Twice in a Lifetime (Love Found) (37 page)

“Well, I sort of made plans, but it worked itself out.” He grabbed her blouse and held it out of reach.

She picked up her jeans and climbed in. His comment stopped her and she studied him, balancing like a flamingo with one leg pushed through, the other stuck midway. “What does that mean?”

He dropped the blouse on the bed and took hold of the dangling pant leg, used it to reel her in. “It means you had until tomorrow to come to your senses. Then I was coming over.”

Grinning, she hopped toward him. “Oh.”

He dropped a quick kiss on her lips, then let go of her pants. “Yeah. Oh. Now what time can I come over?”

“Is six too early?” Jeans up and snapped, she reached for her shirt, but Jake was too fast and held it over his head.

“You know, it’s going to be damn nice watching you get dressed,
and undressed
, every day.”

She scowled and grabbed for her shirt. “Damn you, I’ll never get dressed at this rate.”

He sighed and handed it over. “Spoilsport. What time are you eating?”

“Four.” She shrugged into her blouse, poking tiny buttons through holes.

His hands snaked up under hers, fumbling and unfastening as he went. “Then why do you want me to come at six?”

“Six in the morning, sweetheart. I can’t wait any longer than that.”

He hauled her onto his lap. She bounced up quickly, his naked guy parts were much too tempting. “Jake!” Exasperation was written in her voice. “Trey will be home soon.”

“I hope you’re more fun next week.”

She chose to ignore him. “I hope Ben’s family doesn’t have a problem with… you know.” She held her hand out, her ring sparkling in the lamplight. Us.”

“It will be a little hard to hide.” He motioned with his chin to the new bauble on her finger.

She rebuttoned her blouse and hunted for her shoes. She found them under the bed and slid her feet into them. “Well, luckily they all love you, too.” And besides, now that she finally had it she wasn’t taking it off.

With one last thorough kiss to get her through the night, she left him lying on the bed.

Jake chafed his palms together and pounded on the door. Again. No answer. Rang the doorbell. No answer. He sauntered around to the garage, intent on helping himself in the house via the code panel when he spotted Trey jogging toward the house. His sweatpants and hoodie sported his school logo, his sneakers plop-plopped as they hit the concrete sidewalk. He slowed as he approached the yard.

“Jake!” Trey waved a welcome. “You’re here early.” Smoke signals wafted from his lips as he spoke. Sweat trickled from his temple.

Jake stepped back the way he came. Crap, he didn’t count on Trey being awake yet. Invited or not, what excuse could he use for his early arrival? Rooting around the closet of his mind, he dug out a lame one. “I thought I’d help you get the grass mowed.” He settled deeper in his coat, rubbed his bare hands together again then shoved them into his pockets.

Trey drew to a halt when he got to Jake, folded at the waist and braced his palms on his knees, still panting out puffs. “Doesn’t my mom have a service?”

“Their contract expired.” He was pretty sure that wasn’t true, but maybe Trey didn’t know that.

Sucking in deep gulps of air, Trey’s eyes narrowed. “So why are you really here?”

Jake removed his hands from his pockets, covered his ears with them. He really should have remembered a hat. And gloves. “I told you, I’m—”

His breathing evening out, Trey smiled. “No, seriously. Did you work it out with my mom?”

Jake let a satisfied smirk bloom on his face. “Yeah.”

Trey stood, stretched. His smile grew wider. “Too cool. So is she going to marry you?”

It was tempting to puff out his chest caveman style, fist-pounding it with a series of pure satisfied male grunts. Mere hours ago it would have seemed perfectly natural, in fact, with a naked Allie draped across his chest as soft and warm as a cashmere blanket. But standing beside her teenage kid? Probably not such a great idea. He buried his fists in his armpits. “Yeah. Um, I wanted to talk to you about that.”

Trey reached out to fist-bump him, his excited words clambering over Jake’s nervous stumbling. “All right! When? What do you want to talk about?”

Jake sucked in a deep breath. Let his words spew out with his frosted breath. “This Friday. I want you to be my best man.”

