Naughty by Nature

  Mom pinches Jaxson’s cheek and gives it a wiggle. “I knew you two were destined for one another. I just knew it!”

  “We never gave up on you!” Deb chimes in. “Never, never! I can’t wait to tell all of our friends. We were right about you. We’re always right about this kind of thing.”

  Mom plucks at her good friend’s arm. “Let’s get a toast together. Frasier!” she shouts to my father. “Grab the good camera! We’ll need lots of pictures for the scrapbook!”

  They take off into the kitchen, and Jules and Kali come over. Jules looks as if she’s just sucked on a lemon, and Jaxson ticks his head over at her before she softens.

  “I’m sorry I’ve been so hard on you.” She reaches over and lands a hand on my arm. Jules looks like a female replica of Jaxson, and I’ve always found that intimidating—especially since Jax looks damn good as either gender. “I think we should do lunch. Isn’t that what they say in L.A.?”

  I give a little laugh. “Yes, but I much prefer it here in Oak Grove. Let’s do it soon.”

  “And I’m coming with.” Kali dives over me with a nice tight hug. “I’ve always liked you. Plus, I can talk to you about things that she doesn’t care to hear about,” she snips, and Jules rolls her eyes.

  “Trust me, nobody wants to hear you obsessing over Cole.”

  “Who’s obsessing?”

  They argue their way into the dining room just as Mack and Conner come over.

  Jax and I decided we weren’t up for confronting Conner on night one, regarding his foray into darkness all those years ago when he led us both astray. We figure we’ve waited over five years to have that conversation, so we can hold off for one more night.

  Mack pulls us in for one quick group hug. “So, this is a thing? No joke? You’re not here to pull my leg?”

  “Yes, Mack—this is all an elaborate scheme to fool you. I’ve quit my job and traveled halfway across the country on what I’m pretty sure is Oak Grove’s coldest night of the year just to pull your leg and watch you hobble around for a few hours.”

  “You quit your job?” Her jaw thumps to the floor.

  Jaxson and I share a quiet laugh. “Actually, she’s the proud owner of her own design company now.”

  “It’s a long story.” I glance to my brother, and oddly, I don’t have the urge to strangle him at the moment. “So, are you okay with this?”

  His brows rise, amused. “Are you really asking?”

  “No,” both Jax and I answer in tandem.

  Conner huffs a dry laugh and shakes his head at the two of us. Words seem to escape him at the moment. “I didn’t think so.”

  Mom calls us all to the dining room where she and Deb hand out champagne filled flutes, one by one.

  “To Poppy and Jaxson!” Mom cries, and Dad lets out an odd little hoot. In his defense, we don’t have champagne toasts that often at the Montgomery residence, so the owl imitation is totally excusable. “May you live the life you’ve always dreamt of—together.”

  “Together!” Jax and I shout as we touch glasses. He intertwines his arm through mine, and we each take a careful sip, our eyes never drifting from one another’s. Here it is, the culmination to all of this magic—our love expressed genuinely in front of both of our families.

  “And I would like to say a few words, too.” Deb clears her throat as all eyes fall on her. “My dearest Poppy”—her eyes sparkle with tears—“my lovely son, Jaxson. Charlene and I would like you both to know that we agree—on occasion we have gone too far with our self-indulgent high jinks. And yet, on occasion we believe we have done things for the greater good of all involved.” She offers a peaceable nod. “Such as this.”

  Mom and Deb exchange a brief glance before turning our way. “Gotcha!” they both shout in unison.

  Jax and I startle, and nobody in the room moves as we try to piece this mystery together.

  “What do you mean, gotcha?” Jax runs his hand over my back as if assuring me everything will be fine, but only because I’m betting he’s slightly panicked himself.

  Deb gives a long blink. “We mean, this was all a well-orchestrated ploy to bring you two lovebirds together!”

  “We weren’t even going to have a big birthday party.” Mom waves off the idea as if cake and candles were suddenly passé. “We were looking into cruises until your father had a conniption. He hates to ride the open seas.”

