JC’s blood boiled. Her shoulders held rigid, ready to jump over the counter and pummel the bitch. “Get it fucking straight. I’m not his date. I’m his girlfriend, honey.”
The dark haired woman was sober enough to back step, but the other was running on liquid courage, scoffing at JC’s obvious outrage. “You better enjoy him while you can. Once a Texan, always a Texan. He’ll be movin’ home when he’s through with you. You wait and see.”
A muscle jumped in JC’s jaw. In three long strides, she stood six inches from the blond, glaring down at her perfectly etched face now heated red from annoyance. A wave of fury clouded her logic as her temper boiled over. “If Reed moves back to Texas, you can bet I’ll be at his side,” JC snarled though gritted teeth.
The woman bobbled, a frosty glare of doubt clouded her eyes.
“You can say whatever you want about me, but if I ever,”—JC quavered all over, lowering her face even closer, gaining the woman’s full attention. “ever hear you say one bad word about his wife again, I’m gonna find a shovel and bury you in a hole beside her.”
She stood frozen with her back against the counter, staring up at JC through bloodshot eyes.
It took every ounce of self-control for JC not tear her limb from limb.
Both women’s wide-eyed gape now focused beyond JC toward the kitchen archway.
Shaking with rage, she cringed inwardly. JC didn’t need to look. She knew it’d be Reed standing behind her. Slowly she inched away from the woman’s sobering face. A rush of embarrassment flooded over her. JC wasn’t sure how much he’d heard, but the scenario looked bad. She’d never attacked anyone and couldn’t manage the courage to even look at him.
A baby cooed, filling the stale air and capturing JC’s attention.
Jenny stood beside her with both babies slung on her hip. Their eyes locked. Jenny stepped between them, her steady gaze drifted back and forth examining the situation, locking firmly on JC.
“I—”
“JC, would you mind taking the baby?” Jenny nodded toward the hall, coddling Annie on her left hip and handing Andrew off to her. “The nursery is third door on the left.”
JC automatically reached for the boy. “But, I—”
“I need to escort my sister-in-law and her friend out and find them a ride home.”
Shit! As if things couldn’t get any worse the woman she’d nearly ripped in half was Sam’s sister. JC settled Andrew on her hip. Her eyes fell to the floor then back at Jenny, giving a small mortified shake of her head. “I’m sorry.”
Jenny caressed her baby girl’s arm, giving JC a small appreciative nod toward the hall again. “You’re fine, hun. I’ll be in, in just a minute.”
JC snuggled Andrew higher on her waist and wiggled her fingers at Jenny, indicating she could manage both babies. Jenny looked doubtful of JC’s babysitting skills.
“My brother and his wife have twins. I helped out a lot.”
Jenny still appeared hesitant, refusing to relinquish Annie.
“Oh, for crying out loud, I wouldn’t ask for her if I didn’t know what I was doing. I’m good with babies.”
Jenny settled the baby girl on JC hip.
Annie clung to her brother with a big yawn.
JC’s frayed nerves calmed as she ambled toward the nursery, never bothering to look back.
****
Andrew and Annie lay snuggled sound asleep, on each shoulder. JC hummed softly while gently patting their backs, rocking back and forth in the cozy rocking chair. The scent of chamomile in a nearby plug-in practically put her to sleep.
Jenny quietly entered the room, lifting the sleeping babies one by one and placing them in their cribs. JC rose to her feet with a stretch, moving toward the edge of the crib.
Jenny spoke in a hushed voice. “Reed was lookin’ for you. I told him you were helpin’ me put the babies down.”
“Thanks,” she whispered uneasily, adjusting the lightweight cotton blanket over the baby girl. “I guess I should apologize, I didn’t realize she was Sam’s sister. I just—”
“Honey, don’t you worry bout a thing. She had it coming.” Jenny kept her eyes locked on the crib, but a small grin of satisfaction and envy tucked into the corner of her lips. “I’ve been wantin’ to tell that woman off for years.”
“Does Sam know?”
“Umm hmm. He found someone to take her home after he gave her a talking to.”
“Great.” JC hung her head in shame.
“Don’t think twice bout it. Everyone knows how she is.” She gave an unapologetic shake of the head. “The only reason anyone puts up with her here is because she’s Sam’s baby sister and the fact their daddy is loaded.” Jenny motioned to a quieter location in the corner of the nursery with a rocking chair and loveseat. “That woman’s just jealous. She always had the hots for Reed and every other handsome man with means.”