James said.
“That’s good,” Mandy said. “I would hate to start the morning after one of the best nights of my life with an argument.”
“That’s why I’m not going to get angry,” James said.
“I can’t help but think that you’re angry.”
“I’m … why didn’t you tell me Ally’s car broke down?”
“Because I called the tow truck and I sent Jake to pick her up,” Mandy said. “I knew you would be pissed off, and I … I just wanted some time before then.”
James sighed, rubbing his hand down Mandy’s bare back. “I know you want Jake and Ally to be together.”
“It’s not that I want Jake and Ally to specifically be together,” Mandy said. “I want Ally to be happy.”
“And you think Jake can make her happy?”
“I don’t know,” Mandy said. “I think Ally has earned the right to try and find out on her own. I don’t want her to be miserable.”
James pulled back, focusing on Mandy’s clear blue eyes. “Why do you think she’s miserable?”
“I don’t think she’s miserable,” Mandy corrected. “I think she’s lonely.”
James took in Mandy’s words, rolling them through his mind to test their truth. “What makes you say that?”
“You’re angry,” Mandy said, sighing.
“I’m not angry, baby,” James said, pressing his lips to her forehead. “Ally’s car broke down. She wasn’t in danger. I know you can’t help yourself from meddling. I just want to understand why you think she’s lonely.”
“Haven’t you ever watched her when we’re all together?” Mandy asked. “She smiles, and she pretends she’s having a good time, but part of her is empty. She wants someone to make her happy, like you make me happy, and Grady makes Sophie happy, and Emma makes Finn happy. She’s the odd woman out here.”
“But why Jake?”
“James, please be honest with yourself and me, is there anyone who you do think is good enough for your sister?”
“Jesus Christ?”
Mandy laughed, burying her face in the hollow between James’ neck and chest. “I’ll get on that.”
“Baby, I need you to know that I love you no matter what,” he said.
“But … .”
“But, please don’t lie to me.”
“I didn’t … well, I did lie,” Mandy admitted.
“It wasn’t a big lie, so let’s not have some melancholy freak out about it,” James said. “I know that you always have Ally’s best interests at heart. Always. And I think you have perspective that I, as her brother, don’t have.
“You put me in my place to protect her, and although I find it irritating, I get it,” he continued. “She’s still my sister, and I have to protect her the best way I know how.”
“I think you take it too far sometimes.”
“I probably do,” James agreed. “I can’t help it. You’re the most important woman in my life. You always will be. She’s still my sister.”
“I know.”
“And even though I get mad and yell, I will always love you more than anything,” James said. “I never mean to hurt your feelings, and I don’t mean to upset you. Sometimes I just can’t help it, like you can’t help meddling.”
“So, you’re really not mad?”
“I’m not mad,” James said, shifting underneath her. “I might need some consoling before you go to work, though.”
Mandy reached down, brushing her hand over his morning erection. “Ah. Well, I wouldn’t be a very good girlfriend if I didn’t take care of your needs, would I?”
“You’re the best person I know,” James said, rolling over and resting his weight on her. “Now show me, baby.”
ALLY woke up to the feeling of warm breath on her neck. She stretched, relishing the feeling of Jake’s body as it pressed against hers.
“Morning,” he murmured, kissing her neck.
“Morning.”
“How did you sleep?”
“Good. How about you?”
“I don’t remember the last time I slept this well,” Jake said, cupping her breast in his hand.
“We didn’t just sleep,” Ally
“That’s good,” Mandy said. “I would hate to start the morning after one of the best nights of my life with an argument.”
“That’s why I’m not going to get angry,” James said.
“I can’t help but think that you’re angry.”
“I’m … why didn’t you tell me Ally’s car broke down?”
“Because I called the tow truck and I sent Jake to pick her up,” Mandy said. “I knew you would be pissed off, and I … I just wanted some time before then.”
James sighed, rubbing his hand down Mandy’s bare back. “I know you want Jake and Ally to be together.”
“It’s not that I want Jake and Ally to specifically be together,” Mandy said. “I want Ally to be happy.”
“And you think Jake can make her happy?”
“I don’t know,” Mandy said. “I think Ally has earned the right to try and find out on her own. I don’t want her to be miserable.”
James pulled back, focusing on Mandy’s clear blue eyes. “Why do you think she’s miserable?”
“I don’t think she’s miserable,” Mandy corrected. “I think she’s lonely.”
James took in Mandy’s words, rolling them through his mind to test their truth. “What makes you say that?”
“You’re angry,” Mandy said, sighing.
“I’m not angry, baby,” James said, pressing his lips to her forehead. “Ally’s car broke down. She wasn’t in danger. I know you can’t help yourself from meddling. I just want to understand why you think she’s lonely.”
“Haven’t you ever watched her when we’re all together?” Mandy asked. “She smiles, and she pretends she’s having a good time, but part of her is empty. She wants someone to make her happy, like you make me happy, and Grady makes Sophie happy, and Emma makes Finn happy. She’s the odd woman out here.”
“But why Jake?”
“James, please be honest with yourself and me, is there anyone who you do think is good enough for your sister?”
“Jesus Christ?”
Mandy laughed, burying her face in the hollow between James’ neck and chest. “I’ll get on that.”
“Baby, I need you to know that I love you no matter what,” he said.
“But … .”
“But, please don’t lie to me.”
“I didn’t … well, I did lie,” Mandy admitted.
“It wasn’t a big lie, so let’s not have some melancholy freak out about it,” James said. “I know that you always have Ally’s best interests at heart. Always. And I think you have perspective that I, as her brother, don’t have.
“You put me in my place to protect her, and although I find it irritating, I get it,” he continued. “She’s still my sister, and I have to protect her the best way I know how.”
“I think you take it too far sometimes.”
“I probably do,” James agreed. “I can’t help it. You’re the most important woman in my life. You always will be. She’s still my sister.”
“I know.”
“And even though I get mad and yell, I will always love you more than anything,” James said. “I never mean to hurt your feelings, and I don’t mean to upset you. Sometimes I just can’t help it, like you can’t help meddling.”
“So, you’re really not mad?”
“I’m not mad,” James said, shifting underneath her. “I might need some consoling before you go to work, though.”
Mandy reached down, brushing her hand over his morning erection. “Ah. Well, I wouldn’t be a very good girlfriend if I didn’t take care of your needs, would I?”
“You’re the best person I know,” James said, rolling over and resting his weight on her. “Now show me, baby.”
ALLY woke up to the feeling of warm breath on her neck. She stretched, relishing the feeling of Jake’s body as it pressed against hers.
“Morning,” he murmured, kissing her neck.
“Morning.”
“How did you sleep?”
“Good. How about you?”
“I don’t remember the last time I slept this well,” Jake said, cupping her breast in his hand.
“We didn’t just sleep,” Ally
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