Page 17 of Then Came Love
“It was controlled chaos at all times, but I loved every second of it, and I can’t wait to have a house full of grandchildren.”
Jordan smiled. “I bet. I appreciate your offer to help, but I think I’ve got it under control.”
“Okay, honey. Have you chosen a caterer?” his mother asked.
“Yes. On Trixie’s recommendation, I hired the same person who catered her and Nick’s wedding, Finlay Whiskey.”
“Finlay is wonderful,” his mother said.
“You don’t have to tell me,” Jordan said. “I’ve had to reschedule twice at the last minute, because of my fiancé’s work schedule, and she’s been so nice about it. I’m glad Trixie referred me to her. She gave me a referral for flowers, too. Isla Redmond at Petal Me Hard. Our interactions over the phone have also been great so far.”
“Isla did a great job for their wedding. But your big day is only three months away?” His father eyed him. “Someone’s going to have to put their nose to the grindstone to make a gown that quickly.”
“I know,” Jordan said. “I was ready to get a gown off the rack, but Jax insisted on making it.”
“I want Jordan’s wedding to be everything she’s ever dreamed of.” Even if she’s making a mistake by marrying a guy who doesn’t appreciate her.
“Did you make any progress today?” his mother asked. “What kind of gown are you thinking about?”
Jordan looked at Jax in embarrassment, and they shared a laugh.
“We haven’t even started talking about the gown yet, Mom. I wanted to get to know Jordan first. Tomorrow evening we’ll get into the nitty-gritty.”
“We will?” Jordan asked with surprise.
“If we want to get your dress done, we will. I figured you could come to my office after work. I’ll bring dinner in, and we’ll put our noses to the grindstone, as my father said. What time do you get off?”
“Six.”
“Great. It’s a date.” Jax pushed to his feet, and Coco did, too, as he began collecting the dirty dishes.
“I’ll help you,” Jordan said.
His father stood. “I’ve got it, Jordan.”
“No, really—”
“Let them be, honey,” his mother said. “Or you’ll undo years of training.” She winked, and Jordan looked at Jax, who grinned.
“If you want to raise good boys like me, you might want to start taking notes.” He and Coco followed his father into the kitchen.
“I’ll wash, you dry.” Jax put the dishes by the sink and pulled out his phone, thumbing out a text to his cousin Josh, a fashion designer in New York. Hey, cuz. Can I get that PI’s number from you? He pocketed his phone, rolled up his sleeves, and began washing the dishes.
“Sounds like Jordan’s had a rough go of it.”
He handed his father a plate and grabbed another to wash. “You can say that again.”
“She’s a nice girl.”
“Mm-hm.”
He set the dry dish on the counter. “Attractive, too.”
“Yes, she is.” Jax handed his dad another dish, glad he was talking quietly, and wondered where the conversation was headed. His father never beat around the bush unless he was trying to figure out how to say something. “And…?”
“I was just thinking about how many women you’ve brought over in the last decade.”
That would be none.“We came to get Coco. Don’t overthink it.”
“Yes, that’s what you told your mother. But I keep asking myself when the last time was that you worked on a Sunday or took on an extra client when you were already booked. I don’t recall either, but I get it. Trixie is family now, and Jordan’s her friend, so you’re helping her out.”
“Exactly.” Plus, I want her in my arms, in my bed, and in my whole damn life.
“The thing I keep coming back to is when was the last time you took Coco on a dinner date with a client.”
Jax handed him a dish and began scrubbing a pot. He’d be lying to himself if he didn’t admit he’d been thinking about the same thing. They could have gone to any number of restaurants in town and left Coco with his parents. But he’d wanted Jordan to meet Coco, which was probably also very telling, and he had a feeling he’d wanted his parents to see him with Jordan so he and his father could have this very conversation.
Talk me out of it, Dad. Tell me to back off, because nothing else is working.
He handed his father the pot and grabbed another dish. “Would you believe I was hungry for Mom’s cooking?”
“No, but we can go with that if you’d like.” He leaned against the counter as he dried the pot, wise eyes on Jax. “You know, everyone thinks I worry about Jilly getting her heart broken more than any of you boys, but that’s never been true. You and Jilly are the most sensitive of our kids, but Jilly won’t allow a man to hurt her. That’s why she’s found something wrong with every man she’s ever dated. She’s not ready for love. But you, Jax. You’ve been ready since you were fourteen and fell head over heels for Audrey Hepburn.”
Jax smiled. “I sure did. She was graceful and classy, but there was also something real and relatable about her. She seemed so different from the girls I’d met back then, and the women I’ve met since.” Until Jordan. “I didn’t think anyone could hit me the way Audrey did.”
“I didn’t think a teenager could fall so hard for a woman who’d already passed on and was several times his age. But you set that bar high, and you wouldn’t settle for anything less.”
Jax was surprised at how spot-on his dad was.
“I’ve been worried about you since last summer.”
“Why? What’d Jilly tell you?”
