“Knowing Gracie and Phillip, I’m surprised there aren’t six kids,” said Savannah.
“As a matter of fact…” Gracie let her voice trail off.
“Gracie! Are you expecting?” Maria’s jaw dropped open.
“We just found out,” she said. “That’s why I thought it would be fun if Rylie and I could be pregnant at the same time.”
The sisters converged on Gracie, shouting their excitement.
“Macon will turn six just before the baby comes. The kids are so excited,” said Gracie.
“Congratulations,” Rylie said, the thought that she would have to give Gabe up one day intruding on the happy moment.
“I want you to hear Gabe sing on his karaoke microphone.” Jarrett led the group back into the family room, but Rylie stayed behind to cover the snacks.
A hand touched her elbow.
“It’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”
Startled, she turned to face Gracie. “What did you say?”
“I saw your face when we were talking about having kids,” Gracie said. “Even if you can’t get pregnant, you can always adopt more children. It’ll be just as wonderful.”
“I’m only thirty-three. I know it’s riskier, but I should be able to get pregnant… when the time comes.”
“Yes, but I figured with Jarrett’s chemo and all…” Gracie’s voice trailed off.
“What about his chemo?”
Shuffling her feet, Gracie’s eyes grew wide. “It’s none of my business. I’m way too nosy for my own good. I don’t want you to regret being an Alvarez when you haven’t even been married for two months.”
“I don’t think you’re too nosy. I think you care about your family,” Rylie said, wondering how much damage Jarrett’s chemo had done to his reproductive system. It wasn’t the kind of topic that came up in casual conversation.
“I do care.” Gracie swiped at her watery eyes. “Stupid hormones. And you’re part of our family now, so I care about you, too.”
“Thanks.” Rylie returned Gracie’s bear hug with an awkward pat on the back. She shouldn’t get close to Jarrett’s sisters. It would only give her that much more to miss when the marriage ended. But maybe that was part of being vulnerable, like Brooke had said. “It’s nice to know you care.”
Long after Gabe was in bed, as she and Jarrett stood in the doorway, waving goodbye to his sisters, his arm snaked around her again. The moment the last car door shut, she twisted away from him. “Stop hugging me!”
“You don’t really mean that, do you?” He took a step toward her. “Didn’t you enjoy that little kiss on the neck last night?”
She backed toward the family room with her hands out to block him, her body shaking from adrenaline. Somehow, she had to get away.
“You said you would stop if I told you I didn’t like it. Well, I don’t like it!” Her voice quivered with emotion. She didn’t know what to do. Somehow she had to make it until Thursday, when she was scheduled to talk to Brooke again. “You have to stay away from me.”
“I promised I’d stop, and I did.” He was still standing by the front door, a hurt expression on his face. “I thought we were having fun, Rylie. You’re acting like you’re afraid of me.”
Her chest ached. She didn’t want to hurt him. “I’m… I’m not afraid of you, Jarrett. But I need some time to think. Can’t we go back to the way we were?”
She walked into the kitchen and peered in the refrigerator. “There’s nothing to eat.”
“I have a chocolate stash.” His teasing voice came from behind her.
“You got more chocolate and didn’t tell me?” She marched into the pantry and searched behind the garbage bags. “There’s nothing here.”
“I didn’t use the same hiding place. I was saving it in case I needed a bargaining chip.” A smile ghosted across his lips. “What’ll you give me for my dark chocolate covered almonds?”
“Depends.” Her mouth watered. “How big is the bag?”
“Sixteen ounces, I think.”
“I’ll give you twenty bucks.”
His arms folded, and he leaned against the counter. “Not interested. I’d rather have a kiss.”
“You know I can’t kiss you. I already told you why.”
“Would it be so bad if we were affectionate? I think we both care about each other. Can’t we just kind of date and see what happens?”
“You make it sound so simple, Jarrett.” She studied the grain of the wood floor beneath her feet. “But what happens if we take the boundaries down and one of us falls in love and the other doesn’t? You know what that feels like… and so do I.”
“That guy you were in love with?” Head down, his sultry eyes peered through his lashes. “The reason you don’t want to kiss me?”
“He’s the reason I won’t kiss anyone.” She didn’t dare make eye contact. Her emotions were so close to the surface he would probably read the truth in her eyes. “Not unless we’re in a committed relationship.”
He cleared his throat, and his tapping foot caught her attention. She dared a glance. Dancing dimples accented a crooked grin. “We are in a committed relationship. So I guess there’s no reason I can’t kiss you.”
“It’s not the same. We’re not in love with each other.”
