Jackson's Destiny (Sawyer Brothers #2) (14 page)

Chapter Thirty-Two

Jackson

I loved Sunday mornings. It was the one morning a week I was allowed to sleep in, and with Bailey snuggled up against me, those mornings were the best. Even better, Noah and Ryan took over the ranch for the week, giving me a much-needed break.

I tried to stretch, but my arm was numb from the weight of Bailey’s body resting on it. My chest was sweaty from where her cheek lay against me, and my legs felt hot as hell from where her bare thighs were curled around them. My right arm was the only part of me I could move, but I had never been happier. Instead of trying to readjust so I could move, I curled in tighter against her, because she was so sweet and cuddly when she slept.

“Mm,” she moaned as I kissed her forehead and weaved my fingers through her hair. I smiled at her deep intake of breath. “You smell amazing,” she whispered. “I love waking up like this in the morning. It’s one of my favorite things ever.”

She didn’t have to tell me; I felt the same way.

“Let’s stay like this all day,” she added. “Hide from everyone and just cuddle.”

Another great thing about Sunday mornings was that Bailey was always in full sweet mode. It was the one morning she stayed over where she didn’t scowl at me when I woke her up. She was not the best company when you got her up before she was ready.

“That sounds good, but will there be a little bit of dirty touching involved?” I couldn’t resist asking.

She buried her head against my chest, and I felt her body shake with laughter. “There will definitely be touching involved. Because you, Jackson Sawyer, are a dirty guy, and controlling yourself is not your strong point.”

“Not when I have a hot-as-sin, naked blonde in my bed,” I replied as I allowed my hands to journey over her body. Slowly crawling on top of her, I began kissing down her neck and chest. When I reached her stomach, I skimmed my lips softly along it as she parted her legs, welcoming me to proceed with my assault. I grinned as she weaved her hands through my hair, then lowered my lips to her clit. Her hips immediately bucked, and I had to put a hand on her stomach to hold her in place.

Her cries filled the room as she raced toward her peak. Her panting and words of pleasure were so damn hot. “Oh my God, yes,” she gasped as her thighs tensed and she gripped my hair just a little tighter. I watched in amazement as she came hard while I slowly licked along her opening.

“Uncle Jack, where are you?”

I froze in place, and Bailey’s eyes widened in shock. We both hurried to gather sheets, clothes, anything to cover our naked bodies.

Bailey laughed as she stared at my waist. I looked down to find I was still hard as a rock, and trying to tuck my dick into a pair of jeans I found on the floor was impossible.

“Get up, lazyass,” Olivia hollered. She was getting closer.

Okay, I couldn’t be mad at the kid. Usually Bailey’s Jeep would be in the driveway, but last night after dinner, I just drove us straight here. And since it wasn’t in the driveway, Olivia had probably thought I was alone.

Knocking filled the room, and there I stood with a case of blue balls from hell as Bailey struggled to untangle her shirt she’d worn last night.

“I’m awake. I’ll be right out,” I hollered back, and then a silence set in. Bailey and I both stared at the door in silence as well. Bailey had one arm inside her shirt as she clung to the sheet gathered in her hand to cover her bare chest.

“Liv?” I said, because I hadn’t heard another peep out of her; no movement or even a shuffle of feet.

“Please tell me this red bra hanging on your door handle belongs to Bailey, because if it doesn’t, I swear I will run you over with your own truck.”

I cocked an eyebrow and looked over at Bailey, who was now burying her face in a pillow, shaking with laughter.

I walked toward the bedroom door and opened it up just enough to peek out at Olivia. “Run me over, huh?” I asked.

She of course said not a damn word. Only narrowed her eyes at me and held up the lacy, red bra dangling off one finger as she pressed her lips into a tight line.

I stepped back and allowed her to look past me at Bailey, who was still in bed and still laughing at Liv’s threat. She looked up and gave Liv a thumbs-up as tears ran down her face. “That was great, Liv. Thanks for having my back.”

I looked between the two of them and shook my head. All this damn excitement had ruined my earlier state of arousal. Stepping out of the room, I hooked my arm around my niece’s shoulders and led her toward the kitchen. “You honestly think I would have another woman in my room, in my home for that matter?”

“Nope, I knew it was Bailey. I saw her killer boots by the front door. I just didn’t want you horn dogs to keep me waiting any longer. From what I hear, you two can get loud, and my young ears don’t need to hear that.” She grabbed an apple from the basket on the snack bar and shined it on her shirt.

All I could do was stare at her, because she seriously was gonna keep some guy on his toes one day. After he passed the tests I knew Ryan, Noah, and myself were sure to put him through. Poor guy better be prepared for a mental beatdown if he wanted to have a future with my niece. An interrogation from the CIA would be a cakewalk compared to what he would go through with us.

