Chapter 36

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Jack woke to the warmth of Maisie’s soft body next to him. The sun hadn’t risen yet, and she was still asleep. He told himself not to wake her. They were up late the night before, professing their love with both words and their bodies.

She rolled over and released a contented sigh as one eyelid cracked open. “You’re not watching me sleep like a crazy stalker, are you?”

He grinned, his heart warming. “And if I said I was?”

Laughing, she pushed him onto his back and crawled on top of him.

“Merry Christmas,” he said, staring into her eyes. The happiness he saw there made his chest puff with pride that he’d put it there.

Her smile softened into contentment. She lifted a hand to his face, and gently cupped his cheek. “Merry Christmas.”

He kissed her then, because his lips hadn’t covered hers for nearly six hours, and that was five hours and fifty-nine minutes too long.

She lifted her head a few inches and smiled. “What about morning breath?”

He wrapped his arms around her back. “Worth it.”

He glanced over to the bedroom door and saw Einstein and Chaco watching them.

“Question,” Jack said, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. “Can dogs be taken from their owners for being exposed to live porn?”

Maisie laughed and lifted up on her elbow to check them out. “They probably have to pee.”

When she started to get up, he pulled her back down. “I’ll take them out. You go shower, and I’ll join you when I’m done.”

“Okay,” she said hesitantly. “But maybe put them on leashes. In case they decide to bolt.”

They didn’t run off for her, but he knew her dogs were her babies, and he’d follow whatever rules made her feel comfortable. He put on his dress pants and shirt while she ogled him. Grinning, he slipped his feet into his dress shoes.

“You look like you’re doing a walk of shame,” she teased.

“There’s absolutely not one ounce of shame from sleeping with you,” he said, leaning over to give her another kiss. “I’ll proudly wear this all day long.”

“We should have given this whole morning situation more thought,” she said, her eyes dancing with mischief. “Especially since you volunteered to go to the shelter with me.”

He’d barely had the presence of mind to text Iris to tell her he’d be home late. She’d replied that if she saw him before brunch at the Buchanan house, which Finn and Adalia were optimistically calling the First Annual Christmas Brunch Extravaganza, she’d kick him in the rear end. “The only thing I was capable of thinking about was getting you home so I could strip that sexy dress off your gorgeous body. Promise me you’ll wear it again.”

“It’s not mine. It’s Blue’s.”

“Then I’ll buy it from her.” He kissed her again. “Just tell her what we did in the car while you were still wearing it.” He cocked a brow. “She might not want it back.”

She laughed. “You’re terrible.”

“You love every moment of it.”

“Obviously,” she said. “Now take those dogs out before I drag you back to bed and they pee on the floor.”

Poor Ein looked miserable, so he hurried downstairs and clipped on their leashes to take them out, not that he was worried about them running off. They were so excited he was there, he could barely get them to focus on the task at hand.

“Come on, Ein. I really want to see your mommy naked again. Let’s take that poop already.”

It was another five minutes before they finally finished their business, and while he would have loved nothing more than to race up the stairs, stripping off his clothes as he took the stairs two at a time, he knew how much Maisie loved her morning coffee. He started a pot, then headed up to the bathroom, telling the pouting dogs, “I’ll feed you later. I’ll give you extra if you promise to stop trying to make me feel guilty.”

The water was still running when he opened the door, the dogs sitting in the hall behind him, and he quickly dropped his pants and parted the shower curtain.

Maisie was standing under the shower in all her naked glory. “I was about to send a search party.”

“Turned out Ein wanted time with me too.”

She pulled the curtain to the side and laughed at the sight of Ein wagging his tail in the doorway. “It looks like he still doesn’t feel he’s had enough.”

“Too bad,” he said, picking up a bottle of body wash and squeezing some into his hand. He slid a hand over her shoulder.

“I already washed. Somebody took too long.”

“You can never be too clean,” he said as he glided his hand down to cup her breast.

She sharply inhaled. “I guess they do say cleanliness is next to godliness.”

“I think that makes you a goddess.”

She laughed. “It’s about time.”

They got dressed, then headed down to the kitchen, and Maisie kissed him senseless again once she realized he’d made coffee. She poured to-go mugs for both of them while he fed the dogs, and then they took off for the shelter. They took all the dogs out to pee and let them have some playtime before bringing them back in for breakfast. He was surprised when he saw so many empty kennels, and she told him they’d had a surge of adoptions after his Instagram photos.

Ruby was overjoyed to see him and covered him with kisses.