“Woo-hoo!” Trey fist-shot the sky then spun back with panic in his eyes. “I don’t have to wear a tux, do I?”

He couldn’t have held back his grin if he wanted to. Damn, he loved this kid. “Hell no. No tux. But you do have to dress a little nicer than that.” A flick of his right hand indicated the sweat-stained fleece.

“I can do that.” Trey turned thoughtful. “Wait a minute, why so soon? Is she pregnant?”

Jesus. That was probably a logical question for an eighteen-year-old male, but it caught him off guard so his laugh was shaky. “No, but I’ve waited… long enough.”

Trey nodded. “Well, you don’t need to make up an excuse to come over.” Trey wrapped his arms around himself. “Dude, it’s cold out here. Let’s go wake the bride.” He took off, racing across the front porch.

Jake followed him through the front door.
What the hell, let’s go wake the bride.

Trey sped through the house in search of his mom, but Jake paused just inside the front doorway. As always, the Christmas tree took up an entire corner of the room, every branch adorned with ornaments, the whole thing strung with popcorn garlands. Brightly decorated gifts were scattered underneath. The whole house had Allie’s stamp on it, her signature combination of sophisticated and homespun, decked for the season with color and scent.

He never bothered with holiday decorations. After all, there was usually nobody at his house to appreciate them. But this was a home. Soon it would be
his
home.

Still calling out for Allie, Trey flew back through the living room. Jake caught up with him as he barged through the door of her bedroom. She was sitting on the edge of her bed, deathly pale. Was she ill?

Trey rushed across the carpet and prepared to pounce. “Hey, Mom! You’re getting married! Con—

Jake threw out his arm to block him. “Trey, no, don’t—

Trey sailed through the air and landed in the middle of the bed.

Unable to move fast enough to avoid the jarring bounce, Allie sprung from the bed and ran into the bathroom, knees hitting the tile with no time to spare.

“—gratulations! Mom?” Trey yelled after her. “Hey, are you okay?”

Jake was already in the bathroom, a mere moment behind Allie. He knelt beside her, holding her hair and rubbing her back. “Babe, you feel better now?”

She scooted back, leaning her cheek against his chest. “No. Leave me alone.”

“What can I do for you?”

“Just let me die.”

Jake chuckled at her dramatics.

Trey crept around the corner. “Jake, is she okay?”

“She’ll be fine, Trey. It’s probably something she ate.”

“She spewed earlier this week, too.”

Jake looked down at her, frowning with new concern. “Why didn’t you tell me you’re ill?

“Just stomach flu. I’ll feel better soon.”

“Trey, wet a washcloth for me, please.” He used it to wipe her face and neck. Her thready voice concerned him. “What did the doctor say?”

“Um… nothing much.”

“Allie.” His warning tone was well suited to a naughty-three-year old.

Mutiny glared in her scowl. “All right; I haven’t been.”

Jake stroked her shoulders as she lay against him. “Allie. Be sensible. I don’t have a bunch of fancy initials after my name, but this isn’t right.” Using his finger, he turned her to face him and tipped up her chin. “What if there’s something seriously wrong? Please, promise you’ll see the doctor soon?”

She nodded agreement as he helped her to her feet.

Allie leaned against the refrigerator, then tugged the door open and lifted out the ham she’d planned for dinner. Jake entered as she struggled to carry the heavy piece of meat, took it from her easily, and set it on the counter. “You still don’t look well, Allie. Go sit at the table and let me do this for you.”

“You know how to cook a ham?” Build a twenty story office building? Sure, no sweat. But the Christmas ham? This she had to see.

“You questioning me, woman?” He studied the vacuum sealed package, then glanced at her with a smug grin. “Ha! It says right here, ‘fully cooked.’ How hard can it be?” His gaze bounced from one cabinet to the next as if trying to divine what was hidden behind each closed door. Finally he halted with a heavy sigh and a roll of his eyes. “Okay, tell me where to find the roasting pan.”

The aroma of ham baking warmed the house. Allie snapped green beans, tossing the ends and dropping the wet pods onto a pot. Trey peeled potatoes at the sink.

He looked at his mom. “Are you sure you’re not pregnant?”

