Page 30 of Handling Skylar (Hope Parish #5)

JAKE

Remnants of a dream blurred when I surfaced from sleep, peripherally aware of a numbing weight on my arm.

I shifted and stirred, pins and needles tingling through my shoulder, and I drowsily licked my lips and opened my eyes.

The room was still dark, and Sky was sound asleep, her head snuggled in the hollow of my shoulder, her coconut-scented hair and skin smelling of jasmine and soft as silk.

A glance at the bedside clock told me it was early morning.

Blinking the mental fog away, I gently drew her head onto my chest and flexed my hand against the prickly sensation.

Rubbing my face to rid myself of the last vestiges of sleep, I bent my head and brushed a soft, lingering kiss against her forehead, smiling a little when she made a soft sound and turned her face toward my warmth.

The majority of my day was spent smiling because I was either with Sky or thinking about her.

She had been spectacular yesterday, and I was so proud of her.

She’d personified Scarlett to the letter, delivering her planned rendition of that bonnet scene.

Each twirl of her parasol, flick of her fan, and bat of her eye was perfection.

My body, already locked and loaded for this woman, only tightened more, but I had to get up soon.

I made a mental note to stop by the house to pick up my kayak and gear for our outing tomorrow. I wanted everything handled today so we would have the day to enjoy each other. It was a hectic time, things would even out and get simple again once the festival passed.

Simple was a misnomer. Maybe routine was better. My life was a complex mess right now, and I had to make some decisions once the festival passed. I would then get my answers from Daddy.

Brushing back the wisps of hair clinging to her face, I kissed her again, then cautiously rolled my shoulder.

Easing the tightness, I leaned forward and stuffed two pillows behind my shoulders, setting myself into a more comfortable position before resting my still recovering arm along her hip.

I stared into the darkness thinking about everything at once, my mind a jumble of disconnections and tasks.

First on the list was to inspect the progress on the store this morning, then meet with my employees to go over the plans for the Harvest Festival—inspecting the grounds for the upcoming tours and stocking the new store.

I’d already lined up some local artisans, including my sister, Brax’s cousin Creed, several jewelry designers, Aunt Evie’s antiques and many more to make the new store into a charming, chic and quaint country experience.

Of course, we’d be selling our pecan products as well.

Things were coming together, my momma was handling the antique carriage show, Daddy getting ready to Grand Marshall the parade which Boone and Booker were handling along with the decorations and landscaping for the town, the carnival merchants committing, with many applications for food and product vendors already pouring in.

Brax was handling the music and the pecan cooking contest—pie and a “surprise me” contest for anything made with pecans.

Our librarian was even putting together a history booth to educate visitors on Suttontowne’s rich past. It was coming together nicely.

But what left my gut in a knot was I was in deep here with Sky and this agreement we had for me to stay with her until I made my decisions would have to be sorted out.

Once I figured out where my life would lead, I’d be able to make better plans.

Except, I loved waking up with her in my arms, going to sleep with her at night, having her waiting for me when I came home.

The loneliness I’d experienced since Chase left and my family had fractured, a sense of being disconnected, disappeared with this woman’s presence, her smile, her genuine and honest care of both me and my sometimes volatile emotions.

My breath caught, the air backing up as I realized for the first time in my life I was in love.

I loved her. I closed my eyes, absorbing the recognition and achingly, painfully aware that she might not feel the same.

It wasn’t a given that she had fallen for me, but I wanted that now more than I wanted anything—the orchard, reconciliation with my daddy, my next breath.

Releasing a heavy sigh, I gazed at her. In the faint light from outside I stared, tenderness and hope stirring in the deepest part of my heart.

This woman with the strong bone structure, the beautiful features, those expressive hazel eyes behind the delicate lids and thick fringe of sooty lashes, everything that made up this complex and amazing woman, I wanted her in my life forever.

I wanted a family with her and that floored me. I hadn’t ever thought about that with all the women who had come into my life. Hell, I hadn’t even brought them home. She sneaked in there with her sunshine smile and the ability she had to make me laugh.