Maisie gave him a pointed look, which made him sigh. “I would…you know I would, but it’s not a good idea right now with Lee staying at the house and everything up in the air. Plus, Jezebel doesn’t like most dogs.”

She huffed a laugh. “No kidding. I know, I just feel bad for her. A family was interested a couple of weeks ago, but they changed their mind.”

“What can we do to find her a home?”

“Honestly, the Instagram posts have made a huge difference.” She gave him an ornery look. “Quite a few women have specifically asked for you. I may need you to make celebrity appearances from time to time.”

“You don’t mind?” he asked.

She grinned. “First rule of running a shelter: tug the heartstrings. Second rule: do anything you can to seal an adoption.” She gave his arm a tap. “Well, within reason. As long as you come home with me, they can look all they want.”

Maisie was torn about when to give the dogs their stockings, but they worried they’d be late for brunch since they’d gotten a late start.

“Let’s just come back later,” Jack said. “You know Iris is going to want to be part of it. She can take pictures for Instagram.” His lips tipped up. “Maximize the heartstring pulling.”

“Okay,” she said. “But let’s make sure we do it this afternoon. I don’t want to keep them waiting.”

“Deal.”

Maisie drove them to the Buchanan house, and Jack couldn’t stop looking at her, her hair like a fire in the sun. He reached over and took her hand, shocked all over again that this gorgeous, feisty redhead was his.

“If you look at me like that at brunch,” she said with a mischievous glint in her eyes, “Lee might take us out back and hose us down.”

“I think he’ll be feeling his hangover too much to notice me lusting after you.” But the thought of Lee was sobering. The guy was in serious trouble, and he was going to need his siblings to help him through it. Would he want Jack’s help too?

Everyone had already arrived by the time they walked in the door. Christmas music was playing, and the delicious smells made his stomach growl. Finn was sitting on the sofa with Addy on his lap. Tyrion lay on the floor at his feet, but he was staring up at Addy as though she’d hung the moon. Iris was in the overstuffed chair next to them, reading something on her phone, but her face lit up when she saw Jack holding Maisie’s hand.

“This is the best Christmas present ever!” she exclaimed, launching herself out of the chair and into his arms.

He gave her a tight hug. Then she moved on to Maisie, whispering loud enough for Jack to hear, “I’m happy he’s in good hands. Now I won’t have to worry about him so much when I go to college.”

Maisie laughed. “I’ll make sure he’s fed and watered.”

Iris pointed a finger at her. “I’m holding you to it.”

“Dottie says we can eat now that Jack and Maisie are here,” Georgie said as she emerged from the kitchen wearing an apron, River on her heels. She shot Jack a look. “And don’t let the apron fool you. Dottie cooked it all. We only got to arrange it on the counter.”

“At least you were allowed to go into the kitchen,” Addy complained. “She shooed me out.”

“Too many cooks in the kitchen makes the soufflé fall,” Dottie said, appearing behind River. “Besides, I had to pass all of my Christmas brunch traditions down to River’s future bride.”

Georgie’s face flushed with happiness, and Jack was relieved the mess with her father hadn’t stolen her joy.

They all headed into the kitchen, where Georgie and River had set up Dottie’s food on the counter—under her watchful supervision—buffet style, next to a stack of plates. Jack wasn’t surprised to see tented papers with labels next to every dish. A bowl of Jell-O salad said “Comfort,” and a casserole dish with an egg casserole said “A hearty new year.” A plate of banana muffins read “Prosperity,” and a pitcher of mimosas was labeled “Peace,” along with several other dishes and notes.

Jack wanted a jumbo-sized mimosa for all of them.

He was starving, but he made sure Iris and Maisie got plates first. He was about to make his own when he realized he hadn’t seen his brother.

“Where’s Lee?”

“Out back,” Addy said, wincing. “He said the smell of food was making him sick.”

He shot Maisie a pointed look, then said, “You all start without me. I’m going out to check on Lee.”

“That’s a good idea,” Dottie said. “First let me make him one of my special cures.”

Adalia pulled a face. “I can still taste it in my nightmares,” she said, backing out of the kitchen. “I recommend that you all clear out of here for a minute. The smell alone might make you lose your appetite.”

She was right. It looked disgusting and smelled even worse, but Jack had seen firsthand that it was a miracle drug. Once it was done, Dottie called him in, and he took it out back, holding the cup as far away from him as possible.

Lee was sitting in what was referred to as “Beau’s chair.” It was the one their grandfather had always sat in, and Jack found it amusing that the Buchanan siblings tended to automatically gravitate toward it. He was sure Dottie would have had something to say about that.

