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,
“How’d you meet?”“He’s Carter’s best friend, so I’ve known him forever. He’s also an architect specializing in restoration and his business is based out of Denver. He’s supervising my building remodel.”“Mmm-hmm.” The doc blew across her coffee. “I suppose that’s why you’ve been gone so much?Hooking up with him in Denver?”“Partially. But the VA consultant f*e is three times what you pay me. Can’t blame a girl for making a living.” She offered an impish smile.“I don’t. I just hope you know what you’re doing.”“With Jack or with the building?”“Both. Now that you’ve begun the process of readying a space for a clinic, I’d hate to see you abandon your dream and move to the big city to be some hotshot architect’s wife.”Keely scalded her tongue with coffee to keep from refuting the statement.The doc asked, “Are Chet and Remy doing the remodel?”“I wouldn’t trust it to anyone else.”“Smart girl. Maybe I’ll swing by and check out the progress. I’ve been debating whether to remodel my kit
Oh. Hello lust. “The thought of nailing you has me equally intrigued.” She offered him a coquettish look. “Are you a breast or a thigh guy?”That caught him off guard enough his gaze actually dropped to her chest. “Ummm. What?”“Or chicken?” she taunted softly.His hot eyes returned to hers. “My favorite food is not chicken. It’s not a nice juicy rump…roast, although I admit to being more of a butt man than a breast man.”Keely blinked. She was quickly losing control of this conversation.“I’ll give you one more chance to nail me,” Jack said with a sexy rasp.“Only one?” she cooed back.Jack’s hungry gaze zeroed in on her mouth. “Playing fast and loose will only encourage me to play the same. Be certain you’re prepared for what that entails.”Yikes. “Speaking of favorite foods, I’m betting yours is some kind of wild game that fits with your personality. Boar?”His lips lifted. “Wrong. This round goes to me. My favorite food is homemade meatloaf. Followed closely by mashed potatoes and
When she opened her mouth to argue, Jack silenced her with a harsh look.“Don’t presume to dissect the way I handle my family life when you handle yours awful damn close to the same way.”Keely’s head fell back into the couch cushion. “We’re never gonna pull this off, Jack. We can’t go five minutes without snipping at each other.”“We managed more than five minutes in the restaurant.”“Pure luck. Lightning won’t strike the same place twice.”“Then let’s force it to strike again.”“Wow. That sounds fun. Not.”Just to be obstinate, he scooted closer to her. “Your middle name is West. What’s mine?”“Jack… Off Donohue?”“Funny. My middle name is Michael.”“Jack Michael. Kinda sounds like—”“Chas Michael Michaels,” they said simultaneously.He grinned. “Maybe we do have a few things in common.”“Name one thing besides lowbrow movies.”“We both like Carter’s kids.”“True.”“What about sports?”“I like rodeo.”“That’s it?”Keely shrugged. “Yep.”“Figures. I watched VERSUS when Justin was on
“Be sure and ask Jack about it when you see him.” Keely winked and sauntered off, feeling…guilty. It was dirty pool dragging his sweet mother into their warring ways.“Keely, sweets, can I see you for a second?”She plastered on a smile to hide her guilty look before she faced her mother. “Sure. What do you need?”“Follow me.” Her mom led them to a small office down the hallway from the main room. After she closed the door, she sagged against the metal desk.“Ma? What’s wrong?”“Nothing.” Carolyn McKay sighed. “That’s not true. With all the party preparations I haven’t had time to talk to you alone.” She pinned Keely with a probing look. “I’d be lax in my mothering duties if I didn’t ask if you’re sure about marrying Jack.”Keely’s stomach clenched. “Why?”“It doesn’t exactly seem to be a love match, and when you’re together…”“Mom. You haven’t seen us together except the one time we told you we were engaged.”Her gaze narrowed. “Maybe that’s why I’m concerned.”Damn. Redirect. “We’re
For some reason, that made Jack smile.“So as long as you’re hidin’ over here, I wanna take the opportunity to tell you if you harm a single hair on Keely’s head, I will gut you.”His smile dried up and he looked sideways at Colt McKay.“We clear on that?”Jack knew his attempts to reassure the assorted male McKays that he’d never cause precious Keely distress would backfire when the “engagement” went to hell. He kept his lie simple. “Understood.”Colt nodded and meandered away.Another two hours remained of the party. If Jack stuck to the crowds, maybe he could avoid the oh-so-fun, one-on-one threat time with Keely’s remaining brothers.As if she sensed him gawking at her, Keely cocked her head and looked straight at him. Her tight-lipped smile was better than flipping him off, he supposed, but not by much.“Funny how my little sis ain’t wearing the googly-eyed look of a woman wildly in love. She looks like she wants to punch you in the face,” Cam McKay commented behind Jack.Fan-fuc
With his every inhalation, Keely’s scent teased him. Warm. Flowery. Womanly. He leaned closer, drawing in a deeper breath. When their gazes clashed and Jack saw raw desire swimming in the amazing blueness of her eyes, he stopped fighting the inevitable. He framed her face in his shaking hands and said,“Fuck it,” before he smothered her mouth with a blistering kiss.She was kissing Jack Donohue. Kissing him like crazy. Kissing him like she’d fantasized about after he’d kissed her so thoroughly at Colt and India’s wedding reception.It was so much better when they were both sober.Keely slid her hands beneath his suit coat up his muscular back. Oh man. Such a hard-toned body.Such an insistent mouth. The hint of cologne on his heated skin wafted up from his open-collar shirt.Drugged. She felt utterly drugged by his masculine scent and the sheer power of his body pressed to hers.Jack wouldn’t let their lips part for more than a second before he dove back in for another mind-blowing ki
“Nah. I have my truck since Cord took the boys home.”“Good enough. See you.” Carolyn hefted the box and disappeared out the side door.At AJ’s 350 Cummins turbo diesel Chevy, Keely said, “Need a boost getting into your monster truck, el preggo?”“No. But you can bet your butt I’ll let my handsome hubby give me a hand to help me down.”Knowing Cord, that hand would go straight up his wife’s skirt. Those two still acted like randy teens.Keely admitted a tinge of jealousy her best friend had found the type of love all women dream of.She meandered to her own rig, anxious about going home, which was a total crock because chances were slim Jack would even be there yet.Still…how would this play out? Scenarios flitted through her brain but nothing solidified. Maybe having a blank slate wasn’t such a bad thing.Trudging up the stairs, she knew she’d ditch her high heels first thing. People thought pointy-toed cowboy boots were painful? Please. Boots were bedroom slippers compared to these