I thought about the way she took me into her, the galvanizing instant when I was deep inside her.

I tipped my head back and closed my eyes, fighting the urge to draw her against me.

I waited for the thick, heavy surge to ease a little, then took a deep steadying breath and glanced at the clock on the bedside table.

I didn’t want to do her quick and then have to leave, disturb her sleep.

Something that also surprised me. I usually did as I pleased, took care of my own needs in isolation, but with Sky, I wanted to savor her response. It was time to get up and get going.

She stirred when I eased away from her, and I leaned over and brushed a light kiss against her temple.

“It’s okay, sugar,” I whispered gruffly.

“Go back to sleep.” I lifted the hair off her face, then drew the comforter over her shoulders.

I waited until I was sure she was asleep, then eased my weight from the bed.

Making as little noise as possible, I collected a set of clean clothes and headed for the shower.

Under the hot water, I sort of lost it, feeling uneasy.

It was as if some inner defense had been stripped away with my love now realized, leaving me exposed.

I wasn’t sure how I was going to handle that exposure.

After all, I had spent my whole life keeping my guard up.

I wasn’t sure I knew how I would handle it now that Sky had brought it down.

***

At the store, I walked in to find a transformed and expanded space.

The floor had been laid, the new displays were all done, the whitewashed walls and weathered wood achieving the effect I had envisioned.

In the middle stood my brother. He turned when I walked in, the contractor smiling and nodding.

“Hey,” he said coming over to me. “This is something. Your vision was spot on. Momma, Daddy and River are going to love it, too.”

The praise from my brother touched a chord in me.

My defenses had already been lowered this morning with my discovery that I was deeply in love with the woman I’d left sleeping so peacefully in her—our bed.

I had been so bitter and hurt when he’d left that I couldn’t see it wasn’t him I was so angry at, taking my emotions out on him had been wrong.

He peered at me, and I couldn’t speak for a moment. “Come over here,” he said, taking my arm and leading me away from the contractor and into the spacious and redone storage room. He shut the door. “Are you all right?”

I looked down and swallowed. “I know I’ve already said this, but I’m sorry, Chase.

Truly sorry for what happened in the past. I was lost and scared.

Worried about you and being out there by yourself.

It was strange to hear Momma and Daddy fight, Momma crying, River as upset.

I wanted to be strong for all of them, and I ended up being a jerk. ”

“Jeez, Jake, you were a kid. We all were. I handled it wrong, too. I should have been more honest and discussed my plans with them before I left. It wouldn’t have changed me leaving, but it might have made it easier to understand.

I know that now thanks to Samantha. I’ll accept your apology if you accept mine. ”

I nodded and he grabbed me by the back of the neck, and I grabbed his forearm and squeezed as we pressed foreheads and reconnected as the brothers we were. “Never again will we be at odds over this. Agreed?”

I had enough with handling Skylar, so I nodded, unable to speak as he squeezed me tighter. “I love you, Jake.”

“Ditto,” I said. Now all I had to do was deal with all the crap dredged up over mending my relationship with Chase and sort out my “daddy” issues. As a family, we would be strong, but as far as the business went, I didn’t know how that would pan out.

The contractor barked out my name as we parted and gathered our composure. “Be right there,” I shouted. “I want to accept your invitation to be your best man. I might not have been one in the past with all the shit between us, but Chase, I don’t want to be at odds anymore.”

He bowed his head, rubbed at his eyes, and I spent a silent moment letting all the baggage, pain, anger and resentment against my big brother go and it felt so fucking good.

His voice unsteady, he clamped a hand to my shoulder and smiled, swallowing hard.

“Momma and River will be over the moon Samantha and I set the date, but when they hear you’re going to be my best man…

” He looked away and we were back in the “gathering our composure” business again.

He cleared his throat. “We’re all going to be sucked into the whirlwind.

You’d better warn Sky.” He smiled, and it was infectious.

“When are you going to tell them?”