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“Which means Seth is free to make a move,” Jess taunts, her blue eyes sparkling.
Marshall’s dark brows raise. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You don’t want to know,” I say dryly.
“He wants to marry Jenna,” Jess says far too gleefully. “And I gave him my permission. Because, you know, I’m the one who gets to decide who I want for a sister-in-law since I only get one on that side of the family. I also said they’d make cute babies, and that’s a huge bonus.”
Heat crawls into my cheeks as Marshall laughs. It’s not like I haven’t thought about having children with Jenna, but being on the receiving end of all this teasing is not my favorite pastime. Especially when I’m the one sitting across from perpetually-on-their-honeymoon Marshall and Jess, and they get to interrogate me. There’s a reason I’m the one doing the interrogating in my day-to-day work.
I will say the idea of seeing Jenna with a baby that is hers and mine is an image I could get used to. I know what she looks like when she’s pregnant, and she’s just as drop-dead gorgeous as she is right now. I only hope there wouldn’t be the sadness in her eyes like when she was expecting Eli and her marriage was falling apart, because I have no intentions of being like her ex in any area of our relationship. Pete might’ve shown a little vulnerability tonight. That doesn’t mean I trust him.
“We got an email from J & J Architecture today,” Marshall says, swiftly changing the subject. I’m not sure which one I like better—discussing my love life or discussing my absent father’s company. “Apparently they’re indecisive about if they want to pursue the condo project in Balsam Falls or not.”
I shake my head. “Oh, for God’s sake. They need to stop dragging it out. Do it or don’t do it, but just make a damn decision. It’s not that difficult. Was the email from Jude?”
Jess tenses. A year ago, it would’ve been because I referred to our father by his first name. Now it’s because I know she’s concerned he’ll show up out of the blue to meet his grandchild, and for Jess’s sake, I really hope he doesn’t. He hasn’t made any effort whatsoever to see Jess or myself in over two decades. I’m not interested in seeing him intrude during a sacred time in life for my little sister. She might be married now, but that doesn’t mean I’ll ever stop being protective of her. If there’s one similarity between Marshall and I, it’s our mutual protectiveness regarding Jess.
Marshall shakes his head. “No. It was someone from the Omaha branch. We haven’t heard a word from Jude since the email he sent with the contract, whenever that was. I’m pretty sure it’s more of a game than anything else. But, as an architect, I have to admit that I would be sort of intrigued to do the project. And we’d get to provide more jobs, so I’m not against it. I’d just like to have a decision made.”
“I don’t see why they can’t make one,” I say with a scowl. “Based on what I’ve researched about the company, they’re one of the fastest growing architectural firms in the Midwest. I think, from a business standpoint, it would be a wise move to partner with Bryant Bros. since you guys have the highest demand for clients in this area.”
“Yeah, until it gets out that one of the founders—who nobody knows about—is the father-in-law to one of the co-owners of Bryant Bros.,” Jess says. “Then they’d have a bit of a scandal on their hands.”
Marshall purses his lips. “Is it wrong of me to want that?”
Jess kicks him in the shin, but I doubt it had much impact. Marshall doesn’t even flinch. “Yes, it is wrong, because thenyourbusiness would be in the hot seat too. We don’t need that.”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I agree with my sister.” I brace myself for Jess’s squeal, allow it to bust my eardrums, and then continue. “That was a one-time thing, though. Agreeing with you.”
“I doubt it. Now that you’re in the boat with us lovebirds, you’ll probably realize a lot of what I say is true,” Jess says, patting Marshall’s chest. “But you’ll have to excuse me, because I have to pee really bad.”
Because Marshall is the definition of doting husband, he stands to help Jess to her feet. And sneaks in a couple kisses before releasing her to go inside, but I don’t miss how his eyes follow Jess all the way through the door. I pretend he keeps them on the smile she casts over her shoulder, but let’s be honest, he doesn’t. This is Marshall Bryant we’re talking about. He’s as openly affectionate and appreciative of his wife as a Golden retriever is to its master. Realistically speaking, he’ll be the guy who still makes cheeky comments and pinches her butt when he and Jess are in their eighties and they have grandchildren or great-grandchildren watching and listening.
Marshall lowers back onto the swing. “She really doesn’t want your dad to show up.”
The upside to Marshall’s retriever-like tendencies is that he’s also fiercely loyal and protective. “I know. Believe me, I’ve thought about that more than I’d like to admit.”
“You probably don’t want to know how many times I’ve been tempted to call Jude and give him a little—no, a lot of food for thought.” Marshall glances at me, his dark eyes serious. “I don’t want to assume the worst or predict anything. That’s not my intent. But I just don’t have a good feeling about it, especially now that we’re less than three months from her due date.”
I fill my cheeks with air, then exhale. “Yeah, neither do I.”
Chapter Forty-Three
Jenna
Thanks to what I found in my car this morning when I left for work, I’m now one of those people who carries their keys around with them everywhere. Is that a thing? No? Well, I’m making it one. As of today, July eighth, it’s a trend to carry your keys around everywhere you goandleave them in a visible location.
Right now, they’re on the table in front of me as we sit in a room at the police station with Braeden and Sam Langford.
Why, you ask?
Because there was a keychain taped to my steering wheel that saysDrive Safe, I need you here with meon it, and it made me realize two things: I really love Seth Johnson, and I should probably lock my garage doors. I mean, Seth doesn’t lock his house, but the fact that he snuck into my garage sometime between when he left last night at quarter to ten and when I got up this morning at six is both endearing and, if it had been anyone else, a little creepy.
Oh. I forgot to mention that I know it was from Seth because there was also a pale-yellow sticky note that saidI love you! – Sethon the steering wheel. Which is why I’m glad I know which cruiser is Seth’s thanks to his badge number on the front bumper.
But right now, I shouldn’t be concentrating on my new prize possession staring at me, nor should I be distracted by the look Seth has given me a couple times in the past ten minutes. It’s this soft, secretive half smile that just barely appears before disappearing again, but I love it. Why? Because it’s top secret, only for me, and that might be even better than my keychain.
As it turns out, Braeden and Sam are an adorable power couple. I can easily picture Braeden in a uniform like the one Seth’s wearing, and I imagine his relaxed smile as they converse could turn intimidating on the flip of a dime. He’s a little shorter than Seth but just as physically fit, and his neatly trimmed dark hair compliments his angular jaw and hazel eyes. He has a tattoo around his muscled left forearm, but I can’t make out what it says.
