“After the gym tomorrow. We'll take her out for lunch.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
"At Donovan's. She has to experience Donovan's."
Jackie
Jackie stared at the Two of Hearts inbox, doing her best to come to grips with the enormity of what she and Liam had done. They'd crossed the line, and now... it was getting real. Swallowing her nerves, she answered back, her fingers flying over the keyboard: “Sure, what time?”
“Around lunch. You hungry?”
“Famished.”
“We're taking you out <3”
“Sounds good :)”
So, the “we” he was referring to? He meant he and his brother. The one who'd started the bar fight the other night. Jackie didn't know how she felt about that, but she was flattered Liam wanted her to meet his family.
She'd met his father only under mandatory circumstances, and in reality, Liam and his dad weren't close.
Being introduced to his brother actually meant something, and it wasn't something he had to do. It gave her a deepened sense of ease about passing over the diva line into the realm of “relationships” again. She couldn't help but feel that this was going to be different. It was the exact opposite of what she'd expected might happen. For a minute there, she'd given up on the idea of finding a man who wasn't afraid to open his heart to someone.
Rushing off to the shower, she dressed as quickly as she could, school-girl nervous when she emerged dripping in a towel, rifling through her closet for the right thing to wear. Eventually settling on a pair of particularly well-made leggings, and a half-vest over a long-sleeved rayon tee, she slipped into a pair of matching boots and headed back to the bathroom to settle the matter of her hair.
By the time she was done primping and preening, the door bell was buzzing, and Jackie ran to the intercoms to press the security release allowing them up.
Heart thumping in her chest, she took a last look in the mirror before she made her way to the door and pulled it open, her heart melting to see Liam leaning in for a kiss.
Slow and sensuous, he claimed her mouth like he was savoring her, eventually pulling pack when someone behind him cleared his throat. Grinning, Liam stepped to the side, so his brother could get a look at her.
“Get a rooooom,” his brother told them with a smile she couldn't resist.
“S'up, Sis?”
Ugh, was he really calling her that, while wearing that devilishly, charming smile to boot?
Indeed, he was. And she wasn't offended, she realized. Probably because he wasn't judging them. The only thing she felt coming from Corey was acceptance.
“Corey,” he informed her, extending his hand.
“Jackie,” she offered back, shaking hands.
“You guys ready? My stomach's ready to cave in after that spar.”
“That why you guys look like you've been run through a wood chipper?”
“That's... another story entirely. I'll tell you over lunch. Come on,” Liam answered, his hand closing over hers.
Making their way down the stairs, they piled into Liam's Mercedes and rode to a small spot set off from the beach, 'Donovan's.'
It was a quaint, little spot that specialized in a sort Anglo-French mashup. Everything on the menu had two different names, one in English, the other “en Francais.” And the prices... Well, they were more in Liam's realm of wherewithal, but Jackie didn't fret about it. Unlike her previous life, she was going to allow herself to be doted on. She'd always strived to be “the good girlfriend,” but in reality she'd had a problem with accepting things from others.
Maybe it came from the hard times she'd known in her mother's house, where they'd learned to make due on very little, DIY queens that they'd mostly been. The concept of having money was altogether new to her, and the way she saw it now, she might as well settle into it. Because she was doing well now, and her man? He was doing especially well.
Sitting back and staring out at the ocean when the server put their orders in, a smile ticked her cheek. This was... maybe symbolic of what it was like when you connected with someone who wanted similar things. Things like peace and good times with the people you loved.
His brother Corey was friggin' hilarious.
She loved him already.
Everything just sort of felt right today. Maybe that was the universe's way of telling her things were going to work out just fine. Despite the fact that her man was going to be her stepbrother as soon as her parents tied the knot.
“What're you thinking about, hmm?”
Dazzling her with that brilliant smile of his, Liam creased a brow. Jackie flushed a bit, feeling her admiration tint her cheeks.
“Good things.”
“You're so mysterious.”
Winking, she took a sip of her water, looking back out at the beach, starting at the sight of a photographer.
“Liam.”
“Hmm?”
Lifting his eyes, he saw the photographer, too, but soon his expression relaxed.
“He's taking pictures of the gulls.”
Following his eyes, the tension left Jackie in the instant.
“Oh.”
“Why's that matter?” Corey asked, slipping his cell phone back into his pocket.
“I, uh...”
“She's worried about publicity.”
“I can speak for myself, thanks.”
“That's what it is, isn't it?”
He met her with a pressing gaze, and she couldn't help but relent. Yeah, that was it, but she'd still rather speak for herself. Her mother had a habit of answering for her, and it was kind of a pet peeve.
“Until we figure out how we're going to approach this... I don't know if pictures are wise. You've got a business, and I do, too.”
Watching the discourse between them, Corey took a sip of his water and set it on the table, interjecting while there was a window for him to slip in to the conversation.
“Look, neither of you should even worry about this. It's an obvious marriage of convenience, right? Dad doesn't do anything that doesn't profit him. And he could have any material girl he wants without having to marry her - as deep as his pockets run. This is about business. No offense to you or anything, Jackie, but I'm pretty sure your mom knows that.”
Jackie's brow quirked, and she let Corey's words settle awhile.
It certainly made sense. Made more sense than any other scenario, actually. Holy fucking shit, had her mom married this guy, so he could expand VitaGourmet? Like truly without saying a fucking word to her about it? How entirely fucked up.
~
They dropped Corey at the shop before Liam drove her home, and she was a bit tingly with anticipation over it. She was going to ask him up, naturally. Roxy had taken a trip out to see her sister in New York, and well... if they were going to do the boyfriend/girlfriend thing properly, they might as well start now.
He was pretty banged up, though, so... they'd likely just be cuddling tonight. But she liked that idea. Thinking of it filled her belly with a warm glow that stretched for the entirety of the ride home.
“I like your brother.”
“He likes you, too.”
“How can you tell?”
Liam shrugged as he pulled in front of the house and set the gear into park.
“He gave me a thumbs up when you turned your head. He wouldn't have bothered if he thought I was wasting my time.