“Rox,” he cupped her jaw, forcing her to look up. “I don’t share it with a lot of people.”
“Okay.”
His thumbs strummed over her cheeks. “But I want to share it with you.”
This is going to be the longest week of my life.
****
Jonah rolled his neck and straightened his back, cracking it in the process. It’d been a long day with a few hiccups on his current project. Having two employees no-show left the others scrambling to keep it on schedule. It meant Jonah had to step in more than usual. Aside from that clusterfuck, he had an order for a coffee table for a new client who needed it in three weeks as a rush order. Jonah had too much on his plate, and the signs of stress were showing.
If he’d been smart, he would’ve canceled all his plans for the weekend and locked himself in his workshop until the piece was complete.Not a fucking chance.His only focus for the weekend was a blue-eyed, dark-haired beauty whom he’d be seeing in a few hours. By Monday, Jonah regretted his suggestion to wait until the weekend to go out with Roxanne. It was way too fucking long. They’d messaged back and forth a handful of times throughout the week. Usually, she’d initiated it until yesterday when, completely out of character, Jonah had sent her a message when he’d woken up.
Jonah: Good morning.
This woman had consumed every free moment for the last six days. Had his week not been so busy, he would’ve caved and invited her out on a weeknight. But his schedule wouldn’t allowit. Most nights he didn’t get home until close to eight. Tonight was an exception.
He walked up the back-porch steps and into the mudroom. Usually, he stripped down, tossing his clothes in the hamper. However, he wasn’t alone today. Her car had been parked in front of the house when he pulled in the driveway. It was her usual day, but she’d stayed long past the average time.
Jonah walked into the kitchen and found her standing beside the table, folding laundry. She glanced up with a welcoming smile.
“Hey there, sugar.”
SueAnn.She’d been a staple with the brothers for years. An extended part of their little family. There wasn’t a blood relationship, and they hadn’t known her all their lives. But SueAnn was family, nonetheless.
“You’re here later than usual.”
She dipped her brows and flattened her lips. “Would’ve been on my way thirty minutes ago had I been prepared for the war zone upstairs.”
He grasped his hips. “Cord?”
“Some interesting finds in that boy’s room.”
Oh shit.
“Is there gonna be an extra charge this month?” Jonah was only half kidding.
SueAnn glanced up at the ceiling as if weighing her options. She sighed, with a small smile playing on her lips. “I’ll just save the stories for my memoir and make my money that way. Cord would probably get an entire chapter in my book.”
SueAnn had been with them for years. She lived halfway between their old town and Houston. He thought for sure when he announced their move it’d be the end. But she insisted it was the same distance. It was in mileage, but not in time. It took twice as long to get around the city. Still, she insisted, and itwould’ve been a devastating blow for the boys to lose her.And me.She was one of the few constant parental figures in their lives since their parents died.
“I made a chicken pot pie. It’s in the freezer. Let it thaw on the counter and cook it for forty minutes at three-fifty. Easy-peasy.”
Jonah opened the fridge, grabbed a beer and settled against the counter, eyeing the woman. He’d been through this before with her, but she rarely followed any of his rules.
“How many times have we been over this? You don’t have to cook for us, SueAnn.”
She waved her hand, resting the laundry basket on her hip. “I don’t have to do anything, sugar. I do it because I want to. And not you, or any other man, is going to dictate what I can and cannot do.”
Jonah chuckled, shaking his head.
She narrowed her gaze. “You hear me?”
“I hear you.”
“Good.” She widened her eyes and lifted her chin. “Now, let’s talk about what I heard. You had company recently. A lady-friend?”
Fucking Holden.That kid had the biggest mouth, and nothing was sacred. He was worse than the old guys at the coffee shop, gossiping like it was their job. He took a long swig from his beer, hoping to bypass the inquisition. Not with SueAnn.
