Claiming the Enemy: Dustin (Porter Brothers Trilogy 3)

“Why?”

“It was a lot cleaner.” Not to mention safe to her still fragile emotions. “You look like you did when I painted you green.”

Duck-walking toward the front porch, she almost tipped over backward at the weight of her sweat suit. Dustin put a hand on her back to push her up the steps. Opening the door, he waved her inside, sending Rosie into a burst of frightened tears in Sutton’s arms.

“I just got her quieted down. Go back outside and wait until Logan gets out of the shower.”

Wincing at the baby’s loud wails, she and Dustin made a hasty exit.

As they stared at each other in chagrin, she felt like when she was younger and had gotten in trouble with her ma.

“This is all your fault.”

Dustin accepted the blame like he had done back then. “Yeah, but it was fun, wasn’t it?”

“Maybe a little,” she admitted as the door was opened a crack.

“Jessie, Sutton said you can come in.” One of Tate’s eyes peered out. “Holly put some clothes in the bathroom for you. It’s the first door on the left.”

Opening the door enough to let her slip through, Jessie saw Sutton holding Rosie with their backs turned.

As quietly as she could, she went to the bathroom, taking the leaden weight of the clothes off.

A trash bag was draped over the shower door. Dumping her dirty clothes into it, she tied the ends closed before getting in the shower.

When she was done, she dried off and put on a cream top that made her feel flat-chested compared to Holly. She then slid a pair of olive pants on that fit her much better if you didn’t consider they came to her ankles.

Finding a brush on the sink, she brushed her tangled hair before carrying her trash bag of clothes into the living room. It was empty, but she could easily see that the whole family was sitting at the large table, except for Dustin.

Holly pulled a chair out invitingly. “Have a seat. I’ll make you a coffee.”

“I’ll just go. I don’t want to disturb your dinner,” Jessie hedged, trying to edge toward the door.

“Sit. Dustin’s in the shower, and everyone’s worked up a big appetite, so they won’t be leaving the table anytime soon to take you home.” Holly hustled toward the kitchen, pouring her coffee.

Setting the bag by the door, she moved to the chair.

Thanking Holly, Jessie poured some milk from the plastic jug, nervously watching the others load up their plates.

She was blowing on her coffee when Holly placed a plate down in front of her.

“Help yourself. You have to be as hungry as everyone else,” Holly said, slipping into the chair next to hers.

“I’m not that hungry,” Jessie started to refuse.

“Suit yourself,” Greer stated, giving Tate an evil eye. “I ain’t keen on sharing those dumplings.”

“I may take a spoonful.” Jessie reached for the serving spoon in the large bowl, giving herself a generous portion under Greer’s hawk-like stare.

“I thought you weren’t hungry?”

“I changed my mind. Are those fresh green beans?” she asked Holly.

Holly moved the bowl closer to her. “Enjoy. It’s the last that I canned this summer.”

Jessie gave herself two generous helpings of the beans, seeing that Greer had moved the cornbread protectively nearer to him, like a bone he was afraid was about to get stolen.

“May I have some cornbread, Holly?”

“Of course. Greer, pass Jessie the cornbread.”

She could tell he was debating handing her a piece off the platter, but good manners overrode his greed.

Jessie took two just to piss him off.

She thought for a minute he was going to stroke out, especially since Tate and Sutton both used the opportunity to swipe another piece for themselves.

“Eat as much as you want, Jessie. I have another skillet in the oven.” Holly smiled graciously to make up for her husband’s petulance.

“Don’t let Greer bother you,” Tate spoke up, using a fork to spear two tomatoes that were sliced into sections. “If you think this is bad, you should see how he acts when Holly makes biscuits and gravy.”

“She ain’t staying for breakfast.” Greer sorrowfully watched Logan dump the last of the green beans onto his plate.

“Greer save me any food?” Dustin asked, coming into the room with droplets of water still clinging to the ends his hair.

“No,” Greer answered, giving Dustin a beady-eyed stare as he sat down on the other side of Tate.

“The food is delicious, Holly,” Jessie complimented as she took another bite of the cornbread.

Holly flushed. “The only thing I can take credit for are the green beans. Sutton made dinner while she was babysitting Rosie.”

Jessie looked at the happy baby who had pride of place in the highchair by Greer’s side.

“I see her tooth has finally broken through.”

“She’s working on another one. Hopefully, it won’t take as long as this one.” Holly affectionally glanced at her daughter. “Greer and I took turns sleeping at night to get through the last one. Even Dustin volunteered to pitch in a few times.”