  Deb nods. “So we put on our thinking caps. If we were going to be grounded, we might as well have a good time, right?” They share a quick cackle, and my blood begins to boil all over again.

  “You did this?” The accusation comes out with venom as if it were some felony-worthy event they lured us into. And if I killed Conner like I had planned, it would have been.

  “Of course, we did this. We simply asked Mackenzie to pretend as if she dreamed up the entire scheme.”

  “Mack!” I shout so loud it sounds like a car horn.

  My sister shrinks behind her husband. “Don’t hate the messenger! Besides, it all worked out magnificently in the end. Right?”

  “Right,” I snip. It might have been touch-and-go for a minute, but why bring that up?

  Conner frowns at our mother. “So, you two thought forcing Jax and Pops together would be the ultimate gag?” I can tell he’s still not sold on that whole Jax and Pops for life thing.

  “And it was!” Mom spikes a finger his way. “But I’ll tell you”—she turns her attention over to Jax and me once again—“you really had us going with that breakup. I think that’s payback enough for a lifetime. You had us both sending a few knee-mails to the man upstairs. But we weren’t too worried. We saw enough physical evidence to assure us the two of you had a real bond.”

  “Lots of sexual chemistry.” Deb stabs a fist through the air as if to exemplify the fact, and the room breaks out into a groan.

  “Mom.” Jax shakes his head.

  “Oh, hush!” Deb and Mom make their way over. “It’s true, and you both know it. Now, plant a wet one on each other. Char and I want to get in this picture.”

  Jax and I laugh as we look into one another’s eyes.

  They did it. They pulled the ultimate fast one on us, and we never saw it coming. I guess in a way we had it coming.

  Jax lands his lips over mine, and we share a rather chaste, lingering kiss that burns its beauty into the deepest chamber of my heart.

  Here we are, together at last. Jaxson and me, just the way our mothers planned it.

  They always seem to get their way in the end.

  And this time—I don’t mind one bit.

  Jaxson

  The Starry Nights Bar and Grill is filled to the brim tonight. There’s a roaring fire and flowing booze, but it’s the live music that keeps them coming back in droves. I’m glad. I want to see all of my friends succeed, and Hunter is at the top of the list.

  “So, you’re sticking around this time, huh?” he teases Poppy as I hold her tight. “You really think this bozo is worth it?”

  “Actually, I think you’re worth it.” She gives a sly wink. “This is a good time to tell Jax it was all an elaborate hoax to unveil our undying love for one another.”

  “Whoa.” I pull her away from him a moment. “Time out. I think we need to lay off the hellish humor for a while before you both give me a heart attack.”

  Poppy belts out a laugh. “You know I only have eyes for you, Gordo.” She turns back to our old friend. “But I’m sure there’s a special someone out there for you somewhere, Hunter.”

  Sadie comes up as if on cue. I’m not sure I see her with Hunter, but Poppy has hinted about it a time or two.

  “Here she is now.” Poppy sends her best friend sailing at him as she tap dances us in the opposite direction. Sadie came over that first night we were back in Oak Grove and practically jumped into bed with us. She was that thrilled for us. Poppy has been staying with me mostly, but I know it’s not ideal to be holed up at my mother’s no matter how big the house is. Which is exactly w
hy I’m paying the contractor working on my new home double to finish the damn thing twice as fast. I’m sure it doesn’t work that way, but it was worth a try.

  “There he is!” Poppy jumps up and down, and I strain to see who she’s worked up over.

  “Conner.” It comes out flat and unenthused. He’s the very reason we pulled ourselves out of bed to be here. Poppy had a conversation with him earlier, and he happened to mention he’d be at the bar tonight. “Let’s do this.”

  “Remember.” She pulls me close. “We’re a united front.”

  A dull laugh pumps from me. “There’s no way he’ll be able to divide and conquer.” I’m shocked he was able to get away with it for so long.

  Conner stomps up with that I’m-slightly-pissed look on his face. I get it. I’m with his sister. He’d most likely be pissed at just about anyone she was with. But this is me—his brother for all practical purposes. We’ve been through a lot and have grown close over the years. I know this is weird for him. Trust me, I wouldn’t want him banging my sister either.

