Surviving Broken(5)
Shayla shrugged her shoulders in disbelieve. “JC, you do realize that you had a fantastic time at the wedding. Every time I looked at you, you were laughing and smiling. Not to mention you danced all night long with him. And I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but judging by the kiss I witnessed in the kitchen, you probably had great sex too.”
“Good dancer, great kisser and the sex was so-so, but that’s not the point. Can’t you see I’m in a dilemma here,” JC murmured tersely.
“Why is it so hard for you to admit you like him?” Shayla pulled the plug, letting the sudsy water drain, wrapped a towel around Thomas and handed him off to JC. “And what’s the big deal about bringing Luca here for breakfast? Besides, Tracy said he’s nice.”
“I need code-enforcement right now, Shayla, not a slap on the wrist.” She dried Thomas’s hair, swaying back-and-forth with him in her arms, inhaling the scent of lavender baby shampoo. “I do like him. You don’t understand! I have a weakness for Italian men, and I always get screwed.”
“I’m sure you do.” Shayla snickered with a wry smile, lifting Richard from the tub. “Quit swaying back-and-forth, JC, you’re putting him to sleep.” She pointed to the brown outfit laid out for Thomas on the counter and JC started dressing him.
“European men seem to cast a spell on me. It’s horrible. I have a hard time getting rid of them. And I don’t like bringing people to Tom’s. You know how he feels about his privacy.”
“News flash JC. You spent the night with him and you’re worried about trusting him enough to bring to your parents’ home. I’m pretty sure Tom can handle it.”
“You’d think so, but trust me, it doesn’t always work like that. Do you remember Anthony? I know Tom wasn’t mad at me, but he was pissed when he found out Anthony posted pictures online of him sleeping shirtless on the couch.” JC huffed out a laugh. “I still think he was gay.”
Shayla raised her eyebrows with speculative wonder.
“No, I didn’t sleep with him.”
Shayla sat on the edge of her bed. She kept an eye on the boys as they stood on stools in front of the bathroom counter pretending to shave with popsicle sticks and combing their blonde hair.
JC sat beside her, flopping straight back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.
Shayla blew out a big huff of air and flipped her long blonde hair behind her ear. She gnawed on her lip, glancing down at JC. “I can’t believe I’m going to admit this to you.”
JC’s jade green eyes widened, drooling with curiosity.
“You have to promise you’re not going to give me any shit over this, okay? I know how you are about your….rules, but I don’t want to hear one word from you. Not one joke! Not one sarcastic remark! Zipped lips! Promise?”
JC jolted straight up on the bed. “I promise.”
Her sister-in-law raised her hands, covering her mouth. “I slept with your brother the first night we met.”
JC lurched forward, grabbing Shayla’s hands. “Shut up! You did not!”
Shayla’s cheeks turned crimson as she nodded.
Searching her memory, JC’s mouth hung open in surprise. The giggles began. “That was the day we all flew to Greece for Mom and Tom’s wedding.”
Shayla nodded with an innocent chuckle.
“You little hooch! Here I thought you were so perfect.” JC recalled the day nearly six years ago. “Oh, my God, did you have sex with him on the plane ride from Las Vegas?”
“No!” Shayla objected. “No. Remember, we all went to dinner that night at the café on the beach. We strolled through the village and stopped for coffee. Greece is so romantic and it was the first trip for both of us. God, he made me so nervous I could barely think straight. Anyway, we came back to the house and drank a bottle of wine.” Shayla’s blue eyes twinkled when she giggled. “Neither of us had really drank wine before. One thing led to another and—”
“And why am I just now finding out about this?”
Shayla shrugged. “It was a little weird the next morning. You know, me being Tom’s niece. My uncle was about to become John’s step-dad.” Changing the subject, she asked, “Do you like him?”
“Yes, I like him.” JC confessed. “He’s very charming. Almost too charming. Plus, he’s gorgeous, isn’t he?”
“If you go for the charming, slightly arrogant, good looking kind. Then yeah, he’s gorgeous.”
“I’ve never met an Italian man that isn’t arrogant. Oddly enough I think that’s why I’m attracted to them.”