Her head came up with a snap. “Not possible, Trey.”

“I think she’s pregnant.”

“Wouldn’t that be something?” The doorbell chimed and drowned out Jake’s murmur. At least now he didn’t have to explain his last statement.

“I’ll get it!” Trey dropped a half-peeled potato into the sink with a splash, ran to the door and swung it open. Right behind him, Jake gripped the door panel as a cold gust threatened to snatch it from Trey’s hand. “Gramps! Uncle Nick! Merry Christmas!”

Bentley’s arms were full of wrapped gifts. Nick carried a bottle of wine in each hand. Trey hugged each man as they entered the room, then ran the wine into the kitchen and squatted to place the new presents under the tree.

“Merry Christmas, Bentley.” Allie grinned as she entered the living room. “We’re glad you came today. We’ve missed you.”

“Allie, as beautiful as ever, Merry Christmas!” Bentley grabbed Allie in a bear hug and placed a fatherly kiss on her cheek.

It had been several years since he’d last seen Ben’s father. It was amazing how regret and worry could age a person, but the Tate dimples still emerged when he grinned and his grip was still firm as Jake shook his hand. “Merry Christmas, Bentley.”

“Jake, good to see you, son. You look well also. Merry Christmas. And will you look at Trey. I swear he’s grown two inches since I saw him last.”

“Aw, Gramps.” Everyone laughed at Bentley’s predictable exaggeration. “You say that every time I see you.”

“Glad you could make it, Nick.” Allie leaned into his warm hug and turned her cheek up for a chaste kiss. “Jake tells me you’ve been gone quite a bit lately. He wondered if you had some lady friend stashed away.”

Jake laughed. The wheels were obviously turning and a scary gleam shone in her eye as Allie kidded him.

Nick’s gaze shot to him with a scowling sigh. “Thanks a bunch, boss. Now she’ll never leave me alone.”

Crap, he could already see he’d have to cover for Nick if he wanted any peace at either home
or
work. But Nick was what? Thirty-six or thirty-seven already and hadn’t had a serious relationship since that dancer chick in high school. Yeah, the story sounded kind of familiar.

Nick stuck his hand out for him to shake. “Merry Christmas, anyway. Glad to see you here.”

He glanced around the room and grinned as he took a seat beside Allie. “Yes, well, I expect you’ll be seeing a lot more of me here from now on.”

Nick looked confused, but Bentley wasn’t a lawyer for nothing. His shrewd gaze panned the smiling faces lined up on the couch—Jake’s, Trey’s, Allie’s—before landing on Allie’s hand. His face lit up brighter than the decorated tree standing steadfast in the corner. “I’m glad you two finally came to your senses.”

Nick popped up from his chair, beaming. He stepped forward and again embraced his sister-in-law. “I’m thrilled for you Allie. You deserve to be happy again.” He then shook Jake’s hand. “And you too, Jake; congratulations!”

Allie passed the beans while conversation rose and fell around the table. “The wedding will be Friday. You’ll come, won’t you Gramps, Uncle Nick? I get to be best man.” She could only shake her head. Trey hadn’t even given her a chance to issue an invitation.

“Wouldn’t miss it for anything.” Bentley’s acknowledgement was cheerful. “Friday you say?”

“Yes, Friday.” Even Jake wasn’t leaving her an opportunity. “And of course you’re invited. It will be at the courthouse. Just family and very close friends.”

“So.” She patted her mouth with her napkin. “Have you heard from Gavin lately?”

But at the mention of his youngest son Bentley’s mouth went tight and the laughter in his eyes died. Apparently that was a
no
. Her heart landed in her lap. “I’m sorry.

Nick patted her hand from his seat beside her. “Not your fault, doll. The prick hasn’t been home in years, and evidently a damn phone call or card at Christmas was just too much to ask.”

If anyone knew what caused Gavin to give up a full ride and leave town, they weren’t talking. But the day following his high school graduation he took off without a word. Three weeks later he called and announced he’d shipped out for Army basic training. They’d gotten a few short notes from him since, seen him sporadically over the years, the last time at Ben’s funeral.