Claiming the Enemy: Dustin (Porter Brothers Trilogy 3)

She was putting the biscuits in the oven when Holt wandered into the kitchen.

“I’m going to have to go on a diet if you don’t go back to work,” he complained, sitting down at the counter.

“Then you’re going to be relieved to know that I’m going back to work next week.” Jessie slid a large plate across the counter to him. Going to the fridge, she took out the ketchup bottle and slid that to him, too.

“When did you decide on that?”

“I guess just now.”

“You think you’re going to be able to handle it?”

“I’ll find out when I go back. If not, then I’ll sell the business to Bliss. But I’m going to try to make it work. I’m getting bored staying here with nothing to do.”

Jessie saw him frown as he squirted a big glob of ketchup onto his plate next to the potatoes.

“Does that mean you’re wanting to move back into your apartment?”

“No, it doesn’t mean that. I’ve come to another decision about that.” Jessie took the biscuits out of the oven before making a plate for herself. “If you and Asher don’t mind, I want to let my apartment lease go and move back in here permanently.”

Sliding on the chair next to his, she waited for his reaction.

“When Asher wakes up, we’ll run by and get Bud and his truck and get your things.”

Jessie looked down at her plate and closed her eyes in relief. She hadn’t thought they would mind, but that he was so willing soothed a part of her that had been unsure.

“Thank you.”

He turned to look at her in surprise. “What for?”

“For letting me move back. You and Asher have been alone since Dad died.”

“Jessie, I never wanted you to move out, but it was for the best when Dad was still living. He was hard to live with; that’s why I didn’t put up an argument when you moved out. After he died, you were old enough to make your own decisions, so I left well enough alone. It’s one of the many things I regret.”

Jessie got off her stool. “Don’t say that. You’re the best brother ever.”

He dropped his fork to his plate. “I better get Asher up.”

“Finish your breakfast. I’ll wake him.”

Jessie went to Asher’s bedroom door, knocking until she heard his voice from the other side.

When Asher came into the kitchen, he made a plate for himself as Holt told him they were going to her apartment to get her things.

“Do you want to go, or do you want us to do it?” Asker asked, taking a seat at the counter with them.

“I’ll go.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure.” Then she replied firmly, “I’m going.”

“What we going to do with all the furniture? It won’t all fit in here.”

“Most of it is secondhand, but I’ll text Lily and ask if she wants it for the thrift store.”

“Sounds like we’d better get busy,” Holt said, raising from his stool to put his dishes in the sink. “I want to have enough time to get a shower and changed before going to the party tonight.”

Caught off guard, Jessie nearly dropped the plates she was carrying. “You’re going?”

“Asher and I both are.”

Setting the dishes in the sink, she started washing them as Asher finished eating.

“Bubba, Bud, and BoDean are going, too,” Asher said, smearing jelly on his biscuit.

“Damn, I didn’t know that. We need to get there early, then—all the food will be gone,” Holt complained.

“There should be plenty. King was supposed to cater it, but he backed out when he got in an argument with Greer about the price. Now, everybody is supposed to bring a dish.” Asher pointed at the angel food cake he had bought at the store. “We can take that.”

Jessie turned the water off. “You ate most of it last night.”

“That don’t matter. Dustin just said to bring something. He didn’t say how much.”

She grabbed a hand towel to dry her hands. “Let’s go. We can run by the store after we get my things loaded into the truck.”

“You going to the store, too? What put you in such a good mood this morning? Or shouldn’t I ask?” Asher asked, buttering another biscuit.

Jessie flushed, seeing Holt staring at her.

“Nothing better be going on with Dustin in that bedroom until I see a ring on your finger.”

Jessie could feel her flush becoming brighter. “You know he’s been sneaking in?”

“A damn fool could with the two of you talking.” Asher snorted around his biscuit. “It’s only when we hear something else going on in there that Holt and I’ll shoot his ass.”

Jessie’s hackles immediately rose at him threatening to shoot Dustin. Though, conveniently, she had taken a shot at him herself.

“Dustin’s been a perfect gentleman.”

“He better.” Asher popped the last of the biscuit into his mouth. “Don’t throw that newspaper away. I need to start looking for another part-time job to make some extra money. I need a new suit. If there’s going to be a wedding, I need to be prepared.”