she dodged away, clutching the dress in front of her body like a shield, but she laughed at the exaggerated leer on my face.
“Right, okay. But my dad might actually pull out a taser if we’re late, so you better stop talking like that and let me finish getting ready.”
I dropped onto the bed to watch her change and fuss with her hair. “Does he really have a taser?” I asked. The little security store where I picked up the pepper spray hadn’t had any on display, but now that she’d mentioned it, maybe I should look into buying one.
Nora grinned over her shoulder. “I don’t know, but I wouldn’t put it past him. How do I look?” she asked as she turned to me.
With her hair pinned up in a pile of curls, a few dark tendrils floating around her face, I decided this was even better than the last time she’d worn the dress.
The slender line of her neck curved gracefully to those shoulders that I knew from experience were both perfectly soft and impossibly strong, able to carry the weight of all her worries without drooping.
My heart squeezed tight, as much from her beauty as from her vulnerable expression .
“You are absolutely stunning,” I replied, hoping the raw appreciation in my tone served to reassure her. “Ready?”
Nora nodded and slipped her hand into mine. To my surprise, she didn’t clench her fingers at all during the drive, though she stayed quieter than usual. Sam lived barely two miles from my house, at the end of a short dead-end street boasting a variety of architectural styles.
“Where did your family live?” she asked just before we pulled up to Sam’s pale yellow Cape Cod house.
“Two blocks over. I’ll take you past my parents’ house on the way home, if you’d like to see it.”
“Absolutely. Shit, should we have brought something? I didn’t even think about it. I hate walking in empty-handed,” Nora whispered when we started up the driveway.
Pausing, I grabbed both her hands and pressed my lips to each palm before waiting for her to meet my eyes.
“Sam said absolutely not when I offered. It’d be an insult to ignore her direct orders.
In fact, it might even put my life in danger.
I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, but we own a restaurant. Food is kind of what we do.”
Nora gave a strangled laugh, but she relaxed a little and I kept her hand wrapped tightly in mine.
The driveway opened to a tidy little yard with a beautiful stone patio—I actually had a bit of patio-envy, though my deck was nice enough after sanding and refinishing it last summer.
Casey, dressed in skinny jeans and a gauzy floral button-down, was busy flipping burgers on Sam’s impressive chrome grill .
When she let out a wolf whistle at the sight of Nora’s dress, I laughed and Nora blushed, then bobbed a cute little curtsy.
“Hey, lovebirds!” Casey called out. “Our illustrious hostess is just freshening up. No parental units have arrived just yet.”
Though her cheeks were still aflame, Nora laughed at the phrasing. “There’s a throwback,” she said. “Nice to see you again, Casey.”
The other woman saluted with her spatula. “It’s nice to see you too, Nora. You look very fetching this evening.” Her hazel eyes twinkled when I wrapped a possessive arm around Nora’s waist.
“Get your own woman, this one’s taken,” I growled.
“What do you think I’m doing here? I’ve got my own,” Casey said, smirking as my jaw dropped.
“That’s enough caveman for today,” Nora sang as she slipped away. “I’m going to see if Sam needs any help. Casey, maybe you two can arm wrestle or whatever it is Jake needs to work off that extra testosterone.”
Our laughter followed Nora as she opened the back door and called Sam’s name. When the door closed behind her, I joined Casey at the grill. She arched a brow, grinning at me, and I gave her my darkest scowl.
“What do you mean, you’ve got your own? Don’t tell me you finally asked my sister out on an actual date.”
Casey smirked. “Look, Lincoln, you know I don’t kiss and tell. You want details, ask your twin. ”
“That is one thing I will absolutely not do.” My horrified expression melted into a smile. “But I’m happy for you both if there’s any kissing to not tell me about. It’s about time.”
“You know, buddy, not everyone can take one look at their soulmate and fall immediately, ridiculously in love,” she teased, but the words were filled with affection—and more truth than she could even know.
As I gazed toward the door where Nora had disappeared into the house, Casey reached over and squeezed my shoulder. I caught her hand and squeezed it in return, then yanked her into a headlock, which lasted all of three seconds before she broke my hold and brandished the spatula like a sword.
Whatever the evening had in store for us, we’d all weather it together. The night would end with Nora in my arms—with the promise of that kind of bliss, I had a feeling we could make it through anything life threw our way.