AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She was trying to listen to his sisters’ conversation, but Jarrett’s fingers, trailing up and down her side, were wreaking havoc on her concentration. She clamped her elbow to still him, but it only prompted him to kiss her ear.
“Maybe it’s time for us to go.” Ester dabbed her lips with a napkin. “Seems like Jarrett and Rylie need a little alone time.”
“But not in that master bedroom,” Maria said. “With colors like that, you’d have to be on drugs to get any action going.”
“I think that decorator was on drugs.” Savannah popped a cherry tomato in her mouth. “But I doubt Jarrett spends much time looking at the comforter when he could be looking at Rylie.”
“We’re only going to be here another few hours,” Gracie said. “I’m hoping Jarrett can hold out a little longer.”
Jarrett laughed. “I think my sister withfive kidshas no room to talk.”
“Knowing Gracie and Phillip, I’m surprised there aren’t six kids,” said Savannah.
“As a matter of fact…” Gracie let her voice trail off.
“Gracie! Are you expecting?” Maria’s jaw dropped open.
“We just found out,” she said. “That’s why I thought it would be fun if Rylie and I could be pregnant at the same time.”
The sisters converged on Gracie, shouting their excitement.
“Macon will turn six just before the baby comes. The kids are so excited,” said Gracie.
“Congratulations,” Rylie said, the thought that she would have to give Gabe up one day intruding on the happy moment.
“I want you to hear Gabe sing on his karaoke microphone.” Jarrett led the group back into the family room, but Rylie stayed behind to cover the snacks.
A hand touched her elbow.
“It’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”
Startled, she turned to face Gracie. “What did you say?”
“I saw your face when we were talking about having kids,” Gracie said. “Even if you can’t get pregnant, you can always adopt more children. It’ll be just as wonderful.”
“I’m only thirty-three. I know it’s riskier, but I should be able to get pregnant… when the time comes.”
“Yes, but I figured with Jarrett’s chemo and all…” Gracie’s voice trailed off.
“What about his chemo?”
Shuffling her feet, Gracie’s eyes grew wide. “It’s none of my business. I’m way too nosy for my own good. I don’t want you to regret being an Alvarez when you haven’t even been married for two months.”
“I don’t think you’re too nosy. I think you care about your family,” Rylie said, wondering how much damage Jarrett’s chemo had done to his reproductive system. It wasn’t the kind of topic that came up in casual conversation.
“I do care.” Gracie swiped at her watery eyes. “Stupid hormones. And you’re part of our family now, so I care about you, too.”
“Thanks.” Rylie returned Gracie’s bear hug with an awkward pat on the back. She shouldn’t get close to Jarrett’s sisters. It would only give her that much more to miss when the marriage ended. But maybe that was part of being vulnerable, like Brooke had said. “It’s nice to know you care.”
Long after Gabe was in bed, as she and Jarrett stood in the doorway, waving goodbye to his sisters, his arm snaked around her again. The moment the last car door shut, she twisted away from him. “Stop hugging me!”
“You don’t really mean that, do you?” He took a step toward her. “Didn’t you enjoy that little kiss on the neck last night?”
She backed toward the family room with her hands out to block him, her body shaking from adrenaline. Somehow, she had to get away.
“You said you would stop if I told you I didn’t like it. Well, I don’t like it!” Her voice quivered with emotion. She didn’t know what to do. Somehow she had to make it until Thursday, when she was scheduled to talk to Brooke again. “You have to stay away from me.”
“I promised I’d stop, and I did.” He was still standing by the front door, a hurt expression on his face. “I thought we were having fun, Rylie. You’re acting like you’re afraid of me.”
