Page 76 of Close to Heaven

“Dammit. If you saw us, that means someone else might have too.”

“Who cares?”

“I do.”

Cody shook his head. “You worry too much.”

Jax lowered his voice. “I don’t want Dakota to know. Not yet, anyway.”

“She’s going to find out eventually.”

“Not until I’m ready to tell her,” Jax said firmly.

“Don’t you mean we?”

Were he and Avery a we now? I guess we are. “Avery agreed.”

“Okay, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Dakota already suspects something.” Cody scooped a perfect ball of ice cream and placed it atop a slice of pie.

“Why would she?”

“I’m not sure which one of you looked more excited to see the other: you or Avery. You were practically tripping all over yourselves.”

“Dammit,” Jax repeated.

Cody chuckled as he scooped another ball of vanilla. “Like I said, don’t worry about it.”

“That’s your answer for everything.”

“And it works…most of the time,” Cody added cryptically.

Jax was too frazzled to question him. “This conversation stays between us.”

“Of course.” Cody added two scoops of ice cream to his and Jax’s bowls and then returned the ice cream to the freezer. “I only have one more thing to say.”

Jax sighed and motioned for his brother to come out with it.

“You’re a lucky man, so don’t screw it up!”

With that, they each took two bowls and returned to the living room. As Jax handed Avery her dessert, he noticed she’d taken off her boots and was wearing fuzzy socks instead.

“Thanks,” she said, beaming up at him.

“Dakota made the pie,” he said inanely.

“But Jax made dinner,” Dakota countered.

“What did you do, Cody?” Avery asked.

“I showed up!”

They all laughed, and then they dug into the pie and ice cream. For the next hour or so, Jax sat beside Avery on the couch and tried not to look at her too much. He was no longer concerned about Cody noticing, but he was still worried about Dakota.

The women conversed about everything and nothing while the men watched football and occasionally joined in the conversation. Soon Jax noticed Cody’s eyes had started to droop.

“I hate to disappoint you guys, but I’m out!” Cody said and stood up.

“Already? It’s only nine o’clock,” said Dakota.