Page 26 of Handling Skylar (Hope Parish #5)

“Ah, the revered Braxton Brawler.” I hooked my arm around her neck and squeezed. “He does have a mean left hook. I guess there would be retribution if I threw you in the river.” I kissed the top of her lovely head. “That’s cheating coming with a bodyguard.”

She grabbed me around the waist laughing. “You got that part right. But I’m afraid that there are three bodyguards, and they won’t hesitate to open a can of straight up whup-ass on your person.”

“I concede the battle in the face of the Outlaw odds.”

“Graciously accepted.”

We chuckled.

“So what’s with the Johnny Appleseed impersonation?”

I walked back to the tree and looked up at the branches heavy with Elliott pecans just waiting for River’s molasses treatment.

I explained to her what I was doing and her eyes began to glow. “I had no idea that this old grove was even producing. You really are good for the business.”

I patted the tree and turned to her. “I don’t think you came out here to find out about the orchard or the grove.”

She shrugged and leaned against the trunk. “I care about the business and feel like I’ve been neglecting it lately because I’ve been so busy with babies, husband and the gallery, but no, I didn’t come out here to talk about pecans.”

My jaw flexing, I braced my hand on the rough bark next to her golden head, my shoulder protesting. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

“I was worried about you, until I got your text saying you were fine. But, I didn’t need Sky calling me frantically looking for you to know something was up with you.” Her face softened. “She was so sure about you, Jake. You know that. Sure that you hadn’t just stood her up, but you needed help.”

“It was a stupid lapse in judgment. I’m sorry for making any of you worry.”

“Wow, contrition instead of presenting that chip on your shoulder. That is progress.” She nudged me and said, “You made up with Chase. Look at you all grown up.”

“I deserved that. I was an idiot. Plain and simple. I punished him instead of the person I should have confronted.”

“You were sixteen. It’s hard to reconcile all those feelings with all those raging hormones.

Really, cut yourself some slack. Daddy is a tough customer, and I’ll only say this because I’ve grown up, too.

He loves us all. He wants the best for us.

He’s like a bull in a china shop, Jake. Just try to understand his side before you make your decision. But, make it your decision.”

“You did it,” I said quietly. “You made your stand and married the man you wanted to in deep opposition. That took a lot of courage, River.”

She nodded. “Courage runs in our family. Now it’s your turn, Jake.” She took me by the shoulders and turned me around. “This is all ours, our family legacy, but it doesn’t have to be your prison. You don’t have to carry on the family name if you don’t want to.”

“Okay, I’ll add that all into my big, confused, aching brain.”

She squeezed the back of my neck. “So,” she waggled her brows.

I played clueless and innocent. “What?”

She hip checked me. “What? Don’t pull that crap on me. Skylar Bransom , that’s what.”

I grinned because I couldn’t help it.

“It’s about time. I, for one, am so freaking happy that you got rid of that uppity bitch. If you’d married her, I might have had to put a hit out on her. She’s so not deserving of you.”

“You’d probably have to get in line. I bet there’s a lot of people in this town who’d like to see her gone. Did you have to rub her nose in it though?”

Now it was her turn to be all clueless and innocent.

“What?”

There was a mixture of amusement and patience in my voice. “You know what. The Belles. Really, River?”

“She’ll fit in and Sutton women have always been Belles. It’s mandatory. In fact, she’d make a great leader. Don’t you think?”

“Sutton women.” That made my heart hammer a little harder. “Oh, damn.” I shook my head. “I’ll just be glad I stopped you from committing murder at this point.”

“Ha! Me, too. I’ve got to run, but let’s have dinner soon. And, would you throw my husband a bone. He’s grumbling about you getting all touchy-feely with yourself, he’s not getting to punch you as often as he would like.”

I threw back my head and laughed. “Tell that huckleberry he wishes and we’ll get something together.”

***

It was just past six-thirty when I got home, but Sky wasn’t there yet. Gave me time to shower and change. I went into the kitchen, not having a clue what to even start because I really hadn’t cooked a day in my life. I decided to suggest we head over to Outlaws.

She walked in fifteen minutes later and I was almost asleep, nodding while I was going over some contracts on my laptop. The slamming of the door woke me.

“Where’s my big, beautiful man?” she called out then stopped when she came into the room. “What’s up. You look like hell.”

“Well, thanks, sugar. You look great, too.”

She gave me a cheeky grin, but her eyes were concerned. “How’s the grove progressing?”

“Good. I’m going to get there probably the middle of next week.”

