Hard as Stone(67)
“Same chapter, same page, and same paragraph, Spitfire,” Jacob returned softly, meeting her eyes without fear. “Consider me warned.”
“Well, good.” Patience grinned with a wink. “Don’t fuck this up, Biker Boy. Bein’ loved by one of my sisters is about the best thing that could happen to a man. They’re fierce and funny and loyal. And as an extra bonus, you get a little bonus McKinnon thrown in the mix with Harmony,” she said, shooting a fond look toward her niece.
Following Patience’s gaze, he smiled at Heaven. “I’m gonna do my best. The one vow I will make you right now is that I’ll die before I allow them to be hurt again the way they were in the past.”
“Those are pretty words, but I’d rather see you back them up with actions. Oh, and do me a favor and make me one more promise. Rock my sister’s world tonight. After being married to the world’s biggest, most selfish douche on Earth, she deserves a good lovin’ touch.”
Lips twitching as he saw Zeke’s SUV turn in the driveway and slide into the slot behind his Harley, Jacob nodded. “That’s one promise that I’ll be happy to keep, darlin’.”
“Yeah,” Patience chuckled, clearly amused as she followed his line of sight to her sister climbing out of Zeke’s vehicle. “I gotta feelin’ that you’ll be all over keepin’ that promise, Biker Boy. Just remember, a condom a lay keeps the babies away,” she sang as she sauntered away from him.
Chapter Twenty-one
It was over an hour later before Jake was able to come up with a way to get Zeke and the rest of the men alone without being overheard by any of the women. Thankfully, each of them were now consumed with either the task of cleaning up after the meal or organizing the rest of their afternoon. They had unanimously decided over lunch that this was the perfect afternoon to paint his kitchen, not that he cared much. He fully intended that that room would eventually be Harmony’s domain anyway, and deciding whether canary or sunshine yellow was the more appropriate choice wasn’t exactly his idea of a good time. Besides, he could tell by the dark look that the Sheriff had carried on his face throughout the meal that the other man had something he needed to share. Sparing a moment to brush Harmony’s damp lips with his, he grinned.
“I think it’s about time for these boys to earn their lunch, baby. Have fun with the kitchen. Do whatever you think looks good, okay?”
Harmony wrinkled her nose as she began to argue. “But, Jake, it’s your kitchen. Don’t you wanna have a little input into the way the room is going to look?”
“Baby, if it was left up to me, we’d leave the walls the way they are in there,” he said just to needle her. Truthfully, the walls were as ugly as sin. Anything she and her sisters decided would be a vast improvement.
“You are such a man.” Harmony rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Those walls are avocado, Jacob. In other words, the nastiest shade of green known to man,” she said flatly, barely suppressing a shudder. “They’re hideous. No kitchen should have avocado walls. Ever.”
“Then it’s a really good thing that you and your sisters are taking over the kitchen renovations, isn’t it?” he asked with a wink before he stole another kiss and rose from his seat. “Just make sure you don’t tire yourself out. Patience mentioned that we have a free evening together, Ms. McKinnon, and I know just how I intend to fill it,” he murmured against her ear, enjoying the way her breath seemed to catch at his innuendo.
Jerking his head toward the garage, he called to the group of men still seated around the picnic table, “Hey, you guys wanna help me carry the carpet up to the bedroom? Between the five of us, it shouldn’t take long to knock out the rooms I wanna get done today.”
“Sounds good,” Zeke agreed, meeting Jacob’s gaze and exchanging a look with him.
Leading the way into the shadowy garage, Jacob hit the light on the wall as Zeke’s boots echoed against the concrete floor on the mostly empty space. “We’re alone in here. It’s safe to talk. It’s obvious something happened, so talk,” Jake ordered, not wasting any time as Zeke and the rest of the men faced him, their faces tight. Obviously he wasn’t the only one that had noticed Zeke’s grim attitude during the meal. Each man looked concerned as they focused their attention on the Sheriff.
“Time is up, Agent Stone. He’s here,” Zeke informed him bluntly, his dark eyes boring into Jacob as he came to a stop in the center of the garage. “Tanner Suarez is back in town.”