Page 12 of Jack of All Trades (The Morrison Brothers #4)

I stare at the ceiling of Rex's guest bedroom, my hands clasped behind my head, still trying to process what just happened.

Maya lies beside me, her breathing soft and steady, one arm draped across my chest. Her dark hair fans out across the pillow, and in the golden afternoon light filtering through the blinds, she looks absolutely beautiful.

I've been in Rex's apartment countless times over the years—crashed on his couch after too many beers, helped him move furniture, watched games on his TV—but I've never been in this room. Never imagined I'd be here, like this, with his sister.

"You're thinking very loudly," Maya murmurs, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on my chest.

I turn my head to look at her, unable to stop the smile that spreads across my face. "Just trying to wrap my head around the fact that this actually happened."

"Having second thoughts already, Morrison?" There's a hint of vulnerability beneath her teasing tone.

"Not a chance." I reach over to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "If anything, I'm wondering why it took me this long to find you."

She rolls her eyes, but I catch the smile she tries to hide. "Smooth talker."

"Only speaking the truth." I shift onto my side to face her fully. "So, what happens now?"

Maya takes a deep breath, her expression turning more serious. "That depends on a lot of things, doesn't it? I'm supposed to be heading back to Seattle in less than two weeks. You're here, with your life, your rodeo career..."

"Distance doesn't scare me," I tell her, meaning it. "Seattle's not that far. We could make it work, if that's what you want."

She's quiet for a moment, her eyes studying my face like she's looking for something specific. Then, almost cautiously, she says, "What if I told you I've been thinking about moving to Pine Haven? Even before this," she gestures between us, "happened."

I blink, surprised. "Seriously?"

She nods. "My lease in Seattle is up next month. The daycare where I work has been cutting hours. And I've been researching… Pine Haven doesn't have a proper daycare center. Just that part-time thing at the church."

"You'd move here? Start your own daycare?" The possibility makes my heart race with unexpected hope.

"I was considering it," she admits. "To be closer to my brother, to have a fresh start somewhere quieter than the city. But now..." She trails off, her eyes meeting mine. "Now I have another reason to consider it more seriously."

I can't help the grin that spreads across my face. "Me? I'm a reason?"

"Don't let it go to your head," she warns, but she's smiling too. "It's still just an idea. I'd need to find a space, get licensed here, figure out startup costs—"

"I know people," I interrupt eagerly. "The old Watson building on Elm has been empty for years. It used to be a preschool before Mrs. Watson retired. And Michael could help with the business plan, he's good at that sort of thing. And—"

Maya presses her fingers to my lips, stopping my flood of words. "Slow down, cowboy. I haven't decided anything yet."

I kiss her fingertips before she pulls them away. "But you're thinking about it."

"I'm thinking about a lot of things." Her voice softens. "Including what just happened between us, and what it might mean."

"What do you want it to mean?" I ask, suddenly serious.

"I want it to be real," she says simply. "Not just physical attraction or novelty or whatever this initial pull is between us. I want it to have a chance to grow into something lasting."

"That's what I want too." I take her hand, lacing our fingers together. "I meant what I said earlier, Maya. I've never felt this way before. And I want to see where it goes. All the way."

A slow smile spreads across her face. "Well, then. I guess we're doing this."

"I guess we are." I lean in to kiss her, marveling at how right it feels, how natural, despite the whirlwind pace of everything between us.

When we finally part, Maya glances at the clock on the nightstand and sighs. "We should probably get dressed before Rex actually does come home and finds us like this. Neighbor surveillance or not, I doubt he'd appreciate the visual."

I laugh, reluctantly disentangling myself from her. "Good point. Besides, we've got a party to finalize for tomorrow."

As I gather my clothes from the floor, I can't help thinking that tomorrow's celebration will be about more than just Rex's birthday. It'll be the first time Maya and I are together publicly, the first time my family will see us as a couple.

And I can't wait.

Next Evening

My backyard transforms into exactly the kind of gathering I imagined when Maya and I first started planning.

String lights hang from the oak tree to the house, creating a canopy of soft illumination above the tables of food and drinks.

Ethan's fire pit glows in one corner, ready for when the evening air cools.

The old 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' banner from Mom's decoration boxes is strung across the back of the house, slightly faded but perfect in its nostalgia.

My brothers arrived early to help with the final setup.

Ethan hauling in firewood, Michael arranging the bar area, David setting up the music system.

Their partners pitch in too, arranging food platters and hanging the last of the decorations.

The easy way they all work together, laughing and teasing each other, fills me with a warmth I didn't know I was missing.

Maya moves through it all with a quiet confidence, directing people, checking details, occasionally catching my eye across the yard with a smile that's just for me.

She's wearing a simple green sundress that makes her eyes look even more striking, her dark hair loose around her shoulders.

She's beautiful, and she's mine, and I still can't quite believe it.

"You look happy," Michael comments, appearing beside me with two beers. He hands me one, his shrewd eyes assessing me in that way he has, like he's running calculations behind that tech-genius brain of his.

"I am," I admit, accepting the beer. "Really happy."

"It's a good look on you." He nods toward Maya, who's laughing at something David's girlfriend is saying. "She seems great."

"She is." I can't keep the pride from my voice. "More than great, actually. She's... everything."

Michael's eyebrows shoot up. "Wow. That's not a word I ever expected to hear from you."

"Trust me, no one's more surprised than I am." I take a sip of my beer, watching as Maya checks her phone. "Rex should be here any minute."

As if on cue, Maya catches my eye and gives a quick nod. "Places, everyone!" she calls out. "They're coming up the street!"

