Claiming the Enemy: Dustin (Porter Brothers Trilogy 3)

“I’m sorry,” Jessie spoke out, breaking into Kailor’s description of a dish set she had found on sale.

“What for?” Kailor frowned at her.

“For not letting Bliss, you, and Rain come to visit me. I just didn’t want you guys to see me like that.”

Bliss angrily set her sandwich down on a napkin. “Don’t you dare apologize or think about making another excuse. We’re all big girls here. I, for one, know what you went through. It burns me to hell when a woman apologizes for something a man did. I wasn’t hurt, and neither were Kailor or Rain. We knew if you needed anything, you would tell us, and you did. You needed me to run the daycare while you recovered, and I did. You asked Rain if her sister could help out until you came back. You asked Kailor if she would get your mail at your apartment, and she did. That’s what friends are for, not to sit at your bedside and wish you better.”

Jessie gave a soft tear-filled laugh, so she wouldn’t disturb the children. Bliss was furious at her, and Kailor didn’t look any less angry.

“I’m the luckiest woman on earth. I have you guys, my family, and …” Jessie glanced cautiously at Kailor, hoping what she was about to say wouldn’t strain their relationship. “Dustin.”

Kailor’s eyes twinkled at her. “So, the rumors are true?”

Jessie frowned at the remark. “What rumors?”

“That you and Dustin are a couple. So, it’s true?”

“Yes.”

“Well, at least if I can’t have him, I’m glad you can.”

Jessie could tell she meant it. “I was worried about telling you,” she admitted.

“Why?”

“I didn’t want it to ruin our friendship.”

“No way! I’ll just set my sights on someone else.”

“You’ve already set your sights on half the men in town,” Bliss joked. “The other half are married.”

Jessie tilted her head to the side. “How come you haven’t asked me to hook you up with one of my brothers or cousins?”

Kailor darted Bliss an anxious glance before looking back at her. From her expression, Jessie could see she was trying to come up with a polite response.

“Nuh-uh, there’s a big age difference between us. Holt and Asher are a lot older than me.”

Jessie wasn’t going to give her an easy way out. “You’re twenty-six, Holt is thirty-six, and Asher is thirty-two. It’s not that big of a difference.”

“But mentally, I’m much younger.”

Jessie rolled her eyes. “I can agree with that. Bubba’s the same age as Holt, but what’s wrong with Bud?”

Kailor paled at the suggestion of her with Bud. “They’ve told everyone in town that when they have kids, they’re going to have B names. What if I want to name him Donald or Quentin?”

Jessie waved her concern away. “That’s just a rumor. Their brother Kyle had a K name.”

“Kyle was his nickname. His given name was Bucephelus.” Kailor’s raised voice had the children stirring in their cots.

“Shh ….” Bliss sent her a threating glance.

“You would love Bud. He’s good-looking, sweet ….”

Kailor looked at her as if she had lost her mind. “Isn’t he the cousin you complained about being a redneck from Hell.”

Jessie studied her fingernails to keep from meeting her dubious eyes. “I might have overexaggerated.”

“No, you haven’t. There hasn’t been a Saturday when he hasn’t been locked into one of Knox’s cells since I started working for you. You would pay his fines every Monday morning before opening the daycare, so Knox would release him.”

“I forgot about that.”

“I didn’t. I talked to Knox on my way in this morning. He said he was glad you’re getting back on schedule and that Bud wouldn’t have to watch you so much. He misses the revenue he makes when you get Bud out.”

Damn, she had been hoping to get Bud off her hands. Those fines had been eating a chunk out of her profits. He had been staying close by since her kidnapping, and she dreaded him getting back on his scheduled weekend binges.

She wasn’t ready to give up the ghost of a chance yet. “A good woman can always change a man’s wild ways.”

Kailor began to look doubtful. “You could be right. I’ll think about it.”

“Do that!” Jessie encouraged, beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel. “Just think, we could be cousins-in-law!”

“I’m not making any promises, but if you set us on a date, then you and Dustin are coming with us. I don’t have anything to do this coming Saturday.”

“I’m busy this Saturday. Friday is much better.”

“Okay,” Kailor agreed suspiciously. “I’m usually exhausted by Friday, but since you’re back, you could give me this Friday afternoon off. I can take a nap before getting ready.”

“Absolutely!”

Kailor gave her another suspicious look at her eagerness, so Jessie hastily looked back down at her nails.

“Uh … just one suggestion … Don’t wear green. Blue looks lovely on you.”