The Boyfriend List (15 page)

He should be honest.

—#10, Jenna’s Boyfriend List

There was nothing quite as sexy as waking up on a warm summer morning with your husband’s arms wrapped around you and his erection pressing into your backside. Moving ever so slightly, she heard Nate groan, which meant he was awake or having quite a wonderful dream.

She wiggled again. He groaned again. “Jenna, don’t do that.”

“Why?”

“Because I have to get up and get down to the barn.” It took no effort for him to roll her onto her back and hover over her. He tried to be menacing, but it did no good. He was too sweet, too adorable, even when he pulled her nightshirt over her head in a show of husbandly force.

All she could do was giggle.

Nate pushed her hair to the side and nibbled at her ear and neck, moving down and closing his mouth over one breast, and then another. “Still think this is funny?”

She arched into him. “Hilarious.”

“Really? I guess I have some work to do.” It was delicious, slow, and sexy, and then he took it up a notch, stroking her already wet folds with his finger.

“Ohhh.” That was her moaning. Yes, it was.

“You started it,” Nate teased.

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“Liar. You’re not sorry. I’m not, either. But I’m going to finish you off, Beautiful, you ready?”

“Mhmm.” Was she ever.

Without any other warning, Jenna felt him ease between her legs at the same time he laced his fingers with hers, bringing her arms over her head. She felt completely under his power, vulnerable, but totally and completely safe. Protected. Loved.

His body teased hers just before Nate slipped inside, joining them. He was gentle and patient. Moving slowly, carefully, like she might break, Jenna’s husband made slow, sweet love to her as the sun came up and she heard the horses tittering for their breakfast.

Sex with Nate could be hard and hot, steamy to the point of bursting, but this time, it was about being close—being one. Warm and loving, his mouth stayed near her ear and neck, kissing and nibbling at will, and Jenna melted into the sensations.

“My beautiful wife, I love you. I love you.” His voice, deep and sure, made her believe everything was going to be all right.

More deliberate with his movements, Nate brought them closer and closer until the climax took them both in a wave of pleasure. It wasn’t explosive or wild, but deep, warm, and perfect—just like their feelings for each other.

She missed him when he left her body, but stretching, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close. Staring up at his handsome face, his eyes looked green today, probably reflecting the morning light and the acres of meadows outside. He dropped a kiss on her lips. “I’m going to shower and get out there before Da comes looking for me. You sleep. There’s food downstairs for when you get hungry, unless Owen and Jason get there first.” Right. Owen and Kim; Jason and Meg and their kids—were sharing the guest house with them, something she’d forgotten about until Nate reminded her. “If that happens, you’ll have to go to the main house and Sally will make something for you.”

“Okay. That sounds good. I like Sally.”

“She likes you, too.”

“I love you,” she cooed. Lord, was it legal to be this happy?

Another kiss and a smile. “I love you, too.”

With that he was off to his shower, and Jenna started to feel like today could actually be a good day.

***

Nate walked into the feed barn, found a pair of gloves, and followed his father’s voice.

“Eh, morning. You’re late. Something hold you in bed?”

Nate felt himself grin as he thought of the soft, sweet-smelling woman he left a little while ago. “I’m not talking about this with you, Da.”

“You don’t have to. You’re looking rather pleased with yourself. That’s quite enough.”

“The lads in the next barn have watered and fed all the horses. There’s a big boy in the third stall whose feet need some attention. Had an abscess.”

Nate nodded and started out when his father clamped a hand on his shoulder. “I am happy for you son. She’s a lovely girl, and I know you love her.”

“I do, Da. It happened fast with the baby, but I’m glad we didn’t wait.”

“I can’t believe you’re going to be a father.”

“Me, either. And it’s gotten me thinking about things.”

His father was latching the feed bin so some resourceful pony didn’t eat more than he was supposed to. “What things in particular?”

“I think I’m going to leave Reliance.”
There.
He said it to someone who had a stake in his plans. Nate felt like he’d just jumped off a cliff.

“Interesting.” His father picked up an old bridle and fiddled with the straps. “What would you do? Based on what you told me about your finances, you could retire now, but I don’t think that’s where you’re going with this.”

