“When?” she demanded. “We had a fight before you left. You were gone right up until the party started last night and when we got home—”
“We didn’t do a whole lot of talking, did we?” he murmured, ignoring Carson’s low snarl.
“Dammit, Jack, that’s not funny. You said we were going to Milford at some point, but you never said when.”
“Well, buttercup, it is this weekend. Friday night they’re having a dinner for us. Saturday I’ll do one last run through before giving them my final set of suggested updates. There’s another dinner on Saturday night. However, I am hoping we can sneak out of town Sunday morning before they drag us to church.”
“I can’t believe this is the first I’ve heard of it.”
Jack warned her, “You’ve known about this ‘commitment’ from the very start, Keely.”
“Don’t sound to me like Keely’s too keen on goin’,” Carson mused.
“Doesn’t matter. She is going.”
Keely sighed. “I’m not gonna have to wear a long dress and some kind of freaky head covering, am I?”
Carson laid his hand over Keely’s. “Darlin’ girl, if you ain’t comfortable goin’, then don’t go. Just
’cause you’re engaged to him don’t mean you gotta do everything he says.”
What the f**k? Jack couldn’t believe Carson was encouraging his daughter to blatantly oppose him.
He was her fiancé for Christsake. Keely had better realize early on that their relationship took precedence over every other relationship in her life.
What relationship? This engagement isn’t real, remember?
Ah hell. With the intensity of the last twenty-four hours, somehow Jack had forgotten that.
Keely squeezed her father’s hand. “It’s okay. I want to go with Jack. This is a big potential client and he’s talked about everything so much I’m looking forward to it. It’s just…the timing caught me off guard.”
Keely smirked at Jack. “My man and I tend to fight first before we figure things out.”
“Sounds like someone else I know,” Carolyn muttered.
Carson’s lips twitched.
“Anyway, I’ll reschedule my Friday clients. No big deal. Daddy, can you ride Rosa for me this week?
Since it doesn’t sound like I’ll be here next Sunday?”
“Sure, punkin, whatever you want.”
“Thanks. You’re the bestest evah.”
Carson grunted, but Jack knew he was pleased.
Jack forced a smile. “Carolyn, thanks for the pie, it was delicious.”
“You’re welcome. You two taking off?”
He said, “Yes” the same time Keely said, “No.”
They looked at each other. Measured each other.
“I have work to finish before tomorrow,” he pointed out.
“So go. We have two cars. I need to redeem myself from the last cribbage game we played, where Daddy skunked me twice, right?”
“You bet, girlie. I’ll get the board and the cards,” Carson said and vanished from the table.
Carolyn and Keely chatted as they picked up the pie plates and headed into the kitchen.
Jack took the shortcut out the back door. He paused on the porch, propping his elbows on the railing to drink in the view. The scenery really was spectacular. No wonder Keely loved it so much.
The porch boards squeaked and Carson appeared in his peripheral vision. Jack felt like a teenage boy about to get “the talk” from his girlfriend’s father. “Nice night.”
“I’m just gonna say this flat out, Donohue. That girl in there means the world to me. She’s been the light of my life since the day she came into this world. I’d do anything to make her happy. I always have, I always will. I trust her judgment, but son, I don’t trust you. And I most definitely don’t trust you with her.
So if you do anything to hurt her? I swear to God I will—”
“—gut me? Yeah, I got this warning five goddamn times last night from your sons,” Jack said curtly.
“I’d expect nothin’ less from my boys and neither should you. But they’re not the ones you oughta worry about.”
“Let me guess. You are.”
“Yep. Guttin’ you would be too easy and not nearly painful enough. Think about it, son, because I guarantee I have been.”
Jack’s stomach muscles involuntarily clenched. Rather than let the threat go unanswered, he faced Keely’s father head on. “I appreciate the warning, Carson.”
“Have a good night, Jack.” The door slammed and Carson was gone.
Engrossed in a new project bid, Jack paid little attention when Keely returned to the apartment a few hours later and headed to the shower.
But his focus was shot to hell when the scent of lilacs drifted from the bathroom. He looked up just as Keely sauntered by in her birthday suit.
She gave him a little finger wave before she shut the bedroom door.
Yeah. He was supposed to get any work done now?
Maybe Keely’s naked stroll was a hint. Maybe she was waiting for him, spread out on the bed, touching herself in anticipation of him coming to her.
The door opened and out she flounced in day-glo plaid pajamas. Flannel pajamas. Pajamas that covered her from head to toe. What a freakin’ waste.
With her body, Keely should wear peek-a-boo nighties crafted from sheer material that showed off her stunning curves. Lace gloves that buttoned at the wrists he could rip off with his teeth. Thongs made of silk. Sky-high heels. Or better yet, boots that came above her knees. In black patent leather. And fishnets.
No, fishnet stockings that hooked to lace garters. Oh, yeah, and leather boy shorts, topped with a blue velvet bustier that matched her eyes. And a collar. Just once he’d like to see how she’d react if he slapped a slave collar on her.
“I oughta slap you, Jack, for the disgusted way you’re eyeballin’ my favorite jammies.”
“I can’t help it. I’m…stunned. More flannel? Really?”
“I’m cold. And I like to be comfy when I’m lounging around. I’m just a simple country girl with simple tastes.” She pointed at his laptop. “You about done working?”
“I could call it a night if I had the right incentive.”
“If incentive is a euphemism for sex, keep right on pecking away on those keys and forget about your pecker. I need some recovery time from your raw thrusting power.”