The Reckoning, A Wilde Brothers Christmas (The Wilde Brothers Book 4) by Lorhainne Eckhart Page B
Authors: Lorhainne Eckhart
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fill in for me when I have the baby.”
Jake wasn’t sure what to say. Logan had told him that Julia owned a small cafe in town that served specialty coffees and lunch, but that was all he knew. Logan exchanged a glance with Julia. Whatever passed between them, Jake was pretty sure it had to do with him.
“No, I’m good,” he replied. “I grabbed a burger on the road.” His stomach still burned from the greasy, soggy burger he’d picked up at a truck stop. It had filled the hole, but that was about all.
“How about a beer, then? You look like you need one,” Logan said as he slid his hands over Julia’s shoulders and back as he walked with her into the kitchen.
Jake followed the couple. “Wouldn’t mind some water.”
Julia started to the sink, but Logan stopped her, turning her around. “No, I don’t think so,” he said. “You’ve done enough today. I want you off your feet.” He pulled out a chair and then scooted another chair in front of her, lifting her feet so she could put them up. Julia sighed as she leaned back, resting her hands on her protruding belly and letting Logan take care of her. It was a sight that shouldn’t have bothered Jake, but Logan was now so focused on his wife that he wondered whether he’d forgotten about his brothers.
“Just sit there.” Logan leaned in and kissed her, and she reached for his cheek and slid her hand over it. Jake could hear the rasp of whiskers as Julia ran her hand over the dark shadow on his brother’s face. It looked as if he hadn’t shaved today. Their kiss lingered for a second, a kiss so private and intimate that for a moment, Jake wondered whether he should leave. Then Logan tapped the table, watching Jake.
“You sure just want water and not a beer?” He reached in the cupboard for a glass and filled it with water.
A beer or six would have been great, but then he’d have to talk, and he didn’t want to talk right now. He felt odd in front of Julia, and there were some things he could say only to Logan, so he didn’t say anything as Logan put a glass of water in front of him. Logan was watching him and then glanced over to Julia, who was resting her chin in her hand, her elbow propped on the table. They exchanged another look as if they could read each other’s thoughts. She really was connected to him.
“You know what? I’m really tired, and if it’s okay with you, Jake, I’m going to go to bed,” she said, flattening her hand on the table toward him. “I’ll leave you two so you have a chance to catch up.” The girls were chattering excitedly in the living room, and Julia ran her hand through her hair. “The girls are making you a bed on the sofa, Jake. They’re sure excited you’re here early.”
She had a sweet smile. Jake could see how suited she was for Logan.
“Logan, will you send them to bed when they’re done?” she said. “I’m done arguing with them. They listen to you better.”
Logan flashed her a cocky smile as he helped her up. “That’s because I’m not a pushover like you are. They know they can’t get away with anything with me, so they don’t bother trying.” He kissed her again, his hand sliding down her back and over her behind as she started out of the kitchen.
Jake chugged down his water as Logan followed Julia and then stopped just outside the living room, calling out to the girls and sending them to bed.
Dawn raced into the kitchen first. “Goodnight, Uncle Jake! We made you a bed on the sofa. Do you promise to be here in the morning?” She didn’t wait but threw her arms around his neck and hugged him.
Trinity appeared right beside her. She didn’t hug him right away, frowning at him. Maybe she was picking up on his uncertainty just being here with them. Then she leaned in and hugged him. “We’re glad you’re here. Don’t worry, everything will be all right.”
He was startled by what she’d said. How did she know he was struggling with so many things? Smart kid.
“Ah,
Jake wasn’t sure what to say. Logan had told him that Julia owned a small cafe in town that served specialty coffees and lunch, but that was all he knew. Logan exchanged a glance with Julia. Whatever passed between them, Jake was pretty sure it had to do with him.
“No, I’m good,” he replied. “I grabbed a burger on the road.” His stomach still burned from the greasy, soggy burger he’d picked up at a truck stop. It had filled the hole, but that was about all.
“How about a beer, then? You look like you need one,” Logan said as he slid his hands over Julia’s shoulders and back as he walked with her into the kitchen.
Jake followed the couple. “Wouldn’t mind some water.”
Julia started to the sink, but Logan stopped her, turning her around. “No, I don’t think so,” he said. “You’ve done enough today. I want you off your feet.” He pulled out a chair and then scooted another chair in front of her, lifting her feet so she could put them up. Julia sighed as she leaned back, resting her hands on her protruding belly and letting Logan take care of her. It was a sight that shouldn’t have bothered Jake, but Logan was now so focused on his wife that he wondered whether he’d forgotten about his brothers.
“Just sit there.” Logan leaned in and kissed her, and she reached for his cheek and slid her hand over it. Jake could hear the rasp of whiskers as Julia ran her hand over the dark shadow on his brother’s face. It looked as if he hadn’t shaved today. Their kiss lingered for a second, a kiss so private and intimate that for a moment, Jake wondered whether he should leave. Then Logan tapped the table, watching Jake.
“You sure just want water and not a beer?” He reached in the cupboard for a glass and filled it with water.
A beer or six would have been great, but then he’d have to talk, and he didn’t want to talk right now. He felt odd in front of Julia, and there were some things he could say only to Logan, so he didn’t say anything as Logan put a glass of water in front of him. Logan was watching him and then glanced over to Julia, who was resting her chin in her hand, her elbow propped on the table. They exchanged another look as if they could read each other’s thoughts. She really was connected to him.
“You know what? I’m really tired, and if it’s okay with you, Jake, I’m going to go to bed,” she said, flattening her hand on the table toward him. “I’ll leave you two so you have a chance to catch up.” The girls were chattering excitedly in the living room, and Julia ran her hand through her hair. “The girls are making you a bed on the sofa, Jake. They’re sure excited you’re here early.”
She had a sweet smile. Jake could see how suited she was for Logan.
“Logan, will you send them to bed when they’re done?” she said. “I’m done arguing with them. They listen to you better.”
Logan flashed her a cocky smile as he helped her up. “That’s because I’m not a pushover like you are. They know they can’t get away with anything with me, so they don’t bother trying.” He kissed her again, his hand sliding down her back and over her behind as she started out of the kitchen.
Jake chugged down his water as Logan followed Julia and then stopped just outside the living room, calling out to the girls and sending them to bed.
Dawn raced into the kitchen first. “Goodnight, Uncle Jake! We made you a bed on the sofa. Do you promise to be here in the morning?” She didn’t wait but threw her arms around his neck and hugged him.
Trinity appeared right beside her. She didn’t hug him right away, frowning at him. Maybe she was picking up on his uncertainty just being here with them. Then she leaned in and hugged him. “We’re glad you’re here. Don’t worry, everything will be all right.”
He was startled by what she’d said. How did she know he was struggling with so many things? Smart kid.
“Ah,
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