Jack nipped her ear. Hard. Shivers ran down her spine as an embarrassingly loud squeak emitted from her.
“Ew, please remember you have children in the house!” came from the kitchen.
Chuckling, Jack walked Jenna forward, not releasing his hold on her. “How do you children think you got here?”
Ollie was wearing… Jenna tipped her head. She wasn’t really sure what Ollie was wearing. It was sheer green with several layers like a Christmas tree. The bottom hem of each layer was white, and there were a variety of bells and bobble ornaments hanging from them. The shoulders were spaghetti straps. From his seat at the table, she couldn’t see what was on his bottom half.
Melanie was sitting cattycorner from him and applying his makeup. On his head was a headband with two plastic stars on springs. Flashing red and green tear lightbulbs hung from his ears.
To Jack’s question, Ollie quipped, “Pretty sure you stole me from a rogue motorcycle club.”
Jenna frowned, not liking to be reminded of what her youngest son had endured during the first fifteen years of his life.
Jack, though, chuckled. “Touché.” After seeing Jenna into a chair, he leaned over to kiss the top of Melanie’s head. “Hi, baby.”
“Hi, Daddy.”
Jack headed over to get them coffee from the pot. Jenna looked at her two youngest children. Melanie was only staying through the weekend. She’d made plans with friends over the holiday, as had Jordan. Ollie would be staying with Angel andCage once Jenna and Jack left for their vacation. This left Drew, Lucy, and Carter on their own too.
Jenna bit her lip. “Maybe we shouldn’t go. I’m not feeling right leaving the two of you over Christmas?—”
“No!” came from not one, not two, but all three people in the room. Jenna practically jumped out of her seat at the volume.
Jack put down the mugs in his hands to come over to her, but Melanie waved him off. “I got this.” She set down the sponge pad she’d been using to apply Ollie’s eyeshadow. “Mom, youdeservethis vacation. You do so much for the rest of us. It’s time that you and Dad took some time for yourselves.” She didn’t add, “especially now,” though all of them seemed to hear it. “Christmas isn’t aday. It’s about family and remembering the world is bigger than just one person.” Melanie reached across the table, squeezing Jenna’s hand. “You taught us that. So go! Have a blast. Get seriously sunburned and watch all the ladies fawn over Dad.”
Jenna giggled lightly. “I can’t take that man anywhere.”
Behind their children’s backs, Jack winked at her. He finished pouring their coffee and came over to sit next to Jenna at the table. “You need this break.Weneed this break, Jen.”
Jenna made a face, because he knew roping himself into that statement would make her reconsider. In less than a month, Jack was giving up the mantle of club president. The club that the two of them had built from the ground up. And he was doing itfor her.
On the first of the New Year, Ghost would be taking over as President.
Beyond that, Jack wasn’t staying a member of the club. While she would always be an ol’ lady due to their bylaws,Jackwould no longer be a member. He was handing over not just his president patch, but his cut. His only priority was now her and her health. It was a monumental sacrifice, and Jenna knew thatJack wouldneveradmit to how much doing so was hurting him. He was giving up something that he lovedfor her, and she could never make that up to him.
Jack didn’t see it as a sacrifice, though. He saw it as his duty, his privilege, to take care of her. Of everything in his life, of all the hats he wore,husbandwas the most important.
And he was stubborn enough that once his mind was made up, it was not budging. She knew him. Even at fifteen, he’d been that hardheaded.
Then again, so had she.
Slowly, Jenna nodded. He was giving up so much for her, and this vacation wasn’t just an excuse to take her away from the chaos of the holidays. It also gave him the opportunity to be elsewhere when Ghost officially took the title from him. Jenna wasn’t sure if Jack had pieced that part together yet, but she had. “Fine,” she said, conceding. “We’ll go to the Bahamas and have a marvelous time.” She left her voice dull and unenthusiastic on purpose.
Chuckling at her antics, Jack leaned forward. “That’s the spirit.”
The clubhouse was setup much like last year’s impromptu nativity performance. Folding chairs were set up facing the staircase with the seating area’s couch, loveseat, and easy-back chairs also twisted around. Beyond the club, there were family members, like Bear’s parents; Carlos, Zoey, and their kids; Tally’s best friend Simone, her husband Tom, who was also Keys’ business partner, and their two children; Dosia’s grandparents who were also Calliope’s parents; Chip, a veteran who lived on property but was not a member or prospect of theclub; Jumper and Pirate’s parents; and Jasmine’s dad. Sophia’s parents had declined their invite as they already had their own vacation plans set. Ranger’s sister and her boyfriend had to cancel at the last minute due to him getting sick.
Even with the number of kids running around, Jack managed to bulldoze his way through, claim one of the comfy chairs, and have a prospect move it front and center of the seating area for him and Jenna.
Carter and Lucy were due any minute with Drew, and Jenna caught sight of Jordan talking with Aaron and Bree. He waved to his parents and held up a finger, asking for a minute. Jenna waved him off. He could come see them when he was done. Jordan, for checking off all the middle-child stereotypes, was a good boy.
A number of the ol’ ladies were crowded around the kitchen door. Jasmine was there, having gotten over her bout of the flu over a week ago. She was still sad about having to miss SJ’s birthday party, but hadn’t wanted to risk anyone else getting sick.
Before Jack even had Jenna settled in the chair, the women were rushing over to share the good news. Sophia practically shoved a sonogram into Jenna’s face.
Jenna’s jaw dropped as she took hold of the picture to be able to see it better. “Sophia?” she questioned, wanting to make sure Sophia wasn’t sharing someone else’s news.
The newly married woman beamed. “I am carrying a mini pirate or piratess,” she announced proudly.
