AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hmm.” I chuckle because Reece is over protective of his sisters, and to have Robin working behind the bar at Kix won’t go down too well.
Robin is the second youngest of the Kincaid siblings, and has just turned twenty-one. Her younger sister, by a year, Jessie, is also home from school, but thank God isn’t yet old enough to work at Ryder and Dahlia’s place. It’s not that easy for Reece to keep track of the oldest two
sisters, Sarah and Amanda, because they work away from here. The middle sister, Mara, is married to another of my best friends, Donovan.
Sighing, I agree, “I’ll talk to him.”
“Oh my God, really?” Robin jumps out of her chair and hugs me. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’m sure I can think of something in return,” I admit. “Maybe a night of babysitting.”
“I can do that,” Robin laughs. “I owe you big time.”
“He’ll have to agree first,” I add. “Although I don’t see why he wouldn’t. It’s only for a few weeks, right? And Ryder is going to be around to keep an eye on the place over the holidays this year.”
“Exactly, plus you guys are going to be there practicing for the charity concert, right? So what could go wrong?” Robin grins.
Thalia laughs. “Famous last words.”
Thalia
“You’re so gullible. It’s no wonder Reece’s sisters always come to you to calm their brother. They know you’ll always say yes.”
Jack shrugs and his eyes zero in on my legs as I wiggle my jeans up my thighs. The weather has turned colder than I’ve felt in a good few years so it calls for jeans, boots, and a sweater. As much as I love the warm weather, I look forward to winter, and more so after the forecaster has predicted a snowfall. I can’t wait to play outside with Jack and Leigh. Winter can join in for a sleigh ride, but she’ll be kept warm indoors.
“Are you sure we can’t just stay here?” Jack prowls closer in his sexy cowboy swagger that he has going on. I mean there’s nothing sexier to me than my husband in his jeans, shirts, and scuffed cowboy boots.
I move around the bed so that he can’t catch me. “You stay away for now. They’re expecting us.”
“I know.” Jack groans, and even though he tries to look miserable at the thought he doesn’t quite pull it off.
I laugh and shake my finger at him. “You can’t wait to start rehearsing at Kix, and don’t tell me otherwise.”
He grins. “Its been too long, Thalia. I had no idea that I missed getting up on stage until Ryder came to me with the request.”
“I know, honey.” I gently shove him backward so that he sits on the bed and I straddle his legs. Cupping his face, I kiss him, and add, “Raising money this way for the children’s home is a wonderful idea, and I’m so proud of you for agreeing to do this.”
“I was worried at first because my commitment is to you, always.”
I wrap my arms around his neck and hold him close. When he says things like that to me I feel my emotions get the better of me. I nuzzle into his neck. “I know, and you know that if you ever want to get back into your music like before, I’ll be there to support you.” I meet his gaze and feel my heart pound with the look on his face.
He shakes his head. “I do miss it, but I don’t want to go back to it like before. It tired me out, and now we have the kids, I want to be here with you and the girls. It’s not just where I want to be, it’s where I need to be. You know how much time it costs in rehearsals and then gigs. I don’t want that. You guys are too important to me to be away from you.” He smiles and brushes the hair from my face. “If you ask Reece and Donovan, they’d tell you the same. We’ve all moved on and it’s nice to do what we’re doing this Christmas as a one-off. I’m excited about it, but not excited enough to want it to continue.”
As I watch emotion cross my husband’s face, I hold him tightly and seal my lips over his. He’s so damn sweet that I wonder sometimes how I got so lucky.
“Am I going to get lucky?” Jack wiggles his brows.
I laugh and back off his lap. “Not yet, cowboy. What’s funny is that I was just wondering how I got so lucky to have you as my husband.”
His eyes fill with love before he smirks. “I think you need to show me.”
Rolling my eyes, I quickly leave the bedroom and jog downstairs, hoping that I don’t fall with laughter bubbling out.
“What’s so funny?”
The sound of Graham, Jack’s dad, pulls me up short. I’d forgotten that he was here with his wife, Stephanie. They’d come over to mind their grandchildren for the afternoon. “Your son.” I grin, and carry on through to the kitchen.
Ryder and Dahlia’s roadhouse is only opened Thursday through Sunday, so it’s the ideal place for the rehearsals and the concert itself.
