He gave his sister a warning glare, and she gasped, probably remembering Jarrett might not be fertile. It wasn’t a subject that came up often.
“Gracie, that was a polite way of telling you it’s none of your business.” The youngest and only single sister, Ester, broke a chip in two, dipping it in hot sauce.
“Don’t worry, Gracie,” said Maria, second in birth order. “You’ve got a big head start. You’ll keep the prize for having the most kids.”
“And the rowdiest,” Jarrett added.
“I don’t know.” Maria shook her head as she chewed and swallowed a bite of carrot. “My two boys are louder than all three of Gracie’s girls put together.”
“Your boys are loud,” Savannah told Maria. “But Gracie’s girls can scream loud enough to curdle milk. And my two are trying to follow in their cousins’ footsteps.”
Rylie tried to push free from Jarrett’s arm, but he held her tight, even bending to place a kiss on her cheek. The kiss probably looked casual to his sisters, but it left an invisible burn on Rylie’s skin. His aggressiveness had started yesterday when Manny was taking the photographs.
In an attempt to follow Brooke’s advice about being honest, Rylie had confronted him about it after Manny and Juanita had gone, but the results had been less than optimal.
“Jarrett, what happened to the physical boundaries we agreed on?”
“Come sit beside me, and we’ll talk about it.” He patted the couch, wearing an expectant look, waiting for her to comply before continuing. “I’m not sure we ever agreed. If I remember correctly, you just told me what the rules were.”
“But you know I don’t feel comfortable with all the hugging and cheek kissing. That’s way beyond platonic.”
“So you’re saying you don’t like it?” he’d asked, those dark chocolate eyes enticing her for more.
Her palms had gone damp, and she’d wiped them on her jeans. Brooke had told her not to hide her feelings, but she couldn’t confess the entire truth. “I’m saying it makes me very uncomfortable.”
“But why?”
“Because…” The word had stuck in her throat. “Because there’s no emotion behind it. I don’t like meaningless physical contact, even if it feels good.”
“What if you were wrong? What if I told you there was meaning behind the contact? What then?”
“Then I would tell you you’re confused.”
He’d frowned. “Confused about what?”
Should she be honest? Even if the truth might hurt his feelings?
“I’m sorry, Jarrett, but I think you’re confusing me with Carlie.”
She’d expected to see pain on his face, but the emotion that finally settled there was anger. His eyes, almost black, narrowed to slits. “You think after all this time I still can’t tell the difference between you?”
“That’s not what I said…”
“It’s not what you said, but it’s what you meant.” His nostrils flared. “I’m not following your rules anymore.”
“What do you mean?”
“The platonic rule is gone, and there’s only one way to put it back.”
She’d attempted to swallow, but couldn’t find a drop of saliva in her mouth. “What’s that?”
“I’ll stop when you look me in the eye and say you don’t like it. You don’t know what I’m thinking or feeling. It has to be about you.”
Before she could object, he’d pressed his lips to her neck, electricity shooting down her spine, melting her into a boneless puddle. She’d tried to protest, but her mouth wouldn’t form words.
He’d lifted his lips a mere inch away, his warm breath tickling her neck. “Seems like you didn’t mind that so much.”
“We can’t do this,” she’d rasped. “It’s a bad idea. Terrible idea.”
“Look at me.” The command in his voice had compelled her. His dangerous gaze had snagged hers. “Tell me you didn’t like it, and I won’t do it again.”
Her mouth had opened and closed, but she hadn’t uttered a word.
Drat Brooke and her stupid advice! She hadn’t been able to lie, even to protect Jarrett. So now she was in a pickle. Jarrett was being overtly affectionate, not realizing he was fanning the flames of a fire that could destroy everything they had.
He’d stopped short of kissing her on the lips, and she knew why. She’d been very clear she would never kiss a man like that again unless they were both in love. At least he’d showed her that much respect. But other than that, the man was out of control.
She was trying to listen to his sisters’ conversation, but Jarrett’s fingers, trailing up and down her side, were wreaking havoc on her concentration. She clamped her elbow to still him, but it only prompted him to kiss her ear.
“Maybe it’s time for us to go.” Ester dabbed her lips with a napkin. “Seems like Jarrett and Rylie need a little alone time.”
“But not in that master bedroom,” Maria said. “With colors like that, you’d have to be on drugs to get any action going.”
“I think that decorator was on drugs.” Savannah popped a cherry tomato in her mouth. “But I doubt Jarrett spends much time looking at the comforter when he could be looking at Rylie.”
“We’re only going to be here another few hours,” Gracie said. “I’m hoping Jarrett can hold out a little longer.”
Jarrett laughed. “I think my sister with five kids has no room to talk.”
