Page 10 of The Temptation of Truth
“No shit.” I bounce my eyes between Jonah and Sav. “We get to meet the mysterious niece?”
Jonah nods. “I’m surprised he’s letting her come, considering Caveat Lover is touring with us.”
Hammond’s always been protective of his niece. So much so that we know very little about her. When we were first starting out, he’d leave to visit her several times a month. Then it transitioned to only holidays and touring breaks. I don’t know when or if he’s gone to see her recently, though. Not in the last year, at least.
“Those boys will learn quick,” I say on a laugh. “Ham’s nowhere near as tolerant of their shit as he was with you and Tor.”
“Because he knew we were joking when we asked about her. Tor and I never would have”—Jo stops and flicks his eyes to Teddy before continuing—"messed withour manager’s niece.”
I can’t help but smile at the way Jonah censors himself so he doesn’t cuss in front of his daughter. It’s adorable and vastly different from the guy he was just a few years ago. I always knew Jonah was a nurturer, but I can’t say I ever thought he’d become a family man. Having seen him at his worst and struggle for over a decade, it’s a really beautiful thing to witness.
“You sure about that?” Sav teases with an arched brow. “I don’t remember you being very selective about who youmessed with.”
“Positive. Even when I was at my lowest, I respected Hammond too much. Torren did too.”
“Wouldn’t say the same for Ezra and Crue, though,” I add.
“Beck and Rock are probably fine,” Sav says, and I nod in agreement.
“If anyone’s going to try to make a move on the boss’s pride and joy, my money’s on Ezra.”
“Not Crue?” Jonah asks while taking the cutting board to Sav’s sink and washing it off. “Hefancies himself a Casanova.”
Sav and I both laugh at his botched attempt at an English accent.
“That was a terrible impression. You sounded like a leprechaun,” Sav says.
Jo narrows his eyes at her, but then Claire comes into the kitchen and wraps her arms around his waist. The irritation melts from his features, and his expression goes all lovey-dovey. It always does when she’s around.
“A leprechaun?” Claire tilts her head up to smile at him. “Were you mocking Crue’s accent again?”
“He tried and failed.”
Jo starts to flip me off but catches himself and puts his hand behind his back. Can’t have Teddy learning how to flip people off at the ripe age of two. It makes my grin widen, and I stick my tongue out at him, then turn to Claire.
“We were talking about which Caveat boy is likely to make a pass at Ham’s niece first.”
Her brow furrows. “Hammond’s niece?”
“She’ll be tutoring Brynn in English,” Sav explains. “She’s nice. Kinda quiet and nervous, but I’m used to that.”
I smirk at her. “Because you’re such a big, breathtaking star?”
She throws a grape at me. I yelp and bat it away, making Teddy giggle again.
“Aunt Sav is such a bully,” I tell the baby, giving a marginally clean spot on her forehead a little boop, then I look back at Sav. “That’s why I’m the favorite.”
“Anyway,” she says with a dramatic sigh, trying like hell to suppress a smile. She likes to act like she’s annoyed, but she’s not. “I talked to her a few days ago just to go over expectations and stuff. She seems legit. Has a degree in English lit and creative writing.”
“Where’d she go to college?”
Sav shrugs. “Does it matter? We didn’t even finish high school.”
I laugh. She’s got me there.
“I still feel bad that I can’t help,” Jonah cuts in.
Sav turns to him. “Jo, you’ve been great. You did so much more than you had to, but you’ve got a whole-ass kid now. You don’t have time to tutor Brynn, and you shouldn’t have to.”
