“Oh, good Lord.” Jake heard whispers from the doorway. Turning his head, he saw Honor first, her small hands clutching the doorframe as Patience and Faith stood behind her, snickering.
Clapping his hands over Heaven’s ears, Jake looked desperately toward the women. “I will give you everything in my bank accounts if you’ll forget you heard any of that.”
“Oh, would that I could,” Honor whispered, shaking her head and grimacing as she gaped at him, her mouth moving furiously even though no further words came out.
“Oh, I can’t wait to tell Cain this one.” Faith giggled, already tapping away on the phone in her hand. Evidently, the other sister had shown up while he’d drifted off. Great. Just perfect.
“Seriously? A pig?” Patience smirked, wriggling her eyebrows. “Now, a cat in heat, I could have understood, but a pig? That’s just kinky, Jake.”
Uncovering Heaven’s ears, Jake sighed and ran a hand down his face. Clearing his throat as he lifted one finger toward the group, he murmured, “I can explain.”
“Please, I beg you. Don’t,” Honor said with a wild shake of her head, holding out her hand to Heaven. “C’mon, sweetie. Aunt Honor will get you some breakfast. How do pancakes sound?” she asked brightly.
“Mmmm….pancakes!” Heaven yelled enthusiastically, all thoughts of the farmer or his dell fleeing as she hopped out of Jake’s lap and ran toward her aunt, tagging her hand and pulling her toward the stove.
Watching as Heaven and Honor disappeared back into the kitchen, Jake stared into Patience’s dancing eyes. “Not a word, Spitfire. You could have helped me out back there,” he complained, his eyes glaring at her.
“Why? You’d already dug the hole. All I did was add a little dirt to it,” she said with a shrug. “Besides, while you’re gettin’ lucky at night, I’m stuck with a man that I wouldn’t spit on if he was on fire. You really think I’m not gonna enjoy a little fun at your expense?”
“You are an evil women, Patience,” he stated quietly even though his lips twitched. “A truly evil woman.”
“Aw, nice of you to notice. A lot of men don’t realize that until it’s entirely too late. You should be proud to be one of the few,” she returned with a wink, spinning on her heel and walking back into the kitchen with a light step.
Groaning as he collapsed back against the couch, he heard footfalls on the stairs and watched as Harmony’s shapely legs appeared one step at a time. Frowning when he finally got a full view of her, from the toes of her fuck me black heels to the top of her elegantly coiffed hair, he shook his head. Rising quickly, he moved to stand in front of her, bracing one hand on either side of the doorway as he took in her pencil thin navy blue skirt and fitted silk shirt. “Where the hell is it that you think you’re going, Harmony, because you sure as hell aren’t dressed for a day at home?”
Chapter Forty-four
“I think that’s obvious, Jake,” Harmony replied, ducking under his arm as she hurried toward the safety of the kitchen and her sisters. “I’m going to work,” she threw over her shoulder as her heels clicked against the hardwood floor.
Momentarily hypnotized by the sway of her ass beneath the skirt, Jake shook it off quickly before roaring, “The hell you are! Have you taken some kind of blow to the head that I don’t know about?” He stormed after her, trailing her into the kitchen. Nailing her with an intense glare, he shook her head. “There’s no way you’re doing this, Harmony. It’s not safe.”
Harmony continued pouring a cup of coffee with a steady hand.
“I mean it,” Jake growled. “It’s not happening.” He took a step toward her. “It’s too dangerous, darlin’. Tanner is…”
“Jake, close your mouth,” Harmony returned with a pointed look at where Heaven sat at the table, her fork making pathways into the stack of pancakes and syrup.
“I take it we’re doing this now?” Honor murmured from the kitchen table, looking between a furious Jake and a calm Harmony. “Ezekiel isn’t here yet, Harm.”
All eyes turned toward the back door as Cain and Abel ambled into the kitchen. “What’s going on?” Cain asked, looking between a fuming Jake and an immaculately dressed Harmony.
“Forget that,” Patience snapped, straightening at the counter where she stood. “Why’s he here?” She gestured toward Abel with her coffee mug. “I thought we agreed that I needed a timeout from your brother, Cain. In fact, you promised me that I could have six Abel-free hours if I’d promise not to cut his throat in the night with his own razor.”