Dirty Sexy Sinner (12 page)

She laughed as she stepped out of his embrace, even though it was the last thing she wanted. With a reluctant sigh, he let her go.

“It would be rude for the guest of honor to not show up to her own celebration,” she said, trying to keep her voice, and her own convictions, from wavering.

“Then we’d better go before I strip you naked and have my way with you.” He raked his hot gaze down the length of her, taking in the stiff nipples still pebbled against the fabric of her gray top before his bold, shameless eyes met hers again. “I don’t think my brothers would appreciate you walking in late to your own party, looking like you’d just been thoroughly fucked.”

That dirty mouth. Those indecent words. She groaned as her body flushed with desire and reckless temptation beckoned.

“We need to go,” she said, attempting to sound stern. “
Now
.”

His chuckle was warm and deep and unapologetic as he walked toward the entry, and she followed. He opened the door, and as she passed through, he smacked her ass, hard enough for his handprint to sting through the material of her jeans.

She gasped and whirled around, gaping at him in shock, even as the tingling sensation turned into a slow burn of pleasure. “What was
that
for?”

He winked at her as a pleased, self-satisfied look crossed his gorgeous features. “Just giving you something to think about until we get back later.”

T
ara cast a
sidelong glance at Jackson as they walked side by side up the cobblestone walkway leading to Clay and Samantha’s front porch. They’d left her house in a playful mood, but the closer they’d gotten to Clay’s, the quieter Jackson had become. He was more subdued than she’d ever seen him, and she wanted to be sure that he was okay before they surprised everyone with his presence.

She lightly touched her fingers to the inside of his forearm, just to let him know that he had someone on his side no matter what happened once they entered the house. She wanted to hold his hand in a show of support, but she wasn’t ready to make
that
kind of bold statement in front of the Kincaid brothers just yet. It was enough that she was surprising them by bringing Jackson. She didn’t need to complicate matters by flaunting the fact that she was dating him.

“Nervous?” she asked as they climbed the four steps leading to the front door.

“No.” If he was lying, his steady voice gave nothing away, nor did his dark brown eyes when they met her gaze. “Are you?”

“Nope. Not even a little.” She gave him a fearless smile that was an authentic and true reflection of her inner confidence. “I’ve known Clay, Mason, and Levi long enough to have learned that their growl is worse than their bite.”

Jackson arched a dubious brow. “I don’t know about that. Mason seemed pretty damn rabid.”

She laughed but couldn’t disagree. “It’s mostly a defense mechanism. They’re very protective when it comes to each other and the people they care about. Mason is just far more vocal about his approach.”

She gave his arm one last squeeze and rang the doorbell, reminding herself that today’s goal was to give all four of them the push they needed to connect beyond the strangers they were. If she accomplished that small task, she’d chalk it up to a victory.

Tara heard Samantha’s feminine voice, along with Katrina’s and Sarah’s laughter as they approached the entry from the other side of the closed door. When it flew open, they all three shouted in unison, “Happy graduation!”

That animated greeting ebbed into silence as three pairs of eyes shifted to Jackson, standing by Tara’s side. Their changing expressions were almost comical as they stared in shock at Clay’s twin. Samantha’s blue eyes were huge, Katrina’s mouth had fallen open as though she couldn’t find the words to speak, and Sarah blinked a few times as if she were seeing a mirage.

Without missing a beat, a charming smile eased across Jackson’s mouth. “Hi, ladies,” he said, amusement lacing his voice despite the reserve Tara detected in his body language.

His greeting was simple but effective and snapped all three women out of their stupor. Prim and proper Samantha was the first to react.

“Oh, my God, where are my manners!” she exclaimed apologetically as she opened the door wider for them to enter. “You must be Jackson. Come on in, please.”

“Thank you,” he replied with a polite nod, and followed Tara into the living room.

A sliver of relief allowed Tara to relax a bit. The Kincaid men had obviously told their women about their brother and Clay’s twin. She wasn’t sure what else they’d told the girls, but considering how excited they seemed to meet him, Tara was grateful that at least they were friendly and welcoming.

“It’s so nice to meet you,” Katrina gushed, shaking his hand with genuine warmth. She was the most eccentric one out of the group, with her purple-tipped hair and sleeve of colorful butterfly tattoos covering one arm.

“Yes, finally,” Sarah added just as enthusiastically. “We were just telling the guys that we all wanted to meet you, and here you are. It was so great of Tara to bring you.”

At the mention of Jackson being her guest, Katrina side-eyed Tara with sudden curiosity. Being out of Jackson’s line of sight, the other woman raised a sassy brow that spoke louder than words,
how is it that you know Jackson so well that you’re the one to bring him to the party? And what is going on between the two of you?

Tara just smiled, giving nothing away. She had no doubt that Katrina would corner her later, probably along with Samantha and Sarah, to interrogate her when Jackson wasn’t around.

“I can’t get over how much you look like Clay.” Samantha’s creamy complexion blushed as the comment spilled out, and she absently stroked her hand over the small baby bump outlined beneath the cute top she was wearing. “I mean, I know you’re twins, but it’s just so strange to see . . . well, another Clay.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Katrina said, her tone teasing. “I think Jackson might be a better-looking version of Clay.”

Samantha laughed lightly as she gave Jackson an impish look. “Sorry and no offense, but that’s just not possible.”

Jackson chuckled, looking completely at ease with the women. “No offense taken.”

Sarah shook her head and chimed in as the peacemaker. “You two look identical, so I’d say you’re equally handsome.”

“Is the graduation girl finally here?” Clay’s voice boomed from the kitchen area right before he walked into the living room. “Can’t start the party without the guest of honor—”

His steps slowed, as did Mason’s and Levi’s, who’d been following Clay. All three men stopped and stared at Jackson, and the sudden strain in the room was nearly tangible. The silence was deafening.