“So what was so pressing that you had to drag my ass out of bed on a Sunday morning for?” I asked as I started the coffee I knew Bailey would make a beeline for the moment she made it to the kitchen.

“I need you to teach me to drive.”

“Seriously?”

She shrugged. “Yep. Dad is an awful teacher, and he only lets me go like twenty-five miles per hour. Amber said she would teach me, but Dad of course said no. Apparently, she and I have the radio too loud when she’s driving, and he doesn’t trust her instincts. Oh, and the fact she hit the corner of the garage again last night with his truck, I guess that didn’t help.”

Amber was a terrible driver. I couldn’t blame Ryan there.

“Uncle Noah is all, “Your hands need to be positioned at ten and two, Liv. You need to yield. One hundred yards from the stop sign, blah blah,’” she said in her best Noah impersonation, and I had to admit it was pretty damn good. “So I chose you, and Dad did not argue. Apparently, you are a pretty badass driver.” She took a bite of her apple. “But he said not to tell you he admitted that. So keep that part hush-hush.”

I chuckled, then stepped closer and pulled her into one helluva hug, because she was one of the best damn kids ever.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Bailey

“Are you ready for this?” I asked Amber.

She looked up at me, her eyes glossy, and nodded, probably because she was too terrified to speak or of bursting into tears, and we were both fearful of ruining her makeup.

Her mother called last night to tell her that she was in Jamaica and decided to stay another week with her newest boy toy. Some twentysomething-year-old she met at some club. How a guy that age got wrapped up with a woman like her was a puzzle I would never be able to solve.

I knew Amber wished her father was here. My parents had flown in for this occasion, and to say I was surprised to see them was an understatement. I mean, Amber had extended the invite, but I truly thought they would be unable to attend.

The biggest shocker, though, was to see the difference in my mother. Her coloring was so much better than before, and she looked full of life instead of drained of it. And my father was actually affectionate toward her, keeping a hand on the small of her back as he guided her around. The look I used to see in his eyes when he watched her from across the room was back. They reminded me of how they were when I was younger, and looking at them gave me hope. It was almost impossible not to tear up at how far they had come in such a short time.

I no longer felt as if leaving Chicago to come back to Montana was a mistake. I now believed it was the best thing I could have done, because it forced my parents to rely on one another, and when they did, they were finally able to heal from the past.

With all the joy that had filled my life recently, I couldn’t allow my best friend to be saddened by her parents on her wedding day. Her mother was obviously a lost cause, but her father was a different story. Just two days ago, I sat on Jackson’s back porch and made one of my “Bailey takes charge” phone calls. I still remember the look on Jackson’s face when I told Amber’s father he was a shit excuse for a parent. By the time I told him his lack of love for his daughter made him just as bad as Carla, Jackson was leaning forward in his chair, grinning brightly. And when I finally broke down in tears over the pain I knew Amber was feeling, her father became silent.

“She needs you,” I told him. “You should be the man walking her down the aisle. Amber deserves that from you, and she should not have to beg for it. She shouldn’t even have to ask. You should just get on that goddamn plane and be here.”

My words must have hit home, because this morning he arrived in town. Between that and my happiness for Amber and Ryan, I was fearful we were just about to ruin our makeup.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Amber asked.

“Like what?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about. You’re looking at me like you think I am about to lose it. I’m not, I promise,” she assured me.

“I’m pretty sure you’re gonna lose it.” I nodded and grinned at her.

“What did you do?” Amber placed her hands on her hips, and I bit my upper lip to keep from smiling. I stepped back from her slowly, twisted the handle on the door, and pushed it open. I knew the moment her father came into view, because her eyes grew wide in shock.

When he stepped inside, I shut the door so Ryan couldn’t walk by and see her. We were getting ready in Tammy’s bedroom, and the guys were getting dressed on the other end of his parents’ home so the bride and groom wouldn’t risk seeing each other.

“You look beautiful, Am,” he said as he stared at her, shaking his head lightly as if to clear his thoughts.

“What are you doing here?” Amber’s voice was hoarse. “I thought you couldn’t get away from work.”

“Walking my only daughter down the aisle is much more important.” He pointed his thumb over his shoulder toward me. “Not to mention a certain person reamed my ass for being a shit father.”

Amber swallowed hard as her gaze connected with mine.

“She’s completely right, and it’s time for me to stop being so self-absorbed,” he said. “I just hope I’m not too late to make things right with you.” He looked more sincere than I ever thought he could. My heart was racing, my stomach was in knots, and all I wanted was for this entire day to be perfect for Amber. She deserved it.

“You’re not too late,” she whispered, and just like that, all hope of preserving our makeup went straight out the window.

