The Keys to Jericho (89 page)

Opening the door, my grandmother looks at me and then to Kat. The light green polo shirt she’s wearing coordinates with her tracksuit pants. Her gray hair is in one of those clips with the big teeth, and she’s wearing her trademark pink lipstick.

Smiling, Grandma asks, “Is this your girlfriend?”

I nod. “Grandma, this is my fiancée Kat Merrick. Kat, this is Florence Beckett.”

Grandma steps aside, beckoning us into the living room. “Call me Florrie. Come in. Come in.”

Putting my hand on Kat’s lower back, I usher her into the house where I did most of my growing up. Grandma says, “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“Same here. I’m sorry I haven’t met you sooner. Thank you very much for letting me use your car for so long. That was incredibly kind and trusting of you. I want to repay you somehow. I’d like to take your car to get the oil changed, an alignment, and—”

Grandma shakes her head and waves her hand. “Nonsense. I don’t drive much. Jared said he had a friend he was helping and needed a car. I had one to borrow. That’s all.”

I grin at my grandmother. “It’s because I’m your favorite grandson. Right?”

Grandma laughs. “Of course!” Patting my arm, she says, “Your cousin Gary is still in Texas.”

“Hilarious, Grandma,” I grumble, making Kat laugh.

Grandma squeezes my cheek, shaking my face. “You’re easy, boy. At least you pick pretty friends. You have
that
going for you.”

When she lets go of my face, I rub my cheek. “She’s going to marry me.”

Grandma asks, “Are you sure? Maybe she thought you asked her to trade up.”

I gape at her and Kat wheezes from laughing. I scoff, “Grandma!”

When Kat catches her breath, she asks, “Is Gary single? Maybe I should check the inventory first before I lock down my order.”

Grandma fucking beams at her, finding common ground in teasing the hell out of me.

I sulk, “Where’s Grandpa? I need moral support.”

“Golfing. He won’t be back for a while, so you’re on your own, kid.” I frown as she claps her hands together. “How about I fix you two something to eat?”

I object, “How about an apology? You owe me from that remark about trading up.”

My grandmother laughs as we walk into the kitchen. “You pout more than your dad. Where’s your sense of humor?”

“Texas.” I pull out a chair for Kat and slump into the one next to her as she smiles at me, enjoying herself, apparently.

Grandma sets out some cold cuts and lemonade. We eat, and as she and Kat get acquainted, I try to jump into the conversation, only to get shot down by my grandmother. “Now, am I asking you?”

I incredulously frown. “Uh, no, but—”

“I’m getting to know your fiancée, so hush.” I roll my eyes. Jesus Christ.

Grandma says, “By the way, a few months ago you told me you weren’t ever getting married. What’s with the turnaround?”

I nod at Kat. “Her.”

Grandma frowns at Kat. “I hope you didn’t let him dip into your cookie jar too soon.”

As I glower at Grandma, Kat shakes her head. “I have a padlock on it.”

Now frowning at both of them, Grandma pats Kat’s hand, smiling. “I knew I’d like you. Make him wait. It’ll make him appreciate you more, and maybe even better in the sack.”

“Grandma! I can’t believe… You two are… I don’t even know what to say to that.”

Grandma shakes her head as I fumble with my sandwich and a rebuttal. She asks Kat, “You’re actually going to have children with
this
grandson of mine?”

Kat smiles at me, and then to Grandma. “I’m considering it.”

Grandma fakes horror. “Oh, honey. I’d
re
consider it.”

I drop my sandwich. “What the hell?”

Grandma says, “Watch your mouth, young man. Have respect for your damned elders.”

“Elderly,” I mutter and Kat smacks my arm, making me laugh.

Feigning a heavy sigh, Grandma says, “I can only apologize so much for Adam’s mistakes.”

“I’m Jared, Grandma. Not Adam.”

“Well, I know that, boy. I’m apologizing for your father’s hormonal lapse in judgment thirty-some years ago.”

I scoff, “Wow. I
am
speechless now.”

She grins. “Excellent.”

Getting up from the table, swiping my plate and glass from the table, I say, “Well, I don’t need this abuse. I’m going out to wash the Nissan.”

Kat says, “I’ll do it. I should’ve anyway.”

Grandma says, “You don’t have to do that.”

Loading the dishwasher, I shrug. “Good. I didn’t feel like it.”

Grandma retorts, “I meant Kat doesn’t have to do it. Go wash my car, Jared.”

I frown at her as I close the dishwasher. “I’m so glad I get first-class treatment around here.”

Grandma shoots me a look. “I was only aiming for third class.”

Shaking my head, I bite my lip to hide my smile as I roll my eyes, and open the door. “I like you, too, Grandma.”

Spinning my Colts hat backward, I gather everything I need, and get started hosing off the car. Shortly after, Kat comes out to the driveway. “Need some help?”

I jokingly snap, “Are you allowed?”

She giggles. “Your grandmother loves teasing you.”

I pout. “Haven’t noticed.”

Kat puts her hands on her hips, watching me. Reaching into the bucket, I toss her the sodden sponge, and she catches it as suds splash her clothes. “Get it good and soapy. I like it slippery.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll rub it down good.”

Watching her squeeze the sponge, letting the foam escape, I say, “Oh, baby. Just like that.”

“I’ll get it creamy, since I know how to handle your hose.”

I let go of the trigger, not paying attention to the car anyway. “I do love spraying it everywhere, don’t I?”

She nods. “Steering wheels, for one.”

“Your headlights, another.” I need to do that one again.

