Imperfect Justice (16 page)

J
ared held his breath as Misty contemplated his offer. He’d been thinking about it for the last few days. It was the perfect solution really. She’d have someone to help her when she didn’t feel well and they could work together on the long list of things that needed to be done.

It didn’t hurt that it might ease her into the idea of marriage and making them a family.

“You want me to move in? Rayne offered to let me stay with her until I found a new place.”

“If you live with me everything will be easier, don’t you think? I can take you to your doctor appointments and make you tea and toast in the mornings.”

She was wavering and he couldn’t have that. He needed to make the case compelling enough there was no doubt what her answer would be.

“What about the town? They’ll all talk if I move in with you.”

So that was her issue. The citizens of Fielding and their tendency to stick their nose where it didn’t belong.

“Since I don’t intend to keep this baby’s parentage a secret they’re going to talk anyway. Why don’t we really give them something to gossip about?” Jared grinned at the thought. “You and I living in sin and expecting a child out of wedlock should keep tongues wagging at least until the Fourth of July picnic and parade.”

Her fingers rubbed the embroidered design on the pillowcase. “Have you told your family yet?”

“No. I wanted to talk to you first about that. I was planning to tell them at Sunday dinner but if you move in today, I’ll drive by and tell them tonight if you want me to.”

Misty was chewing her lower lip again. “They’re going to be upset. I doubt they’re going to like me.”

How could he possibly explain the current family dynamics to an outsider? Hell, she wasn’t going to be an outsider anymore so he might as well try. It was only fair she be aware of what she was walking into.

“These days Dad is upset with everything and everyone so no change there. Becky spends most of her time on the phone so I doubt she’ll even notice that something outside herself is going on. My younger brother Ty is a great guy so he’ll welcome you with open arms. Royce will too but he’ll also probably try to proposition you if he’s not sober at the time.”

If anything she looked more troubled, her brows furrowed with worry. “I just don’t want to make your life more difficult.”

That was a refreshing change from everyone else he knew. “Too late. Between my family, deputies, and the town my life is already difficult. Not that I’m complaining. It’s my life and I wouldn’t trade it for the world, but that doesn’t make it stress free.”

“You really want me to move in?”

He had her, he could feel it. “I do. I think it’s the answer to making everything easier, especially when the baby comes. We won’t need to argue about who gets the weekends. We’ll both be there all the time.”

“I’m not promising to move in forever.” Misty held up her hand in warning. “Let’s just take this one day at a time and see how it goes. We might not like living together.”

“I doubt either one of us has a habit so objectionable that the other wouldn’t be able to cohabitate easily. I’m pretty easy going.”

That was a big scary lie. Sort of. He’d grown up in a house that was all about discipline and many of those habits had carried over. But as of this moment on he was going to try and be more like Ty. More relaxed about dishes in the sink and the way shirts were hung up in the closet.

Stuff that didn’t matter.

Misty however didn’t appear to buy his bullshit. In fact, she was openly laughing at him. “That’s what everyone says. Sheriff Jared Monroe is so easygoing.” She giggled and his heart twisted in his chest. “
Not
.”

Even wearing a pair of baggy flannel pajamas and her hair a mess this woman was seriously cute. Living with her wasn’t going to be a hardship in the least.

“Maybe I’m turning over a new leaf,” he teased, enjoying the sparkle in her violet eyes and the pink color on her cheeks. “A man can change you know.”

“For the worse,” she snorted. “Everyone knows changing a man is useless. I won’t bother trying.”

“Honey, I’ve got mountains of change in me. You’ll see.”

In fact, Jared was about to surprise everyone he knew with how much he’d changed. The inveterate playboy was going to become a settled family man. He’d show everyone – especially Misty – that he could be the perfect father.

“I’ve got your back, bro.” Ty grinned with delight as Jared finished telling him about Misty, the baby, and the announcement he was planning to make during dinner. He’d dragged his brother into the kitchen of the family home while Misty was freshening up in the restroom. “And can I say congratulations? This is great news. Misty Foster is a cute one too. But I didn’t even realize you were dating, you sly dog.”

