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I STOOD IN THE SHOWER, letting the hot water cascade down my back. Steam filled the bathroom as happiness filled my heart. It had been a long time since I’d felt so elated, this high on life. It was almost as good as the day I’d opened my coffee shop, but without all the stress of its potential failure.
Normally by now, I’d be second guessing the direction of this new relationship because things were going too well. I’d fret about how long it would last, almost betting against myself. Being a serial, ruined-relationship survivor does that to a person.
But with Joseph, I didn’t feel so cynical. I felt confident in the days ahead and looked forward to having him involved in every aspect of my life. He was good for me and it seemed, I was good for him.
Though we came from different worlds, in time our lives had meshed. My independence and lack of self-absorption was as much medicine for him as his honest and sincere camaraderie was for me. My heart felt whole again. Stitched back together by the tender thread of Joseph’s casual yet notable existence.
Deep down, I knew we were perfect for each other and nothing could come between us. Not even Caroline.
“Hey, Jamie.”
His deep voice broke through the happy fog of my roving thoughts. I peered out of the shower curtain and projected my voice so he could hear me. “Yes?”
“Candace made breakfast for us. You got time to stay?”
“Sure.”
“Everything’s okay at the coffee shop?”
I remembered I’d told Joseph I needed to call in, even though I hadn’t. “Oh, yeah. Things are fine. I can stay.”
“Perfect. I’ll wait for you.”
“I’ll just be a minute.” I squirted shampoo in my hand and lathered up. I washed my hair and body as quickly as I could. I dried off and stepped out of the shower. The mound of blankets lay on the bath mat. Crap. I forgot to bring in my clothes with me.
There wasn’t much chance Joseph hadn’t waited for me, but I wished this once he would’ve gone on down to breakfast. I wrapped a fluffy mint green bath towel around my body and laid my lips against the bathroom door.
“Joseph?”
“Forgot something, didn’t you?”
I tipped my head back and sighed, squirming my toes into the bath rug. “Yes...”
“I’ve got your clothes right here.”
I cracked the door open and peeked through. Joseph stood, casually leaning against the frame, with my clothes neatly folded on his palm. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.” I snatched them out of his hand and ripped the towel from my body, throwing it at him. I saw it wrap around his grinning face before I slammed the door.
“So not fair, Sutherland.”
I giggled and turned the lock for good measure.
I dressed as fast as I could and ran my fingers through my damp hair. I didn’t dare look in the mirror again for fear Joseph would call me out. When I stepped out of the bathroom, he lunged at me and pulled me into his arms.
“You think you’re something else, don’t you?” Joseph said huskily. He tickled my ribs to underscore his point. I wriggled out of his arms, our laughter knitting us together like a fuzzy, warm sweater. Yes, we were a great pair.
His hand clasped mine and he led me down the hall toward the kitchen, his smile still beaming.
“I think I heard my other sister downstairs. Her name’s Miranda. You’ll like her. She’s not as rude as Candace, but she’s twice as tough.”
I trotted down the steps with Joseph leading the way. To my surprise, he stopped at the base of the staircase, keeping me one step higher. I was eye level with his handsome face and a tremor of anticipation raced through me as he blocked my path. His long arms braced the wall at one side of me and the railing at the other.
“Don’t be nervous. Miranda’s harmless.”
I pretended to be nonchalant. “Okay.”
“I don’t want you to feel overwhelmed.”
“Why would I feel overwhelmed? I’ve already met Candace.”
“Yeah, but I should warn you. Candace is in a mood.”
“Because of me?” I hated to think I’d ticked her off by spending the night with her brother.
“Nah, she just gets this way every so often and for no good reason. Just do what I do. Ignore her.”
My stomach knotted up. If Candace was in a mood, I worried what she might have said about me to Miranda. It would be two against one, and I sucked at contact sports.
“Hey,” he soothed. “Don’t let Candace scare you. Trust me, her bark is worse than her bite.”
I tried to shake off my nerves and pep talked my wary self from inside the batter’s box. “Right. Okay. I can do this.”
His eyes shimmered like blue diamonds. “I know you can.” He draped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me off the step. Tugging me close against his side, we walked together into the kitchen where his two sisters sat at the table.