The door opened, and Alena entered with Olivia by her side. They both froze as they watched Amber and her father hugging.

When Amber’s father released his hold on her, she looked over and gave Alena a reassuring smile. Then her gaze shifted to Olivia. “Dad, meet Olivia. Ryan’s daughter and a very special girl in my life.” Amber winked at Liv when her cheeks reddened. “Liv, this is my father. You can call him Tom.”

“It’s very nice to meet you,” Olivia said as she held her hand out toward him.

As Am stepped up to my side, she bumped my hip with her own. “Thank you for this,” she whispered.

“You don’t owe me any thank-yous,” I assured her.

“You’re right,” she said. “I owe you so much more. You’re an amazing friend, Bay, and I love you.”

I draped an arm over her shoulder and held out my other hand to Alena. She joined us, and I squeezed them both close. “I love you two knuckleheads.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

Jackson

Usually during a wedding, all eyes are on the bride, but mine were actually glued to a very sexy maid of honor. I mean, don’t get me wrong. Amber looked gorgeous, and my brother was one lucky man, but Bailey was the most beautiful person in the room. I barely heard a word spoken during the entire ceremony. It was as if I had tunnel vision and Bailey was the only person in the room.

When the preacher said, “You may kiss the bride,” Bailey lifted her eyes to meet mine. A small smiled spread across her lips, and I vowed to myself that one day soon, she and I would be back here in this very spot saying our own ”I do’s.”

When the newly married couple had stepped down from the altar, I rushed to Bailey and gave her a kiss of her own. Noah cleared his throat behind us, making Bailey giggle against my lips.

“Move it along, you two,” he whispered as he nudged my shoulder.

I intertwined my fingers through Bailey’s and held her delicate hand firmly in mine. I wasn’t the kind of guy who enjoyed all the girly shit like hand-holding and snuggling, but it was different with Bailey. I needed to feel her body against mine so much, I even craved small things like holding hands.

We held the ceremony and the following reception at the one place we all loved—the ranch. Being surrounded by the place my father spent his life building just made his presence even stronger, even though he couldn’t physically be here. I truly think we all felt it.

Standing just to the left of the tent entrance, the entire wedding party greeted the guests as they entered. I held Bailey’s hips and positioned her in front of me, her back pressed firmly against my front. As the younger guys from town passed, they eyed Bailey and Alena appreciatively. No one had to tell me how lucky I was.

Bailey arched her neck back as she looked up at me, then nudged her head to the right. I immediately shifted my gaze and couldn’t help the smile that took over my face. Noah was pressed up against Alena’s side with his arm wrapped around her waist, holding her close. Her eyes were closed as she concentrated on whatever he was whispering in her ear.

The moment she bit down hard on her lower lip, I had to look away. It was a scene I no longer needed to be witness to, but the idea that Noah may be letting go of the shit his ex-fiancée had put him through gave me a small sense of relief. If he could find even an ounce of what Bailey and I had, he wouldn’t give two shits about what Stacy had done to him years ago.

“Looks like they’re getting along,” Bailey said as she looked up at me with a gleam in her eyes.

“Leave it alone, my little matchmaker. They’ll get there on their own,” I assured her.

“But—”

I shook my head. “No buts, babe.”

She didn’t like being told no, but it sure was cute when she tried to look mad.

***

“If I tell you something, you promise not to freak out on me?” I couldn’t help but chuckle when she looked up at me and cocked an eyebrow in confusion.

“Depends on what it is.”

I chuckled again, and she slapped at my chest with her open hand. “Well?” she asked in an annoyed tone.

“No need to get all feisty on me, Spitfire, damn.” I loved getting her riled up. I leaned in to kiss the tip of her nose, and she couldn’t hide the smile that pulled at her lips.

“I want you to move in with me,” I said. She tilted her chin upward, and our eyes met. “I don’t want to share a few nights a week. I want to share every night and morning. I want you to call my home yours.”

She looked to our left, and I followed her gaze. Alena was less than ten feet away, curled against Noah as they swayed together to the slow song playing. I knew Bailey was torn about leaving Alena alone in the apartment.

“I have a feeling she’ll be fine. In fact, I can almost guarantee in the near future, there will be nights she doesn’t come home. I mean, come on, baby, do you really wanna hear her and Noah knocking boots?” I grinned when her nose wrinkled in disgust. “Yeah, I know. Moving in with me sounds like a good idea, huh?”

“That wasn’t necessary,” she said, looking up at me with her nose still crinkled. “I was just thinking over what I was going to tell Alena. How to break it to her that she’ll be living alone. You getting all X-rated was just wrong.”

Excitement shot through me. She had just agreed to move in with me, and I felt like I had just won the fucking lottery.

It was the first step to the rest of our lives.