I swallowed hard. "I'm not really interested in anyone but you either," I admitted.
"Then, how about we make a deal?"
Wariness filled me. This was usually the moment my brothers did or said something that eventually came back to bite me in the butt. "What kind of deal?" I asked.
"We won't have sex again until we're ready. But I do want to spend time with you. Whether we decide to stay married after the baby is born or not, I want us to have a good relationship for their sake."
My throat got tight at the idea of getting a divorce after I had the baby. "Uh, is that something you'd prefer? For us to divorce after the baby is born?"
J.J. shrugged. "I don't know. I haven't lived with you yet, so if you turn out to be a neat freak or you have weird morning rituals, I need an exit strategy."
I shook my head and laughed a little. "Great, put all the pressure on me."
"Hey, you said you were worried we'd be stuck with each other. I'm willing to try to make it work but the last thing I want to do is make you feel trapped."
That was almost too much. I blinked back tears.
"You have to stop being perfect," I demanded. "I'm hormonal and it either makes me want to kiss you or kick you in the kneecap."
"Uh, there's a big spectrum between those," he murmured.
"I know! It doesn't make any sense but I either think you're the sweetest man I've ever met or that there's no way I can live up to that kind of consideration and I should just punish you now."
J.J. laughed out loud then and hugged me. "That settles it. You have to make an honest man out of me. I don't want to be too considerate, so you'll have to teach me how not to be."
I huffed. "You've been friends with Scott long enough to know what my other brothers are like. If you want to see an example of how not to treat a woman, just look back on their history."
"They weren't that bad," he said.
I wasn't sure what sort of expression I was wearing on my face, but J.J. winced when I looked up at him.
"Okay, I never thought they were that bad, but apparently I wasn't paying close enough attention."
I laughed again.
"So? Are we doing this? Are we getting married?" he asked, giving me a squeeze with his arms. He hadn't released me after the hug and even though it was sweltering outside, I didn't mind.
"Yeah, I think we are."
We were both smiling when he kissed me, a short, smacking kiss meant to be playful instead of sensuous.
When we separated, we heard applause and looked over to find every member of the McClane family including Brody and Jacks standing on the other side of the living room window, clapping.
"Get your behind inside and tell me exactly what's going on," Colette, J.J.'s mother, demanded. "I didn't even know y'all were dating and now you're getting married!"
J.J. looked down at me. "I know it's early, but would you be okay with me telling her about the baby? She's going to be so excited."
I was hesitant about all of this because I was still in my first trimester, but only for the next couple of weeks. At this point, it was probably okay.
Then, there was the fact that my own mom knew. It didn't seem right that she was privy to the information if Colette wasn't.
"Okay. But tell them they can't go spreading it around town."
J.J. grimaced. "Maybe we should wait then. Because you know Mom can't keep things to herself. Half the town knew that Brody was going to propose to Cam within hours of him asking Mom to go help him pick out the ring."
I had to laugh. "It's not that I mind her telling people so much as I'm worried what will happen if my brothers find out before we're married."
"Maybe she can keep it a secret if I tell her it's literally life or death. My life or death."
I laughed but our conversation halted when Colette opened the front door and demanded we come inside instead of doing all this in the heat.
I definitely didn't think it was funny when my brothers did find out.
9
J.J. was right. Colette couldn't keep her mouth shut.
I wasn't sure what to expect from her. When she found out we were getting married, she was excited and immediately started asking if my mother would be willing to let her help with the wedding plans.
My only option was to shoot J.J. a pleading look. I didn't want to be the one to crush her dreams of another traditional wedding like the one Cam and Brody had.
"Mom, Lee and I are going to get married at the end of the week. She's ten weeks pregnant."
Colette and Malcolm were both silent then. But only for a moment. Then, I was being hugged by Colette, who was laughing and crying at the same time.
"Another grandbaby. This is exciting!" she said as she released me.
And that was that. There were no pointed questions or accusing glares. She and Malcolm took it all in stride as if they had no problem with it.
Maybe they didn't but it worried me all the same. I didn't want J.J. to resent me in this marriage and I definitely didn't want his parents to resent me either.
J.J. explained to his mother that we were keeping the pregnancy quiet until I was in my second trimester, but even I saw the gleam in her eyes and knew what it meant.
Sure enough, once I'd eaten lunch with the McClanes and extracted myself with the excuse that I was tired and needed a nap, which was actually the truth, Colette must have picked up her phone.
In all honesty, I expected my brothers to show up one at a time to vent their anger. They were hotheads and impatient, but I never expected what happened.
I'd just woken up from my nap and I was contemplating dinner. The day had been hot. Late September in Texas could go either way, but the heat was still no joke, even this late in the season, and it had ruined my appetite. But I had to eat.
As I stood in front of my pantry, staring blankly at the food inside, I heard a car come down my driveway.
Then, another car. And another.
With a sigh, I closed the pantry door and poured myself a glass of iced tea. At least they'd waited until around dinnertime to come calling. I'd make them buy me food.
I walked to the front door and out onto the porch. I watched as all four of them got out of their cars and convened for some sort of short conversation.
Since they were taking their time, I settled on the swing, sipped my tea, and used my toe to push myself back and forth in a slow, gentle motion. Surprisingly, it didn't make my head swim or nausea churn in my stomach.
Hmm, maybe I was coming out the other side of the morning sickness thing after all. Well, all day sickness would be more accurate.
Finally, my brothers broke up their huddle and walked toward the porch.
"Boys," I greeted them when they were close enough to hear me.
My eldest brother, D.J., spoke first. "Lee."
"What brings the four of you to my door all at once?" I asked even though I already knew. "I think the last time I saw you all together was at Mama's birthday a few months ago."
All four of them glowered at me. If I hadn't known them my entire life, I probably would have found it intimidating, but I knew every little secret these men had—from their ridiculous fears to their worst screw-ups.