Claiming the Enemy: Dustin (Porter Brothers Trilogy 3)

“You fucki—”

Greer’s hat went sailing off at the smack that Holly landed on the back of his head.

“I told you to watch your mouth when there are kids near.”

“You see any kids standing near here?” His brother was smart enough to take his plate and go to the picnic table.

Dustin was smart enough to follow him when he saw Jessie was debating on doing the same thing to him.

“Asshole,” Greer mumbled around a mouthful of chicken.

“Dickhead,” Dustin said, shoving a biscuit into his mouth.

Five minutes later, the picnic table was full, and so was the one next to it. Those who couldn’t fit at the table found a spot to sit on the porch. Dustin had been saving a seat for Jessie, but she was still making small talk.

When she looked at her phone again, he had a nagging suspicion who she was texting.

“Save my seats,” he told Greer, standing up.

“Yeah, right.”

Making sure Holly wasn’t watching, he flipped him off, threw his dirty plate away, and got another one. Leaning over the kettle of chicken, he saw it was empty.

“Who you texting?”

Jessie lowered her phone, then shoved it into her jacket pocket. “Bubba, Bud, and BoDean. They were supposed to be right behind us, but Bubba said he needed to go to the restroom. Now none of them are answering my texts. They’re bringing the rest of the food, and the chicken is gone.”

“They’re bringing more chicken?”

“Yes, and the sweet cornbread.”

“Is the cornbread as good as your biscuits?”

“Better.”

“Then you’re wasting your time texting them. They ain’t coming,” he said morosely.

“I’ve come to the same conclusion myself.” She unhappily reached for a piece out of the still-full KFC bucket. “How was the food?”

The woman might appear disinterested in his opinion, but his mama hadn’t raised no fool.

“Rachel and Sutton aren’t going to be happy.”

“Why?” Her hazel eyes had a light he hadn’t seen since the day he’d watched her at the daycare with the children.

“Because you usurped those two queen positions.”

Taking the last slice of cake, he walked alongside Jessie as they headed to the table, where Holly was squished between Greer and Sutton. Everyone sitting at the table gave him accusing glances when they saw the cake on his plate as he and Jessie sat down. He was about to take a bite of it when Sutton reached across the table and slid it in front of her.

“Thanks, Dustin.”

“I got that for me.”

“Sorry.” Taking a forkful, Sutton gave an exaggerated sigh just to piss him off. “Pregnant women get priority where food is concerned. It’s delicious, Jessie.”

“I have one question.” Greer wiped his hands on his jeans. “How come I didn’t know you could cook like this? I would have put you on my list.”

“What list?” Jessie asked.

“You don’t want to know,” Holly replied, glaring at her husband.

“Nothin’ to be jealous of. I would have still chosen you, but a man wants to know all his options.”

“I have a couple of options for you. You can sleep on the couch tonight or on Dustin’s bed. Take your choice.”

Greer quickly changed tactics. “Her food wasn’t that good.” He winked at Jessie, letting her know he really didn’t mean what he was saying. “Yours is better.”

“Greer, I can see you winking at Jessie.” Exasperated, Holly shook her head at Jessie, who was starting to think he might be hurting Holly’s feelings. “Don’t worry. I knew Greer was a food whore when I married him. I told him I didn’t mind him bragging about another woman’s cooking as long as he kept his hands off the cooks. I appreciate a good meal at King’s every now and then,” she joked.

Deep grooves appeared on Greer’s forehead. “What does that mean?”

“Just what I said. I enjoy eating at King’s restaurant.”

“Does that mean you like the food there or you just want to go see King?”

“Both.”

“I hope you enjoyed the meal we had last weekend, ’cause we won’t be going again.”

“If I’m not jealous over Jessie’s food, why should you be jealous? Unlike you, King is a perfect gentleman, and he’s married.”

“Doesn’t matter. We ain’t going.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t care if he’s married to the Queen of Sheba. She ain’t you.”

“Awe. That’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

Dustin made a gagging noise that earned him a pinch under the table from Jessie.

Greer’s chest swelled up the size of the rooster in the hen house. “Does that mean I get to sleep in my bed tonight?”

“It means I’ll think about it.”

A crackling sound came over the loud speaker as the band that Greer had hired from the VFW set up their instruments.

“If I dance with you, will you?”

“Don’t press your luck.”

25

Jessie swung Logan in the air as they danced to “Thank God, I’m a Country Boy.” Exuberantly, she twirled Logan around, laughing when she had to duck under when he twirled her back.