Thirteen

M

icah hooked the chain on his side while Wade did the same on the other. He took a few steps back and stared at the swing they’d just hung on Jo’s porch, astonishment still coursing through him at how close it came to the one in his dream—not that his focus had been on the porch swing. No, his attention had been on the imaginary woman in his arms. And the only thing holding back the fantasy of kissing Jo from replaying in Micah’s head right now was the fact that her brother stood next to him.

Wade slapped him on the back. “It looks even to me, but if it’s a smidge off, one of the ladies will surely let us know. They’ll be out here eventually to add enough pillows to make it unusable for anything other than something to look at anyway.”

The last of Jo’s things had been delivered the day before and her whole family had shown up today to set everything in order to get ready for the housewarming party happening tomorrow.

Zane interjected from the side of the porch where he dug a hole for a hydrangea bush. “This is Jo we’re talking about.”

“Right. So no pillows, but all those cats have to have somewhere to lay.” Wade snickered and Zane joined in.

Micah didn’t get it. Wade had given Jo a t-shirt with a bunch of colorful cats printed on it this morning as an early housewarming gift, which she now proudly wore. Several comments about cats had floated around since then but as far as he knew, she didn’t own one.

“Pizza’s here.”

They all turned to look as the pizza delivery driver slowly made his way down the dirt road, his face practically pressed to the windshield.

Wade grinned and pulled his wallet from his back pocket. “Poor guy’s probably confused to find me here. He’s bound to have the way to my house memorized by now. I should probably check into company stock options. They’re making a killing off this family alone.”

Micah followed him out to where the delivery guy was already pulling a stack of pizza boxes from the back seat of his car. Micah reached for the pizzas. “Here, let me have them. I’ll take them to the house for you.”

Wade raised a brow as he thumbed through his wallet. “Fine but remind them that the oldest gets first pick. Otherwise, the good stuff will be gone before I get there.”

“Whatever you say, old man.” Micah grinned as he swung around to head toward the house. “I’ll tell them, but I can’t guarantee they’ll listen.”

Music filtered through the front door as he tapped against it with the toe of his sneaker. No telling who opened it because his attention zoomed in on the woman in the faded, bootcut jeans and cat t-shirt, her body swaying to the music as she smiled at his little girl in her arms.

He’d had a hard time harnessing his attraction for the woman when his mind kept taking him back to a week ago, lying next to each other with fingers woven and her warm palm pressed to his. No doubt his mind would collect this image along with the others of Jo already stored there. Beautiful, torturous images of a woman he couldn’t make his own. At least not presently.

She probably wouldn’t be interested even if you could pursue her.

Her gaze connected with his and her smile brightened. Pink colored her cheeks and those eyes—looked like interest shining there to him.

Or maybe she would.

The apartment Jo had lived in for the last six years had looked full, or as full as she’d wanted it to be. But once all of it got hauled here and put into place, the house looked half empty. Even with all the gifts piled around her, it wouldn’t be enough. Jo had some shopping ahead of her, but it’d have to wait. A long wait, at that. She’d depleted her savings and taken out loans, but it was so worth it. She loved her new home.

“Open this one first.” Rachel pushed a large cardboard box across the floor with her foot. “It arrived at my house by mistake three days ago, and I’ve been dying to know what it is and who it’s from.”

There was no return address and Jo came up blank as to who it could be from. Some of her work friends had handed her stuff, saying they couldn’t attend the party for whatever reason, but she couldn’t think of a soul who would’ve mailed her something.

She grabbed the scissors from the end table that Dani had so thoughtfully set there for this purpose and used the open blade to cut through the tape. Thin strips of crinkled paper covered whatever was inside. Piper dutifully opened the garbage bag she held, and Jo transferred most of it in one scoop.

Her stomach tightened as she looked down into the box. She lifted out a basket that held two bottles of wine along with two wine glasses, a plaid throw, snacks, and a card. After setting the basket on the floor, she took the card out and opened it. Jo had a feeling about who’d sent it, so she needed to act as natural as possible in front of her family.

For a star lit picnic at your new country home.

Love, Tage

Jo faked a smile and made a point of not looking at Ma or Belva. “It’s from one of my coworkers who couldn’t be here.

Because I didn’t invite him.

He’d insisted that they hadn’t been doing anything wrong when Ma saw them—an argument she couldn’t seem to counter. She’d settled into being cordial toward him for the sake of work. His attitude toward her had remained friendly without stepping over the line. Since he hadn’t said anything about him joining her for that star lit picnic, he’d stayed on the friendly side of the line. But it felt like he was hovering at the edge, breathing against her neck.

“Open Micah’s gift next. It arrived at the house weeks ago. We only got a peek to make sure everything was as it should be before I wrapped it for him, but I can’t wait to see the whole thing.” Mrs. Connor smiled as she pointed to the large box with blue wrapping paper. Then she looked to where the men were gathered around the kitchen island. “Micah, get in here. She’s going to open your gift now.”

The poor man’s cheeks actually turned rosy as he looked from Mrs. Connor over to Jo. He rubbed his palms against his jeans as he took the few steps toward the living room. Was he nervous? She couldn’t imagine what he would’ve gotten her, but she was excited to find out.

She ripped the blue paper away and cut through the tape keeping the box closed. Sheets of thick foam lined the entire box and when she lifted the top piece, foam peanuts covered whatever was inside. Jo scooped the peanuts out onto the floor like a dog searching for its lost bone. Her niece’s grumblings about the mess she had to pick up barely registered. Her fingers brushed against something hard and rough. The round edge of a vase poked out from the top. Jo slid her hands between the peanuts and the vase and lifted it from the box.

She carefully sat the heavy piece in her lap and tilted it to get a better look. Her jaw dropped as she ran her fingers over the muted blue glaze that was darker in some spots on the hand-crafted vase.

“It matches this living room suite perfectly.”

Jo wasn’t even sure who’d said it, but they were right. It was so her style, yet it was so him too.

“Your family has been talking about a housewarming for you ever since I moved here, so I knew it was coming. I remembered this potter in Tennessee who makes one-of-a-kind pieces, so I called and ordered this for you. Hope you like it.”

She looked up at Micah and realized her mouth still hung open. She licked her dry lips before speaking and his gaze dropped there. Pull it together. He’s going to think you’re flirting. Everyone will think you’re flirting. “It’s beautiful, Micah. I love it. Thank you.”

He nodded and walked back to the kitchen. The whole exchange seemed like nothing compared to the awe she felt, but it was for the best. Even now, she could feel the stares of her family and friends as they sniffed the air for the scent of a budding romance.

Rachel leaned close to her and whispered in her ear. “I bet he paid every bit of three hundred dollars, if not more, for that pottery.”

Surely not. Micah was a simple man with simple taste. He’d told her that he’d lived in a fifty plus year old trailer for years when he could’ve afforded better. And even now, he was living in an apartment that she’d bet some of the furnishing had been there for longer than that.

Her gaze followed the vase as Rachel took it from her to set on the built-in bookshelves surrounding the fireplace where they’d decided to showcase her gifts. A sigh deflated her chest at seeing it sitting there next to the gift Tage had sent her. A hard reminder of why she couldn’t set her heart on Micah, no matter how big the temptation.