Page 101 of Fierce-Michael

“You asked,” he said. “Kelly said it was going well. What more do you want?”

Her eyes all but bugged out of her face. “I want more than that.”

“But they aren’t your family,” he said. “So you’ve got no right to ask. And be happy they are as accommodating as they’ve been.”

She waved her hand. “Whatever. I’m going to call Diane now.”

“Put it on speaker so I can hear them rub your face in things.”

Jolene frowned and wondered if her husband knew something she didn’t.

He’d already called her out on driving by Cade’s and seeing Michael’s SUV and stopping. That she should have just continued to go on and let Alex visit with her family.

“How was the party?” Jolene asked when the phone was answered.

“Another success and engagement,” Grant said.

“You had another engagement at your party?” Gavin asked. See, even her husband got into it though he liked to pretend indifference.

“Not at the party,” Diane said.

“Last night,” Carolyn said. “But we all found out today.” Gavin’s twin brothers and their wives were always together when they made these calls after the party.

“That’s wonderful news,” Jolene said. She knew it had to be Zander and Regan engaged because that was the only couple that her in-laws were working on that weren’t married or engaged just yet.

“I hear the sarcasm,” Grant said, laughing. “Don’t be jealous, Jolene, that we got Dane and Sloane and now Zander and Regan engaged in less than a year each. I’d say that makes us the leader of the pack now.”

Her husband started to laugh. This was probably what he meant, as his brothers did like to bust her butt.

“Not the leader,” she said. “Remember who started it all.”

“Me,” Gavin said. “Don’t be mad because you’re struggling with Michael and Kelly.”

“Fine,” she said. “I’m kind of struggling. But I’m going to learn from you and let Cade do some of my dirty work for me like you had Zander and Regan’s assistants do yours.”

“Never too old to learn,” Carolyn said.

“Wiseass,” she said.

They all laughed and hung up and she turned to her husband.

“What do you think Cade is going to do?” he asked.

“Not much. But he’s the one I can wear down the fastest so I’ll figure out more through him.”

Gavin rolled his eyes. “I’m not so sure about that. Good luck.”

Jolene knew how to work with her kids. Her husband should have more faith in her.

30

DIFFERENT SCENARIO

Three weeks later, Kelly and Michael were at his house on Saturday. Ty had been dropped off hours ago and the two of them were going to get some dinner and then come back here for the night.

She’d spent the night two weeks ago when Ty went to Electra’s and found that his king-sized bed was much more comfortable.

“I hear water running,” Kelly said.