My daughter giggles. “Nana and Papa sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g …” she begins to sing.
I reach over and cover her mouth with my hand before she gets another word out. I laugh nervously. “Lily’s daughter has been teaching her the darndest things.”
The guys begin setting the table, and I remove my hand, hoping Aspen is distracted enough to forget about her song.
“Cookies!” she squeals instead.
“Not until after you eat,” Jackson tells her.
She pouts and looks at me, hoping for a different outcome. “Daddy’s right. You need to eat some real food first.”
When she turns to Brody, he holds his hands up in the air. “Please don’t make me tell that sweet little face no.”
Everyone laughs, and Jenny finally relaxes a little.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Jenny
Raffe kissed me. He touched my butt, and then he kissed me.
It’s not the first time he’s done either of those things, but back then we were just two awkward teens. Now he’s a man.
Brody left right after supper; I could tell he was missing his family. Everyone else stayed, and we played cards. We used a deck that Bill had given to me. Playing cards was one of his favorite things to do.
Raffe and Jackson got a kick out of them because they had the old logo from his bar on the back. I made Jackson take them home with him. He said he and Willow had a closet full of games at home. The cards will make a nice addition to their collection.
I was happy to hear that Bill’s granddaughter, Billie Rose, and her husband still own the building. They’ve turned it into a custom bike shop.
I’ve been quiet all evening. I’m still so embarrassed that I lost touch with reality for a bit. They must think I’m crazy, but they did stay, so I guess I shouldn’t worry about it too much.
Jackson and I watch Raffe walk Willow and Aspen down the path. My son and his little family are heading home for the night.
“Are you okay that he’s staying?” Jackson asks, placing his hand on my back.
My heart is about to jump out of my body at the thought, but I put my best smile on for my son. “Yeah, yeah, it’s fine. I’m sure he has questions.”
“I can make him leave,” he deadpans.
It makes me chuckle while warming my heart at the same time. Jackson is very protective of his family, and it’s nice to be included in that. “I’ll be fine. He just caught me off guard earlier. I didn’t expect him to be so …”
“Weird,” Jackson finishes for me.
I run my fingers over my forehead. “That’s just it … it doesn’t feel weird at all.”
He gives me a shy smile. “Well, I’d be lying if it didn’t catch me a little off guard too. I hadn’t given much thought to what his relationship with you would look like.”
“We’ve only ever been friends, Jackson. Please don’t think there is more here than there is.”
“I know that, but …” Jackson shakes his head and looks away. “It might be hard for you to see it, but there’s something magical about the two of you. I mean, my god, neither of you look over thirty.”
“Oh Jackson.” I laugh.
“I’m not kidding. And after all you’ve both been through, well, it would have aged most people.”
I reach out and brush his hair out of his eyes. “You are something special, Jackson. I’m so thankful you’ve come into my life.”
He blushes. “So, you’re not going to admit you have a thing for Dad?”
