Page 35 of Deadly Conflicts

“I think that happens to everyone,” Jake said, brushing Ally’s hair away from her face. “When I was twenty-two I thought the only reason to love someone was because you had to once you reached a certain age.

“That’s not exactly true,” he continued. “I thought you married someone because you had to. I didn’t think love – real love, at least – actually existed.”

“And now?”

“Now I love you more than I ever thought possible,” Jake replied, not missing a beat. “I wish I could go back in time and shake younger me. I would let him know what an idiot he is.”

“Oh, that’s not a good idea,” Ally said. “If you wake younger you up to the possibility of love, he might find it with someone else.”

“That’s not possible, Ally,” Jake said. “I think I was made to love you. No one else will do.”

“Oh, that’s a really good answer,” Ally said, grabbing his naked butt and squeezing. “My hangover is cured. Get over here and wake me up properly.”

Jake laughed as he rolled on top of her, pressing his lips to hers and cringing when the front doorbell rang.

“Ignore it,” Ally ordered.

Jake tried to do just that, but when the bell rang three times in quick succession he jerked his head in the direction of the front of the house and swore under his breath. “I’ve got twenty bucks that says Grady is here,” he said. “He’s the only one who does that doorbell thing.”

“Ignore him,” Ally whined. “Come on. I’m ready for you to worship me.”

Jake snickered as he rolled off of Ally and grabbed her pink robe from the floor. “I’ll get rid of him and be back in two minutes. Do not get dressed.”

“I’m timing you,” Ally said, jutting her lower lip out. You’re going to be sorry if you’re not careful.”

“Oh, angel, I have no intention of being sorry,” Jake said, cinching the fluffy pink robe around his waist. “I’ll be right back. Don’t move.”

Ally smiled as he darted out of the room, momentarily wondering how many men would have the inner strength to answer the door in a woman’s robe. As for Jake, he was a bundle of angry energy when he threw open the door.

“This had better be good, Grady,” he groused. “I was in the middle of something important.”

Instead of Grady, he found two older faces staring back at him. Unfortunately, he recognized them both.

“Hello, Jake!” Rose Hardy, Ally’s mother, drew him in for a big hug the moment she saw him. “I can’t tell you how glad I am to see you.”

“Me, too,” Jake said, his mouth going dry. “I … um … Mr. Hardy.”

Louis Hardy wasn’t nearly as tickled to see Jake in his daughter’s robe. “Jake,” Louis said. “You’re here awfully early this morning.”

“Oh, Louis, leave the boy alone,” Rose said, slapping her husband’s hand. “They’re living together now.”

“You told me, but I chose to forget it,” Louis said. “That’s my baby.”

Baby.Jake rolled the word through his mind and internally cringed. “I … were we expecting you?”

“Nope,” Rose replied. “We like to surprise our children so they don’t have a chance to cover up what they’re doing before our arrival.”

“Uh-huh.” Jake was completely thrown for a loop. “Um … Ally!”

“Where is my little darling?” Louis asked, pushing past Jake and walking into the living room. “I’m dying to see her.”

“She’s just getting up,” Jake explained. “We were at a festival last night. She was up late and needed her sleep.”

“What’s going on?” Ally asked, appearing in the doorway wearing nothing but Jake’s T-shirt. “I thought you were going to get rid of Grady and wake me up good and proper?”

“Oh, dear,” Rose intoned.

Ally’s cheeks turned crimson at the sound of her mother’s voice and when she shifted her attention to the other side of the room and found her parents staring back she was mortified. “Omigod!” She jerked the T-shirt down to make sure everything was covered and then scampered in the direction of the bedroom. Everyone could hear her screeching as she slammed the door.

Jake, for lack of anything better to do, tightened the sash on the robe and plastered a bright smile on his face. “So, who wants coffee?”