Rocky Start (A Rocky Start)

“Stay right there.”

“You better not go out there undressed,” she scolds me.

“Of course not, babe.” I wrap up in a towel and walk into the bedroom and lock the bedroom door. Grabbing my phone, I realize that I had three missed calls from Bennett for the past hour.

“Hey, we’re in the bath. Darcy’s things are boxed in Lydia’s room, so you can have the movers grab them from there.”

“The movers don’t come until tomorrow. We came to have dinner with you two and talk. Darcy feels bad and wants to talk to Georgie, but I guess it was for nothing.”

“No, they should talk, but tell her to bring her some clothes and I’ll be dressed in a few minutes.”

“Okay.”

“Babe. They came early to have dinner, and your sister wants to see you.”

“Oh.”

“She’s grabbing you some clothes. I love Bennett like a brother but if he saw you naked, I’d have to kill him.”

“I understand.”

“I’m going to get dressed.”

“I’ll be rinsed off in a minute.” I hurry and dress in a nice pair of slacks and polo to look presentable for my woman. As soon as I’m ready, I open the door and let Darcy in. She walks past me and into the bedroom, closing the door behind me, shoving me out of it.

“Hey, thanks for the heads up.”

“I tried to call you.”

“I was fucking busy.”

“Clearly.” He tilts his head to the clothes, and then I remember the chair. I toss the clothes onto the chair, tucking Georgie’s panties into my pocket, grabbing the blanket on the back of the sofa and tossing it on the chair as well; no one is allowed to sit there ever again unless it’s me or my wife. In fact, that chair will be moved to our bedroom in our home in Texas.

“So you worked quick.”

“Quick? You and Darcy made it work within hours of meeting. Georgie and I are happy, but we had a rocky start.”

“Guys, we’re ready,” Darcy says, bounding out of the room with enthusiasm, but Georgie’s walking slowly.

“That was fast,” Bennett says.

“Well, we’re sisters.”

I pull Georgie into my arms and whisper, “Are you okay, beautiful?”

“Yes, I promise. So where are we going to eat? I’ve worked up an appetite.”

“Are you sure?”

“She’s sore.”

“God, you’re such a bitch,” Georgie hisses.

“That’s okay. That means he gave it to you really good.”

“How about we order in, then?”

“Sounds good to me, although we’re going to skip pizza. We’ve had that already this week, including leftovers. Sean ordered a deep-dish pizza.”

“You let me without a warning.” I pull her in for a kiss because I can’t stop kissing her now that I have her.

She shrugs. “It was funny.”

“Let’s relax and talk. It’s been a long time. How’s the sheriff?”

“He’s improving. They have a long way to go, but he’s happy that she’s by his side so everything else doesn’t matter.”

“That I can understand more than anything.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. You had to be sure of yourself and of me. I want you to always trust that my heart is yours.” I kiss her temple. “So how about dinner? I want to make sure you’re well fed.”

Chapter Eight

Georgie

I stare at the ring as we take the flight to Houston, Texas. Sean and Bennett live just outside the city limits, so we’ll drive after we land. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. It’s perfect. My parents will be there for you to meet.”

“I’m not worried about your parents, Georgie. If anything, they should worry about me. Knowing that you’re a virgin, I’m guessing it wasn’t some ex-boyfriend that put the feeling of abandonment in you.”

“It’s not abandonment so much as it’s disappointment. I suppose I’m the proverbial middle child. Darcy’s the eldest, special in her own way, and of course, Lydia’s the baby. I’m right in the middle, and although I don’t resent anything, I know that I became accustomed to being an afterthought or forgotten. I became used to just expecting the bare minimum; well, except with my sisters. We’ve always been close. And then I learned something three months ago that nearly broke me, and I haven’t shared it with anyone. I have to tell you, but I can’t right now. Not in public.”

“Georgiana, you know what your sisters told me when I asked about you? They said they believed that you were the most amazing one of all of them. You held them together, kept them grounded when they were being fanciful, and they loved you so much. I’m sorry your parents didn’t give you the attention you needed, but I’ll promise to neglect all our children equally because I’m obsessed with their mother.”

“Silly man.”

“We’ll just have to remind ourselves to check in with our brood to see if we’re neglecting them. If they feel that way, we figure out how to let them know they’re all special to us. Besides, if we have an even number, like ten, then we won’t have a middle child.”