A hush came over them as we made our entrance, conjoined as if we’d been close all our lives. With the peculiar looks we received, I felt safer near him.
“Miranda, this is Jamie,” Joseph blurted out. “Jamie, Miranda.”
Miranda exchanged a surprised smile with Candace. I assumed she expected Caroline to accompany her brother.
“Please, call me Randi.” She stood to shake my hand across the table. “It’s nice to meet you.”
I extended my hand as well and, like Candace, calluses scraped against my soft palm. I tried not to get hung up on the fact that we came from totally different worlds. I only hoped she didn’t think less of me because my hands lacked the feel of rough sandpaper.
“Sit, please. Make yourself at home.” Miranda gestured toward an open seat.
Joseph and I chose the pair of chairs next to each other and sat down. I noticed the old fashioned china and silverware and realized they were the same ones used to set the table in the woods last night. Maybe that’s why she was in a mood. Her brother had “borrowed” them, just like he had the Christmas lights.
“Can I get you some coffee?” Miranda asked.
I dismissed my thoughts and played innocent. “Yes, please.”
“Me too, Sis,” Joseph called over his shoulder.
As Miranda rounded the table to get the coffee pot from the counter, I glanced in Candace’s direction. “And I appreciate you letting me stay last night.”
“It’s no trouble at all. You’re welcome to stay anytime.”
Okay, that was a good sign. It seemed Candace’s mood was not because of me. And it couldn’t have been from Miranda since all was well between them when we entered. That left only Joseph.
“So, what were you two doing in the woods so late?”
Oh, there it is. The bait. I squirmed in my seat and made myself busy. I took the napkin from under my place setting and laid it across my lap. I wondered how Joseph was going to break the news to her.
“Yeah, about that,” he began tentatively as Miranda poured coffee in both our cups.
“Save it, Joey. I already know what you did. And you better make sure those lights come down—today—or I’ll kick your ass.”
Miranda chuckled as she sat back down. “What lights is she talking about, Joseph?”
He rolled his eyes, but before he could answer Miranda, Candace out spoke him. “My Christmas lights. My china. And my brand new propane heater that Dad bought me. All carted off to his stupid treehouse down by the lake.”
I watched Miranda as she scooped a spoonful of scrambled eggs onto her plate, trying to gauge her reaction to Candace’s gripe session. “What was all that stuff for?”
Joseph first looked at me and smiled, as if he were recalling the wonderful night we had together, and then back at Randi. “I wanted to surprise Jamie with a special evening. Dinner for two at the place where we first got to know each other. But I wanted to make it something she’d never forget. Thus, the lights.”
As the food made its way around the table, I filled my plate, taking in the two sisters’ reactions. Miranda smiled with pride at her little brother, while Candace glared at him. I quickly determined that Randi often found delight in the off-the-wall things her little brother did, while Candace was not so approving. I figured it had a lot to do with the age difference.
Randi was much older, in her early forties, putting her as the sibling who had helped to raise the younger ones of the family. A mother hen. While Candace, on the other hand, was closer to Joseph’s age and probably had to compete with him all her life. Given he was the only son, I imagined he was a momma’s boy and could do no wrong, leaving Candace resentful growing up. It was obvious her bitterness carried over in her adult years.
“Call me curious, Jamie,” Miranda said as she spread her toast with jelly. “But what did my little brother make for dinner?”
I peppered my hash browns and passed the shaker to Joseph, meeting his gaze again. “Pizza. Carry out.”
Candace scoffed. “Real romantic there, Joey.”
“Hey, I was limited in my choices given the weather. Cut me some slack.”
Miranda chimed in and I was glad for it. I felt bad that Joseph was taking some serious heat for something he’d done for me. “Don’t you think you’re overreacting a little, Candace? I think what he did is cute.”
Candace piled her plate with bacon. “Cute? I don’t think so. He comes to my house on Wednesday, claiming he’s here to help me get things done on the farm, when all the while he’s stealing my stuff. He’s a regular con artist.”
“A romantic con artist it seems,” Randi insisted.
“You’d feel differently if he used your china and your Christmas lights.”
