Page 24 of Rules of Engagement

Jocko

When we return to the old man’s house, Grant is sitting in his Sunnyville police cruiser waiting on us. He gets out, waves, then comes over as I shake hands with the family wanting to thank me. I make sure Lucifer gets the credit.

However, Jorja heads straight for Grant’s car, opens the passenger door, and gets in.

“Congrats, Cuz.” He slaps me on the back as we walk to his car. “Mom has your Welcome Home, Rescue Celebration Combo dinner waiting, and Jorja is to join us.”

“Hmm, I’m not so sure that is a good idea.”

“Why not?” He looks at her, sitting in the front seat, staring at us. “What did you do to get her panties in a wad?”

I smirk and shrug. “I kissed her.”

He laughs out loud. “In that case, bringing Jorja to the dinner is absolutely a good idea.”

I cut my eyes at him, and he grins. “Trust me. Taking her home with that look on her face is a rookie mistake. She doesn’t need to be alone while she processes what the hell just happened. She needs to be around your family. It’s hard to stay pissed off with the Malones because everyone else will be laughing.”

“You are beginning to sound a lot like Chief.”

He laughs out loud. “I guess there is truth in that old saying, ‘The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.’”

The ride back to Sunnyville is quiet. Jorja stares out the window. Lost in thought. I stretch and lean my head against the door. Lucifer lays out on the seat and uses me as a pillow. I have no idea what she is thinking, but I hope it’s about how mind-blowing our sex is going to be if our kisses are always that earth-shattering because that’s what I’m thinking about.

“Hey, Sleepy Head.”

“Yeah, I’m awake.”

“We are about five minutes out.”

“Okay.” I stretch and sit up. Lucifer lifts his head but goes right back to sleep.

Grant keys the radio. “Liv, we are back in town. Heading to Mom’s for dinner.”

“Roger that. Tell Jocko, welcome home and not to be a stranger. I expect him to stop by and see me.”

Our eyes meet in the rearview mirror, and he grins. The sultry undertones of Liv’s message aren’t lost on either one of us.

“Roger that.” He answers.

Jorja turns to him and opens her mouth, but he cuts her off before she can say anything. “I have strict orders, and I’m not about to get on my wife’s or my mom’s bad side, so don’t even go there. I’m delivering the goods as instructed. Everyone wants to know what happened tonight.”

She cuts her eyes at me. “It’s Jocko’s story to tell.”

Grant gives her a severe smirk. “Jocko’s version will be. Lucifer tracked him. I rescued him. Grayson took him to the hospital. The end. Let’s eat.”

She laughs despite herself.

Jorja

When we arrive, Betsy greets us at the door. “Jorja, thank you for coming. It’s good to see you. Jocko, we are waiting for Sidney and Grayson before we eat, but I have hors d’ oeuvres set outside on the deck along with a cooler full of beer. Show Jorja the way, please. Grant, Emerson needs you on Daddy duty. Gwen wants to be held. Lucifer, come here, boy. I have a big bone for you in the kitchen. You can eat it in there, so Moose can’t get it.”

Jocko puts his hand on my back, and my skin tingles. The entire way home, all I could think about was his touch. How he's always been the only one that made me feel this way. His goodbye kiss was the kiss of death as far as my love life went. Not only because none of the boys in school were willing to take the risk, but because his kiss ruined it for me. No other man could match it. It was easy, not dating.

God … smelling the sweetness of his breath as his lips hovered nearly made me swoon. Then the thrill that shot through me when I tasted him again? My needy clit's still throbbing.

As I pass the kitchen, I catch a glimpse of Emerson with an apron on with Gwen on her hip. Grady's behind Dylan with his arms wrapped around her, kissing her cheek, and making faces at Gwen, trying to get her to smile, but her little lips are puckered tight in a mean-face, grumpy scowl.

Jocko stops long enough to poke his head in to say, “Hi, we'll be out back with the beer.” They all laugh and tease him about being spoiled rotten.

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