Entangled Heart (Ashby Crime Family)

I had my fucking sister back!

It was a few long minutes before I was able to tear myself away from the couch and my sister’s side and face Jameson, who watched us with curious eyes. My footsteps were shaky, and he met me in the middle, just as he promised he always would. He put his hands to my waist as I wrapped mine around his neck. “Jamie, you gave me my sister back.”

He flashed a cocky grin. “I told you I loved you. And that I’d help you. No need to make a big deal about it.”

I gasped and smacked at his chest. “Dick.” But he was the man I loved, and he’d given me so much. I jumped into his arms and wrapped my legs around his waist, attacking his mouth like I hadn’t kissed him exactly the same way this morning before he left for work.

“I love you, too, but I’m not sure I can ever repay you for this one.”

“It’s a good thing we have forever for you to try.”

Molly cleared her throat loudly, and I somehow managed to tear my lips away from Jamie’s to look at her.

“What’s all this?”

With a reluctant sigh, I slid down Jamie’s body and stepped out of his reach, smiling myself silly at all my good fortune.

“I don’t know about you, Molls, but I’m starving. I hope you don’t mind me saying so, but you look like you could use some food.”

When she nodded her head vigorously, I said, “So why don’t we order some food and catch up on life?”

Jamie wrapped an arm around me and pressed a kiss to my forehead before he turned a smile to Molly. “Food is already on the way. You two catch up and, I’ll be back later.”

Who was this amazing man, and how did I convince him to make a life with me? I pushed up on my tiptoes and whispered, “I’m going to make a really big deal out of this. Later.”

Heat flared in his gray eyes at my words. “I love you,” he whispered before dropping a kiss on that spot right behind me ear.

“Love you back,” I called after him and gave his hard ass a smack. “We’ll save you some food. Maybe.”

When Jamie was gone, Molly fell back against the sofa with a knowing smile. “I guess we do have a lot of catching up to do, and I’m thinking maybe you should go first, little sister.”

“Since I think we could both use some happy news before we catch up on your life, I’ll give you the short version. Jameson started out as my best friend, and then I fell in love with him. Somehow, he loves me back and we’re having a baby together.”

“Damn!” Her brown eyes widened in shock. “Have I been gone that long? I mean, time moves slowly in a motel room, but holy shit, Maddie! And he’s fucking hot as hell. And a cop.”

I threw my head back and laughed, feeling light and worry-free for the first time since I came to Nevada.

“I know, right?” It was crazy how much this journey had changed my life. “I wish it hadn’t all happened while I was trying to play hero and rescue you, but I love him, and he says he loves me.”

“He does. I saw the way he looks at you, like you’re the warm cherry pie and the ice cream. And it explains why he was so worried about me when he saw me at the police station.” She sighed and her gaze darted away from mine. “You’ve got a good one, Maddie. I’m happy for you.”

I frowned. “You’re staying, right? This isn’t just a visit?”

“I don’t know. I was thinking about going back to San Bernardino, but I mean…what else is there for me?”

“Are you fucking kidding me? You’re my sister. You’ll stay here with me.” I gathered her in my arms, putting a hand to her beautiful face that was now all sharp angles. “Stay here until you’re ready to get a place of your own, if that’s what you want, and then I’ll help you.”

“I have like, two hundred bucks to my name, Madds.”

I sighed just as the doorbell rang. “I have money. Don’t worry about it. I have a good paying job and I’ve been staying with friends since I got here.” The food arrived, Jamie, of course, had ordered enough to feed ten people, and I was grateful because Molly needed to eat.

“Kitchen or backyard?” I asked.

At Molly’s hesitation, I clarified. “Fenced in, totally private back yard?”

Her shoulders relaxed and a relieved smile appeared on her beautiful face. “Backyard sounds good. And maybe a beer if you have it?”

She would need more than a beer to get over the past year. She would need a fuck ton of therapy before she was the old Molly again. If the old Molly was even still in there.