“Why are you even working?” Liz asked. “Shouldn’t you be turning the reins over to your new manager and getting your sweet ass over to the new place?”
She shrugged. “It’s Mick’s first game and I wanted to be here. The new place is coming along fine, and Dave needed help so I just stepped in to assist behind the bar, then I got sucked into chatting with the regulars. Old habits die hard, ya know.”
“What new place?” Savannah asked.
Jenna turned to her. “Hi, Savannah. I’m so used to just launching myself into the middle of a family conversation I forget you might not be used to it.”
“It’s no problem,” Savannah said with a laugh.
“Good. You kind of have to get used to that with this family. Anyway, I’m so glad you could make it tonight. Cole told me he’d be bringing you.”
“He did?”
“He did,” Jenna said with a waggle of her brows. “In answer to your question, I’m opening a new club. A music club. Well, kind of a music club. More of an open-mike kind of place, where people can come in and show their stuff.”
Savannah caught the excitement in Jenna’s eyes, the way she wriggled in her chair when she talked about the club. “How thrilling for you. It sounds like a unique place, and a lot of fun. I can’t wait to check it out when it opens.”
Jenna grinned. “Thank you. I’m pretty stoked about it. Of course at the same time I’m also planning my wedding. Nothing like a little massive juggling.”
“Hey, that’s why you have family. So we can help you,” Tara said.
“Please. You’re busy being pregnant.”
Tara rolled her eyes. “And that makes me, what? Incapacitated? Brain-dead? Incapable of doing what I do best? For your information, I can be pregnant and plan your wedding at the same time. The baby is due in January and your wedding isn’t until late next year. By the time this little one arrives, I’ll be up on my feet again and ready to take care of the final details.”
Liz looked over at Savannah. “She thinks she’s some kind of superhero. We all think she’s insane.”
“I don’t know,” Savannah said. “She looks pretty capable to me. I’ll bet she can handle it.”
Tara nodded. “See? Savannah believes in me.”
“Oh, I believe in you, honey,” Jenna said, patting Tara’s hand. “I just don’t want you to overdo it. Isn’t it enough to have a new baby to take care of?”
“Mom and Liz and you will help. I’ll have plenty of people to help with the baby, and God knows Mick will be all over that baby when he or she arrives. So, see? I’ll have plenty of time to deal with the wedding.”
By the time Cole came back to drag her out of the chair, she was immersed in wedding and baby talk and reluctant to leave.
“Hey,” Jenna said. “Where are you going with Savannah?”
“It’s halftime, Miss None-of-your-business. I’m taking her outside for a walk.”
“Sure you are,” Liz said. “Will we see her again tonight?”
Cole laughed. “Yes. I promise to bring her back.”
He directed her toward the back of the room, his lips near her ear. “The women will suck you into their vortex of female talk and soon I’ll lose you forever. Next thing you know, Jenna will hook you into to helping her with the music club.”
“I am very good at PR and image building, you know. I could offer her some assistance.”
“Don’t tell her that. She’ll sink her claws into you and never let you go.”
She laughed as he led her out the back door and into the garden. There were tables set up, places for people to eat and drink overlooking a lovely garden with trees and flowers. Of course no one was out here tonight since there was a game going on. Inside it was raucous. Out here, it was peaceful and quiet. Such a night-and-day difference.
“This is nice.”
“It’s still hot outside, which is why no one is out here. Well, that and the game, of course.”
“Of course. And I see Mick’s team is doing well.”
“They are. Up by fourteen points at the half.”
She turned to face him. “And did you lead me out here to give me a score update?”
He laughed. “No. I wanted you all to myself for a minute or two.”
“Really? And why is that?”
He gave a quick glance at the door, then pushed her up against the wall. “For this.”
His lips met hers and she wound her fingers into his hair. They hadn’t touched tonight and she missed the contact. Now, as his tongue touched hers, her body ignited in passion. Maybe it was because his family was only a few feet away—crowds of people who could walk outside any moment. The thrill of the forbidden, perhaps, or maybe it was because she craved his mouth on hers and his hands on her body, but she swept her hands over his shoulders and down his arms, wishing they were at her place or his so she could have him right now.
When he pulled away, the half-lidded look of his eyes and the hard breaths he expelled told her he felt the same way.
“Damn, I wish we were alone right now,” he said as he gripped her hips and pulled her against him. His erection made her clit throb.