What the hell was wrong with these guys?
Annoyed with their behavior, Tara spoke up. “Don’t be rude, boys,” she said through gritted teeth, trying to sound pleasant when she was suddenly feeling very protective of Jackson. “Say hello to my
guest
.”

Samantha gave Clay a pointed look, while Katrina jabbed Mason in the side with her elbow hard enough for him to grunt from the impact. The glare he aimed at Katrina didn’t seem to faze his wife one bit. She was one of the few people who didn’t put up with Mason’s shit and could put him in his place.

Levi finally stepped forward, his demeanor reserved as he offered his hand to Jackson. “Good to see you.” His tone, at least, was cordial.

“Likewise.” The two men shook hands, followed by Clay and Mason, who were just as guarded with their acknowledgment.

Good God. There was no way Tara was going to spend the afternoon and evening with all this tension between the guys. Whatever their issue with Jackson, she was determined to find out. Starting right now.

“Samantha, would you mind taking Jackson out on the deck, get him a beer or something to drink while I talk to these guys?” Tara asked as she hitched her thumb toward the three brothers.

The other woman nodded in understanding. “Absolutely. Come on, Jackson. We want to know all about you.”

Samantha, Katrina, and Sarah were more than happy to usher him outside and keep him busy with questions.

“At least someone has the right idea,” Tara muttered irritably as she turned toward the men left behind. “You three. In the kitchen. Now.”

She marched past them and didn’t miss Mason’s smart-mouthed, mocking comment, “Geez, bossy much?” Oh, he had no idea how
bossy
she was about to become.

Clay’s kitchen was huge and spacious, completely renovated with state-of-the-art appliances and yards of counter space to cater to Samantha’s love of baking. Evidence of her baking passion was set out on the counter—delicious cupcakes, fancy cookies, and decadent pastries. If Tara didn’t have business to take care of, she would have beelined it straight to Samantha’s desserts and indulged.

Once the four of them were all in the kitchen, she spun around to face them as they stood in a semicircle in front of her. “What the hell is going on with you three?” she asked, finally unleashing her frustration. “You’re acting like complete jerks around Jackson and he doesn’t deserve it.”

“Learning about Jackson and the circumstances of his adoption hasn’t been easy to digest,” Clay said quietly as he moved toward the sink so he could look out the window to the deck and watch the girls and Jackson.

“And you think it’s been a piece of cake for him?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “So you’re going to punish him for something your drug-addicted mother did?”

“We’re not trying to punish him,” Levi said, shifting on his feet while Mason stood next to his brother with an obstinate frown on his face.

“It sure as hell feels that way.” Her tone was haughty, and she didn’t care. “You’ve ignored him since he came to the bar to meet you three last week.”

Clay’s gaze was riveted to whatever was going on outside, and he spoke over his shoulder. “We were going to contact him this week and see if he wanted to come by the bar and talk,” he said, the slightest hint of guilt infusing his voice.

“Better late than never, I suppose,” she said sarcastically. “Just keep in mind that there are three of you and
one
of him. You three have each other, but who does he have?”

“He has a
family
,” Mason said abruptly. “That’s what Jackson has. We three are the only family we’ve
ever
had, and it’s not easy to let a virtual stranger in.”

“That’s the problem with the three of you.” Her voice rose angrily as she encompassed all of them with a wild wave of her hand. “You have no idea what his life has been like, how he grew up and how he was treated and what kind of
family
he had. Are you judging him based on the suit he wore the first time he met you guys? Do you think that defines the man he is and somehow makes him impervious to a shitty childhood? Maybe he had it just as tough as you guys did.”

Clay briefly looked away from the window, his gaze narrowed on Tara. “Why does it sound like you know all about his family and childhood?”

She ignored the slight accusation she heard in his voice. “Because maybe I’ve taken the time to talk to him. To get to know him. Something the three of you
should
have been doing.”

“Jesus, you’re so defensive,” Mason muttered testily. “What’s going on with you and him, anyway?”

Tara’s heart suddenly beat a whole lot faster, because she knew what she was about to reveal was going to start another heated debate. “I should say that it’s none of your damn business, but I have nothing to hide.” She lifted her chin adamantly. “Jackson and I are dating.”

“Dating?” Levi echoed, dumbfounded by her admission.

Whereas Mason was more vocal in his approach. “You’re fucking
dating
him?” he asked incredulously.

“Jesus, Tara.” Clay’s lips flattened into a thin line of disapproval. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

She stared at him as if he were an idiot. “Are you seriously asking me that question right now, after the shitty way you’ve acted toward Jackson?”

Clay glanced at both of his brothers, a silent message of concern passing between them—one they didn’t seem willing to share with her. When Clay returned his attention to the women out on the deck with Jackson, a worrisome look straining his features, something inside of Tara detonated.

“Stop staring out the window like Jackson is some kind of mass murderer and you’re worried he’s going to slaughter your wife,” she snapped heatedly.

Clay and Mason looked from her to Levi, that silent communication seemingly flowing between the three of them again.

She didn’t like the uneasy vibe settling in the air. “What’s going on?”

Levi scrubbed his hand along his jaw and expelled a deep breath, as if what he was about to tell her was difficult for him. “Tara, there’s something you should know about Jackson. I know you’re not going to be happy about this, but I had a friend run a background check on him, and he was charged with assault a few years back . . .”

She stiffened, feeling as though she’d been jolted with a live wire. Okay, she hadn’t seen that coming. Granted, she and Jackson were in the beginning stages of getting to know one another, but physical violence and aggression didn’t match up to the Jackson she knew.