There's a flurry of activity as everyone finds hiding spots. Some behind tables, others around the corner of the house, a few of the biker guys crouching behind Ethan's truck. I position myself near the gate, ready to greet Rex as if this is just a casual visit.

The sound of a motorcycle approaching grows louder, then cuts off. I hear Rex's steps as he walks up the front path. I step through the gate to meet him.

"Hey, man," I say casually, ignoring the throb of my still-bruised jaw. "Thanks for coming by."

Rex gives me a knowing look. "Like I had a choice." He glances at my house, his expression suspicious. "What's going on?"

"Just wanted to give you something for your birthday," I say, gesturing for him to follow me around to the backyard. "Nothing major."

The moment we round the corner, everyone jumps out from their hiding places, shouting "SURPRISE!" in a chaotic chorus. Rex stops dead in his tracks, his eyes widening as he takes in the transformed backyard, the gathered crowd, the banner declaring his birthday.

"What the hell?" he says, but he's grinning. "You assholes. You actually managed to surprise me."

Maya steps forward, her smile radiant. "Happy birthday, big brother."

Rex pulls her into a hug, lifting her slightly off the ground. "You were in on this too? No wonder you've been acting weird all week."

"It was her idea," I tell him. "I just provided the venue."

"And apparently fell for her somewhere along the way," Rex adds dryly, but there's no real heat in his voice. He looks between us, then shakes his head with a resigned smile. "Well, come on then. If this is my party, someone better get me a drink."

The celebration kicks into high gear after that. The Outlaw Order members mingle with my brothers and their partners, finding common ground despite their different backgrounds. Maggie from The Rusty Nail tells stories about Rex's first legal drink at her bar.

Through it all, Maya stays close to my side, her hand occasionally finding mine, our shoulders brushing as we move through the crowd. It feels natural, like we've been doing this for years instead of less than a day.

"Your brothers keep staring at us," Maya murmurs during a quiet moment by the drinks table. "Especially the big one. Ethan, right?"

I glance over to where Ethan stands near the fire pit, his imposing figure softened somewhat by the woman at his side. He catches my eye and gives a slight nod.

"They're just surprised," I explain. "I'm not exactly known for serious relationships."

"So, this is serious?" she teases.

"The most serious thing I've ever done," I tell her, pulling her closer. "Besides, they like you. I can tell."

"How can you tell? I've barely spoken to them."

"Because they're all still here. Usually, they make excuses to leave my gatherings early.

But look—" I gesture around the yard, where all three of my brothers are engaged in various conversations, looking relaxed and content.

"They're settling in for the long haul. That's a Morrison seal of approval if I've ever seen one. "

Maya laughs, the sound making my heart skip a beat. "If you say so."

As the evening progresses and the string lights glow brighter against the darkening sky, Ethan makes his way over to us. He's nursing what looks like soda rather than beer—he rarely drinks these days—and his expression is serious as always.

"Maya," he says with a nod of greeting. "Good party."

"Thank you," she replies, standing a little straighter beside me. "I'm glad you could make it."

Ethan's gaze shifts to me. "Can I talk to you for a minute, Jack?"

Maya squeezes my hand. "I should check on the cake anyway. It's almost time for Rex to blow out his candles."

As she walks away, Ethan watches her go with an appraising look.

"She's not what I expected," he says finally.

"What did you expect?"

"Based on your usual type? Someone with less substance." He shrugs, unapologetic for his bluntness. "I like her. She's got grit."

Coming from Ethan, this is high praise indeed. "Yeah, she does."

"Rex told me about your agreement." His eyes are steady on mine. "Giving up rodeo if you hurt her. That's a hell of a wager."

I straighten, meeting his gaze. "It's not a wager. It's a promise."

"You sure about this, Jack? Because if you're not—if you hurt that girl—you won't just have Rex to worry about. Those bikers over there?" He nods toward the Outlaw Order members gathered around the fire pit. "They'll come for your ass. And I might just let them."

Despite his intimidating presence, I smile. "I'm sure, Ethan. More sure than I've ever been about anything. I'm going to make her the happiest woman in Pine Haven."

Ethan shakes his head, then does something rare. He smiles back, just slightly. "Good. Because I think she might be good for you. Might finally knock some sense into that thick skull of yours."

Before I can respond, Maya calls out from across the yard, "Cake time, everyone!"

We gather around as Rex pretends to be embarrassed by the attention, the candles casting a warm glow on his face as everyone sings. When the singing stops, he closes his eyes for a moment, then blows out all thirty candles in one breath.

"What did you wish for?" Maya asks, handing him the knife to make the first cut.

Rex's eyes flick to her, then to me, then back to his sister.

"Nothing," he says with a genuine smile. "I've got everything I need right here."

As the cake is distributed and the party continues around us, I slip my arm around Maya's waist, pulling her close to my side.

In the soft glow of the string lights, with the people I care about most gathered in the yard of the home I've fought to maintain, I feel a sense of rightness, of completeness, that I've never experienced before.

"What are you thinking about?" Maya asks, looking up at me with those green eyes that seem to see straight through me.

"The future," I tell her honestly. "Our future."

She smiles, rising up on her toes to press a kiss to my lips. "I like the sound of that."

And as the night unfolds around us, filled with laughter and music and the warmth of connection, I know with absolute certainty that whatever challenges lie ahead—distance, career decisions, the opinions of others—they're all worth facing for the chance to build something real with Maya.

For the first time in my life, I'm not just riding out my eight seconds of glory before moving on to the next thrill. I'm in this for the long haul, ready to find my balance in something far more important than staying on a bull.

I'm ready to build a life with the woman who somehow appeared in Pine Haven and changed everything.