“I would’ve used Randi’s, but they’re all packed.” Joseph elbowed me gently, gaining my attention. He didn’t look at all concerned with Candace’s protests. I, on the other hand, was still trying to figure out my place in this discussion and what was appropriate for me to say on Joseph’s behalf, should I speak at all. “Randi’s moving out west.”
“Oh, how exciting,” I said, hoping to direct the conversation elsewhere.
“Yeah it is pretty cool. Spencer’s work is transferring him to Colorado, and I’ll be that much closer to my rescued ’stangs. My daughter, Evelyn’s not too happy about it, but the twins are. Henry and Hunter are like their father. Up for an adventure with no ties to hold them down.”
“How old is Evelyn?” I asked, eating my eggs first.
“She’s fifteen, so she’s pretty upset about leaving her high school and friends behind. But she’s a tough girl. She’ll adjust soon enough. I’ve heard they have a great school system out there.”
“Speaking of relocating, Joey,” Candace intervened. “I assume you’ll be relocating my Christmas lights from your treehouse to my house—today?”
“Yeeees, Candace,” Joseph droned. “I’ll even do one better. I’ll cut down a pine tree and set it up in your living room, lights and all. How’s that sound?”
Candace nibbled on her toast, pondering his offer. “Fine. But no mistletoe. You hang that crap up, I’m tearing it down.”
I nearly choked on my food hearing Candace be so direct and objectionable at the breakfast table. It’s no wonder the woman was single. I imagined Joseph was the only man alive who could deal with her prickly personality.
“Cross my heart, Ms. Scrooge.” He gave her shoulder a mild shove. “See? Little brother always takes care of you.”
“Shut up and eat.” Candace glanced at Miranda “And wipe that smile off your face. Don’t encourage him.”
Miranda kept smiling despite her sister’s reprimand. “I don’t think I’m the one encouraging him.”
All eyes, even Joseph’s, landed on me.
The weight of their stares caught me off guard. It was time for me to speak and God only knows how I found the words. “For what it’s worth, I can’t take credit for any of Joseph’s behavior, good or bad. But I did appreciate the lengths he went to surprise me with such a magical evening. No man has ever done that for me. And your lights and china were beautiful, Candace.”
“He’s never done that for anyone,” Randi added. “Not even Caroline.”
Candace cringed, setting her fork down as if the mere mention of Joseph’s ex ruined her appetite. “Really? Did you have to mention her name at my table?”
“Admit it. It’s nice to see Joseph go the extra mile for someone other than—”
“I got it,” Candace interrupted. “And, yes, I’m super thrilled my brother has finally come to his senses and found someone I can actually get along with. So there. I said it. I approve my brother’s choice of...”
Candace stopped and looked to Joseph for assistance.
I swallowed hard, wondering how he’d publically acknowledge me. I dabbed my napkin at the corner of my mouth and waited.
“Girlfriend,” Joseph finally stated matter-of-factly. “If that’s okay with Jamie.”
The term echoed in my head.
Girlfriend.
I drew in a deep breath, unprepared for the way Joseph punted the ball to my side of the field. Girlfriend.
Again, I heard it rattle around in my brain, though it did little to ease the weight of everyone’s stare. I tried to block them all out. How did I feel about being his girlfriend?
I made him laugh on a regular basis and he made me feel wanted and loved. So, at the present, I felt pretty darn good about it. I wanted to rejoice in the term he referred to me, but now wasn’t the time to be sappy.
Recollections of the night we first kissed came to mind and how we both stumbled on the right words to call what we planned a “date.” Almost verbatim, I chose the same phrase I said then and lifted my coffee cup in a toast. “I suppose we couldn’t dodge this bullet, if we tried.”
He picked up his cup and clinked it with mine. His free hand came up to my cheek and he leaned forward to kiss me. I froze, feeling the sweet demand of this man’s impulsive behavior. I almost forgot his sisters were still in the room.
“Okay. Now I’m officially grossed out.” Candace pushed her chair out and removed herself from the table to eat in the living room.
Joseph’s rumbling laughter tickled me, though I was still concerned that Candace was disgusted with me as well. I hated to think she cared for me as little as she had cared for Caroline.
To my surprise, she gave me a reassuring wink as she exited down the hall. “Remember Joey. No mistletoe or I’ll shove it where the sun doesn’t shine.”