Jared hadn’t gone into detail about his and Misty’s relationship. It wasn’t anyone’s business but their own. He’d shared the important facts and left the rest private.

“Dad’s going to have a cow when I tell him the news.”

And that was something he wanted to protect Misty from. He didn’t want her scared if Gerald Monroe lost his temper as he so often did these days.

“Dad has a cow every day. About something or other. I think I can help you though. I have a little news myself that might take the focus off of you. Actually two pieces of news. Truth is I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this.”

“I’ll take any help that I can get. I don’t want to send Misty running her first night with the family.”

Jared had fixed her door this morning before they stopped at the diner for lunch. Their appearance had caused a small sensation with every eye in the place trained directly on them. Uncomfortable with the scrutiny, Misty had fidgeted in her chair but Jared had simply stared right back with a cocky grin.

After lunch, he’d moved her meager possessions into his house and had been appalled at what he’d seen. Unlike every woman he’d known before, she only had three pair of shoes if you didn’t count her slippers. Her clothes situation wasn’t much better, her wardrobe consisting of jeans and sweaters mostly. Those humongous jeans and sweaters. He wanted to replace these as soon as possible with clothes that showed off her natural beauty.

Convincing her to let him was going to take some doing however. She had more than her fair share of pride. When he’d asked for the information from the Seattle lease so he could buy it out she’d stiffly told him she had that under control. But he certainly didn’t intend to let his future wife and mother of his child lose her life savings. He would have his lawyers go over the lease. He was sure they could get her out of it without losing everything.

“No better time to sit down and eat than now,” declared Ty as Misty rejoined them. Their dad was sitting in the living room as usual and Becky was somewhere in the house as well.

“What about Royce?” Jared hadn’t seen his brother in a couple of days. “He promised he’d straighten up and be around more.”

Ty chuckled. “He’s keeping his promise, don’t worry.” He turned to Misty and gave her a big hug. For some reason Jared didn’t like seeing his little brother’s arms around the mother of his child, which was ridiculous. She wasn’t interested in Ty. Was she? “Welcome to the family, Misty. Dinnertime is likely to get a little rowdy but don’t pay any attention to the old man, okay? He’s not himself these days.”

Misty licked her lips and nodded. She was clearly nervous and Jared wished he could promise her everything would be fine. “Jared told me he’s ill.”

“Probably you won’t want to mention that,” Ty replied with a grimace. “He doesn’t like being reminded of it. He’s used to being more active and more involved.”

Jared leaned in, a quick glance at the door to the living room. “Did he take his medication today?”

“The day nurse says yes so we have that going for us.” Ty slapped Jared on the back. “Relax. I won’t let Dad kill you if you promise to do the same for me.”

“Why would he kill you? He ought to be thanking you for straightening the ranch out.”

Ty gave him a mysterious smile. “I don’t think he’s going to be in the mood for that after dinner tonight. Good thing we all have our own houses. Otherwise I’m pretty sure we’d be sleeping in the barn again.”

Ty scuttled away to announce dinner at the top of his lungs while Misty looked up at Jared with a worried frown. “What was he talking about sleeping in the barn? What did he mean?”

“When we were being disciplined Dad felt that it was because we didn’t appreciate what we had, so he would make us hike in the mountains or sleep in the barn. Stuff like that.”

Her eyes went wide and her mouth fell open. “That sounds horrible. That’s abuse, Jared.”

He patted her shoulder and shook his head. “I swear it’s not. He always made sure we were safe and healthy enough for it but he felt physical challenges were important to build character. He had rules about keeping our rooms clean and the maintenance of the house and vehicles. If we broke those rules or any others, we had to complete some sort of challenge. It really wasn’t a bad way to grow up. I swear we never slept in the barn unless it was summer. Heck, it was like camping really.”

Misty pressed her lips together. “I don’t want our child disciplined like that. It sounds barbaric.”

“Believe me we had it better than most boys my age. My friends adored my dad and wished he was theirs. He was tough on us because he wanted us to grow up and be strong men.”

She tilted her head in question. “Did it work?”

“For the most part. Royce has his issues, of course.”

