Jarod's Heart (King Brothers Stories #2) (22 page)

“After the third stint in foster care, I made a vow to myself that when I was old enough, I would never need to rely on another person to live ever again. Buying the townhouse fulfilled my need for independence. I finally had a permanent roof over my head that no one could take from me. I had a great job and was financially secure.”

“I get that. However, you don’t need it anymore.” He gave her his fiery blue gaze. “You have me.”

They drove in silence for a few minutes until finally he spoke again.

“Jessica needs the security of a mother, Lauren, just like you did. If you feel like you need an escape, keep your rooms at the estate and use them when you get sick of me or if you just need your space.”

“It’s not the same.”

“I know. But it’s important to me that we share the same roof. I can’t explain it any more than that.”

He didn’t need to; Miranda had spent a lot of her time away from home, especially after Jarod had become a deputy. It had been no secret that she’d slept elsewhere.

Lauren understood his need to keep tabs on her. For now, she would allow it because trust was important in any relationship. She hoped that as time went by he would grow to trust her and know that she wasn’t going anywhere.

Coming to a decision, she agreed. “I’ll list the townhouse as soon as we get back.” His hand relaxed over hers, making her more confident that they’d just successfully negotiated their first compromise as a married couple. “But I’m keeping my position as administrative assistant.” She couldn’t live and work in the same place. She’d talk to Camille about it when they returned.

He grinned evilly, letting her know that she’d been mistaken in the negotiations.

“No, you’re not. I accepted your resignation when I proposed marriage. It became effective when you said ‘I do.’ There’s a nepotism clause in the employee handbook, honey. Sorry, but you’re fired.”

Damn it.

JAROD PARKED HIS
Raptor in its regular spot and shut off the engine. His wife—God, how he loved the sound of that—wore her usual confident expression, the one she sported when she was confronted with something new and challenging. He’d always loved that look on her, but now he loved being the cause of it.

Not touching her wasn’t an option. He was more than pleased that she came to him willingly and kissed him as voraciously as he kissed her the moment that he reached for her.

Perfect.

Coming up for air with a smile, he rubbed his thumb across her plump bottom lip.

“You ready, Mrs. King?”

Her expelled breath fanned across his face, her eyes showing surprise at her new moniker. Recovering in the next heartbeat, she said, “Of course,” in her famous sassy tone.

She got out of the truck before he could open the door for her and tried to retrieve her overnight bag. He lifted it out of the truck bed before she could get a grip on the handle.

Smiling in thanks, she led the way to the mud room and passed through it to the kitchen.

No one was around.

Shrugging off the absence of his family, Jarod indicated that she should head upstairs. When she got to the second-floor landing, she hesitated and looked at her bag, which was still clutched in his hand.

“Second thoughts?” he asked.

“No, I just realized I have to move twice.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, it’s not just my townhouse I have to move out of. I also need to move my stuff out of my rooms here into yours...”

“Now you’re talking,” he laughed, trying to put her at ease.

But she continued in almost a panicked state, “…not to mention that I have to change my name on all my legal documents.”

“Good thing I fired you then, so you’ll have time to do all of that.”

She rolled her eyes at him. “I’ll head to my room to grab a few of my things and meet you in yours…ours.”

“I like the sound of that.” He kissed the end of her nose and headed to his room to start making space for her.

Our room.
God, that sounded good to him.

Not knowing what to do with the contents of her bag, he set it just inside the door before taking his own overnight case into the bathroom to put his shaving gear away. He found that his sink had acquired a few beauty items that weren’t there before.

Sure enough, when he peeked into the shower, bottles of girlie body wash and shampoo and conditioner were sitting on the ledge next to Jessica’s blue Cookie Monster bubble bath. There was also a purple loofah hanging from the shower head.

He picked up the amber-colored shower gel and held it to his nose. Sandalwood, heady and spicy just like Lauren, filled his nostrils. It made him want to look for her and occupy her time for about an hour or so.

“My things are missing,” she announced, startling him.

His eyes clashed with hers briefly before he backed her up against the wall and began kissing down the long line of her neck, starting at her earlobe and trailing to the base of her throat. He pinned her arms above her head, entwining his fingers with hers, keeping her captive.

“Oh,” she whispered and immediately came to life for him.

He pressed the length of his body along hers while he ravaged her mouth like a gluttonous man.

He slowly released her hands, smoothing his palms down her arms, her shoulders, and then the sides of her body. When he felt her arms settle around his neck, he picked her up and sat her on the counter.

She’d worn a pretty navy-blue skirt that was straight, trapping her legs. He growled his frustration and began to draw the material up so he could part her knees to accommodate him, needing to be as close as possible.

She had her hands on his waistband, digging his shirt out of his pants, when they heard someone clearing his throat.