Kat smirks as her gaze goes to my crotch. “You’re definitely fuel-injected.”

“And, Kitty Kat, I make your engine roar.”

She laughs as she begins washing the car and I work on the tires with a brush.

When we’re finished, I grab the hose and spray the soap off the car. As she fixes her ponytail, sticking out her tits, I say, “You got black smudges on your T-shirt.”

Looking down, she says, “Oh, no.”

“I got it.” I thoroughly spray her white shirt with water. Kat shrieks, sticking her hands out in front of her. Shit. Like that’ll stop me.

“Jared!”

Letting go of the trigger, I grin and shrug. “Fuck. Sorry.”

She looks down to her soaked shirt, her bra not concealing much. As I laugh, she stomps over to me, easily taking the hose since I’m laughing so hard. Even as I anticipate that I’m getting wet, too, I still laugh. However, I didn’t anticipate her pulling at my nylon shorts. She quickly inserts the nozzle and pulls the trigger, blasting my junk with cold water.

“Fuck!” I yell, but laugh, pushing her away from me. As I dodge her, she sprays my chest, ass, and back, making me shout louder.

Hearing the commotion, my grandmother walks out onto the porch. Seeing her, Kat stops the flow of water, thankfully. Grandma shakes her head and says, “Kat, really.” I grin at the changing tide, but Grandma goes on, “Is that boy so eager to have his first sexual experience that he’s resorted to making your shirt transparent, just to get a juvenile thrill?” She clicks her tongue, narrowing her eyes at me.

I throw my hands out. “Hey!”

Dropping the hose, Kat crosses her arms and says, “Yes. Pretty desperate, huh?”

Grandma puts her hands on the porch railing. “You have to watch these Beckett boys, especially that one. He’s a handful.”

Kat sighs. “You’re telling me.”

Sneaking up behind Kat, I hurriedly grab the hose and shove it into the back of her shirt, spraying down it for good measure. She squeals, “Shit! Jared Beckett!”

Pointing at Kat, I shout, “Watch your mouth, young lady!”

Grandma says, “Jared, I’m going to beat your ass.” I laugh, and my grandmother shakes her head. “Come on in here, Kat, and get dried off. I have a shirt you can wear.”

“I’m wet, too!”

Grandma waves me off. “Save it. You’re not Gary.”

“Unbelievable!”

As Kat squeezes out her shirt, I go over, and grinning, I whisper, “Don’t change on my account. I’d rather you wear nothing.”

She frowns, but looks away from me. “Bite me, Jericho.”

Putting my arms around her wet waist, pulling her to my soaked body, I say, “Kit Kat, give me a kiss first.”

Grandma asks, “Now, why would she want to do that?”

Pulling at wet strands of hair, hanging from my cap, Kat whispers, “If we were alone, I’d give you such a wet fuck right now.” I gasp and she gives me a kiss on the cheek before heading up the porch steps.

Grandma asks her, “Are you sure you want to marry him? He’s the problem grandchild, if you haven’t noticed.”

Looking back at me, Kat says, “Oh, I’ve noticed. I’ll still marry him.”

Grinning as I pick up the hose to finish the car, I shout, “Until death do us part, baby!”

Trying not to laugh, Grandma clasps her hands together and yells to the sky, “God help us all!”

No doubt about it. Adam Beckett was adopted.

“I love this car.”

“Uh-huh. It’s nice. You’re lucky they had what you wanted at a nearby dealership and we didn’t have to wait long.”

Kat pulls into the spot we did last time, looking in her rearview mirror at the apartments behind us. Peering down to the console, she says, “Hmm. I have to get used to the gear selector.”

Concerned about her confusion, I ask, “Why? It’s not much different.”

“Somewhat it is. Do I have to do anything different to shift into gear?”

“Nope. Your foot is on the brake, so you shift into park.” I put my hand over hers and we slide the stick into park. “There you go. Just like that.”

“Thanks. I just have to figure out where everything is, too.”

Getting back into instructor mode, I point. “Headlights, right there. There are the windshield wipers. Here are the hazard lights. Emergency brake, here. You should, at least, know where the brake and accelerator pedals are.” I laugh and she nods.

“Jared, what would I do without you?”

“You’ll never have to wonder about that. Even in Philly, I’ll help you any way I can.”

She smiles as her gaze falls to my lips. “I know you will. You’re my hero.”

“
Super
hero. Get it right, Kit Kat.”

“Right. Sorry. Superhero.”

“I can also dispatch my sidekick Calder to help you, too. As long as he keeps his clothes on. Christ.”

Kat laughs. “He will. And if he doesn’t, I’m not interested in
his
goods.”

I lean closer to her. “Really? And whose goods interest you?”

She sighs. “I haven’t seen Rio’s yet.”

I scowl and sit back. “Very funny.”

Giggling, she asks, “Have you seen his goods, too?”

“No. Sorry to disappoint you. Only Dash’s, so thanks for that fucking flashback.”

Still smiling, she shrugs. “I’m only interested in my future husband’s goods.”

“Really? Who would that be?”

“Um, who’s that one actor in that movie we saw last weekend?”

I teasingly snap, “You’re killing me, Katriona.”

Her eyes go to my lips again. “Just kiss me in my new car, damn it.”

Shaking my head, I sigh. “I don’t know now. I’m not feeling it. You wounded me.”

Leaning over, she grips my shirt, pulling me toward her. “If you don’t kiss me, I’m
going
to wound you.”

Smiling, I whisper, “Ooh. I like rough sex.”

She whispers back, “I couldn’t tell.”