“And your sister? Did she have to sleep in the barn too?”

“Becky? No way. Dad punished her by taking her credit card.”

“Doesn’t sound like much of a punishment.”

“It was. Wait until you meet my sister. You’ll understand. I’d say I hope the two of you become friends but I can’t think of anything you have in common except me. She’s–”

He couldn’t finish his explanation as Ty, his dad, and Becky were all assembling at the table. Gerald gave Jared a sharp-eyed look when he saw Misty but Jared didn’t say anything, content to wait for the right moment for their news. Becky, on the other hand, was still holding her phone so she barely glanced up.

Jared seated Misty to his right while his dad was at the head of the table on the left with Ty and Becky sitting across. Jared put his arm around Misty’s shoulders and cleared his throat.

“Everyone, I’d like you to meet Misty Foster. Misty, this is my dad, Gerald, my sister Rebecca, and you’ve already met my brother Ty.”

Gerald’s eyes narrowed and he looked Misty up and down but she didn’t shrink away from the appraisal, instead raising her elfin chin with pride.

Good for you, honey
.

“Is there something to announce, son? Something we should know?”

Jared opened his mouth to answer but never got the chance. His sister had slapped her cell phone down on the hard oak surface of the table so hard the water shifted in the glasses.

“Oh my God,” Becky exclaimed. “Mantrap Misty is your new girlfriend? Have you completely lost your mind?”

Misty winced at what must have been a childhood nickname but Jared tightened his hold on her shoulders and stared down his incredibly selfish and vapid sister.

“No, I have not. And I don’t think I’ll listen to a lecture about choosing a mate from you, sis. Your track record leaves something to be desired.”

Becky’s expression turned ugly but Jared was used to his sister’s tantrums. They had no effect on him at this point in his life. “She’s probably fucked every guy in a hundred mile radius. Is that what you’re into now, big brother? Sloppy seconds?”

The table shook as Gerald Monroe pounded the oak surface. “Rebecca Jane, I will not have you using that sort of language at our dinner table. Do you understand me?”

Pressing her lips together, Becky nodded but she shot Jared a nasty look that promised more to come from her in a different venue.

“Now son, please continue.” Gerald shot his daughter a look to keep her silent.

“Misty moved in with me today,” Jared announced. “And we’re having a baby.”

Not even Gerald Monroe could keep Becky from exploding in a torrent that Jared didn’t bother listening to. His father kept trying to cut her off but finally gave up and leaned forward so Jared could hear him clearly.

“When’s the wedding, son? I assume you’ll want to do it sooner rather than later.”

Jared glanced at Ty who was grinning ear to ear. This was the difficult part – telling his father that so far there would be no wedding.

“About that, Dad. For right now anyway there isn’t going to be a wedding.”

His father’s brows shot almost to his hairline. “What’s this? Jared, when a man gets a girl in trouble he steps up and does the right thing.”

Jared groaned inwardly at his father’s old-fashioned thinking. They’d come a long way since a girl was “in trouble.”

Misty placed her hand on Jared’s arm. “Your son did offer to marry me, Mr. Monroe. I’m the one that said no.”

Ty was laughing his ass off across the table at Misty’s statement. Apparently getting a marriage proposal thrown back in your face was completely hilarious.

If it was happening to someone else.

Jared’s father looked confused. “What do you mean you said no? You are pregnant, aren’t you?”

“I am.” Misty nodded, not in the least cowed by his bullheaded father.

“It belongs to my son?”

“It does.”

“Then why the hell aren’t you marrying him? The baby will be born a bastard.”

Jared did groan out loud this time. “That’s enough, Dad.”

Gerald turned on Jared. “What’s wrong with you that you can’t convince her to marry you?”

Becky threw her napkin down on the table. “She probably doesn’t want to tie herself down to one man. I’d get a DNA test if I were you, Jared.”

“I’m not you,” Jared shot back. He couldn’t wait until Becky went back to Colorado Springs where she’d been living since her last divorce and new engagement. In fact, the sooner the better. He should call her fiancé and let him know that Becky’s presence here was no longer required. She only upset their father and things would be calmer when she was gone.