“Very nice. How are you doing?”

“Still sifting, struggling.”

“You love what you do, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I think I do. I wake every morning thinking about it, eager to get to it. But I’m not sure if that’s real or imagined.”

“Yeah, I get that. I know you’ll figure this out, Jake. It’s important to me that you be happy. That’s all. You’ve had so little of that in your life. I’m aiming that you have a lot more.”

“Is that right? You going to rein me like a horse? Be careful with those spurs, cowgirl.”

“I know how to ride you, Varsity, so don’t be too cocky.”

“I thought that’s what you loved about me?” She choked on her laughter as she chuckled and slipped her hands up my chest to wrap around my neck. “You’re enjoying yourself here, right?”

“Yeah,” I said, pulling her close with a groan. “You’re my sunshine, babe.”

“Are you in pain?” she asked, pulling away.

“Some.”

“Did you take something for it?”

I looked at her blankly. She sighed. “Typical male.” She rose and came back with a glass of water and two extra-strength tablets. “Take. I’ll get dinner started.”

“I thought we could go to Outlaws.”

Her eyes brightened. “Oh, that sounds really good, but Brax has Zydeco on Saturday nights. I suppose you don’t feel up to dancing.”

“A few dances won’t do me in, especially if some of them are slow ones.”

“Ooh, a smooth talker. Play your cards right and I might rub your back when you get home. I have this most amazing oil for sore muscles.”

“Your hands on my body? Yeah, that’s worth manual labor and lots of dances.”

Outlaws was hopping when we showed up at the door, sidestepping some standing water that had left part of the side of the parking lot nothing short of a big, sticky mud puddle.

Inside, people filled the tables, but luckily, Brax always reserved seating for the family.

As soon as he saw us, he came over. “Hey, you two. Will anyone be joining you? Booker and Aubree are here. Verity and Boone are coming, too. Want to join them?”

“No, it’s just us,” I said, demurring to her.

“We’d love to. Is River coming?”

“She’s home with the boys. I could give her a call. My ma would be happy to watch them. Slipping my hand against Sky’s back as Brax led us to a medium sized table, Aubree smiled and Booker stood up in the age-old Southern gentleman way.

“Hey, Sky, Jake,” he said, Aubree beaming at me. Aubree rose to hug us both, giving Sky a secret girl look. I just grinned.

After a few minutes, Boone and Verity showed up, then twenty minutes after we’d had some drinks and appetizers, River joined us. Brax took a break from the kitchen to eat the most delicious, thick and rich gumbo this side of New Orleans. Maybe anywhere.

“Can I have a vat of that to go?” Sky asked him. Brax smiled and started to rise, but River pushed on his shoulder. “I’ll go check the kitchen, sugar. You relax.”

He chuckled and reached out his hand. “Let’s do a little two-step Cajun-style. I bet you’d be good at it.”

Sky laughed and said, “I know all about two-stepping, so show me what you’ve got. We’ll turn this into a fais do do , a dance party.”

I watched her on the dance floor giving Brax a run for his money, but froze when I saw Anna Kate watching her, too, but not with the same look. There was a predatory gleam in her eye.

Verity nudged me, and I turned to look at her. “Don’t pay her any mind, Jake,” she said in my ear to be heard above the music. “That girl has some major bad karma, and it’s going to bite her on her alabaster rear end one of these days.”

After that, I was worried that Anna Kate would make a scene, but when nothing happened, I relaxed and enjoyed myself. Finally the night wore down and I was beat. My muscles now beginning to protest and the fatigue dragging at me.

We had just stepped out the front door. It happened so fast, I was caught flatfooted.

“Really, Jake isn’t worth the time of day. He comes from questionable stock, if you ask me.”

Next thing I knew Sky marched over to her and said something low under her breath. The two women with Anna Kate looked horrified. Anna Kate lunged at Sky and the next thing I knew they were fighting.

With as mean a left hook as I’d ever seen, Anna Kate took it right on the jaw and flew into the mud.

With a screech as shrill as a harpy, she catapulted herself at Sky and dragged her in kicking and screaming.

Coming out of my stunned paralysis, I waded into the pool and grabbed Sky’s waist as Booker and Boone worked on getting ahold of a slippery Anna Kate.

Both of them were covered from head to toe in mud.

Before the sheriff got called and the two of them were hauled down to the town jail, I thought it best we skedaddle.

Sky was spitting mad, looking like a drowned mudrat.

When she wouldn’t listen to me, I threw her wet, muddy body over my shoulder and headed for my car.