“Hey,” Jack said softly as he sat in the chair next to him, still holding the cup a good distance from his body.

Lee lifted his bloodshot eyes but didn’t respond.

“Do you feel as bad as you look?” Lee flipped him off, and Jack laughed. “I guess that answers that.”

They were silent for a moment before Lee cleared his throat. “I owe you a massive apology.”

Jack waved his hand. “Trust me, I’ve been flipped off plenty of times before.”

Lee laughed, then reached a hand up to his head with a grimace. “Not for that. For how I treated you yesterday and the day before and all the days before that.”

“You had some things to work through,” Jack said. “I get it.”

“It’s no excuse. You’re just as much a victim as the rest of us.”

“Maybe so,” Jack said, choosing his words carefully. “But going to the FBI had to give you some of your power back.”

“It did.”

“How much trouble are you in?”

Lee sighed and leaned over, resting his forearms on his thighs. “I think I’m fairly safe. I didn’t know what was going on, and I gave them my full cooperation. My father and Victoria…let’s just say I think their luck has run out.”

“I heard you quit, but I guess that doesn’t mean much given your father won’t be the boss anymore. What does this mean for Buchanan Luxury?”

Lee released a bitter laugh. “After this, it no longer exists. There’s no way any of our clients would ever trust us again.”

“Well, I’m sure Addy has already told you, but I feel like I should too. You’re welcome to stay here as long as you like,” Jack said. “I mean, of course you can stay. It’s your house too. I’m just saying, if you decide to hang out here while you figure things out, you’ll be welcomed.”

Lee gave him a long, hard stare. “Why are you being so nice to me after I’ve been nothing but a dick?”

“Because I respect Georgie and Addy’s opinion. If they see good in you, it must be there.” He grinned. “It’s just buried under a pile of shit.”

Lee’s laugh turned into a groan again.

“Here,” Jack said, shoving the glass toward him. “Drink this.”

He took it, making a face as he lifted it to his lips. “So you came out here to poison me?”

“It’s one of Dottie’s miracle hangover cures. It smells disgusting and tastes even worse, but you’ll be hangover-free within the hour.”

“How is that possible?”

“Didn’t you hear? She’s a witch,” Adalia said as she came out the back door. “Why didn’t you give it to him when you first came out, Jack?”

He shrugged. “I had to butter him up first.”

“Drink it,” Addy said, placing a hand on Jack’s shoulder. “Trust me. I’m living proof it works.”

He gave her a dubious look, then chugged it down, looking like he was about to barf.

“When the feeling passes, come inside,” Addy said. “We’re dying to open presents after we eat.” She glanced down at Jack. “And you need to get back to Maisie. She’s about to give your food to Tyrion.”

Jack hadn’t even made a plate yet, so he knew it wasn’t true, but he appreciated Adalia coming out to check on him. He went inside and scooped food onto his plate, then poured himself a generous mimosa. Iris and Maisie had saved him a spot between them, and for a moment he just stood there, holding his plate and cup, and watched them talking and laughing, savoring the knowledge that they were both in his life. That they were friends . Then he walked over and joined them, setting his things down on the table. He planted a kiss on top of his sister’s head, then sat down and gave Maisie a quick kiss on the lips.

Adalia wolf-whistled as she stepped into the dining room, and Georgie beamed. Finn reached out for a fist bump from Maisie, and she rolled her eyes as she reciprocated. River just gave them a single nod of approval.

“All right, all right,” Maisie said. “You have five seconds to get it out of your system, and then it all stops. Forever.”

The whole table erupted in applause, Iris joining in. Maisie turned to her with a mock glare. “I expected better from you.”

“What can I say?” Iris said. “I’m a hopeless romantic.”

“You two are perfect for each other,” Dottie said quietly. “Beau would be so happy.”

The table grew quiet, and Jack lifted his glass. Although he’d never met Beau, the man had changed his life. Without his meddling, Jack would never have met Maisie or found a place among his half-siblings. “To Beau.”

Everyone lifted their own glasses, repeating Jack’s toast with a quiet reverence. “To Beau.”

Dottie’s eyes glittered with unshed tears. “I wish he could be here to see how happy you all are.”

“Not all of us,” Lee said bitterly from the kitchen doorway.

“Give it time,” Dottie said.

Disgust filled Lee’s eyes, followed by a rush of something like panic, and he raced up the stairs.

“He doesn’t mean to be rude,” Georgie said.

“Of course he doesn’t,” Dottie assured her. “Our Lee needs love and support. He needs time.”

Georgie reached over and squeezed the elderly woman’s hand. “And we’ll give him plenty of it.”