  “What’s up, you two?” He offers Pops a tight smile while smacking me over the arm. “You finally came up for air, huh?” He takes a swig of his beer like he needs it.

  “What’s up indeed?” Pops comes in hot, and I offer her hand a gentle squeeze in hopes she’ll go easy on him. “I’d like to know what was up with you all those years ago on my graduation night.”

  He ticks back as if he’s just been assaulted. “What are you talking about?”

  “I told you how I felt about him!” Her voice breaks as she shouts the words. “I trusted you with my greatest secret, and you made sure everything went to hell.”

  His eyes widen a moment, and you can practically see the scene playing out in his mind once again.

  “That night.” He closes his eyes. “I’m sorry.” He shrugs as if it were no big deal. “What does it matter? It all worked out.”

  “It matters.” And now he’s starting to piss me off. “What I want to know is how you got Miles to head me off at the pass?”

  Conner pushes out a tired breath. “All right. This is what went down. Poppy told me how she felt, and I thought that was crap.” He looks to her and holds out his hands. “I’m sorry. I thought you were confused. I didn’t think you knew what you wanted, and Jax just so happened to be around all the time. I didn’t want you gluing yourself to the first guy you saw. I for one was rooting for you to expand your wings in college.” He winces. “Not like that.”

  “So my feelings weren’t important to you.” Poppy sinks in her seat, the disappointment exuding from her in palpable waves.

  “Because I didn’t believe they were real. I’m sorry, Pops.” His eyes gloss over with tears. “And yes, when you sent me away, I happened to bump into Miles. He was so tanked he didn’t know which way was up, so I steered him toward you. I thought you’d shove him aside and take off. And”—he looks to me—“when I came into the party, I bumped into you. I’ll be honest. I thought the two of you were trying to pull something over on me. Both of you confessing your feelings for one another—to me of all people on the very same night? Anyway, I guess I owe you an apology, too. But—as much as I hate to admit this—a part of me didn’t want the two of you together. Poppy and I have always been close—the two of us have always been close.” He looks to me. “I guess that leaves me out of the equation now.”

  “Not true!” Poppy is the first to lunge at him. “I swear it, Con, I love you. I want us to be even closer than we have been. Now that I’m back in town, I want us to do all those things we used to do. I’m willing to reinvest in us if you are.”

  “I’m there.” He taps his forehead to hers. “And I’m there for you, too.” He nods my way.

  “I’m in.” I slap him five. Some things are simply meant to be, and the three of us are meant to be knitted together for life. That’s the way I want it. There is no other way.

  “I’m in.” Poppy lands her hand over mine, and the three of us lift on three and let out a mighty roar.

  We’re in. Poppy and I are in for life.

  I pull her in and steal a kiss off her lips, running the risk of having my mouth ripped off by Conner himself, and yet I survive the endeavor.

  So I steal another.

  And then another.

  What the hell—I steal one more.

  On Sunday, the day of the week, according to my mother, that Poppy Montgomery made her debut on this spinning blue rock and I was privileged to hold her hand for the very first time, I bring Pops out to the old oak tree with me.

  “My—what a big hammer and a chisel you have,” she says in her best Little Red Riding Hood voice.

  “The better to love you with.” It’s a lame comeback, but in a moment she’ll hopefully see what I mean.

  “Wow, Stade, that sounds like I need to have a baseball on standby.”

  “Only if you want to help. But I’m pretty sure a bat might be counterproductive.”

  We come upon the tree and I pat my hand along the trunk, and a flurry of snow rains down from the branches.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m doing what I should have done when I was eleven, and I was tempted to do it then.” I take the chisel and tap out the shape of a heart right in the center of our old friend.

  “Jax,” Poppy purrs like a kitten. “You are such a romantic!”

  I give a sly smile as I carve her initials, then mine.