“I’d like to focus on Kylemore. It’s what matters to me.” He went to the open barn door and looked out at the acres and acres of pasture. “I don’t want the pace that Reliance would require. It was never my dream.”

“Have you talked to Jenna about this?”

He nodded. “She’s supportive, but worried Jason, Owen, and Harper will blame her if I leave. She’s not wrong to worry. There could be a lot of bad blood.”

“Do Jason and Owen have any idea what you’re planning?”

“Nope. I’ve mentioned it in passing, but I’m guessing they don’t think I have the nerve.”

His father belly laughed. “I can’t believe those boys, after all these years, haven’t realized you have nerves of steel.”

“That’s part of the problem. I love them like brothers, but I’m tired of the assumptions. The expectations about where I fit in. The company’s getting bigger, Owen is the one at the helm, and he’s intense. Everything is a crisis. Me? I don’t see things that way, but when he’s got a full head of steam, I eat antacids like candy. They need a CFO who’s about the pressure. I’m not.”

“Don’t sell yourself short. You can handle pressure, you just don’t want
that
pressure. So, if a change is what you want, and your wife is with you on this, you know your mother and I will welcome you as a partner. It’s what we’ve always wanted.”

He’d never been so relieved, and hugged his father, thankful he understood and respected his decision. His parents had been disappointed when he put his plans to work at Kylemore on hold for Reliance, but they never pressured him and they were proud of everything he’d accomplished. Nate hoped he could be half the parent to his own kids. “Thanks, Da.”

“Anytime. Now, go take care of that gelding for me. Just because we’ve had a moment doesn’t mean the chores will do themselves.”

“I’m on it.” Nate started to make his way to the big barn and looked toward the guest house, where Jenna was probably still in bed. Because of her, he was finally finding the courage to put his life back on its original path. The one he was meant to be on.

***

Jenna was lying in bed in a post-sex stupor when there was a knock at the door. All she could think was that it was her mother. Or Nate’s mother. Or Sally.
Dammit.
Popping up in the bed she called out, “Who is it?”

“It’s me.”
Kim.

“Okay, hold on.” She looked frantically for her nightshirt, but hadn’t found it when not only Kim, but Meg, entered the room.

“Well, we know what went on in here this morning.” Meg grinned. Kim was starving and Meg was carrying a basket with muffins, but Jenna was still contemplating violence. “Enjoy it now. Once the kids arrive, there’s no more morning nookie.”

“It’s early, why are you guys here?” Still naked, she pulled the covers over her head.

Kim had a pot of coffee and basket with mugs, cream and sugar, which she’d placed on the dresser near the door. “You’re kidding, right? We saw Nate leave for the barn, now we want details.” Kim pulled the blanket down just enough so Jenna’s eyes were visible.

“Details?” Jenna asked.

“Yes.” Kim plopped on the bed and tossed the T-shirt she found on the floor to Jenna. It was Nate’s but she didn’t care. Pulling it over her head, she reached for the basket Meg had in her hands. “Give me that. I’m hungry.”

Meg handed it over and Kim picked a blueberry muffin and a napkin out of the basket and drew in its scent. “This is heaven. And it’s still warm.”

“Okay, you’re fed and I have coffee, but come on. We want details.”

Jenna reached for the phone on her night table and opened up the camera gallery.

It took them seeing one picture for her friends to fall into line. It was a candid shot that a perfect stranger had taken when Nate proposed to her on the Promenade. The gentleman had texted it to her, and it was one of Jenna’s favorites from their time away. The love on her face, the love on Nate’s, was palpable. There were pictures from the wedding with her in her beautiful gown and Nate in his formal kilt and jacket, which made her smile all over again.

Kim shook her head. “He wore a kilt? Damn.”

“He’d packed it just in case we decided to get married when we were there. He looked amazing.” He did, and there was no shortage of fun investigating what her handsome Scot had under his kilt.

“No kilt for Owen,” Kim said. “It’s sad.”

“He has a uniform,” Meg reminded her. “Jason has a kilt, but he never wears it.”

