Maybe he did love Carissa.
But this kind of love, Joker could deal.
His relief was so great he dropped his head so his forehead was resting on hers.
“Yeah, sweetie. This is awesome,” she whispered, staring into his eyes.
“Yeah, Carrie, it is, baby,” he agreed.
“Joke, brother, I get Carrie’s ass in those jeans demands a man’s hands in her pockets, but shit’s happenin’!” Boz shouted.
Joker watched Carissa’s eyes smile.
Then he felt her lips brush his.
He went in and made the kiss deeper and wetter, but he couldn’t make it longer.
When he broke it, he asked, “You’re gonna hang?”
“Wouldn’t miss this,” she whispered.
He grinned at her.
Then he kissed her forehead and let her go.
* * *
Joker pulled the stroller out of the back of the truck, shook it out, and shoved his foot down on the pedal that locked it.
The second he was done, Carissa was right there, planting Travis’s ass in it.
But she was doing this being sassy.
“I cannot believe you’re taking us to the mall.”
“You wanted a burger. We got your boy, can’t go to a bar, and Johnny Rockets is here,” he reminded her.
She looked up at him as he scanned the parking garage, making sure it was safe before he started pushing the stroller.
She fell in beside him and declared, “Just to say, Gunther Toody’s is more fun and it isn’t in a mall.”
“I’m hungry and that’s further away,” he muttered.
“By, like, five minutes,” she retorted.
He ignored that maneuvered the stroller down some stairs with Carissa spotting, and then she dashed forward to open the door.
“And just to say,” she went at him again when they were inside, “you couldn’t have parked further away. Johnny Rockets is all the way at the other side.”
“Seein’ as I mighta been here once, but I don’t remember if I have because I blocked it, I don’t have it memorized.”
This was true.
Mostly.
“Whatever,” she said but he could hear her smile.
He could also feel her thumb in his belt loop.
Which meant, when they’d moved through the mall and he made his turn, she had to come with him.
“Jo—”
She cut herself off and he knew why.
She couldn’t miss the store they were in.
Since he’d scoped it out, he didn’t waste time and guided her right where they needed to be.
Silently, Carissa followed him.
While Travis babbled and kicked his feet, Joker positioned the stroller sideways against the display case so the kid had a view before he hooked Carrie’s waist and pulled her close.
“Hello,” a salesperson greeted them. “Is there something I can help you with today?”
Since he’d scoped it, Joker pointed immediately to the case and answered, “We wanna see that one.”
He heard Carrie suck in a breath.
“Of course. It’s beautiful. Fabulous choice. One moment,” the salesperson said, keys jingling.
He heard Carrie start breathing heavily as well as felt her body start shaking.
A velvet mat was put out on glass and then the Tiffany engagement ring was set on it.
“There you go,” the salesperson said.
Joker nabbed it, grabbed Carissa’s hand, and slid it on her ring finger.
They’d need another size. It was too big.
But for now, the gesture would do.
He looked into her eyes, which were on the ring, just as a tear escaped one and slid down her cheek.
He felt that.
And he loved how it felt.
“How’s that for a promise ring?” he whispered.
Another tear slid down her cheek as her fingers curled around his hand and her gaze locked with his.
“It’s perfect,” she whispered back.
“Joe joe kah!” Travis shouted.
Carissa eyes got huge one beat before she burst out laughing at the same time she burst into tears.
Joker pulled her into his arms, took her laughing, sobbing mouth in a long, wet kiss, and through it, he heard the salesperson murmur, “I love my job.”
* * *
The front door opened and Joker looked that way to see Carissa walking in.
“Yo,” Boz called from beside him at the dining room table.
“Carrie,” Snapper greeted, also at the table.
“Babe,” Roscoe, at his other side, said.
“Hey, Carrie,” Rush, at the foot, called.
Hound grunted.
Joker just kept his eyes on his woman and smiled.
She smiled back, calling, “Hey,” to the men at the table drinking beer and playing poker.
But she came right to him.
Putting her hand to his jaw, she bent in and kissed him lightly before repeating a much softer, “Hey.”
Like always.
Right in his dick.
“Hey, baby, how was girls’ night out?” he asked.
“Good. But… um, can I talk to you a sec?”
He tried to read her face, saw something he couldn’t put a finger on, didn’t like that, so he nodded and didn’t waste time putting his cards facedown on the table.
“Be back,” he told his brothers.
“Time for fresh ones,” Roscoe announced, pushing back in his seat.
Joker got up and Carissa took his hand.
She walked him down the hall, asking, “Are you winning?”
“I haven’t lost the house,” he said by way of answer.
She tossed him a grin as she moved them into their room. “Hound’s kicking your booty again.”
Joker didn’t return the grin, he was still trying to read her, but he did reply, “The man’s a poker savant.”
Her grin turned into a smile and she asked, “Can you close the door?”
Joker closed it then gave her his full attention, begging, “Please tell me that you and your bitches didn’t decide tonight was the night to light my father’s house on fire.”
She burst out laughing.
He watched, hoping that was a no.
She sobered and informed him, “No. And actually, this is a show not a tell.”
Carissa giving him a show.
He thought of Roscoe getting fresh ones.
Then he thought none of his brothers would be too concerned they had to slam them and get the fuck out because he might not tell them he was going to get a show, but they could guess, and they wouldn’t be brothers if they were the kind of men to stand in the way of that for a game of poker.
So he crossed his arms on his chest and ordered, “So… show.”