Jared smiled at her as he folded the photos carefully and put them in his pocket. “I have three older brothers and three male cousins. We used to spend some time with my cousins in the summer, who were raised near Salem. We snuck out of the house as often as we could to play at the arcade, sometimes every day.”
“There are more Sinclairs?”
“Yep. They scattered around the country, too, just like we did. Offspring of my father’s younger brother, but they’re close to us in age.”
“You never see them anymore?”
“I think they’re all coming to Dante’s wedding. It’s been a while since we’ve all been together. A long time,” Jared answered, his voice holding a note of regret.
“Please don’t tell me they’re wealthy and handsome, too,” Mara begged.
Jared shot her a puzzled look as he moved forward in line. “Loaded. They’re Sinclairs. I think they’re all ugly bastards, though,” he added hastily, as though he was afraid she might be interested in any of them.
Mara groaned. “Cousin rivalry. What you really mean is they’re as gorgeous and rich as you and your brothers.”
“Are you interested?” Jared asked irritably.
“No. But Elsie and Beatrice will have a field day. Can you imagine . . . all of those rich Sinclair men in Amesport!” she exclaimed. “Please tell me they’re all married with a gazillion kids.”
Jared grinned and the tenseness in his body began to relax. “Bachelors. Every one of them. Micah, Julian, and Xander have never been married. I’m sure they’d love to meet Elsie and Beatrice. ” He snickered evilly.
“Seriously? Even their names are hot,” Mara complained loudly. “Beatrice will have them matched before they even get here if she finds out.”
Jared grinned even broader. “Good. I think I’ll swing by her shop and let her know they’re coming. I want to see them all because it’s been a long time, but I’d like to see them all squirm. Beatrice can be a scary woman when she wants to be.”
“That’s terrible.” She swatted him on the arm. “You have no idea what it’s like to be matched by Beatrice. She’s persistent. I was her target several years ago, when she thought I and one of the accountants in town would be a good match.”
Jared frowned. “What happened?”
“Turns out that he’s gay, but the poor man was nagged to death by Beatrice until he finally had to tell her the truth. She swears she just read her spirit guide wrong and it was one of her few mistakes.” Mara blew out an exasperated breath.
Mara shivered with delight as Jared’s booming laughter exploded from his throat and vibrated through the air around them. He looked young, happy, and so incredibly sexy when he was like this; no longer a billionaire playboy, and more like a regular guy. Granted, he was just as panty melting, but he looked so touchable. “Go ahead and laugh. Just wait until she gets her claws into you. I’m surprised she hasn’t already.” She loved Elsie and Beatrice to death, but when one of them decided to meddle, they were relentless.
“Actually, she’s already found my match,” Jared informed her playfully.
“Who?” She tried not to sound anxious or jealous, but she was just a little of both.
He trained his deep green gaze on her, his lips turned up sensually before answering. “You.”
Mara almost dropped her popcorn, and she gawked at Jared as he stepped up to claim his prize.
After turning in his tickets, he presented her with a tiny stuffed tiger, an adorable toy that Jared probably could have bought at a discount store for five bucks. Instead, he’d probably blown through fifty dollars in quarters to win it, but it was one of the most precious things she’d ever received because he looked like a young man who was proudly handing his girlfriend a prize. He’d won it for her, and that made it special.
“Thank you.” She kissed him on the cheek, flinching as she stretched on her tiptoes. Darn ankle!
“It’s hurting?” Jared asked perceptively.
“A little. I forget about it until I move wrong.”
Jared wrapped his arm around her waist and plucked her up and into his arms, carrying her outside.
“I can walk, Jared. Put me down. I’m not exactly a lightweight. I’m surprised you haven’t thrown your back out already.” She swatted at his shoulder.
“You’re fucking perfect, sweetheart, especially when you’re like this,” he answered huskily.
Exasperated, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders to make it easier for him to carry her to his vehicle. Judging by his insistent grip on her body, he obviously wasn’t relenting, and he didn’t look the least bit strained from carrying her weight. “I’m fine,” she argued uselessly. “And please tell me you were joking about Beatrice matching us.”
He stopped at his SUV parked on Main Street and lowered her gently to her feet as he took the keys from his pocket and flipped the automated switch to unlock the doors. “No joke. And after the lunch you fed me today, I’m seriously considering begging you to marry me.”
She took his comment as the joke she knew it was. “That good, huh?”
“Hmm . . . yeah. I’m beginning to think Beatrice might be right on the money this time.” He opened the passenger door of the vehicle for her.
The light from his car illuminated his face, and Mara smiled back at him as she saw the teasing light in his eyes. “You’d marry me for my Maine wild blueberry cobbler?” she cajoled, playing along with him.