“I’ll need a minimum of one month commitment from you. During this engagement you’ll travel to Milford with me and convince the committee we’re madly in love.”“Didn’t you tell me the committee is aware you’ve been single for a while?”Jack paced again. “I didn’t share specifics on my personal life. I more or less sidestepped the question. But there has to be a way we can convince them we’ve secretly been together for the last few months…” He snapped his fingers. “Aha! I’ve got it.”“Got what?”“The reason we didn’t go public with our relationship—even with families—was because of our rocky past. I saw you as my best friend’s pesky little sister; you were dumped by my little brother. But we crossed paths again when you needed my help with this restoration project. It turned into something more than a working relationship. Each hour we spent together built on our past as a bridge to our future until bam—change of heart.”Keely began to clap.Jack gave her that devil-may-care grin and b
Her hand felt heavy. No wonder. When she peeked at the square cut diamond set in a platinum band, she realized the stone was the size of her fingernail. Keely met Jack’s gaze. “Is this for real?”“What? The stone? Yes, it’s real.”“Guess you took me seriously about the gigantic ring, huh?”“I figured ten plus carats would get your attention.”“And the attention of anyone within a mile.” Keely waggled her fingers, admiring the diamond’s flash of brilliance. “This is spectacular. I don’t know what to say.”“That’s gotta be a first,” he said dryly. “Thank you, Jack, would be a start.”Keely angled across the console and placed her hand on his smoothly shaven cheek. “Thank you, Jack.”His eyes were soft, a luminous green, nearly hypnotic. The moment was so intimate she almost believed it was real.Her dad knocked on the window and barked, “You comin’ in or what?” and brought a screaming halt to her momentary lapse in judgment.Jack kissed the inside of her forearm and mouthed, “Show time.
“No would’ve been a good place to start.”“You’re an opportunist. Think of it as the ultimate occasion to convince people we’re really getting married.”Jack swallowed his retort and turned up the radio.Keely lasted about thirty-five seconds before she flipped the music off. “You actually like that noise?”“Why would I listen to it if I didn’t?”“You probably think it makes you sound sophisticated if you tell people you listen to jazz.”“And I’d be better off listening to that goat-yodeling crap you prefer?”“Yep. At least it’s honest.”“As honest as the Nashville music executives can manipulate in a slick multimillion dollar recording studio with a marketing team in the wings.”“Testy much?”“Your fault,” he pointed out.“How is it my fault?”“You’re in my car, ripping on my music choices.” He expelled a heavy sigh. “Can you just not talk for the rest of the drive?”“Fine.”A minute later she dragged out her iPod and sang along. Loudly. By the time Jack parked behind her building, h
“What?”“Possessive much?”You don’t know the half of it. Jack permitted a feral smile. “Better learn that early on.” He pushed back and tucked the phone in her front shirt pocket. “Go upstairs and make your calls. I’ll be right up.”Keely sauntered away.Jack dug his cell phone out and brought up the engagement picture he’d forwarded to himself. It exemplified a couple who looked wildly in love. He reworded the text message and hit send all.No going back now.Three hours later, Jack punched his lace pillow for the millionth time. He could not get comfortable in this stupid, lumpy, midget-sized bed.You can’t get comfortable because you’ve got a hard-on the size of a Louisville Slugger.He stared at the rows of stuffed animals lining the bookshelves. Creepy damn things. Then he gazed at the ceiling, wide-awake.He’d spent the last two hours trying not to gawk at Keely’s legs. Or her ass. Or her tits. Or the little slice of her belly that teased where her booty shorts gapped in the fr
AJ stood on the landing, gripping Foster’s hand. “What’s this pile of garbage about you marrying Jack Donohue?” AJ demanded.“It’s not garbage.” Keely clapped her hands and Foster ran into her arms with a heart-melting little boy giggle. She lifted him and spun him around to more giggles. “Didja miss your Auntie, Fos?”“Uh-huh.”She looked him over, completely smitten. With his dark hair and lanky build, Foster would be the spitting image of his father, Cord, if not for the silvery hue of his eyes, which he’d inherited from AJ.He slapped his palms on her cheeks. “Play Legos?”“I swear you only love me for my toys.” She kissed his forehead before setting him down. She grabbed the box out of the toy closet and dumped the contents on the rug. “He’s either gonna grow up to be a bricklayer or a house builder.”“You are avoiding the question. I want all the details, Keely West McKay, and I want them right now.”Keely sighed. “I know you can’t have coffee in your condition, but do you want
“Where do you need to go today?”Nowhere, but she wasn’t about to admit that to him. “I have a life, Jack. I have a job. I need a car.And no, I’m not asking anyone to ferry me around town when there’s a perfectly good car sitting in the parking lot. Besides, people would gossip that my fiancé doesn’t trust me to touch his precious Beemer.”Jack loomed over her. “I don’t trust you. Do you have any idea how much I paid for that car?”“Way, way too much?” she asked sweetly.He growled.“Who cares? It’s just a car.”“Just a car? It’s a feat of German engineering—”“Some feat! It doesn’t have a trunk big enough to hold more than a French press coffeepot made in China and a bag of Guatemalan coffee beans.” When he snarled, she jabbed him in the chest with her index finger. “Here’s the deal. The only way I’ll let you borrow my truck to pick up that all important big-screen TV is if you let me drive your car.”Jack paced to the living room. Muttered to himself and stalked back to her. “Fine.
“Because we keep our mouths shut. No matter what.” Chet’s gaze moved between Keely and Jack.“So can you. Keely never once mentioned being involved with you on a personal level. She played all coy and secretive about her ‘expert’ help.”Jack lifted a brow at Keely. “We’ve been discreet, haven’t we, buttercup? Now we’re engaged and there’s no denying I’m a lucky man.” When he attempted to put his arm around her, she flinched. Damn woman could at least pretend his touch didn’t repulse her. Just to be ornery, he jerked her to his side, keeping their bodies touching. “Come on, Keely, no need to act shy. We are with family.” He kissed the top of her head. “It’s sweet how much she really is the blushing-bride type beneath that blustering cowgirl exterior.”Keely froze, then stiffened with anger.Jack wondered if he should’ve worn a cup.Chet addressed Keely. “Aunt Caro is throwing a big bash for you guys, huh?”“Next weekend. We’d love for you to come, but I’ll warn ya, my brothers will be
Keely’s voice broke and Jack squeezed her thigh.“And now…I can’t imagine Liesl not being part of their family. Cam’s quiet life and pristine house is a thing of the past but he and Domini wouldn’t have it any other way.”“Sounds like they should be canonized.”“I suspect they’re not done adding to their brood. It’s funny. Cam was always ambivalent about being a parent. So it’s hysterical he’ll probably end up with the most kids out of any of my brothers. That said, God knows all my brother’s wives are in some freaky race to see who can pop out the most McKays. Jesus.They’re all pregnant again. It’s an epidemic that makes me want to stay far, far away from their overactive uteruses.”He gently stroked her soft skin, watching her closely. “They’re all pregnant?”“Yep. Channing, AJ and Macie are knocked up. So’s India. And Chassie. And my cousin Quinn’s wife, Libby, is on baby number two. On the West side, Blake’s wife, Willow, is expecting their first. His brother Nick’s wife, Holly,