“Smooth,” Claire says as we close the study door upon exit. Jameson nearly had a fit when we tried to sneak outside, so we opted for the study to pacify him. “Just relax. He’s the same guy. You’re the same girl.”
“The cake?” I ask. She nods and gives me a thumbs-up as she heads for the kitchen and casually nabs the pink cardboard box, lifts it, and takes it down the hall to my bedroom. Thank God for sisters. Seriously. It was only a matter of time before somebody peeked in the box and mocked me endlessly for it.
Jameson lifts his chin, and a teasing smile forms on his lips. Yep, I look like an idiot just standing here untangling my fingers from my hair. I’m so busy fighting with my broken thumb nail caught in my hair that I don’t see him approach. Not seeing him is like some kind of freaking miracle. I always know where Jameson is. And I always know what he’s wearing. If he’s tired or distraught. The only thing I can’t ever figure out is what he’s thinking. He hasn’t pulled away since the scene at the firehouse, but he is guarded and shuts down any conversation about the case that Detective Capriotti is now taking very seriously.
“Let me.” His voice is smooth and his breath is a mix of sweet and tangy from the whiskey I stocked specially for him as he frees my stranded thumb in a few swift moves.
“My hero,” I say and quickly tear away the offending nail tip and shove it in my pocket. The last girl Hennessey hooked up with worked in a nail salon, and she told me I should try growing out my nails. As it turns out, they’re not strong enough to withstand daily scrutiny. I need to just give it up and go back to keeping them short. And figure out how to get Hennessey off the whore train and onto the Dani train. I don’t know the chick, but he likes her, and that means something.
“I got a head start while you were telling Claire how you’re in love with me,” he says and takes a pull of his beer. I fight the urge to look up at him and try to focus around the open room.
I’ve always loved how bright and open my parents’ beach house is. It’s only now that he’s standing here practically hovering over me that I’m finding the place too big. Too big and too crowded. Bailey and Rae are sharing my parents’ bedroom, with Claire in her room, and Royal and Jack each taking up a spare bedroom. Hennessey lost the toss-up with Jack and is surfing the couch tonight. He swears he doesn’t mind, but I still feel bad that there’s not enough rooms. It would be a miracle to have the whole family here if it weren’t for the fact that since they’ve all been targeted, Chief Delgado put them on a few days’ administrative leave.
“Hate to break it to you, but that’s old news,” I say teasingly. He drops an arm around my shoulder, kisses the top of my head, and leads me through the living room and past the dinning nook into the kitchen, where Royal has designated herself the bartender.
“Mel,” she shouts upon our approach and raises a half-empty bottle of whiskey with a smile. She’s got a full setup of shot glasses just waiting for us. When Jameson’s arm slips off my shoulders and he places his hand at the small of my back, I realize how desperate I am for something to numb the intensity of the feelings I have for him. I really, really need to have sex with my boyfriend.
“I told Jay he couldn’t have more than three shots of whiskey before you even got one in or he’ll be way too drunk for, ya know . . .” She leaves it at that but wiggles her brows and smirks.
“Huh?” I say quietly, pretending I don’t know what she’s talking about. Jameson and I didn’t discuss this—how to tell people we’re together—but Royal seems to have caught on to the change in our relationship anyhow.
“Don’t play me,” she says. “The two of you are way too happy to not be together. Plus, I conveniently caught wind of the sleeping arrangements. Everyone has an assignment except for Jay, and our parents weren’t invited. I guess you’re not up for having wild monkey sex with Mom and Dad under the same roof.”
“Aren’t you a firefighter, not a detective?” I ask and try to force the blush from my cheeks. Clearing my throat, I turn the tables and give her a knowing smile. “Unless the good detective is rubbing off on you?”
“The only thing that insufferable asshole is rubbing off is himself.”
“Thanks, that’s an image I don’t need,” Jameson says and wraps his arms around my waist as he moves to stand behind me. I could probably kick everybody out and put them up at a nearby hotel or maybe just drag Jameson into the bedroom with me. I focus to keep my hands from shaking at the idea of being intimate with him. I love him. It shouldn’t be this intimidating. He reaches around me and grabs a shot glass full of whiskey. I follow his lead and so does Royal.