Kim flipped through the pictures and stopped. A tear spilled down her cheek. “God, Jenna. You look beautiful and so happy.” Glancing at her phone, Jenna saw she was looking at a picture from just after the wedding. She and Nate were walking hand in hand through the square near the ancient town hall in Como, and someone had caught a photo of them smiling at each other. “I wish I’d been there. I wish I hadn’t made you feel like you couldn’t tell me.”

“It wasn’t you.” Jenna hugged Kim. “Nate just thought it was best if everyone was out of the loop so we had time to really think about what we wanted for our future. We didn’t go to Italy thinking we were going to be married, but everything fell into place.”

“It sounds like something Nate would do,” Meg added. “He gets so annoyed with Owen and Jason. They question him all the time, not thinking anyone notices, but I have and Harper has, big time. Those two knuckleheads forget that Nate keeps them grounded. Owen would go off halfcocked at times if Nate didn’t diffuse a situation, and Jason wouldn’t ever come out of his lab.”

Jenna pulled her knees up as she thought about all the things he told her on their walk yesterday. How he felt about the business and the changes he wanted to make. “He loves both of them like brothers. It’s hard for him, and lately the challenges are coming from all sides. I mean, what the hell is up with his sister Leah?”

“Oh,” Meg said. “She is
interesting
. What an attitude.”

“Attitude is one way to put it. All we want is for our families and friends to let us be happy. And to be happy for us. That’s it.”

Meg hugged her. “I don’t think that’s unreasonable.”

“Me, either,” Kim agreed. “So, now the job is to get everyone else on board.”

Jenna shrugged, tired of fighting for approval. She didn’t know if they would ever get everyone’s blessing.

“Show your mother the pictures,” Meg said. “That should do it.”

“You’re really underestimating her. She’s tougher than all of us. Harder. Trust me on that. It’s going to take more than pictures for her to change her mind about me.”

Kim handed her friend another muffin. “I’ve known your mother a long time, and yes, she’s a tough nut, but those pictures of you and Nate in Italy? She will cave. No doubt about it. She’ll be happy for you.”

***

Jenna couldn’t believe the number of people at the Bayards’ July 4th party. They’d pulled out all the stops and made it not only a family day, but a day for business and a day to make themselves more a part of the community on the East End.

Reliance had asked a number of clients to come. There were friends of the family, new and old, from the horse community, and all Reliance employees were invited as well. Jenna had a big family, and there had been some huge parties over the course of her life—the “family” dinner Nate attended had almost one hundred people—but absolutely nothing rivaled this “barbecue”. Sally and Nate’s mother were directing the chefs who manned the grills, the caterers, the servers, and the bartenders. Valets were parking cars. When she was chatting with Sally that morning, she found out they’d gotten a permit to have the party. A permit.

She’d learned a lot over the past few days, about her new husband and the people in his life. Money was a presence. They had it, they used it. But they didn’t think about it.

The party she was witnessing? It wasn’t about impressing people. It was about doing something nice, saying hello, saying thank you. It was hospitality, albeit on a grand scale, but that’s what it was. The Bayards could afford it, so in their eyes, why not do it?

Jenna grew up in a home that kept to a strict budget. Her parents were good people but tight-fisted. However, the result was that they paid off their house early, contributed heavily to their children’s college educations, and would have a secure and comfortable retirement. No small feat. And something to be proud of.

But choices were often made that made Jenna feel like she didn’t belong. Sports camps for her brother and sister, science competitions, trips for business clubs, her parents found money for those. Dance classes? Art classes? Riding lessons? Jenna was the outlier in the family, and she definitely felt like one.

It was probably part of the reason they had such a hard time with what Jenna went through in California. They saw her life as one of excess. Of relying on talent rather than serious hard work. Nothing good could come from that.

Her family never understood her art. They respected brains and bravery, not photographs and paint. In her mother’s opinion, people who spent a lot of money for something to hang on the wall should donate the money to those who needed it.

In turn, Jenna resented the idea that her mother felt “left out” of her life. She never really wanted to be part of it. Her mother wasn’t abusive or cruel, but she was disinterested. Jenna was so different from her siblings, she never felt connected to her mother. And it hurt.