Claiming the Enemy: Dustin (Porter Brothers Trilogy 3)

Dustin gave his brother a steely-eyed glare when Greer folded his arms against his chest. He was sitting on a chair across the room, with Knox sitting on one side of him and Shade on the other.

“Why don’t you ask the best man to come and get it?”

Tate’s lips tightened as he moved from the side of the bed to Greer, holding his hand out.

Greer reached into his pocket, taking the ring out. He ignored Tate’s waiting hand.

“You know I was supposed to be the best man. He only chose you because he’s too chickenshit to let me near him.”

If he were able, he would get off the hospital bed and kick Greer in the ass.

“We all know you were the best man,” Tate said sardonically.

Greer dropped the ring into Tate’s hand. “Damn right.”

Tate walked back to Dustin’s bed, standing uncomfortably as Dustin tried to open his hand.

“I’ll do it.” Ema went to her knees, taking the ring from Tate, then plopping back down on the bed.

Jessie held her hand out for Ema to put the ring on. “Thank you, Ema.”

“Welcome.” She snuggled back against Dustin.

Dustin grinned at Jessie as she stared at the ring she remembered.

“I now pronounce you man and wife.”

Jessie managed to take her eyes off her ring long enough to kiss him. When she raised her head, everyone gathered around were congratulating them.

Jessie tugged Logan close after giving him a hug, keeping her arm around him. His son’s eyes were swollen and red.

The hardest thing he had ever had to do was tell his son that he was dying. He had spent the day with him yesterday and this morning, and he seemed just as lost and frightened today as he was yesterday.

The nurses pushed in a big cake on a wheeled table. Holly gave Rosie to Greer so she could slice the cake, giving the first slice to Jessie.

Offering him the first bite, she held the fork to his lips before taking a bite for herself. As soon as her lips closed around the fork, he was opening his mouth for another bite.

“You like it?” she asked, feeding him another.

Dustin waited until he swallowed to answer, “It’s delicious. It’s as good as my mother’s. Did Sutton make it?”

Jessie took another bite for herself. “I did.”

“You made it?” He gave her a warning glance when she took another bite instead of giving him a turn.

Tauntingly, Jessie slowly brought the fork out of her mouth. “Who do you think your mama got her recipes from?”

Dustin’s head fell back on his pillow as he laughed. “If Greer knew you could make jam cake as good as Ma, he would be married to you instead of Holly.”

“Why do you think my brothers always pretended I was a lousy cook?” she said, finally giving him another bite.

“I’ll move her, Dustin.” Rachel started to hand Cash her paper plate to move her daughter. Ema had fallen asleep curled against Dustin’s side with her thumb in her mouth.

“Leave her be. She’s not bothering me.”

Rachel went back to eating her cake.

When he looked back at Jessie, he saw her again looking at her ring.

Seeing him looking, she shrugged. “I can’t help it. It’s beautiful. Who got it for you?”

“I picked it out online, and Greer picked it up for me when you were in the bridal salon.”

“He did?”

“Yes.”

“It looks very expensive.”

“It is … Don’t frown at me. I could afford it … and the dress.”

“You paid for my dress?”

“Yes, and let me tell you, if I hadn’t already been in the hospital, the cost would’ve put me here.”

“Dustin, it’s too much … I thought Greer paid for the dress.”

“You think he could afford your dress easier than I could?”

Embarrassed, she leaned down to whisper in his ear, “I thought he paid for it with the weed Asher brought back.”

“It didn’t bother you that he used weed money to pay for it?” he tilted his head sideways to whisper back.

Jessie ran a caressing hand down the side of her dress. “I really like it.”

“I really like it, too. I’m glad you picked it.”

“Actually, Greer did. I almost did get it until Britt told me it would cost twelve thousand dollars.”

“Give me another bite of that cake, and then I’ll tell you something that’s going to make you feel better,” he said, already opening his mouth.

Swallowing it, he savored the flavor until Jessie started to move the plate away.

“Okay, okay … Greer got her down to five thousand.”

“You’re joking.”

“Nope.”

“Holly,” Jessie called out, “give Greer another piece of cake … Wait a sec. Did anyone in here happen to watch the news last night?”

When Dustin asked why, she explained that she had been afraid Greer had robbed the store.

“Technically, he did. He got it at her cost. He did the same with your ring. The jewelry store and bridal salon owners asked him never to come back.”