  “Can I?” She holds out her hand, and I give her the tools. Carefully, Poppy carves out a plus sign between our initials. “There. Now when we look at it years from now, we’ll always know it was me who pulled the whole thing together.”

  A laugh thumps through me. “You do have a way of saving the day.” I tip her chin up gently with my finger. “You saved me. I mean it with all of my being. In fact”—I drop to the snow on one knee, my eyes still trained on hers—“I can’t risk a day without you by my side.” I pull the ring from my pocket and hold it between the two of us like a fallen star I’ve captured just for her. It’s a five-carat flawless emerald cut diamond that I’m pretty sure qualifies as an otherworldly treasure. It’s showy and perhaps slightly overdone. I’m sure Poppy would have wanted something far more meager, but I have the urge to give her the moon. I can’t help it. I love her. I want her to have it all. I would have gladly made it ten times bigger if I knew there was half a chance she’d wear it. “Eight Ball, would you do me the honor of being my wife? Will you marry me, Poppy?”

  She lands on her knees, thankfully dropping the weaponry that I inadvertently armed her with.

  “Oh God.” She cups her hand over her mouth. “Gordo!” Tears spout from the corners of her eyes as she begins to sob.

  “Well?” a female voice shouts from the bushes as our mothers make their presence known. I may have alerted them to the fact that a proposal would be going down this evening. I couldn’t let them miss out on the biggest moment of their lives, now, could I? “What’s it going to be?” Mom screams as if her life depends on the answer. Mine does.

  Poppy tips her head to the side, her loving gaze still set to mine. “It’s going to be yes.” She nods as tears stream down her cheeks. “A thousand times, yes!”

  “She said yes!” Char shouts into the lavender sky as evening falls over Oak Grove.

  Our mothers whoop it up, howling into the evening as they dance up a storm.

  “Thank you,” I whisper over her lips as our mouths fuse over one another.

  Poppy said yes.

  First, she was my friend, then my first and only love, and one day soon she’ll be my bride, my entire universe, my bright future.

  Poppy pulls back with her eyes still half-closed, ignoring the fact our mothers are trotting up and down the driveway like a couple of turkeys screaming their heads off.

  “I always knew you would one day be mine.” Her lips glow a deep red from our fevered kiss. “And here we are. One day finally arrived.”

  I press a kiss to the r
ing as I hold it up to her. “There’s something inscribed on the inside.”

  “Really?” She trembles with a laugh. “Let’s see if my naked eyes are spry enough to decipher what it says.” I hand her the ring, and she squints into it. “To Eight Ball, love Gordo.” Poppy bites down on her lip to keep from bawling that much harder. “You really are my best friend, you know that?”

  “Lucky me.” I press a kiss to her finger as I slip on the ring. “Does that mean you’ll go out for mojitos with me while you trash talk your husband?”

  “Very funny. And I would never do such a thing because you’re too wise to give me reason to.”

  “You got me there.” I take a gentle bite out of her lower lip and stretch it out slow. “You’re my best friend, too, Pops. And I mean it.” I pick up her left hand and kiss it. “My mother told me that when she brought me into the hospital room the night you were born, she placed your left hand in mine and brought it to my lips.”

  “I know. I’ve seen the picture.”

  I give a knowing nod. It’s hard to miss in her mother’s hallway. “That was a symbol—her way of pronouncing that you would one day be mine. And now you are.” I brush her hair back behind her ear. “I promise—you will want for nothing, and I will make sure you are warm by my side each and every night.”

  Tears come fast as she gives a little laugh. “Throw in a few babies here and there, would you?”

  “I’ll throw in fifty.”

  She laughs straight to my face. “Cool it, Stade. You don’t have to go big on everything.”

  “Nope.” I pull her down into the snow with me. “Just loving you.”

  Poppy and I roll around under that big old oak tree, loving one another, laughing, trying to get our fill of those white-hot kisses.

  Everywhere we land, the snow melts to nothing. Poppy and I are one fire, blazing as bright as the future laid out in front of us.

  We may have started off innocent, but in the end—it took being a little naughty to get us where we needed to be.

  And here we are, locked in one another’s arms.