Jack (The Family Simon 2)

There were several from Maverick, but he ignored those. His cousin was probably just giving him the gears again, and while Jack knew he deserved it, he didn’t need to be reminded over and over again.

He scrolled through a few missed calls from his mother. Okay those he’d have to return, but again, it could wait. He saw that Tucker had called and so had his sister Grace. Hell, there was even two texts from his brother Teague, and Teague was somewhere in South America.

What the hell? He didn’t read any of them, he just scrolled through until he got to the last one. It set his teeth on edge, and he frowned. From Derek, it was simple and to the point. The guy had never been one for subtlety.

Are you fucking crazy? Donovan James? We need to talk.

Jack’s finger scrolled over Derek’s text, and the anger that settled in his gut was something fierce. It was time he and Derek had a meeting.

He tossed his cell back onto the bed and exhaled, running a hand over the several days worth of growth on his chin. How the hell did Derek know about Donovan?

“Whatever,” he muttered. He was going to have these few days with his woman, and then he’d face whatever shit storm was coming his way.

Jack took two steps out of his bedroom before he knew that wasn’t going to happen. Coco was barking crazily. It was the kind of crazy that signaled company. He wasn’t exactly sure if the shit storm had already found its way inside his house, but something sure as hell was happening.

He glanced over the railing and swore.

Maverick was looking up at him, and if he was reading his cousin right, the guy wanted to kill Jack. Whatever. Maverick he could handle. It was the other two who concerned him more. Especially the small, petite thing.

His mother.

She was like a barracuda when it came to her kids and when Donovan and Jack’s relationship had busted wide open, she’d been in his corner 100%. Jack was pretty sure that his mother would have gone toe to toe with Donovan if given the chance.

He sure as hell didn’t need her poking around in his business, because right now, he wasn’t exactly sure what his business was all about.

“Jack, do you want to explain what’s going on?” his mother said, eyebrow raised in that way that told him her hackles were up. She was preparing to fight, and

Jesus, he was too damned tired to do it right now. Eden DuRocher-Simon had never had a problem voicing her opinion. And she would get into Donovan’s face without a thought.

Thing was? Donovan was always up for a fight. She’d give as good as she got, but Jack wasn’t having any of it.

This right here was no one’s business but his and Donnie’s.

“Not now, Mom,” Jack said taking the stairs two at a time and not stopping until he stood at the counter beside Donovan. Sabrina was quiet. Donovan was quiet. Hell, the goddamn dog was quiet.

It was too quiet.

Morgan wrinkled her nose and pointed to Rick. “You look like a girl. Like the girl who works at Mommy’s bank. She has a mustache. ”

Jack tried to hide his smile, but he couldn’t do it.

“Morgan!” Sabrina hissed.

“But Mommy he does,” Morgan replied, as she turned to her mother. “His hair is longer than yours and his eyes are pretty.”

The quiet was broken. Leave it to a kid.

Jack smiled and glanced around the room. “So who wants coffee?”

Chapter Twenty-four

* * *

Donovan was mortified. To be caught practically naked by Jack’s parents wasn’t something she wanted to repeat. Like ever.

Sure most people would have found at least a little humor in the situation, but it was obvious that Jack’s mother wasn’t a fan. Not that Donnie blamed her, but still, the look on her face when she’d walked into the house had made Donovan’s stomach turn.

It had been shock. Disbelief. And then something akin to dislike. It was there and gone just as quick, Donovan had seen it, and it had been enough.