JD started laughing, and Zoe joined him. And this, he thought, was going to be his life. This woman in his arms, and his best friend constantly annoying the shit out of him.

Chapter34

Life for Zoe and JD had been busy for the last eight months since they’d made their relationship official. She’d moved in with him, and cohabitating with a woman was far easier than he’d thought it would be.

There were the minor battles they waged—like closet space and the supersized jar of peanut butter she insisted they have in the cupboard—but mostly, life was good… better than good. It was amazing.

“JD, you need to get up. They’ll be here soon.” Zoe appeared in the doorway.

“We have at least two hours, baby, and everything is ready that needed to be done.”

JD liked the sleeping shorts and tank she wore, and he thought about getting out of bed and grabbing her. Her hair was a wild mess, and her eyes were still squinty.

“Come back to bed.”

“Not happening. Get up now and feed the animals. Then we have to set up the tables and make sure the bedrooms are clean and so many other things.”

Three months ago, he’d given his father a kidney, and Zoe had been by his side the entire time. Sawyer had even flown in to make him laugh, which had hurt. His family was now coming to visit them for the first time, since his father had recovered and was, in fact, thriving.

“I’m not coming back to bed.” Her hands were on her hips now.

JD threw back the covers and got out. “It’s going to be okay, Zoe. We did everything yesterday. We’ve got this.” He pulled her into his arms and pressed a kiss on her forehead.

“Just thinking of our families together terrifies me, JD.”

“What’s the worst that can happen?”

“That my family does something that horrifies yours.”

“You know that’s going to happen, right? And if it does, we’ll laugh, because I don’t want your family to change for mine. I love the Dukes just the way they are.”

“Really?”

“Really. Now go do what you need to, and I’ll feed the animals.”

“I’ve fed Velma, Biff, and Marty. Do you think we should lock them in the stable when your family arrives?”

“Absolutely not. They are coming here to see us, and they will see us exactly how we live.”

“God save them,” she muttered, pulling out of his arms to look at him. “JD, Lil just emailed me.”

“About what?”

“We won, and he’s gone.” Her smile was huge.

“Barclay has gone?”

She nodded and he whooped.

She’d taken on the asshole who had sexually harassed her. Like JD had thought, it hadn’t reached court, but Zoe had insisted on a meeting with the board. The shithead had been there, and JD, who had insisted on being there too, had glared at him the entire time.

His girl had said she would settle out of court, but she wanted the man who he now knew was called Jonathon Barclay—a name he’d never forget—to be removed from the company. Barclay and the board had laughed like she was a silly girl for even considering it. JD had then stepped in.

He threw around a few names his father and Sawyer had given him and said that he had contacts with the press to make the company very uncomfortable. The board hadn’t liked that and asked them for time to consider what their actions should be.

“Lil said that an email came out to all staff stating that Jonathon was retiring. She’s going to make sure everyone knows why.”

He picked her up and swung her around in a circle. “You did it.”