Lauren squealed, jerking her skirt back into place, while Jarod jumped back, feeling like a caveman, ready to fight off his challenger.

The throat clearing became a masculine chuckle and then an outright laugh. Jason raised his arms in surrender.

“I just wanted to congratulate the two of you, but I think I may be interrupting the honeymoon. Shame on you for not keeping her locked away for the whole weekend, Jarod.”

“Oh, I’m keeping her, all right,” Jarod said.

He lifted her off the counter and hauled her up beside him, not letting her go. The possessiveness he felt was satisfied by the surprise in her eyes.

“Hey, Jason,” Lauren said, sounding out of breath.

Damn, he loved fracturing her cool façade.

“Hey, sis. Let me be the first to welcome you to the family,” he stated, and then he literally grabbed Lauren out of Jarod’s arms and hauled her in for one of his bear hugs, lifting her off her feet.

When Lauren began to laugh, Jarod unclenched his fists and rolled his eyes.

“Let her go before you break her, you big oaf.”

Jason glared at Jarod. “Everyone is downstairs in the reception hall, waiting for you guys. So if you’re finished playing kissy-face, I’d like to eat. Jujyfruit fixed quite a spread and I’m starving.” He pecked her on the cheek and sauntered out of the bathroom.

Pompous ass.

“Oh.” She began checking and straightening her clothes again and rearranging her hair. “How do I look?” she asked a bit anxiously.

“Good enough to eat.”

“Jarod,” she scolded.

He wrapped his arms around her middle from behind and gazed at her reflection in the mirror, resting his chin on her shoulder. “You’re beautiful.” He kissed her neck again and then reluctantly released her.

“You’re not so bad yourself,” she said.

He held his hand out to her, and she took it without hesitation, making him feel better.

He led her out of his room and down the stairs to the massive reception room, located on the ground floor in the back of the house. This space was dedicated to holding business and social events for King Construction. The commercial kitchen was adjacent to this room for easy catering.

His mother had lined the center of the room with long tables for a buffet-style luncheon. There was a small cake directly in the center of the buffet. When they entered the room, there was applause from more than just family.

“Jar’d! Lorn!” came a small voice followed by the tapping of small feet running across the travertine tiles. Then Jessica launched herself at him.

Jarod caught her up in a big hug and squeezed her tightly. “I missed you, Darlin’!” He kissed her cheek.

“Where’d ya go?” she asked seriously.

“We went to Reno.”

She reached for Lauren, who took her into her arms now. “Why’d ya leave me?”

Lauren hugged her and kissed her cheek. “We didn’t leave you, sweet pea. Your daddy asked me to marry him, and I said yes.”

“Lauren is your mommy, now. What do you think about that?” Jarod announced to his daughter.

Jessica leaned back in Lauren’s arms to put her little hands on her face. “Okay.”

“Okay? That’s it?” Jarod asked.

“Yeah, it’s okay with me.” Then she kicked her feet to get down. “Come on, Lorn. Joojee made a cake.”

Lauren looked at Jarod and shrugged. “Julie made a cake,” she stated, like it made all the sense in the world.

They followed his daughter, who had a death grip on Lauren’s hand, dragging her toward the dessert tables.

“I DIDN’T INVITE
her,” Julie said when she sidled up next to Lauren after the wedding cake had been served.

“I would never accuse you of such a dastardly deed,” Lauren laughed as they watched Marguerite work the room.

Lauren was overwhelmed by the hugs and well wishes from the people surrounding her, some she knew well and some not at all, including a small group of people from King Construction and James’s security detail.

Father O’Keefe and a few people from the sheriff’s department, including Marguerite, were also among the well-wishers.

“She arrived early, taking in every detail. She’s been overly polite to Camille. Of course, Camille doesn’t buy it for a second; it’s all too obvious that the only reason Marguerite is here is just to get a look inside the estate.”

Lauren merely smiled at her friend.

“What is it?”

“Nothing,” she said, keeping the tears at bay. Lauren felt wonderful and confused at the same time. But she also sensed an air of foreboding, that something terrible was about to happen.

She smiled, though, not wanting Julie to pick up on anything. Julie had been through enough, and Lauren was sure her erratic emotions were due to the stress of a rushed marriage, losing her job, and becoming a mother within a twenty-four-hour period.

Julie put her arm around her shoulders in a friendly hug. “I’m here if you need me, you know that?”

“Yes, of course,” Lauren confirmed, hugging her friend tightly. Changing the subject, she asked, “How did Jessica do last night?”

“I think she’s the reason why Camille and James have bags under their eyes.”

“Seriously? It couldn’t be this rushed reception or anything?” Lauren said only a little bit sarcastically.

“Well, there’s that, but you know Camille. She lives for this stuff.”