Adalia lifted her fork. “Speaking from my personal experience with Dottie’s cure and the way he ran up the stairs, his most immediate need is a bathroom.”

The other couples had all exchanged gifts at home, so Jack slid Maisie’s gift under the sofa on the sly, catching her eye as he did so. She winked and pointed toward the dining room, where he could see her purse hanging from her chair. Later, after all of the other gifts had been opened, Lee wandered off, either to his room or the bathroom, and Addy turned on the TV and found A Christmas Story mid-film. Jack whispered into Maisie’s ear, “Let’s go open our gifts to each other on the front porch.”

She grinned. “I saw your moves with the sofa. How about we meet outside with our presents?”

“Deal.”

His was easy. He was sitting on the floor next to the sofa, so he grabbed the gift and went outside, suddenly worried it wasn’t enough. He was resting his butt against the porch railing when she walked out, carrying the small, wrapped box he’d seen at her house.

“I want to open mine first,” she said, setting her gift in one of the chairs and snatching his wrapped gift from him.

“Okay…”

She didn’t waste any time before ripping off the paper. When she opened the lid, she carefully lifted out the scarf.

“It was made by impoverished women in Vietnam,” he said in a rush. “So we’re contributing to the livelihoods of women in need.” He pushed away from the railing. “But that’s not the reason I bought it,” he said in a husky tone.

“Oh?” she asked as he took the scarf from her.

He looped it behind her neck and tugged her closer with the ends until she was flush against him. He held one hand up and brushed the soft fabric against her cheek. “I was right.”

“About what?”

“It’s nearly the exact color of your eyes.”

She smiled and wrapped a hand behind his neck, pulling his face down to hers. “Your turn.” She looked nervous. “I’m worried you won’t like it.”

“I’ll love whatever you give me, simply because it’s from you.”

“You have to say that,” she said as she pushed him down into one of the chairs and grabbed the gift up from the other. She hesitated, then handed it to him. “If you don’t like it, I can get you something else.”

“Maisie, I’m going to love it.” He snagged her wrist and tugged her to him, settling her on his lap before he tore into the paper. He was surprised when he discovered an oversized jewelry box, and the gift inside left him nearly speechless. Having worked at a bar with wealthy clientele, he knew an expensive watch when he saw it.

Now he felt like an utter asshole for getting her a scarf.

“Maisie…”

“In the interest of transparency, you need to know I didn’t buy it.”

He grinned at her. “You stole it? There’s a whole bad-girl side to you I didn’t fully know about.”

“I didn’t steal it, and can I say you got far too excited over the possibility that I did?”

He kissed her, then pulled back, grinning like a fool. Maisie did this to him, but he didn’t mind one bit.

“It was my dad’s,” she said quietly. “He would have liked you. A lot.” She swallowed. “It sat in a box for years, like everything else. But what good is it to keep things in boxes? And…it felt right for my past and my present to merge into my future.”

A lump filled Jack’s throat. He was the luckiest guy in the world.

“You hate it,” she said, horror filling her eyes as she misinterpreted his silence. “I didn’t buy it, so I know that makes me cheap, but I—”

Jack kissed her hard. “ Maisie. This is the best gift I’ve ever received. Thank you.”

“Are you positive?” she asked, looking uncharacteristically unsure of herself. “I really can get you something else.”

“Don’t you dare,” he said, removing the watch from the box. He slipped it onto his wrist and fastened the clasp. He tried to slide it up and down his wrist, but it barely moved. “It fits perfectly.”

“It’s like you were meant to have it.”

He stared into her worried eyes. “I know it’s hard for you to let go of the past, but you don’t have to let go of everything, and I’ll be there to help you. At your pace. There’s no rush.”

“Thank you, but I finally feel ready. I want to focus on the present…and on starting my future with you.”

He smiled at her. “I already have plans for our future, starting tonight. Dirty plans.”

She grinned back. “I should hope so.”

The front door opened and Iris’s face appeared. “The neighbors are texting River, telling him there’s an indecent couple on Beau’s front porch.”

Maisie laughed.

“If they think we’ve been indecent, then let’s give them something to talk about.” He shot his sister a look. “Go inside, Iris.”

She squealed, then slammed the door.

“Should I be concerned that your sister is excited we’re about to do something indecent?”

“Probably, but it’s too late to change her now. Just be thankful for her blessing.” Then he kissed her with a hunger he’d suppressed for the last hour. She met his passion with her own, until they were both breathless.

“Do you think that was indecent enough?” Maisie asked playfully.

“I don’t know, but I fully intend to keep on working on it.”